Notes: Is it really a Wynonna Earp story without an Earp sister bar brawl?
The City
Lions Bank
"Just this way, ma'am," the bank teller said as he pulled at the collar of his shirt nervously. Wynonna followed him into a secure room where safe-deposit boxes lined all of the walls. The teller pulled the door shut behind them. "It's box 1357. Just over here."
They walked over to the correct row which was just about waist-high. Wynonna watched as the teller unlocked the box and pulled out the long shelf exposing a smaller secured container inside.
"You have five minutes," the teller whispered, standing close to Wynonna, looking up at the security camera in the corner of the room. "Don't take anything with you if you don't want them to know that someone was in here. They usually come by on Fridays."
"Got it. You were also able to get copies of that bank account information I asked you for?" Wynonna whispered back.
"Yes, I'll send you with a copy when I come let you out," the teller whispered before his voice went back to a normal level. "Here is your box, ma'am. Bank policy allows five minutes alone so that you may add items or take items from your box. I will be back shortly." With that, he left Wynonna alone in the room. She quickly grabbed the smaller box and sent it on a large table in the middle of the room. Inside the box were stacks of documents.
"Bingo!" she yelled, reading over the purchase receipts. They dated back several years and included all the item information and cost for all of the supplies that Willa had purchased through her shop. Wynonna quickly went to work snapping pictures with her cell phone of as many of the documents as she could. There was also a small notebook with lists of what appeared to be code names and a bunch of numbers to the right of each name as well as written descriptions labeled "preferences" which included information like heights, weights, ethnicities, hair color, etc…
"What the hell does this mean?" she asked aloud to the empty room as she snapped pictures of the notebook pages as well. When she had taken as many pictures as she thought she had time for, she put the stack of papers and notebook back in the box only to see another item. It was a cell phone. An old flip phone that was turned off. She quickly turned it on and waited for it to start up while eyeing the clock. She had 1 more minute with the box. She opened the cell phone call log and noticed one outgoing call and several missed calls, all from the same number listed as "unknown." But she knew instantly whose number it was: Deputy Agent Marshall Dolls' cell number which she had just been given (re-given) the day before…
The Day Before (Tuesday)
"I'm just going to go for a quick walk and stretch my legs a bit," Wynonna said to Willa. "How much longer do I have for lunch?"
"About fifteen minutes," Willa replied, looking at Wynonna skeptically. "Since when do you walk for pleasure?"
"Sinceeee….the fireman started working out outside and I may have caught sight of one of them yesterday looking pretty damn fine," Wynonna said, trying her best to come up with someone that may actually sound reasonable. She had caught sight of one of the new fireman the other day trying to carry a dummy up a ladder so it wasn't entirely a lie. Sure he was all abs and no brains, but still couldn't blame a girl for looking.
"You mean Marco," Willa replied, giggling like a fangirl. "Yeah, he really is something."
"Aren't you married?"
"Looking isn't a crime," Willa joked as she went back to arranging some of the products. "Aren't you almost married?"
"Valid point," Wynonna said. "I'll let you know if he's out doing his thing so you can go look at him too when you go on lunch." Wynonna skipped out of the shop and down towards the fire station as she let out a deep breath. Willa may not have believed her, but at least it gave her a few minutes alone to place a much needed call to Eliza. About two blocks down from the fire station was an old pay phone that Wynonna rushed to and dialed frantically.
"Miss Shapiro's office," a chipper voice said.
"Margie, it's Wynonna Earp. Please tell me Eliza is free."
"Yes she is, one moment please." Wynonna tapped the side of the pay phone as she looked all around her, hoping nobody was watching.
"Wynonna, I've been expecting to hear from you. How are things on your end?" Eliza asked over the phone.
"Getting tense," Wynonna replied. Then she quickly told Eliza about the documents David had found. Eliza assured her that it was great progress and Dolls would be eager to see the documents. Anything further she could send him to get a warrant that could lead to Steven's arrest would be beneficial to the case. Eliza set up a secure, encrypted email system that was untraceable that Wynonna could send Dolls all the info. It was an impressive technology which used your thumbpad as a password so no one could access it but you. She gave Wynonna Dolls' cell phone number to use in case of an emergency or if Willa or Steven confronted her, and told her to send copies of any additional documents to his email in the meantime.
"Sounds like a solid plan," Wynonna said.
"And Wynonna? Be careful," Eliza said.
"Will do," Wynonna said, quickly hanging up the phone and wandering back by the fire station on her way back to the beauty supply shop.
Wynonna stared at the cell phone in her hands. This was the phone that Dolls had given her that she hadn't been able to find anywhere else. Willa must've found it at the homestead meaning she knew Steven was being watched which is why Steven and his men were covering up their tracks at Laird Park. She still wasn't sure how they knew where Nicole's lookout spot was, but Willa was definitely onto her. Things needed to happen and they needed to happen quickly before Steven found out how far Wynonna's investigation had gone and came looking for her.
"Ma'am, I'm afraid your time is up," the bank teller said re-entering the room. Wynonna quickly pocketed the cell phone from Dolls and closed up the safe-deposit box.
"No problem," Wynonna said. The teller put the box back into its secured location and locked it back up. They walked back out into the lobby together.
"Ma'am, these are those bank statements that you requested," the teller said, handing her an envelope with documents.
"Thank you," Wynonna said, taking the folder. He gave her a friendly smile as she left. She went back to her car and quickly pulled out of the bank, checking all around her to make sure she wasn't being followed. Part way back to Purgatory, she pulled off onto a dirt road, checking to make sure she was alone. No one was following her as far as she could tell. She turned her SUV off and grabbed the envelope from the bank.
The bank had given her copies of recent transactions for Willa and Steven's account linked to the security deposit box. Starting on Fridays, someone would make large deposits into the account throughout the weekend. They looked like sizeable amounts, but spread out enough probably not to tip the bank off to something suspicious.
A buzz on Wynonna's cell phone started her as she saw that she had a text message from Waverly.
Waverly: BIG NEWS. We found something! Look under the van in the attached photo.
She opened up the photo attached to Waverly's message and zoomed in. "Under the van," she said out loud as she zoomed in. "What the hell?" Her breath caught as she saw the pair of eyes and what looked like a bound person staring at the camera from under the van.
Waverly: Possible tunnel system? Also, Nicole and I almost kissed. Kind of, almost, call me when you can. Eeeekkkk!
"What?" Wynonna yelled out loud at Waverly's message. She chuckled and shook her head. Those two really just needed to get a room already…Wait, possible tunnel system with a tied up person being moved around. Large sums of money after every Thursday meeting with a big circle. Book full of code names and preferences…it was a client list. They were picking which type of people that they liked. Wynonna opened her photos and searched through the pictures of the purchase receipts. No mention of chloroform, a chemical once used as an inhaled anesthetic, but there was this chemical, Forane. Google quickly told her it was also known as isoflurane, also an inhaled anesthetic. "Used for knocking people out…," Wynonna said aloud.
"Holy shit," she yelled as she turned the SUV back on and pulled back onto the highway. "He's selling people." She dialed Dolls' cell number on the cell he had given her and put it to her ear as she headed down the highway.
"Dolls," she heard a familiar masculine voice say over the line.
"Dolls, its Wynonna Earp. Code Red."
"What?"
"Code Blue? No…Black? No, that sounds oddly racist."
"Earp, what are you babbling about?"
"Code emergency! I think I've got what you need," Wynonna said as she sped back towards Purgatory.
Shorty's
Waverly drummed her fingers on the bar as she stared at Champ and his friends having a beer chugging contest. Shorty's was so dead that he had allowed anyone who had come in to do pretty much anything that they wanted which meant more of a mess for Waverly later, but at least she had customers for now. Several people were over playing pool which had been unlocked to allow free games all night as a way to keep the customers there. And now Champ was here with his friends Pete and Simon trying to see who could chug a whole pitcher of beer and then belch the loudest. It was one of the worst things she'd ever seen, but she took pity on him.
She'd come back from the sheriff department and her meeting with Nicole fully intending to break up with him. She'd even practiced the words over and over in her head as she made the walk over, but once she saw him weeping over his dog passing away, she just couldn't bring herself to add to his misery. Instead, she just let her thoughts go to Nicole…Nicole's eyes…her mouth…the closeness. She could still almost feel their lips grazing, Nicole's breath on hers which smelled minty and something so very Nicole. Waverly unknowingly was touching her lips with her fingers when Champ's voice broke her out of her daydream.
"Babe, can we get a couple more pitchers? I almost had him that time," Champ said, slightly slurring his words.
"Sure thing," Waverly groaned as she moved towards the taps.
"Or you know we could always, get out of here," he said as he leaned over the bar.
"I'm still working, Champ," Waverly replied.
"Maybe later then," he said. "No better comfort than my girl after a tough day." His smile suddenly disappeared and his shoulders hunched as he started getting emotional again. "Poor Pippen."
"Oh boy," Waverly muttered to herself as she stared at him, feeling sorry and annoyed at the same time.
"He never even saw that tractor coming." This led to more tears as his buddies came up and offered their condolences again. This is definitely not how Waverly saw her night going. She quickly refilled the pitchers and set them on the bar. "Hey, maybe this will cheer you up, huh?" She offered Champ a small smile and squeezed his hand. "I'm sure Pippen is in a better place now."
"Thanks, babe," he said as he rubbed his hand over his snotty nose before wiping it on his jeans. "You're the best." He turned and went back to his buddies as Waverly let out a deep sigh.
"Waves!" Wynonna yelled as she entered the bar.
"Jesus, Wynonna, why are you always doing that?" Champ asked, cleaning up some of the beer he'd spilled on his shirt when Wynonna burst through the door.
"I'm excited to see my baby sister, what's it to you?" she asked him.
"Noth-nothing," he said, suddenly realizing maybe he shouldn't be picking a fight with her.
"Good," she shook her head and moved to the bar.
"Did you get my message?!" Waverly asked excitedly, basically jumping in place behind the bar.
"Yes," Wynonna said as she leaned across the bar, placing both hands on Waverly's head, and gave her a big kiss on her forehead. "You're the best!" Waverly smile seemed to take up her whole face as she beamed at her sister. "With that and what I found at the bank, I think we got him, Waves," she whispered as she quickly told Waverly about the documents, money transfers, client book, and that Willa had stolen the cell phone and was probably onto them. "I already made a call. Did you notice anyone following you?"
"No, I don't think so," she replied. "And it's been pretty dead here all day. No one's here except Champ's friends and a group over there with Tim." Waverly pointed towards the pool tables.
"Tim," Wynonna said. She had almost forgot that she had been looking for him since their paths hadn't crossed and he seemed to have been in the city most of the week.
"I told him you were looking for him," Waverly said. "Hope that's okay."
"Doesn't really matter now," Wynonna replied. "We know why I was in the city that day."
"Did you figure out why you didn't want to marry David?" Waverly asked softly.
"Oh…" Wynonna said. "Honestly, I kind of forgot."
"Tim might still know something," Waverly answered.
"Maybe," Wynonna said. "I'll be right back. Keep an eye on the door, okay? If you see anyone from the trailer park, we make a break for it." Wynonna slowly walked over to the pool tables and saw Tim turn around and face her.
"Well hello there," Tim said. For a moment, Wynonna got lost in those blue eyes…Doc's eyes. But no, there was a roughness to them that wasn't as comforting and inviting as Docs. Because this wasn't Doc. This was Tim, a man she really didn't even know. "Your sister says you've been looking for me." Tim's buddies said something about going to the bar for a few to get more drinks as Wynonna found herself alone with Tim, leaning up against the wall behind the pool tables.
"I need to ask you about that night we drank together a few weeks ago," Wynonna said.
"I was wondering if we might ever have this talk," Tim said. "Look, Wynonna, I haven't told anyone a thing, per your request."
"And I…appreciate that, but what I really need to know is what we talked about," Wynonna replied.
"You don't remember? And here I thought the Earp women could drink anyone under the table."
"Look, I get the whole sarcastic, bad-boy attitude, but I'm kind of on a time crunch here so how about we just cut the bullshit alright?"
"Fine by me," Tim said holding his hands up as if he was surrendering to something. "What do you want to know?"
"Why was I so upset that night when I came back from the city? What did we talk about?"
Waverly looked over to see Wynonna and Tim in a deep conversation. She reached down in her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. It had been a couple of hours since she'd come back from Nicole's office, but no word from her. She was working and it was probably best not to disturb her right now. She slid her cell phone back in her pocket and then thought again of Nicole in the conference room, smiling to herself.
"Well well, what's got you smiling?" said a masculine voice in front of her. She looked up and the smile faded from her face as she saw eight members of Steven's group standing in front of her in the bar.
"Ohhh, Wynonna," Waverly yelled over her shoulder as she backed away from the front of the bar. "Think we might have some company."
"Oh shit," Wynonna yelled, looking away from Tim and back towards the group of men. "Take this and do not let anyone near it," Wynonna quickly whispered shoving her purse at Tim.
"What?" he asked, questioningly.
"Just do it," Wynonna yelled. "And don't get arrested. I need you to protect what's in there." She turned and grabbed a pool stick from the wall as she walked back towards the group. "Now…what can I do for you boys?"
"Word on the street is you've been stirring up trouble with the cops," Stevey said, obviously trying to lead the band of men who had come to scare Wynonna.
"You should know we Earps don't play with cops," Wynonna said, hands raised. "What do you take me for?"
"That's not what we've heard. And now, you need to be taught a lesson," one of the other men said as he moved towards Wynonna. Suddenly, things were happening so fast around Waverly that she barely had time to comprehend. One of the men had pulled a knife prompting Wynonna to throw the remaining beer from Champ's pitcher in his face before breaking her pool stick in half and swinging at the men that rushed towards her. Waverly, unsure of where the confidence had come from, rushed out from behind the bar with the small bat that Shorty kept behind the bar and started swinging at the men too.
Glasses flew all around them as tables got over turned and at one point, Waverly was thrown back onto a table which broke underneath her. Meanwhile, Tim jumped in to punch one of the men only for Wynonna to yell at him to stop and go so he doesn't arrested too. He ducked and ran out the back as Champ and his friends attempted to intervene, but could barely hold their own as the men punched them in the face leaving them on the floor whining.
Wynonna threw a few punches and strong armed a couple of the men sending them flying to the floor.
"Whoa, where did you learn to do that?" Waverly screamed in admiration.
"We'll talk about it later, baby girl," Wynonna yelled back as she went to throwing punches at several of the men surrounding her. Waverly jumped up from the wreckage of the table and jumped on the back of one of Steven's men just as a flash of red hair and blue uniforms came running through the door. The man underneath Waverly ran backwards and ran her right into one of Shorty's poles as all of the breath was knocked out of her and she crumbled from his back and onto the floor. She leaned back against the pole as she saw Nicole, Paul, Nedley, and one of the newer recruits, Sims, start to handcuff everyone.
"Baby girl, you okay?" Wynonna asked, blood coming from her mouth and a gash on her forehead as she leaned down towards Waverly.
"I think so," Waverly groaned. Wynonna leaned closer to her.
"We need to get arrested," she whispered, "for our own protection. It's safer there tonight."
"Wait, what?" Waverly asked as Wynonna yanked her to her feet. Wynonna turned and hit one of Steven's remaining men over the head with a beer bottle.
"Hey!" Nicole yelled at her. "What are you doing, Earp?!"
"Vengeance," Wynonna yelled. "You want more of that, tough guy?" she yelled as she leaned around Nicole and went towards the men. She felt Nicole's hands grab her waist and pull her back.
"Sorry I got to do this," Nicole said as she pulled Wynonna's arms back and cuffed her.
"Aw why you got to be like that, Haughtstuff?" Wynonna asked, clearly putting on an act trying to cause as much commotion as possible to ensure she'd be arrested. "Waverly!" Nicole looked back at Waverly who had let out a deep breath.
"You owe me SO BIG," she yelled as she turned one of Steven's men and punched him in the face. "Mother of…" she yelled as she grabbed her now throbbing hand in pain. Nicole pushed Wynonna off to Sims who led her outside as she grabbed Waverly's arm.
"What is going on?" Nicole asked as Waverly looked up at her in pain. Before Waverly could answer, Nedley's voice rang through the bar.
"Haught, cuff that Earp too. And get the rest of this lot down to the station," Nedley yelled, frustrated at the whole scenario occurring in front of him.
"I'm on it! Sorry, Waves," Nicole said as she slapped handcuffs on Waverly, making sure not to make it too tight and to cuff her in the front because of her hand. She pulled her along by the elbow as she grabbed another cuffed person and lead them out of Shorty's.