Part 11
No clues, no suspects, no case, Heero mused to himself. This doesn't look good. But frankly, he had nothing to go on. He strolled down the street, pausing just outside the tavern. He eyed Mr. Tsuberov walking down the street. Heero didn't like the old man, he gave him an uneasy feeling.
The old man wore a perpetual sneer that seemed to indicate he had a secret that only he knew, and it had gotten worse over the last few days. The man had bought something from the corner store.
Tsuberov dropped his package on the ground as he spotted a figure in black getting on a horse with a young girl in white, with brilliant red hair. His eyes went wild as he ran towards them.
"You there! Stop! Thief!" Tsuberov yelled. Heero's head whipped around and he saw the black bandit riding off. He cursed and ran for his horse, throwing a blanket over the white mare's back and jumped on, riding hard after the bandit.
Trowa, who was standing just outside the sheriff's office watched in shock as they disappeared into the swirling maelstrom of sand that the desert had been transformed into.
"Trowa what-?" Quatre asked, a look of worry on his face. Other residents of the town began pouring into the main area of the town, whispering among themselves.
"The black bandit struck again. Heero rode out after him," Trowa said quietly.
"I hope he will be okay," Quatre said, fingering the picture copies of the person in the portrait.
"He's the sheriff, of course he'll be okay!" Relena said, voice shrill. Quatre winced and nodded.
No one understands Quatre thought sadly. No one understands at all. Trowa looked at Quatre with some concern. "What's wrong?" Trowa asked, gently cupping Quatre's chin. Quatre smiled, despite his worry.
"I'm not sure what it is, but I think that not everything is as it seems," Quatre said slowly, looking out. The wind was picking up more and more, forcing people indoors.
"Why do you say-" Trowa started as a single gunshot was heard, echoing across the land. Quatre's eyes widened and several long minutes later, a horse galloped into view. Relena gasped and fainted. Trowa ran to catch the horse and led it back towards Quatre. The blanket had spots of blood on it.
"Oh no..." Quatre said softly.
The storm grew steadily fiercer. Trowa shook his head.
"There is just no going out in that," he said. He signalled for everyone to go inside, to wait out the storm.
And still the storm grew.
TBC...