<br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(http://gunsofold.com/marshal_badge_silver_balltip.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 3, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Late Morning<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Black Jack's Lair<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Harley, Li-Li, Closed<br/><hr/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/86/Blackjack.png)</div>Black Jack offered embraces to those who approached – though it was Flint that was first in line to give him a clap on the back.  Jack still had an impromptu bandage over his abdomen, but from the way he moved it seemed more a flesh wound than a serious injury – not bad for a man who'd been gut shot by their last missive.<br/><br/>He gave a nod to Harley, and Lilah, and sighed at Harley's question of who did.  “I can't rightly say I know.  I mean, I'm sure it was Findley pulling the strings, but I don't know who the triggerman was.  But I'm sure as hell that Findley's keeping his hands clean.  Big Jake and Scooter ain't got the brains between 'em to kill Coleman, and it ain't like anybody'd miss Scooter running from the scene.”<br/><br/>He shook his head.  “It's a damn shame.  Coleman was a dog on Findley's leash, but as lawmen go, he wasn't bad.  Way I figure, that means they're either gonna put Bilton in charge, or Hunter, but my money's on Bilton.  We crossed pistols with him enough at Sweetrock mines, we know he's on the take.  Hunter's... “  He chuckled.  “Well, if Hunter's in charge, we're all gonna have to become smarter criminals.  Man's got a first rate mind, and he ain't gonna come after us guns blazing.  He won't stop, either, until he's in the ground or we're in jail.  Coleman – for those of you that don't know, Coleman was putting together a case for Warwick against Sweetrock.  Trying to prove they'd been hiring thugs to kill independent miners for years and seize good claims.  He offered us a day in court to try to prove our claims.  I wasn't sure what to think of the matter, but with Coleman pushing up daisies, I'm thinking the offer was legitimate.”<br/><br/>He blew out a breath.  “Missed opportunity, maybe.  Or maybe a setup, and there was something else I wasn't seeing.”  He pursed his lips, pacing through the cave.  “I'm gonna want a volunteer in town, keeping tabs on what's going down with the new Sheriff.  Everyone else – we're getting the hell outta Dodge.”<br/><br/>He grinned broadly.  “I been making y'all rot away in this nasty cave for too long.  I got a plan to get us some new digs, and I think you're gonna like 'em.”  His eyes twinkled with that particular band of Black Jack mischief.  “Harley – you mind keeping an eye on things in town?”  He looked to the feminine gunslinger for a moment.  “Low profile.  Keep your nose clean for a bit.”  His eyes twinkled.  “Not forever, I promise.  Just til we know the lay of the land.  Twitch'll be nearby, if you gotta send messages back.”<br/><br/>“Lilah.”  He turned to the still-smiling Raider, one of the few who knew him before he was Black Jack.  “I got a message I need you to deliver.  I got a lead in Gomorra who can get it to Captain Sim Yut-San, and I need you to make sure it gets there.  No one knows your face, no one knows your with us, and I'm gonna need you to keep it that way.”<br/><br/>He looked around, his grin broadening.  “Everyone else – we're gonna take a cue from the Maze Rats and get ourselves a boat.”<br/><br/>There was some groans from a few of the Raiders who'd tried their hands as sailors before.  Jack raised a hand.  “Now, now – I ain't talking about a rusty, bilge rat infested chinaman's fishing boats with a gatling gun thrown on for good measure.  Seems Sweetrock's shipping up a new business venture.  A proper casino boat, with first-class rooms and pool tables and a bar that's supposed to put any saloon in Gomorra to shame.  I thought y'all might care to rest your heels in a place with showers and a full-service kitchen.”<br/><br/>Rachael led the rest in laughter.  “Well, hot damn.”  She glanced around the dark, damp cave that had been home for years.  “What the hell are we waiting for?”