The Courthouse is eerily quiet as Bauer pushes open the door to the Sheriff’s office. Leading Lee and Cooper down a short corridor, the three reach a square room furnished with a small table and a pair of desks, lit by a single lantern suspended from a beam in the low ceiling. Several wanted posters adorn the walls, along with a map of Lincoln County and a painting of a coyote on a sunlit hillside.

William Brady is seated at the table across from a short haired man in his late twenties. The two are midway through a game of chess. Brady’s eyebrows raise in surprise as the group enters and he smiles. ”Well, good evening,” he says, standing, ”Usually the only company we get on these nights are belligerent drunks.” He looks from Bauer to Lee. ”Is everything alright in town?”

"Please, don't let us interrupt you, Sheriff. Everything's alright, as far as I know anyhow. We were just passin' some time at the saloon, and figured you could use some company," he said.

He smiled at the other gentleman, and looked about the place, his senses all on edge as if waiting for some sign that something was amiss. He was also curious as to who was winning the chess game.

---

OOC:

Notice: 10

Since Lee is expecting trouble, I made the roll in advance of needing it, as he's keenly attuned for signs that something is amiss.

11:54, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 4,10 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.

Cooper shrugged. "S'pose we can be belligerent if ya like. Ain't drunk yet, though."

Albert nodded at what the Ranger had to say as he walked over close to the chess game. He gestured at the white side. "Ya need ta develop yer minor pieces a bit earlier. Otherwise yer just makin' targets fer yer opponent ta gun down."

The short haired man who is seated at the table frowns at the chessboard, then looks up at Cooper. ”I just thought the object was to throw everythin’ you had at the king.”

The sheriff smiles at Cooper’s offer of belligerency. ”I only introduced him to the game a week ago,” he explains.

Looking back to Lee, he says, ”I would welcome the company, Ranger. Besides those that overindulge in spirits, it seems I always need to be present in town on these evenings to reassure someone who has a fright, either real or, most often, imagined.”

“I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t tell you that there are far better places to pass the night. Miss Thornton’s is always hospitable, as is the Patron House. On most of these evenings, the Ramseys keep a pot of coffee on and some soup warmed.” He sweeps his hand to indicate the spare room. ”I’m afraid what you see here, is all the luxury we can offer. Though I will make some coffee in a bit, when drowsiness takes hold.”

"You've named at least a couple of my favorite spots in town right there. Say Sheriff is that..." he pointed at one of the Wanted posters on the wall and walked up towards it as if to beckon Brady closer, and then spoke to the lawman in a quieter tone.

"Pardon the ruse, Sheriff. I'm not familiar with your guest, though I'm sure he's a fine man. I received a tip from a source that informs me that there might be trouble tonight, here. Could you tell me what are all the entrances to this building, and who else might be here at the moment besides those of us in this room?"

Albert tipped his head from side-to-side at the response from the short-haired man. "Ain't always like that, no. Sometimes you gotta make sure ya ain't bein' flanked before ya take yer shot at the king. And when ya do, ya better bring enough bullets with ya ta take that sumbitch down. Ain't nutin' worse'n showin' up ta take down the bad guy without enough firepower."

Albert looked over at the pair that were conversing more silently, then went back to studying the position. "Gotta avoid over-extendin' yerself, too. Seen more'n one fella on the attack only ta get suprised by the counter."

Brady's eyebrows raise. "Well, Deputy Diaz is somewhat new to the badge, but he's done nothing to make me mistrust him."

"Aside from him and myself, there's only Jeraldo Guzman, who's in the jail. He's a farmhand who lives in San Patricio. Does work for several people there. Everytime he gets paid, he comes to Lincoln and gets drunk. Most times, we end up locking him up until he sobers."

"That's all. Just us three."

Diaz studies the board again, then scratches his head. "I just thought you stayed on the attack, you know? But...it hasn't worked worth a damn. You really seem to know how it all works."

"Could you spare some time to teach me one afternoon? I don't want the Sheriff to beat me every time we play."

As the others converse, Bauer moves back to the entrance, cracking the door and peering outside.

"My understanding is that McDaniels is gonna try to scare someone into making a run for it from this building, at which point a shooter will be ready to take said runner out. Now, if Diaz is new to the badge and Guzman is just a drunk, looks like you're the man o' the hour. Of course, if it doesn't play out like that, they might try somethin' else. Or if they saw Bauer, me, and Coop walk in, they might think better of the plan." He shrugged.

"Could be that it's all talk, but I had to bring it to you. Better safe than sorry. We should probably let Diaz know that we might be expectin' trouble. If there's a fight on, best to have every man - and woman - prepared."

---

OOC:

What is the Sheriff like in build/height, and is he wearing any kind of notable hat/duster?

Albert nodded at the request. "Yeah, I'd be happy ta teach ya what I know. I ain't no master of it, but I played a bit. Be nice ta have another person what knows how ta play decent."

Albert paused a moment to look around and then listen for anything out of the ordinary.

Diaz smiles ruefully, looking back at the board. "I'd be obliged to you," he tells Cooper.

OOC: Albert, please give me a Notice roll.

Brady frowns. "I know the Regulators bear me a bit of ill will. I've heard they fault me for not having found Mr. Tunstall's killers. If there's anyone else, I'm not aware of them."

"But I've no reason to doubt your word. I'll take Diaz and Bauer aside. Speak to them about your suspicions."

His gaze goes to the office entrance. "How do you think it best to proceed? I must be honest, Ranger. I don't wish to flee the office unless I have no other choice. My presence here is meant to calm the people of the town. Were I to run, I fear it would be akin to abandoning my post in my Army days."

OOC:
13:36, Today: Albert Cooper rolled 3,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Notice.

"I don't advise running, at least not for you. I'd sooner like to hold our ground in this building and capture whoever is looking to cause trouble. We could possibly bait them into putting themselves into a vulnerable position. Let's go tell Diaz. I already told Bauer. Then we can all talk it out together."

Brady nods in agreement and understanding. ”A sound idea,” he says.

Stepping over to the table with the chessboard, the sheriff motions for Deputy Diaz to follow him. The pair walk to one side of the office where Brady speaks with the younger man quietly.

Bauer ventures down the hall to the door to the office. She returns a moment later, her expression serious. ”Looks like a few of the Regulators have ridden into town. I recognize their mounts. They’re over at the Thornton-Curry.”

Brady and Diaz finish their conversation. As they step over to rejoin the rest of the group, the young deputy asks, ”So, how are we gonna play this?”

"Well, I'd start by ensuring that everyone has a sidearm loaded and ready in case there's trouble. With folks like the Regulators on hand and their penchant for vigilantism and extrajudicial action, you never know how things could play out. I'm also told there are other parties other than the Regulators looking to capitalize on any controversy here, so I'd advise against running out of the building until things settle down," he said.

"I hope some of this is rumor, but my sixth sense for trouble tells me otherwise. I don't know this building well, however. Deputy Bauer, is there another entrance other than the one we came in through?"

Albert moved closer to the others and spoke quietly. "I heard a creak comin' from upstairs. Also, don't forget 'bout the instruction we heard from our lady friend. Seems like someone's expectin' folks ta mebbe come runnin' outta here. What sorta thing might happen that'd cause folk ta do that? Particularly meanin' y'all?"

Bauer nods. “Yes, sir. Besides the door into the Sheriff’s Office, there’s a front and back entrance on this first floor. If you take the stairs out front, there’s also a door up there that leads directly into the court room.”

“At night, all those other doors stay locked, mainly ‘cause the circuit judges keep some of their court records there. That and...the armory’s on the second floor.”

”There’s stairs inside you can use to get up to the top floor.” Diaz gestures to the one of the doors at the rear of the room. ”Takes you straight up to the armory.”

”There isn’t much that would prompt me to leave this office unattended,” Brady tells Cooper, ”Especially not with a prisoner in the jail. Were some ruffians to come, intent on harming myself, one of my deputies, or someone we had locked up, my orders would be to stand and fight. Not flee.”

“I suppose if the court house was set ablaze, we would have no choice but to collect the prisoners and run for safety.”

Albert nodded. "Yeah, so let's maybe consider someone might try ta burn ya outta here. Not sure how ta zactly counter that. Though fer now, I think someone oughta head upstairs. Swore I heard somethin'. I'm willin' ta go with one of y'all, but given the sensitive stuff up there, officer of the law oughta be up there as well."

He paused. "I s'pose all property records an' the like're stored upstairs?"

"Too many entrances to secure properly. I'll go upstairs with Coop to secure the armory and make sure there's nobody snoopin' around up there. If y'all hold the fort down right here, we'll hopefully be back shortly. Don't come up unless we call for help, because it could be a distraction to ply folks from here," he said, moving to lead the way toward the interior stairs that would lead them to the second floor.

"Coop," he said quietly, his tone dead serious as they walked off together. "Don't forget 'bout them wolves. It could be them, back to finish the job they started. Or maybe more like that plant-man." After a moment, it would be clear to Cooper that this wasn't an attempt at a deadpan joke, but that Lee was sincere.

OOC:

Stealth: 7
Notice: 7

10:53, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 7,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Stealth.
10:53, Today: Bryan Lee rolled 7,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice.