Redemption - Book lll

Chapter 1: Born Unto Trouble - Curious Tales from Blackwater

January 1914

"Agent Fordham," Edgar Ross announced from his office, his cigar resting in the ashtray of his oak desk. 

"Sir?" 

"Can you go into the records vault and retrieve these files?" He asked, handing Agent Fordham a handwritten note, reading: 

1899-VAN, 1899-MA, 1899-WIL, 1899-MO, 1899-BAR, 1899-ESQ, and 1899-MAT

All files from the former Van der Linde gang. 

"Yes, sir." Agent Fordham nodded before dismissing himself from Ross' office. Later, he returned with another agent as all files retrieved were adding an uncomfortable amount of weight. "Sir, I believe these will be all you need." 

"Thank you, Archer," Ross nodded, taking the first file off of the stack, opening it to arch his brow at the man who held all responsibility in killing his former brother in arms, Agent Milton. "Do we have any confirmation on his whereabouts?" He asked, his index finger tapping on Dutch van der Linde's wanted poster, still brittle and sun-bleached from the many years of wear as it began folding in on itself from all four corners and becoming brittle where it was clipped to his file along with the many notes from the climactic chase. 

Archer shook his head, "No, sir. There were many rumors circulating that he is still in the area and there have been other rumors that he's dead." 

"I wouldn't be surprised if he faked it just like the other three have," Ross scoffed. "I want to reopen this case and close them all out."

"I thought we were supposed to omit cases like this after several years of no activity?" Agent Davis questioned, still fairly new to his job. 

"No, they are stored away as closed cases until something new arises, like a tip or a sight," Archer answered. "Sir, did we receive a tip?" 

"Yes, from Sheriff Johnson down in New Austin. Said he had been having some trouble with the apparent Williamson Gang and cattle rustlers and he asked me if I had previous warrants in order to get him taken to prison once he is captured or killed. If it was the Bill Williamson I remember, he also ran with Mr. Van der Linde back in 1899 and I became rather curious as to if they have all been terminated or captured."

"I understand," Archer nodded. "Want me to begin my research?" 

"Yes. And take Mr. Davis with you. If they're all still alive, we need to find a way to extinguish them without putting additional pressure on our team." He explained, referring to the many different accusations and claims against Ross himself for "unfair termination".

"Understood. Come on, Mr. Davis." 

Ross watched his associates leave before taking another puff from his cigar and looking back down at the wanted poster on his desk, "I gotcha now, Mr. Van der Linde." 

»»-------------¤-------------««

March, 1914

"Mr. Ross, sir," Archer announced, excitement in his tone as he and Agent Davis entered the office, unaware that Ross had been holding a meeting between two police officers regarding an incident in town. "Oh, I'm sorry sir, I-"

"No need for apologies, Mr. Fordham," Ross waved his hand. "Come in. I hope you have some good news for me." 

Archer huffed a breath of relief as it had felt like a long month and a half of consistent searching for any type of clue they could find to complete the cases, proud of himself for collecting the necessary information for his boss. "As a matter of fact, we have. Mr. Davis and I spent many days and nights travelling and we believe we have found the answers you have been looking for." 

"Is that right?" 

"Yes, sir," Archer nodded before presenting a new file before him. "We rode down to Armadillo to speak to Sheriff Johnson about Williamson - said he runs his own gang out of Fort Mercer. There's word that Esquella runs with him too, but we can't confirm. As for Van der Linde, we've talked to many different locals in each of the surrounding states around here and apparently he has been seen or involved in different coach and bank robberies." 

"What about Arthur Morgan and Minnie Barlow? John Marston?" 

"We went to the bank in town and confirmed that Mr. Marston officially owns the plot of land in the Plains called Beecher's Hope. However, he hasn't been seen since late last year. As for Morgan and Barlow, I managed to pull records from them selling their land upstate-"

"They're not at that ranch anymore?" 

"No, sir. Nobody knows where they could be." 

"Set up a patrol on the main road surrounding Beecher's Hope. Keep talking to locals to see if they can identify them. There has to be a trace somewhere." 

Archer shrugged, "I don't know. They've been outlaws their whole lives and can probably continue living under the radar. Especially Barlow - working for the government like she did-"

"That is no excuse. We will find them and make them pay their dues. You have my word on that." 

"Yes, sir. We'll find them." 

"That's what I like to hear. Since we have confirmation that most of the remaining scum are alive, how about we toy with this idea I have in my head?" 

"What's that, boss?" 

"We track down John Marston, Arthur Morgan, and Minnie Barlow. Make them hunt down and kill Mr. Van der Linde, Esquella, and Williamson if they're still out there. We all know they'll eventually kill each other when getting into a fight. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak." 

"That's... not a bad idea, boss."

"Keeps most of the blood off of our hands," Ross shrugged. "We'll offer them something they can't pass up - their freedom. Hold the rest of their family until we can confirm they're all terminated, then just let them go to fend for themselves." 

"Whatever you say. What would you like us to do first?" 

"Find John Marston and his family first. The word will get right back to Mr. Morgan and his wife and they'll just have to come and help him. They'll stick themselves right into our trap."