Not quite Super-Earp

The following morning, Maggie was woken by the smell of bacon and coffee. She was starting to think that Nicole’s kindness would be the breaking of her. “Don’t tell Waverly about the bacon when you meet her,” Nicole said, “she’s vegan and pretty serious about it but I couldn’t inflict fake bacon on you for your first Canadian breakfast. Wait. You’re not vegan are you?”

Maggie shook her head and took a forkful of bacon to prove her point, wondering if they had bagels and toasters in Canada. Nicole was already dressed in a navy shirt and pants but the top button of her shirt was undone, something she’d never get away with in National City. She did however have a rather impressive brown leather belt with a holster laying on the counter and Maggie suddenly missed her gun but there’d have been no way of getting it through airport security.

After breakfast, Nicole gave her a moment to gather her stuff - not that there was much to gather - before ushering her back into the patrol car. The journey was much shorter and much less awkward than the one from the previous day and Nicole didn’t even need to turn the radio on to fill any silences as she gave a greatly edited over-view of the town.

When Nicole pulled up outside the Sheriff’s Department, Maggie stared open-mouthed at its shabby exterior. It was a poorly constructed shed in comparison to what she was used to at the NCPD. She suddenly missed National City not just for its warm weather and it being the home of her girlfriend but for the symphony of resources the NCPD had which she certainly wouldn’t have here. Nicole lead her through a sparsely decorated reception area to the back office where a bearded, rounded figure stood awkwardly next to a desk, the contents of which had clearly been recently swept into the trash can next to it leaving it completely bare.

“Sheriff,” Nicole announced, “this is Detective Maggie Sawyer from the NCPD.”

“Of course,” he smiled and held out a sweaty hand, “I’m Sheriff Nedley. We, uh, cleared you a desk. I’m sure Officer Haught will help you get settled. I’m… uh… just going to find those case files.”

“Is he always like that?” Maggie asked, eyeing the sparseness of the desk and the notable absence of a computer.

“He just gets nervous around new people,” Nicole explained, “I’m just glad he remembered you were coming.”

“And he’s the sheriff?”

“And he’s a really good one,” Nicole said defensively before catching herself, “Sorry. He’s just not that great at first impressions but he’s the best boss I’ve ever had.”

“Yeah, no, he seems great,” Maggie said, “I’ve worked with way worse anyway. This my desk?” she gestured at the barren surface.

Nicole nodded, biting her bottom lip worriedly.

“It’s minimalist.”

“I can probably find you a pen and a pad,” Nicole offered with a smile.

“Any chance of a computer?”

“Not at all. You’re going to have to go old school and she handed Maggie a half empty legal pad.” I mean you can use mine but it’s only really good for playing solitaire.”

“Everyone loves solitaire.”

“Exactly! Defeating that thing can sometimes be the most exciting thing that happens on a shift.”

“It’s like that, huh?”

“Welcome to small town Canada,” Nicole said unenthusiastically.

“Great,” Maggie said, the clenched jaw returning, and she flopped into the chair and fell straight off it as the pneumatic pump gave way.

Nicole bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh, “I’ll get you another chair,” she said as Maggie scrabbled for the shreds of her dignity and picked herself off the floor.

***

The chair Nicole found for her wasn’t much better. It had clearly been salvaged from the waiting room and it squeaked and had several suspicious looking stains. Before his all too speedy exit earlier, Nedley had left her a single file to ‘fill her in’ on life in Purgatory but what she’d been left could barely be described as a file. Inside its manilla fold was a single sheet of paper with misspelt notes detailing some unexplained happenings in the town much of which read like a bad Halloween story. She glanced up to a quiz Nicole on what the hell it was that was going on and the role she was expected to play in it all but realised very quickly that she was not going to get her attention any time soon. Nicole was leaning up against the civilian counter staring dreamily into the eyes of the petite figure on the other side who must have been Waverly. Maggie realised that any interruption would most likely prove futile and left them to it. Filling in the many gaps of the report could wait for now. With nothing else to do, Maggie just watched the two of them talk. She hoped that was what her and Alex looked like when they were together as even from a distance they did seem like a sickeningly perfect couple. When Nicole eventually turned away, Maggie scrabbled for the pen and the file to cover up her stares.

“I’m gonna go for lunch,” Nicole said and her gesture at Waverly was all the explanation that was needed.

“Sure, no worries,” Maggie said, as the two figures were already headed out of the door. In the absence of everyone, Maggie became determined to make the most of her time alone and try to get to the bottom of the situation she’d found herself in and headed for Nicole’s desk, taking in the plethora of post-it notes. A nudge of the mouse revealed a half finished game of solitaire. No password protection. What was wrong with this place? She clicked her way onto the database which was, frustratingly (and surprisingly), password protected. She then noticed a post-it note, stuck amongst many, to the frame of the monitor with Calam!ty_W@ves written neatly on it. Solid password. Less than solid idea to leave it stuck to the computer but she had to thank Nicole for her apparent absent-mindedness. She quickly tapped it in and started her cyber rummage.

There was nothing: Purgatory was apparently a town of boredom and stereotypes. The database presented an endless list of DUIs, petty theft and sexual harassment. There was no mention of anything unremarkable: no aliens, no zombies, not even an unexplained body. She exited the search and stood up disappointed from Nicole’s desk. As she looked around the office, she remembered Nicole’s was not the only computer or office for her to look for and having a good ol’ fashioned snoop might be the only way to get to the bottom of whatever it was that was happening. There had to be aliens if the tip-off was anything to go on, and it was the only thing she had to go on, or at least a lot more than what was outlined in the pitiful file she’d been left. There were several filing cabinets dotted around - all unlocked - but they held as much information as Nicole’s computer. Nedley’s office was just as sparse; more space had been afforded to his mug collection than to police paperwork.

As she retreated out of his office, closing the door quietly behind her, she spotted a door across from her that she hadn’t noticed before. Nicole hadn’t really given her much of a tour but she had pointed out the toilets, kitchen and Nedley’s office. She had, however, completely avoided this door so Maggie hadn’t noticed it until it was directly in front of her. The blinds on the glass partition were closed as were the ones on the window in the door. And it was locked. Given how lax the security was with everything else, this suggested that whatever was in the office could well be at the root of why it was she was there. Just as she was about to start another rummage through the drawers and Nedley’s mug collection in a hunt for the key or something to pick the lock with, Nedley reappeared. He shuffled awkwardly into the office and forced her to lean in a faux-nonchalant pose against the wall which he thankfully ignored, “If you wanna go and get some lunch, I can take over from here,” he said, clearing his throat, “Nicole’s in Shorty’s so you could go there and join her. She could introduce you to some people.”

“Thanks,” Maggie said, reaching for her jacket and shrugging it on and patting its pocket to check for her wallet. The door would have to wait.

“Shorty’s is just across the way there, you can’t miss it,” he said and settled into his chair. Maggie was envious of its structural integrity. She also, with her detective’s intuition, knew he was just desperate to get rid of her so he could have some peace and quiet free of any difficult questions.

***

Shorty’s saloon was conveniently just across the street from the office and it reminded her of the dive bar back in National City. Its low ceiling and prominent pool table coupled with some intriguing looking customers felt comfortingly familiar but she wished it was Alex she saw bent over the pool table instead of the scruffy guy with too much of his ass crack peering out over the top of his waistband.

She’d made it past the pool table and was walking uncertainly towards the bar when she heard her name being called. Nicole was sat in a booth in the corner surrounded by people one of whom Maggie recognised from before as Waverly. The others all seemed to fit in very well with the rest of the bar’s clientele. They all shuffled up to make room for Maggie but Nicole managed to keep her arm draped around Waverly’s shoulder throughout the shift in position.

“This is Maggie. She’s come up from National City to help us with some top secret project,” Nicole explained as she settled in the booth.

“It’s so top secret that even I don’t know what it is,” Maggie quipped.

The slim figure opposite raised an eyebrow, “That’s how we roll here,” she retorted and took a swig of beer.

“And now you’ve met Wynonna,” Nicole said before standing up, “Maggie, what can I get you?”

“Uh, diet coke, please,” she said and Wynonna scoffed and rolled her eyes at her response.

“Are you sure?” Nicole asked, glancing at the array of beer and shot glasses on the table.

“Aren’t we working?” Maggie asked, puzzled.

“That rarely stops us here,” Wynonna said and downed her drink to prove it.

“She does have a good point,” Nicole smiled, “and I suspect Nedley’d be glad if we took the afternoon off. We wouldn’t want to interrupt his afternoon nap time.”

“In which case,” Maggie smiled, her eyes flashing with excitement, “I’ll start with a beer.”

“Start with,” Wynonna grinned, “you’re starting to turn things around, city chick.”

“You can all introduce yourselves while I’m gone,” Nicole said to the table as she headed to the bar, her place held at the table by her stetson.

“It’s so exciting to finally meet you,” Waverley grinned, “I’m Waverley,” she added, “Nicole’s girlfriend.”

“I figured,” Maggie said, “I saw you two at the station earlier. You’re a cute couple.”

“The cutest,” Wynonna said sarcastically, “and one of the noisiest.”

“Wynonna!” Waverley exclaimed, her face reddening, before turning back to Maggie, “and this is Wynonna. My sister.”

“Older sister. That’s important,” Wynonna added.

“And this is Doc,” Waverley said, gesturing to the heavily moustached figure sat opposite.

“I must say, it is a delight to meet such a beautiful lady,” he drawled in a heavy southern accent, maintaining direct eye contact with her. Maggie smiled back thinking about how fun this situation had the potential to be as he leaned forward to continue the flirtation.

Then, Nicole returned to the table, setting beers in front of everyone. Wynonna had already grabbed hers from the tray before Nicole had begun their distribution and a third of it was gone by the time Maggie had registered that Nicole was back, “Hey, Haught stuff!” Wynonna called, “How about some more shots next time? Really get things going.”

“There’s no way I’m buying another round, Wynonna,” Nicole responded, “You should just get a job.”

“I have a job,” Wynonna whined.

“All the more reason to stop scrounging off me. One of the benefits of employment is that you can usually afford to get your own drinks.”

“Or one of the benefits of being employed in the same place as you sister’s girlfriend,” Wynonna began.

Maggie spluttered into her glass in shock.

“Is that,” Wynonna continued, throwing a dirty look in Maggie’s direction, “You can take advantage of your wannabe sister-in-law’s eagerness to please and get her to buy drinks for you.”

Nicole frowned, her mouth opening and closing like a stunned goldfish as she tried to come up with witty response.

“And I think I win,” Wynonna murmured and finished off her drink. She left her empty glass in front of Nicole with an expectant look.

Doc reached over to take the glass and managed to diffuse a situation that had suddenly become very tense, “Nicole,” he drawled, “you did not tell me that your new colleague is such a fine example of the female species.”

Nicole looked at Maggie before they both started laughing with Waverly quickly joining them as Doc and Wynonna looked on, utterly bewildered.

“I think my girlfriend would agree with you,” Maggie said, enjoying watching Doc’s jaw drop open.

“Do they put that on the recruitment posters?” Wynonna said, “Must be willing to eat…”

“I’m going to stop you there,” Nicole said quickly.

“If you’d arrived a couple of weeks ago, you could have gone to Purgatory Pride,” Waverly said.

“Nicole mentioned that,” Maggie said, “You know I’m actually sad to have missed the rainbow onesies.”

“They’re the best!” Waverly grinned, “maybe next year?”

“God I hope I’m not here that long. I mean,” She added as Waverly’s face fell, “I could always visit again.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, city chick,” Wynonna said as she at last made her way to the bar.

The afternoon at the bar quickly became an evening in the bar and Maggie rapidly lost count of how many drinks she’d bought and consumed but this also meant that she no longer cared.