Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss. I got nada but my imagination.

Characters: Crew, omc, ofc.

Warning: PG for graphic violence, profanity and other grownup things.

Setting: In the town of Silverton, on Santo, immediately prior to “The Train Job”.

Words: 2,206

A/N: As a kid, my two favorite TV genres were westerns and detective shows. I finally decided to tackle both in a mix I’ve thought of as “Firefly CSI”. Click my name to access the previous chapters. If you’re following this tale, I’d really appreciate hearing what you think, and if you’re enjoying it, please pimp it to your friends. Thanks!

X - posted from my LiveJournal.

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Presumption of Guilt

Chapter Eleven

Garvey, Mal and Shepherd Book stood in the darkness outside Dwight Powers’ home, watching as Doc Bailey and two of the deputies loaded the dead man’s body into the back of the doc’s battered old flyer for transport back to the doctor’s office.

As the vehicle powered away, Mal contemplated the complex events of the past few days. “Looks like this ties up a lot of loose ends.” He scratched thoughtfully at the corner of his mouth, then shared his thoughts with Silverton’s sheriff. “Max, seein’ as you’ve got ample evidence Jayne Cobb’s not your murderer, why not cut the man loose? It’d be a kindness, seein’ as he’s been sittin’ in your jail these past four days, and would free up me an’ my crew up to get on about our business.”

Garvey sighed deeply. He was suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue and sat down on the front step of Power’s porch. The situation was nowhere as clear-cut as his browncoated friend imagined. He took out his pipe and loaded it from the leather pouch he carried, tamped the fragrant tobacco with his middle finger and considered how to respond to Mal’s request.

“See, “ he drawled, lighting the pipe, “it’s like this…”

Ai ya! Mal thought. Here it comes. Why can’t things ever go smooth?

“Like I’ve told you, C