The Judge, the Colt, and the Crimson Gulch

The sun beat down on Tombstone like a blacksmith's hammer, turning the dusty street into a shimmering mirage. Jake squinted, his hand instinctively moving towards the pearl-handled Colt nestled low in its holster. He hadn't expected to find trouble this far east of the Arizona Territory, but then again, trouble had a knack for finding him regardless. He’d arrived in Tombstone just yesterday, drawn by whispers of gold and opportunity. But instead of gleaming nuggets and bustling saloons, he found himself staring down a gaunt man with eyes like chips of flint.

“You Jake Mallory?” the man rasped, his voice as dry as the desert wind.

Jake nodded cautiously. “That’s right.”

“Judge Thompson wants to see you. Now,” the man spat, turning on his heel and disappearing into the throng of dusty figures that populated the street. Jake followed, curiosity warring with a deep-seated suspicion. He'd heard rumors about Judge Thompson – a man who ruled Tombstone with an iron fist, dispensing justice as capriciously as he dealt poker hands.

The Judge’s office was perched atop a rickety wooden building overlooking Main Street. The interior was surprisingly opulent, with mahogany furniture and heavy velvet curtains framing a large window overlooking the dusty town. Behind a massive oak desk sat Judge Thompson, a portly man with a walrus mustache and eyes that seemed to pierce through Jake.

A grim silence hung in the air before Judge Thompson spoke, his voice surprisingly soft for a man of such imposing stature. “Mr. Mallory, I understand you’re a skilled gunhand.”

Jake simply nodded, unsure where this was leading. He kept his hand hovering near his Colt, just in case.

“There’s been a murder,” Judge Thompson continued, his gaze unwavering. “A young woman, Abigail Hayes, found dead in Crimson Gulch last night. The evidence points to her husband, Caleb, but he claims innocence.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. This was turning out to be far more interesting than he anticipated.

“Caleb's a stubborn mule,