Chapter 1
The Shape of Her Face
All rights belong to everyone else but me. I am borrowing these people and will return them happy and healthy.
KR
P.S. This one is off the wall, folks. It's really out of left field. But I am hoping that you will still enjoy it. I will apologize for the slow start, but there is quite a bumpy road ahead of us. I hope that you will stick with this. As always, forgive any errors. I will try to keep my notes straight for consistency. Read on. Also, I am apologizing in advance and will explain at the end of this first chapter why I am apologizing. KR
Matt Dillon, US Marshal sat on the stoop as usual. It was a quiet August day, the sun was high in the morning sky and Dodge was just waking up. Looking up the walk, Matt saw Festus and Newly heading back to the Jail after making morning rounds. As they made their way towards the jail, a lone rider came from the opposite direction heading for the jail. Matt heard thee horse and turned to look at the tall figure on the dark steed. It took a few minutes but Matt recognized the rider. His name, Jack Wilcox, he is the Director of the US Marshals. Matt stepped down off of the boardwalk and waited for the rider who pulled up in front of him.
"Hello Matt, it's been a long time." He said as he dismounted his horse.
"It's been almost 15 years Jack, how are you?" Matt said grasping Jack's hand firmly.
"I'm good, Matt." He said reaching back to pull the saddlebag from the horse. He tied the rein off on the fencing. "I hope you got a fresh pot of coffee brewing, Matt, I sure could use a hot cup." He said as Matt led him into the jail.
"Sure do. Come on in." He told him. The two men entered the Jail, closing the door behind them.
Festus and Newly had not yet reached the jail but they had seen the exchange between the two men. Knowing that it was more than likely Marshalling business, they continued to head for the jail.
"So, Jack, what brings you to these parts?" Matt asked him as he poured two cups of coffee then set the pot down and handing Jack a cup.
"I have a job for you." He said as he took the coffee and pulled a chair up to sit in front of Matt's desk. Just as Matt took his seat, Festus and Newly walked into the office.
"Morning Mathew!" Festus said stepping inside.
"Newly, Festus, I'd like you to meet an old friend, and the director of the US Marshals, Jack Wilcox. Jack these are my deputies, Newly O'Brien and Festus Hagan." He said introducing the two men to their boss.
"Howdy Mr. Wilcox." Festus said stretching his hand out to Jack.
"Hello Festus." He replied.
"Hello, Sir." Newly said as he too stretched out his hand to greet the Director.
"Gentlemen, we'll get along just fine if you call me Jack. I much prefer it. My father is Mr. Wilcox, I'm just Jack." Jack said trying to break the ice. Both men nodded to him and then went about their business. Newly had brought the newest flyers in from the post office and sat at the table going through them as Festus starting cleaning the rifles.
"So, Jack, what is this job that you have for me?" Matt asked as he sat back down.
"I need you to round up a fugitive, Matt." He said taking a sip of his coffee.
"Why me, Jack, there's gotta be 2 dozen men that can do the job." He said getting up to get another cup of coffee.
"Cause you're the best man for the job." He said watching Matt closely.
"Why is that?" Matt asked him.
"Matt, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, because you are awful contrary today. Look, Matt, I'll be straight with you." He said leaning down and picking up the saddlebag he had set on the floor beside his chair. "This is a special case." He said pulling out the dark brown folder from the bag. "This isn't your ordinary fugitive. In fact, she's not just a fugitive, but a witness."
"Whoa, wait a minute, did you just say, 'she?'" Matt asked sitting up straight in his chair.
"Yes I did. She," He said handing the poster to him of Kathleen Russell, that he pulled out of the folder. "is the woman in question." Matt looked the poster over. He had never seen the woman before, but he had to admit, even on a poster, she looked damn good.
"She's wanted for dealing a crooked game on a Riverboat in New Orleans. Her name, is Kathleen Russell, she goes by Kitty." He watches as Matt stares at the poster, memorizing her face, as he had always done with posters. But this was different. He saw the slight twinkle in Matt's eye, and he knew that meant he was intrigued. "She works for John Clark, she's not only his #1 dealer, she's also his woman and # 1 whore. Yes, he even sells his own woman." He saw Matt's eyes crinkle in disbelief. "I know what you're thinking, she's very beautiful and nothing that beautiful could be anything but a lady. Sometimes this harsh world doesn't give a woman a choice."
"Why is it so important that you come to me with this? I mean, come on, Jack how dangerous can this woman be?" Matt said feeling amused by all this. Jack pulls one of those photographs from his saddlebag. It is a much clearer picture of Kitty Russell.
"I had this borrowed from Clark's private office. It's much better if you have an actual photograph." He said handing the picture of Kitty to him. He watched Matt closely as he looked at the picture. To most people, there was no visible reaction, but Jack saw the gaze in his eyes, as they stared into pale eyes looking back from the photo. He knew that Matt was trying to decide what color eyes the woman had and her hair color as well. "I chose you because you are a man of great integrity, you're honest and believe in your job, Matt. This woman will use any means necessary to get away from you."
"Meaning, she's seduced another Marshal and escaped?" He asked him.
"Yes. Grey Teller had taken her into custody on the Riverboat. It was an amazing game to watch." He said holding his cup up for more coffee. Matt went over to the pot of coffee and brought it over to Jack, pouring him another cup. "I don't even know how Grey had caught her. She moved so fast, I've never seen anyone hazel cards like this. I was truly impressed."
"Who is this Clark?" He said looking up at Jack.
"I mentioned that he is her man, well, I get the feeling not by her own choice. She was on his Riverboat when she was caught." Jack said sitting back in the chair. Festus put the first rifle away and took another to clean.
"Do you think he knew about her?" Matt said lifting the picture up again and staring at it.
"I don't think he just knew about her, I think he trained her to be that good. She's been with Clark since she was, I'm not sure, but I think since she was about 13 years old." Jack said looking at him.
Matt looked up at him surprised. "What was Clark's reaction to the arrest? He knew she was cheating?"
"I believe he did, but he denied knowing she had been cheating, in fact, he made quite a scene, hit her and played innocent." Jack said looking into the dark liquid. "She never said a word. Never tried to defend herself, she allow Clark to accuse her, and Grey arrested her. We had heard that Clark dealt a dirty game and that's why we were there. Pete Mosey is the Sheriff in that town, but he's in Clark's pocket like most folks there. Matt, Clark is a coward, his favorite pastime is abusing women, especially that one."
"It seems a bit strange that she'd go without at least trying to claim innocence." Matt said as he set the picture down on the desk.
"Very strange, but I think the lady prefers to be in jail rather than in Clark's clutches." He said setting his cup down on the desk. "There's more, John Clark has been dealing in Opium. I'm sure you've heard about it, it's from the Orient. It's highly addictive and we know that he has connections we just don't know who." He said looking at Matt.
Festus had finished with the guns, and Newly had left to make rounds. "Excuse me, Mathew, I'm heading over to Moss's see ifin' I can help him out."
"Okay, Festus." Matt said looking up from his seat for a moment. He watched Festus leave.
"You think that this woman can help you find those connections?" Matt said looking at Jack. "She's not just a fugitive, she's a witness?" Matt asked Jack already knowing the answer.
"It's quite possible she may know something about his other activities. Then again, she may know nothing about it. Either way, she is a fugitive on the run and you are the best man for the job. She already slipped away before they could get her to trial. I think she may be in great danger as well, Matt." Jack said watching Matt's reaction.
Matt looked up at Jack confused, than it dawned on him. "Clark?"
"Yes. From what I can gather from the townsfolk around there, the ones that were willing to talk that is, she's Clark's prized possession, and he wants her back." He said getting up and going around the desk. He knew exactly where Matt kept the bottle of whiskey, and opened the drawer. He pulled out the two shot glasses and set them on the table. Matt shook his head no, but Jack poured himself a shot of whiskey and closed the bottle, placing it back in the drawer. He then went back to his seat.
"So, you want me to find her and bring her back to New Orleans?" Matt said closing the file and tying the front closure.
"No, I think Hays City would be best. Clark has too many men on his payroll in New Orleans, she'd never get a fair trial." Jack said taking a deep swallow of the amber liquid. "That's good stuff." He said sitting his glass down on the desk.
"Well, I guess I'll start out tomorrow morning." Matt said watching his old friend.
"Where are you gonna start?" Jack asked, the curiosity getting to him.
"I figure Louisiana's as good a place to start as any." Matt said getting up and grabbing his saddlebag, which hung on the lone peg by the entrance of the jail cells. He takes the saddlebag and opens it up, depositing the folder in the pouch and tying off the tether.
"Thank you, Matt." Jack said getting up from his chair.
"Thank me when I bring her in." He told him. "Are you leaving for Garden City now?"
"How did you know I was heading to Garden City?" Jack asked him.
"Because, you usually do, Jack." Matt said smiling at him.
"I was thinking of staying in Dodge for a day or so, then head on up to Garden City." Jack placed his hat back on his head and headed for the door. "I'll be staying at Ma' Smalley's for the night. Maybe I'll even have a drink at the Long Branch, Sam still playin' the fiddle there?"
"Every chance he gets." Matt said holding the door opened.
"Good, good. I'll talk to you later than, Matt." Jack said as Matt shook his head.
Matt walks back over to his chair and sat down. Taking the picture from the saddlebag, he stared down at it. The woman was beautiful, that was for certain. And he'd even wager that she was pretty damn smart too. 'Well,' he thought to himself. 'it would be a challenge.' But he was sure he'd have one hell of an adventure.
The morning came quickly and Matt found himself on the stage heading South East to New Orleans. Sitting back in the seat, he opened the folder and pulled out the picture and began to read up on her. Taking out a small notepad he began to notes. He found her history to be quite interesting and the fact that they had so much info on her intrigued him. A man and his wife sat across from him, trying not to be noticed, but they were watching him. Matt took the folder and notepad and placed everything back in the saddlebag. He then looked up at the couple and touched the front of his hat, tipping his head slightly. They both nodded back to him, and continued on their journey in silence.
TBC