The next morning, Barney met Andy at the courthouse around eight o'clock. Andy was there with Gomer. Gomer had been behind bars since the day before. Gomer kept thinking he was right he was not guilty of committing a crime of Goober. Andy really did believe him. Gomer always knew Andy would believe him from the start but he knew for sure Barney was different. Sometimes Barney could get carried away.

"All right, Gomer. Spit it out. Tell me and Andy you were the one who had this thing all set up," Barney said.

"All I know is when I got to the filling station, the crooks were already there. Goober had this look on his face telling you how frightened he was. I didn't blame him one bit. When I showed up, the crooks had their gun out at Cousin Goober. I didn't know what to do so all I could think of was to call you and now I'm here at the courthouse."

Barney walked back to Andy.

"You know what, Ange? I think there's more to this than meets the eye," Barney whispered.

"Maybe so, Barn, but I do believe Gomer is innocent.

"Innocent nothing. I'll keep working on him, Ange."

Gomer was overhearing the hushed conversation. He knew Barney was going to get carried away sooner or later. He hoped Barney would think of him as innocent once they got deeper in the case more. Gomer had a feeling he was telling the truth all along.

After hearing the hushed conversation, Gomer decided he'd speak up once again. Gomer cleared his throat to break the silence.

"Yes, Gomer?" Barney asked.

Just before Gomer could tell them anything else, the courthouse door opened. Gomer didn't recognize who the person was. He thought more of the event that happened with him and Goober at the garage while Andy talked with the man who walked in.

The man was tall, gray – haired, fifty – ish, wore blue jeans, a baseball cap (he guessed it was a baseball team from another state but couldn't be certain), white socks and black shoes, glasses, and a business shirt. Gomer didn't know what the man did for a living but he could tell it was businesslike.

"May I help you with anything?" Andy asked.

"I came by to send you this," the man said.

"And your name is?" Barney asked.

He pulled a black wallet out of his pants pocket. He opened the wallet and handed Barney a piece of paper.

"I am Richard Saunders. I came all the way here from Mount Pilot. I was told to give you this," Mr. Saunders said.

"A note? Thank you, Mr. Saunders. We appreciate it. I'll give the sheriff a call in a few minutes and see what he wants done."

Richard thanked Andy and said good day to Andy and Barney once he slammed the door behind him.

"I've never seen that guy before, Ange."

"Neither have I, Barney. I'll call the sheriff in Mount Pilot later. First, I want to hear more about yesterday."

"Andy, I didn't do it. I've told you and Barney all I know. When I was making the call to you, I heard a gunshot and after getting off with you, I was just in time to see this happen. I would never make a commit murder on my cousin."

"Of course you won't, Gomer. You're family, so that's personal from those crooks that came by yesterday."

"I know, Andy, but that's something they don't know about me and Goober. I don't know why they would want to kill Goober if they didn't know who he was."

"You're right, Gomer."

Gomer watched as Barney put on his light brown police cap on his head. Of course, the uniform matched the cap.

"Where are you going, Barney?"

"Patrol."

"I thought we were going to talk with Gomer about yesterday."

"You talk with him and see what you can find out," Barney said, grabbing the key chain they kept for the squad car and slammed the door.

"So much for that, Gomer."

"I know. I have no idea why I have to be here behind bars if I did nothing wrong."

"Like it says, Gomer, guilty proven innocent."

"I understand, Andy, but still it doesn't make sense to me if I have to be here and the crooks are on the loose."

"I believe you, Gomer. For now we want you to stay out of the filling station while this case is in progress. You understand?"

"Yes, Andy."

Gomer was not sure how long he would be out of work but he knew it would be for a while but he would see what Barney and Andy thought of telling him.

Barney came back shortly. He walked in, taking the cap off and hanging it on the rack.

"That was fast," Gomer said.

"Who told you to speak?" Barney asked.

"Nobody."

"You only speak when somebody tells you to," Barney said strictly to him.

Andy didn't like what was going on with Barney today.

"Barney, we don't tell our Mayberry citizens when they can and can't speak."

"When it's a crime like this, Ange, we will."

Andy still didn't comment so he stayed quiet.

"Barney, this is a free country. We're able to do what we can," Gomer told him.

"It may be a free country, but with a murder case like this, that's different," Barney returned.

"You will soon find out I've told the truth all along, Barney, then you'll prove yourself sorry."

Andy didn't want to get into this argument.

"Barney, stop. You're getting carried away," Andy told him.

"I don't care. Gomer can stay here at the courthouse until we find out who murdered Goober," Barney said.

Gomer didn't say anything.