Matt bypassed the Long Branch in favor of the Bulls Head saloon for the meeting with Sheriff Cooper and Deputy Martin. He couldn't risk Kitty seeing them or anyone over hearing the conversation and blowing his chance to find out what Cooper knew. Besides, Matt had a feeling the Bulls Head would be more to Cooper's liking.
Stepping inside, Matt grinned when the bartender's eyebrows raised in surprise but the man didn't say anything as the three men took seats at a table in the very back of the saloon.
A pretty young girl sauntered over to their table. Matt had meet her before. He smiled when she put her arm around his neck. "Well, Marshal," she said mischievously. "Kitty let you out?"
"Something like that," Matt said bruskly before he looked at Cooper and Martin. "Anita, these men here are special friends of mine. I want you to take care of them."
"Sure will, Marshal," Anita said putting an arm around Martin's neck. "What can I get ya'all ta drink?"
"Whiskey," Cooper said with a grin. "The good stuff! I don't want none of that rot gut stuff they serve at the other saloon!"
"Alright," Anita said disentangling herself from Martin.
"And bring the bottle!" Cooper yelled before turning to Matt. "You got a good think going here Marshal."
"I know," Matt said slyly. "But I got something even better."
"Oh," Cooper said leaning in closer. "What's that?"
"I got a Judge on my payroll," Matt replied with a wiry grin as Cooper smiled.
"No wonder you wanted to get those two back here so fast," Martin said with a laugh. "And to think we were trying to kill em when you was going to do it all along!"
Cooper looked scared until Matt started to laugh along with Martin. "You ain't mad?" Cooper asked as Matt shook his head.
"Nope," he said as Anita returned with an expensive bottle of whiskey. Matt picked up a shot glass and filled it before passing the bottle to Cooper and Martin. "I would have done the same thing!"
"So tell me about this, Judge," Cooper said downing a third shot of whiskey. "What's your plan?"
"Well," Matt says leaning in close to Cooper. "That depends on you, Sheriff. How much you getting paid to see the old man taken out and who's doing the paying. I got a right to know if you want me to do your dirty work!"
"He's right," Martin said as Cooper nodded.
"It's Ben Turner's gang, Marshal," Cooper said confirming what Matt had suspected. "They want to pay me thousand's to take out the doctor. I'm willing to half that with you."
"All in the name of revenge?" Matt asked quietly as Cooper shook his head.
"They think Ben told the Doc where they're hide out is. I told them the old man don't know nothing but they don't want to take the chance!"
"And, I suppose you do," Matt said grinning as Cooper nodded.
"Of course, I know," Cooper said boastfully. "How do you think I collect my money."
Matt sucked in a quick breath as a new idea formed in his head. "I think it's time you met the Judge, Sheriff Cooper," Matt said looking at the time. "Lets head on over to his office and see what he's got to say."
"Sure, Marshal," Sheriff Cooper said before looking at Martin. "Let's go meet the Judge, John."
Matt plucked down a couple of dollars as he stood up. Leaving the saloon, the three men crossed the street and stopped in front of a brick building. Matt pushed open the door to let Cooper and Martin enter before following them inside.
"This way, gentlemen," Matt said opening Judge Brooker's office.
"Marshal," Brooker said as Matt stepped inside with Cooper and Martin just behind him.
"Judge," Matt said indicating Cooper and Martin beside him. "This is Sheriff Cooper and his deputy John Martin from Cimarron. We've been having quite a conversation and thought you'd like to hear about it."
"By all means," Judge Brooker said putting down what he had been working on. "You all have my undivided attention."
"My suspicions were right," Matt said looking at Cooper. "Turner's gang is paying Cooper and Martin to take out Doc."
"I see," Brooker said looking at Cooper. "How much are they paying you, Sheriff?"
"Twenty five thousand," Cooper said with a grin. "The Marshal and I were discussing just how much it would take to move things along."
"Good question," Brooker said looking at Matt. "Ten thousand I think aught to do it, shouldn't it Marshal?"
"Ten thousand," Cooper said with a broad smile. "No problem, Martin and I can get that easily. When can we expect the Doctor's hanging?"
"You have Turner's gang bring the money here and we'll have the hanging on the same day!" Judge Brooker said with a nod aimed toward Matt.
"Sounds good to me, Judge," Matt said evenly.