The Skeleton key

PT.21

Michael Morrow sat at his desk making out a report of what he knew so far as to what was happening with the case or possible case between the LaRue, LaRouge and Russell complainants.

Suddenly the door to his office swung open. "Constable?"

Morrow looked up surprised. "Yes, ah, Mister Baldwin. I was expecting you."

Taking off his top hat. "I'm sure you were, my man."

"Let me guess. This would be about the complaint you threatened to file. Am I correct?"

Straightening his tie. "It is!"

Morrow was trying his best not to laugh. "You can't be serious, Baldwin."

"I certainly am. That beast assaulted me. I want him arrested and thrown in jail, the sooner the better."

Morrow, rolling his eyes, reached in the drawer beside him pulling out several papers. "Well, you know the procedure." He said, handing him the papers. "Fill these out." He figured he'd stall him with paper work till he could figure out something else or to warn Matt. "Oh, and, Baldwin, while you're here you may want to consult with your clients."

Snapping his head up, "What? What clients?"

With a slight smirk, "Eduard LaRue and Patrice LaRouge."

Taking a breath, "You mean they're here? In jail?"

"Correct." Morrow answered.

"Under what charges?"

"For starters, kidnapping, which Patrice all but admitted to. Extortion. Blackmail. Oh, which, by the way…" now grabbing him by the arm, "you too are under arrest, Baldwin. Accessory to the fact, possibly accomplice." He was now pushing him towards the cells where Eduard and Patrice were sitting.

Matt hurried to catch up with Emily and her mother. "Ma'am? Wait! Please? Just a minute."

"What is it, Marshal? I am in an awful hurry."

"This..." Now showing her the note Emily handed him.

"What is this, Marshal?"

"Your daughter gave me this back there." He was now kneeling down to Emily's level. "Honey, where'd you get this note?"

Reaching out in front of her, touching his face. Matt now realized she was blind. "The lady. The lady in the wall."

"Oh, Emily! What did I tell you about your stories?"

"Momma, I'm not tellin' stories."

"Ma'am, let her tell me."

"Marshal, my daughter has a big imagination."

"No, Ma'am, she's not making this up."

"Emily? Where is this lady? Where is Kitty?"

"She's in the wall, in the cellar."

Mrs. Andre' was now staring at Emily and Matt, curiously listening close.

"Honey, can you show me? Ma'am, I need her to show me. It's important."

Nodding, "Come. We'll take you."

When they made their way to the bakery, Mr. Andre' noticed Matt coming in with his wife and Emily. "Ah, you enjoyed the pastries, Marshal?" When he saw the expression on the faces of the two, he realized something was wrong. "Rose? What is wrong?"

"Thomas, the Marshal needs to go in the cellar. Emily needs to show him. Remember she told us about the lady in the wall?"

Now laughing, "Ah, Rose, Emily and her stories."

"No, Thomas. No, the Marshal believes her."

Waving his hands and shaking his head, "A grown man believing a little girl's stories?"

Matt tossed the note to Thomas. "Andre', Emily gave me this. Kitty wrote this."

Thomas, Matt and Emily entered the cellar.

It too was dark and damp. She walked around. "Lady? Lady? Are you still here?"

At first there was no answer. "See? Marshal, Emily has a big Imagination."

"No, Poppa, she is in there. Lady? Lady?"

Then Matt yelled out. "Kitty? Kitty? It's Matt. Kitty, can you hear me? Kitty, honey, bang on something. Let me know if you can hear me."

Andre' took Emily by the hand and started to walk towards the stairs. "Marshal, see? I told you."

Then, "Ma-tt? Ma-tt! Oh, Cowboy, is it really you?"

"Yeah, yeah, Kit, it's me. Hold on, Honey. We're gonna get you out of there." Now looking at Andre. "Where do these walls lead to?"

"Um, the adjoining building, I guess? The shelter is next door but the ladies don't use the cellar. Drainage problems. As you can see, we all have that problem."

"Kit, hold on. I'm gonna get you out!" Matt, wrote a message to Morrow, letting him know he'd found Kitty. He had Andre' take it to him.

Matt headed to the shelter next door, entering. "Oh, good morning. Nice to see you again, Marshal. Have you had any luck finding Miss Russell?"

"Well, actually yes, Ma'am. Miss Ana, I need to go into your cellar."

"Oh, but, Marshal, we don't use the cellar. It has drainage problems."

"Yes, Mister Andre', explained that but I need to get in there to help Kitty." He didn't wait for her response.

Quickly heading down the narrow stairs. "Kitty! Kitty?" It was damp, dirty, nasty and foul smelling. "Kitty, it's Matt. Honey, where are you?" But there was no answer.

TBC