Doc slowly climbed the staircase that lead up to his office. With each step and each clutch of his hand on the rail, his stomach churned with the thought of Festus being a possible murderer. He tried to think of how Judge Brooker would look upon the situation with Festus just recovering from a bad head injury. He shook his head and continued to climb until he reached his door. That's when he saw Matt following him.
"Don't you have something better to do than follow me to my office?" Doc was somewhat curt with the tall lawman.
Matt just shook it off. He knew Doc was deep in thought about his friend. "I thought I would stop in and we could chat about a few things."
Doc huffed and slowly ran his right hand across his moustache. "You think I'm on to something, don't you?"
Matt shrugged at that being a possibility. "I wouldn't put it passed you. Especially with Festus' life on the line..."
Doc shook his head in bitter sorrow. "Are you not afraid of what might happen?" He pointedly asked Matt.
"I am. That's why I am here. You better get a pot of coffee on." Matt stood on two steps below the doctor which made them almost eye level to each other. Doc nodded and opened the door to his office. "Better come in and close the door behind you. I don't like the chill in the air tonight."
Matt took the last two steps and did what Doc asked. He pulled the door closed. "I don't like what's in the air tonight either Doc. I sure hope we come up with something."
Doc set to making the coffee and spoke not a word. Matt stood at the door and then slowly worked his way into the room. The three oil lanterns adequately lit the small office. Matt continued into the office and then to the window that looked over Front Street which was above the General Store.
"Seems pretty quiet tonight, doesn't it?" Matt spoke aloud hoping to break the silence that Doc was enveloping himself in. Doc didn't respond, so Matt deliberately kicked over a metal trash can.
Doc jumped. "What in thunder are you doing over there!" He bellowed.
"Sorry Doc." Matt said sheepishly as he stooped to right the can. "Doc?" Matt then moved closer to his old friend and now that he held his attention asked, "Tell me what you're thinking. Judge Brooker is coming through Dodge tomorrow. If I...I mean we, had something to offer him, this charge against Festus wouldn't even have to come to court. We need something."
Doc nodded in acknowledgement and ran the fingers of his right hand over the top of his right ear. "I know Matt. I know." He pushed the coffee pot further back over the heat of the little potbellied stove. "One thing...well several things don't add up for me..."
Matt's attention was gripped. "Such as?"
"Such as the angle and use of the knife." Doc still seemed to be in a deep thought mode.
Matt walked closer and then sat in the chair directly in front of the physician. There was no way that Doc could ignore him any further.
"Matt, whoever stabbed that last man, was not that tall. And further more, I would like to wager that if Festus did it, that the stabbing would have been either from the front or lower on the back and more up and in...not high up with a knife angle down. No sir. He didn't do it and I'll prove that tomorrow when I talk to him."
Matt studied the doctor. "You really are sure, aren't you?"
Doc's crystal blue eyes rested on the marshal. "I'll bet my reputation on it." His voice held a tone of absolute certainty.
