Matt and Newly gently layed Louie on the examination table which sat in the centre of the doctor's office.

Matt adjusted his hat and watched the physician move around the room like clock work, gathering basins, bottles and his medical bag. Once he had what he needed, Doc looped his glasses over his ears and without speaking a word he carefully cut away and Louie's coat and shirt to have a better look at the knife that stood out of his back.

Doc shook his head and exhaled a sigh. Matt moved closer. "What's the matter Doc?"

The doctor looked slowly up to the tall marshal and swallowed hard. "It'll be a miracle if he lives." He turned his attention back to Louie.

Newly stood by the door and stepped aside to allow Matt to pass him. The marshal didn't have to say anything, the other men in the room knew he was angry. Matt's hand reached for the door knob and he stopped. "Newly. You stay here and help Doc if he needs you." Newly nodded.

Doc glanced over his shoulder. "Where are you going, Matt?"

Matt took a deep breath and faced Doc. "I'm going to release Festus and fine a murderer."

Doc was relieved to hear Matt say he was letting Festus out, but he was also afraid of the marshal's temper and what he might do to the person responsible for the attacks. That is if Matt could find whoever it was.

With that, Matt pulled open the door with a jerk. As he stepped out on to the small landing outside the doctor's door, where he saw Kitty watching from her window across the alley. She quickly disappeared. Matt knew that she was on her way down to meet him on the boardwalk. The morning light of dawn took on a strange hue as the sun started to poke up from behind the distant hills.

Matt took a deep breath trying to harness the anger escalating inside of himself. Slowly he took one step at a time and thinking of who might be responsible. Further in his thoughts he wondered why Louie of all people was the latest victim.

Kitty stood on the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch watching Matt descend down the staircase. Her eyes spoke of the worry behind them. "Matt?"

The marshal slowly walked toward Kitty. "It's Louie..."

Kitty gasped. "What happened?"

Matt shook his head indicating he didn't know exactly what had happened. "Doc said that it doesn't look good." Matt looked back up to the office and then back to Kitty. "I'll catch up with you later. I'm going to let Festus out and try and track down this murderer."

Kitty reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Matt's shoulder. "I'll go up and help Doc..." she started to leave and then turned to Matt again. "Matt. Bring Festus by later for a drink. He could probably use it when he hears about Louie..."

Matt watched Kitty walk across to the staircase before he headed toward the jail house. He wasn't looking forward to facing Festus and then having to tell him about Louie. He started down the street and hoped that Doc could preform that miracle he was talking about - being stabbed in the back was the last way Louie Pheeters deserved to die.