To say that Matt was surprised would be an understatement. Not only was Victor willing to come with him to town, but he actually met him on the road, just a couple of miles outside of Dodge. "I was just coming for you."

"You do not need to come." Victor told him. "I am here. I vant the one who killed my Anya."

"If you testify in court as to what you saw and you identify Rey, justice will be done." Matt reminded him. "Isn't that all that matters?"

"Let us go, Marshal." Victor stared at Matt for a moment before kicking his horse into a trot down the road towards Dodge.

Matt shook his head and followed him. He didn't for a moment believe Victor was going to testify and leave the rest to the law. But at least he would be in town and maybe Matt could force him to do what he wasn't willing to do on his own.

Back in Dodge, Sam returned to the saloon to find Opal, one of Kitty's girls, tending bar. The place was still quiet so he assumed Miss Kitty had left her to handle things while she went to lunch. But the moment he picked up his apron, Opal quickly disabused him of that idea.

"Well, it's about time someone got here." She shook head in irritation. "There were three men at the bar when I got here and not a soul in sight to serve them. Why, I'm not even supposed to start for another half hour but what was I to do? You know either you or Miss Kitty oughta be here when this place is open. Why anybody coulda…"

"Wait a minute." Sam stopped her rambling. When Opal got started, it was hard to get her to stop talking but she said something that demanded more attention. "Did you say no one was here when you got in?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "No body. I called out back for Miss Kitty but she never answered and well, with customers here I couldn't go looking for her and…"

"Stay here and look out after the bar." Sam told her as he hurried towards the back.

"You're gonna owe me overtime then." Opal warned but her warning fell on deaf ears.

Sam knew Kitty would not leave that saloon unattended unless she'd had no choice. Quickly as he could, Sam searched throughout the bottom floor as well as the cellar. Kitty was not there. He immediately thought of the three men who'd gone out the back earlier. He doubted they'd be there but he went to check any way. They were there, empty bottle at their feet and each one passed out next to the other by the wall. Sam tried to wake them, to ask if they'd seen anything but it was apparent, even if they had, they'd not be able to tell about it.

Leaving the men be, Sam went back inside the saloon intent on searching the top floor. There was no where else to look. Passing back by her office, he was headed upstairs when he saw the envelope on the floor. It was addressed to Marshal Dillon. Sam didn't have to open it or read what was inside to know Miss Kitty was in danger.

When Matt finally got back to Dodge, he took Victor over to his room and showed him inside. "This is my room." He told the farmer. "But I'm going to be staying at the jail until the trials over so you can stay here. Here's the key. If I were you, I'd stay here. Dale Granger's not too happy about all this. No need to give him a chance to hurt you before you can testify."

"No worries, Marshal." Victor answered with a half-smile. "He vill not hurt me."

Matt wasn't sure why Victor's compliance bothered him but he was relieved to have one less problem right then. "Alright then. My assistant Chester will come over later to see if you need anything."

"Alright, Marshal." Victor nodded as he sat down on the bed.

Matt shook his head and walked on out of the room. Later, when he had time, he'd worry about Victor's behavior. When he reached the jail, he was met by Chester and Doc. Both of them looked worried. "What's… what's going on here?" He asked as he closed the door behind him and took his hat off.

"This." Doc extended a piece of paper out to him. "Sam found this on the floor next to Kitty's office. He didn't find Kitty though."

A chill went thru Matt as he licked his lips, accepted the paper and read it. "I'll be back in a little bit." He said with a bite to his tone as he put his hat back on and opened the door.

"You want me to go with you?" Chester asked. He wasn't completely oblivious to his boss's relationship to the fiery redheaded owner of the Long Branch and he knew that if anything happened to her…

"No." Matt answered. "Stay here and keep an eye on Rey. Don't let anyone in here or near him. You understand?"

"Yes, Sir." Chester nodded. "I'll make sure of it."

"Matt?" Doc stopped him just as he was about to close the door. "What are you going to do?"

"Get her back." Matt answered as he closed the door behind him.

"Doc, you read that there note." Chester looked at the physician. "You know they ain't gonna give Miss Kitty back unless…"

"I know, Chester." Doc took a swipe of his mustache and then headed for the door. "But I know Matt Dillon. If there's a way to get her back without that, he'll find it."

Matt stormed out of the jail and down the street. His fury was unabated as he thought of what could be happening to Kitty. If he had to beat the brains in of the man responsible, he was all too willing at that point to do it. When he reached his destination, he slammed the door open and stepped in. "Where is she? Who'd you get to take her? What have you done with her?"

"Done?" Victor looked up at Matt. "I have done notzing. I have been here. You brought me here a little while ago."

"You know what I mean. Where's Kitty Russell?"

"Where is the murderer of my Anya?" Victor answered. "You give him to me."

"I can't do that." Matt practically growled. "He has to face trial for what he did. If he's found guilty…"

"IF?!" Victor angrily got to his feet. "My Anya is dead, Marshal Dillon. DEAD! And dat boy is responsible. HE MUST PAY FOR DAT!"

"And he will." Matt shook his head. "But by the law. You can't just take that boy out and hang him."

"I never said ve vould hang him." Victor's lips curled into a smile of sorts as he sat back down on the bed..

"You're not going to do anything with him." Matt moved further into the room but kept his hands at his sides. He was aware that if he hurt this man, something bad could be done to Kitty. "Now you tell me where Kitty is and leave that boy's punishment to the law."

"I vill tell you nothing until you give that boy to me." Victor was implacable. "Dat's boy's punishment is MY RIGHT, Marshal. MY RIGHT. And I vill have it."

Matt's hands curled into fists and he took another step closer. But he managed to stop himself before he pummeled the man into the ground. Instead he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

He wanted to pick Victor up by the heels and shake Kitty's whereabouts out of him but he knew Victor wouldn't talk. Even with a gun pointed at him. Victor would say nothing until he got what he wanted. He could always lock the man up for kidnapping but that wouldn't solve anything. He had a couple of other ideas though that just might work.

TBC