Trip to Murder 3
Author's Note: Just a quick thank you to those I can't send a PM to for your kind remarks. I am grateful you like my effort so far on this.
Also, I actually do a bit of reading about St. Louis and there was then as there are now quite a few caverns beneath the city. It seems some of the breweries actually used them to store their products as it was cooler down there.
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Matt woke before dawn the next morning, Kitty curled up tightly against him. A smile worked its way across his face as he thought about the previous night. How any one woman could satisfy him in so many ways, he wasn't sure, but he was eternally grateful for it.
Smiling down at the beautiful red head, still in his arms, he briefly thought about a repeat performance, but he knew he couldn't. He needed to be up and dressed and out on the street before light. Moving slowly and quietly, he carefully extricated himself from the bed and swiftly got dressed. Placing a soft kiss on her cheek, he left the room and hastily made his way down the back staircase and outside.
It was way too early to try and check in, so, taking his bag, he made his way down the street, looking for anyplace that might be open, where he could get at least a cup of coffee. Two streets over, he found a small café that was just opening up and the manager ushered him in with a smile. "Please, come in. Sit and rest yourself. Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you." Matt smiled back at him. As he settled into a chair he smelled the enticing aroma of fresh baked bread and sausage and other inviting smells. He hadn't intended to eat but the smell was too tempting.
"Vould you care for a menu?" The man asked politely in a pronounced German accent.
"Uh, no." Matt answered. "Tell you what; just bring me a couple of eggs and some sausage and biscuits."
"Certainly," the rotund little man with the balding pate and drooping mustache answered, moving off to fill the order.
Matt looked outside at the still dark streets, mentally going over the day's itinerary. He knew he had an appointment that afternoon with the specialist and Kitty had one this morning with a potential supplier. That pretty much took care of their day. But a soft smile lit his face as he thought about the upcoming night.
"She must be somesing special, no?" The manager spoke, interrupting Matt's revelry as he placed a large mug of coffee in front of him.
"Pardon me?" Matt looked up slightly startled.
"De voman that makes you smile like dat. She must be somesing special." The man repeated, his eyes twinkling.
Matt started to ask how he knew but changed his mind and just nodded. "Yes, sir, she is." He answered. "She sure is."
After leaving the café, Matt wandered around some more, finally finding himself down near the river. Though unfamiliar with St. Louis, Matt was comfortable in this isolated spot. The only structure around for some distance was a decrepit looking little shack with one boarded up window that looked like a gust of wind would blow it down, had it not of backed up to a hillside.
Looking around the area, Matt saw no one. He still had about an hour before he could go back to the hotel, so he went to the little shack and went in. The inside was as unremarkable as the exterior. Devoid of all furniture except a small table and a rickety chair, it obviously hadn't been used in some time. Nothing was interesting about the place, except for the door in the back of the one room. Curiously, Matt opened the door which revealed a staircase leading downward below the surface.
He had heard that St. Louis had an extensive network of caves under it, but up till then, he had never seen one. A lantern hanging just inside the stairwell, proved to actually have kerosene in it. Cautiously, he lit the lantern and descended to the chamber down below.
His exploration was short lived. Though fairly large, the cavern beneath the building was empty of all but a couple of empty crates. Whatever had once been stored there, had long since been removed.
Shrugging his shoulders and dusting off the cobwebs he had acquired at the doorway, he turned and made his way back up and out of the small building, leaving the lantern beside the door. "Interesting place." He mumbled to himself as he turned and headed back out.
Later that morning, at an appropriate time, Matt came through the front entrance of the hotel and claimed his room. Taking his key, he climbed to the second floor and let himself into Room 205. Throwing down his bag, he crossed swiftly to the connecting door between his and Kitty's rooms.
Knocking softly, he heard a low feminine voice answer, "Who is it?"
"Kitty, it's me." He tried the knob but he door was locked and there was no key on his side.
"Oh, just a minute." A couple of seconds later the lock turned and Kitty opened the door to him. "I see you got your room." She smiled as he came in.
Matt smiled, "Yeah, but I suspect it won't get used too often." He said as he bent down and kissed her.
"Well, just to be on the safe side perhaps you should use it today, at least while I'm gone." She told him. "I have that appointment this morning and I want to do a little shopping as well. I'd hate for the maid to come in and surprise you in here. Wouldn't you?"
"Well, that depends." Matt suppressed the mischievous grin trying to form.
"On what?" Kitty's brow knitted.
"On what she looks like." He answered. "You know, I've heard some pretty interesting things about maids."
"Oh you," she shook her head. "Very funny." Her look let him to know, she didn't appreciate his little joke. "Anyway, I'll be leaving in a few minutes for my first appointment and I should be back in a couple of hours."
"Where'd you say you were going again?" He asked.
"Peat Brother's Brewery." She responded. "It's down by the river on Reynolds Street."
Matt placed another kiss on her lips and nodded. "Alright, honey, I think I'm gonna lay down for a little while and try to rest up. I didn't get much sleep last night, you know."
"Yeah, I know." Kitty grinned. "I didn't either, but you don't see me complaining."
"Oh, I'm not complaining." He said as a thought came to him. "Say, wait a minute. Maybe I should go with you on this appointment. I don't want you wandering into trouble out there on your own."
Kitty's brow furrowed. "Trouble? What kind of trouble could I get into? I'm going to meet with a reputable supplier and see what his rates are and what his production is like. Probably more paperwork than anything. Of course you're always more than welcome to come with me, Cowboy, but it's not necessary. I can take care of myself."
Matt chuckled. "Not as good as I can take care of you."
Kitty shook her head with a grin, as she grabbed her reticule, checked her appearance once more in the mirror and headed for the door. "Save that thought for tonight." She raised a brow suggestively. "I'll be back about noon. We can get us something to eat and go to your doctor's appointment."
Matt reached out and gently took her arm as she passed him. "I meant what I said. Stay out of trouble; I have some plans for you tonight."
Reaching up, she kissed him then turned and headed for the door. "I promise," she said with a raised hand. "No trouble."
TBC