Trip to Murder 6
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"We dispatched several officers to the warehouse you told us about, Miss Russell." The man practically snapped at her. "And we found nothing. No dead body, no man with a mustache, no knife, nothing. The place wasn't even open. There was nothing there. So now, will you kindly tell me why you lied?"
"What!?" Kitty's brows shot to her hairline as she rose from her chair in angry shock. "What do mean, you found nothing? There was a dead man lying in that warehouse. And it wasn't closed. The doors were wide open. Are you sure you went to the right place?"
To his credit, the captain didn't flinch from her anger or reply immediately. Pulling out a small notebook from his pocket, he flipped a couple of pages, reading what was written there and then looked back up at her. "Peat Brothers Brewery, 1415 South Reynolds Street. That is the information you gave us, is it not?"
Kitty swallowed hard and nodded, her heart sinking as quickly as she did, back into the chair. "I don't understand." She said. "I know what I saw. I saw a dead man. And another man did chase me." Kitty looked up quickly at Matt. Seeing nothing but love and belief in his expression, she breathed a little easier.
"Captain," Matt spoke up. "You said the place was locked up? No was there?"
"That is correct," Owens confirmed. "We've sent an officer to the home of a Mr…." He consulted his notebook again, "Mr. James Peat, owner of the place. But it may take some time before we can talk to him."
"Well, did it ever occur to you, that whoever did this, may have locked the place up after Kitty left?" Matt's irritation was showing in his voice. Something wasn't right here. He could feel it. He knew Kitty and he knew she wouldn't lie about something like this.
"Yes, Marshal, it did." Owens' own exasperation was showing as angry brown eyes glared at Matt. "One of the officer's, based on Miss Russell's report, actually broke down the door. And I as I told you, there was nothing there."
"Nothing? Or no one?" Matt asked. "I mean the building was there, as Miss Russell reported, wasn't it? And the warehouse was filled with crates and barrels and the like, just as she said? And the little office she entered was there and furnished as she told you?"
"Well, yes, of course," he answered an edge to his voice, "but what does that have to do with the fact that there was no body in that warehouse, no human beings at all, living or dead."
"It proves she didn't lie." Matt almost snarled at him, the volume of his voice rising with every syllable. "Miss Russell and I are from Dodge City, Kansas, Captain. We don't live here and she's never been to that warehouse before today. How could she describe something to you, she's never seen?"
As both men glared at each other, Kitty, who had largely been forgotten, stood up. "Look." She stepped in between them and close to Matt. "You two can shout at each other, some other time. But that doesn't help me, or the man that was murdered."
Owens narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. "As I told you, Miss Russell, we have no proof of a murder. We have no body. What we do have, is you."
'Wrong!" Matt pushed Kitty behind him. "You just said there was nothing there at the warehouse. No body, alive or dead. That means there was no crime committed and you can't continue to hold Kitty here for something that didn't happen."
Matt had inched closer to the officious little man with each word and they were now standing toe to toe. "Now, unless you can think of some crime you can prove she committed, then she and I are leaving. NOW!"
Kitty held her breath as she waited for the Captain to speak, something he looked incapable of doing, at the moment. Broad face flushed in anger and teeth clenched tightly, he angrily stared at first Matt, then her.
Finally, he shook his square head and pointed towards the door. "Get out." He growled. "But if you happen to come upon any other murders, you'd better make sure there's a body to go with them, before you waste our time again."
Matt said nothing as he gently cupped her arm and led her from the office. His walk and his expression were a warning to all who saw the two, to stay away.
Kitty kept silent as well. She knew this wasn't over yet and she knew she hadn't imagined what she had seen, but right then wasn't the time to protest.
Patrolman Sean Flannery, who had been standing outside of the small room, while Owens read the riot act to the Dodge City couple, wasted no time in following the two as they left the police station. He had been looking for such a break as this.
"Marshal, Miss Russell?" Sean called after them as soon as they were far enough from the police station. "Can I can have a word with you?"
Matt stopped and waited for the officer to catch up. "What do you want?" He snapped.
Flannery heard the anger and completely understood. He also had been angry for some time now, but this was his chance to set things right, perhaps his last chance. That was if he could get the assistance of two strangers. "Look, I'm sorry about that back there. Captain Owens doesn't have much patience and he's not really good at dealing with people."
"Yeah, we noticed." Matt answered as he turned, still holding Kitty's arm with the intent of going on.
"But for the record." Flannery spoke up causing them to pause. "I believe you, Miss Russell. I believe you saw what you say you did and I'd like to help prove it."
Matt and Kitty exchanged uneasy glances then looked back at Flannery. "Why?" Kitty asked in wounded tone of voice. "No one else believes me, except Matt here. And why would you want to help me?"
"Because," Flannery told them. "In helping you, perhaps you can help me." He understood the confused concern in their expressions. "Look, can we go somewhere and talk? I have some things I'd really like to tell you."
Matt shook his head. "I have an appointment to keep." He said. "Then Miss Russell and I are going to supper."
"Marshal, please." Flannery implored. "I really believe we can help each other."
Kitty looked up at the stubborn set of Matt's jaw and the pleading look in the officer's eyes. "You know what hotel we're staying in." She sighed. "You can come there about seven tonight. We'll be back there by then."
Flannery nodded gratefully and stepped back to let them pass without another word. Glancing about him, he allowed a fleeting smile, before the stern look of a policeman reappeared. "I'll get justice for you yet, Pop. I promise, I will." He muttered.
TBC