Trip to Murder 8
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After taking their leave from the restaurant and assuring Mr. Schneider they would return soon, Matt and Kitty followed Sean Flannery to his house on the west side of town.
"How'd you find us?" Matt asked as they walked along. "I'm pretty sure, we asked you to meet us at the hotel."
"You did but I'm not so sure that would've been a good idea." Flannery shrugged. "So, I sorta followed you."
Matt stopped walking and grabbed Kitty's arm, pulling her closer to him. "Why?" He demanded. "You know, Mr. Flannery, I have a feeling, there's quite a bit you're not telling us. And we're not going any further until you do."
"Matt," Kitty spoke up. "If Officer Flannery can help us…."
"IF is the operative word, Kitty." Matt said, without taking his eyes of the patrolman. Kitty's defense of him irritated Matt. "So far he hasn't done anything but lead us down this street."
"But Matt…"
"No, Miss Russell," Flannery said quickly. "The Marshal is correct. I do have a lot I need to tell you, but please. Not here on the street."
Matt took a deep breath and stood for several minutes, silently watching the man. Finally he nodded. "Alright. But you'd better not be trying anything."
Flannery flinched just a touch and nodded slightly as he looked at the tall man next to him. "My house is just two doors down. I'll tell you everything, once we're inside. Please, if you don't mind, I'd like us to talk inside."
Matt still didn't like this but he went along. His natural curiosity, as well as his instincts as a lawman, forbade him to stop as he wanted to and take Kitty back to the hotel, maybe even back to Dodge. But something was wrong here and he wouldn't relax until he knew what.
Of course, the attention the man was showing Kitty didn't help matters either. Matt noticed that while they were walking, Flannery's eyes seldom left her. That didn't set too well at all. Trying not to be obvious, he casually placed him self between Kitty and her admirer.
Finally, Flannery started up a narrow walk to small, tidy house set well back from the street. Swiftly he pulled keys from his pocket and ushered his guests in, taking a quick look around before closing the door behind him.
"You expecting somebody?" Matt asked bluntly.
Flannery looked rather guilty as he shook his head and headed to a small cupboard. "Not at all, Marshal. Can I get either of you something to drink? I don't have much here. Just some whiskey, but…"
"What we would like," Kitty cut him off, "is to know what this is all about. You led us here, saying you believed me and wanted to help. But we're getting the impression; you're the one needing help."
Flannery nodded, dove his hands into his pockets and turned back to look at her. "Yes, Ma'am. I do need help. But I meant what I said about helping you as well. Like I said before, I believe we can help each other." He gave her a soft look that only served to irritate the lawman at her side even more.
"How?" Matt asked watching him suspiciously.
"Please, have a seat." Flannery gestured towards a large old gray couch perched in the center of the room. "It's not a really long story, nor even a complicated one, but it's the center of all my problems, as well as the incident that happened to you today, Miss Russell."
Matt hesitated for a moment, before taking Kitty's arm and guiding her to sit down as he sank down beside her. "Alright, we're listening."
Flannery returned to the cupboard and pulled out the bottle of whiskey. "Would either of you care…?"
"Get on with it." Matt demanded.
Kitty placed her hand on his and squeezed lightly to calm him, her gaze telling him to have patience. Matt nodded but said nothing.
Pouring himself a glass of the amber liquid, Sean sat down in a chair opposite them and took a sip of whiskey before he began.
"Like I told you, it's not a long story, but it is an important one. It started about 10 years ago. I had just become an officer. My father, Sean Flannery Sr., had been in the police force for many years. He was the reason I wanted to become an officer. He worked hard, sacrificed, often putting his family second to his badge, but he always got the job done."
Matt glanced over at Kitty with a twinge of regret. He knew he had been guilty of doing the same with her, but he had never able to do his job any other way.
Kitty gave his hand a loving squeeze and an understanding look. She knew how he felt and she had already come to terms with that and accepted it.
"Anyway," Sean continued. "After many years, my father finally got promoted to Captain. He was thrilled, as was I and most of the other officers. What we didn't know at the time though, was that his promotion wasn't due to his hard work and dedication. It was because a certain city leader, and a few well-placed police officials, thought he was a push over and they could use him and his precinct in certain activities."
"What kind of activities?" Matt asked watching the man closely. He could tell by his actions as to whether he was lying to him or not. So far Flannery seemed truthful to the Dodge City lawman.
"Some illegal gambling down around the river, bribes, smuggling. Just about anything illegal. My father, of course said no. Three months later he was killed. The official report has it as a self inflicted accident with a hand gun, but I know better. I just haven't been able to prove it."
"I see." Matt said. "But I still don't see what this has to do with Kitty."
"Me neither." Kitty spoke up. "Although, I have to admit, I don't understand too much of anything right now."
"I have no proof," Sean looked earnestly at them, "but I think the man you saw, the one that chased you, is James Peat. One of the illegal activities, my father was supposed to ignore, was illegal liquor smuggling, facilitated by Peat Brothers Brewery."
"And the dead man?" Matt's eyes bored into him.
Sean looked up and shrugged. "Unless I miss my guess, his brother, Frank."
Kitty went slightly pale as she thought of how evil a person would have to be to murder his own brother. "Are you sure?"
"As about as sure as I can be, without any real proof. I know James is into this thing up to his eyes and from what I have been able to find out, Frank didn't want any part of it but went along for the sake of his brother and the money which saved his family's business."
"You say you have no proof of this, though?" Matt asked.
"I have a little bit of paperwork and some notes from different people I've talked to, as well as information my father had managed to collect, before he died. But no smoking gun."
"What is it you want from us?" Matt asked. "We're strangers here, remember? We have no ties to this city and I have no real authority outside Kansas, unless the government assigns me a case."
"Well, that's what I was hoping for." Flannery stated. "I was hoping you could contact your superiors and ask to be assigned to this. This is more than I think I can handle on my own but with a federal Marshal's help…"
"NO." Matt stated as he rose and pulled Kitty up with him. "I'm not placing Kitty into any more danger. Sorry, but I can't help you."
"But, Marshal," Flannery protested. "Miss Russell is already in danger. She saw the murderer, remember?"
"I remember," Matt answered. "That's why we're going home tomorrow."
Kitty looked up at Matt, stunned and more than a little irritated at his proclamation but she knew better than to say anything right then.
"But…" Flannery didn't know what to say. His only hope was now moving towards the door, firmly declining to help him.
"Have a good evening, Mr. Flannery." Matt said as he was urgently leading Kitty from the house.
"Marshal, please." Sean followed to the door, pleading that they hear him out.
Matt ignored him, but Kitty gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll talk to him." She mouthed as Matt pulled her away.
TBC