Trip to Murder 19
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Wordlessly, Matt led the way. With their cache of stolen files under one arm and Kitty's arm in his other, he guided her down one alley after another, through the back streets of St. Louis, and practically out of town, until they reached a small shanty at the southern end of town, near the river.
"Come on, Kitty, in here." Matt ushered her inside, hastily closing the door behind them and securing it with a rickety chair, the only piece of furniture the room afforded. Then swiftly, he lit a lantern sitting on the floor, laying the files on the small table.
Kitty looked around her and then back at Matt. "What is this place?" She asked when she could finally see. "And how do you know about it?"
"I was out walking, the morning before I could come back to the hotel, and found this place," he told her. "It's not much but it's safe."
"How do you know?" She asked crinkling her nose at the musty smell of the place.
"Couple of reasons." Matt told her as he opened the door on the back wall. "One, this place sits alone out here, nothing and no one else around. And two, this." He pointed down the stairs.
Kitty took a tentative step toward the door and peered down the stairs at the darkness below. "You surely don't expect me to go down there." She said taking several steps back away from the door.
"Well no," Matt shrugged. "At least not right away. I think its safe enough up here. But if someone were to come along, I think it'd be a whole lot safer down there than staying up here and getting shot at."
Kitty placed her hands on her hips as she looked at first the door then him, brows arched. "I thought you said no one was around here?"
"There's not, that I've seen anyway. But that doesn't mean that someone couldn't come around."
"Then we're no safer here then we were at Herman's," she said exasperated and more than a little frightened.
"Oh yes, we are." Matt stepped close and pulled her into his arms. He could feel her trembling and hugged her even tighter. "Honey, I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to protect you."
Looking down at her, he could see she still wasn't convinced. "Kitty, it's going to be alright. I promise."
Kitty pulled away and looked up at him. "I'm just a little scared, Matt." She sighed as she gave him a soft smile. "But I trust you. And I know you won't let anything happen to me if you can help it. I'm just glad Sean distracted that man."
Matt shook his, irritated at the thought. "I wonder if he distracted him or was coming to help him."
"Matt," Kitty said a little sternly. "You heard Owens in that warehouse. Sean is not part of his scheme."
"That don't mean he doesn't want to be. He could be viewing this as an opportunity to get in good with Owens."
Kitty looked earnestly at him. "I don't believe that, Matt." She told him. "But if it is true, then we truly are on our own."
"For now." Matt sighed. "But I promise to try and change that. But you need to agree to go down there if anyone comes around here." He once again pointed at the stairs.
Kitty stood for several minutes, weighing her options, before finally straightening her back and nodding. "Okay," she muttered. "But if there's any spiders down there, I'm coming back up here and let 'em shoot at me. I'd rather be dead than share a space with a spider."
Matt laughed and pulled her back to him. "Deal!"
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Most of the rest of the day was spent miserably hunkered down in the tiny cabin listening intently for any sound that might indicate visitors. Fortunately none came.
"As soon as it gets dark," Matt told Kitty late that afternoon, "I'm gonna sneak out of here. We need food and blankets at the least and I'm getting nothing done about finding James Peat while I'm hiding here." While they sat, he had told her of his idea to find James Peat and force him to talk. To confess to his part in all of this and his murder of his own brother.
"Not without me, you aren't." Kitty spoke up. "You're not about to leave me here alone and go traipsing around town."
Matt looked over at her. "Traipsing? I don't plan on traipsing, Kitty, I plan on getting us some provisions and finding a way out this mess."
"NOT – WITHOUT – ME!" Kitty repeated a little more forcefully.
Matt took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I guess you're right, we probably shouldn't be separated."
Kitty nodded. "Alright then. So what's the plan? Where do go when we leave here?"
Matt stood up and paced over to the door. Opening it he took a quick look out while, considering her question. "Well, I think we ought to try and make it back over to Mr. Schneider's restaurant."
Kitty looked puzzled. "Herman's?" She asked. "Is that safe? I mean, the police could still be watching it."
Matt nodded. "Well, yes they could. But right now he's the only one I think we can fully trust. He could at least help us get some supplies."
Kitty stood, walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry, Matt." She sighed.
Matt frowned down at her, his arms clinging tightly to her slight form against his. "Sorry for what?"
"This mess I got you into." Kitty clarified. "I really didn't mean…"
"Kitty," Matt stopped her. "You are not responsible for this. You didn't kill any one and you didn't ask for any of this to happen to us. But I promise you one thing. We will find the ones who did and even if we have to do it alone, we will stop them. Okay?"
Kitty studied his face intently, drawing from his features the strength she needed. Finally, she buried her head in his chest, silently communicating her love and trust. Matt cradled her in his arms relaying the same information.
Together they would stand or fall, depending on the fates and how much good luck they could find. But lose or fail, they would do it together.
TBC