Trip to Murder 20
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With darkness as their cloaks, two figures slipped through the quiet streets of St. Louis and stealthily made their way to the small restaurant, owned and operated by Herman Schneider.
Hiding in deep shadows behind the café, Matt watched the building intently. Finally certain that no one was around and they wouldn't be observed; he grabbed Kitty's hand and pulled her along to the back door.
After two short raps, the door opened and Herman Schneider stood before them, a concerned look on his pudgy face. "Herr Dillon. Vat are you doing here? Are you okay?"
"We are." Matt said quietly. "For now anyway. I didn't see anyone watching the restaurant but us being here could place you in danger. Still we need help. Can you help us?"
"Come in, quickly." He said without a moment's hesitation as he opened the door wider and ushered them urgently in.
"Go into ze storeroom." He whispered pointing to a small room off to the right. "I'll be back."
Matt led Kitty into the dark room and found a box for her to sit on before Herman shut the door and effectively shut out all light in the box crowded room. Raising her hand, Kitty found Matt's next to her and clung to it like a lifeline. Neither one of them quite knew how things were going to play out, but they knew the ante had been substantially raised.
They didn't know how long they had sat in the darkness and waited, but both were grateful when the door finally reopened and Herman beckoned them out. "Come, come," he urged. "I haft closed and ve are alone."
Blinking their eyes against the light for a moment, they willingly followed Herman into the kitchen of the restaurant. "I vas worried zat dey had caught you." He said as he offered them chairs and poured each of them a cup of coffee. "I vill fix you food, yah?"
"No." Matt spoke as he gratefully took a sip of his coffee. "I appreciate it, Herman, but we'd better not linger. I didn't see anyone outside when we got here but that doesn't mean it's safe. We were just hoping we could buy some supplies off of you. Looks like we're gonna have to lay low for a little while."
"Ach." Herman exclaimed as he waved off the money Matt was pulling from his pocket. "I vill not take money. I vill help, though. You sit, I vill get you somesings. You have place to cook, yah?" He asked.
Matt shook his head. "I'm sorry, Herman, but no we don't. We have found a place to hide out for a while but there's no stove or any other way to cook. "
"Ach," he exclaimed again. "I'll see vhat I can do."
As he disappeared from the room, Matt looked over at the exhausted features of the red head next to him and reached over taking her hand. "You alright?"
"Sure," Kitty said sarcastically. "I've been shot, accused of murder, have practically a death warrant on my head and I'm on the run. Not sure how much better it could get." Looking over at the pained expression on Matt's face she shook her head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Matt. I don't mean to take this out on you. Right now, you're the only thing keeping me going."
Matt gave a reassuring squeeze of her hand. "I know, honey. But hang in there. We'll get this figured out somehow."
Herman returned a few minutes later with a large burlap bag stuffed full. "I haf put in some bread und sausages und other such sings that do not need to be cooked, as vell as vater. I also put in blankets. If you haf no stove, you vill be cold."
Matt gave him a grateful smile. "Not sure how to thank you, Herman." Matt told him as stood and accepted the bag. "We owe you a lot."
"You owe me nothsing." He waved a hand. "Believe me, you owe me nothsing."
Kitty stepped over to Herman, and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Matt's right. We do owe you. I don't know how or when, but someday, I hope we can repay you for your kindness and faith in us."
Herman blushed and placed a hand on the cheek she had kissed with a look of awe. "Go on, now." He said gruffly not wanting to show them how much her kiss and gratitude had affected him.
After they left the restaurant, the two murder suspects made their way back to the small hut, where they stashed the bag Herman had given them.
"Well, now what?" Kitty asked, lighting the small lantern and looking up at Matt.
"Now, you stay here, get some rest and eat something and I'll be back." Matt told her, edging towards the door.
"Oh no, you don't." Kitty said defiantly. "I told you before; I'm going where you go."
"Kitty," Matt sighed. "You need to rest. In case you forgot, you were shot night before last night. And you haven't eaten anything all day and…"
"And I'm going with you." She said firmly. "I'm not about to let you go over to Sean's house alone, mad like you are. You're liable to shoot him first and ask questions later."
Matt looked at her in surprise. "Sean's hou…? What makes you think that's where I'm going?"
"I know you, remember?" She arched a brow at him in consternation. "You think Sean told Owens where we were and you plan on confronting him." She gave him a steady look, defying him to contradict her.
Taking a deep breath, Matt shook his head, keeping his silence for several moments. "Come on." He told her as he turned for the door. "But I give you fair warning, he makes one move towards you…"
"I have you." Kitty said as she caught his hand. "I honestly don't believe he turned us in, Matt. But if he did, I'm not afraid or worried about anything else he might do, cause I have you."
"Yeah, ya do." Matt grinned as they left the shack .
"Ya know," Kitty observed as they once again traversed the darkened streets of St. Louis. "You and I have covered more of St. Louis in the dark than most people do in the daylight. I'm not sure I like that."
Matt chuckled softly. "I know what you mean. I'm not overly fond of this myself. But until we get this mess straightened out and get your name cleared, it can't be helped."
'We', he'd said. Kitty stopped and swung around to face Matt. "Matt," she locked eyes with him. "I know this hasn't been easy and I want you to know how I much I appreciate you staying with me. But I also want you to know, you don't have to. I'm the one they want. You could leave and go home if you wanted." More than anything she wanted him to stay with her, but she felt compelled to give him a way out. She didn't want him hurt because of her.
Matt shook his head as he pulled her close to him, locking his hands around her back and studying her face intently. "Kitty Russell, I love you. Whatever it is you go through, you will not go through it alone. I'm here because I want to be. Understand?"
Kitty stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Yes, sir." She answered. "I sure am glad to hear that."
Matt kissed her once again and then took her arm. "Flannery's place isn't too far now. Let's get this done."
TBC