Doc had just pulled his coat over his shoulder as he lay on the daybed, hoping for a little sleep. He was tired and still not feeling one hundred percent, and with all that was going on, he felt just a little overwhelmed. He closed his eyes and was instantly asleep.
Newly stopped at the base of the stairs to catch his breath. Wilbur Jonas spotted the young deputy, "Newly? What's wrong?" the store owner asked. Newly looked Jonas in the eye, "There's been a murder," he said as he controlled his breathing.
"A murder? Who?" Jonas asked with panic filling his eyes.
"I can't say right now. Please don't mention this to anyone," O'Brien explained. "I need to get Doc," he said as he walked up the stairs, "I'll talk to you later," he stated as he watched the store owner; he was clearly shaken by the news.
Newly opened the door into the doctor's office and glanced around when his eyes settled on the sleeping doctor. O'Brien really didn't want to wake him, but they had to have Doc look at the body before it was moved from the creek, "Doc?" the young deputy said and he nudged Doc on the upper arm. "Doc we found a body," he said in a hushed voice.
Doc brushed Newly's hand away and mumbled something inaudible as he readjusted his coat, smacked his lips and sighed as he continued to sleep.
Newly frowned, "Doc?" he tried again, this time he nudged a little harder.
"What?!" Doc's eyes flashed open as he snapped; glaring up at the young deputy.
Newly swallowed, "Sorry Doc. The marshal asked me to get you. We found a body," O'Brien's eyes told it all.
Doc slowly sat up and ran his hand down his face, "Jane Rose?" he looked up at Newly.
"It's wrapped in a tarp. The marshal wants you to look at it before we move it from the creek," he explain.
"The creek?" Doc grunted. "Good heavens," he sighed and he pulled his coat back on. The doctor slowly stood and walked to the examination table where he had left his medical bag. He looked over his shoulder to Newly, "Lead the way," he motioned with his free hand before he scooped up his black felt and followed the young deputy out the door.
The two men spoke not a word as they sombrely walked down the stairs. Jonas watched them disappear through the door in the gate, and shook his head in sorrow. He'd heard through his network that the deputies were looking for Jane Rose; a lump formed in his throat.
Newly led the doctor along the back road which followed the creek. Doc could see Matt and Festus up ahead near the shed. He ticked his head and drew his hand across his moustache. This was one part of his job he hated. Newly and Doc reached the area, "The body's in a tarp in the reeds, Doc," Matt pointed out.
Doc placed his medical bag down on the ground and took off his coat, "Have you sent for Percy?" he asked as he rolled up his white shirt sleeves.
"Not yet," Matt stated. "I didn't want another set of foot prints around here," he pointed out.
Doc nodded, "I'll do my best to avoid them," he said as he walked to the water's edge. There was no way about it, he was going to have to get into the creek. Again he brushed his hand across his moustache before he carefully waded into the water. Thankfully it was a relatively warm day.
Newly crouched down and studied the foot print that Matt had circled with a stick, "I bet that if we got some plaster of Paris, we could get an impression of this boot mark," he said looking up at the marshal.
"Where would you get that?" Matt asked.
"Mister Jonas might have some," Newly suggested.
"Okay. Go ask him," Matt thumbed over his shoulder in the direction of the general store. Newly quickly dashed off.
"Doc? Do you need a hand?" Festus asked as he watched the doctor moving carefully to the body.
"Not yet, Festus. Go get Percy, but have him stay away from the scene," Doc said as he studied the tarp while putting his glasses on. He was now mid-thigh in the water. Doc pulled the tarp back and looked down at the woman's face, "It's her, Matt," the looked up at the marshal over his silver-rimmed spectacles. "You'll have to tell Kitty," he pointed out, his voice was calculated and caring.
"Do you want me to get Miss Kitty too, Matthew?" the hill man asked.
Matt shook his head no, "I'll talk to Kitty, Festus. Go get Percy like Doc asked." The hill man nodded and left the scene. The marshal watched the hill man walk away, then turned his attention to the doctor and the victim , "Doc?"
"She was beaten, for one thing. I won't know much more until I get a better look at the bruises," he stated as he pulled his glasses off and put them back in their case and vest pocket. "Let's get her out of here," the doctor motioned for Matt to join him. "We'll take her over that way," Doc pointed and then took the dead woman's feet, while Matt took her shoulders. The two men waded along the creek with Jane Rose, and then finally up on shore where they placed her gently on the ground.
"How long was she in there," Matt asked as he adjusted his hat back on his head while looking into the reeds.
Doc was rolling his sleeves back down and looked over to where the body was, "More than twelve hours, but not any more than twenty four, I would say," his eyes came back to he marshal's. "Fits in the time frame doesn't it," he narrowed his eyes.
Matt nodded, "It sure does, Doc," he couldn't keep his eyes off the tarp until Newly came chugging back with a sack under his arm, "Mister Jonas had the plaster," the young deputy smiled.
Matt smiled slightly, "I'll let you work on that, Newly," said as he turned to see Festus with Percy Crump and his wagon. "If people saw Percy, word will spread like wild fire," he noted.
"Good!" Doc grunted loudly. "Maybe it will make the murderer slip up," he added with a quick swipe of his moustache.
"Doc, I think we both know who did this," Matt said as he stepped closer to the doctor.
Doc nodded, "Proving it will be another. His father will not take this well," he added.
"You met the father?" Matt asked.
"Oh, yes," Doc blinked. "I sure have," he said gruffly as he pulled his coat on. "Not sure I like the man," he looked Matt in the eyes. "Union man or not, I don't think I like him," he huffed. "But I'm positive he will fight this, if it does turn out to be his son," the doctor ticked his head as he watched Newly with the plaster.
Matt motioned to Percy and Festus to bring the wagon over, which they did. "This is terrible, marshal," Percy said as he stepped down from the buckboard. Mott nodded, "Yes it is. We need to get her to your place so Doc can do an autopsy," he sighed.
"Certainly, Matt," the undertaker nodded and motioned for Festus to help him with the body.
Doc remained watching Newly as he cast the foot print, "That just might hold some power," he mused.
The marshal stood beside the doctor, "Yeah, Doc it might," he agreed then placed his hand on the doctor's shoulder. I'm afraid Jane Rose needs your attention, however," he interpreted the doctor's thoughts. Doc looked up at Matt, "You're right," he swallowed and then joined Percy and Festus as they drove the wagon to the undertaker's business.