Doc and Matt strolled up the street in the direction that the undertaker's wagon had go, "Damn shame," Doc couldn't help but think of how horrible Jane Rose's death must has been.
"We'll get who ever did this, Doc," Matt looked down at the shorter man.
Doc's eyes lifted to the marshal's, "The hard part will be proving this," he said with sage wisdom. "This will be a messy one, I just know it," he said with a swipe of his moustache before he looked back up the street.
"It might be, Doc, but until you gather all the evidence from the body, we're just speculating on Zach," the marshal stated.
"I know. He seems pretty cocky," the doctor ticked his head. "Maybe I should try and get a sense from the General what his boys are really like. It might shed some light on this whether is was an accident or otherwise," his eyes narrowed.
"That's a good idea, Doc," Matt said as the two men reached the furniture and undertaker business of Percy Crump. "I'll got and tell Kitty," the marshal said as he looked thought the window.
"If she wants to see the body, she can," Doc said with sorrow in his voice. Matt nodded and left; the doctor watched the marshal for a moment, "I don't envy you Matt," he said to himself before he returned his attention to the case at hand.
The doctor entered the building just as Percy Crump and Festus placed the lifeless body on the table in the back. Doc could see the sorrow in the hill man's eyes, "Go help Newly with the evidence at the scene," he spoke kindly to Festus. The hill man swallowed, "Ain't no call fer anything like that," he sighed.
Doc studied the deputy for a second, "No truer words have ever been spoke," he blinked. At first Festus said nothing as he looked at the doctor and then to Jane Rose, "Doc. You help Matthew git whoever done that," his tone was cold and his eyes narrowed waiting for a response.
Doc ticked his head, "I'm going to do everything in my power," he said in a equally cold tone. The hill man was satisfied and left the building through the back door where he and Crump had brought the body through, leaving the doctor to his business.
The doctor sighed. He stared down at the tarp-covered body, "Well my dear, I hope you don't mind, but I do need to look at you," he said as he removed his coat and draped it over a chair. He next rolled up his shirt sleeves before he carefully pulled back the canvas. The doctor shook his head, "My heavens," he stated as he pulled his glasses from their case to have a better look at the bruising around the young woman's face.
Doc then looked down at her arms and could clearly see where someone held her tightly, "Bastard," he muttered as he continued his examination.
Matt stood at the entrance of the Long Branch and watched Kitty at the far end of the bar; it appeared that she and Sam Noonan were deep in conversation. Slowly Matt pushed through the swing-doors and stepped down into the saloon. His eyes scanned the room for Zachariah as he approached the bar.
Kitty looked up at the marshal and swallowed, "Oh no," she whispered knowing full well what the marshal had come to say – it was in his eyes and the way he walked.
Matt shook his head as if it were all a bad dream, "I'm afraid so, Kitty," his eyes quickly lifted to the bar keep. Noonan sighed and looked down at the bar, "I liked that girl," he said. "She reminded me of our daughter," he said before he turned and walked away.
Matt and Kitty looked at each other; neither one had ever heard Sam mention anything about his past in such a personal way before, which saddened them further.
Kitty quickly looked at the marshal, "Tell me Matt. Tell me what happened," her eyes were full of fire.
Matt drew a deep breath, "We found Jane Rose wrapped in a tarp in the creek behind the old shack near Bridge Street. Doc's doing an autopsy to find our how she died," he stated.
Kitty's eyes narrowed, "I bet it was that Zach," she growled, casting her eyes around the room looking for the young man.
Matt nodded, "I agree, but I need to prove it without a doubt and from what Doc tell say," he offered. "Doc is also going to talk to the General about his sons, to get an idea whether this was an accident or not," he leaned on the bar.
"It must have been some accident to have wound up in a tarp in the creek," Kitty snapped sarcastically. Matt could only agree.
Randall Clanton was the next person through the doors and walked straight over to where Kitty was with Matt, "Good afternoon," he smiled and touched the brim of his hat as he looked at Kitty.
"Randall," Kitty tried to smiled back.
"I was just up in the doctor's office looking for him, but he's not there. Do you know where he is?" the young man asked.
"Doc's busy right at the moment, but he told me that he'd look in on your father just as soon as he can," Matt stated.
"How long will he be?" Randall was pushing.
"I don't know. But what I do know, what he is doing is very important," Matt squared himself to Clanton.
Randall made a face, "I can't imagine what's more important than a sick man," he huffed with dissatisfaction.
Matt hooked his thumbs over his gun belt, "As it so happens, the doctor is preforming an autopsy, which can't wait. The time is of the essence," he sternly said.
Randall's shoulder's relaxed slightly, "I'm sorry to hear that," he sighed, realizing that his attitude was getting the better of him. "I can see how that would be important," he added.
"I guess it all depends on what evidence he finds, if any," Kitty noted.
"Well, let's hope he does find something," Matt said as he quickly glanced to Randall who was busy looking the other way. Kitty nodded, "Indeed," she sighed.
Doc shook his head as he carefully examined the bruising around Jane Rose's face, "Looks like you didn't have half a chance," he muttered to himself. Next he lifted the woman's limp arm and studied the massive bruises on her wrists. He was slowly putting a clearer picture together about what happen. The next procedure was one he dreaded, but it had to be done.
About a half an hour had past, and he didn't see any sign of rape, which he was grateful for. It only meant that Jane Rose died before her abductor could complete his plan. Doc shook his head further and was ready to pack up, when he noticed that Jane Rose's right hand was clenched into a fist; he decided to take a closer look.
Doc lifted the hand and eased each stiffened finger straight. What most got his attention was some soft material under several fingernails. Using a thin scraping tool, he cleaned out the material into a small glass dish. He studied it on the spot, but couldn't make out what it was; he'd have to look at it under his microscope back in the office. "I hope this will lead us to whoever did this to you," he said as he carefully placed the dish in his medical bag. He then pulled a white sheet up over the body.