Coraline's mouth fell open at the girl's report.  "That doesn't sound like Mister Darling at all!  Surely there is some mistake.  Hurry, there is no time to waste.  We will come along with you immediately!"    She gestured for the girl to lead the way, keeping close on her heels as they threaded through the crowd.

Morgan frowned as he listened to the girl's nervous account of the goings on at her home. She seemed sincerely frightened, but Morgan was convinced that the whole thing had to stem from some misunderstanding. Darling wasn't one to act recklessly or impulsively. If he suspected the Winger girl of something, he probably had evidence to back up his claims.

Keeping his voice low so Smith's daughter could not hear, he whispered to Hawthorne. "Darling's no fool. I'm sure he had good reason for acting as he did."

Wilma led Caleb and Coraline just down the street to where their combined home and medical office was. The door was open, and a man's back was visible to them - Doc Smith - facing into his own home.


"Daddy, I brought the other deputies!" she said to them. Doc Smith turned, and look relieved.

"Thank goodness someone else is here! This man tricked my daughter into letting him into my home after I was called to look at the body, threatened both of these young women, and is attempting to take one of my patients into his custody. Now he's trying to arrest me!" said a rather incensed looking Doc Smith.

"I think one of you should arrest him! He's in my home without my leave and has refused to leave several times now already. I'm well within my rights to defend my own property."

Beyond Doctor Smith stands Randolph Darling with a grim expression on his face and his right hand firmly gripping Suzy Winger's arm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Mon 03 June 2013.

Coraline put her hand on the doctor's shoulder.  "Please, Doctor, we will straighten this all out immediately.  There is no need for the shotgun.  Would you please lower it so that Mister Darling can explain himself?"  Turning her dark gaze to Randolph, she frowned.  "Well, Mister Darling?  What is this all about?  I think you owe everyone here an explanation." 

When they entered the house, it was the shotgun in Smith's hands that instantly drew Morgan's attention. Although he did not raise his voice when he spoke, Morgan kept his tone stern, using the same tone he addressed other men who were ready to do violence.

"Dr. Smith, you have my word, we will get to the bottom of this. But I need to remind you, you are pointing that weapon at a duly appointed Deputy Marshal of Dodge City. If you do him harm, even in your own home, it could go very badly for you in the eyes of the law."

"I need you to lower that weapon, sir."

The doctor lowered his gun ever so slightly. He hadn't actually been pointing it at Randolph, but he at the same time seemed ready to use it should he need to.

"That's the thing isn't it. He won't say what he's about! Just that he's under arrest and that I'm under arrest."

The force in Caleb's voice did find some purchase in the doctor, because he lowered his weapon. But he didn't move from the doorway. "All I asked for was an explanation of why he was taking one of my patients, and he wouldn't give it. I hope you're a man of your word, Deputy," he said to Caleb.

"Because I know a great many folk in Dodge just about now that would want to know why a duly appointed Yankee Deputy Marshal would force his way into a Southern man's home and against his will abscond with one of his patients by force."

Morgan nodded in response to Smith's words. When he spoke again, his voice was calm, free of the authoritative edge he had used a moment ago.

"I appreciate you lowering your gun, Dr. Smith and I understand why you feel as you do. What's happened is unusual, to say the least. We'll do our best to make certain everything is resolved calmly and fairly."

He looked over at Darling, waiting for the reporter's explanation.

With a stern glance at Suzy, Darling says: "I'd feel better about this, if we continued the discussion at the jail, but here goes.

"I came over here initially because Doctor Smith told me that Miss Winger had regained her senses. With a second murder in the close vicinity of the Dog Eye, I felt it was imperative to see whether she could identify the murderer, having been an eye witness to Paul Goodwin's death.

"I told Miss Smith that, as we have some sort of very strange killer on the loose, the safety of innocent people impelled me to enter here at such an unconventional hour. I felt that Miss Winger might be in considerable danger, having been a witness to the first killing and a resident at the Dog Eye. I thought it might be best to take her into protective custody and lodge her at the jail.

"But first, I asked her to tell me everything she saw last night.

"She said that Goodwin had insisted in coming up to her room, rather than meet her in the alley out back, as was his custom. He came up the back stairs, she said, and she heard them creak, so she was ready for him when he arrived. They were talking quietly when the monster burst in, that she didn’t even hear him coming -- never heard the back stairs creak. Goodwin hadn’t locked the door and, since he only wanted to talk, she hadn’t bothered either.

"Now this confused me, because I was under the impression that Goodwin was killed in the room he rents at the saloon, and that Miss Winger's was the other room, where we tried to speak with her later. After all, we found all of his belongings, including his book, in the room where he died.

"She described the killer as tall and slim. She didn’t get a good look at his fac, but remembers the way his eyes glared out at me from beneath the brim of his black top hat. Then he hit her and she blacked out. When she came to, she saw the man standing over Goodwin and stuffing his head into a bag and started screaming. The murderer crashed through the window and that’s the last she remembers.

"So she claims Goodwin was lying on the bed and didn't do anything to protect himself when this man burst in. Didn't even get off the bed, not even when 'the Butcher' hit her.

""Doctor Smith, she said, called the murderer the Butcher. This is when I began to get suspicious of her and, frankly, of Dr. Smith, who is by all accounts the most skilled surgeon in a town where someone with a surgeon's skills has murdered two men. And Miss Winger may be complicit in the death of at least one of the men.

"So I placed her under arrest to take her down and let Deputy Marshall Earp sort it out. Then I turned and Miss Smith was pointing a shotgun at me. After a bit Doctor Smith arrived and took the gun, but refused to let me pass with my prisoner. That's when I placed him under arrest.

"I'll abide by Earp's decision, but I'm not willing to surrender my prisoners otherwise."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:40, Tue 04 June 2013.

"Let me get this straight...you're suspicious of Suzy because after being out of her mind for over a day, she can't recall whether she met a man in his room or hers? And of me because I'm a surgeon? I'm the one who told you the killer had a surgeon's skills in the first place!" he asked, sounding as if he coukd hardly believe the audacity.

Morgan looked over at Smith's daughter. Addressing her politely, he said, "Miss Smith, I know you've traveled all over town this evening, but I need to ask you a favor. I need you to go to the Town Marshal's office and find Deputy Marshal Earp. I need you to bring him here."

He added, "I promise your father will not leave this house until you return."

Once the girl departed, Morgan turned to Darling. "Mr. Darling, shortly after I arrived at the scene of tonight's murder, I was able to track some of what I presume to be the killer's steps. The crowd that had gathered around the body had destroyed any chance of learning where the killer had fled, but I was able to follow a distinct set of footprints to determine where the murderer had come from."

"The tracks led to the Dog Eye. When I arrived there, I noticed that the outside door that leads to the second floor was standing open. The retractable staircase that leads to it had not been extended. It appeared that the killer had simply jumped out of the door to the ground. Since he'd jumped from a window in the saloon the night before, that wasn't especially surprising."

"I spoke to Hank McNary. He gave me an accounting of everyone who had rented a room upstairs. Some were rented to deputies, like myself. One belonged to Miss Winger. Another was Mr. Goodwin's."

"The only one that was not accounted for belonged to Mansfield, the drunk you attempted to interview earlier today. McNary let myself, Gabby, and Daniel into the man's room. While inspecting his belongings, Gabby found a carpetbag under the bed. The bag was full of body parts. Right after that discovery was made, I went downstairs when you called up to let me know that Dr. Smith had arrived to examine Simpkins' corpse."

He shook his head. "Mansfield has some degree of medical expertise. How much, I'm not certain. But even being drunk, he was able to competently set Walter Jackson's broken arm. I'm not certain how he's able to do some of the...well, extraordinary physical feats he's performed, but I have some ideas. Miss Hawthorne and I have discussed a few of them. I'll be glad to talk them over with you as well."

Addressing the doctor, Morgan said, "Dr. Smith, I understand why you feel as upset as you do. I will say, in Mr. Darling's defense, that I believe his initial instinct to see Miss Winger sheltered somewhere safe was correct. She is the witness to a murder and it is important that she be kept safe, and that your family not be placed in harm's way."

"Forgive me for asking this, sir. I do so out of necessity and don't intend any slight of your character. Are there others that can vouch for your whereabouts last night and this evening? Having that information would help insure that any suspicions would be put to rest."

Doc Smith seemed to relax considerably at Caleb's tone and manner. "He never suggested she be removed for safekeeping. He wants to arrest her and blame her for a murder because of her profession, likely."


"As for my whereabouts last night, Wilma and I were invited to dine with the pharmacist, Dr. McCarty, and his family. You can ask him, and he'll vouch for us being there until a late hour, when we returned here. Or maybe you can send Deputy Darling here, and he can arrest the whole family for murder and high treason and whatever else he feels like trumping up at the time."

Darling ignores the doctor and turns to Suzy. "Miss Winger, could the killer of Paul Goodwin have been the man Mansfield? I'm sure you've seen him around the Dog Eye. He's usually drunk at one of the back tables or cadging drinks."

Suzy ignored Randolph, speaking past him and the doctor to Caleb directly. "There's a killer out there. He attacked me and knocked me to the ground, killed somebody I knew right there, and hacked his body parts off. I really do wanna help y'all find him. I tried to tell this sonuvabitch what I knew earlier," she inclined her head towards Randolph,  and then he started gettin' all suspicious and implying that I had somethin' to do with it. So I stopped answerin' him, and he arrested me."


She shrugged. "I don't know if it was Clayton. All I know is that the fella was tall and slim, and all I got a glimpse of was his crazy lookin' eyes. He had a black top hat too. He was faster than you can believe. I know it sounds crazy, but he moved so quickly. I'd say maybe five times as fast as any o' y'all could move. He hit me in the face, though, real hard. I blacked out for a lil' while, I don't remember how long. I came to, and saw him stuff Paul's head in a bag, and then I scream, and he just jumps out the window like it's nothin'. I don't remember much more than that, honestly." 
This message was lightly edited by the player at 17:33, Tue 04 June 2013.

"Randolph, she is obviously not the killer.  And the doctor certainly isn't.  Or do you think that he killed a man, high-tailed it back to his office where Earp found him, then came back to the scene to tell us exactly how the murder was committed?  Oh, and sometime during that time he had the opportunity to plant evidence to implicate another man.  Your conjectures are horribly skewed.  Release that girl and leave her be.  We were going to speak to her in time.  I simply don't understand why you feel the need to sneak off on your own and accuse people before you have any hard evidence."

"Miss Winger," Morgan said, "I do believe what you've said about this killer. Based on what we've seen so far, the man is able to perform some remarkable physical feats. I don't doubt that he is as fast as you say he is."

He paused, then added, "I also believe that you're trying to help us catch him. I'm truly sorry for the loss of your friend, Mr. Goodwin."

Looking to Darling, he said, "Mr. Darling, I know it's Earp's word you need, not mine. And I respect that. He's the one in authority here in Dodge. But from my experience, I honestly don't believe that most of the Judges in Kansas, based on the evidence you have, would allow you to hold Miss Winger or Doctor Smith in jail. Not for any criminal reason."

Returning his attention to Winger, he said, "Miss Winger, I do feel that it is important that you be kept somewhere safe. A place where you're hidden and guarded. I'm certain Deputy Marshal Earp will know of such a location. Until this man is captured, you need to be kept under watch."

It didn't take long for Wyatt Earp to show up at the doctor's house, with Wilma Smith in tow.

"I heard something about a knife fight up by the church and was headed over there, but Wilma found me on the way and said somethin' was up down here. Howdy, Doc," he said. "Well, what is it?" He looks suspiciously at the scene, not being able to see fully where the doctor was but his sixth sense telling him that not all was right here.

"Go ahead and put that gun away, Doc, and we'll talk. You can't just pull a gun on a law man."

With a sigh, he made a slow and visible gesture of putting the gun on the rack by the door where it rested. The lot of them had talked the angry doctor down, especially when it looked like. 


"I'm afraid I lost my temper on one of your deputies when he tried to arrest my patient, and then myself for...hell, I don't even know what. I think he thinks Suzy did the murders with the body parts chopped off, and then myself for interfering with my arrest. I'm afraid I've gone and embarrassed myself, Wyatt."

Darling speaks up.

"I believe there are discrepancies in Miss Winger's story and that she knows more than she's telling, may even be an accessory after the fact. More importantly, I think as the only eyewitness to the murder of Paul Goodwin, she needs to be in custody for her own protection.

"I arrested the doctor because he impeded me in my duties and he threatened me with that shotgun. For that matter, so did Miss Smith."

He releases Suzy's arm.

"I'll let you question the woman and decide for yourself what to do with her, but bear in mind that we found the body in what Hank McNary said was his room and Miss Winger told me it was her room.

"I believe my time as a law man has reached an end." He unpins the badge from his vest and extends it to Earp.

As Darling was attempting to hand over his tin star, the momentary pause between conversation and fireworks was interrupted by the sound of a chilling scream from outside - somewhere to the north of where they were.

Morgan cursed silently. He tried to tell himself that the sound could signify anything:  someone frightened from witnessing a brawl, a jittery rider thrown from a horse, even a recently discovered theft. But deep down, he dreaded what they would find when they followed the scream to its source.

More of the madman's handiwork. How many had to die before they caught him?

Without hesitation, Morgan moved for the door. Glancing at Dr. Smith, he said, "Doctor, I'll have to beg your patience, but could you please continue to watch after Miss Winger until someone can return for her?"

Once he had his answer, he was out the door, checking the loads in his Peacemaker as he moved.

"Of course," he said, simply. He looked tired, relieved, and worried again all at the same time. "Wilma, Suzy, get yourselves upstairs. I'll be coming up to join you in a few."

The law man swore as he heard the sound. "Deputy Darling, I'm not gonna take that back from you. Not yet, anyhow. That sounded close. You can hang onto that for one more night at least." He checked his own weapon.

"Come on, deputies." Leaving the situation where they were be, he looked up the street, and started heading north on Bridge street at a brisk walk, keeping to the side of buildings on the west side of the street in case he needed to duck behind something.

Coraline gasped at the scream and turned sharply toward the door, mouth opening in surprise.  Her eyes flitted to the doctor and two women.  "You all stay safe."  She grabbed Randolph by the arm and dragged him out of the house after Caleb and Wyatt.  Her fan in one hand, she beat it nervously against her leg.

Darling allowed himself to be carried along by Coraline's hand on his arm, thrusting his badge into his coat pocket. As he left the house he gave a glance back at The Smiths and Suzy, misgivings flooding his heart.

Then they were into the dark streets, following in Earp's wake toward unknown trouble.