Chapter 36
Cooper reports to the station to clock out after his shift. “The Chief is waiting for you,” one of the officers tells him.
“Thanks,” Coop hangs up his jacket and looks at his badge. He runs a finger over the symbols, before slipping it inside his pocket.
“Hey Chief, you wanted to see me?” Cooper asks.
“Yes, Just the man I’m looking for. Come in. I heard there was some trouble at the boarding house. What came of that?” Chief Upton asks.
Cooper sits down across from him and shrugs. “Just a break in. Probably a lover’s squabble. Guy ran out the window and used the fire escape to run.”
“How’s the nurse?” Chief Upton asks. He watches Cooper’s face intently.
“A little bruised up, but fine. She should be back to work on Friday. Why?” Cooper asks.
“Did she name her attacker?” he demands.
“No, Sir. I’ll have my report on your desk in the morning.”
“Excellent. Make sure you do that and Wyatt’s as well. The Dayde’s are friends of mine. I’d hate for one incident to ruin their reputation.” He grabs some papers and starts shuffling them.
“I see. It’s not the victim’s fault, Sir.” Cooper says carefully.
“Didn’t say it was,” Chief Upton snaps. “That’s all. If you get a lead or she remembers anything let me know.”
“Yes, Sir.” Cooper walks out, frustrated. They will know soon that Shep has her with him. This is getting out of hand. Time to get some answers.
Coop steps outside the station and heads for his horse. It’s almost midnight before the Chief finally leaves. He’s picked up in a closed carriage and Cooper follows him at a distance to the Hyatt Hotel.
He waits until the Chief disappears inside to follow. In his street clothes he can blend in easily. It’s simple to pay a maid to find out who the Chief is meeting with.
“I’ll be in the bar,” he tells the maid.
The hotel has a pricey bar, and he isn’t disappointed when the waitress brings his whiskey ten minutes later with a napkin on the bottom.
“Be sure to check your napkin, sir.” The waitress says with a wink and strolls away.
Cooper grins and flips over the napkin. “Marcus Hayden, Suite, 23B.” Cooper leaves a tip and wonders from the bar.
It’s simple enough to wait in the hallway near the suites and see who come and go. If he’s smart about it, he can have a chat with one of them and get some answers.
His wolfish grin illuminates the dark hallway. He ducks into the men’s bathing room and waits for his opportunity.
Shepherd guides Maggie inside and shows her to the guest room. “You’ll be safe here Maggie, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you need to,” he says, and she looks at him in surprise.
“I don’t think so. I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning,” Maggie walks into the room while he places her bag on the floor and turns to stare at her.
“I’m so sorry you were caught in the middle of this. I hope you will forgive me?” he asks softly.
Maggie stares at him and sighs, “You were trying to help your friend and I… I don’t know what I was thinking getting involved in all of this.”
Shep walks closer to her.
“Hopefully, the same thing I’m thinking whenever I’m near you. I’d like a chance to get to know you better when people aren’t trying to hurt you.” He grins.
Maggie smiles and hisses at the pain in her lip and face. “We will see. Thank you for coming, Shepherd,” she whispers.
“Always,” Shep promises and backs out of the room.
Maggie watches him go and sighs. “What in the world am I doing? I don’t even know this man.” Maggie paces in her room, stopping in front of a mirror and gasps.
“He did a job on you, Maggie Rose,” she whispers and lets her hair down before changing for bed.
“Tomorrow you will find a new place to stay. They will forget all about you, Maggie.”
Shepherd waits in the dark with his pistol cocked and ready. Sleep was elusive after the events of the day and a noise in the house alerted him to a possible threat.
Maggie’s door is closed. He cracks the door and looks inside to see if it’s coming from her room. Her blonde hair is easily identifiable. The door closes with a soft click.
Following the noise, he makes his way downstairs, avoiding the noisy parts of the wooden stairs.
A soft light is glowing in the kitchen, he leaps around the corner with his pistol, “Hands up!”
“Shit!” Cooper tosses the fried chicken Mrs. Combs made for dinner and growls at Shep.
“That was my dinner!”
Shep puts his pistol away, and realizes his hands are trembling. “I almost shot you! What are you doing?”
“Eating! I’ve had a long night.” Cooper sits down and grabs a second piece of chicken from the leftovers.
“Cooper, why are you in my kitchen in the middle of the night?” Shepherd asks slowly, as he calms the frustration.
Coop grins, “I brought you a surprise. You’ll need to remember to thank me, later.”
“Coop, your surprises are never good.” Shepherd runs a hand over his face. “I need coffee,” he grumbles and glances at his friend who is happily eating a second piece of chicken.
“Start talking, Coop!” Shep demands.
“It’s better if I show you.” Coop walks out of the kitchen through the back door and towards the old outhouse on the back of Shep’s property.
Wyatt grins and waves. “Hey Shep.”
“You too?” Shep demands.
“It’s definitely not a one-man job,” Cooper responds.
“What isn’t?”
Cooper grins, “We have a criminal to interrogate,” he points and rips a piece of chicken with his teeth.
Shep’s eyes grow big with surprise and he tears open
