Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard

by Johnny Fowler

  Kincaid closed the door and sat beside Dunlap.

  Man took the lead and gave him the information they’d obtained from Grandmother Gretchen. He didn’t comment.

  Kate followed up with the questions they’d asked his assistant chief.

  “Elmer Knorr was killed by a blow to the head. It could have been a board or paddle, which was more likely. The slit in his skull was about a half inch wide and he was hit from behind. The fishermen said they found him in their net about a mile off shore.”

  “The marshals want to know how far it was from the Pirates Cove,” Dunlap said.

  “From what was reported, it was at least a mile,” Chief Kincaid said.

  “Tell us about Bedford Nail,” Kate said.

  “A real pain in the, uh, well, never mind. If it is illegal, Nail is involved one way or the other. But, he’s sharp and has his dirty work done so he always has an airtight alibi. He keeps a couple of lawyers on his payroll for him and his men.”

  “If Elmer Knorr was in real debt to him from gambling, would Nail have him killed?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kincaid replied. “If that was the case, Nail would never collect with Elmer dead. However, as a lesson to others, he might have. Proving it would be next to impossible. As I said, he would have an alibi and one of a dozen men on his payroll could have done it.”

  “Was Elmer Married?” Man asked.

  “No,” Chief Kincaid said.

  “Would Dutch Günter lie about being shot?” Kate asked.

  The chief rubbed his chin. “It’s possible. I’ve heard some of the tales he’s told. But, why would he do that? He should know it could start a shooting war between the Knorrs and Günters.”

  “Tell us about the shooting of Dutch,” Kate said. “Who reported it? Did he go to the doctor and did he confirm it was a gunshot wound and not caused by something else.”

  “Dutch didn’t go to the doctor. I talked to him and he said it was only a scrape. He said he put medicine and a bandage on it. He showed me the bandage. It was about halfway between his knee and ankle. He said he was walking from his house to the barn, heard a shot, and felt a burning sensation on his leg. He ran into the barn and never saw anybody. But, I see your point. Why would he lie about it?”

  “For attention,” Kate speculated.

  “What brought on these questions?”

  “A very informative interview with Grandmother Gretchen,” Kate said.

  “You got in to talk to her?” the chief asked in amazement.

  “Yes, we did,” Kate said. “She’s a very astute woman and appears to control the Knorr family with an iron fist.”

  “We all agree on that,” Assistant Chief Dunlap said.

  They stood and went to the door. Man stopped and thanked the two police officers before they left.

  “What now?” Kate asked.

  “The telegraph office first to make a report and see if the two killers have surfaced,” he said.

  He came out and shook his head. “What do you suggest we do now?” he asked.

  “I would like to get a look at that wound on Dutch’s leg. I tend to believe Grandmother Gretchen,” Kate said. “We both have seen gunshot wounds often enough to recognize one.”

  They found Dutch in the barn. When they walked in, Dutch put down the hayfork and waited until the marshals were close.

  Man introduced them both. “Are you Dutch Günter?”

  Dutch sat on an anvil stand in the middle of the barn. “I’m Dutch. What can I do for you?”

  “We want the details of the shooting,” Kate said.

  He repeated the story of walking toward the barn, hearing the shot, and feeling the bullet hit his leg. He pulled up his pants to show them the bandage.

  Kate went to Dutch as she said, “A gunshot wound is a nasty thing. The bullet is covered with no telling how many germs. I’ve seen men lose their leg by just a scrape of a bullet if an infection sets in. I was told you didn’t go to a doctor. That’s very unwise on your part. Would you mind if I looked at the wound to see if any infection has started?”

  “Please look,” he said. “I don’t want to lose my leg.”

  Kate pulled the bandage away and knelt to examine the wound. It was a flat scrape about three inches wide. She stood and said, “Dutch Günter, you’re under arrest. She grabbed the pistol on his hip and Man hurried behind the startled man with his handcuffs.

  “What’s going on?” he demanded.

  “That is not a gunshot wound,” Kate said. “You lied to a policeman and filed a false report. But, I expect a fine and about thirty days is all you will get. However, should a shooting war start between the Günter’s and the Knorrs, the charges will be much more severe and you’re looking at a few years of hard labor.”

  “We’re taking you into town and turning you over to Chief Kincaid. Since it was him you lied to, I’m sure he won’t have much sympathy for you.”

  Man went to saddle a horse he saw in a stall. “I hope you have somebody to look after your livestock while you’re away,” Kate said.

  Man helped Dutch on his horse and led him outside to where Red Bird and Arabian were tied.

  “Why did you lie about being shot?” Kate asked casually. “If you have a good reason, the judge may have some sympathy for you. In fact, if you have a really good excuse and he believes it, he may put you on probation. But, I warn you,” she added, “you had better tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth when you talk to Kincaid this time.”

  They stopped in front of the police station and Man helped Dutch from his horse. Several spectators were gathering to see who the two marshals had brought into town.

  Somebody said, “That’s Dutch Günter. I wonder if he’s the one that murdered Elmer Knorr.”

  Kate winked at Man.

  Chief Kincaid met them at the door and ushered Dutch back to his office.

  “He has something to tell you,” Kate said.

  The chief pushed Dutch into a chair, stood in front of him, and waited.

  “I lied about being shot,” Dutch said. “I didn’t mean to do it, but, well, it sounded better than saying I tripped over a tool and scraped my leg on a piece of steel. I didn’t mean to lie, but it just came out that way. I’m sorry and I never even thought about starting a shooting feud. If you’ll let me, I’ll tell everybody that I made up that story.”

  Kate and Man backed to the door and left it to Chief Kincaid to handle. At least twenty people were in front of the station when they walked out. A reporter was in front with his tablet out ready to take notes.

  “Did Dutch kill Elmer Knorr?” he asked. That rumor was already flying.

  “Ask Police Chief Kincaid your questions,” Man said. “We turned the case over to him.”

  They hurried through the crowd to their horses and mounted. Chief Kincaid came out of the station and everybody hurried to hear what he had to say.

  “So far, Grandmother Gretchen is one for one,” Kate said.

  “What next,” she asked.

  “It is time to pack it in for the day,” he said. “Tomorrow, I suggest we talk with Bedford Nail.”

  The snow had settled to ankle deep and they found Roy and Dan busy building fence. They waved as the two marshals rode by. “You got a lot accomplished today,” Man shouted. “Good job.”

  The two boys waved acknowledgement.

  Chapter 9

  Both marshals wore their working skins and each cleaned and loaded their Walker Colts and Winchester rifles. From reports about Nail, they could be needed.

  The Pirates Cove was closed when they arrived. There was no evidence anybody was inside. A barn for horses behind the building was empty. Man tried all of the doors and found them locked.

  “I expect it doesn’t open until mid-afternoon,” he said as he walked back to where K
ate waited astride Red Bird. “What do we do now?”

  “I wonder if we could locate the fishermen that found Elmer’s body and verify that story,” she said. They rode along a road parallel to the water and stopped at a fish market where men were sorting fish.

  The two marshals dismounted and walked over to the men. They all stopped what they were doing and watched the pair approach.

  Man made the introductions. “We’d like to talk to the fishermen that found the body of Elmer Knorr.”

  “That would be me,” a burly man said as he stepped forward. “But, I can’t tell you much. When we pulled in our net, he was in it. We brought the body in and turned it over to the police.”

  “Where did you find it?” Kate asked.

  “Out there,” he said as he pointed out on the lake. Several men chuckled.

  “We’re investigating a murder,” Man said. “If you want, we can go into town and you can answer the questions inside the jail.”

  The chuckling stopped instantly. “Hey, I didn’t mean to rile you none. It was about a mile out, maybe a little less. We were on the way in to here when we netted it.”

  “Was anything holding it down?” Kate asked.

  “Matter of fact, yes, and a rope with a rock was tied to his ankles. I expect the body was trying to float and our net went under him.”

  “Thank you,” Man said. “May I have your name and the name of your boat for our report and we’ll let you get back to work.”

  “Good, I don’t want no trouble from the law. I have got to make a living for my wife and four kids. My name is Abner Gallagher.”

  “Thank you,” she said and the two marshals went to their horses.

  “Who next?” he said.

  “Rosalind Geyser or her sister Evelyn Günter?” she said.

  Man pretended to flip a coin and catch it in the air and put it on his wrist. “Rosalind heads and Evelyn tails,” he said.

  She said, “Heads.”

  He removed his hand, looked down and said, “Heads. Rosalind first.”

  Kate smiled and teased, “Remind me to use my own coin if we’re ever betting.”

  Kate knocked on the door of an older home and they heard movement inside. A woman dressed in a long gray dress with an apron tied around her neck opened the door. She had flour on her nose. “Yes?” she said.

  Man made the introductions. Kate said, “May we come in and ask a few questions about Elmer Knorr. We’re investigating his murder.”

  She stepped back and allowed them to enter her home. A little boy of about four or five was standing behind her, peeking around his mother.

  Rosalind led them to a couch and she sat on a chair. “Go play with Spot while we talk,” she said. “Put your coat on and stay in the yard.”

  The boy came back with his coat and his mother put it on him and proceeded to button it. He reached for a cap and put it on his head. He hurried out a door and they heard a dog bark.

  Rosalind turned back to the marshals. “I will tell you what I know, which isn’t much,” she said. “Elmer dropped by to borrow money again and Theo was here visiting. Theo tossed him five dollars to get him to leave. He had been drinking, but that’s nothing unusual. He left and that was it.”

  “Did Theo and Elmer have an argument or words?” Kate asked.

  “Not really. Elmer’s timing couldn’t have been worse. Since you’re investigating, it’s no secret why Theo was here. Elmer has known about Theo and me for years. Heck, everybody in the Knorr family and Günter family are aware of it. I expect half of the town knows, as well. Theo parks his buggy in front of the house and that fancy rig and the two horses pulling it are well known to belong to Theo. We stopped trying to hide it a long time ago. A Günter didn’t murder Elmer. There’s no reason.”

  “What about Evelyn?” Kate asked. “Is she jealous of you and Theo?”

  “No,” Rosalind said. “From what Theo says, she’s happy with the situation. All she wants is the fancy house and money to spend. Theo says she hasn’t been, well, a wife, to him, in years. They sleep in different bedrooms. Evelyn and I are not enemies. We’re not close, either, but there’s no problem between us. We are at family gatherings and there are no harsh words between us. Grandmother Gretchen would never allow any trouble in the family.”

  “Who do you think murdered your brother?” Man asked.

  “I have no idea, but it was not family related. That’s all I know. After Elmer left that day, Theo said that Elmer was in trouble over gambling. You might look into that.”

  Rosalind closed the door behind them and the two marshals went to their horses. “Evelyn next,” Man said.

  Theo Günter lived in a home that was not equivalent to Grandmother Gretchen’s, but it was well above the normal homes in Coeur d’Alene. A housekeeper opened the door at their knock. “We’re here to see Evelyn Günter,” Kate said.

  “Who are you?” she asked. Both of the marshals pulled their coats open to show their badges as Man made the introductions, as usual.

  She gestured for them to enter and said, “Wait in the parlor while I get her.”

  The home was plush with expensive furniture and the floor was covered with a thick rug. They stood waiting instead of sitting on the fancy couch.

  An elegantly attired woman came into the room and said, “I’m Evelyn Günter. I know who you are. What do you want to know?”

  “What can you tell us about your brother, Elmer Knorr?” Kate said.

  “A drunken bum is all I know. He’s several years younger than me and I was never around him at home. We don’t run in the same circles and I see him a few times a year at family gatherings. I know he bums money off of Theo. I have told him to stop, but Theo doesn’t want any trouble. If you’re going to ask if I knew my husband was with my sister and Elmer went there, then yes, I knew. And, I am not going into private family matters. You know Theo has been sleeping with her for years and they have a son.”

  Kate nodded.

  “Then you know that wasn’t a motive for murder by my family. Do you have any other questions? I have an outing planned.”

  “Who do you think killed your brother?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t have a clue. That’s your job.”

  She turned and walked toward the stairs. The maid hurried in and led them to the front door.

  “I don’t like her,” Kate said.

  “Neither do I,” Man agreed, “but she isn’t involved.”

  Kate agreed with a nod of her head. “So far, there is not one person we have interviewed that caused the hair on the back of my neck to tingle. We haven’t found the culprit yet.”

  Man led the way toward town. “I’m hungry and we need to drop by the telegraph office and then touch base with Kincaid and Dunlap.”

  The café was full, so they went to the telegraph office first. Man sent a detailed report to Chief Marshal Meek about the investigation into the murder of Elmer Knorr. There was one wire waiting. Man carried it out so Kate could read it with him. She read aloud, “Unconfirmed report. Engledow and Valdez seen near Boise. Further information forthcoming when available. Signed Meek.”

  “That will give us more time to find the killer,” she said. “I think we’re getting closer to solving it by narrowing down the suspects one by one.”

  They rode to the police station and found Chief Kincaid and Assistant Chief Dunlap in Kincaid’s office. They both stood when Kate tapped on the doorframe and said, “Hello.”

  “You are dressed for action,” Dunlap said. “Every time I see those Walker Colts I drool.”

  “We are prepared for anything,” Kate said. “We went to the Pirates Cove, but there was nobody there. It was too early in the day. But, we do have other information to share.”

  “Come sit at the table,” Kincaid said as he pointed toward two chairs.

  M
an glanced at Kate when they were seated. She understood he wanted her to take the lead. “We located the fisherman who found the body. It was a mile or less offshore directly away from the fish market. He was on the way in. He said there was a rock tied to Elmer’s legs. We also interviewed Rosalind and Evelyn and are convinced the murder had nothing to do with the family matter. We think it may have been due to his gambling. After we eat, we’re going back to the Pirates Cove and interview Bedford Nail.”

  “If you get that accomplished,” Chief Kincaid said, “your Walkers may play an important part of that interview. He’s not going to talk to you willingly.”

  “Do you want backups?” Dunlap asked. “He may have a few of his men with him and they’ll kill you in a blink of the eye if Nail nods his head. Unless a fisherman finds your bodies, you’ll be reported as missing persons, never to be seen or heard from again.”

  “Thanks for your offer,” Man said, “but if we go riding in together and they see policemen, it may start a war and somebody would get hurt or killed. I’ll go in and Kate will have my back. If that fails, we’ll ask for help and take the whole bunch into custody and bring them in and talk to them separately.”

  “There is one of Nail’s men who always carries a Greener shotgun with double O buckshot,” Dunlap said. “He may be anywhere in the Cove. At times, he sits on a perch up high to survey the floor below to prevent trouble. You’ll see several holes in the floor and dark stains due to that shotgun. He’s a big burly red-faced man with awful pockmarks. He goes by the name of Irish.”

  “Why hasn’t Nail and Irish been brought in for those shootings?” Man asked.

  “There has never been a witness that would testify. They all know better. If they tried, they would be fish bait like the troublemakers. As I said, we’d have another missing person report. Elmer Knorr would never have been found if the body hadn’t been caught in the net. I’m surprised it was brought in.”

  Man and Kate left the station and went to the café. The crowd was gone and they went to a table. They looked on the board with the menu and ordered the special. It was meatloaf today.