Snippet #2624425

A few seconds after Anna spoke, the door to the Mayor's office burst open, as Sheriff Thompson rushed in, his pistol drawn. He looked over at the two Dogs, then at the corpse of Chesterfield, before slowing holstering his weapon, heaving a heavy sigh. He looked between Anna and Horatio, an uncertain look on his face. "Well...looks like we're gonna need a new Mayor."

"Anna and I were interrogating the Mayor...backed him up in a corner, I'd say, after a few key questions. The damned fool tried to kill us after that...tried to shoot Anna through his desk." Horatio spoke up, offering the Sheriff an explanation. "We avoided that, and I shot the Mayor dead in response."

Thompson took another look at the Mayor...noticing the bullet hole going through the front of his desk. The black man gave a brisk nod shortly thereafter. "So I see. Well....can't say I'll miss him, to be frank. Cheeky bastard gave me plenty of grief after I became Sheriff. Didn't want a nigger enforcing the law in town, or so I gathered. Well, I'll go tell everyone what happened, calm folks down. I'll go over to Doc Cottle too, have him deal with the body when you're done here. Speaking of which...I was just there when I heard the gunshot. Brother Samuel is awake now, and quite eager to speak with us all when you're ready."

That said, Thompson left the office, going back outside to calm the townsfolk down.

Horatio stared after the Sheriff once he was gone, before turning back to Anna. He looked around the office, considering their options. They had plenty of time to go through the office, see if they could find any evidence connecting Chesterfield to the ranch attacks and kidnappings...but then again, Brother Samuel seemed to be awake now. He knew where the children were, and once they got a location out of him, they could get a posse together to go and get the children back, and kill the men responsible for the whole affair. Chesterfield's office would still be here when they got back...and depending on what they found out when they rescued the children, searching it might not even be necessary.

"What do you think, Anna?" Horatio glanced over at his surrogate niece, wanting her opinion on the matter. "Should we stay and search Chesterfield's office...or leave that for later, and go to Brother Samuel now?"