Just Common

Savannah

Folks, took us 19 days, we managed some good days. Doc got his horse legs so ta speak, ya know like they say sea legs. I know not the least bit funny, at all is it. Befer I gets started, ya must know this will bother some a ya. When I can I'll not get ta graphic, they is some needed ta show ya, just how evil this man is. We a start one day from Savannah, then what happened at Savannah.

So let's get started, an hope I don't chase ya off none.

Doc woke just few minutes after I did, think the smell a coffee did it. That small stove a mine gets hot right fast.
Last four days, we rode late inta night. Been gettin only three hours rest. Horses are about done, they only need ta make it twenty miles. Easy travel though, roads are good ta Savannah from here out. What's I call a down hill run, folks.

After coffee an some, steamed hardtack we packed up.
Doc groaned some then grunted as he climbed on his horse, blame horse snorted stomped his hooves. Doc gently say easy now, I know how ya feel. The packhorse was more pleasant than my critter or Docs. Tell Doc we turn south on Valdosta Savannah pike, in about mile rest the way easy one road ride. Fer a city fella Doc is holdin up just fine. He ain't really held me up none, been good travel companion. Told Doc, we wouldn't discuss the case till Savannah. Folks still a bit upset, I didn't see that clue or act on it. Not gonna tell Doc till I gets it figured out in my head.

Taday after we turned south an east ta Savannah, I felt just a touch fidgety, couldn't get comfortable in the saddle at all. Tell Doc, that patch trees, we a stop a spell. I need a break, no need in pushin these critters. Folks we only rode about two hour, was hopin fer three. I paced around some, bent over few times. Felt like I was just tuckered ta no end. Pulled out the corn licker an my crocker a coffee. Folks that is supposed ta keep stuff warm, most times it gets cold, since only been about two hour, coffee was half warm.

Pour me a half an half, ya know half coffee the other corn licker. Poured Doc some, then I asked, from yar readin who ya think it is? Ya know what type a person?
Doc, he smiled, finally ya want ta know. He took sip a his drink. Then say purely medicinal. Cures what ales ya, Common. At first I thought it was a person of some wealth. Ya see able ta travel spend several days in a city.

Few thins bothered me, though like how did he find his way around. The workin district an blend in, where people didn't notice him. Ya see he would have stuck out, then several of the young ladies came from wealth. This person, had ta be able ta move an blend in; in both worlds with out a hitch in the process.

I know this isn't a workin man, at least not yar normal one, warehouse, longshoreman, or day laborer. This person I believe now, might be travelin salesman came ta mind, he is at home in either district. I thought the wagon with his wares would work ta hide the young lady till his deed was done at a place. He could work in private. That wagon, could get him caught. It movin around late at night.

Folks I asks, ya don't think any those people a work do ya? Doc shook his head, looks at me an say. Common this could very well be a Ranger. Ranger can move in all districts blend in, no one would think it odd fer him ta be there. Travel move when ever he wanted, he would have a good idea, on how Rangers an Constables work.

Folks, won't tell ya, that Ranger thought ain't crossed my mind, real hard an more than few times. I toss back rest my drink, say guess we best move on. Abouts supper time, we make Savannah. Check in with Carolina an Bama City Station. Informed thum as ta why we are here.

Then gets us a place ta stay, Motel Savannah not a Inn, folks not normal fer a Ranger, ta get a motel. Doc, rather liked the idea. Beds were nice, room had a table an chair plus a good soft chair ta sit. Carolina side, most the murders were this side town, at least they found this side. Folks we have near 19 days, ta figure where he a strike an try an catch him. Those days we spend gettin ta know the city, but good. Get the trust of the people an such.

Folks, me an Doc that first night. We just ate supper had a couple drinks, an called it a night. We was ta tuckered ta do anythin more. Although we did talk fer abouts a hour maybe little longer. Doc thinks, our killer gets here in abouts a week, seven days no sooner. He say, he has controlled his urge ta kill, fer near three months. He could only control that urge once here, a few days at best.

Folks, my thinkin is maybe he gets here, in 17 days. Then he a start. My thinkin is he uses the Stage route ta travel. I think he holds up, in Saint Louis till he is ready ta move on. Whether he uses a Stage is a different story. From Saint Louis, the stage runs south, crosses at Memphis skirts the Wasteland, then turns south an east ta Savannah. My thinkin is he don't use the stage, far ta long a journey, ya make more stops an changes than he want ta. Ifin he was on the run, get caught real easy like.

Hell that last murder, in Saint Louis, might very well be his first in the cycle. Guess that idea could be a thought, ifin he starts in Savannah, not Orleans. Folks not near certain I am up ta this task. I need ta try, ifin I don't who a do it? Hell, no one else came forward ta solve this, now have they!

Next day, we met with Constable Myer an Jessup, ta work on a plan ta double the nightwalkers. Savannah has four City Rangers at least two a be on night watch. Me an Doc once it got close ta three days of our figured start time. We would work from six ta six, folks that be where we think this all starts an ends. The way he works. Takes one does his deed, an dumps thum all with in 12 hours maybe a touch longer.

Now this is all theory nothin more, hell we could be wrong on this. Maybe these ladies went missin an not reported the first few hours or day. How soon would a husband worry about a wife bein gone, how soon he know it. Not all are home every night, could be they workin or away on business. Some these ladies had no family how long could they be gone? Folks this ain't near a certain conclusion at all.

That emblem, Constables or the City Rangers didn't  recognized it, might be just a dropped item, meant nothin ta this case. Me an Doc a keep askin around never know. Folks, must say me an Doc an the rest at least got a jump on this. We might just be ready.

I gots the nerve up, tell Doc that I missed a clue ta another murder, in Atlanta. That first time me an Norm found that girl. Doc say, wonderin when ya would tell me that. Have ya read Norm's report on it. I say no didn't ask fer it. Never read it, just assumed it be like mine.

Doc say, Norm saw the same thin, what he thought were insides from a body. He didn't mention any more than that. Ya both were probably over whelmed, could be ya both mistook what ya saw. That I say Common is doubtful. Ya both were trained ta remain calm, I am sure it sickened ya both. Ya both couldn't make sense of it.

Just maybe ifin ya both looked over yar reports befer turning thum in. Ya would a caught it. Did ya look it over? Folks, that I ain't certain on. Was a might troubled over it all. Told Doc, exactly that. He smiled at me, say bet ya don't do that again. Common we make those silly mistakes. All of us do, try not an do it again is all ya can do. Probably was three murders, now why didn't it happen again? That is the question isn't it, Common.

Doc, asks why didn't he Common, why didn't he kill in Atlanta again? Folks that I don't think even Doc as a clue ta. I told him, only thin comes ta mind. He might thought he was near caught in Atlanta. So it spooked him, he just lets Atlanta be now. Well folks, hope I ain't bored ya near death. Bit long winded till next time, ifin they is one.

Thanks for your time, and the support. Vote make a comment if you so choose. Well at least vote. Only way I. Know if you read it.

Does anyone want to speculate on who the killer is Ranger, Salesman, someone with wealth?

Let me know your guess, of course I won't tell if you are right. If you are though you'll be one up on even myself.
Thanks again and take care.