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It was only a short drive to the Governor's Residence at 101 East 27th St, but Matt couldn't help but be nervous. He was a friend of the Governor, but this kind of summoning for an audience felt painfully official. He was well aware of his department's shortcomings in apprehending John Dillinger. Indeed, the reason for his close relationship with the Governor was a mutual interest in avoiding the bad publicity that had resulted from Dillinger's break-out of Harry Pierpont and his friends from Michigan City in 1933. It had been nine months since then, and his attempts to sow jealousy between Pierpont and Dillinger by calling them Dillinger Gang had backfired spectacularly. John Dillinger had become the country's most notorious criminal, bringing shame to Indiana. He wouldn't be surprised if the Governor's patience had finally worn thin.

The Governor's Residence had been built with an English country house in mind. As he entered, he looked up at the familiar high beamed ceiling. The plush carpet absorbed the sound of his footsteps. A butler was waiting for him, and directed him upstairs, to the Governor's office. He rapped on the dark wooden door. From within the room came a muffled 'Enter!', and Matt took a deep breath in and did as he was told.

Governor Paul V. McNutt was sitting behind a broad wooden desk, and was dressed in a matching three piece suit of what looked like tweed. Matt could be forgiven for thinking he had somehow gone through the door to Hampshire. Two other men were in the room, talking to McNutt. One he did not recognise, though he noted his accent as a Texas drawl. The other man he did recognise, and he carefully kept his face straight, to keep his lip from curling. It was Martin Zarkovich, an East Chicago detective, with quite the reputation for turning a blind eye when it suited him.

'Ah, Captain! So good of you to come out here on such late notice.' cried McNutt. Zarkovich and the Texan turned to look at him.

'Governor.' he replied. 'What's this about?' McNutt smiled beguilingly.

'As you are well aware, we have had limited success apprehending the outlaw John Dillinger.' he said. 'I intend to bring that to an end. Captain, meet Sergeant Zarkovich of East Chicago Police and Lee Simmons of the Texas Department of Corrections.' gesturing at each man in turn. 'Gentlemen, meet Matt Leach, Captain of the Indiana State Police.' The men nodded to one another wordlessly. The Governor leaned back in his chair. 'A month ago, the criminal couple Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were killed by a posse led by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. He pursued them across state lines, and the posse was composed of men from various jurisdictions, operating on the authority of the Governor of Texas. Mr Simmons here was responsible for convincing my fellow Governor and Mr Hamer to commit to the pursuit.'

Matt instantly realised what the Governor wanted. The greatest weakness of their pursuit was that Dillinger and his cronies could easily cross a state line and they had no jurisdiction to pursue them. He didn't like to think how many times the smirking yegg had slipped through his fingers in such a fashion. The Governor continued.

'I propose that we imitate the successful formula that brought Bonnie and Clyde's reign of terror to an end. Zarkovich has been brought here due to his encyclopedic knowledge of the Chicago underworld, the safe haven of Dillinger. And you Captain, have pursued our man since before he was a national headline. I want you two to form a posse, like that of Hamer's, and together bring John Dillinger and all his merry men to justice.' McNutt grinned, his teeth shining. Zarkovich smiled as well, like a shark. Matt pursed his lips.

'What of my work in the State Police?' he asked. McNutt waved a hand.

'We'll find a temporary replacement. We need you to focus on this case alone for as long as it takes. You will still be working closely with the State Police, so it's not like you won't still be involved.' McNutt replied. Matt could tell he had already made up his mind and that he wouldn't be argued with.

'What about the rest of the posse?' he inquired. 'I assume that we'll need more men than me and Zarkovich.'

'That would be up to you.' replied Simmons. 'Hamer's success came from organically taking on whoever would be useful to the chase. I've recommended to the Governor that you be allowed the power to request the help of whatever law enforcement officials may prove helpful.' Simmons remained stoically plain faced, while McNutt's grin somehow broadened.

'You see Matt? This is the best chance we have of taking this man in, or failing that making sure he does not remain at large. What do you say?' Matt thought for a moment.

'How legal is this?' he finally asked. 'I'm not sure how much weight the Governor of Indiana's word will carry if we chase Dillinger into the Dakotas.' McNutt's smile remained frozen on his face and blinked once.

'Strictly speaking, it isn't. You will be acting in an extrajudicial fashion. But you not only have my authority at your back. I have assurances from President Garner and from Attorney General Walsh that whatever you have to do, your actions will be legalised post-facto.' the Governor replied quietly. He wasn't smiling any more. 'Now do I have to reassure you any further, or do I have to find another man to lead this posse.' Matt winced at the Governor's words. He was relieved that the Governor didn't want to dismiss him. But he felt more than a little uncomfortable about the extrajudicial quality of what he was being asked - or ordered - to do. And Zarkovich's reputation made him even more suspicious of the idea. On the other hand, you didn't easily deny McNutt, and he had a bad feeling that if he refused he could well ask for his resignation. At least if he took up the Governor's offer, he would remain in control of the pursuit of Dillinger.

'Alright. I'll do it.' he sighed begrudgingly. The Governor beamed.

'Excellent. Now go. I have no doubt that you three have homes to go to. In the morning, I expect you will have much to discuss.' And with that, the meeting was over. Matt hurried out of the mansion and back to his car. He was no longer Captain of the State Police, and had been made commander of a posse assembled to hunt down Dillinger. He gulped. What had he let himself in for?
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