Girl Gone

Chapter 1

It was their daughter's fifth birthday, April 5th. She had been with them almost a year, yet it felt like she had always been their daughter. Julia and William planned a small party to celebrate, inviting their closest friends-The Brackenreids, and George and Emily, Penny. Susie had been excited all day. She barely remembered her last birthday or her life before becoming a Murdoch. This day was special to all three of them. Julia had ordered a bakery cake and Susie and her nanny, Penny, had made ice cream, taking turns cranking the ice cream freezer. Of course Penny did most of the cranking. William and Julia made extra sure that they got home early.

William actually beat Julia home which didn't happen very often. As he came through the front door Susie heard him and ran into his arms. "William! I missed you." She said that to him every day when he got home.

He picked her up and put her on his shoulder as he came all the way into the house. "I missed you too. How's my little birthday girl?" She laughed, which she often did. Despite the tragedy that had taken her birth parents a year ago she seemed a very happy child. "Is Julia home yet?"

"Nope." He laughed when she answered that way.

When he thought about it he didn't think there was ever a time he'd been angry or upset with her. She was his perfect little girl, whom he couldn't love more if she'd been his own flesh and blood.

He peeked in the kitchen to see how dinner was coming along. Julia had hired a cook, one she had used before, to make dinner. "Everything smells good," he told Mary, the cook.

"Thank you, Sir," giving William a big, warm smile. She liked working for the Murdochs and always rearranged her schedule to accommodate them.

They heard Julia coming in. William put Susie down so she could greet her. "Julia!" she yelled in glee.

Julia stooped to her level and hugged and kissed her little girl. "Happy birthday, Sweetie."

Then William greeted Julia too, taking her into his arms and kissing her.

William felt a tugging on his trousers. "Me too, William." He scooped up his daughter and he and Julia both kissed her, laughing.

"What's in the package?" asked Susie as she eyed the bundle in Julia's arms.

"Come upstairs with me and see." She took Susie's hand and they left for the bedroom.

William collapsed onto the sofa with a smile. He knew his girls would be a while.

The guests arrived and dinner was served. Susie wore the new dress that Julia had brought home in the package. She giggled as the Brackenreid boys gently teased her. She really liked the boys despite their age differences. Julia brought out the cake and Susie blew out the candles with a little help from the boys.

After opening her presents William took her hand and led her to the parlor. "There's one more present."

Julia's eyebrow rose as she looked at him quizzically. In front of the fireplace rested an exquisite rocking horse on an oaken bow rocker.

"My pony!" Susie shrieked. And it did look like William's horse, Peg, who Susie always called her pony. The beautifully carved horse was painted a grey roan just like the actual mare. The saddle and bridle were real leather and the mane and tail were real horse hair. He lifted her up onto it.

"William, when did you have this done? It's a piece of art."

"I've had it for a while."

She linked her arm into his. "You are always full of surprises, Detective."

After everyone left, Julia and William didn't think they were going to get Susie off her horse and to bed. "Did you have a good time, Little One? asked Julia.

"Oh yes. Being five is fun."

William kissed his daughter goodnight, as he had done every night since he had known her.

As Julia and William got ready for bed, Julia turned the key in the door's lock. William raised an eyebrow and got a sly smile on his face.

"I suppose we shouldn't get too ready for bed," he laughed. Julia put one arm around him as she undid his shirt buttons with her other hand.

But the next day was back to business as usual. William and Julia went to work and Penny, the nanny, came to care for Susie. The day was overcast. It looked like rain, but Susie wanted to play outside.

"Alright, Susie. We can go in the yard early before the weather turns."

William was at his desk finishing some paperwork from his last case when George ran in panting . His face was quite pained. "You'd better come with me, sir." Murdoch thought George looked on the verge of breaking down. "It's your daughter and Penny." The bottom of his stomach dropped as he rose slowly, looking at George for some further explanation.

"What is it, George?" William whispered, afraid of the answer.

"Sir, Penny's been attacked and Susie has been taken." William's face turned white and his legs felt like they could no longer hold him up.

"Where...where did this happen?"

"Your backyard sir."

"Let's go George. Get the inspector."

The three men rode in a carriage to his home as George reported what else he knew. The maid, Linney, had found Penny unconscious in the gazebo in the back yard. Susie was no where to be found and Penny, now in the hospital was not awake yet to tell them what happened.

Murdoch trembled as he listened, saying nothing. "Has Julia been informed?" he finally spoke.

"No sir."

"Margaret is on her way to fetch her," added the Inspector.

As they stopped at his home Murdoch was out of the carriage and running to the backyard. He looked all around the gazebo as the clouds broke and the rain began to fall heavily. He stood there for a moment not moving. Then he started screaming, "Susannah! Susannah! Susannah!"

George and Thomas ran up to him, pulling on him, trying to get him to move. He shrugged them off as he fell to his knees in the wet grass, his head in his hands. "No, no no...This can't be," he sobbed.

"Please, sir. Come inside. Please."

George and Brackenreid each took an arm and pulled Murdoch to his feet steering him toward the door. They felt him shaking with cold and fear.