"The death of Detective Murdoch"
Title: The death of Detective Murdoch
Author: Julia R.
Characters: Mainly Julia and William.
Category: Drama
Summary: A case turns wrong for the police station number four. Unfortunately, Detective Murdoch pays his life. (I do not want to say too much, but you know me ...)
Disclaimer: The series is not for me, I touch any money for this story, it all comes back to the Murdoch team, I'm borrowing the characters.
The night was dark and the lane in which police constable were rushed had any streetlight. Detective Murdoch had seen the suspect escaped and he had not thought further. He had just started running after him.
-George, turn to the right, he shouted before leaving.
He saw the figure disappear behind wooden trays, he wanted to follow him, but the shot went off. William froze and just a second later, he collapsed on the floor. It happened a few short seconds before five policemen whose Inspector Brakenreid came to him. His superior started to stagnate in front of him and gently put his hand on his shoulder.
-Murdoch, Murdoch! MURDOCH Damn!
But he did not answer. He met his eyes just a few seconds before he closes his eyes.
-Julia, he sighed.
-Sir,I did not catch him ...
George froze seeing his mentor lying on the ground. He caught the eye of his chef who had removed his fingers from the neck of William to take his pulse. Brakenreid looked up at the young men around him and shook his head from side to side slowly.
-Is ...he ...
-Death. Call Dr. Grace, whispered Brakenreid and ... Dr. Ogden.
-What will I say sir? George sighed experiencing emotion.
-Tell her to come to the station but nothing more.
-And if she asks me more?
-Do not say anything, we can not announce the death of her husband by phone. Go Crabtree, we must tell her and ... stop this rot. For Murdoch.
George just nodded and all the men looked at William's lifeless body without a word for several minutes before finally Brakenreid only straightens and deep sighs.
-Take him, he simply said, feeling his voice choked in his throat.
The young woman had returned home from two hours already. Night had fallen on Toronto and she returned her housekeeper who to take care of the house in her absence. The old woman had prepared the meal and Julia had set up the table in the kitchen. She had left food warm before taking a bath, to change and to wait patiently for the return of her husband.
She sat on the sofa in their living room, reading a book for minutes. And without noticing it, she fell asleep. It was the phone ringing in the entry that startled her. She took a few seconds to regain her senses and got up.
-William will not return early tonight, she sighed as she walked to the phone, Residence Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch? She said after picking.
-Doctor it is Constable Crabtree, said the voice of the young man at the other end, I call you because ... of ... the Detective.
-Is he on a case and he will not come home tonight? Julia sighed, looking up at the ceiling. And he ordered you to call me, it is not?
George did not answer and then Julia furrowed brows before speaking again.
-George?
-You ... You should come to the police station Madam.
-George, what is happening? Julia worried. Is William alright?
-I ... I am sorry, Doctor, you should come.
She tried to answer, but the handset was already hung up. She felt an immense fear win and jumped, she walked to the front door to get faster at the police station.
When she entered, like a bomb on the open space, all the police officers present stared at her. She did not take offense. She simply wanted to find William, persuade herself that he was safe. She came to his office almost running but stopped in the doorway, seeing his friends at the center of it in silence.
-Doctor, murmured Brakenreid advancing towards her, I ...
-Where is William? Julia cut. You called me because of him it is not ? Does he hurt?
The two men did not answer and she felt anger win completely, as well as misunderstanding, and fear.
-George! Cried she.
-We were on an intervention, began Brakenreid , and Murdoch, he ... he pursued the suspect.
-He is hurt.
-He is not.
-So where the hell is he?
-He is ... at the morgue, Thomas finished in a whisper.
-With Emily? But why ...
-He is not with her, said George, he was hit. We ... we had not been able to do ...
Julia then felt the world collapsing around her, her breath failed her, her heart exploded in her chest. Her legs trembled and her pulse quickened, she has a dizziness and she caught herself narrowly doorframe to keep from falling.
-William ... he ... she stammered, tell me he is alright, please tell me ...that he ... he is not ...
-Doctor Grace is formal, continued Brakenreid, I am sorry but ... Murdoch died.
He caught the eye of Julia who was in charge of tears and a moment later, George leapt towards her to catch up, having a new dizzy.
-I want to see him, she whispered.
-This is not a good idea Doctor, began Brakenreid.
-I want to see him, repeated the young woman, please.
They were silent for a while before the senior nods.
-Crabtree accompany you.
Julia nodded and immediately headed for the exit, clinging to the arm of the young man not to fall on the floor. Brakenreid watched them leave before finally reach his office and slammed the door behind him. He poured himself a glass of scotch, and he dropped into his chair in silence.
The way to the morgue had seemed much longer than all the other times. At each step she took, Julia tightened a little more her fingers on the arm of George. They entered through the small wooden door and borrowed the long corridor leading to the autopsy room. Julia's eyes immediately went to the body covered with a white sheet that was at the center of the room. She did not see his face, but her heart skipped another beat and nausea the paralyzed again.
-George? Julia? Emily threw stunned arriving in front of them.
Julia just met her eyes and a moment later, she left George to head to the center of the room.
-George, are you crazy? Emily murmured. Why did you brinf her here?
-She has too, she has the right to see him, she was his wife after all, the young man replied by following Julia who stood before the table.
He just looked at her in silence, and when Emily came up to them, Julia gently took the sheet she slid on the young man's face. She rested it on his chest, and she burst into tears immediately.
-William, she murmured, letting her hand stroking his forehead, William.
She was unable to utter a word more and tears streaming down her cheeks without she can retain one more second. Her heart was broken into thousands of pieces. The man she loved more than her own life was there, lying under her eyes, lifeless. She could not help but to look at him, taking his hand he had under the sheet and stood there for several minutes to cry in silence, under the eyes of young people. And finally, without warning, all her strength left her and George caught her just in time. She did not struggle, and she snuggled against him weeping.
-I beg you George, Julia sobbed in his arms, tell me it is a nightmare, tell me he is not dead.
-I am terribly sorry Doctor.
They remained entwined some time, George simply holding her against him as she stifled her sobs against his chest, before finally they do not separate in silence.
-How happened? Julia asked, turning back to William to caress his black hair that contrasted with his pale skin and sheets.
-A gunshot. We arrived a few seconds later. The bullet hit him in the heart.
-Did you extracted the bullet?
-I was about to do, said Emily.
-Well, go ahead, Julia replied without looking always focused on the serene face of the young man.
-Julia, you should not stay.
-I have to stay, retorted Julia.
-No, no you do not have insisted Emily, I will take care of him I promise you Julia, but you do not have to have a different image of him that you had. You know I am right. Remember him alive, every moment you spent with him. Go home Julia, I will keep you informed of everything, but do not attend the autopsy.
Julia just looked again to her, her eyes filled with tears and she nodded. She gave her attention to her husband and she gently kissed his hand she laid on her lips.
-I love you William, she whispered before walking away, still supported by George who gave a glance to Emily before coming out with the young woman.
to be continued ...;)
