Oh, Susannah!
Chapter 1 Kidnap
"Sir, you're needed. This is a particularly bad one I'm afraid," George told Detective Murdoch.
"How so, George?"
"It's a double homicide and perhaps a child kidnapping."
Murdoch grabbed his hat and hurried after George. When they reached the crime scene, Dr. Grace was already there. Murdoch crossed himself and knelt beside the doctor. He observed a man and a women, both of whom appeared to have been shot to death.
"George, you said something about a kidnapping?"
"Yes sir. The bodies...er...deceased are a Katherine and Kenneth Newman. They have a 4 year old daughter, Susannah, who is missing."
"Perhaps the child is staying with friends or relatives, George."
"The maid, who found the Newmans, said that Susie, as she is known, was here at home when she left for the evening at 8 p.m."
"I see. Doctor, do you have any preliminary observations?"
"The apparent causes of death are gunshots to the head. I'll know more when I get them back to the morgue."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Murdoch walked the crime scene observing everything. "I don't suppose a weapon was found, eh George?"
"No sir."
Lying on the floor was a stuffed bear. Murdoch picked it up. "The child's I suppose. George look into the Newmans' background. Obviously this wasn't a random murder. The child was the object the perpetrator was after. Hopefully he or they do not intend to harm the girl."
Every hour a child is missing makes it that much harder to find him or her. Murdoch and Crabtree pored over the evidence for hours.
Brackenreid stuck his head in the office. "This is the third child abduction in Toronto this month. It's just the first to fall to our station house's jurisdiction."
"Have the parents been killed in the other cases?" asked George.
"No. Just in this case. In the others the child was somehow apart from the parents when the abduction occurred."
"What about ransom. Has any been solicited?" asked Murdoch.
"No. That's what makes these cases so unusual."
"William, what's wrong? You look terrible," Julia said as he entered the house.
"A couple was murdered and their little girl was abducted. And so far I haven't been able to find any clues to her location."
"I'm so sorry. You'll find her. I know you will."
"From your mouth to god's ear. Anyway, after dinner I'm going back to the office. We should have the files from the three similar cases by then."
"There have been four kidnappings?" she gasped.
As he was leaving after dinner, Julia hugged William, drew his face to hers and kissed him. He hugged her back so hard she could almost not breathe. "I've never seen you so upset by a case before."
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow. "You do remember James Gillies, don't you?"
She slapped his arm, "I meant a regular case."
"I know what you meant." Kissing her again he left.
The files were stacked on his desk when he arrived at the office. He started in on them. Except for the night desk sergeant and the odd periodic night patrols reporting in he was alone at the station. George had also left some newspaper articles for him. As he read over everything his brain started to click. The newspaper articles indicated that there were persons who had been seeking to adopt children; specific children. They were ordering up boys or girls, blondes, brunettes, red heads; blue eyes, brown eyes, infants to four or five years old. The article was only speculative based on unidentified interviews with those having sought to acquire a son or daughter this way. One of the persons who spoke anonymously said that they had gone to a farm house outside of town to meet a prospective adoptee. Murdoch began making notes on his blackboard. What if this farmhouse was where the kidnappers took each of the children? Why hadn't the other stations looked into this lead?
"I think I can find this house," Murdoch said to himself. He could ride his bike, but it was late and he didn't want to worry about a flat tire or some other mechanical problem in the middle of the night. He slipped out the back door and went to the nearby stable where he kept the horse he had bought to get back from Port Credit a few months ago. He had liked the mare enough to keep her for himself. He saddled her up and set off. Fortunately is was a full moon. He had also brought along a mechanical torch if needed and a gun from the armory, which he stuck in his pocket. About forty or fifty minutes later he slowed to a walk as he approached a house with lights still on, despite the lateness of the hour. He tied his horse a fair distance from the house and went on foot. At last he was close enough to hear the voices within. He heard two distinct men's voices. But then he thought he also heard whimpering from the adjoining room. He got closer and looked through the window and saw the little girl, Susie. He recognized her from her picture.
"Psst," he called to her. She turned her tear streaked face toward him. Putting his finger to his lips, he pulled back his jacket revealing his badge.
Susie smiled tentatively. Then he motioned for her to come to the window, which she did.
"Hello Susie. I'm a policeman. My name is William and I'm going to take you home."
"But mommy and daddy are asleep and they can't wake up. Those men hurt them and said they are dead and I have to have new mommy and daddy."
William smiled sadly. "We'll sort that out later. But for now will you come with me?"
She reached her arms out to him and he lifted her out the window. Just as he turned to carry her off a third previously unseen man who was coming around the side of the house saw them. The man yelled, "Stop! Put that kid down!" as he pointed a gun at the detective.
William, afraid that Susie could get hurt hesitated for a moment, thinking. Then he set her down, whispering to her, "Run toward the woods. I'll come for you."
By now the men in the house were alerted. William stood still as the little girl behind him took off running to the trees. When he was certain she was out of sight he quickly took his gun from his pocket and fired taking the third man by surprise. Murdoch was a very good marksman and his shot was true. The man went down. William's long legs allowed him to catch up with Susie in no time. Grabbing her into his arms he continued running.
They reached his horse, but the other two men were close behind. William swung the little girl onto the saddle and climbed up behind her. Just as he kicked the mare to gallop off, two shots rang out.
When George got into work very early he noticed all the files and papers strewn about the detective's desk and the notes on the blackboard.
"Inspector, I think Detective Murdoch has gone looking for that missing girl."
"What makes you say that Crabtee?"
"I called his home and the doctor said he's been gone all night and he's not here, sir."
"Then I guess we should go looking for him. Damn him! I wish he wouldn't go off by himself all the time. You, me, Higgins, and Jackson. Get a couple of carriages."
The first bullet whistled past his ear, but the second found its mark, striking him in the side. He gasped and tightened his knees urging his horse faster and holding him a little closer to the saddle. His pursuers appeared to be on foot so William and Susie were out of range in no time.
Leaning near her ear he asked Susie,"Are you alright?" He saw her nod. Holding her close with one hand he guided the horse with the other.
After a few more miles the horse slowed. William was no longer urging her forward. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. When he opened them the ground seemed to be coming up right into his face. The next thing he saw was the underside of his horse.
"How did I get down here?" he asked himself. He could see Susie still sitting in the saddle, but his good mare just stood quietly.
"William, are you alright? I'm scared."
She managed to slide down the side of the horse and run to him. "Please don't leave me like mommy and daddy did." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Between gasps he held his hand out to her. She took it and knelt down close to him.
The two police carriages were making good time. Higgins drove one and Jackson the other. George and the inspector had figured out in what direction Murdoch had gone by his notes.
"Look sir, in the road. Isn't that the detective's horse?"
"Indeed. I believe it is."
As they got closer they could make out a body on the ground.
"Bloody hell, Murdoch! What have you got yourself into this time?"
George was the first to reach Murdoch. The little girl sat beside him with his head in her lap, crying softly.
"Susie. Don't be afraid. We are all policemen, and we're here to help you and detective Murdoch."
"Don't let him be dead like mommy and daddy."
"He's not dead Sweetie. See. He's breathing."
She watched William's chest rise and fall. Then she squeezed his hand which she had never let go.
As Brackenreid knelt beside Murdoch, he pulled the detective's coat aside, unbuttoned his vest, revealing his bloodstained shirt.
"Murdoch. Do you hear me?" He gently shook the detective's shoulder.
William's eyes fluttered. When he spoke it was so soft that the inspector had to put his ear to William's mouth. "Three men. May have killed one. Farm house." He struggled to get those few words out.
"Let's get him in a carriage. Gently now." But Susie wouldn't let go of his hand.
"Alright. Let her ride in the same carriage with him. Higgins, you take them back to town. Crabtree go with him. We'll pursue the kidnappers. See what we can find. We'll take his horse."
Higgins asked, "Should I take him to hospital or to Dr. Ogden?"
Brackenreid rubbed his forehead. Either decision was sure to find displeasure with the good doctor. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
"Take him home, to Dr. Ogden."
"And the little girl?"
"Leave her with the doctor too. And hurry."
The inspector and Jackson found the man that Murdoch had shot. And indeed he had killed him. But there was no sign of the other two. They turned around to return to Toronto.
Higgins made good time and George checked the detective's wound applying pressure to quell the bleeding. Susie never let William's hand go. As they pulled up to the Murdoch/Ogden house George jumped down and ran to the door. The maid answered and Crabtree sent her after the doctor, telling her that the detective was hurt. In no time, Julia ran out the door to the carriage. She looked very concerned and worried but kept her composure. She directed George and Henry as they unloaded William. She ran ahead calling for Linney, the maid to spread a sheet on the table where she had the constables place William. He was pale and still, breathing lightly.
It was then she noticed the little girl who had followed them into the dinning room. She took a moment to kneel down and speak to her.
"Are you Susie?"
She nodded. "William isn't going to die is he? " Her never-ending tears streaming down her cheeks.
"No sweetie. My name is Julia and I'm a doctor. I'm going to make him better."
She hoped she right. "Linney, take Susie to the parlor and get her a glass of milk."
Julia finished with William. She had removed the bullet and cleaned the wound. He had lost a fair amount of blood however.
George and Henry carried the unconscious detective up to his bed. Julia made sure he was resting as comfortable as possible.
"George, would you sit with him while I go check on Susie?"
"Of course doctor. He is going to be alright isn't he?" George asked with much concern in his voice.
"I think so, George."
Susie sat on the sofa with her thumb in her mouth. The couch dwarfed her small figure.
"Susie. William is going to be alright. You can go see him in a little while. Right now he's asleep."
Julia sat next to her. She could tell the little girl was exhausted. "How about you go to sleep too and when you wake up maybe William will be awake too. Okay?"
Again she got a nod from Susie. Julia picked her up and carried her to the guest room upstairs.
Brackenreid stopped by the Murdochs. Julia greeted him with news that William should be alright with rest.
"And the little girl?" asked the inspector.
"She seems quite attached to William."
"Yes, I noticed that too. I guess seeing your parents murdered before your eyes might make you fixate on the first kind person you encounter."
"Why, inspector. Are you a psychiatrist now too?" Julia laughed, the first light moment in a long day. "Does she have any relatives?"
"We haven't found any yet. Can she stay here with you for the time being?"
"Of course. As long as is needed."
Julia thanked George and told him he could leave. She pulled up the easy chair and sat by William's bed and soon dozed off. When she opened her eyes she did a double take. William was still asleep and curled up next to him on the bed was Susie. Julia smiled. She was a pretty little girl, big brown eyes, long lashes, long wavy brown hair, and dimples. "My god!" she thought to herself. "She looks like William." Taking an afghan, she covered her up.
It was hours before William opened his eyes. He smiled when he saw Julia, who smiled back at him. She kissed him lightly and stroked his head. Then William's eyes grew large when he saw Susie asleep next to him.
"Looks like you've made a new friend," she laughed.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes dear. It's you who isn't alright."
As he shifted his position ever so slightly he groaned. "So I see. I'm glad I'm here and not at hospital."
"You can thank the inspector for that. It was his decision where to take you."