Secrets
Title: Secrets
Author: Julia R.
Characters: Mainly Julia and William but all the characters in the show.
Category: Drama / AU (1943)
Ratings: M
Summary: 1943. Detective William Murdoch from the Toronto police is called on a crime scene at night. It could have been a murder like any other, but it changed his whole life.
Disclaimer: The series is not for me, I do not have any money for this story, it all comes to the Murdoch team, I'm borrowing the characters.
The offices of the police station were deserted. It was late and the men had left the area long ago. There was still the Inspector Brakenreid in his office, a glass of scotch in hand. He spent his nights at the police station for some time. His love for the drink killed his marriage and he was only waiting for the divorce papers that would probably send his wife of one day to another. While alcohol had become his best friend. When the police station was emptied and the darkness invaded the building, his silhouette still haunted places. He took a drink, a cigar and he lost his gaze on the city, standing by the window on which he watched the drops of rain slide. He thought about was his life, his regrets. And a sip after another, he forgot altogether.
The young man sitting at his post could see his stature through its large glass top desk. He too was often late, but Constable Crabtree had no family, he had never had. At least no woman. He had many aunts, uncles that he saw at rare occasions. George Crabtree was just a young officer who spent his free time writing, vampire stories, curses, of aliens, men living underground. He was a young policeman with a lot of imagination and in the evening when the police station was not on call, he leaned over his new typewriter, his pride. He had saved for months to afford it and with practice typing police reports, he knew handle it with dexterity and speed. For hours. But tonight, nothing worked, he had not the slightest inspiration. Instead of leaving the building and take the tram to return to his small apartment on Queen Street, he stood there at his desk, staring into space. His eyes fell on the detective who was in his office in front. George sighed.
Detective Murdoch rarely never left the place, he also had no family. But according to the knowledge of George he had neither parents, nor sibling, or aunt, or girlfriend. The Detective was a man who spent his time working, again and again, day and night. William had benefited from these hours of rest to get into his office to work on his newest acquisition, a moped. Theere was a few in Toronto and he had been looking forward to obtain a model. He was finally able to put his bicycle in the closet for that gear that would enable him to reach crime scenes more quickly, avoiding loose and often smelly police cars. William did not like to drive the car rotting from 1936 that was in the garage of the station. He preferred the fresh air, rather than the smell of leather aging and hints of vomit that they could not remove from the dark seat. But his new way of transport often give him problems and a day of rain or cold, he made his trips to his work in the crowded and noisy trams, that he disliked more.
He was so focused on his machine when two shots were given to the doorpost of his office. He looked up to see his supervisor whose scarlet face disappeared behind the smoke of his cigar he kept in the mouth.
-A death on King, the back of a pub, he says in a deep voice, a waitress called us you go with Crabtree.
-We are not in duty Sir, William retorted.
- Yeah, but that's our jurisdiction, so you move and go quickly. I'll send an ambulance for the body and Grace if you need her. You're in luck, the rain stopped.
William winced and his superior spoke again taking out his cigare to point his finger at him.
- Do not tell me you think your machine is more important than murder?
- No sir, we go.
Brakenreid nodded before turning to George that he threw the car key of the station
-You drive Crabtree, I did not want to see Murdoch enter a lamppost again.
-This is only happened once, grumbled him by placing his brown hat on his head.
Brakenreid then chuckled away and the two men exchanged a glance before going down three floors down, to climb in the car that George drove in silence until the city center.
They parked in the crowded parking lot. There were only new cars, of all colors, all the more brilliant than the other under the lights of the sign of the club.
-Are you sure it's here? William asked, slamming the door, raising his eyes to the panel.
-Yes Sir, the Phoenix, it is here no doubt, the body is in the alley in the back.
William followed the young man several meters, sinking in darkness, avoiding the puddles in his path. He saw a young woman with brown curls waiting them just before an open door. William could not help looking at her from head to toe, wearing very little, the young woman had her hands on her arms trying to warm up. He smiled.
-Good evening Miss, threw politely the Detective, Detective William Murdoch and Constable Crabtree from station 4.
-Miss Pensall, it was me who found the body. I was ordered to stay next to until the police arrived.
-And you were right, William nodded before heading back to the body which was a little further.
He looked at it carefully to identify a man about 40 years old, killed with knives by a blow to the chest. The blood soaking his clothes and leaving a purple fed up next to him.
-So, I can go now? I'm cold.
-Aswer to a few questions Miss Pensall Miss, said William arrived beside her, when did you find the body?
-There are 30 minutes, I was out to smoke, employees are not allowed to smoke inside the club. And I saw there, I immediately informed the owner and I waited for you.
-Have you told anyone else?
-You kidding? A man killed next to the club, it would be bad for business and I do not want to lose my job. I said to the owner, I showed and waited there. Since I then I wait.
-Did you see anyone in the alley, go in or out before you?
-No.
-Very well Miss, thank you.
He turned to George and he spoke again.
-Call to Dr. Grace, she has to go to the station , she does not need to come here, the ambulance should arrive, I will interview the boss. Stay here and make sure that no one approach.
-Yes Sir, George replied.
-Miss Pensall, continued the young man, turning to her, could you take me to the owner of this property please?
The young woman nodded and a moment later he entered her suite in the club by the heavy dark door. He followed the girl through the maze of corridors, where he met women more beautiful and more undressed than each other, he saw some enterprising men, boxes, clothes, feathers, half-open rooms in which could glimpse a piece of skin. But he went on his way in silence, uncomfortable. Then he came to a large room full to bursting. The wooden floor, the huge bar, the glittering chandeliers, velvet purple curtains, the dozens of tables and the stage on which danced two women, gave him an idea of who could be the owner of such a place. The Phoenix was an institution designed to satisfy the pleasures of the rich men of the city and he was not surprised to see a few politicians.
He slipped somehow between men and women richly dressed to get to a table in the back of the room. On the bench was three men, talking, laughing, smoking and drinking. Among them was a woman. A dancer undoubtedly seen her physical, thought the Detective. William could not take his eyes off her, and she was dressed more refined than all employees that had crossed so far, though she was more beautiful than all the others. Her hair color gold rippled over her bare shoulders, her round neckline showed off her chest and perfect skin. Her eyes were black makeup and red lips she wore contrasted with the pallor of her skin. She wore a purple dress that William thought it overpriced.
-At this table, whispered Miss Pensall beside him, bringing him back to reality.
He then headed for the four and he opened his jacket to show his police badge. They stopped laughing at once and they turned to him. It was then that he met the gaze of the young woman and noticed in order the color of her eyes. Blues. Bewitching.
-Detective William Murdoch, he said, a throat scraping by leaving the look of the young woman, I want to talk to the owner of this place.
-Right before you, threw the man at the right of the young woman.
-Sir?
-Tash, Isaac Tash, but I am not the owner.
-Oh, well do you want to tell me which of you is it, gentlemen?
They exchanged glances and the one at the left to the woman, that didn't leave his eyes, spoke.
-Darcy Garland and there's my brother, he said, pointing to the last man, Leslie Garland.
William nodded and before he had time to do anything, the young woman stood up.
- I am the owner Detective, she said smiling, I think I know why you're here. Darcy, can I?
He nodded and he got up to allow her to leave the table. He took her hand and tenderly kiss and came into her neck.
-Do not be too long, honey.
She smiled in reply and she moved away from him and headed for William.
-If you want to follow me, Detective.
He just nodded, plunging his eyes into hers, this sweet and mischievous look that so bewitched. He did not know at that time why he did not hesitate to follow her. He was ready to follow her to the end of the world. In the second.
- Please excuse them, she said after a while, heading to the bar, they like to make this game very often, she said smiling, I didn't introduce myself, Julia, she added holding out her hand.
He took it and kissed her skin.
-Now follow me to my office, I do not want them to know why you are here, there goes my reputation and my business.
to be continued... :)