Oh, Brother!

Chapter1

"Julia, will you have dinner with me tonight?"

"Oh, William. I can't tonight."

"I see."

"I promised Leslie I would dine with him this evening. Perhaps another night this week."

"Of course. Another night."

William stayed at the office late again. It seemed that he was seeing less and less of Julia with both their busy work schedules. And now when they did have some free time, she was often engaged with Leslie Garland. Only to himself would he admit that he was somewhat jealous. The young man, brother of Julia's deceased husband, Darcy, had come to Toronto with no definite plans. He was staying at Darcy's house, which Julia had intended to sell. She told William that the realtor told her to hold off on the sale until the market improved, but William knew she was lying. George had looked into Leslie's background and had found out that he had been expelled from the University of Cornell for fisticuffs. And so far young Garland was doing nothing in particular but hanging around Julia. So William threw himself into his work, staying late at the office, reading and working on projects. To Inspector Brackenreid this had not gone unobserved. Those two are hopeless, he thought to himself. How many years had it been, six? And still they danced around each other like a couple of school children.

Brackenreid walked into Murdoch's office. "Think fast, me ol' mucker," as he tossed Murdoch an apple. William looked up just in time to catch it with one hand.

"What's this for, sir"?"

"You might want to get out of this office and eat something once in a while. In the meantime maybe the apple will keep you from starving."

"Thank you, sir. I do eat, you know," he said with a sad smile. Then he bit into the apple and smiled a little brighter.

"I'm sure. Go home, alright?"

"Soon, sir."

George and Emily strolled down the street arm in arm on their way to dinner at a little nearby cafe.

"I thought Detective Murdoch and Julia were going to join us tonight, George."

"The detective did invite Doctor Ogden to dinner but she turned him down before he could even mention that we were going to come too."

"Oh. Was she working late again?"

"No, Emily. That's the sad part. She's having dinner with that young Garland chap."

"Again. She's been doing that a lot lately."

"I know. And Detective Murdoch is getting into rather a melancholy mood again. He hardly ever sees her any more. It seems her free time is taken up with this fellow."

"I wonder what's gotten into her, George. Sometimes I think she doesn't know how much she hurts him with her cavalier actions."

"And you know the detective. He won't say anything, at least not for a while."

They entered the restaurant and were seated near the window.

"Emily, don't look but there's Dr. Ogden and Garland."

But Emily did tilt her head enough to see the couple just as the young man placed his hand on the doctor's. To her credit Julia did withdraw her hand to her lap.

"I think that fellow has ulterior motives," posited George. "He's quite a bit younger than she, yet he seems to be pursuing her. Is she that dense not to see this?"

"I really don't get it George, unless she still feels guilty about Darcy's death and some obligation to him and his family members. Darcy Garland may be dead but he is still standing between her and Detective Murdoch."

"It's like the detective is always walking on eggshells around her, afraid of saying the wrong thing."

"Well, George, you and I can't do anything about it. Detective Murdoch will just have to work it out for himself I guess."

"Damn! George, hurry! Back door!"

William pushed himself up from the floor of the barn after he had fallen through a rotten board in the loft floor where he had pursued a murder suspect. George ran after the suspect but soon came back, out of breath and without a prisoner.

"Sir, are you all right?"

"I think I've twisted my knee, but otherwise I seem to be in one piece. Did you get a good look at the man, George?"

"No sir. Just the back of his head."

Murdoch took a step and winced, biting his lip. "Well, that doesn't feel very good."

"Let me give you a hand, sir. Emily, Dr. Grace can take a look at it."

"It's alright George, if you call her Emily. I know who you're talking about." William smiled and so did George. Murdoch put his arm around George's shoulder as they left the barn.

At the morgue, Dr. Grace knelt in front of William, whose trouser leg was rolled up, examining his knee.

"Nothing is broken, but you have sprained it very badly. Look how bruised and swollen it is already. Let me get some ice."

William sat in a chair by Emily's desk, leaning his head on his propped up arm. George stood beside him with his hand on William's shoulder.

As she returned with the ice she asked, "Crutches or a cane?"

"What? Oh. Can't I just limp along?"

"Yes, you could. But it will slow down the healing quite a bit besides being very painful. We'll see how much weight you can put on it."

She and George pulled William to his feet after she had iced his knee for a while. As he took a step George stood by ready to catch him if need be. Emily watched him squeeze his eyes tight and silently grimace.

"I think crutches would be best. That way you can get all the weight off your knee for a while."

William sighed. "That will surely slow me down."

"You're not going to go very fast in any case," she chuckled. "Sit here with some more ice and I'll have you fixed up in no time."

"Could we not mention any of this to Julia, please."

"Why ever not, detective? asked Emily.

"I just don't want her fussing over me...or not," he trailed off softly.

As William sat at his desk working away Brackenreid entered unannounced. He placed a plate with a sandwich and a cup of tea on Murdoch's desk in front of him.

"I'll not have any man under my supervision starve to death."

"Thank you sir. You needn't have."

"I know that Murdoch. But now you're even less likely to get out for a meal." He nodded toward the crutches propped near the desk.

"Care to join me then, sir?"

"Thanks, but I've already eaten. And I don't want you here late again tonight. Go home at a decent hour and get some rest."

"Yes sir."

Murdoch finished his sandwich and went back to work as he sipped his tea.

"William." He jumped, as he was so engrossed in reading. Looking up he saw Julia at his door.

Standing slowly behind his desk he replied, "Julia. What brings you here?"

"Why, you do. I thought you might have time to take me to lunch." Looking at the empty plate, "But I see you've already eaten. I should have called first."

"Yes. I have eaten."

"I'm sorry we haven't seen more of each other lately. I've missed you."

"And I you."

"Are you free tonight? To come to my house for dinner?"

William smiled broadly. "I think I can arrange that."

Julia stood there waiting for him to walk to her, but he remained standing at his desk. So she came to him, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I've been neglecting you." She kissed him again. "Is that better?"

"Indeed!" He kissed her back.

As she hung around his neck his weight shifted and he staggered a bit grabbing hold of his chair, which gave him no support so he ended up leaning on her.

"William. Is something wrong? You seemed glued to this spot."

He nodded toward the crutches, "I've had a little accident."

"Oh William! What happened?"

As he told her about his fall she frowned with concern.

"I assure you, Dr. Grace has taken very good care of me. But if you don't mind I think I'll sit down now."

"You must come and stay with me at my house."

"Really, Julia. There's no need. It's just a sprained knee."

"But you have all those steps at your place."

"I'm quite adept at using crutches. I'll be fine. Now, what time is dinner? The inspector will be thrilled."

"The inspector?"

"Yes. He doesn't think I've been eating enough lately," he laughed.