The Return of Darcy Garland
Chapter 1
"William, can you come by early, before I get home? The lamp in the parlor is broken and I was hoping you could take a look at it."
"Sure, do you have a spare key?"
"There's one in the flower pot on the porch."
"Julia! You know that's not safe," William admonished her.
"I know, I know. I'll meet you there at six."
They hung up from their phone conversation. The plan was for William to meet Julia at her house before they went out for dinner that evening.
As William rode his bike up to Julia's he still had the feeling he'd had all week that someone was watching him. He shrugged and went about his business. The key was right where Julia said it would be, so he let himself in, returning the key to the pot. He would talk to her about this practice later. Taking off his hat and coat he searched out the broken lamp. After flicking on two others he found the one in question. Unplugging it he took it to the kitchen where he had more light to work by. As he worked he whistled to himself softly, thinking of the lovely evening ahead.
Then he heard the front door open. He called," You're early."
He started into the hall, but saw too late that it was not Julia who stood there.
"Sorry, detective," said the unknown figure who then fired a gun right into William's chest.
The only way to describe the expression on William's face was one of surprise and shock plus disbelief as his knees buckled and he fell to the floor.
"That takes care of both of you, now, doesn't it detective? You're dead and she's devastated."
Then the gunman stepped over William's body and left the house.
Shortly Julia arrived home. The front door stood wide open. "William, I know you don't like me leaving a key but you could close the door."
But she stopped before she said anything else when she saw William lying in the foyer.
"William! What happened!?"
She knelt beside him thinking he had fallen or had some kind of attack. She rolled him onto his back and gasped when she saw all the blood on William and the pool of it on the floor. But he was breathing. As she ran for her medical bag she drew a deep calming breath. Whatever happened here it wouldn't help William if she panicked. She put a pillow under his head and unbuttoned his vest and shirt. It was definitely a gunshot wound, on the right side of his chest. The bullet probably lodged in his lung. She could tell by his raspy breathing. After she tied a tight bandage to slow the bleeding she went to phone the Inspector. Then she returned to William.
"Love, can you hear me? Can you speak?"
William moaned softly and his eyelids fluttered as he tried to open them.
"Julia," he whispered. "You... alright?" He couldn't quite get a whole sentence out.
She smiled, holding his hand, "Yes, dear. Did you see who shot you?"
He nodded slightly.
"Who...?"
Before he could answer, Brackenreid, George, and several more constables burst into the house.
"Bloody hell! What's happened here?"
Julia began. "I found him like this. I think he saw who it was that shot him."
Brackenreid knelt beside her. He tenderly laid his hand on Murdoch's forehead. "Go on, son. Tell us who did this."
But William was finding it difficult and painful to talk.
"Please help me move him. To the table. I'll get a sheet."
William groaned as they laid him on the dining table. He blinked slowly while George and Thomas helped get his shirt off.
"Darcy...," he whispered.
The inspector leaned in. "What did you say?"
William was gasping now. "Please inspector. He needs to relax while I do this."
Julia took a hypo and injected William with a sedative.
"Well, are you going to stand there or are you going to help me?"
"What do you need me to do, doctor?"
"When I tell you, hold this retractor steady."
So Brackenreid assisted as Julia operated on William, removing the bullet and repairing his lung. When he was bandaged tightly she allowed George and his mates to carry him upstairs to the guest room where she got him settled. His breathing was shallow but steady.
Back in the parlor George and the others were discussing the evidence or lack thereof.
But Brackenreid cornered Julia. "How long will he be out? He needs to tell us what he saw."
"He'll probably be asleep until morning."
"Then wake him up. We've got to get started on this."
"It's not in his best interest to wake him."
"Doctor, please...he said something to me but I don't think I understood him. His voice was so weak."
"What did he say?" Brackenreid hesitated to say.
"Well?"
"I thought he said 'Darcy'."
"He couldn't have."
"Then wake him up, Doctor, so we can ask him."
They went upstairs to William's bedside. He was very pale with a light sweat on his brow. Julia took another hypo and injected him.
"Now we wait," she said.
About ten minutes later William began to stir. His eyes opened suddenly and he gasped. Julia took his hand and smiling at him she said, "You're going to be okay. Just try to relax. The inspector wants to ask you a couple of questions."
He nodded.
Brackenreid pulled a chair up to the bed. "Well, Me ol' mucker. Tell me again who shot you."
William's eyes got big and he began to breathe faster. "Darcy."
"Now think, man. It couldn't have been Darcy. He's dead. You know that."
"I...saw...Darcy. Darcy Garland. He said, 'That takes care of both of you,now doesn't it detective? You're dead and she's devastated.'"
By now William was beyond exhausted. His eyes kept drooping closed.
Brackenreid just stared at him. "How could this be? Murdoch would never make this kind of mistake."
Julia was also dumbstruck.
"Please let him rest now, Inspector."
They went downstairs, both puzzled.
"He really thinks he saw Darcy, doesn't he?" asked Julia.
"It certainly seems so. Anyone else and I'd say they were balmy. But Murdoch... Well, as I see it the only thing we can do is let it be known that he survived and try to draw out the killer to finish the job," said Brackenreid.
"Won't that be dangerous?"
"I'll make sure both of you have protection all the time, night and day."
"Maybe he's delirious," mused Julia. "Though he doesn't have a fever...yet."