So I got the idea from a fellow fanfictioner over on the Pride and Prejudice spot, who in turn got the idea from the movie Groundhog Day, which was inspired by a 1987 book entitled Replay. So I got the idea from a fellow fanfictioner over on the Pride and Prejudice spot, who in turn go the idea from the movie Groundhog Day, which was inspired by a 1987 book entitled Replay.
After great agitation of mind and body, Murdoch relaxed into a blissful slumber. Once he had determined his next course of action, all of his inner turmoil was lifted like a storm cloud after the rain, leaving only rainbows in its wake. If all went according to plan, tomorrow would be the most momentous day of his life.
His internal clock roused him a moment before his alarm clock went off. He turned it off with a smile across his face and hopped out of bed. There was much to do and he didn't want to waste a single moment of it.
Within ten minutes he was dressed and shaved, with a new coating of grease on his head, and nary a hair out of place. Homburg at the ready, he walked rapidly through the boarding house, ignoring Mrs. Kitchen's call to breakfast and straight out the front door. He got on his trusty bicycle and headed to his destination, Mandel's Fine Jewelry, about two kilometres from his residence, or about as far away as the ride to the station house every morning, but in opposite directions. This particular store had the finest, yet affordable jewelry Toronto had to offer and he had browsed its contents once before, about a month ago. There had been a ruby ring there that had grabbed his attention, that he thought Julia would love. He hoped it was still there and chastised himself for not purchasing it sooner. But he had had doubts. And now he didn't. It was as simple as that.
Apparently he had been overly hasty in getting here for the store was not yet open. He tapped his toe impatiently and continuously checked his pocket watch, growing more and more irritated with every second. Eight o'clock struck and the store still hadn't opened.
Where the devil is he? he thought darkly.
Then as if his ill tempered thought had summoned the proprietor, a man appeared out the side of his vision and stuck a key in the lock. Murdoch bustled in right after the man, startling him.
"In a rush are we, sir?" he said with a knowing smile that served to annoy Murdoch.
Not in the mood for pleasantries he scoured the display case and replied, "The ruby ring, do you still have it?"
The man gave him an amused look. "I'm afraid you'll need to be more specific than that, sir. For instance, what kind of metal was the band? Gold or silver?"
"Silver."
"And was there ornamentation around the ruby? Or was it fixed in a plain setting?"
"There were some small diamonds around it."
The jeweller was thoughtful. "I have two such ruby rings currently."
"I don't see them," he said, looking in the exact same spot as his previous visit. "It was right here last time!"
"I move things around, sir. Whatever is selling gets moved up to the front. The rubies haven't been selling so I put them back here."
The jeweller retrieved the rings in question and held them out to him in their respective cases. "Is this what you were looking for?"
He recognized his chosen ring instantly and pointed repeatedly. "That one! That is the very one!"
"Wonderful, sir," replied the smiling man. Murdoch had taken out his wallet. "I take it you would like to purchase right now?"
"Yes, how much is it?"
"Two hundred dollars, sir."
Murdoch's hand stalled momentarily before pulling out the entire wad of cash he had just taken out of his bank account. Two hundred dollars was the absolute upper limit of his budget. He thanked God it wasn't more than that or he didn't know what he would have done.
Engagement ring in hand, he shook the man's hand, thanking him profusely and headed out, admiring the ring all the while. Suddenly he had a vision of his accepted proposal and he smiled slightly to himself and closed the case.
As he approached the morgue however, his nerves began to take hold and the spring in his step lessened. He wiped his hands on his trousers, took off his hat and pushed open the door to his destiny. Julia was sitting behind her desk, reading. She looked up at him but didn't smile. He knew he had left her at the absolute worst possible moment last night but he was glad to be making amends for that presently. He would never leave her side again if he could help it.
She got up slowly and made her way to him.
"William, I didn't think I'd see you under the circumstances."
Something about those words struck him as odd but he shook it off.
He took her hand and gulped. "Julia, as long as you exist in this world, there will be no other woman for me."
She glanced away. "Oh, William, I know but-"
He raised a hand to silence her. "We can adopt." She appeared very surprised by this declaration and became even more so as he continued. "So many children need a good home. All I need is you."
He was about to bend at the knee when she incredulously said, "How did you find out?"
Find out?
"Find out what, Julia?"
"About my sterility." The words had come out very quietly.
It was Murdoch's turn to be surprised. "You told me yesterday."
She made a face at that and put her hands on her hips. "I most certainly did not. I think I would recall something like that."
They stood there staring at one another for a time, trying to figure the other out.
Was this some sort of game she was playing? But why would she do such a thing?
It was then that he realized she was wearing the same purple blouse as yesterday. In all their time together, she had never worn the same outfit two days running. Unlike himself, her wardrobe was too large to ever necessitate the need for recycling.
"Julia," he said slowly, "I don't know what is going on here but it doesn't matter in the slightest. What's important is that I have learned the full truth and I accept it, " he caught her eye, "and still want you to become my wife."
She gasped as he bent down and held the silver case aloft. His hand trembled and he did his best to keep it steady. "Julia Ogden, will you marry me?"
A second of unendurable anguish and then her face broke out into the most beautiful smile. "Yes! Yes of course I'll marry you!"
He jumped up and embraced her. They laughed giddily as he placed the ring on her finger. Then they kissed for a time until her assistant interrupted them.
"Tonight we will celebrate properly."
"I'd love to William," she said giving him a quizzical look, "but are you sure you can spare the time?"
"All I've got is time."
Now that you are mine.
She smiled seductively. "Well, in that case, I very much look forward to it."
"As do I."
One last heated kiss and he was out the door. He headed straight to the station house, excited to tell his fellow constables the wonderful news.
Even before he entered though, he knew something was amiss. There was a loud pounding coming from his office.
What on earth could that be? he pondered as a dread began to creep into his stomach.
When he was closer and found Tesla and George hammering away at the metal microwave reflectors, he stopped in his tracks and had to steady himself against a desk.
"Sir, are you all right?" asked Hodge. "Sir?"
"Fine," he croaked out. "Just fine."
He collected himself as best he could and entered his office. George caught sight of him and stayed Tesla's hammering arm.
"Sir," he said, picking up a sheet of metal with many evenly spaced holes in it, "Mr. Tesla believes that these holes will scatter the incoming energy, yet still allow us to see through."
"Your constable has been an eager student."
When George began telling them the same impractical potato cooking room idea as yesterday, Murdoch just about lost his head and ran out of there.
This can't be happening! This can't be real! I must still be dreaming!
A minute later Henry came in and told them James Pendrick had escaped during transport. Murdoch's knees went weak again and he closed his eyes to stop the world from spinning.
"What do you want me to do, sir?" asked the constable.
Murdoch concentrated on breathing deeply and didn't respond.
"Sir," said George, "are you all right?"
When he opened them everyone was looking at him in a concerned manner, George more so than the others.
"Yes, George, I'm fine." He directed his gaze to Henry. "Go to the Pendrick estate. You'll find him there."
Henry seemed amused in his smug way. "No disrespect sir but why would Mr. Pendrick go someplace we could easily track him to after going to so much effort to escape police custody?"
"Because, Henry," he said annoyed, "he's searching for his wife. He thinks he'll find her there."
That reminded him, Sally Pendrick would still be at large! But he already knew where she was going to be and this whole nightmare could be sorted out much easier than the last time.
"Searching, sir?" said Henry. "Is Mrs. Pendrick missing then?"
"Just go fetch Mr. Pendrick and bring him back here!" he snapped, rubbing his head in agitation.
The constable left promptly after this uncharacteristic outburst. Murdoch turned to a startled George. "Take some men, go down to the old tannery. Sally Pendrick will be there, or very soon will be. Make sure to arm yourselves."
"Sally Pendrick, sir?" George expostulated.
"Yes, George. She is the mastermind behind the construction of the death ray, not her husband as I previously suspected."
A bewildered George didn't bother asking further questions like his colleague and turned to leave. Murdoch stopped him. "Neutralize her and her associates by any means necessary but be very careful to avoid the death ray's beam. If she starts the device up, take cover behind the metal beams there and shoot it until it no longer functions."
George nodded once.
Tesla was eyeing him morosely after the second constable left. "I take it my services are no longer required then, detective?"
"Not at all, Mr. Tesla. Please keep at this. It's possible your shield may still be of service."
Tesla's face brightened again and Murdoch too left through the side door as the hammering commenced anew. He slumped against the wall and put his head in his hands. He had an almost overwhelming desire to sleep. This reprieve was short lived for the inspector had caught sight of him. Murdoch glanced up at his query.
"What's happened?" Brackenreid barked. He glared at the door. "And what is that goddamn racket?!"
Murdoch tremulously pushed himself into a standing position. "Mr. Tesla is assisting us in our investigation."
"Are you feeling unwell, Murdoch? You look terrible."
"I'm fine, sir, just a little uneasy."
"Can't blame you. That unholy noise is setting my teeth on edge!" Brackenreid eyed the station house distastefully and then eyed him. "I don't suppose there's any point in asking, Murdoch, but would you like to get a pint with me?"
It was only nine o'clock in the morning.
"I would like nothing more, sir."
Anything to ease his mind.
"Typical...wait! You're accepting?! Bloody hell! I never thought I'd live to see the day!" He put his arm around Murdoch's shoulders. "Well come along then, me old mucker!"
Beers in hand they made their way through the empty pub to a central table. Murdoch began chugging his spruce beer even before they had sat down. The inspector was giving him an odd look and he controlled his urges better.
"All right, Murdoch. Are you going to tell me what's troubling you now?"
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you, sir."
Brackenreid appeared to take offense to that. "I've got a fantastically open mind, Murdoch! If I didn't I would have canned you years ago! You're a bloody nuisance with all of your experiments and whatnot."
"I appreciate the faith, sir, but this matter is rather hard to swallow. I can hardly fathom it myself."
"Fine then," Brackenreid grumbled, "don't confide in me. Where are we on the bloody Pendrick affair?"
Murdoch told him without really thinking about it. Brackenreid was now bewildered, like everyone around him seemed to be.
"Sally Pendrick! All this time it was the goddamn wife! Bloody hell!" he said with a chuckle. "You sure were swindled Murdoch." A pause. "How did you figure all that out anyway?"
Murdoch took a big swig while he frantically searched for a simple explanation. After he had almost drained his glass he said, "Oh, Mrs. Pendrick knew we were searching for a Pendrick building. Her husband did not. Therefore she had to be involved. It was the only logical conclusion."
Brackenreid laughed. "Hard to believe you overlooked something so obvious. But I suppose whatever has been on your mind these past few days has been doing a right job of distracting you."
The detective realized his superior's assessment was correct. After Julia had told him she was thinking of leaving for Buffalo he had found it hard to focus. That reminded him...
"Sir, I have some wonderful news to share with you." Murdoch grinned stupidly. "Dr. Ogden has agreed to be my wife."
His boss froze mid sip and then, "Bloody hell, Murdoch! You're just full of surprises today!"
They had another beer in celebration and then returned to the station house. Murdoch felt a bit inebriated but did his best not to let it show. Terrence Meyers was waiting for them in the inspector's office. The government agent did not look happy.
"Where the devil have you two been!?" Meyers glared at a wobbly Murdoch. "Is he drunk?" Meyers glared at the inspector. "Glad to see you have been taking this threat to national security seriously, inspector!"
"Don't get your knickers in a knot, Meyers. We've got everything under control. As we speak my men are neutralizing the situation."
Murdoch chuckled slightly at the inspector's parroting of his own words. Meyers glared at him.
"Well, they better be! The death ray has been sold and will be shipped out to God knows where come sunrise! If it gets away from us, gentlemen, many innocents will die!"
Meyers stormed out of his office.
"Prick," muttered the inspector.
Though Murdoch's head was pleasantly buzzing he did his best to remember what was supposed to happen next. Yesterday George had given him an update on Sally Pendrick's whereabouts and then he had spoken with Mr. Pendrick himself in his office. Neither of those men were here currently. Henry was frequently slow at completing tasks but even he shouldn't have taken so long to return with Mr. Pendrick. Had Henry gotten lost and then missed catching Mr. Pendrick at the mansion? Was he still out there looking for the wrongly imprisoned fugitive?
Murdoch wasn't going to go on a wild goose chase in his current condition but he figured he might as well check out the Pendrick grounds since he didn't have anything else to do.
Wisely he took a carriage there instead of attempting to bicycle. The transport carriage Henry had taken was still sitting outside of the entrance.
How odd.
Murdoch pushed open the unlocked door and had a profound sense of deja vu. The mansion was empty just as it had been yesterday. You could hear a pin drop. Clearly no one was home. But they had to be since the carriage was still out front. That same sense of dread from earlier that morning took hold as he tiptoed up the stairs through the eerie silence.
He pushed open Sally Pendrick's bedroom door and stood horrified at the sight before him, instantly sobered. Henry lay dead in a pool of blood. He had been shot in the chest. The murder weapon was by his side. James Pendrick was nowhere to be found.
A terrible pounding in his skull forced him into a kneeling position.
How had this unforeseen calamity occurred? Pendrick was no murderer! Had he unwittingly been the author of Henry's demise?
For an unknown length of time he just stared at Henry's unseeing eyes. Then he called the station house and requested a morgue pickup.
Julia arrived and embraced him.
"This is all my fault," he lamented over and over again.
"Hush now, William. This is not your fault. You are just in shock."
He continued to object to her assessment so she led him out of there and then far too quickly he found himself back at the station house, trying to explain that one of their own was gone forever. After the shock wore off, a manhunt for James Pendrick was quickly put underway with the remaining men.
Julia insisted that he go home and rest for a few hours. She accompanied him to his quarters and held him until he drifted off.
When he next awoke he was dismayed to find she was no longer there. Then he realized she was probably in the middle of Henry's autopsy. A lump started in his throat and he blinked back the tears. He just stared at the no longer gold flecked ceiling wondering how he would ever be able to look fondly on their engagement now that it was marred with such a tragedy.
He pulled back the covers and was surprised to find himself in his red pyjamas.
Had Julia dressed him while he was asleep?
Glancing out the window he noticed the sun was not very high in the sky. It should have been at it's peak by this time of day. He looked across his room and noticed the blueprints for the massive waggon on his desk. He never thought he'd be so happy to see them! (he attributed missing them yesterday to his utter focus on speedily dressing).
Thank God! If today was Tuesday yet again, it meant Henry was still alive! It also meant he was no longer engaged to Julia. But Murdoch was perfectly fine with this. There was plenty of time to propose again once Sally Pendrick was dealt with. And this time he would do things properly. He was quite determined that no one he cared about would die today.