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Chapter 1

"George! George!"

Constable Crabtree ran toward the sound of the Detective's voice. The loud crash preceding this frantic summons didn't bode well. As he hurried he spied the man that they were chasing bolting from the back of the shed that currently Detective Murdoch was supposed to be investigating. What to do? Should he go after the fugitive or go to the detective?

The decision was made for him when he heard the Detective yell, "George! Catch him!"

Crabtree whirled around and took off after the culprit. Catching up to him, George threw a flying tackle and brought him down.

"Stop struggling. I've got you now."

George rolled the man over and placed the hand cuffs on him. Pulling him to his feet he marched him back to the shed. He wondered why the Detective had not come out to help and got an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Grabbing some twine lying about, George tied his prisoner to the water pump in the yard. Then he started into the shed. Dust was thick in the air yet it was not dark as the sky shone through where the roof used to be.

"Sir? Are you in here?"

In a much weaker voice than his previous yelling George heard a faint, "Over here, George."

Crabtree turned toward the voice and was horrified to find the Detective's lower body buried under rubble.

"Oh, god! Are you hurt, sir?"

"Yes, George. I believe so."

"Let me take a look."

George stepped over debris, careful not to shake anything else loose. It looked like the ceiling had fallen in on top of Murdoch.

"What happened, sir?"

"I'm not sure, but I think Mr. Macklin was hiding here and had the roof rigged to fall to allow him to escape. Did you catch him, George?"

"I got him, sir, tied up outside. Now let's see if I can get you out of this."

Murdoch sighed, as much in resignation to his plight as to the pain he was in. George moved a board and Murdoch cried out.

"Sorry, sir. I'm afraid I'll hurt you even more if I try to move anything else."

"George, I can't stay here. You'll have to do the best you can."

"I think it's best if I went for help. I won't be long. Can you hang on a bit longer?"

"I guess I'll have to. But do hurry. Alright?"

Murdoch closed his eyes and went into a kind of meditative trance to take his mind off the awful throbbing in his legs. Crabtree grabbed his prisoner, tossed him in the carriage and sped back to the station house.
Brackenreid himself led the team that returned to dig out their detective. Dr. Grace was along as well.

"Murdoch. Murdoch." Brackenreid called softly to the detective, who by now was quite unconscious.

"Move over, Inspector." Emily elbowed her way in. She lifted William's hand and felt his pulse. "It's strong. But get him out of here fast."

Constable Jackson stood looking at the situation for a moment. "I think we need to move these beams first. Don't want to bring any more of this down on the rest of us."

"Well get on with it, lads."

When they finally got the last piece of lumber off of him, George and Higgins dragged him out into the yard. Brackenreid followed, carrying William's hat. Emily cut his pant legs open.

"Definitely one broken leg. I'm not sure about the other. I'll splint them both. Then you need to take him to the hospital."

She didn't try to rouse him because she knew he would be in a lot of pain as the men transported him. Best to let him remain unconscious for the time being.

The Inspector had telephoned Julia from the hospital. She set off immediately from the Asylum to meet him there.

"Where is he? How is he?"

"Calm down, Doctor. It looks like he has a broken leg...or two."

"Or two! What happened?"

Brackenreid explained to her the circumstances as they sat in the waiting area. It wasn't long before Doctor Mason found them.

"Dr. Ogden?" he said, surprised to find a colleague sitting there.

"Yes. Well, it's Doctor Murdoch now. That's my husband you've been treating."

"Indeed! You can see him now."

"And how is he?"

"His left leg has two breaks and his right ankle is fractured. I'm afraid he'll be in a wheelchair for a while."

"Oh, he won't like that."

"No, I suppose he won't. But I don't want him putting any weight on either leg for a few weeks at least. Then we can see about crutches."

"But his legs should heal alright?"

"Yes, Doctor. With patience he should fully recover."

Now that she knew he would eventually be alright she despaired a little thinking of how difficult a patient he was going to be. William never had the patience for inactivity. It would be a long month or so.

Julia peeked around the door. William lay abed with both legs elevated on pillows. He was pale but awake.

"Hi, sweetheart." She smiled at him.

"Julia, I'm sorry," he said sadly.

"Sorry? William you didn't break your legs on purpose, did you?"

"No, of course not. But I'm going to be such a burden for a while."

She sat beside him, took his hand, then leaned over and kissed him. As she pulled back she noted his eyelids getting droopy.
"You've had a sedative. Try to go to sleep. I'll be right here."

Yawning, "You don't need to stay. I'll be fine."

"William, you're always fine, or so you say. Let me take care of you until you really are fine. Now go to sleep."

"Yes, dear."

He closed his eyes and was asleep in seconds.