William and all the constables were curiously looking at Inspector Brackenried's office. The Chief Inspector had stormed into Station Four a few moments ago with an angry frown on his face. He had curtly nodded to William and had gone straight to Brackenried's office. It had only taken a few seconds after the door had closed for them to hear Brackenried shout:
"What do you mean a woman?"
Unfortunately, for the assembled audience, Chief Inspector Stockton's voice did not carry as well through the walls as Brackenried's did, and they could not make out the answer. The Inspector was shouting again.:
"…male bodies are naked for autopsies…she'll see everything…"
Even William, who in principle disagreed with listening to other people's conversation, could not stop himself from trying to figure out what was putting the two policemen into such a state. Now even Stockten was shouting:
"Do you think I did not try to stop this Brackenried? But this was over my head. It came from high above."
Suddenly George turned to William with an excited look on his face.
"Do you think Sir, that perhaps they are talking about the new coroner? Do you thing we are going to have a woman coroner?"
The suggestion was so ludicrous to William that he could not stop himself from immediately rebutting George.
"Nonsense George. That's impossible. I know of no female doctor in Toronto. You are making a false assumption based on limited information. As a detective I have found that…."
William did not get to finish his sentence. Just as the Chief Inspector was leaving, Brackenried ordered William into his office:
"In here Murdoch." William gladly went in. He was as curious as the constables to find out why the two men had been so upset. The inspector was pouring himself a drink, and turned around to offer one to the younger man.
"I know you don't normally indulge Murdoch, but today I think you'll change your mind"
William politely refused and settled himself in the chair and patiently waited for the Inspector to talk. The older man went to his desk, picked up a file and brusquely gave it to William.
"Look who the new coroner will be Murdoch."
William took the file and started reading it. He did not bother looking at the doctor's name. He went directly to the man's credential. One of his eyebrows raised and with more attention he continued to read the file. The doctor had studied with the most prominent pathologists in Europe. He had even done a stint at Scotland Yard. William felt excitement grow. With this man, Toronto would have the best pathologist in the Dominion. He looked up. Brackenried was still angrily pacing.
"I don't understand sir. This chap is ten times more qualified than any doctors we have here in Toronto. We are lucky to have him…"
"Bloody well Murdoch. You call yourself a detective. Look at the bloody file. Look at the name."
William turned back to the front page. Ogden. Dr. Julia Ogden. Julia! The chap was a woman! William felt immediate disappointment. A woman as a coroner, she will not last he thought. Too bad, Toronto would never get a coroner as qualified as her. He turned to the inspector.
"Julia Ogden. Is that the Ogdens of….." The detective was again interrupted by Brackenried.
"Of course it's those Ogdens. How else do you think the woman could have gotten the job. Her Daddy intervened of course. Stockten tried to get the decision reversed, but old man Ogden had too much influence."
Even though William was in full agreement with Brackenried regarding a woman coroner, he was actually excited at the thought of working with someone with such high scientific credentials. He had often silently lamented the cavalier attitude of the Toronto coroners; their unwillingness to try new tests and analyses. Too bad she would not last.
" Well Sir." Continued William: "Even though Toronto is not likely to ever get someone of that calibre, I do agree with you that she is misplaced in such a position. I see from her file that while she has worked with world leading pathologists in Europe, she never has been in charge. Considering her age and more importantly her gender, I doubt she will be able to handle the challenges of the job. Have no fears Sir, she will be gone by summer.
Julia was finishing her first report. Her first case, and it had involved a child. Never mind threading a bit of water, she had been forced to jump right in. She did not like cases involving children; detested it when they were the victims, was revolted when they were the culprit. This case had been the later. There had been one positive though: the detective in charge of the case: William Murdoch. He had been polite and respectful. She was convinced she could see curiosity in his eyes, but he had refrained from asking or saying anything. She had been impressed by his wealth of knowledge. The first thing she had done on her arrival was to look at old autopsy reports of her predecessor. They were sorry documents that reeked of pompous statements, and were sadly lacking in scientific evidence. Armed with that knowledge, Julia had been prepared to have to explain her findings to the detective. She had been wrong. He had understood everything she had said. He had even finished a few of her sentences confirming her suspicions that the detective was more than able to keep up with her scientific discourse.
She had been impressed by more than his mind. His dark brown eyes, square jaw and broad shoulders had also left a lasting impression on her. He looked about her age. An age a man should be married. She had made a point of listening to the idle chatter of the constables to try and gather information about him, more importantly his marital status. No success though.
She heard the door open. She looked up to see the young detective walk towards her. No even aware she was doing it, she re-arranged her hair and smoothed down her skirt. She nervously turned to face him as he started talking.
"Good afternoon Doctor. I wanted to stop by and thank you for your work. It was instrumental in my case. Without your expert report, I doubt I could have convinced the crown prosecutor that a twelve year old boy could have killed his parents."
Julia smiled at the detective. She was glad, no not glad, but happy he had dropped by. Needless to say that she had received far from a warm welcomed from the Toronto Constabulary. The young detective has seemed to be the only non-judgemental police officer she had met. More than that, she had found him quite handsome.
"You are quite welcomed Detective." Julia hesitated before continuing. "I also wanted to thank you."
William was a bit taken aback: "Thank me Doctor? For what?"
William immediately felt guilty. He had been the first one to say that the young woman doctor would not last. That the responsibilities of running a morgue would be too much for her, and yet here she was, thanking him.
"For being a professional. For reading my report. For not questioning my findings."
William felt even worse now. He had to say something.
"Your findings were sound Doctor. Backed by scientific facts and unencumbered by personal beliefs and opinions. I could do nothing less than accept them. You do not have to thank me for your expert work."
Julia smiled. "Nevertheless Detective. I do want to thank you. Your opinion of my work unfortunately belongs in the minority." Julia decided to move the conversation to a more personal level.
"It's a beautiful Spring day Detective. How shall you celebrate the successful closing of this case?"
William answered immediately.
"I am afraid, now is not the season to celebrate Doctor. It is Lent. After work, my fiancée and I shall be attending Mass."
Even though Julia had half expected him to be married, she was still very disappointed to find out that while it was not the case, it was as close as. The handsome young detective was engaged, engaged to a catholic girl. Well at least now she had her answer. Julia stood up and walked over to the Detective.
"Well thank you again Detective. Do not let me keep your from your duties."
William politely nodded to her and left. Julia turned around and followed him with her eyes until he left the morgue.