The rain was pelting down during the warm June evening storm. Puddles were quickly forming, and they reflected the lightning as it lit the sky, followed be crashes of thunder. Maxwell Best wasn't sure if the storm was intensifying or not; perhaps it was the wind-driven rain that made it seem worse. The middle aged man made his way along the alley, clutching a sack under his left armpit. He stopped and looked over his shoulder; certain that he was being followed.
Best swallowed hard as he prepared to continue on his way just as another bright flash lit up the alley. Rain dribbled off the brim of his bowler hat, which was also now soaking wet. He could feel the moisture on his scalp. Blinking away rain and sweat, he almost reached the road, when another flash of lightening light up the sky and alley. There, standing in front of him was a tall broad-shouldered man, who held a lantern, which lit the man's face, partially. Best didn't recognize him and was startled at first, slowly he relaxed thinking that the man was there to guide him to his destination, "You're just in time," he half laughed. "I wasn't exactly sure where I was going and I'm getting soaked to the core," he added.
The tall man said nothing. Instead he lunged forward, grabbing at the sack under Best's arm. Maxwell gasped, and tried to escape, but he was soon out muscled. The larger man pushed him hard to the soaked ground. The indecent was enough to cause Best to have a seizure causing him to fall onto his back and pass out. The larger man snatched the sack and dashed off into the night leaving Best laying in a puddle; the storm raged on.
It was a cool, damp and gloomy start to the work day; the storm had brought a cold front through, cooling everything down considerably. Inspector Brackenreid was at his desk sipping on a nice hot cup of tea, while perusing the newspaper. Detective William Murdoch had just arrived and entered his office, placing his hat on the rack, just inside the office door. He hadn't even made it to his desk when Constable George Crabtree popped through the door, "Detective?" he asked to get Murdoch's attention. "A body's been found, Sir," he notified Murdoch.
"Oh?" the Detective looked over to the Constable.
"Yes, Sir. Over near the old saddle company. I think the Inspector needs to see this, too," Crabtree stated.
By now the Inspector was at the other door to Murdoch's office, "What's this I hear?" he asked.
"A body has been found, Sir. You need to come to the scene. It's important," Crabtree repeated his statement.
Brackenreid's right eyebrow lifted at the comment, finding it a tad curious but soon brushed it off when the reality of the job set in, "Bloody hell. Do you think we'll get through a whole week without an incident?" Brackenreid huffed as he walked back to his office to gather his hat, coat and walking stick. Murdoch was in agreement of the Inspector's statement, as he too gathered his hat, and followed the Constable out of the building, with the Inspector at his side.
With in a half hour, the men reached the scene. Constable Henry Higgins was doing his best stop people from gawking from the roadway at the entrance of the alley. Best was about ten feet in. "I've notified Doctor Ogden, but she said that she would be here as soon as she could," Crabtree said.
Murdoch crossed his heart as he approached the prone man, "Do we have a cause of death?"
Crabtree shook his head no, "He doesn't look like any harm has come to him," he noted.
Brackenreid stepped closer, "That Councillor Maxwell Best," he stated as he looked at the Detective.
"I wondered that my self when I first saw him," Murdoch said as he crouched down and placed his hand on the man's neck, "He's stone cold," the Detective stated.
"That's why you needed to be here," Crabtree looked at the Inspector.
"He's a member of our Lodge," Brackenreid said to no-one in particular as he stared down at the man on the ground. "Have you found any evidence?" he then asked Crabtree.
"Only some partial footprints that lead out of the alley to the road," Crabtree pointed.
"What about this?" Murdoch used a metal tool he took from his breast pocket to open Best's right hand, which appeared to be clenching something.
Both Crabtree and Brackenreid crouched down for a better look, "What is it, Murdoch?" the Inspector question with keen interest. Carefully with the metal tool, Murdoch opened the man's hand and with tweezers he extracted a piece of the sack, "It appears that he was holding something before he collapsed," he said as he looked up at the two men who were with him.
It was just then that Doctor Julia Ogden arrive, "Sorry," she apologized as she approached the scene, "I came as quickly as I could. It's been one of those days."
"We know your a busy woman, Doctor," Brackenreid acknowledged the doctor's present. "This might be a bit of a puzzler for you," he added as he stood up. Crabtree was next to stand up.
"How so?" Julia questioned the Inspector.
"There doesn't appear to be any cause of death," William stated as stood up, although he was still looking down at the councillor.
"Oh," Julia murmured, "Let me have a look," she said as she moved to the body. After a cursory examination, as she would do at all crime scenes she looked up at William, "You're right," she said standing. "There are no signs of a struggle, or any signs of ill health," she added.
"Well something isn't quite right," Brackenreid said. "Councillor Best was an upstanding man, and well liked for his generosity toward charities. He wouldn't be in this alley for no reason," the Inspector stated factually.
Murdoch was surely intrigued with the case, "We need to find out what this is," he held up the small swatch of cloth.
"There's not much we can do with the footprints," Crabtree noted.
"We'll have to trace back Mister Best's last moves and known locations," Murdoch suggested.
"Looks like a trip to his office," Brackenreid said.
"Indeed, Sir," Murdoch agreed. "George, you and Higgins do what you can with the scene here," the Detective directed the two Constable. George nodded in understanding.
"I'll get the body back to the morgue, but I won't be able to get to him right away," Julia stated.
"That's fine, Julia," William smiled slightly. "I don't think Mister Best will be going anywhere," he added. "I'll stop in to talk to you later," Murdoch studied his wife's face. "I hope you find something by then that will help the case," Julia spoke.
"Me too," Brackenreid replied as the two men walked away.
"This is indeed a curious case," Julia said as she knelt down again to the man and studied his clothed body for any clues, but there appeared to be nothing visible. She looked up and watch William and the Inspector as they walked to the carriage. She could only imagine what they were talking about.
"We need to solve this case and fast," Brackenreid said as he settled onto the seat next to the Detective in the handsome.
"I understand, Sir. But without any concrete evidence to go on," he sentence trailed off as he glanced at his boss. Brackenreid was staring forward with an intense look on his face. Murdoch knew that any death of a politician brought even greater pressure onto the Inspector. "Hopefully we find something at his office," Murdoch offered.
Slowly Brackenreid looked over to his friend and colleague, "I hope so, Murdoch," he said in a quite voice. "I'd hate to have City Council breathing down my neck, or worse," his words were almost an urgent plea. William merely nodded, "Indeed."