Chapter 2 –
Higgins and Murdoch made good time, and before long, they were pulling their bikes off of the road in front of the home of the their suspect.
"No sign of Constable Crabtree." Higgins commented, glancing up and down the road.
"No sign of Mr. Nolan either." Murdoch said. That was the man Crabtree had gone to arrest, and the owner of the single-story home before them.
Higgins held onto his gun firmly as they approached the house. They stopped short of the front steps, and the Detective sized up the situation.
"Alright Henry. Go around back, and try to see in through the windows. But be discreet. If they're inside, I want to know where they are. The more we know about the building, the safer it will be for us and Constable Crabtree. If he is in fact inside. And be careful."
Higgins nodded and hurried around the side of the house.
Murdoch climbed the stairs and run the doorbell. There was no answer. He rung it again. Again, no answer.
Higgins came back around front, and joined Murdoch on the veranda.
"The blinds were drawn, but I could see the shadows of someone moving around in a room near the back of the house."
"So someone is home, and yet not answering the doorbell. Mr. Nolan lives alone. That must be him. We need to get inside." Murdoch declared.
"Want me to kick the door in, sir?" Higgins asked, sounding rather enthusiastic about the idea.
"I don't think that would be wise, Constable. I don't think we should alert the suspect to our presence unnecessarily. We'll wait a few minutes, and let Mr. Nolan think that whoever was at the door has given up and left. Then, we'll gain access in a more… discreet manner."
"How are we going to do that?"
Murdoch glanced around, and spotted a window above an unkempt garden next to the porch. He descended the steps and stepped over the weeds and examined the window. It was open a crack. Perfect.
"Windows often serve as a vulnerable point in the security of a home. They're usually the easiest way to access a private residence without the owners' knowledge."
"I'll remember that, sir." Higgins said.
The Detective slowly and silently lifted the window open all the way.
"I'll go first." Higgins volunteered.
"Very well." Murdoch said.
He held the shotgun for the constable.
"I'll pass it to you once you're inside."
So Higgins gripped the window ledge, and hoisted himself up and into the room. He made as little noise as possible. Murdoch passed the weapon through to him, and then Henry gave the Detective a hand getting inside.
The living room they found themselves in was dark, and the house appeared to be silent.
Then, a voice from a room down the hall made the two policemen jump slightly.
"You're wrong! I know they will!" Shouted the voice, presumably belonging to Nolan.
"Mr. Nolan, the constabulary won't supply any ransom for me. I'm just a lowly constable. If you let me go now, I—"
"They'd better!" Came the reply. "Or you're going to get it!"
"He does have Crabtree!" Higgins said, his eyes wide. Murdoch nodded calmly and pressed a finger to his lips, urging his companion to keep quiet. Higgins nodded and pressed his lips together tightly to show he understood.
Murdoch led Higgins into the hallway, and they slowly and cautiously made their way down towards the room where the voices were coming from. They stood outside the open door, and the conversation continued.
"Besides, it isn't money that I want." Nolan stated. "All I want in my freedom, in exchange for your life. It seems reasonable to me. Besides, that bugger Simpson deserved to die, don't you agree?"
Simpson was the victim in the detective's investigation, Higgins thought to himself. So Nolan DID kill him!
"They won't allow you to walk free, regardless of what happens here today. You may be able to escape the noose if you let me go of your own accord. If you kill me, they will certainly hang you. Think of your family!" Crabtree tried to reason.
"Leave my family out of it!" Nolan snapped. "If it weren't for this business with Simpson, and you nosey coppers, I'd still be able to provide for them, and my wife would never have taken the children, and…"
There was a tense pause. Murdoch wondered if now was the proper time to announce their presence. Then Nolan spoke again.
"I think I've given them enough time to notice that you're missing. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to give a call to your station house, and present my demands." There were footsteps moving to one side of the room.
The two concealed officers took this to mean that he was walking away from George, and towards the phone. Murdoch saw his chance.
"Toronto Constabulary! Mr. Nolan, drop your weapon!" Murdoch ordered, stepping into plain view. Higgins followed him, fixing the shotgun on Nolan determinedly.
"Sir!" Crabtree cried in surprise. The young policeman was tied to a kitchen chair, and had suffered a few cuts and bruises to the face, but seemed otherwise unharmed. He was obviously shocked and relieved that reinforcements had arrived.
Nolan on the other hand, just looked shocked. He had been standing with his back to the door, had one hand on the phone, and the other held a pistol.
"It's over." Murdoch said. "Drop the gun."
Nolan muttered some incoherent sentences, and then shouted, "He deserved to die!"
"That may be, but it wasn't your call to make. And that's why we can't let you walk away, sir. Please put down the gun." The Detective said.
Nolan faced them in silence for a few moments. And then said, "I have nothing to live for."
"But your family!" Crabtree said.
"They're better off without me!" Nolan yelled. Then he looked at Higgins, and at Crabtree. Then, he faced Murdoch, and raising his weapon, he cocked the weapon and started towards him.
A/N: Sorry that took so long. BTW, I don't know about you guys, but I am LOVING the new season! :)
