Chapter 2: The murder of a mentor
Moments later, George arrived at the murder scene, accompanied by several constables and Inspector Rodgers.
"Retired Inspector William Henry Murdoch is the victim, sir." Rodgers said as he showed the body as it was being taken to the morgue. "See for yourself."
George took a closer look at the body, and he almost felt uncomfortable as he recognized his mentor's face, together with a gunshot wound in the head.
"Oh, dear Lord." He said after taking a look before looking up and added, "Who responded to the discovery?"
"We did, sir." A constable replied as he and his partner walked over to George. "Constable Jones and I were patrolling the nearby street when we heard someone call for someone else to call the constabulary. So, we responded and raced over to the scene, where we found the landlady of the flat looked distressed, and when we entered we found former Inspector Murdoch's body."
"Did the landlady said anything on what was the occasion for entering the flat?" George asked the two constables.
"Yes, she said that some of the neighbours were concerned that they haven't seen the retired inspector out of his flat for the past month or so." Constable Jones said. "She said that the neighbours normally won't think much about it, as the retired inspector was still mourning the death of his wife several weeks back."
George raised his eyebrows. "Doctor Julia Ogden passed away?"
"Yes, she did, sir." The detective nodded as he approached the chief constable. "However, the landlady was getting concerned about retired Inspector Murdoch, sir, especially because he wasn't seen again outside and the only person that they had seen entering and exiting the house was the caregiver."
"Did the landlady know who the caregiver is?" George enquired. "Perhaps a name?"
"The caregiver is one Eve Pearac." The detective nodded as he handed the chief constable the information he had jotted down.
George nodded thoughtfully as he read the information before proceeding to take a look around. He can see the constables trying to keep the onlookers a distance from where Murdoch's body is loaded onto an ambulance.
"So former Inspector Murdoch was shot dead." George mused. "Did any of his neighbours heard a gunshot?"
"No one we interviewed recalled hearing a gunshot recently, sir." One of the constables reported.
"That's odd." George said. "Unless the shooter used a muffler while firing the gun or used an air rifle to carry out the deed, I don't see how the neighbours didn't hear a gunshot."
"Once we have the body delivered to the morgue for a postmortem, we will know for sure, sir." The detective replied.
George nodded, but before he could say something, a couple more constables emerged from the flat with an envelope in hand.
"Sir, we found a note in the victim's bedroom, and apparently it is addressed to you." The first constable said as he showed George the envelope.
"A note addressed to me?" George asked as he took a look at the envelope cover, which was indeed addressed to him.
Sighing, the chief constable opened the envelope and pulled out a note and opened it.
"Hello, Chief Constable Crabtree." He read. "Time sure flies for a certain cheerful chipmunk who has worked with Detective Murdoch for years. Who knew you were going to be the top man in charge of the Constabulary? Pea Rec and I are wishing you a good retirement, that is, after you solve the murder of one Detective William Murdoch. We are going to have so much fun!"
Upon finishing the note, George looked up and saw the constables were looking at him in concern.
After the body was delivered to the morgue, George wasted no time as he made his way to Station House 4 and called a meeting with officers.
The officers in attendance of the meeting consisted of Inspector John Brackenreid, who followed his father's footsteps in joining the Constabulary and is now the inspector in command of Station House 4, Superintendent Llewelyn Watts, who George knew was the detective at Station House 1 before his transfer to Station House 4 and was succeeded by the younger Brackenreid as Station House 4's inspector upon his promotion to superintendent and is now in charge of the eastern precinct of the Constabulary, Detective Harry Murray and Detective Derek Seater, the two detectives from Station House 4 assigned to the investigation.
In the meeting, George made clear of his orders that he be kept apprised on the developments in the investigation, in addition to the coroner's report in his mentor's death be copied to him.
After the meeting, George was back in his office and found himself looking at the old photo from 1900 again.
The first Inspector Brackenreid retired from the service about a decade ago after a seven-year stint as chief constable, and he passed away two years ago, may the Lord rest his soul.
At the thought of Thomas Brackenreid, George was glad to see John carrying on with his father's work at Station House 4.
His friend Henry had recently moved back to Toronto, having had finished his five-year tenure as Chief Constable at the Cobourg Constabulary a couple months ago.
Henry had a rather interesting career after George's transfer out of Station House 4, particularly with his getting transferred to the Ontario Provincial Police in 1914 as the Great War broke out. He rose through the ranks in the OPP and was made inspector and assigned to the Bala detachment in 1921.
He was eventually transferred to the Cobourg Constabulary as the small town began its process of appointing a new chief constable, an appointment that was eventually filled by him.
As George looked at the old photo, the telephone suddenly rang.
"Chief Constable Crabtree, sir." The constable at the other end of the line said. "Former Cobourg Constabulary Chief Constable Higgins is at the entrance."
"Send him in, Terry." George nodded. He had earlier sent Henry a telegraph informing him of the news, and the former Cobourg chief constable promised to drop by his office for a visit.
A few minutes after hanging up the phone, George looked up as his old friend Henry entered his office after a knock on the door.
"George!" Henry exclaimed.
"Henry!" George exclaimed as the two men shared a hug. "It's good to see you again."
"Indeed." Henry smiled as he took a seat.
Like George, there are clear signs of aging on Henry, mostly his black hair turning grey with some chased away by the white. He also has begun wearing glasses as his eyesight began to decline with the old age and George took note of the mustache his old friend had grown.
"So is it true, George?" Henry asked. "That former Inspector Murdoch has been murdered?"
"I'm afraid so, Henry." George nodded somberly. "His body is currently at the morgue for a postmortem examination."
"Mind if I ask how is it that you believe that Detective, I mean, Inspector Murdoch's death was murder?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
George opened the file he received from Station House 4 and took out the crime scene photos taken by the constables.
Henry almost immediately felt uncomfortable seeing Murdoch's face in the photo, and the gunshot wound was enough to give him the urge to look away from the crime photos.
He then moved to the initial murder report notes, where it noted that none of the neighbours recall hearing a gunshot recently.
"That doesn't make any sense." Henry said after handing the report back to George. "How is it that the neighbours didn't hear a gunshot?"
"And here's something you should know about, Henry." George added as he handed Henry the envelope containing the note addressed to him.
Reading the note, Henry's facial expression turned serious.
"Someone sure is going through the trouble of getting your attention, George." Henry said. "Sounds like someone from Detective Murdoch's past."
"But did Detective Murdoch have anything to do with anyone by the name of Pea Rec?" George asked.
"Not that I recall." Henry shook his head. "But you and Dr. Grace better be careful, George. Whoever did this to the former detective and send you this note means business."
"Especially if that someone is as cunning as the late James Gillies." George nodded. "That chap sure was a handful for the detective back then, though I don't understand how come I didn't hear about Dr. Ogden's death."
"Dr. Ogden has passed away?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." George nodded. "According to the landlady, Detective Murdoch was still mourning the death of his wife, who passed on a few weeks back, when he was found dead earlier this afternoon, yet neither Emily nor I heard the news back then."
"That sure is strange." Henry agreed. "Afterall, remember two years ago when the inspector passed away?"
"Yes." George nodded. "You attended the funeral, even though you were still working in Cobourg."
"Indeed." Henry said. "There might be something fishy going on, George."
"Yes, I suppose so." George agreed. "Emily is going to be devastated when she hears about the news."
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