Girl Gone
Chapter 3
When he came home only Margaret was in the parlor. She looked up at him, "She's upstairs, William. Be kind."
Nodding wordlessly to her, William started up the stairs. He found Julia sitting in Susie's room, holding her stuffed rabbit.
"I'm so sorry," William said placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Oh William. What are we going to do?"
"We're going to get her back, Love."
"Do you promise?"
He nodded, then knelt beside her as she stroked his hair. "I love you, Julia. Now more than ever before. No matter what I say or do remember that."
"I know. I love you too. We will get through this, right?" He nodded again, unable to speak.
"Sir, we've located Jeremy Taylor. The lads are bringing him in now."
"Then we better get the Murdochs down here pronto."
Brackenreid insisted that Julia and William remain outside the room while he conducted the interview himself.
"Alright, sunshine, where is the little girl?" the Inspector slammed his hand hard down on the table.
"What little girl? I don't know who you think I am but I don't know anything about a little girl."
"You do know Julia Ogden don't you?"
"Of course. I went to university with her."
"And what would you say your relationship with her was? Intimate?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Bloody hell! Just answer it, sunshine. You're in a heap of trouble."
"Yes. We were intimate."
"And you knocked her up, right?"
"Isn't there some kind of statute of limitations on this kind of thing?"
"Don't be a smart ass, Taylor. Answer the question."
"Yes. She got pregnant."
"Then what?"
"What? She got an abortion and we parted ways."
"And were you angry that she killed your child?"
"Angry! I was ecstatic. Neither she nor I had the means or inclination to raise a child at that time."
"And you never vowed revenge on her for that act?"
"I barely ever thought of her after that."
William and Julia observed this whole interview through the window gripping each other's hands. As William started for the door Julia held him back. "Let the inspector handle this."
The inspector continued, "Who did you tell about the pregnancy and abortion to?"
"No one. It wasn't my proudest moment."
"No one. Ever?"
"Well, I think I may have mentioned it to my sister once."
"Oh. And what was her reaction?"
"I don't know. I guess she was miffed a bit."
"Miffed?"
"Yeah. She didn't believe abortion was moral. As a matter of fact this pretty much ended our relationship."
"And this sister's name?"
"Amelia Taylor, no wait she got married. I think her husband's name is Bugesi, Samson Bugesi."
"You wouldn't have a picture of this sister would you?"
"Not a recent one."
Brackenreid left to speak to Murdoch and Julia. "What do you think? Did you ever meet this sister, doctor?"
"I saw her around but never actually was introduced to her."
"Would you recognize her if you saw her again?"
"Maybe." He showed her the picture that Penny had created.
"Is that her?"
"I guess it could be."
Brackenreid went back into the interview room and laid the rendering on the table. "Is that your sister?"
"It could be I suppose."
"Is it or isn't it?"
"It's her."
"And where is your sister now?"
"I don't know."
"Well I think you'll be staying with us a little bit longer, sunshine."
"Why? I haven't done anything." Brackenreid left the room.
"Crabtree, have all stations looking for this woman, Amelia Bugesi, née Taylor and Samson Bugesi."
"Right away, sir."
"I want to go home now. My daddy has to tell me goodnight. I want my daddy."
"What about your mommy? Don't you miss your mommy?"
"Yes. I love my daddy and mommy. I want to go home."
"You can't go yet. Maybe later."
"My daddy is a policeman. He'll arrest you if you don't take me home."
"Hahaha. He has to catch me first. Tell me about your mommy. What do you and your mommy do together?"
"We play games. Julia knows the best games. And sometimes we go shopping. And we have lunch with William too."
"Who's William?"
"Daddy is William."
"Why do you call your parents by their names?"
"Because that's who they are. I've always called them by their names since I've known them."
"What do you mean, since you've known them?"
"Since I was 'dopted."
"You're adopted? So Julia isn't your real mother."
"Yes she is. The judge made William and Julia my new mommy and daddy."
"Hmmm. This might change things a bit. We'll see."
