Side Window
Chapter 4

The two Booths crept up the stairs silently. Having been watching his house as much as he was watching theirs, they were fully aware that Detective Murdoch was quite alone.

"We are in luck, my dear," whispered Howard Booth to his sister in law. "He seems to be asleep. We just have to roll him over to the top of the stairs, then push. It will look like a terrible accident."

"Thank god! He was making me nervous, watching all the time. I know he's seen too much."

Tiptoeing into the bedroom they approached William. But he had heard them entering the house and was fully awake. He had no weapons about him but he was on the far side of the table. If he could keep away and maybe keep them talking surely George and the Inspector would show up. But there were two of them. He didn't think he could last long on his own. As they approached William lifted his head, surprising his assailants.

"Well, well, Detective. I guess taking you unawares is out of the question now, isn't it?"

"I must say, I'm amazed to find you here. I'll not be alone for long. Perhaps you should give yourselves up...or if that is not agreeable to you, maybe you have time to get away."

Laughing, Howard Booth continued coming at William.
"But you are alone, Detective. We saw your wife leave for the evening. She probably won't be back for hours."

As they spoke William kept rolling his chair in order to keep furniture between him and them, and talking.
"What had Joshua Booth done to you that required his murder?"

"He would not give Flora a divorce."

"Ah... So the two of you could be together, eh?"

"Of all people, you, Detective, should identify with the situation."

"But I did not kill my rival. Someone else did."

"How fortuitous for you then."

"You don't think you will get away with this, do you? I have told others about your actions."

"Yet they didn't believe you, did they Detective? Or we would have been arrested by now."

"Get on with it, Howard...so we can get out if here."

Howard Booth lunged for William, who pushed away from the table. But William was out of room to maneuver now and Booth reached for the chair. William grabbed at his hands, but Flora helped her brother in law. They began to push William out the doorway toward the stairs, but he grabbed the jambs, holding as tight as he could, bringing their forward movement momentarily to a halt. The two Booths pushed in concert to loosen William's grip. He had no choice but to get out of his wheelchair or tumble down the staircase. As he quickly let go of the door jambs, he placed his hands on the chair arms, pushing himself upright. The pain was exquisite but he managed to stumble forward a few steps. The chair was now between him and his assailants. His only avenue of escape was down the stairs or into the other bedroom or the bathroom. The staircase is where the Booths wanted him. One push and he was done for. So he tried to stagger toward the bedroom. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion from William's perspective. He could feel his heart pounding and blood rushing in his ears. Thinking it would all be over too soon he jerked his head toward the sound of the front door opening. At last he thought, George and the Inspector had arrived. But no. Hearing the lovely voice of his wife instead, as she called to him, he sighed in despair.

"Gentleman, I'm back," she called, assuming George and William were upstairs together.

"Julia, run! Hurry!"

Julia stopped cold, listening to the voices from upstairs. In addition to William's she also heard a man's and a woman's voices, neither of which was George's. William had made it to the other room at last, slamming the door, locking it, and leaning against it. He knew he wouldn't be able to stand much longer. Howard Booth was hurrying down the stairs, after Julia. She, in the meantime had debated between fleeing back out the front door or finding a weapon and going to William's defense. There was only one option as she grabbed the fireplace poker and stood her ground. She would not abandon her husband...ever. When Booth rounded the corner from the steps, she struck him as hard as she could. He fell like downed tree.

"William?" she called up the steps. No answer. At least one other person was up there. She had heard the voice when she came in.

Flora didn't know what to do. Everything was coming apart. Murdoch was still alive and Howard's fate was unknown to her for now.

"Flora? Is that you? Come down now. It's all over. You can't win."

But Flora wasn't ready to give up yet. Perhaps she could trade Murdoch for her escape.
"I've got your husband. I won't hurt him if you let me go."

William knew Julia wouldn't be able to hear him from behind the door. She would think he was in danger. Flora's voice was just on the other side of the door. Slowly, quietly he turned the lock, then suddenly threw open the door, knocking Mrs. Booth over. By now Julia had ascended to the second floor where she found Flora and William both lying on the floor. She wanted to go to William, but thought it more expedient to restrain Flora first. William lay with his eyes closed, breathing heavily.

"Oh, William! Oh, William!"

"I'll be fine, Julia," he whispered between gritted teeth.

She couldn't help but smile as her tears rolled down her cheeks. She had never known him not to say he was fine, when of course he was not.
Again there were voices, but these were downstairs. It seems George and the Inspector had arrived at last.

"Bloody hell! What's going on here?"


The Booths had been arrested and taken away. George lifted a pale William and carried him to his bed. Telephoning the hospital, Julia reached Dr. Mason, asking him to pay house call.

"I'm sorry, me ol' mucker, for not really believing you. We've found Joshua Booth's body in the shed. But I never would have thought you would be in danger."

"We're all sorry, Love." Julia stroked his forehead.

Dr. Mason pronounced William not too much the worse for wear. He gave him a large injection of morphine and they all left him to rest. Julia saw everyone out, then returned to the bedroom. By now William was fast asleep. She watched him for a moment, then climbed into bed, hugging him to her. She sobbed quietly, aware of how close she had come to losing him.


The next weeks were exceedingly boring for Murdoch, much as Julia had predicted. He was often cranky and out of sorts. No one seemed to be able to keep him amused for long. He read mounds of books, identified dozens of birds as well as various small mammals, and played endless games of chess with George. When he was finally allowed crutches, his smile was a yard wide. He could leave the house at last.

"Never do I want to be confined like this again."

"I agree, Love. Let's try to keep you healthy and mobile in the future."

They walked slowly under the trees as William beamed at his newfound freedom.