'This One Goes To Ten'
Murdoch went to open the outer door of the elevator. It did not move. He tugged a little harder, but still it did not open. Looking up, he was surprised to see that the dial indicated it was positioned on the ground floor. Without comment, Murdoch pushed the button to recall it to the tenth. Meanwhile, Julia silently made her way towards him.
The arrival of the elevator seemed to take an interminable time. Neither of them spoke. During their examination of the crime scene they had worked in contented quiet, each completing the task they were there for. Now that was over, it was as if they we uncertain what to say to one another.
Both were relieved when, at last, the elevator arrived. Closing both doors behind them, it felt as if they were totally cocooned from the outside world.
On their journey up, they had discussed the case but neither of them felt like reviewing what they had found while they made their descent towards the ground floor.
As they passed the eighth floor, the lights inside the elevator flickered. For a few seconds, it seemed as if the electricity had once again failed to supply the building with its life blood. Momentarily they ground to a halt. William and Julia stared at each other in disbelief. However, before either party could openly express their concerns, it jolted and began to descend once again. Both laughed, alleviated from the fear that they were to plunge to their deaths at any moment. Julia moved towards the back of the confined space and caught sight of her reflection in a mirror that covered the back wall. Immediately, she started to re-do her hair, attempting to restore her copious curls to the clip that had once held them in place.
"What a complete mess I look," she said through teeth that clenched the clip. Murdoch was about to dispel her concerns when the lift jolted again. This time it stopped with such a jerking movement they stumbled a little. Although the lights did not go out completely, they dimmed to an all time low. Regaining their balance, they both glared up at the dial; it indicated they were mid way between the sixth and fifth floors.
"Come on Mr Tesla; don't fail us now!" Julia muttered, more to herself than her travelling companion. Murdoch stifled a smile. Julia hastily pushed the clip back into her hair, and looked sceptically at Murdoch.
They both held their breaths half expecting the elevator to continue its steady move downwards, as it had done only moments before. However, this time it did not move.
After nearly a minute of stillness, the realisation set in that they were not going anywhere. Murdoch called out. His voice reverberated around the small space they inhabited. William and Julia stood frozen, listening intently for the slightest sign of a response. Nothing. He continued his mission to make himself heard.
Whilst banging on the inner elevator door, Murdoch yelled at the top of his booming voice more than five times. To those trapped inside it was as loud as a cannon firing, for those elsewhere in the building he may as well have been shouting from the moon. As he prepared to call out again, Julia pressed her hand to his arm. It was a clear indication that she wanted him to stop. He appeared somewhat perturbed by her silent demand but she simply sighed heavily, grinned and shook her head.
"Detective, didn't you say that Constable Crabtree was in the dining room with all the guests and staff? It's not very likely they'll hear you from there, not judging by the considerable ruckus that was going on before we left. And besides, I'd quite like my ear drums to be intact when we leave here."
She suddenly became conscious that her hand was still on his arm and rapidly removed it. The flush that grew over her previously pale complexion did not go unnoticed my Murdoch.
Shifting backwards towards the rear of the elevator, she continued, "I am sure that the electricity will be back on again soon. Pendrick wouldn't let his prize building be thrown into darkness for too long." And as if confident of her claims, she promptly gathered up her skirt and made herself as comfortable as possible on the floor. "It's just a matter of waiting it out. Brackenreid will want to know what you've discovered too; just to make sure Sally Pendrick wasn't found hiding away in any cupboards! I'm sure he'll find someone sober enough to come looking for you before too long."
Reassured by Julia's calm and rational demeanour, he joined her on the elevator floor. The mention of Brackenreid made him more than a little uncomfortable though and, although he did not say anything, Julia knew instinctively that something was wrong.
As he shuffled into a relatively comfortable sitting position, Julia gave a side-ward glance. She was about to enquire what was worrying him, but she suppressed her concerns and curiosity.
William looked at his pocket watch. They had been on the tenth floor longer than he had imagined.
"It's nearly half past nine," he informed her. "Darcy will be worried." She did not reply. She picked up her gloves and placed them neatly on her lap and began to pluck at the seam. Taking her silence as an indication that she had no desire to pursue the subject any more than he really did, they lapsed into silence.
Moments passed and their eyes gradually adjusted to the dim, sepia light on offer. The enclosed environment they occupied took on a surreal feeling. Every now and again, there was the sound of wood creaking. The muted glow created a soporific atmosphere but cast grotesque shadows across the walls.
Both were immersed in their own thoughts; what had taken place in the past, what had occurred that day and the sights they had just witnessed.
Murdoch realised he would be in even worse bother over his most recent misdemeanour once Brackenreid found out, if it was possible to be in any worse trouble. Murdoch had been collecting his belongings when the call from the Pendrick building came in. He had explained about the Garland wedding reception and passed on the location where they would most likely find a constable at short notice. He knew he should have followed Brackenreid's orders, but he had not been able to resist seeing the inside of the Pendrick building one last time.
Things had occurred so quickly of late. He knew how foolhardy he had been to contemplate attending this crime scene, let alone following through on his impulses. Impulsive behaviour was something he was unfamiliar with. He had always considered himself a rational, detached man. However, his actions over the last forty eight hours had proven his character to be quite the contrary. If only he had acted more spontaneously in the past; so many things would have been different.
Glancing up he became aware of Julia's close proximity.
Eager to create a new topic of conversation and offer his mind some diversion from his melancholic thoughts, he looked over.
"Pendrick will be livid when he hears what's gone on here; the grandest building in Toronto. Did you know it is made of solid steel and concrete, all eleven stories of it?" He asked.
She glanced up at him and beamed.
"I know William," she replied amicably. "The last time we were here you told me all about it. It seems to me as if Pendrick has about as much luck in his choice of architecture as he does wives!"
He smiled briefly, appreciating how in control she was of the whole situation. He thought about how Enid Jones would be panicking, almost to the point of hysteria, if confronted by similar events. She would be the exact opposite of Julia, who was sat down on an uncomfortable hard floor, passively passing the time away without complaint.
His mind once again drifted away and became embroiled in thoughts of when they were last there, the trouble caused them by the same elevator and the stolen Rembrandt. He steadily became conscious that Julia was asking him a question, but he only caught her final words.
" …the note?" She enquired.
"Sorry, what was that?" He asked, uncertain which note she was referring to.
"The note, the one you found in the room. What did it say?" She asked again.
Still seemingly in his own world, he replied,
"I can't live without you."