William was again working a double shift tonight. Sixteen hours spent at work was more normal for him these days than an exception. He knew some of the constables were taking advantage of him, but really he did not mind. He would rather be working anyway. At home, all he ever did was brood. He had months of scientific journals lying unread in his small room. He had not attended a scientific talk in months. Nothing interested him anymore. Nothing other than….. those small glimpses of Julia he had become addicted to. That night at hockey when she had tended to him had been his undoing.
Station House One's area of responsibility included all the posh houses of the Toronto elite. When William had first arrived at Station House One, he had made sure he never had to walk the beat that included Julia's street. He choose the routes none of the other constables wanted; the poorer areas. Then one cold December night when he was supposed to have desk duty, one constable had asked him to trade. William agreed. He preferred walking outside in the dark to desk duty anyway. It suited his mood better. That night had been the first time he had walked in front of her house.
Since then, he traded shifts, desk duty, anything to get himself on her street. Sometimes, he would see shadows inside; not really knowing if it was her. Often, he saw her being dropped to an empty dark home late in the evening. Later in the night, he would see Darcy come home alone. Maybe William was more like his father than he realized. He knew that seeing Julia was bad for him, but he could not stop himself. Maybe addiction was hereditary.
Lost in his thoughts, he had not noticed the carriage stopping in front of Julia and Darcy's house. The driver went to the door and moments later Darcy and Julia came out. They were both dressed very elegantly and William could not stop his jealousy when he saw Julia take Darcy's arm. He stood watching the receding carriage for a long time before resuming his route.
He walked lost in his thoughts for a very long time until he heard a woman's cry. He turned around to see a maid running after him: "Please officer, come. I think he's dead."
William quickly followed her to a very elegant house. The maid led him upstairs to a washroom. There laid an older man in his bathtub obviously dead. William observed the scene and immediately noticed the empty cognac bottle. He looked at the maid and asked: "Is your employer a heavy drinker?"
"No sir, he is not. As a matter of fact, I have never seen him take liquor to his bath before."
William nodded and continued looking at the scene taking mental notes. Finally he turned around the maid: "Does Mr?
"Theodore Bradley" answered the maid. "The minister in Prime Minister Laurier's government?" asked William.
"Yes." answered the maid: "A well respected man. A good man. I have never had such a good employer. Oh his poor daughter. She will be so heartbroken. They are so close."
William nodded and finally said: "Do you know where she would be tonight?
"At the ballet with her husband"
William asked permission to use the phone and contacted the station house asking for the detective and another constable to come over. It took well over an hour before Detective Jones arrived. William let him study the scene as he gave him his report. William finished by saying: "Shall I fetch the coroner Sir?"
Jones looked at him with a scowl on his face: "A coroner? We don't need a coroner here tonight Murdoch. This is an accidental death."
William quickly answered: "But Sir, not only did the maid hear nothing, she also maintains that the man rarely drank."
Jones looked up: "Trying to do my job again Murdoch. Why don't you stick to constable duties? The daughter is at the ballet. Fetch her."
William quietly put his helmet, commandeered a police carriage and went on his way to get the daughter. He entered the building and went to a young attendant.
"Excuse me, but do you know if a Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Smythe are here tonight?"
"Yes they are Sir." answered the attendant.
William immediately asked the attendant to fetch them. Just as the young man was about to enter the concert hall, William changed his mind, called him back and asked: "Do you know if Mr. and Mrs Darcy Garland are also here tonight?"
The attendant answered in the affirmative. William hesitated for a few seconds and finally made a decision that he knew would get him in trouble again with his Inspector.
"Could you please fetch Mrs Garland. Tell her a murder has been committed and she's needed. I will send another constable shortly to bring Mr. and Mrs Smythe."
William waited patiently for the attendant and Julia to return. She quickly walked by him, said something about getting her cloak. William realized that she had not noticed it was him.
"Of course Doctor." William responded. He saw her stop, look at him for a few seconds before busying herself with her cloak. She was having difficulties putting it on; it kept slipping off her shoulder. William helped her and accidentally touched her bare shoulder.
For the longest time, he thought seeing her was all he needed. Now, he knew he was wrong, seeing her tugged at his heart. Touching her tore it apart. It hurt, but for the first time in a very, very long time, he felt alive.