Chapter 10: The whole story .
The young woman stood in the center of the room in silence, glancing around her frightened . William met her gaze that she immediately fled to secure the ground, ill-at-ease.
-Miss Leroy, timidly threw William , sit down please.
- I ... I should not , do not waste your time with me , they found something wrong with Rebecca and she might be in danger.
- I emphasize , however, the young man with tenderness but the lump in my throat thinking that Julia would be in danger , come, he added, gently taking her arm to carry the chair in front of his desk.
- Detective, you have to help her .
- I will, but for that I need to speak with you before anything else.
She sat down , not yet wishing to watch the Detective who was still standing beside her .
- Would you like some tea ?
- Water, please.
He smiled at her and she was just as much , relaxing a bit because of his kindness to her. Then they went away , poured her a glass of water; she drank it and handed him calmly. William took his place behind the desk and looked her for a long time in silence before speaking .
- We have tried to find you for days Miss Leroy .
- I know, admit her , and now you 're expecting me to tell you all, is not it? She said with a twinkle in her eyes.
- All ?
-You know ... for my family, 'she said, feeling the tears well up gently .
- Indeed, what has happened?
She took a deep breath before looking and speak.
- I came from Montreal , and I needed money. My family did not miss but it was unthinkable to me to ask them , because we left angry about trifles . My pride , however, was stronger than anything . Coming here , I worked as a seamstress for a while but life is expensive Detective , I could not live decently. One day a friend I had made me at the factory and who spoke to me had left a job where I can earn more, I was rather pretty and she said I will not have any trouble getting into the troops. The only thing we wondered was not trying to see my parents and have no boyfriend. I agreed. I cut ties with all my knowledge for about a year . Only , she paused and looked at her hands a few moments before resuming, my parents arrived in Toronto with my sister and my brothers.
- To find you ?
- They had to love me more than I would have thought . When I left the house they confessed to me that I was no longer part of this family . I did not think they would come here to find me. I met one day my sister , Louise, who had learned how God knows where I lived. We were close enough as a child , I could not hide her my situation and over the week , we reviewed. It does not, however, spoke to our parents. And there was that day in December , when we exchanged gifts before Christmas . I noticed that something was bothering her , but I did not know what it could be. She told me she was pregnant and that the child's father did not want them.
- What did you do ? William continued .
- What I had to do for my sister , the young woman replied , I had help , I had enough money through my work at the club. I signed a contract with a man, a banker, He supported my needs and I stood at his disposal night and day, when he saw fit , sometimes even leaving with him on a trip without his wife 's knowledge. I begged Louise to tell our parents that she was pregnant, because if they had enough love to come to me in Toronto, they forgive her this mistake. I would have given her money and she could raise her child .
- Did you parents know what you did?
-Oh God no, sighed Mary , they will been mortified . Louise only knew my secret , as I was the only one to know hers.
The woman paused and drank again , resuming her spirits before resuming her short story as attentive and compassionate gaze of the Detective.
- Eloise was born and Louise did not want to give up. She was afraid of my father . So I offered to take care of her daughter , however ensuring that my sister sees occasionally . I thought everything would be fine , that it would only be temporary . It worked a few times, but noboby dual Sam Karell, she said with a sigh.
-He learned that you have not fulfilled your part of the contract , said William calmly.
-Everything is always know in this environment. I wanted to stop everything, I no longer saw the man who paid for me on rare occasions . I was sighted , I put enough money aside for all stop and go, start a new life with a real job . I 've told them that I intended to leave the club , and it was the biggest mistake of my life.
Mary was another long pause , not wanting to make eye contact with the Detective still face her . She felt the tears slide down her cheeks and ran aground on her lips. Then William rose. He took his handkerchief and handed him shyly smiling at her. Mary grabbed it slowly , not knowing if it was good, but another soft smile from the young man urged her not to hesitate . She took it and gently wiped her tears as William sat against his desk. He met her eyes and spoke again softly.
-Miss Leroy , I need to know what happened next .
- Sam ... Sam has followed my sister, sobbed Mary , and found my family . They gave me an appointment at Cherry Beach, making me believe that the message came from my mother. I had to bring Eloise with me so that they could meet . I should have suspected that something was wrong, I should have guessed, instead , I headed eyes closed in a trap. They were all there , my parents, my brothers and my sister on their knees , hands tied behind their back . I begged Sam to let them go , but he did not listen. He gave me five minutes with them , watching me closely . I embraced my mother for the last time , I told my father that I loved him and I was sorry for that. They have me not even want to , they ...
Mary left the sentence suspended some time , time to regain her senses and calm her tears , then she took a deep breath and spoke again.
-One of the men of San took Eloise behind a tree, a little further . Sam meanwhile made me leave my family , and it kept me a few feet away while ... his men executed in front of me . They have killed and then ... they withdrew their heart, so that I never forget ... and Sam and whispered me that now I did not have them and nobody else .
William swallowed hard , he felt all the pain of the young woman who was crying in front of him . She had lived, he did not wish the worst of enemies. He did not know if he could live it all and stay with this man every day , knowing what he had done.
The Detective Murdoch had to admit that he had never seen a woman so young and brave , which inspired the greatest respect.
Thus, won by sadness and anger, he approached Mary who could not stop her tears . He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her a little. He never had this attitude with victims, it was the first time he gave a comforting hug a stranger. But he did not know what to do more , he felt so helpless. The young woman left to do, without a fight . She clung to him tightly and continued to cry against his chest , as quietly as she could, without wanting to drop a second.
- It's okay Miss Leroy, simply muttered William , calm down you're safe now .
The young woman did not answer and took a few minutes to calm down and to separate from the tender embrace by the Detective. Then, a little ashamed of having been so fragile and so familiar , she no longer wanted to meet his gaze . They gave two small knocks on the door and seeing Dr. Grace on the other side , William motioned her to enter. She smiled shyly approached Mary who did the same .
- Dr Grace will take care of you, Mary , William launched , however I would still know one thing , he continued in a more serious tone , what happened tonight?
- I was at the club for a little storage when I heard Sam and one of his henchmen discuss . Rebecca was the subject of their conversation, they were convinced that it was she who gave to the police. They had traced her and apparently it was not what she claimed to be. Sam wanted to find to punish her . He saw that I had heard and he ordered me to tell them where she was staying . I did not then , he took in me. Rebecca told me what hotel it was , I gave them another address to give me time to prevent her. But they found us. They took her Detective.
- Do you have any idea about where Sam can be taken her? William worried .
-No, I 'm sorry , I do not know.
William pursed his lips and simply nodded to thanks, then he left the room at a run to keep it informed his superior that he had learned .
Emily then occupied by Mary , which sank obediently do for several minutes .
Then , William placed it under the care of George and he left the building , determined to find the Doctor Ogden faster , even if he had not a clue where she could be at this time. Nobody wanted to stop him, they all knew that when it touched the former medical coroner from the station numeber four, the Detective Murdoch was not able to resonate objectively . Thus they continued their investigations on their side and another visit to the club to try to find clues .
Detective Murdoch went to the hotel where Julia lived . He searched the room in detail , ensuring yet not stick his nose in what he considered too intimate . When he fell on her engagement ring in a brown envelope , he knew he had to find her as soon as possible . There was nothing more to find in this room. He then took one last look and left the hotel by the way Julia had done many minutes before. He auscultate the ground, noticing the traces of a cab in the mud of the road. It was suddenly burdened , and footprints were much deeper than are any traces made by a vehicle. They must have been more than two to enter.
He followed this track for a long time through the streets of the city. The carriage was emptied at a crossroads, a little off the usual way, the lake that he could hear the low sound of the water a little further. He followed the footprints , three men including two smaller circled from boots woman. Two other footprints walking away in the opposite direction , and the coach went on his way to the south.
Without any hesitation, William followed the footprints among whom were the woman . He knew it was the right way, he could feel it in every pore of his skin he approached her and danger. He stepped cautiously into the night became ink when the moon pierced from time to time . There was no light behind the warehouses that skirted . A metal door was open and invited him to descend into the basement of the city. He hesitated for a second and remembered that this reaction had cost him much in the past. He took a deep breath and blew into the tunnel without light, pressing the damp wall to progress slowly in fear . Some thin lines of light seemed to come from outside , above him. The clouds were rising , the moon had decided to accompany him. It can be considered that this was a good omen and he went on his way .
He led to an intersection and listened. There was a small unusual noise , such as a scratch . He went to his origin . A staircase led him into a small room used to supply water to the city when he was missing. The noise grew louder . He descended the stairs , seeing only his feet in front of him through the opening that was above him but blocked by a thick grid. He came into the room and froze for a moment. A chair was there and she , a woman, head down to the ground , motionless.
William quickened his pace and walked . It took him only seconds to recognize the blond curls disheveled yet . He approached the hand of the young woman who did not seem to notice his presence, then , slowly, he slid under her chin to look .
-Julia , William launched .
She moved a little and opened her eyes to meet his gaze .
-William , she threw in a sigh of relief , leave, leave immediately , it is a trap .
- Certainly not without you, replied the Detective.
He leaned over her and she closed her eyes , burying her face on his chest the time it took him to detach . Once done, he gave her his full attention once again . He saw the bruise that was on her face, he passed his hand gently , as to want to heal by this simple gesture .
Julia gave a sigh of pain , yet she put her hand on William and closed her eyes again , enjoying the tender caress he addressed her.
- You have to leave, she said, opening her eyes , I can not follow you.
He seemed not to understand and Julia withdrew his hand from the Detective to lift her sleeve. He froze with fear seeing the many pits that were on her forearm .
-He drugged me , I can not stand William and they will come back very quickly. Save yourself please .
- I will never leave this place without you Julia .
Before she had time to reply , he leaned forward once again and she slipped an arm in the crook of her knees. She knew immediately what he wanted to do. She closed her arms around his neck and felt carried away by the force of William . She snuggled against his chest , too weak to do anything at all other than just cling to him firmly.
He carried her to the exit , slowly climbed the stairs when he saw a dark figure before him. The man was wearing a light and he smiled a bad air.
- Well, well , well, it looks like the Detective Murdoch is finally among us, Sam threw laughing , well , that's good. She was expecting you . Now that you are there and together as it should , I will let you die . It will be romantic, you will see , he added , giving him a wink.
William had no time to move , too handicapped by the woman he was still holding and the confined area where he was. Sam stepped back and closed the door behind him, then he started laughing softly. William glanced at Julia, who fought with all her strength not to lose consciousness. He met her gaze and descended the steps again. He gently placed her on the ground and refit the other way to try to open the gate behind which was the thick armored door. But nothing worked . It was like being in prison, a dark and inhospitable prison.
-William , Julia threw trying to get up.
She stumbled and he caught just before she falls .
- I'm sorry , she said shyly.
- It's not your fault , come on.
He drew gently below the grid when going low moonlight and she sat against a stone pillar , looking up at the stars .
William meanwhile tried to find a way out of this place, but nothing seemed to help . When suddenly a noise startled him and he knew that the worst was about to happen. The sound of water, pressurized water. Had a valve was opened and a torrent suddenly entered the room. In one leap he joined Julia and helped her up . He calculated quickly and well, at this rate the room would be filled in an hour or less. He exchanged a worried look with Julia . He could do anything , he knew , as she knew it. They were lost .
It had spent long minutes where Julia had begged William to calm down and that he had not listened . Now he had agreed to stay with her while the water was already at their stomach. It was freezing cold and it prevented Julia from dropping with fatigue. When he saw that she indulged , William spoke to her to keep awake. But it was a few minutes she did not speak , nor did he . He gave her a sympathetic look and noticed that she was shivering . Then he took off his jacket and approached her .
- You seem to be cold , he murmured shyly.
-I am , Julia admitted .
- Look, he said, approaching a little more .
He spent his jacket over her shoulders and gave her a tender smile .
- Feeling better ?
-Yes, Julia whispered always close to him, thank you .
He nodded and walked away a little while Julia spoke softly.
-William , I need you to speak to me , she confessed , I'm exhausted and the drug appears to wreak havoc.
- What do you want to talk ?
- I do not know , anything, Julia sighed , closing her eyes again , speak me of something please . Tell me ... how did you find me?
- Thanks to Mary and my sixth sense.
- I did not know you owned one, she laughed softly , though I must admit that I have always suspected of having a secret to make you a good detective.
- I have a secret , 'said William .
- What is it ? Julia was interested .
- There is a person in my life ... that makes me always want to give the best of myself.
-The Inspector Brakenreid is not easy every day, she said , laughing again .
- The inspector has nothing to do with it Julia , William whispered by anchoring his gaze deep into hers, another person has a thousand times more than all the rest and that is that she is trying to get better each day to ... be worthy of her.
She then realized what he seemed to make her understand without being able to tell her. She held his gaze for a few moments , and finally leave with regret and sigh deeply.
-Mary has told you what happened?
- She told me everything , 'said the Detective who had perfectly understood that his half confession made her ill - at -ease .
- So tell me .
-Julia , this may not be the right time to talk about this.
- I need to stay awake and there is only you who can help me.
William nodded and began his story , somewhat against heart while the water rose again and again, ever higher, ever more to the cold chill to the bones.
When he had finished questioning him tell the young woman , they were silent again . Their shoulders were already submerged and Julia kept less often eyes open.
-Julia, murmured William , speak to me , you have to stay awake.
-I do not know what to tell you , I ... I 'm so cold , the young woman muttered .
He then made a few meters that separated her and he took her in his arms as she snuggled immediately.
- I can hardly do more, I 'm sorry, William whispered tightening his grip .
- This is perfect , everything is perfect.
She shoved her face in his neck and spoke again very softly .
-Darcy and I are seperate, she simply said under his breath.
William stiffened within a second at this sudden and unexpected announcement .
- I'm sorry to hear that, he replied timidly without releasing his grip or even without looking at the young woman pressed against him.
- It does not matter now , we did not have the same vision of the future together. It is much better as well . I was just hoping to have more time with the man who shared my dreams for the future .
William did not answer and walked away a little so that he could meet her gaze . She smiled at him and he did the same. One of his hands traveled in her hair and timidly stroked her cheek , careful not to touch the wound. They stood there , embracing, quiet and yet they fully understand both what happened . The thumb of William affectionately drew the lips of young woman twitched into an even bigger smile . He brought her lips to his and gently grabs . Julia let him. He noticed that she clung to him a little more , which led him to renew the kiss again and again until no longer feel the cold so penetrating . There was nothing but the taste of her lips and gentle kisses that interested . They forgot where they were , there was this embrace that mattered. There was that thrill and this warmth in their heart that mattered. The water came up to their chins and they exchanged a glance , leaving the moon caress their skin. They rested their foreheads against each other and closed their eyes at the same time .
- I wish I could make you happy Julia , William muttered ruefully.
- You did it , she said smiling, thank you William . Thank you for always believing in me , almost, she added, chuckling , thank you for being my friend and thank you for ...
She did not finish her sentence because he had put his finger on her lips. He gave the most tender look he had never sent her.
- It looks a little too farewell , he whispered .
She remained silent , letting slip a tear from her cheek and William spoke again.
-Julia , I must make a confession .
- I listen to you ? I think the time is right to do so, she said, trying to make a bit of humor.
- I love you, 'he whispered .
She did not have time to answer , too surprised by this revelation when he kissed one last time. Water gained throughout the room , totally engulfing . But yet they will not let loose . They had their hands tied , hung after this gate was not open , their faces were against each other and their bodies wrapped tightly. They were together in peace .
To be Continued...