Indeed it was a long night for everyone. William laid awake most of the night thinking about Marcel Charles and what the man has said to him on more that one occasion, pleading his innocence in the whole Brackenreid affair. He remained in bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I've seen that look many times before," Julia looked down at her husband as he lay next to him, however, she was propped up on her right elbow.
Murdoch rolled his head toward his wife, "It has to be Marcel Charles. I need to find a connection to him and Darby O'Farrell," he stated.
"What about whom ever beat up the Inspector?" Julia quickly asked.
"I'm sure we'll find them too. It's all too coincidental," William huffed. "I hope I didn't blow this by believing Mister Charles," he went back to staring at the ceiling wondering if he was conned.
"The Inspector knows you are the right man for the job. He trusts you," Julia smiled.
"That's just it," William again looked at his wife. "I've visited Marcel Charles and he's told me the same story about him not knowing Darby or wanting to hurt the Inspector and how much of a changed man he is. He swore in his bible," Murdoch got slightly agitated. I think I've let the Inspector down with my blindness. I have always hoped that people who are released from prison could reform. Perhaps not all do," he sighed.
"You can only go on with what you've learned," Julia placed her right hand on William's shoulder. "If Marcel is the one behind this whole mess, he will soon show his true self. No one can be that guileful," she assured her husband.
William swallowed, "I hope that is sooner than later for the Inspector's sake. I'm sure questions are soon going to rise as to why he's not been interviewed and formal charges laid," he stated sorrowfully.
Julia plopped back down to her pillow, "I hope we have some positive results with O'Farrell's blood work soon, too. That would certainly help," she stated.
William rolled his head sideways and look at his wife, "Nothing yet?" He hoped there was going to be a positive response.
"The problem is, there's too much!" Julia exclaimed. "It's taking us much longer to sort it out," she looked back at William.
"Can't that count for something?" he questioned.
"I suppose it could on a superficial level. Perhaps as a stave of charges toward the Inspector," she shrugged. "I suppose you would have to ask Inspector Wallis or a judge," she said.
"I'll do just that," William smiled as he tossed the bedding aside felling that at least what Julia and Miss James have come up with so far, is a start in the right direction. "I'm not helping the Inspector by laying here thinking about things," he stated and he walked to the water closet. Julia sighed. She knew this case was truly worrisome to William. He admired the Inspector so.
Across town, Reese and Dobbin approached the Brackenreid residence. They remained in civvies so not to draw unwanted attention to themselves. Constable Henry Higgins stood on the large front veranda and watched the two men approach; his thumbs were hooked over his belt. Clearly they were interested in his presence. "Gentlemen?" he stepped out in front of them as they approached the door.
"Constable. What's going on here?" Reese questioned Higgins.
"Nothing of your concern," Higgins countered.
Dobbin stepped forward, "We're here to see Mrs. Brackenreid. We had an appointment with her," he firmly stated as he towered over Henry.
"Perhaps you did, but she can't see you just now," Higgins gripped his baton a little tighter with this left hand.
"Why not?" Dobbin leaned in a little closer, so much so, Higgins was bending backward slightly.
Luckily, Constable George Crabtree rounded the corner of the house, "What's going on here?" he quickly asked as he strolled toward the men and stepped up on to the veranda, placing himself next to Higgins.
"We have an appointment with Mrs. Brackenreid," Reese replied. "We're with the insurance company," he added.
Crabtree felt an instant dislike for the men. He stalled as he was trying to come up with a reason the men couldn't meet her, "Well, you see, you can't visit right now. In fact you shouldn't even be this close to the front door," he stated.
"Why? What's wrong?" Dobbin enquired, looking at the large decorative door.
George frowned, "Mrs. Brackenreid really doesn't want this to get around," Crabtree leaned forward. "But it seems as if the boys have come down with the German measles," he confided in them. "And they're highly contagious."
"Contagious? What are they?" Reese had to ask.
"George?" Henry looked wide-eyed at is colleague.
"Shut up Henry. You've been immunized. Don't you remember?" George nudged Henry hard. Suddenly it dawned on Higgins, "Oh, right. How could I forget," he rubbed his upper right arm for further effect.
"They are sore little red dots all over your body. And they itch like mad. Sometimes your glands swell, and in worse cases your brain can swell too. That must be terrible," George rambled, motioning with his hands as his if his head was getting bigger. "You might even loose your hearing and have heart issues, if you're one of the unlucky ones," he added.
Dobbin and Reese backed away.
"I suggest you might want to set up another meeting with Mrs. Brackenreid in a few weeks. By then the virus will have run it's course," George smiled as he followed the men down the steps and to the side walk.
"Yeah, we'll be sure to do that," Reese stated before they hustled away.
Henry followed behind George and waited until the two men were well out of sight, "Is all that true, George?"
"In extreme cases, yes. You could benefit from doing more research, Henry," Crabtree thrust his right index finger the air. "I do that when I'm working on my novels," he smiled.
"Do the Brackenreid's really have the German measles?" Higgins then asked.
George cocked his head to his colleague, "Did you really get immunized?" he questioned.
"No," Henry shook his head, although he remained holding his upper arm.
"Exactly. Now get back up there on the veranda and do your job," George stated and went back to patrolling around the Brackenreid's home. There was still something bothering him about the two men, but he couldn't put his finger on what the just might be. They certainly didn't look like the average insurance agent.
Reese and Dobbin quickly strolled down the street, "Now what do we do?" Reese stopped Dobbin by the forearm.
Dobbin thought for a moment, "We pay Brackenreid another visit to see if his kids have those German measles or not. And if they don't we'll go back to the house for his old lady," the constable sneered. "Remember, Charles what's to make a statement," he stated.
"Right. I'll meet you back at the station once I change into my uniform," Reese said as he dashed off. Dobbin's eyes narrowed as he looked back over his shoulder. He didn't like being turned away from a job he was sent to do by his former boss. He drew a deep breath through his nostrils and turned abruptly turned toward his flat, so that he too could put on his uniform.
