AN: so I lied. I haven't been able to update soon, but here is a new chapter. Oh, I changed the intro, do u think it's too dramatic?

Julia, puffy-eyed and cold, stood with Betty at the station, playing with her engagement ring and biting her lip.

"He'll be alright, won't he?" She asked, looking at Betty with pleading eyes,

"I am sure he will be," her friend replied, eyes worried at her false assurance.

"I don't know what to say or think," Julia continued, "Darcy is furious at me for even associating with William. He is far too noble to leave me, but I worry that I am not noble enough to stay."

"Think of the child," Betty advised, "He or she will need a good family to grow up in. If Darcy is not the type that would make a good father then you must make that decision."

"Yes, but I cannot be a single mother. I have to work, to make money. I could not devote the time it would take to raise a child without Darcy. If it is a son, who will teach him to hunt and fish and tie knots?"

"Does your father not fish or hunt?" Betty asked.

"Yes, but that does not matter. I apologize," Julia changed the topic, "I gripe for myself and do not think what I can do to help find Detective Murdoch."

"Quite," George said, coming to stand beside the women, only have been privy to the last part of Julia's speech. "Betty dear, could you go home and fetch some more coffee?"

"Of course," Betty replied, kissing her beau affectionately on the cheek, "I won't be long."

Julia looked into the young man's face and was not fooled. There was a reason he dismissed Betty.

"What is it?"

"A trunk came not an hour ago."

Julia clutched her stomach and felt like retching.

"You don't think….?" But George's expression said that he did think.

"We have not opened it yet, doctor. We wanted to wait for you." George gestured for her to follow him, and they moved into Brakenried's office where a large trunk stood malevolently.

"Open it then, Brakenried ordered, coming into the room and closing the door.

"Oh God," George whispered, lifting the lid.

AN: okay, so I know it was disgracefully short, but what's in the trunk? Murdoch? A spleen? Or nothing? More torture for our hero? R&R if you dare! (but seriously, what's in the box?)