The way to the morgue seemed like forever that day. Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch had done in silence, pressed against each other, do not support moving away for a second, even if only to let the hand off. Julia's fingers had closed forcefully those of William when they crossed the wooden door. He immediately responded at this gesture by tightening too, and then he was directed not even a center of the room. Here was the table on which Dr. Ogden had often looked in the past. There was a body, a child's body, covered with a white cloth so only the "Y" of the scalpel cut stood out in a blood red. Of blond curls escaped from the sheet and cascaded from the table. Before arriving in front of it, Julia froze, taking by an intense nausea. William's hand then slipped on her hip and pulled against him to kiss in her hair as she closed her eyes.
-I am here, he murmured, I am here.
She did not have time to answer that steps approached timidly. Julia opened her eyes again and she met the gaze of Dr. Grace.
-I am sorry to inflict this, she said timidly, but we have to identified her.
-We know, William replied by leaving his wife.
However, she gave him a look and she just nodded. They then made the final meters that separated the girl's lifeless body and once again they stood in silence, one next to the other, holding hands. Emily stood on the other side of the table and looked at them for a few seconds.
-I beg you, Doctor, William whispered, get it over with.
-I have to warn you, replied Emily, that child was brutally murdered ... and ... and her face ... damaged. We can not determine with certainty that it is Kathleen or not. And the violence of the act may ... may upset you.
-I will try to do the best to see if it is her, Julia whispered with tears.
The young woman nodded and gently she removed the cloth from the face of the child. She had not exaggerated as to whether the state of the body. The killer or killers had to go after the poor child, because even for the couple, it was almost impossible to know if it was their daughter or not.
Still in silence, Julia broke of William and she put her hand to the icy body. She looked in detail her face, she let her fingers stroking her hair and then she looked up at her friend.
-Could you lie her on her side?
Emily was executed before Julia decline and leaves her fingers on the shoulder blade of the little girl. She did not have to say a word that William joined her and looked forward to the same place.
-It is not there, murmured the young man.
-It is not, repeated Julia plunging her eyes into his.
They stood up then and in the same movement, they hug.
-This is not her, Julia whispered into the hollow of the ear of William with relief, it is not Kathleen.
William did not answer and tightened his grip around her. Emily watched them, a little lost down again before the body of the girl. She put the sheet over her face when William turned to her.
-Kathleen has a scar on the left shoulder blade, an "y" and the child does not, it is not our daughter Doctor Grace.
She smiled them tenderly as William replied before feeling Julia's fingers closed firmly on his arm. He turned to her and it was quite enough to understand that she was taking a new dizzy. He immediately put his arms around her waist and pulled her against him again.
-We will go to rest dear, he whispered into her hair, you are exhausted and you need a real bed. Like me.
-Kathleen is somewhere out William, I can go if I did not know her safe.
-And if you do not take care of yourself, you risk getting sick. When our daughter comes home, she will need you, you owe it to yourself to be fit.
-I do not sleep without you Detective.
-I was not going to leave you alone, Doctor, William immediately replied with a smile in the neck of the young woman.
He pressed a chaste kiss and the next moment they parted briefly commending Dr. Grace before going to the police station to report their departure.
They had made the journey in silence again, peering around the window, hoping that by sheer chance and miracles they would see the silhouette of the girl. Well then, they had come home, and when the door closed behind them, the heavy silence of the house nailed them there. It's been months that the remains had not been as quiet and sleepy, too cold. They do not bother to go into the living room to turn on the fireplace, they headed for the stairs down the hall to get into their room. But Julia could not help looking out the open door. She saw the big tree touch the ceiling; the few gifts at his foot, she had the fireplace decorated with care with the help of Kathleen. She stood there, frozen in place to look at this empty room that should have been filled with laughter and joy at this time.
-Come Julia, murmured William slipping his hand behind her back.
She did not answer and she followed him obediently, not noticing that he too had cast a sad look in that room thinking about what could be what shall this day with those he loved.
They had spent the day in bed, closely entwined, covered in thick blankets to not feel the cold. They had slept for hours before finally William did awakens from a terrible nightmare where Julia and Kathleen died in agony. Instinctively, he closed his grip on the sleeping woman against his chest. Julia moved in her sleep and she stifled a low growl, which made him smile tenderly. He could not help then let his fingers behind her back for a long and tender caress without even taking his eyes off her. His other hand took the road to her disheveled hair he slid his fingers a long time before sighing deeply. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes.
-I would like to make you happy Julia, he whispered, that all these tests are no longer yours. I would like to live in peace with the woman of my life, with our daughter. I wish I could make you a child, a brother or sister for Kathleen and together that us four are happy. Forgive me my love, forgive me for having failed. I love you, if you knew how much.
He shoved his face into the neck of the young woman to kiss her, then, very gently so as not to wake her, he slipped out of her grasp to leave the bed. He dressed quickly because the heat of their bodies entwined two had disappeared. He jumped in the bathroom, and after one last kiss deposited on the front of his wife, he left the house to go to the police station and resume his research.
to be continued ...