William made his way out of Station House 4 and was heading to the Morgue. But before he had even made it out of his office, Henry had stopped him. 'Sir, I don't know if you have heard anything from Constable Crabtree today have you..?' He said a little sheepishly. William pondered for a second, it was strange, but he hadn't even thought of George today, or in fact seen him. 'No Constable Higgins I haven't, has he not attended today?' Higgins looked a little worried, 'No Sir, and he didn't attend our weekly game of skittles last night, no-one has seen or heard from him. He replied. William frowned. It was definitely not like George to miss a shift at work, especially without making someone aware. He thanked Higgins for making him aware of Georges absence and continued his journey to the morgue.

The snow was thick outside, and his shoes immediately sank into the 3 inches that had already settled on the floor. He pulled up the collar of his coat and looked down from the road to his feet as he walked as not to be blinded by the still falling snow. He reached the doors in a matter of minutes, and a small leap of happiness jumped in his chest as he swung open the large morgue door to go inside. He pulled off his had and gently shook the snow from it, and headed to where he knew Julia would be sat. But when he rounded the corner the small jump of joy that had been steadily waiting to swell at the sign of her was suddenly extinguished as a small, rather wrinkly man turned to face him away from the desk she normally sat at. 'Can I help you..?' he said rather abruptly. William was a little stunned but then blurted out a rather short, 'Where is Dr. Ogden?' the small man frowned. 'Are you Detective Murdoch? I'm in place of Dr. Ogden today. She gave me a letter asked me to give it to you.' and with that he reached inside his coat pocked and thrust a small hand signed envelope at him. 'obviously thought I was a bloody postal service...' the small man muttered under his breath, and then shuffled off into the main room to finish his work. William frowned at his remark, but then his attention was brought back to the letter in his hand. He carefully unsealed the wax on the back and read in Julia's elegant hand;

Dearest William,

I apologise for not being able to contact you earlier than this. Please don't worry about me, but I can not explain to you where I am. But it was important that I left immediately. Ruby is here with me. I do not know when I will be returning home, please forgive my vagueness.

All My Love,

Julia.

P.s - Dr. Wainwright, my replacement for the time being has all the paperwork you will need for the case you are working on. Please ask him for the reports.

William looked up from the letter and the sinking feeling that had began to grow like a lead balloon in his chest, was starting to make him feel nauseous. Julia had disappeared somewhere and Ruby was with her. William immediately felt jealous. What was Julia doing that she could not confide in him, but could with a sister she barely saw. He chided himself quickly for his thoughts. That was unnecessary. Whatever Julia was doing, if important, she would tell him herself, in time. He looked at the letter again and rubbed his thumb gently over where her hand had elegantly scribed her name. His heart tugged, but he folded up the letter and headed over to the older man,he presumed was aforementioned Dr. Wainwright. 'Julia said she had left some reports for me, that are for the Burgess Stabbing, might I have them please? ' he said politely. 'In the draw!' the old man half barked whilst nodding his head in the direction of the desk he was just sat at. William quickly removed the reports and made his way to the door to leave.

'And tell your goofy Constable, that he is not welcome in here-without permission! 'specially taking medical supplies!' the wrinkly pathologist had come up the stairs and was shouting at William just as he left. William turned to face him, 'Goofy constable..?' he asked sternly. 'Yeah, the little one, Crabby or whatever he's bloody called.' and with that he gave William a stern look and turned ad left. William was still frowning as he walked out of the morgue. The snow was still falling as it stung as it his his face. He turned his face away and walked back to the Station House, mind still puzzling over what he had recently learned.

Arriving back at the Station House, the warmth inside immediately made his fingers numb and his nose red. He strode over to his office and closed the door behind him. Taking off his hat, coat, scarf and gloves and sat behind his desk, pulling the telephone towards him. He picked up the receiver and quickly rang through to the switch board and asked to be transferred to George's boarding house. His house keeper Mrs. Bates quickly answered. 'Hello, Eldermere Boarding House, how may I help..?' she said in an overly cheery voice. 'Hello, my name is Detective Murdoch of the Toronto Constabulary, may I speak to constable George Crabtree please?' he asked in his rehearsed professional tone. 'Ah, George...Yes, well he isn't here at the moment, he left yesterday afternoon, and said he wasn't sure when he would return.' William frowned. 'I don't suppose you have any idea where he has gone do you..?' he asked a little frustrated. 'I'm terribly sorry, Detective Murdoch, but no I don't.' she replied. William sighed gently, 'Thankyou for your help anyway, Goodbye.' he put the receiver down with a slightly frustrated bang. George and Julia were missing, well at least one of them officially, but he still had no idea where Julia was regardless. But then he remembered Ruby was with her. Perhaps that could explain Georges disappearance. William walked over to his door and called for Higgins.

'Sir..?' He replied a little sheepishly. 'Constable, I don't suppose you knew of any plans that George had, or had mentioned that involved Ruby Ogden do you..?' He asked quietly. Higgins seemed to rack his brain for a few moments. 'Not, that I can remember sir, we normally talk and exchange most plans with each other, and other than a few dinner dates, and public outings he had nothing planned with her that seemed unusual.' he replied a little disheartened. 'Alright, Thankyou anyway Constable.' William replied. He waked back to his office and sat in his large leather chair and leant back. His brain was reeling with information but none of it made sense. George had to have something to do with Julia and Ruby's sudden departure, there was no two ways about it.

But for the life of him, William couldn't think what.