Julia and William had spent their afternoon at the hotel. They had a little talk about the case, but they mainly talked about Kathleen and spoke the last past months. They were lying on the bed, exhausted and had fallen asleep pressed against each other, closely entwined. They awoke when the night had already fallen. They quickly refreshed to reach the hotel's restaurant and eat something. Once their meal finished, they recrossed the reception where the receptionist handed them notes from the police station. They had newsout Sally Pendrick and parental violence case intrigued Inspector asking the presence of William. When they had finished reading the messages they met their gaze and Julia took a step toward William to caress her cheek, smiling.
-Go ahead.
-Do you not want to come with me ...
-No, not this time. Do your duty and bring me our daughter William. I will stay in at hotel waiting for you.
-Julia, you can come and ...
-You do not understand, murmured the young woman plunging her eyes into his, I need you to do William, that is belong to you to do so. You are her father, you are my husband. I will wait and although it may happen I will be there for you.
He did not answer and she approached him to tenderly kiss him, snuggling into his arms.
-Take care of you Detective, she whispered on his lips without opening her eyes, I love you, said the young woman before walking away from him, smiling softly.
He did the same and he did not leave her eyes until she borrowed the stairs a little further to reach their bedroom again.
The young man had spent many hours at the police station. He had lots of information about Sally Pendrick's plans. Men had attempted an attack that night, products stolen by the young woman had been found, but she still unfound. They had checked all the stations, they had questioned employees carriage stations, the bosses of the drivers who had left the city. But they found no connection to the woman. Then the Inspector took him to a shabby little house on the outskirts of the city.
-A night noise complaint was filed two days ago, a woman beat her daughter for hours. According to the description of Mary and your daughter, it could be them.
-And you did not come sooner? William growled rapidly advancing towards the house.
- Mr. Murdoch, we have complaints of this kind every day, threw the Inspector , parents correct their children often.
William did not answer and he rushed into the house, finding a police constable in the entrance.
-The house is deserted, but you should go up Mr. Murdoch, in the bedroom down the hall.
Without any hesitation, William borrowed the stairs, feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest. He ran along the dark corridor and into the room. Two small candles were lit and he saw only the space around him. The simple little bed, the chamber pot, chains on the ground, the small table in the center of the room. He walked toward it and his fingers caressed the damaged wood. He could not help smiling at what had been burned. A bunny, a woman with a long dress, a man at her side with a big hat and between them, a little girl holding their hand. William could not restrain a tear and fell on the bed squeaked. He put his face in his hands and sighed deeply.
-It was therefore the right track, launched an inspector in the doorway.
-Indeed, William sighed, looking up at him, we need to know the direction that took the carriage.
-We are unable to locate Pendrick do you believe that we will have more luck with Mary?
-Mary Iis much less clever, while Kathleen is very smart. My daughter brought us here. She will lead us to her. And I am convinced that we are close.
-We will question the neighbors, but at this time it sounds complicated to me Murdoch. We will keep you informed.
-You know where to find me, William sighed, getting up before leaving the bedroom and the modest home.
He took a carriage to the hotel and up to his room. He went quietly, seeing his wife lying in bed, apparently asleep. He joined the bathroom and changed. He slipped quietly in bed. He looked attentively the young woman who had turn her back. He saw her shake against the doll of their daughter. Then his fingers caressed her shoulder and he kissed in the hollow of her neck.
-We have a track, he murmured, noticing that her eyes were open, it is only a matter of time. Kathleen is near and soon she will be with us again Julia.
He put a hand on the belly of Julia to lure against him and she put her hand on his without looking at him.
-And Sally? Murmured the young woman tied throat.
-We have arrested her accomplices and prevented the attack she was preparing, but she escaped. We do not know where she is currently.
Julia did not answer and she closed her eyes, still snuggling deeper into the arms of her husband, where she knew she was safe. He just then kissed her hair and pressed against her, shoving his face in her hair. William then closed his eyes in turn and both fell asleep tenderly one against the other.
The next day they finally had a concrete track, finally, a person could assert with certainty that she saw Mary and the girl leave the city in northern direction in a carriage. Won by hope again, Julia prepared some clothes, the minimum so they can go two or three days if they needed it. They left their belongings at the hotel, renting the room for a week even though they were on the move. They took a carriage in the direction where Mary had fled. They made a few hours in complete silence, pressed against each other, until the driver stopped the carriage. It took them a second to understand what was happening.
-Weather is rotten, threw the old man while the couple went out, a snowstorm threatens to fall, we need to stop.
-I beg you, Julia threw quite upset, you known others do not? This is not a little snow that will stop us.
-My little lady, threw the man arriving near her, you come from the city, here we are in the north, in the countryside and Lucilla will not keep overnight if ...
-Well, cut Julia, though, stay here but me it is out of the question that I do not continue.
-And you will die by cold in three hours.
-Well do I, she cried, going to the carriage to take her bag, but I continued by foot.
She glanced at William who approached her.
-Julia, do you hear what you say? This man knows the area, he lived all his life here, he feels the storm and get ...
-Well then go William, threw the young woman, stay with him and go in a hostel, I do not stop.
She walked next to him by giving him a nudge and she began to walk on the deserted road, sinking in the snow at times but without looking back once.
-Your little wife has character, threw the old man.
He just met the gaze of William who shrugged, pursed his lips.
-You will find trappers cabins to three or four kilometers, he said, pointing to the place where Julia walked away, I advise you to convince her shelter there. I am serious, you will not survive otherwise.
-Thank you, William sighed before walking away to Julia to join her and take the bag she was holding.
They just exchanged glances and they walked at the same step, as the old man watched them and shook his head from side to side.
-Ah people from the city, he grumbled, go Lucilla, he added, caressing the side of the horse, we go my old girl.
He got into the carriage again and maneuvered to turn around with his horse as the snow began to fall more heavily on the countryside.
to be continued ...