When Julia entered the station house, she did not expect so much … action and noise. There was a young woman talking … a lot and very loudly. William seemed amused by the situation, watching George trying to contain the young woman's energy. Julia walked up to them.
"What is going on here?" she asked, a smile on her face.
"Oh Doctor! This is my cousin Penny. She will attend the secretarial school." George explained.
"Are you Doctor Ogden? The real Doctor Ogden?" Penny asked.
"The real? Yes, I guess I am." Julia laughed.
"I feel like I know you from George's letters. He talks about you a lot!"
"Really?" Julia asked, smiling knowingly at George.
"Apparently, we are a good subject of conversation for George." William said. "Do you have something for me?" he asked.
"Yes, I have the post-mortem report right here." Julia said, showing him the file.
"Let's go into my office." he said, taking her by the elbow.
As they entered William's office, Julia looked out by the side windows.
"This is going to be fun to watch." she said, watching George try and keep Higgins away from his cousin.
"You're being mean Mrs Murdoch." William warned.
"Don't tell me you don't enjoy watching George with his hands full with this cousin of his. He who is always so energetic and … let's say it sometimes really annoying because of his perpetual enthusiasm."
"I have to admit, it is quiet pleasing seeing him deal with her. She seemed even worse than him." he laughed, sitting at his desk. "Now, what do you have for me?"
Julia explained what she had found and was ready to leave when George's cousin knocked on the office door.
"Come in Miss Renton."
"Please call me Penny."
"Alright Penny, what can we do for you?"
"I wondered if I could talk to Doctor Ogden?"
"Of course. I was just leaving, we can sit outside and talk for a while if you want." Julia proposed.
"Oh that would be so great!" Penny said excitedly.
William watched them walk out, knowing full well that Julia would regret agreeing to this conversation.
When William got back home that evening, Julia was already there, on the sofa, a glass of wine in her hand.
"How did your conversation with Penny go?" he asked, sitting next to her.
"I can still hear her babbling in my head!" she complained. "She just never stops talking, William, never! I was actually glad when someone called the station and a constable came to find me to tell I was wanted at the morgue. I was glad that somebody had died William!"
"I guess we have found worse than George Crabtree." William laughed.
"That's not funny William. I had to take something for my head when I worked because I could not concentrate. It's only getting better now!"
"I hope it has the same effect on George. Maybe it will calm him down a little."
"George is fine. And he is funny. She is just … takling all the time, over excited all the time. She has not come here just to go to school. She is way too enthusiastic for it to be just because of school."
"She comes from the countryside Julia, coming to a big city like Toronto can be pretty ecxiting with all there is to see and experience."
"That's not it. I tell you William, there is something else. I don't know what yet, but there is something else."
"If it makes you feel any better, think about George who is actually living with her for now. And you are here, with me, in our quiet house, with your husband who will make you something to eat. And maybe even draw you a bath later."
"A bath uh? That does sound good. Would you be joining me?"
"Maybe."
"A boy Sir! She came here for a boy! I followed her from her school and in a boarding house where I found them … well, they wrere going to … I ..."
"I get the idea George, thank you." William said. "And what did you do with the boy then? Because I can see your cousin sitting at your desk, sulking like a five-year-old but I can't see any young man around here."
"I threw him in the cells Sir, that's where he belong! He was opening her … corset!"
"I know it's not … appropriate George, that she is still young. But if she was … alright with it you can't arrest the boy for that." William tried to reason the constable.
"You can't be serious Sir! It's … wrong!"
"Morally, I completely agree with you George. But legally there is nothing you can do." William repeated. "Maybe you should try to find some sort of … compromise between you and them. You can't keep him in the cell if you can't charge him with anything."
"Maybe you're right. Did you … did you have this type of problem when you were young?" George asked.
"George! Really?"
"I'm sorry to ask Sir. But I figured that Doctor Ogden, she must have been … I mean, she is ..."
"Be very carful about how you end your sentence George." William warned. "And keep in mind that we were not that young when we met."
"Yes. Of course. I'm sorry Sir. I will talk to Penny … and the boyfriend." George said.
"That's a good idea."
A few minutes later, Julia entered William's office.
"Is there a problem with George? I wanted to talk to him but he blushed, mumbled something I didn't understand and almost ran away."
"It's better if you don't know." William laughed. "But you were right about Penny. It was not just the school that excited her so much."
"Oh, and what is it?"
"A boy." William said.
"A boy … of course. You boys are going to be the death of us." Julia laughed, kissing him softly.