Taking its place at the same AU of Into The Woods season 15, i bring you this somewhat polemic story.

Hope you like.

Enjoy the story,


PART 1

If there was one thing that George Crabtree and Henry Higgins agreed, it was that night shift was the worse shift. The weather was colder, specially on the time of the year, there wasn´t much places to stop and eat and it was horrible to chase suspects, if there was one, specially to George, whose vision were getting lower night by night.

Still, both constables left their houses that evening to perform their duties, making Toronto safe to their friends and loved ones, not knowing however that everything was about to change.

''I honestly rather do Detective Murdoch´s fingerprints rather than stay on the streets all night!'' complained Henry.

''I agree.'' Replied George composing himself after tripping on a stone.

''George, I really think you should wear glasses, I don´t think the Inspector will fuss about it.''

''Maybe you´re right Higgins,'' said the older constable. ''I will consult with Dr. Ogden tomorrow or see if she could recommend me an eye doctor.

''I see… and how´s Miss Newsome?'' Henry asked.

''Getting better, although, Dr. Ogden says she isn´t ready to leave the asylum yet, she´s still afraid of people in general.''

''She will recover George, you will see, she´s a Newsome, they can face any challenge.'' Henry smiled and in response, George just rolled his eyes annoyed.

Suddenly, as they crossed a poor neighbor, a mean wearing a long coat, passed by the constables like he was running away from the devil, bumping hard on Henry and pressed his steps even harder, running away quick.

''Hey look where you going you mut!'' yelled George.

''George…'' Henry gasped.

''What Henry?'' growled the other constable.

''George i…'' Henry was pressing his abdomen, however, when look down, he could see that his hand was drenched in blood. His knees buckled getting weak.

''Henry! Oh God, Henry what happened?'' George rush to his friend, supporting him as he fell on the ground. ''Hold on, HELP! OFFICER DOWN!'' George yelled blowing his whistle. ''Hey buddy, stay with me, Henry?''

''Ruth…''was the other constable said before losing conscience.

Minutes seems an eternity when two other constables appear to help a colleague in need, but it was too late, as George Crabtree barked orders to them to call the superiors, one of the constables bent down to check on Henry, just to announced that their fallen colleague were long gone.

_/_

At the Murdoch residence, Julia and William were sleeping peacefully on each other´s arms, when suddenly the phone ringed, waking them and leaving Julia quite annoyed as she get up to pick up the phone.

''Who is it? Oh, George, what is it? WHAT!?'' she gasped, eyes widened in terror. ''Oh God, yes, we are on our way!''

''What is it Julia? What George wanted?'' William asked still sleepy.

''William he asked us to go to the station house… he said he and Henry were attacked and… and Henry was killed.'' She said and without another word the old couple get dressed to get to the station where an angry Inspector also waited for them.

_/_

George Crabtree was familiar with the interrogation room, as a constable he had been there more than once, assisting Detectives Murdoch and Watts on cases, he also had been there as an acting detective twice and once as a suspect. But it was the first time he set on that chair as a witnesses, paled, with his cheeks wet from tears, as his superiors asked him questions.

''How did it happened George?'' asked William.

''Henry and I were around the Ward Sir, when a figure passed by us in a hurry and bump into him…''

''A figure?'' the detective raised an eyebrow.

''A man, Sir, sorry I couldn´t see his face.''

''You don't recall any detail?''

''I suppose… I suppose it was a black man, sorry Sir my eyes are deceiving me at night…if only…'' George´s voice broke as he recall the events.

''Its alright George, its alright.'' William calms him down.

''And about Mrs. Higgins-Newsome? God, he had just become a father…''

''The Inspector and I will deal with it tomorrow, for now, let them sleep and you should get some rest too and don´t worry, we will get into the bottom of this.'' The detective patted the constable´s shoulder before left to talk to the inspector.

_/_

Once finishing his job, a satisfied Charles Wayne made his way home with a light smile on his face. A year and half ago, his beautiful wife Marian had been assaulted by a white drunk constable, who though black people, especially women were nothing but trash, causing her to have her pregnancy interrupted. Since then, Charles swore revenge and after numerous attempts to expose the man to the police with no avail, he decided to act by his own account.

Before he arrieved home of course, Charlie threw the murder weapon at some random trash can around the block and step into his own house, calling for his wife.

''Marian my darling, I'm home!'' he singed.

''Oh Charlie, were have you been?'' Marian smiled approaching him for a hug.

''In places, doing things… how was your day?'' he asked.

''It was marvelous,'' she said, than suddenly, she noticed something. ''Charles, what is this in your hand? Its blood? Charlie don´t tele you… Charlie you told me you aren´t going to do what i´ think you did!''

''I did Marian, but I did for you, you´re safe now, I did because I love you.''

''And if you get caught?'' Marian asked. ''You thought about it?''

''If I get caught, I will tell those bastards the truth that I revenged my wife´s dignity. But don´t worry, nothing is going to happen.'' He said kissing her.

Next day by the morning, Charles left for work a changing man, he was calm and happy, greeting neighbors and feeding stray dogs like he had won the lottery, it was an amazing day to him, now that he had accomplished his duty toward his wife.

Still, as he made his way home the end of the day, a sight made his blood run cold. Just across the street, there was a man he knew to well, it was the constable, the same one who a year before broke into his house. He couldn´t believe it, he was so blind by revenge that he didn´t care to look twice the previous night.

Tormented, the black man run toward his home and once there, he throw himself on his wife´s feet, asking her forgiveness and confessed that in his blindness and foolishness he ended up killing a wrong man.