Chapter 1:

William finally took his eyes off the door the young woman had passed through and turned to join Inspector Brackenreid who had beckoned him earlier. When he was near him, the tall, thin man with reddish-blond hair whom he had seen from behind arguing with his superior, turned to him. He had bright blue eyes and a thin face. A small mustache sat near his lips which gave him a stern look of a businessman. He had on a black suit, certainly expensive, with a tight bow tie around the collar. He looked ten years his senior, but younger than Inspector Brackenreid.

"Ha, Murdoch. I present to you Dr. Ethan Brenks. He is the director of the Toronto hospital. He is the one who organized this wonderful charity." explained Thomas Brackenreid, emphasizing the term "wonderful".

The doctor tilted his head slightly at William, without so much as a smile or a sign that he had truly considered the detective's presence.

"Doctor, this is our best detective, William Murdoch." Thomas announced proudly, taking his wife by the waist who had just returned from the ladies' room.

"Oh… So, you're the famous Detective Murdoch." smiled this time the man whose face seemed to change completely. "I have heard a lot about you. It is partly thanks to you that this charity ball takes place."

William, who had felt slightly disconcerted by the doctor's change in attitude, held out his own hand to the one presented to him.

"Pleased, doctor." William replied politely.

"And, this is my wife, Margaret Brackenreid."

Murdoch watched the doctor gently take Margaret's hand and greet her politely and respectfully.

"I am happy to finally be able to meet the wife of this dear inspector." he joked, giving Brackenreid a friendly pat on the back. "I would love to introduce you to mine but, to be honest, I have no idea where she went."

William looked intently at the doctor's face and noticed that, despite his casual expression, he was looking around the room with some apprehension. Maybe he was worried that he did not know where his wife was after all?

"Ha, women! Always wandering where you shouldn't!" Brackenreid added unnecessarily as Margaret glared at him in disagreement and defiance.

The doctor laughs nervously.

"Ethan?"

William turned, drawn in by the sound of the voice he recognized immediately. It was that woman again. The one he had bumped into just ten minutes ago. She walked slowly towards them. She met the gaze of the smiling doctor and immediately took her by the waist in the same way as Brackenreid did with Margaret.

"Honey, I was wondering where you've been. I wanted to introduce you to Chief Inspector Brackenreid and his wife Margaret." Ethan waved his hand at the two protagonists.

William watched as the young woman smiled sweetly at them, body and brain paralyzed as he slowly and slowly realized that this beautiful woman was Doctor Brenks' wife.

"We met in the bathroom." Margaret smiled at the young woman.

"And this is Detective William Murdoch, the one who made this charity possible."

The young woman turned to him, and he saw surprise in her eyes and something else he could not define.

"Oh...yes...we've met before." said the young woman softly.

And, faced with her husband's frowning eyebrows, she added:

"We scrambled and my glass of wine ended up on my dress."

William looked down with the doctor at the now wet spot. He looked up apologetically at the couple, but the two smiled kindly at him.

"I present to you all my wife, Julia Brenks." exclaimed the doctor with an air of superior pride.

William continued to stare at the young woman, fully understanding the pride that this man could feel. His wife was literally gorgeous. He took his eyes off her to glance at his superior who was literally wide-eyed. Perhaps he found her sublime too?

"I am delighted to meet you." Mrs. Brenks smiled.

"Where are the girls?" Dr. Brenks asked his wife.

"Oh, they're with Dr. Parker's children." The young woman nodded towards the sideboard where William noticed two young girls – presumably teenagers – chatting with other young people.

William could only see them in profile, but they looked almost frighteningly like their mother.

"What are their names? And how old are they?" Mrs. Brackenreid suddenly asked.

"Rosemary is 17, and Emily is 15."

Julia Brenks smiled as she looked in the direction of her daughters, while her husband looked at them in the same way. William had the unpleasant feeling that they were the perfect family. Two perfect girls, a rich hospital director with a perfect wife.

The detective looked down at his slightly oversized shoes. Yes… they looked perfect.

Note: Hope you like the beginning of the story!