CHAPTER THIRTY -NINE

5:30 pm Tuesday July 4th

Julia felt exceedingly pleased with the results of her day's work as she closed up the morgue, satisfied that her attendant, Jack, had things under control. Her plans for Olive Routledge's children were in the works faster than she anticipated and the last corpse in her cooler was finally sent off to his eternal rest. Her reports were typed, her reagents were inventoried and re-ordered. Julia's smile of delight flooded her whole body.

I am getting the knack of this job!

She slid her cloche over her hair and gathered up her crocheted gloves and handbag after changing out of trousers back into a sleeveless cotton dress. She even tossed her aubergine silk shawl around her shoulders for a bit of style. She closed and carefully locked the heavy door behind her, enjoying the soft, dry, late afternoon air outside. She was looking forward to a nice dinner with Ruby on the veranda of the Rowing Club, where they could experience a nice breeze and cold lemonade whilst appreciating the well-muscled rowers who practiced sculling a dozen yards away. The afternoon post also brought welcome news about her Ontario Medical license which she looked forward to celebrating. All in all, an excellent day. The only things left to bother her was the Roof Man's reactions.

Grief is such a messy, human condition, I suppose I must make accommodations.

It annoyed her that she was unable to talk any of this over with Ruby this evening. If she did, her sister would undoubtedly certainly turn it all into a lurid article for The Star. Her mother would be shocked, and Mickie would rag her for deviating from her professional role. If she called Dennie in Hamilton, her best friend was bound to think she'd gone crazy for getting involved. Detective Pearce was out of the question. That left William Murdoch as her default confidante in these matters.

Julia crossed the lane which stretched between the morgue and the back door of Station House No. 4, reveling in the temporary reprieve from Toronto's early July heat. Once inside, she scanned for him, noticing a second or two later how strangely quiet it was so near shift change when the number of men usually swelled by about half.

"Constable Higgins? Where is everyone?"

The young officer looked up from poking through a book on the station house's imposing front desk, giving her a nervous smile. "Oh...Doctor Ogden." He wasn't more forthcoming than that, but he did straighten up.

She looked around again. Aside from Constable Higgins, there was no one else visible. She assumed one officer was monitoring the cells. "I am looking for Detective Murdoch. Is he available?"

Higgins smirked down at her from his high perch. Julia arched her brows back at him and he blushed.

"Oh, I...I suppose it's all right that I tell you, Doctor. I mean, you're one of us, aren't you? I mean it's a big secret to-do after all, gotta make sure the newshawks or the hoods don't get wind of it. Left me back here to mind the store and answer the horn...um... be their look out here, I mean."

Julia blinked. Most of that was decipherable but did not answer her question. She thought he looked much too young to be holding such responsibility. "I see. And where have they gone, exactly?"

He coloured again, motioning her closer, with a show of sliding his eyes around as if checking to be certain no one could overhear them in the empty police station. "They are off to put the finger on the goons who passed around the poisoned giggle-juice. It's a big bust they're after. They took both shifts and every heap in the police garage, opened the armory and everything!" Higgins sounded impressed with the fire power. "Could be a shoot-out."

Julia did not like the sounds of that. She could tell Higgins was torn between feeling smug about being left in charge and disappointment about not being where the action was. "With all the policemen in one place, it would be a great time to commit a crime." Her little joke got a huge belly laugh from him, which he cut off abruptly when it dawned on him who was going to have to answer any calls for the police.

"Oh, hell, er...pardon me...I mean, that'll put me in a jam...do you think so?" he asked nervously; the whole idea obviously not so much fun anymore.

"Yes, yes, I think so. Now, if you would be so kind, please tell me where the detective and the rest of the men are?" When he continued to hesitate, she pressed. She was developing anxiety about an impending shoot-out, even allowing for Higgins' exaggeration of the situation. "Do they have an ambulance on call?" He shook his head. "Then do you not think it is wise to send a physician along? If it is going to be this shoot-out, as you say?"