William and Julia were out for lunch, talking about their latest case.
"Oh, and I saw that her index finger from her right hand was caloused." Julia said, drinking her tea. "She must have been a telegraph operator or something like that."
"Well, I know what I will be doing this afternoon then, touring the telegraph companies in search of a missing operator." William decided.
And that's what he did. He only found what he was looking for on his fifth try. The director of the telegraph company gave him the victim's latest correspondance. Now, he'll just have to decipher everything. He was sorting through all the papers at his desk when Julia entered his office, her report in hand.
"Now, that looks like a lot of paper William, what is it?" she asked, putting her file on his working table and joining him behind his desk.
"The victim's last communications at work." William said. "I can't make any sense of it." he declared, throwing the pile he was holding back in the box and resting his head on the back of his chair, sighing."
"How long have you been at this?" Julia asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know, a couple of hours I guess. I need to find a telegraph operator to … translate these messages. None on my cyphers work. I can't make any sense of it."
"You could ask Mrs Jones." Julia laughed.
"Oh yes, that's a great idea."
"I was joking William. I know she was a telegraph operator but ..."
"It's perfect, she's not working at the moment, she could come down here and translate everything. You're a genius Julia!" he exclaimed, getting up and kissing her.
"I know I'm a genius." Julia laughed. "But it was really just a joke William. I … I don't like the idea of her spending a whole day here with you. I told you, I think she's in love with you."
"She's not in love with me Julia. She's just thankful because I brought her son back to her when he disappeared." William reasoned her.
"You did not see her look at you when you were sleeping. It was … creepy. And she didn't even feel bad for it when she saw me.I'm telling you, she has a thing for you. If she comes to the station house, you will tell me. And I will be here too. Is that understood Mr. Murdoch?"
"It's understood if you really want to. I still don't see why it's necessary but ..."
"It is necessary so I can keep an eye on her."
"I kind of like it when you act all jealous." he said, kissing her once more.
As Julia was starting to respond to his kiss, the Inspector barged into William's office.
"You two stop that right now! This is a working environment! You are a disgrace for the police station Murdoch! You should be ashamed of yourself!" he yelled, leaving the office as fast as he had entered.
"What just happened?" Julia asked.
"I … I don't know. He has been weird for the last few days. He fought with Maragaret in his office this morning. All the station heard it. And then, out of nowhere, he was joyful, joking with the constables … I think something is wrong with him. Do you think you could … examine him or something?" William asked.
"If he lets me approach him yes … but I'm not sure he will. I'll need to catch him in one of his good moments."
"Well, let's go home for now." William said, taking his jacket from the back of his chair. "George, could you telephone Mrs Jones and ask her to come in tomorrow morning? Tell her we need her to translate some telegraphs for a case."
"On it Sir." George said, picking up the ear piece.
When William walked into the station house the following morning, the Inspector was laughing with Constable Higgins. William walked in his office and called Julia. If she wanted a chance to examine the inspector, it was now or never. As he hung up the telephone, George entered his office.
"Sir, Mrs Jones has arrived."
"Alright, bring her in here please George."
William welcomed her and explained what he wanted her to do. He settled her at his work table, brought her some tea and left her to work. He was sorting through his mail behind the main desk when Julia entered the station house. She walked up to him and said she would see if the Inspector would talk to her. When she knocked on his office door, the Inspector was taking a nap on his couch. Apparently his good mood was already gone. She barely touched the subject of his changing mood that he yelled and nearly pushed her out, slamming the door in her face. She turned around to see all the constables and William looking at her.
"Something is really wrong with him, and I'm going to find out what." she declared, walking into William's office. "Here is my latest report on the victim. Oh, good morning Mrs Jones."
"Good morning Doctor." the womand answered, looking back down to the messages she was translating.
William sat in his chair and opened the file Julia had brought with her. She sat down in the other chair in front of his desk. They talked about the latest results quietly so as not to bother Mrs Jones. Julia left for the morgue a few minutes later, telling her husband that she will bring him some lunch later, and making sure that Mrs Jones heard. She must not have been really subtle because even William smiled. To put her at ease, he gently kissed her before she left the station, hidden from the Inspector, just in case he exploded again.
When Julia came back to the station a few hours later, Mrs Jones was telegraphing from a desk and William was sitting next to her, all the constables around them. She couldn't hear what they were saying but suddenly Mrs Jones had a panicked look on her face. She followed William's instructions and then left her chair angry, heading to his office. The look on William's face said it all: he was in trouble. Julia smiled and headed to the Inspector's office. She stopped in her tracks though. George was up against the wall, the Inspector ready to punch him.
"What is going on here?" Julia asked.
The Inspector let go of George and nearly ran in his office, closing the door and the blinds.
"Are you alright George?" Julia asked, watching the constable straighten his uniform.
"This is getting out of hand Doctor. I don't know what is wrong with him but it's getting worse every day."
"I'm going to talk to him." she declared.
"Are you sure that's wise? I mean …. he's rather violent and ..."
"Don't worry about me George, I'll be fine." she said, opening the door and closing it behind her.
George almost ran to William's office, knowing that is something bad happened and the Detective was made aware that he knew, he would be in a lot of trouble.
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt but I have to tell you that Doctor Ogden is in the Inspector's office."
"Alright George. The blinds are open, I'm sure she will be fine. And we can see if things go wrong. Keep an eye in the office, just to be sure." William said, turning back to Mrs Jones. "Once again, I'm sorry Mrs Jones, we had to act urgently so as not to lose him and ..."
George didn't hear the rest of the conversation, closing the door behind him. He sat at his desk, pretending to read a report but really looking over it, making sure the doctor was in no immediate danger. He knew she could take care of herself, even if she had to hit the inspector. Everything seemed to be going fine though. They were both sitting on the Inspector's couch, talking calmly. After about half an hour, William joined George at his desk.
"How is it going?" he asked.
"I don't know. They seem fine. He never yelled once." George said.
"Well, you do not yell at Julia Ogden. Never. If you want to stay alive that is." William laughed.
George was going to respond when Julia stood up and left the office, coming to meet George and William.
"I'm going to the morgue to get something for the inspector. Keep an eye on him while I'm gone, will you?"
"No problem Doctor." George said, intent on preventing any other potential attack.
When Julia came back to the station house, she saw Mrs Jones talking to a woman. She heard the latter ask if she had anyone in her life. Julia nearly choked when she heared Mrs Jones answer "maybe", turning her head to the office where William was working at his desk. She watched the two women walk out, too shocked to say anything. She was brought out of her thoughts when the Inspector's office door opened.
"Doctor Ogden? Do you have it?" the inspector asked.
"Yes." Julia answered, walking into his office. "But I have to inject it so you better close the blinds." she said, putting the box she was carrying on the desk.
"Why?" the inspector asked, rolling up his sleeve.
"Oh … It's … It's not to be injected in the arm Inspector but in ..."
"Oh no, you're not doing it! No woman but the missus will get near my backside." he protested, walking backwards away from her.
"Well you will need much longer arms then Inspector." Julia laughed.
"There is another solution. MURDOCH!" he yelled, making the detective join his office.
Julia had a really hard time not to laugh when she watched her husband walk back to his office as if he were sleep walking. She joined him once she had packed her things.
"Are you alright William?" she asked, sitting in front of him.
"Did I just ..."
"Yes you did." Julia laughed. "And you did really good. You would make a great doctor." she continued, laughing hard enough to attract some constables' eyes.
"That's not funny Julia!"
"Yes it is. You should see your face right now!" she said, trying to calm herself. "Oh, you want to hear something that is really not funny? I overheard Mrs Jones say to a woman who was here earlier that maybe she had someone in her life."
"Oh? Good for her."
"She was talking about you William! She was looking at you when she said that!"
"But I … why would she think that?" he asked, panic clear in his eyes.
"Did you tell her that you were married?" Julia asked.
"Why would I tell her that? That's no one's business but ours."
"It is clear that she feels … something for you William, how can you not see it?"
"I … I ..."
"You're each as bad as the other in this." Julia sighed.
"What do you mean?" William asked.
"The other day when you were at home and she came to see you, I purposefully made her walk by out wedding picture on the dresser by the front door. She must have seen it and just decided to ignore it."
"Or she didn't see it." William reasoned.
"You really need to talk to her William. It's not nice to keep her hoping something that will never happen. Because of course it will never happen, right?"
"Of course not Julia! How can you … Oh you're making fun of me. That is not nice." he pointed out. "Just in case you are right, I will clearly tell her we are married next time I see her. If I ever see her again."
"Oh believe me, she will be back." Julia said. "And just in case, maybe you could develop our wedding portrait again in a bigger size and we could hang it somewhere in the house. Above the fireplace would be nice." she reflected.