William and Julia were walking hand in hand around the room, looking at the different pieces of art which were exhibited. William however was more interested by the building itself, studying every arch, looking out every window.
"This is absolutely magnificent." he whispered.
"It just a building William." Julia laughed softly.
"Not it's not. It's the tallest building in Toronto. And it was built with extremely modern techniques. Mr Pendrick is very ingenuous."
"That he is. He managed to get an original Rembrandt! Nobody can get original Rembrandts nowadays. I heard it was a really wonderful painting." Julia said.
"I hope it's exceptional for him to ask a whole station house to protect it." William mumbled.
As he was explaining something about the structure of the building while looking out the window, Julia saw that they were unveiling the painting. She left her husband's side, leaving him to talk to himself, joining the crowd who was gathering around the painting. Julia felt William approach her from behind.
"It's beautiful." she simply said.
As she was discussing the masterpiece with William, the hostess approached them.
"You seem quite weel versed in painting. It's Doctor Ogden right?" Mrs Pendrick asked.
"Yes. And this is my husband, Detective Murdoch."
"Very nice to meet you. And thank you very much for coming to protect our new masterpiece."
"It's my pleasure Ma'am." William said, smiling politely.
They stayed for a few more minutes in front of the painting, discussing the different colours and techniques used by the artist. During their conversation, William couldn't help but notice that Mrs Pendrick was looking at him in a rather intriguing way. Julia noticed it as well and got closer to her husband. When the painting was taken away, William went to the elevator to make sure that George and Henry were at their posts. They had to inspect the elevator car to make sure that everything was in order, they had to make sure that the painting arrived safely in the basement. A guard was positioned into the elevator car to keep an eye on the painting on the ride down. When William had made sure everything was in order, he told the two constables to hurry down the stairs to secure the painting once it arrived. The painting was placed safely in the car, William watched the doors closed and the hand giving the floors go down. Satisfied, he walked to the stairs and went down with a smile on his face. His smile didn't last long though. It fell from his face when he met George running back up the stairs.
"The painting is gone Sir, and the guard is dead inside the elevator car." George panted.
"I'll get Doctor Ogden. You get back down and make sure that nobody touches anything."
"Yes Sir" George said, rushing back down.
William found Julia talking with some of her acquaintances in the reception hall. She followed him down the stairs to study the body.
"So, Detective Murdoch, it seems you caught the eye of our hostess earlier." Julila said.
"I know. And even I saw it. And after you introduced me as your husband!" William replied, opening the door of the basement for her.
"Some women have absolutely no problem with that you know, some even look for married men." Julia teased.
"Well, she has absolutely no chance with me." William said, smiling at his wife.
"Good. Now, where's this body?" she asked, taking her silk gloves off.
When William entered his office at the station house the following afternoon he found Julia sitting on the corner of his desk, looking at the painting that George had placed on one of his cabinets.
"You didn't tell me you acquired an art piece, William." she said softly as he sat in his chair.
"I didn't acquire anything." he said, purposefully not looking at the painting.
"How did it end up in your office then?"
"Mrs Pendrick gave it to me."
"Mrs Pendrick uh? Did she say what it represents?"
"No she did not."
"Can you make even shorter answers?" Julia laughed, turning to look at him.
"Yes." he said, pretending to look for something in his drawer.
"What is going on William?" she asked seriously.
"Nothing. I'm just looking for ..."
"You're not looking for anything, now tell me what is going on." she insisted.
William didn't answer but Julia saw his eyes move to the painting. She also saw the deep blush that crept on his face before he quickly took his eyes back to his drawer.
"This is a very interesting painting." Julia teased. " What do you see in it?"
"Nothing. I don't like it. But George said it represents a landscape."
"A landscape uh? And what about this … triangle over here?" she asked, getting on her feet and closer to the painting.
"It's a pyramid."
"Really William? Did you just go blind. This is clearly the portait of a woman in a rather provocative pose. William?" she asked, turning around when he didn't answer.
He had his face hidden in his hands.
"It's Mrs Pendrick." he mumbled in his hands.
"What?"
"The painting, it's a portrait of Mrs Pendrick. I … witnessed the creative process." he explained, still not looking at her.
"And was she terribly ugly? Isthat why the forms are so contorted?"
"Julia!"
"What? I'm just asking." she laughed, coming to kiss him on the cheek.
"It was so embarrassing, Julia. And after what happened at the reception last night I … I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. And when I got back from the interview room before lunch here it was, sitting on my desk with all the constables looking at it and commenting."
"You could return it." Julia suggested, handing him a glass of water. "And maybe tonight you could paint one of me." she whispered in his ear, making him spit out the water he was drinking.