A/N: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! *runs and hides* I never should have left this story hanging for so long. But, with work and real life, I've been finding it increasingly difficult to find time to write. I hope you can forgive me, and I hope you're still interested in the story. Let this chapter be my peace offering.
Disclaimer: see chapter one
The silence of the morgue was broken by a rapping on a window pane. Julia looked up from the body she was examining to find Alucard standing at the top of the ramp. She smiled and waved for him to enter. The detective walked down the ramp to stand on the other side of the examination table. Though, he was quite accustomed to the sight of blood, it just looked wrong to be on the hands of a beautiful, elegant woman as Julia Ogden.
"What can I help you with, Detective?" Julia asked, the smile never leaving her face.
"William Murdoch," Alucard answered, cutting to the point.
Julia looked up, surprised. "Detective Murdoch? What do you wish to know?" she asked.
Alucard ran his fingers through his hair, taking a breath before speaking. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around what it is I'm supposed to do," he explained. "I've studied Murdoch ever since I got here, and nothing jumps out at me that he's no more special than you or me."
Julia hummed in thought, looking down at the body on the table. "Well," she started. "At first glance one would think that. But, Detective Murdoch is so much than what he appears to be."
"Such as?" Alucard quizzed.
Julia sighed, thinking. "He's very emotional, yet he hides that emotion behind cool logic. Personally, I think he finds more comfort in logic than in others. But, again, who really knows?"
It was Alucard's turn to sigh. "Emotions aren't going to help me, Doctor," he stated.
"Perhaps not," Julia agreed. "But, the Constabulary, and Toronto in general, would be lost without the passion of Detective William Murdoch. Get to know him, Detective Raven. You might just find a man worth saving."
Alucard nodded and smiled. "Thank you for your insight, Doctor." He tipped his hat. "Good day."
"To you, as well," Julia said.
Alucard turned and walked out of the morgue. Julia's words played through his mind. It was easy for her to say, but Alucard found it difficult getting to know people. However, he hadn't had much trouble getting to know Crabtree and his friends that night at the pub. Maybe it wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. Alucard looked up to see Crabtree hurrying towards the station house. He ran to catch up to the Constable.
"Constable Crabtree," Alucard called. "A moment?"
George turned to see who had called out to him. "Detective Raven, good day," he said.
"Good day, Constable," Alucard replied. "Might I have a moment of your time?"
George looked between him and the door of the station house. "I guess a moment wouldn't hurt, though I am running late."
"This won't take that long," Alucard assured him. "I'll explain to the Inspector that you were helping me with something."
"And what might that something be, sir?" George asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Detective Murdoch," Alucard replied.
George frowned in confusion. "What about Detective Murdoch?" he asked.
"I'm conducting my own investigation," Alucard answered.
"On Detective Murdoch?" Crabtree questioned in confusion.
"I'm just trying to figure out why I suddenly find myself attached to him," Alucard stated.
"Well, that's easy, sir, you're both detectives. You seem to have the same mindset when it comes to solving crimes," George started. "You both think fast on your feet, you work well under pressure." He paused to wipe at his brow again. "If you hadn't claimed to be from the future, sir, I would have thought you and Detective Murdoch were brothers, twins, even."
Alucard hummed in thought. "Doctor Ogden said that same thing when I first arrived," he said.
"She's a very insightful woman," George stated. "We're lucky to be working with her."
"Indeed," Alucard agreed.
"But, anyway, back to the Detective," George said, waving a hand, refocusing his thoughts. "Detective Murdoch has the greatest mind I've ever known. He's come up with all of these bizarre contraptions and inventions to solve crimes. And while others doubt their effectiveness, Detective Murdoch has proven time and again that these things actually work. Take fingermarks, for instance."
Alucard frowned. "Fingermarks?" he asked.
George wiggled his fingers on his right hand. "No two fingermarks are the same," he said.
"You mean fingerprints?" Alucard assumed.
"I suppose," George replied slowly, not really certain.
Alucard shook his head. "Go on," he instructed.
"When Detective Murdoch came up with the idea of processing fingermarks to determine a killer, everyone said he was crazy," Crabtree explained. "But now, we use fingermarks in every case we come across. It's a very useful method of investigation."
"And Detective Murdoch came up with this idea?" Alucard asked for clarification.
"Indeed he did, sir," Crabtree replied with a wide smile. "I feel very fortunate and lucky to work so closely beside him. Though, he's a Detective and I'm simply a Constable, I consider Detective Murdoch to be a close friend. He's been by my side ever since I joined the Constabulary and was positioned here at Station House Four. If I may offer some advice?"
"Go on," Alucard replied.
"Get to know him, Detective Raven," Crabtree said. "You may just find a man worth saving."
With that, he turned and walked off, disappearing into the station house. Alucard stood where he was for a moment. What were the odds of two people saying the exact same thing to him in a matter of minutes? Alucard followed George inside, walking into a cooler environment than what it was outside.
"Ah, Detective Raven," Brackenreid said as Alucard walked into the station house. "Might I have a word?"
"Of course, Inspector," Alucard replied, following Brackenreid into his office.
The Inspector closed the door and walked over to a side table. He poured two glasses of whiskey. He picked them up and handed one to Alucard.
"How are you finding Toronto of the Past?" Brackenreid asked.
Alucard took a sip of his drink. "I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here," he confessed. "Usually when I get blasted to another time or place, there's a problem that needs to be fixed."
"Plenty of problems here," Brackenreid told him.
"Another thing I don't get is Noah Collins," Alucard admitted.
"How so?" Brackenreid asked.
Alucard took another sip of drink. "From what I've seen, he was no genius level mastermind. I don't understand how he could get six men to follow him so easily."
"Maybe they weren't his men," Brackenreid pointed out. "Maybe they were men following the father."
"Maybe," Alucard said. He scratched his head. "And Murdoch."
"What about Murdoch?" Brackenreid asked.
"I'm having trouble figuring out what he's Collins' target. He's just an average police detective," Alucard said.
Brackenreid laughed. "Then you don't know Murdoch," he said. "He is everything but average, Raven. If you just got to know him a little bit, I'm sure he'll surprise you. He's certainly surprised me more than once. We're lucky to have him here at Station House Four." He became thoughtful as he sipped his whiskey. "Fun fact, did you know that Murdoch has had a difficult time here in the Constabulary because of his religion?" Brackenreid asked.
Alucard frowned. "His religion?"
The Inspector nodded. "Murdoch is under constant scrutiny because of the simple fact that he's Catholic."
Alucard's heart plummeted into his stomach. "He's Catholic?" he croaked.
"Very devote," Brackenreid confirmed. "His two passions are the Church and Science, oddly enough. You don't see that, nowadays. A man of both the Church and Science. But, that's Murdoch, for you. Never one to go with the grain. He's stepped on a few toes, but he always gets his man...or woman, depending on the situation." He took another sip of drink. "I don't mind saying, Raven, whatever brought you here knew what they were doing. We've all tried to help him, but Murdoch can be just as stubborn as the rest of us." Brackenreid walked over and put a hand on Alucard's shoulder. "He's lucky you're here. We'd be lost without him. If you'd get to know him, I think you'd find a man worth saving."
Alucard looked at the Inspector in surprise. The same words, spoken from a third person. He had always heard that messages came in threes. Did Ogden, Crabtree and Brackenreid talk to each other beforehand? Or was this someone's idea of trying to get through to him?
Alucard handed the glass back to the Inspector. "Thank you, sir," he said. "I think I'll take your advice."
Brackenreid took the glass. "Very good. I'll leave you to it, then."
Alucard smiled and nodded, heading out the side door. He looked up to find Murdoch pacing his office across the bullpen. Alucard walked into the office and closed the door, making Murdoch look up. His eyes lit up and he smiled.
"Detective Raven, just the man I wanted to see."
Alucard frowned. "I am?" he asked.
"I think I've found something out," Murdoch declared.
"Let's hear it," Alucard said.
He leaned up against a desk and folded his arms as he listened to Murdoch's theory on the men who had attacked him a few days ago. He surmised that they really worked for Noah Collins' father, but only put up with the son because he promised them revenge for their employer's hanging. Murdoch went on to say how he had made some inquiries about the Collins'. Apparently, they were the kind to resort to violence whenever family was wronged, at least in their mind. The neighbours and co-workers he talked to all confirmed it. Joseph Collins was a very vengeful person, he had a number of assault charges against him, but they never went to court because the witnesses and victims were all too scared to testify.
As he listened, Alucard tried to see into Murdoch's thoughts, however, the Detective's mind was closed off to him. There had only been one human that had a mind sealed up to him, and that was Alias. Now, Alias was one of the most powerful Fallen in the group. However, the more Murdoch talked and the more Alucard could see the passion and fire in his eyes, the Detective from the future could only come to one conclusion.
He truly had found a man worth saving.
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