Chapter 26:

"Julia…" William began.

The young woman turned her head towards him again, challenged.

"I…" he hesitated, then finally pulled the watch out of his pocket. "I found your watch."

Julia looked at the watch and looked up at him, stunned.

"You found it…" repeated the young doctor.

William watched in amazement as tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at the watch as if it were a dream.

"But…how…well where?"

"I'm sorry... You were right... Someone stole it from you."

Julia looked up at the young man, in shock.

"I really wasn't being nice to you when you were looking for help. I should have listened to you and done my job…"

"You didn't know me, William. Especially after the scene I made when the train left, that shouldn't make you want to help me." Julia replied kindly, her gaze still fixed on her watch in the young man's hand.

"Maybe, but I took it personally when I should have…just done my job." the young man hesitated.

"It's forgotten." Julia smiled at him. "You brought it to me, and you have no idea what it means to me."

"I think I can. I saw a picture inside of two little girls. I recognized you…"

"Yes, it's a photo of my little sister Ruby and me." laughed the young woman. "This is a picture my dad took of us… I had just won a stupid mini miss contest at school. I think that was the only time my father was proud of me…"

William watched the young woman sigh in sadness, his heart sinking. He could well imagine that Julia's family had not jumped for joy when they learned that she wanted to be a doctor.

"Yet he has much to be proud of." said William, without appeal.

"That's nice..." she smiled uneasily. "My mother gave me this watch. She had it engraved with my initials, and she asked to put this picture on it… I miss her…"

William lowered his head. Her mother had also died years ago...

"Finally!" Julia inspired to change the subject. "You were telling me that someone had stolen it from me. Who did that?"

"Oh… actually…" William hesitated. Should he tell her the truth? "It was…Colleen Forbes." finally yielded the young man, under the inquisitive gaze of Julia.

"Colleen Forbes?! The young red-haired woman? But…" Julia considered. "Oh! I just got it. I had completely forgotten!"

"What?"

"When I left my compartment to complain about the delay of the train on the first day, I had passed her. She was in the middle of the hallway and completely blocking the way, so I tried to sneak past her. She did it on purpose. She stole my watch at that moment! I had completely forgotten having met her." Julia explained in shock.

"Yes… She is very strong. It was she who had stolen Madam Hébert's dog."

"Isn't that true?!" replied the young woman rhetorically with shock. "So, she's in… How do you say? Pending arrest?"

"No… Unfortunately, she is an extremely influential woman, with very good connections. I am convinced that she stole almost everything she has and that she owes her fortune only to her thefts… But I have no proof and I will not be able to obtain any. Also, the watch and the dog are way too explainable… Sometimes I can't do anything… But I'll keep watching her to try to catch her in the act." William developed.

Julia nodded, impressed by the young man's intelligence and professionalism.

"How did you find my watch and the little dog?" asked curiously the young woman who finally took the pocket watch in her hands.

William moved slightly, uncomfortably. What was he going to tell her? He could not tell her what really happened? Could he? The young woman turned her head towards William when she heard no response from him. She frowned.

"I... After dinner the second night... I..." he cleared his throat. "She took me to her room and we…"

"Oh, I see." Dr. Ogden cut in, looking down at her watch.

William remained silent, ashamed. He did not know what the young woman was thinking, but he thought he had done well to tell her the truth.

"I almost got lost with Mr. Duval the other day… When you came knocking on my door after dinner the second day." Julia confessed halfheartedly.

The detective focused his gaze on the lake and took a shaky breath to imagine Julia and this man… He frowned in jealousy. He needed to relax. Finally, you could say they were equal. He could not blame her. But he could hate Mr. Duval and it did him good. He finally refocused his gaze on Julia who was still staring at her watch in her hand. Taken with a rush; he caressed her lightly and furtively on the cheek, causing her to look up at him, pleasantly surprised.

"But… That means you found my watch almost four days ago…"

Why was she so smart, William wondered, wincing inwardly.

"Yes… In reality, the evening when I knocked on your door, I came to apologize and give it back to you… Then the door opened, and it was Mr. Duval who welcomed me… I have a little… lost my mind. I don't know...it upset me to be honest." finally confessed the young man feeling more and more stupid.

Julia says nothing. She grabbed William's left arm again and rested her head on his shoulder again. The detective finally relaxed as all the unsaid finally seemed to have settled down.

Note: So? What do you think of this progress in their relationship? :)