Bloodlust II

Chapter 4

First thing the next morning Julia was at the station. Brackenreid ushered her into his office.

"I want to assure you, Dr. Ogden, that we are putting the whole station into finding Murdoch. And...all the other stations have been alerted too. We will find him."

Julia sat quietly while he spoke, but then she stood up, addressing the inspector.
"Find him, Inspector. Sooner rather than later. Or I will."

"It's our top priority, Doctor." Then in a softer voice,"I want to find him too."

By the time Arlene returned, Murdoch was so stiff and achy he could hardly move at all. As she descended the ladder another person handed down a tray of food to her, then withdrew the ladder.

"Good morning, William. Did you sleep well?"

"No, I did not. Take off these shackles," he huffed.

"Please?"

"Please take off these shackles."

"Will you be good? There is someone else here, you know. You cannot escape."

"Yes, yes. Just unlock them."

Taking a key from around her neck, Arlene slowly unlocked each handcuff. William cried out as his arms dropped leadenly to his sides, his wrists bloody rings.
Arlene frowned. She hadn't intended to cause him so much pain. However, she did have a gun tucked in the waistband of her skirt...just in case.
When his legs were untied he sat up slowly, swinging them over the side of the bed. He sat there motionless, afraid to move right away. He knew he would not be able to overtake Arlene, at least until his poor stiff body had some time to loosen up. His shoulder throbbed, as did his head. Arlene set the tray of food down, approaching him cautiously.

"Let me clean your wrists up."

"No. That's alright. Get some water and a cloth. I'll do it myself." He couldn't help but sound aggravated and angry.

"Now, William. Don't be cross. I'm sorry you're hurt. I want to help you."

"You want to help? Then let me go, before you get yourself in more trouble than you can imagine. Kidnapping will send you back to prison. And this time your money might not help."

"My! We are out of sorts today."

As William scowled, she poured a basin of water from the pitcher on the table. William slowly approached and then plunged his hands in the soothing liquid. The water turned pink before he lifted out his hands to dry them on the towel nearby.

"Let me bandage you."

"No, I'm fine."

"Then I will leave your food. I'll be back later. Perhaps you'll be in a more receptive mood."
Arlene yelled out for the ladder, and the trap door opened as the ladder was lowered.

Instead of leaving the station immediately, Julia pulled George aside.
"George, you and I are going to find William."

"We are, Doctor?"

"Yes, George. First let's go over again William's actions when he stopped here."

"But we've done that. He stopped by for a few minutes and then he left."

"But who was here? Let's find each and every man that spoke to him or even just saw him."

"Alright, Doctor. Come to the detective's office and we can use his blackboard to keep track."

A light went on when they at last tracked down Sergeant Mead and discovered the mysterious message that Julia was supposed to have left.

"George. That wasn't me. I didn't leave him a message."

"So we traced the wrong route. Let's go, Doctor. We're onto something now."

"Oh, George. I hope so."

The road toward Cooks Inn was in the opposite direction of the ferry. George and Julia repeated their process from earlier, asking people along the way if they had seen the detective riding his bicycle. And indeed they encountered a few who had. Just outside of town a mile from the inn they made an ominous discovery, William's bicycle, tossed to the side of the road in the brush.

"Doctor, the bike is damaged, as if it's been hit."

"George, maybe he's hurt. Look around. He could still be here, unconscious or incapacitated."

After searching for over an hour, they found only one sign of William, his hat.

"Let's think for a moment. He was lured out here by someone. Who could that have been?" Julia queried.

Murdoch wondered if there was more than one other person here. He didn't think so. Also, he suspected that the other person was also a woman. The next time Arlene came down he was prepared to subdue her. He would hold her hostage until the accomplice lowered the ladder to him. Or so he thought.

"Arlene, why are you wasting your time with this man? He's not going to leave his wife."

"Of course he will. He just needs time."

"Someone will come looking for him, you know."

"They won't find him."

"They might."

"Really, Abby! If you are not going to help me, then go."

"No...no...I'll help you. I'd do anything for you."

"Good. Let's continue."