Chapter 5: The hospital

He felt numb and his shoulder feels like as if a sharp object was lodged into it. He couldn't move much, as any movement will make his shoulder hurt even more.

When the first gunshot rang out, the first thing that caught his mind was to push Emily onto the ground. As he did so, he felt something hitting his shoulder at an enormous speed. Looking at his shoulder, he noted that it has begun to bleed.

In pain, he fell to the ground, landing on Emily in the process, and was unable to move due to the pain.

The last thing he heard before blacking out was a police whistle.

Detective Murdoch and Doctor Ogden arrived at Toronto General Hospital's emergency ward. They proceeded straight to the hospital room Inspector Brackenreid mentioned that Constable Crabtree is at.

When they arrive at the doorway, they were greeted by a doctor.

"Detective Murdoch?" The doctor asked.

"That's me." Murdoch replied.

"Doctor Franklin Campbell." The doctor said as he shook hands with Murdoch and Ogden. "I am sorry about what happened to your constable."

"How is George?" Doctor Ogden asked.

"He's still in a coma. However, he would've been in a much worst state if it weren't for Doctor Grace, who arrived with him."

"Doctor Grace is here?" Murdoch asked.

"Yes. She's currently sitting by his side."

"May we?" Ogden asked, her hand gesturing towards George's room.

"Certainly."

Soon, Murdoch and Ogden enters George's room. In addition to Doctor Grace, they also saw Constable Higgins, Constable Jackson, Inspector Brackenreid, Mrs. Brackenreid and a few constables from Station House Three in the room with George.

"Murdoch." Brackenreid said as Murdoch crossed himself.

"Hello, sir. How long has George been here?" Murdoch asked as Ogden moved to comfort Emily, who had tears in her eyes and is accompanied by Mrs. Brackenreid.

"He arrived with Doctor Grace about half-an-hour ago, sir." Henry replied, and Murdoch can see the troubling look on his face.

"I see." Murdoch nodded. "Where's Inspector Davis?"

"He's coming over soon, Detective." One of the lads from Station House Three replied. "We manage to catch the coward that did this, and he is currently in custody."

"Oh." Murdoch said, raising an eyebrow. "Who initially responded to the shooting?"

"I did." Another constable from Station House Three said, stepping forward. "I was patrolling the nearby street when the shots rang out."

"I see." Murdoch nodded. "And your name is?"

"Constable Greg Lawson." Lawson replied.

"Alright, Constable Lawson." Brackenreid says. "Care to tell us what happened?"

"I'd be happy to, inspector."

As Constable Lawson gives Murdoch and Brackenreid a short but complete resume on what had happened, Ogden came to Margaret and Emily.

"Julia. Thank you for coming." Margaret smiled.

"No need to thank me." Julia smiled sadly. "I should thank you for your support, Margaret."

"Oh, that won't be necessary. I only hope Constable Crabtree recovers from this." Margaret replied. "I think you should do something to Doctor Grace, in the meantime. She doesn't seem confortable."

Julia nodded as she placed her hand on Emily's back gently.

Emily looked up as Julia said, "Emily, I understand you were with George when it happened. It must have been traumatic to witness such a thing."

"It is." Emily said between sobs. "I can't let George leave me like this, not at a time when we just found each other again after what we have went through."

"Don't worry, Emily." Julia said reassuringly. "George is a strong man. He will recover from this."

Julia said the words, but deep down even she has doubts on whether George can survive.

"It is just that he have agreed to restart our relationship moments before he got shot." Emily said. "And now that he have gotten into this mess, I really don't know what to do, other than praying that he survives."

"Well, Emily, you're not the only person who is praying for George to survive. I just want you to know that you will always have my sympathies." Julia reassured her as Margaret nodded at her.

"Oh, thank you, Julia, Mrs. Brackenreid." Emily replied. "There's never been someone who is a great friend than you, as well as being supportive as Mrs. Brackenreid."

"There's no need to thank us, Emily. That's what friends are for." Margaret smiled.

Emily nodded.

After a while, Julia asked, "Emily, sorry for asking but what happened at the park?"

"Well, George was planning to escort me home when the first shot was fired. The bullet hit my purse, though." Emily said as she showed Julia the bullet hole in her purse. "Then, George pushed me to the ground just as the second shot was fired. It was that shot that hit him, causing him to fall on me. It was then that we heard police whistles."

"I see." Julia nodded. "Well, at least they managed to caught the coward that did it, so the only thing you need to pray for is George waking up."

Meanwhile, Constable Lawson had finished his description of events to Murdoch and Brackenreid when Inspector Davis arrived.

"Davis." Brackenreid says.

"Brackenreid." Davis replied as he shook Brackenreid's hand. "I'm terribly sorry on what happened to Constable Crabtree."

"Well, at least you have the bloody coward that did it in your cell, Davis." Brackenreid said.

"True." Davis nodded. "However, we weren't able to get much from him. He asked for a lawyer as soon as my men locked him up."

"Oh?" Murdoch asked, raising an eyebrow. "Were you able to get his identity, sir?"

"Yes." Davis replied. "The man goes by the name of Mack Bush, a petty crook that has done some time in Buffalo prisons south of the border."

"What crimes are you talking about?" Brackenreid asked.

"Well, he did time for theft and manslaughter, sirs." Lawson replied. "However, you should note that there was something odd about those cases: The time he served in prison."

"What about it?" Brackenreid asked.

"He managed to get off with a two-year sentence for that manslaughter case instead of the minimum seven-years." Davis replied.

"How come?" Murdoch asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He had a pretty good lawyer who managed to convince the judge to give him a break, sir." Lawson replied.

"Bloody lawyer." Brackenreid muttered in frustration. "Now that his client has threatened the life of an officer of the law, how is he going to explain himself?"

Meanwhile, in another part of town, a figure sitting at a desk in a dark area was reading the evening newspaper.

"POLICE CONSTABLE SHOT

Constable George Crabtree of Station House Four shot in park while off-duty"

"That clumsy idiot! Why did he race towards the creek?" The figure muttered in frustration as he read the news.

At that moment, the telephone on his desk rang, and he reached over to answer it.

"Yes, speaking."

Pause.

"Oh, I see."

Pause.

"Alright. I'll be right over."

After hanging up the phone, he then turned to another figure that had just entered the room.

"Joe, now is the opportunity to finish off what Mack has failed to accomplish. Make sure that constable's room is unguarded and have the needle ready."

That figure nodded and then left the room.

The figure in the room then grabbed his dark grey coat and fedora and made his way out. Along the way, he passed by a framed photo of Doctor Darcy Garland and whispered, "I'll make sure that detective and that traitorous ex-wife of yours gets taught a lesson through my plan to hurt their close friend, my dear brother."

He then quietly exited the office.

Sure wonder who is that figure?

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