Three days had passed. Three days where no one saw Dr. Ogden. They had no news of her, she did not take any phone call and did not open her door. Her friends then left her time, by knowing what pain she has. The woman who took care of Murdoch's home during their absence or their long days at work did not return for over a week. That Friday she arrived around 11 am. She had turned her key in the lock to step into the small house. It was quiet inside and yet the room seemed to not have been aired for days already. She walked around the ground floor for several minutes, making some order with a heavy heart to know that the man for whom she worked and who had always been honest and kind to her, was dead. She was sad to know that he left behind him a widow, a young woman he had truly loved, a young woman who, too, had loved her husband more than anything else on this Earth.
After she run the household on the ground floor, the woman up the stairs. She passed through the small room used as a library and office to the Doctor. She ventilate the guest room and the large bathroom, then she walked to the boudoir. She frowned at seeing Julia's clothes scattered around the room. She left the room, knocking at the door leading directly to the bedroom. She had no answer and so she allowed to enter. Once again the room was empty, the bed unmade, the curtains drawn. She went to the window to open and allow air to enter expenses. When she turned, she froze. Between the bed and the door leading to the small adjacent bathroom, was a body. She rushed to the young woman who was curled up on the floor in the fetal position, just wearing a man's shirt, her blond hair waving in shambles around her face. After kneeling beside her, the old woman brushed some hair to see her face.
-Madam, madam, she whispered, shaking her gently.
But Julia did not move, unconscious. She noticed her hot body and the sweat on her forehead. The low blows escaped Julia's lips barely open and yet she could not get her to wake up. She then got up and took a leap blanket on the bed to cover her, then she ran out of the bedroom, rushing down the stairs and took the phone that was in the entrance.
-Doctor Emily Grace? Said the voice of the young woman at the other end.
-Doctor, Gladys Pernot, I am at the home of Mr and Mrs. Murdoch.
-Something wrong?
-It is Madam, she is poorly Doctor. I came to the household and I found her on the floor of her bedroom, she ... she did not wake up. She is burning with fever and ...
-I am coming immediately, cut Emily before hanging up abruptly.
It took only a few short minutes to Dr. Grace to rush into the house of the Murdochs. Gladys greeted at the door and led her to the bedroom immediately.
-I did not dare to move, she said, while the young woman knelt beside the body of her friend.
-Julia, Emily whispered, laying her hand on her shoulder.
She was silent a moment before looking up the other woman.
-Go get me fresh water and wet cloths, it is necessary to lower fever.
The old woman nodded and quietly Emily turned Julia. She saw a syringe on the floor beside her. She took it and carefully examined the contents. Gladys came at her side again and put what she had on the bedside table.
-There are three others in the bathroom, she said, crossing the eyes of Emily, what is it?
-Heroine, Emily whispered, she overdosed. Help me to lay her in the bed
So they took Julia and together they lay her in the bed again and she covered her with a blanket. Emily sat on the edge of the bed next to her, holding another syringe in hand. She looked for a vein and pricked once tenderly looking at the young woman still unconscious. Then, when she had finished, she took a damp cloth and placed it on her forehead.
-Will she be alright?
-Yes, it will take a day or two, but she will recover as soon as she stopped making these injections, she will get better. I will stay with her a bit. You did well to call me if we do not intervene in time, it would have been fatal.
-I thought during a second she was dead, you know.
Emily looked up at her and nodded.
-I understand, she said softly before turning to Julia again.
-Will ... William, Julia moaned in her sleep lip and shortness of breath.
-It will be alright Julia, Emily replied, stroking her forehead, calm down.
The day of the funeral of Detective Murdoch, was gray. The sky was threatening and yet no drop of poured over the people present around the tomb of the young man. All men of the station number four were there, Mr Pendrick and Terrence Meyers too. They were many to come pay their last respects. Mrs. Murdoch was sitting next the dark coffin, unable to stand, torn by grief and too weak from last days she spent in a terrible state. But she was no longer crying. She just listened to the words of the priest in front of her, a man who had married them, a man who had so well known William for years. And when he had finished his speech, she got up somehow to put a red rose. She wobbled and Emily wanted to go to help, but George stopped immediately, taking her by the arm. One look and the young woman knew she had to leave her alone. Julia took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the coffin. She put her black-gloved hand and she just closed her eyes.
-Goodbye my love, she said lip, I love you and I always will.
She let a tear sliding down her cheek and with her lip, she touched the rose she held before placing it gently on the coffin. It took her a minute standing next to him before walking away slowly and join her friends that a little further advanced one after the other. They all left the cemetery gradually bowing one last time Julia and offering her their condolences. Then, when he was only her and her closest friends, Emily comes next to her to take her arm and help her walk. She gave one last look at the coffin before walking away with a slow, not noticing the dark figure standing a few meters away and whom had not taken his eyes off from her since the beginning of the ceremony.
Two weeks earlier
The Detective was in his office, focused on a prototype for many hours when two knocks were given at his door. He looked up at the man who was in the doorway. His superior looking at him, shaking his head from side to side slowly.
-It is almost midnight Murdoch, what are you still here at this hour?
-I was working on ...
-There has water in the gas with Mrs. Murdoch?
-No ... I did not see the time. You are right, I should go, it is getting late.
William got up and walked to the coat rack while his superior spoke again.
-This case disturbs you.
-It reminds me a little too much to the one where Anna Fulford was involved and ...
-And you are afraid that story repeats itself.
-Yes sir. Today everything is different. I have a wife and I have to protect her.
-I understand, grumbled Brakenreid.
William smiled tenderly and left the office quickly to face Higgins arrived in front of him.
-Sir, he said he aimed an envelope, it was deposited for you.
-Thank you, politely replied the young man by taking it.
The young man went away and William opened the envelope he pulled a note that read quickly. His blood ran cold, and when his eyes fell on the photograph that was slipped inside, his heart exploded in his chest. He looked up at his superior who had come at his side.
-We have a problem Sir, William muttered, handing him the photograph.
Brakenreid looked and saw Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch, entwined, sharing a tender kiss in front of their house. Then he read the words.
I know who you are Detective Murdoch, I know who is dear to you, I know all about you.
- Bloody Hell, grumbled Brakenreid watching him again.
-It is time to stop everything, William whispered, they can go after Julia and that I will not stand.
Brakenreid just nodded.
-Go home and go find your wife, we will talk about this tomorrow and we will find a solution.
With that, William left the open space, with a slow and heavy heart. He pedaled at full speed to his home. The house was plunged into darkness and found his wife asleep in bed, her face buried in the pillow, which she always did when he was not there. He prepared himself and rejoined the bed. He then took her tenderly in his arms, noticing again how she had to tighten against him. She stroked the fingertips the silver cross he had around his neck and placed a tender kiss on his chest.
-You are there, she sighed sleepily without opening her eyes.
-I am, William replied before kissing her and tighten his grip around her, I will always be there.
to be continued ...