She borrowed the long driveway with a slow, smiling politely to people she crossed paths. She pushed the heavy gate of the cemetery and took the first gangway to the left a few meters. And then she stopped in front of a dark grave. She gently placed a white flower on the stele and she stroked the fingertips name inscribed in gold letters.
-Good morning mother, Julia whispered before getting up.
She took a deep breath and put her hands before her, without leaving the stele eyes.
-I feel quite better today, she murmured softly, it has been two weeks since Dr. Grace and Constable Crabtree watching over me. You know me, I do not like to feel overprotected and constantly monitored, but I think George needs me too. The loss of William us both greatly affected.
She paused before looking up to heaven.
-I hope you watch over him.
A small breeze twirled her hair and she smiled tenderly, then she stroked again the golden letters.
-I still have to go to his tomb soon mom, she said, smiling before leaving the driveway.
She crossed almost the entire cemetery to pray at the tomb still fresh of Detective Murdoch. Again, Julia stroked the letters on the headstone. She kissed the flower she still held in her hands and placed it on the stone, kneeling on the ground.
-Good morning my love, she whispered, you know I look better now what do you say? I finally got to sleep a full night without nightmares, of course you were with me again, she said smiling, you took me in your arms and you once again told me you loved me.
She took a long break before sighing.
-I will return to the asylum next week, it is time I return to work and that I take off this mourning clothes, she added, glancing at her dark dress, I know you understand me. I am not ready to forget you and you know I never will, but I do not want people to look at me with pity, even though my heart still bleeds.
She paused again and put her hand on the stone.
-I miss you William, I miss you so much.
The young woman looked down and remained silent, just sitting on the cool grass, one hand on the stele of her husband.
Many meters away stood a man. His gray hair rippled over his shoulders, his black hat was ensconced on his head, he was holding a cane, wearing a gray suit from head to foot, he watched with his dark eyes the young woman meditating on this grave. He could not take his eyes off her, feeling his heart break seeing, despite the distance, the pain of this young woman. He cleared his throat briefly and was about to leave his hiding place behind a family tomb when two hands grabbed violently to press him against the stone. He met the gaze of the young man who came to assault.
-Who are you sir? Constable Crabtree launched a threatening voice.
-Release me, replied the man, I have done nothing wrong.
-You follow my friend for days, said George, I have seen you many times, who are you and what do you want?
-Nothing wrong, I ...
-You will follow me to the police station.
-NO, not the police station, please you make a mistake and you put this woman in danger.
-Give me a good reason to believe you?
The man was silent for a moment before biting the lips which made shudder his gray mustache.
-I can not.
-Well, so you will follow me, insisted the young man, taking him by the arm.
-George, threw the man resisting, I beg you.
Hearing his name, he froze, frowning. And when he looked into that of the unknown in front of him, his heart skipped a beat.
- Sir? Detective? It is you?
William nodded and George immediately threw himself into his arms for a fraternal embrace.
-Mr. Oh, damn, you are alive, you ...
He walked away from him and George grinned, William smiled shyly and before he had time to say or do anything at all, the young man glanced over at Julia, who was further.
-You must go and tell her ...
-No, William cut, especially her, she should not know, she would be in danger if she knew.
-But Sir, she is devastated by your lost.
-I know, William sighed regretfully, I keep an eye on her for several days. But I also know that you watch over her. She is safe that way.
-Why making believe her that you are dead?
-Parker's case, they threatened to kill me and kill her. If I died I can investigate, find the hit man and put Julia safe, definitely.
-I saw your body on the autopsy table, Emily said your death, Inspector too.
-I will explain everything to you George, but not here, he said, glancing toward Julia a little further, come, he added, quietly leaving his hiding with his friend.
Three weeks earlier
He spent several minutes watching his wife sleep in his arms, wishing more than anything in the world to wake her dearly. Well then, finally, he got up and had prepared their breakfast. She had caught the bottom of the stairs, when he took his jacket. She had kissed him at length, it had plunged his eyes into hers and she caressed his cheek.
-I know you do not want to speak to me about that case William, she had whispered, but promise me that you do not take risks.
-I wish I could Julia, sighed the young man, more than anything in the world.
She did not answer and rested her forehead against his, stroking fingertip his neck.
-I love you, she whispered, and I have confidence in you, you will do the right thing, never forget that.
He smiled and kissed her lips before walking away and leaving the house without looking back.
It was when he arrived at the end of the driveway he saw a photograph of his wife and a man he was investigating for weeks. His decision was made at that time, he had to act. Detective Murdoch came to the office this morning heavy heart. He walked without hesitation to his superior's office and gave two small knock at the door. When he heard the voice of Brakenreid the other side, he entered and closed the door behind him. He approached the desk and put his photograph under the nose.
-Parker?
-With Julia nodded William, it is time to stop that Sir.
-Do you have a plan?
-Leave the country.
-And what will you find as an excuse for this?
-I will tell her the truth.
-Bad idea.
-Do you have another one? Willam grumbled.
-Kill you.
-Sir?
-Pretend your death, as we did with Miss Fulford. If you are dead Parker and his men will no have longer anything against you.
-You do not think about.
-I thought overnight Murdoch, insisted his superior, sitting in his chair, you only have to take a bullet, Grace will say that you are dead, we will talk about it in the newspapers and we can investigate without risk to endanger your family.
-Do dou think of Julia? William whispered.
-He will not hurt hee if you died, he did not have any reason to do it and ...
-She will be devastated, William continued in the same tone, I do not want to make this to her.
-Murdoch the O'Sheas threatened my life, my wife and my children, I know what position you are in, but ask yourself the right questions.
-The right questions?
-Do you prefer to lose her for a while and make her sad or attend her funeral and lose her forever?
William did not answer, his brain spun at full speed. He knew that his superior was right, he knew that this idea was brilliant. But he also knew that he would inflict immense pain to Julia and that he could never forgive himself. He was lost, as he never had been before. Well then the voice of Julia rang in his head.
-I trust you, you will make the right choice.
He took a deep breath and spoke again.
-Very well Sir William nodded, I will "die", and we caught Parker. I only ask one thing.
-I am listent to you.
-Give me the day off, I want to spend time with my wife.
-She should not be aware Murdoch.
-She will not, it only beteen you, me and Dr Grace. But I need to see Julia before ... disappearing.
-I understand, nodded Brakenreid, we will put the plan in place with Grace and then you are free, but be careful not to show you in public.
-By what do we start? William asked as he sat on the chair in front of his superior, heavy heart to know that he took the hardest decision of his life.
to be continued ...;)