The young woman had gone to bed late that night. She had spent long minutes, alone in her room, reading a book on her sofa. Well then, fatigue began to tug. She closed her eyes for a few seconds.
A hand gently on her shoulder and slipped on her arm. A warm breath was lost in her neck and she knew that voice sounded in her ear.
-You are exhausted my love, William whispered, go to bed, you have a long day that awaits you tomorrow.
Julia sighed deeply and she opened her eyes again, tightening the fingers on the blanket around her, in the exact spot where she had felt the hand of her husband a few seconds earlier. Then she got up, she put her book down on the table and left the room with a slow. She took one last look before turning off the light and go upstairs.
She was sitting in the bed, tying the ribbon at the last end of the long unruly mat she was doing for many minutes. When she had finished, she let her hands fall on the cover.
-You know how much I love to see you as well, said the voice of William close to her.
She turned her face toward the place where he slept for years and she just smiled, crossing his eyes.
-You always said that I did not need anything but my nightgown to find me the most beautiful of all women. But you hastened you to retire it, said Julia, smiling.
He smiled and she slipped between the sheets without leaving his eyes. Remaining silent for minutes playing with the silver cross she wore around her neck.
-About what are you thinkig about? Asked her husband.
-I am afraid to not be able to do it , William. I'm afraid of not being strong enough to get my life without you.
-All will be well, you know your patients need you and you know you are better with them, doing what you love. You know it darling.
-You are not here, you are not in that bed with me, your words are the ones I want to hear. And you do not know how much I suffer, how this lack consuming me from inside, nobody knows. I talk to a ghost, you are in my head.
-And in your heart, said the young man, I will always be in your heart.
-I need more than that William, protested Julia, I can not continue to live in our memories, imagining myself to talk to you as I do.
-What tell you your heart?
She sighed deeply, biting her lip for a moment and looking at the white ceiling.
-That I must not give up hope yet, you know it is silly, she said, looking at him again, I know it is hopeless. In my heart I can not believe you are dead, that I will never see you. I feel able to meet you at the corner of the street, that you are going to appear at the front door and take me in your arms. My heart tells me I will find you. But this is false. I know I have to learn to live without you, but I can not. I just can not do.
-I am here, I will always be there.
She was silent a moment, looking at the face of the man lying beside her and then slowly, she put her hand to him. When she should have felt her fingers caressing his skin, William disappeared and her fingers closed on the pillow where she stuffed her face.
-I can not do, sobbed the woman, not without you.
-You are Strong Julia, said the voice of William in her ear, I trust you. You will do it my love.
Dr. Grace was at her autopsy for many minutes already, when the young man came in and walked over to her quickly.
-George? She said with surprise by let falling her instrument.
-Good morning Emily.
-What can I do for you?
-Answer a question.
She frowned and he continued.
-How do you think Dr. Ogden is these days?
-Well I have not seen her since Monday when we had tea together. She seemed to go well, at least she was better. Since she takes no more heroin, she seems to recover.
George did not answer and put in front of her to the Toronto Gazette appeared that morning.
-And how do you think she will react to this?
Emily leaned over the article and read it aloud.
-The Death of Detective Mudoch still not elucidated. It seems that the police are not able to find a suspect in the case, leaving the entire police in turmoil. How a man like Murdoch has been shot in a dark alley in the city no track is highlighted? Does Police lost her best Detective, only able to unravel the mystery of his own death? Inspector Brakenreid refuses to comment. Married to Dr. Julia Ogden, former medical examiner at the station number four, now a psychiatrist at the asylum of the city, the Detective leaves a sad widow. But does she so devastated as it seems? Indeed, Ogden has been involved in the death of her first husband, the respected director of the hospital for children Victoria, the murdered Dr. Garland there a few years. And if Julia Ogden was simply the "Black Widow", ready to do away with all the men who would approach? No need to note that she has indeed inherited a big windfall for the death of her first husband. A police Detective does not earn thousands dollars, but who knows what motivates the one that is now called "The Black Widow".
Emily looked up at George before speaking again.
-The Black Widow? But how they were able to write this?
-If the Doctor seen ...
-She will be destroyed, finished Emily, she has never fully recovered from her imprisonment. She has always felt guilty for the death of Darcy and today ...
-You have to tell her Emily, cut George, you have to tell her that ...
-I DO NOT! Scolded the young woman looking around them to be sure they were not heard. It is out of question, she says as low a whisper, she should not know.
-I am worried about her Emily, George replied in the same tone, the Doctor is fragile.
-I know, but she does not have to know, not until that we have not completed this case. She would be in danger if she knew. Is ... he continues to follow her?
-He keeps an eye on her every day, he says he can not bring himself to stop. I continue to do it too for time to time so Parker's men not attack her but I would do so much more for them.
-Find the culprit, or drop the network. Only that can do to bring them together again George. But do not tell anyone, not even Doctor Ogden or otherwise they will be in danger both.
-I know Emily, I know.
The two young men were silent a moment, staring into them than the other. And finally the young woman pretended to have to back to work and George left the morgue again, giving her a glance before letting the door close behind him. He was determined to continue the investigation and to silence this journalist who dared to say such things about people he admired and respected as his friends.
Julia had been welcomed by some of her colleagues but it was not very long haunted the corridors of asylum. She had quickly taken refuge in her office, where she felt at peace. She went at once to the round table in the center of it to see the files accumulated since her absence. She put her business, her hat and coat and took a first package, casting a glance at the daily newspaper that she probably read later in the morning. Two knocks were given at the door and she turned around, giving a tender smile to the young woman.
-Good morning Doctor.
-Hello Adelaide, Julia replied smiling, how are you?
-Fine Madam.
They remained silent for a while and Julia was lost to look at the picture of her marriage enthroned proudly on her desk. The young woman then cleared her throat and spoke again.
-Do you want me to bring you some tea?
-Oh yes, why not, thank you.
They exchanged glances and Dr. Ogden went to work for several hours, in silence, alone in her office, lost in her records, finally forgetting her husband for a while. This was when the chapel bell rang asylum noon, she decided to take a break. She got up, stretched a bit and headed for the table center of the room. She took the newspaper she flipped through to get to the third page, where a name caught her attention, Detective Murdoch. She read carefully the little article, feeling her heart sink in her chest.
-The Black Widow, she whispered in tears, ready to put away with all the men who would approach.
She quickly closed the newspaper to throw it into a corner, then she went to her coak rack to take her business.
-I go out for lunch Adelaide, she said simply passing next to the young woman who did not even have time to answer her.
Julia left the asylum at lightning speed. And it was not until she was in the street she finally caught her breath, feeling her heart exploded in her chest. She regained consciousness a few seconds before moving with slow steps towards the city center. Well then, she crossed the people, people who were watching her with a bad air, entwined couples. Never as today she had the impression that the whole world talk about her. Perhaps these people do not they knew who she was, perhaps they did eventually. She had never really paid attention to the eyes and criticism of her fellows, but that day, her heart was bleeding.
-What did I become? She whispered. I can not do William, I am sorry.
She looked at the crowd around her, standing on the sidewalk, staring across the street. She once saw the silhouette of her husband, smiling. She took a deep breath, she knew she was about to do the right choice. The carriage arrived at full speed, and a second later, Julia closed her eyes, taking a step on the road.
-Everything end now, she thought.
to be continued ...