Night began to fall on the city when the young woman burst into the police station number four. She threw look neither to the right nor to the leftmissing Constable Crabtree and rush into the office of the Inspector Brakenreid.
-Emily? George threw stunned before following her.
She came in a jump in the office, without bothering to knock or announce herself.
-Inspector I need to see you urgently, she said in one breath.
She then froze up to see his superior black eyes toward her.
-Doctor Grace, he said in a deep voice, I have a door you know. And at the door before you enter, you hit, you do not enter in my office without having been invited.
-It is an emergency sir, gasped the young woman, I just saw the Doctor Ogden and ...
Brakenreid looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.
-I am against plug your old women's tales ...
-It is Newport, Emily cut on a lower tone before crossing the eyes of his superior, he is in contact with her. For some time now.
-Bloody Hell, threw Brakenreid, Crabtree close the door, he ordered the young man who stood in the doorway a little further.
The young man complied and walked to the desk before Emily regains not speak louder than a whisper.
-Julia told me she attended for some time, he woos her.
-So soon after burying her husband?
-There is not the issue, they see themselves in public.
-She knows who he is? Asked the highest ranking man.
-No, she feels something for him but she did not know. Everything must say sir.
-I know Ogden, launched Brakenreid laughing, for anything I want to be the one who tells her that her husband is alive and hiding under another identity. I value my life, mind you.
-Have you brought down the (network)?
-Not yet, sighed George, we lack evidence about Parker and he seems to have left town.
-But how long will you play this dangerous game? He had to leave henchmen in Toronto and if they discover that the Detective ...
-They are moved on Doctor, muttered Brakenreid, Murdoch just still hide a few months and ...
-We do not have a few months! Emily retorted violently. You do not understand, they put their lives in danger and their love too.
-Keep the violin.
-She is right sir, whispered George, the Detective follows the Doctor for weeks since the funeral. He watches over her, but he could endanger if someone notice it.
-Did you know? Emily threw furious, turning to him.
-Yes, he told me the day he told me the whole thing. He is crazy in love with her, said George, I can understand that he acts as well.
-Oh God, cried Emily, but you are all idiots my word? Julia wanted to commit suicide, she nearly died because she could not bear to live with the pain of losing the love of her life and you say that the Detective act Inspector as he should? You must go and tell him to not see the doctor, she said to the attention of Brakenreid, not only because they can destroy their marriage because of this lie, but because they are playing a dangerous game and that they can lose their lives. The Doctor appointment at the theater in two hours, I tried to dissuade her not to go, but she will probably not listen to me.
With that, Emily left the office at a run, leaving the two men a little perplexed.
-Do you think she is right? Grumbled Brakenreid watching George.
-Yes sir. While Parker is no longer in town, nothing tells us that he did not leave a man follow the Doctor to watch her for a while. If he found that the Detective is alive, they are both in danger and we have done all this for nothing.
-Damn, grumbled Brakenreid going around his desk, I will find Murdoch and ring the bells, go to asylum and keep an eye on Ogden.
-Alright Sir, George nodded.
-These two... I swear, Brakenreid muttered under his breath as he left the room with quick steps.
The young man played nervously with his watch chain he consulted regularly. He politely greeted those who entered the theater next to which he was. That was fifteen minutes he had an appointment with the young woman and after all these years he knew her, she had never been late to any of their appointment, except that night. He turned all the assumptions in his head, yet he could not find an explanation. But he could not bring himself to leave the theater before seeing her, even if the play would start five minutes later.
-Sir, did you fire please? Said a deep voice beside him.
He turned to its origin and froze.
-What are you doing here Sir, William whispered, looking around.
-She will not come, continued his superior, Grace convinced her not to join you.
-What did you say? Who is she ...
-Listen, I did not interfere in these stories of women and I do not know what they said, but the Doctor Ogden does not know who you are and Parker left town. That is not why you should not be careful. You risk your life every second and mine too into the bargain.
-Parker has nothing against you, he ...
-Ogden will kill me when she finds, cut his superior, and she will kill you too, especially if you are dating her in this outfit. Do you only imagined what state she will be learning the truth?
-I was not going to tell her, at least not right away, James Newport was supposed to disappear the day I will not have to hide anymore.
-Stop lies, return to the hotel and stop to meet her. We will see you tomorrow at noon for details, but then I advise you to leave the city.
William remained silent for a long time to scan the area before sighing deeply.
-You probably right, I should not have.
They were silent for a while politely greeting the people passing next to them in so far as lower their vigilance and scanning the surroundings.
-But what happened in your head? Brakenreid whispered after a while.
-I was missing her, I needed to be with her even if she did not know who I was, I watched over her and in return she spoke, she smiled at me.
He met the gaze of his superior and he just nodded.
-Good night, sir, he said simply passing next to him to borrow the sidewalk and leave the theater with a slow, heavy heart.
Brakenreid remained a few moments in front of the building, looking at his colleague and friend leave, then he sighed deeply and partly in the other direction, toward the nearest pub.
The woman held her breath, her back against the brick wall, hidden in the dark, in the deserted alley. She was too far away to hear the words of the two men, but she was perfectly well recognized; James Newport and Inspector Brakenreid.
When Julia had left the asylum, she knew she was making a mistake. She had spent long minutes lost in thought after the departure of Emily, why then, she had decided to go at her appointment. She wanted to see this man in front of her to make a decision, she needed to meet his eyes, to hear his voice to be convinced it was the right choice. She was going to ask him to leave her life, to forget, to release her and she would have done just as much. She loved her husband too much to consider to forget him in the arms of another man, even if her body and her heart seemed to shout the opposite. Julia came to bid him farewell, but when she saw with her friend, she was just frozen in place. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was hiding, watching them, understanding that these two men had to know.
She stood there lost in thought, bringing her hand to her neck to slide the silver cross of William through her fingers. She looked up to heaven and she pursed her lips a moment before throwing another look down the street to see James turn the corner.
-Who are you James Newport? She murmured to herself before leaving her hiding place and follow him discreetly and good remote.
She did it on several streets, always in fear that he does notice her. When she saw him enter the hotel, she could not help smiling shyly. The Queens Hotel the sign gently swayed above the street and memories came back to her.
-The Queens Hotel, she said, laughing, William, why come here for our anniversary?
-It is where I spent my first night with you, is was that night I watched you sleep for the first time.
-Really?
-You have never known, that was my secret. The Queens Hotel is a special place for me, for us and I want that every wedding anniversary we were there. I even brought absinthe and peanut butter sandwiches.
-Ooooh William, launched Julia laughed before kissing him, have you thought dominoes?
-I have much more to offer you tonight my love, he replied with a smile on his lips before kissing.
Then they crossed the street hand in hand to enter the hotel which meant so much to them.
to be continued ...