Chapter 23

William sat, dumbstruck at the story that George was spilling out in front of him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ruby was pregnant, and he was the father. In her panic Ruby had gone to Julia for help. However Mr. Ogden had some how found out. Now Ruby and Julia were under house arrest by their father, because, as George had quoted, 'He no longer wanted either of them fraternising with men, un-betrothed. He had forbidden George to see Ruby, and it was clearly tearing him apart. 'I love her Sir, I plan to ask for her hand. I fear I have ruined everything...' he said through a half sob. William wasn't sure how to react. He had never had to deal with someone in this state before. 'Do you know where they are George?' he asked quietly. The constable shook his head. 'I received a message from Dr. Ogden telling me the reason why Ruby could no longer see me, and that she needed me to pick up some medical supplies, but when I got to the Ogden household I was refused entry and the housemaid said that Mr. Ogden and his daughters had already gone. I have no idea where they are...' he said heartbroken. William looked down at the table. Mr. Ogden had many acquaintances, he could have taken them anywhere to try and keep them away. William quickly went to the hall and grabbed his coat scarf and hat. George stood and followed him. 'Are we going somewhere Sir?' he asked tentatively. William nodded. 'We are going to visit the Ogden household, and if necessary, force our presence there by law. I need to get to the bottom of this.

By the time they reached the Ogden household, it was pitch black and the snow was falling thick and fast. William and George quickly made their way up the driveway and to the main entrance to the large manor house. William rapped hard on the door and waited for an answer. The maid that he had encountered earlier answered. 'If you are back to see Mr. Ogden, or his daughters, I already told you that they are not here.' she said bluntly. 'No, actually I am here on police business, and I ask you give us entry as I would like to question you on the kidnapping of Ruby and Julia Ogden. Her face suddenly went slack and looked sheepish, she opened the door further and granted them entry. 'I would like to question you miss, and be warned, if you do not tell me the truth, or try and brush us off, you will be at the hands of the law. This is a very serious matter, and if you do not help us, I will be forced to tear every last piece of this house down to find out where they are. Mark my words.' William said in a threatening whisper. He was no longer concerned with being the polite gentleman. Julia and Ruby's safety was all he cared about now.

The maids face had gone ghost white and she had plopped herself down in an arm chair in the entrance hall. 'I honestly don't know where they have gone. But both Ogden sisters are not with their father. He left before they did. And other man came and collected them both, but I do not believe they wished to go. The younger Miss Ogden was unconscious and was lifted into the carriage, Miss Julia was forced in the carriage and had her hands and mouth bound. She was talking though sobs now. Mr Ogden said that if I dared let you in or told you anything I would loose not only my job but my life. He has so much power I believe its gone to his head. He has become somewhat tyrannical. The older Miss Ogden knew this, that's why I believed she hasn't come to see him in nearly a year. But when the younger Miss Ogden brought the constable here- she gestured towards George- I believe it pushed him over the edge. I'm sorry I cant tell you where he has gone, or where he has taken them, but I will find the key to his office to let you look around, and maybe you will find something...I am worried for the safety of those girls. I fear he believe they will tarnish his reputation. I don't know he is capable of any more.' she finished by putting her head in her hands, as the weight of what she knew was lifted. William was practically seething and Georges eyes had glazed over and was just staring straight ahead.

The maid had let them into Mr. Ogden's office and William and George were frantically looking through every piece of paperwork they could find. Through draws, files, cabinets everything they could find, William was sat behind the desk and was on the telephone talking to the operator on the other end, and writing down the last connections that Mr. Ogden had made from this telephone. One in particular caught his attention. A telephone call to a certain person that William remembered had been suspiciously close to a few kidnapping cases before. Not directly involved, but still questionably odd why Mr. Ogden would be speaking to him.. and William was sure that if a job needed to be done, then this man could probably put you into contact with someone who could get the job done. William thanked the operator and snatched up the piece of paper. He and George rushed back to the police station to find an address for the man in question. Sat in the carriage, and silence settled over them, William had the sneaking suspicion that both he and George would be working well into the night to get to the bottom of this.

William woke up with his head stuck to his desk. It was still dark. George was face down on his desk too, the book he was reading still in his hand. William quickly looked at his pocket watch. It was 5.14 in the morning. He pulled out all the paperwork he had been looking through, including the address of the man who Mr. Ogden had made numerous phone calls to. He went to George and gently nudged him awake. They both left the Station House and hailed for a carriage and made their way to the address William was clutching tightly in his hand. He had put the thoughts of Julia out of his head, but it was eating him away inside, and he was silently praying that she was alright.

But if she wasn't. There would be hell to pay.