The night was short for Detective Murdoch. He had spent the evening with his family, he did not want to put Roland in bed and Julia had to intervene so that both will finally subside. They then sat on the sofa together entwined, while William was reading a story to the little boy he fell asleep. After he came in the dreamsland, the couple had watched him sleep a few minutes before going to bed and close the bedroom door. They exchanged a glance, but a look that said it all. William drew Julia on the sofa again, she sat on his lap and they had made love tenderly, passionately, several times, most of the night, before falling asleep at dawn, exhausted.
William felt soreness on his entire body, he would arrive late at the police station, taking time to get up that morning, giving a few minutes to watch at his wife sleeping at his side. He was busy waking up Roland, dress him, feed him and he was about to leave the suite with him when Julia came into the living room. She was pale and William noticed her fatigue.
-I am going to drop Roland at Mrs. Brakenreid, take your time this morning, had said William stroked her cheek, you do not look good today.
-I do not feel very good, Julia grumbled, but you're going to be late William. And Detective Murdoch is never late.
-If the Inspector asks me, I will say that I spent the most exquisite night with my wife and we made love for hours, William whispered to Julia's lips before kiss.
-I think that's what we did, Julia replied smiling.
He smiled back and kissed her cheek.
- See you later, William gave away.
-See you later, replied Julia, see you this evening little angel, she added, caressing the hand of Roland in the pram and he smiled widely.
When he entered on the ope space of the police station, it took only a short time to Brakenreid to fall on him.
-An hour delay Murdoch, he said, trying to hide his smile, I almost asked to Crabtree to pick you up, it never happens before, apart from once, the day after the birthday of Doctor. I think, added his superior by making him a wink.
-Roland has had a bad night, grumbled William who would not talk about his private business with his wife to his superior.
-The charming Doctor is not there yet either, retorted Brakenreid, I'm a married man since longer than you Murdoch , I know what it is. And if you want my advice, when you lie, ask your wife to give you a little makeup to hide the red marks she could do to you in the neck.
At these words, William veered scarlet, he had not thought of that. He knew he always left little marks of tender bites on the body of Julia when they were making love and she always hid them in her neck with a little foundation, but it was more rare to him in that location.
-There is no shame to honor your wife Murdoch, he says with a laugh, but be on time.
-Yes Sir, William growled.
-Jackson Higgins and you are expect to Queens Park, a corpse, I had Dr. Ogden at the phone, she goes there directly. Take Crabtree, I do not know what he has today, he does not seem out of sorts.
William simply nodded to watch the young Constableb sat at his desk and looking thoughtful. George jumped when Brakenreid called and quickly arrived near them. Then they went out into the stables, got into a carriage and took the road to Queens Park, in silence. George kept throwing a few glances at William, who himself, watching the landscape scroll.
-Sir, ventured George, I ... I have to tell you something.
-I listening George, replied William.
-It's about ... Yesterday, the case.
-I no longer wish to speak about it.
-You can not act as if nothing had happened, sir, replied George, a family is looking for this child and it is not ... right. You always listen justice, you're the most honest man I know and you know I'm right.
-I know it, confessed William, but this child has become ours, if you see the smile of Julia when she is with him, when he is used against her. I want to keep Roland, and yet I have to keep telling myself that if we had our own child and he had to disappear, we would like a person to bring him back to us.
-I did not burn the file Sir, murmured George, I keep it in my desk drawer, I could not bring myself to.
-And I regret having asked you, said William plunging his eyes into his, it's up to me to solve all of this, it is mine ...duty to... contact this family. It's just that ... Julia ...
-The Doctor will understand.
-I am not sure, sighed William, this might be our only chance to have a child, and she'll never adopt another baby.
George did not answer. He knew what was to experience his superior and friend in that moment, what he had to do a difficult choice. He was cursed by fate, why it seemed to always go after these people, why happiness never lasted long for them? His heart broke seeing Detective Murdoch back tears, turning his head toward the window of the carriage of modesty. He sighed deeply and the trip ended in total silence. It was only when the horse stopped and William opened the door to see Julia leaning over a body a little farther, he turned to George and soke again.
-Do not talk about this to Julia.
-Of course, sir.
William smiled and second after they left the carriage to head the young woman a little further. Dr. Ogden immediately noticed the presence of her husband and she looked up at him, giving him a huge smile and a tender look.
-You are finally here Detective , she said in a seductive voice, you did not get up on time this morning?
-Can we come to the causes of death Doctor, please? William asked with a voice choked in his throat.
Julia then drove her smile and she frowned. Something must have happened between leaving the hotel and this moment, because her husband was totally different. She kept her gaze still immersed in his few moments, and William left hers ill-at-ease, to put it on the body. She regained consciousness and began her findings, methodical manner, detached and professional.
Detective Murdoch had just hung up the phone with a heavy heart. He had plunged into a whole new investigation all day but he could not escape his duty. He had contacted the police station having received the complaint about the disappearance of Miss Penny and Roland in Montreal. He explained in detail what had happened, that the child was healthy, placed in a foster home but that his mother had died. William showed himself as professional as possible and yet today more than any other day, he regretted his choice. He remained prostrate at his desk in silence for several minutes before Inspector Brakenreid entered and closed the door behind him, without a word, barely exchanging a glance with him. He walked around the desk and sat in front of him to meet his eyes.
-You have contacted the family of Roland. Crabtree told me.
-Indeed, said William lump in his throat, his grandparents will be there tomorrow to take him.
-You did what you should Murdoch.
-I would like to believe you, sir, but at this moment I ... it hurts me so much.
-And this is quite understandable, you love this child, like Dr. Ogden loves him, even the the guys og the station are crazy about this little guy. But...
-But he is not our son, William gently cut, and he has a family looking on. The dream was too beautiful, everything was so perfect that it could not have last.
-What will you do now?
-Go home, sighed William, I will try to talk to Julia, and explain to her ... and I will enjoy the little time I have left to share with my wife and Roland.
-Go ahead, nodded Brakenreid.
William got up without a word, he walked to the coat rack to spend his jacket and hat, and when he opened the door, his superior spoke again.
-I'm sorry Murdoch, he whispered.
- As I am Sir.
He left the station number four, he met Julia in the morgue who finished a report and took her belongings. Then, together, they took the carriage to arrive at the Brakenreid and take Roland. They returned to the hotel, had dinner, gave the boy a bath, laid him and they sat on the sofa, one beside the other. William then took a deep breath. It was time, he had to tell her everything. He tenderly took the hand of Julia and he anchored his eyes on hers. He spent a few seconds in silence before he finally spoke.
-Julia, I have to tell you about ...
The phone rang, making both jump. In one bound the young woman got up and answered. Another corpse, they had to go there immediately. They took their hats and jackets, Julia wrapped Roland in a blanket and put him in the pram, taking him with them on the scene and at the morgue to perform the autopsy. When William came at dawn the next day, his wife and the boy slept. There was no minute to talk to her today and he had no way back. Today he was going to give back this child to his real family, now he would lose his son and he feared losing his wife also.
to be continued...