Doctor Ogden raced down the hallway in pursuit of the direction in which she had seen James Gillies run. Even as she turned the corner, she knew that she had no real plan. What would she do if she saw him? Would she freeze again as she had outside? Even though she had raced after him almost without thinking - William's safety paramount in her mind - now standing alone in the corridor, she was afraid. Was he nearby? Was he watching her? Constable Higgins had been badly hurt in a trap set for anyone trying to rescue Detective Murdoch and Constable Crabtree. What if there were more traps? What if one more step would cause her death? She remembered how William had told her of the trap door that had been his undoing in Darcy's house. Looking down, she suddenly felt as if she was standing on a small island surrounded by sharks, or on a chair with lions prowling all around. Afraid to move, she stood, frozen to the spot and looked around for any sign of where to go, or what to avoid. It would be a perilous feat to find them, but she had to. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she moved slowly forward, carefully testing the floor beneath her feet with every step. Trying the first door along the corridor, she swung it open before flattening herself back as quickly as possible against the wall. As she did, she heard the clatter and crash of something metallic hit the floor. Turning her head and shoulders, she peered through the door, only to see the remains of a large chandelier - the curved arms of the lamp holders lined with sharp blades, ready to slice a hundred deep cuts into anyone who had the misfortune to be standing below. She gasped as she realised how close she had come again to death at Gillies' hands. Without her deep suspicion of him and the experience of the officers at the door, she quite possibly would be beneath the chandelier now.
She was strong, yes, so much so, she often astounded even Detective Murdoch, who, like her, was forward thinking for the period. He was familiar with her stubborn streak and her refusal to accept that women were weak, silly creatures, but even he was frequently surprised by some of her more progressive actions or statements. What would he think of this, she wondered. Roaming the hallways of the house, searching for a killer, desperate to save the one true love of her life.
Moving with extreme caution, she tried the next door but nothing happened. She let out a breath suddenly, unaware that she had been holding it. About to enter the room to look around, she had second thoughts - what if there were time delays on any of the traps? Perhaps it was best to open all the doors first?
There were only three doors left. As she swung one, a flow of corrosive liquid hit the floor splashing out, destroying everything in its path. Another door seemed again to hold no immediate trap as did the last. As she contemplated what to do next, the first door slammed shut and hitherto unseen bolts slid into place securing the door. If she had entered she would certainly have been trapped inside. Without even needing to go inside, it was obvious that the other two rooms were empty. Where could he have gone? He didn't just disappear!
She had reached an impasse. She had distinctly heard a door close, but none of the rooms had any occupants, let alone Gillies. Looking around, she frantically searched for any clue as to where he may have gone. Finally, her eyes settled on a blood stain on the dado rail. Large enough to be a smudged palm print, she realised that something must be in the vicinity; a hidden door perhaps. Approaching the wall, she scanned the area for something, anything that might reveal a secret entrance. It seemed an age had passed, her eyes skimming the walls, floor and ceiling for some clue. It was then she noticed something strange. A light switch. In itself, not a strange item to see on the wall of so grand a house, but it's location in the middle of a corridor seemed out of place. Flipping the switch, she breathed a sigh as a section of the wall clicked open to reveal a door behind.
oOo
"How is he, Doctor Grace?" Brackenreid asked, both concerned for Higgins and Doctor Ogden, and keen to return to finding and arresting Gillies and his father.
"I'm nearly finished, Inspector," Dr Grace replied, without turning her eyes away from the constable.
Briefly opening his eyes, Higgins stared up, pale and barely conscious.
"Is George all right?" He murmured.
"I... I don't... I mean, he..." The words caught in Dr Grace's throat and as she stumbled over every syllable, she looked more distressed than Brackenreid had ever seen her.
"He'll be fine, Higgins, just rest, we'll get you to hospital."
"Inspector!" Jackson returned, almost skidding to a halt in the hallway. "How's Higgins, sir?"
"Doctor?" Brackenreid asked, wanting to know more himself.
"He's lost a substantial amount of blood," she replied, "but no arteries were cut. I think he'll be fine with rest."
Brackenreid sighed with relief. Higgins had saved his life, it would have been too cruel if he had lost his own in the process.
"The Chief Constable? Jenkins? Price?" Brackenreid asked hurriedly.
"Sir," Jackson lowered his eyes. "Jenkins is dead. Price is badly injured, sir. We've called for an ambulance and the Chief Constable is tending to him as best he can but... Sir, it doesn't look good. The door sir, it was electrified."
At that moment, Chief Constable Giles appeared in the doorway, his face grim and ashen.
"Brackenreid, I'm afraid you can add two more murders to Gillies' crimes."
"Price?" Jackson spoke softly. "But he's just had twins."
"You can release your hold now, Inspector, I've finished," Dr Grace instructed quietly.
"Jackson," Brackenreid tried hard to shake the grief from his tone, but it was obvious to all present. "Assist Doctor Grace. Sir, Doctor Ogden believes she saw James Gillies and went after him. We have to find her. I believe she's in mortal danger and Murdoch too."
"Of course."
"Have you any news of Constable Crabtree?" Doctor Grace asked quietly as she looked up hopefully.
"Not yet, Doctor, but I'm sure..." Brackenreid began only to be cut off by the slightly muffled sound of a gun shot. "Sir!"
Keeping a careful watch for more trip wires and traps, Brackenreid and Giles ran towards the source of the sound only to pull up sharp as they reached the corridor containing the secret panel. It had long since closed automatically and was well hidden from view.
"Murdoch?" Brackenreid yelled. "Doctor Ogden? Murdoch!"
oOo
"If you're going to kill me, do it." Murdoch snapped, his fear subsiding somewhat as Gillies pulled back and sent the bullet intentionally wide. "You want me to beg for mercy? You'll wait a long time, Gillies, I promise you."
"Ah, the brave detective," Gillies laughed again. "No, I don't expect you to beg detective, I'm just savouring the moment. I've wanted this for so long and it's such a shame; you do actually deserve something far more dramatic than this." Gillies pushed the barrel firmly back into Murdoch's neck, the tip still hot, burning his skin.
"You mean you need an audience?" Murdoch raised an eyebrow as he spoke, despite the extreme discomfort of the gun.
"Ah!" Gillies grinned. "So, you do know me after all! I'm almost sorry to finish this, you were a worthy opponent."
As Gillies smile faded, his finger stood poised on the trigger, the door to the cellar flew open revealing Doctor Ogden, breathless, her adrenaline rushing at the sight of her twice would-be killer.
"Julia!" Murdoch cried, at once astonished and scared for her safety.
"Well, well," Gillies' grin returned. "Maybe it is about to get dramatic after all?"
"Julia, please, go back, he'll kill you too!" Murdoch pleaded, his eyes switching frantically between Doctor Ogden's pale, nervous expression and Gillies' arrogant smirk. "Julia!"
She seemed frozen to the spot as Gillies stared up at her, smiling triumphantly. All the fear she had felt on being buried alive and again when she had been imprisoned awaiting the noose flooded back to the forefront of her mind and, quite involuntarily, she found her throat tightening and her breathing coming to her in shallow bursts.
"No, my dear Doctor Ogden," Gillies spoke slowly as he forced the gun a little harder into Murdoch's neck casing him to grimace as the still painful gash on the back of his head was forced sharply back against the wall once more. "Why don't you come closer? Witness your beloved detective's death at first hand. It will be all the sweeter for me to see your pretty face collapse at the sight of his oh so capable brain coating the wall."
She wasn't certain if it was the unspeakable malice of the idea, or that her need to protect Murdoch was greater than her own fear of Gillies. Perhaps it was a combination of both, but just as she had collected herself after the earlier sighting, she did so again. Slowly descending the stairs, ignoring Murdoch's anxious appeals to her.
"Julia, please," he cried. "Go back! Get out of here!"
"Never mind, Detective, she would never have obeyed you, even if you married," Gillies chuckled. "Which, of course, won't happen now, but then, you will get to die together."
Doctor Ogden continued to walk down the steps, barely taking her eyes off Gillies the entire way down.
"William," she began, not glancing away from Gillies for a moment, "are you all right?"
"I'm..."
Murdoch was at a loss. What could he say? That he was fine? Crabtree lay off to his right, he had no idea if he was alive or dead. He himself, still fastened to the wall by his right arm, was pinned, unable to move, by the pistol in Gillies' left hand pressing deeply into his neck and the woman he loved with all his heart was walking knowingly to certain death.
"Julia please go back!" He begged again. "He's already killed two," he frowned deeply as he glanced briefly at Crabtree, "possibly three."
Now at the foot of the stairs, Dr Ogden could see the men Murdoch was referring to. One lying nearby and the other lay close to Murdoch; both appeared to have been shot. She caught her breath as she spotted Crabtree's prone body. Despite the obvious dangers, she began to step closer to the pair situated against the long cellar wall opposite the staircase.
"I have to say, I'm still not sure I understand," Gillies cocked his head. "It's not just her beauty then? She's brave too. That's why you would... will give your life for hers." Gillies paused, looking back and forth between the two. "I asked you a question, Murdoch. My last experiment worked. You were prepared to give your life for her, but I'll admit, I still don't understand why."
"And you never will understand, Gillies. Your mind simply doesn't function on that level," Murdoch snapped.
Gillies turned to offer Murdoch a beaming smile, before snatching the lock picking tools and throwing them aside.
"Then maybe I should find out?" He laughed pushing himself quickly backwards and rising in some discomfort to his feet, his right shoulder clearly troubling him.
Doctor Ogden recoiled slightly as he headed towards her, his gun raised stiffly but menacingly now in his right hand as he began to unbutton his shirt with his left.
"Murdoch, you may recall I told you that I would make you give me the whereabouts of my mother and sister before you died. This seems a perfect way to force you to tell me. Doctor Ogden, I'm sure I can discover how much the detective loves you and perhaps even why."
Murdoch's eyes opened wide with horror as he suddenly realised Gillies' intent. Scrambling forward, trying to block out the pain from the long hours of immobility, Murdoch found himself at full stretch, the manacle biting and scraping against the flesh of his right wrist. His left arm extending to its maximum, his fingers clawing at the air only inches from where Gillies stood, his left hand caressing Doctor Ogden's cheek.
"No!" Murdoch yelled. "Gillies, stop! Don't... Don't hurt her."
Gillies laughed mockingly, before turning to look at Murdoch.
"Oh, how easily you give in," Gillies rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You're no fun any more. You're far too predictable. Maybe I should just kill you now?"