It was a bright crisp morning with clear sky. The thunderstorm that rolled through Toronto in the early hours of the morning, cleared out the humidity and smog that was in the air. Station House No. 4 was already a bustling place, with several scoundrels having been rounded up throughout the night. They waited processing while being guarded outside the bullpen. Some where there only as witnesses for the ones that went immediately to the holding cells. Others were pleading their innocence.

George Crabtree entered through the Constable Entrance and looked around. He didn't see Councillor Best in the lot, which made him frown.

Murdoch spotted the Constable and called for him, "George," he motioned for Crabtree to join him in his office. The Constable suddenly like he was in the cross-hairs of a gun. He was hoping that the Detective wouldn't ask ask about Best. Reluctantly, the Constable walked to the door of Murdoch's office, "Yes, Sir?"

"How did things work out last night, George?" Murdoch asked as he looked over his file on Councillor Best.

Crabtree made a face as he was trying to find a way of telling his boss what happened, "Well, you see," he began as he carefully crafted his sentence. George was just about to continue when Councillor Best appeared in the station. "Here's Councillor Best, now," he smiled with relief.

Murdoch's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He knew Crabtree was up to something and would ask him later, but for now it was the time to talk to Councillor Best. The entrance of Best also garnered the attention of Inspector Brackenreid, who stood from behind his desk and walked to the door.

"So now what?" Best asked George. "I have a very busy day scheduled," he barked.

"Not from what your book said," Higgins interjected with a slight bemused look on his face from his desk in the bullpen. Best's eyes narrowed at the comment as he recognized the Constable.

"We'd like a word with you," Brackenreid stated from his doorway. He watched Murdoch and Crabtree enter the bullpen. "Take him to the interview room, Murdoch," the Inspector ordered.

"I don't understand what you want from me!" Best protested.

"I'm sure it will all come clear, Councillor," Murdoch assured the man as he led him down the hall to the interview room, "please have a seat," he said as he opened the door and let the man into room. Best now looked like a cornered cat. Murdoch closed the door and went back to his office.

"Aren't you going to talk to him?" Brackenreid asked.

"I will in a few minutes," the Detective smiled slightly. "Perhaps you'd like to join me," he said as he picked up the file from his desk.

"This will be bloody interesting," Brackenreid scoffed.

"Indeed, Sir," Murdoch said as he walked back to the interview room only to discover Best, face down on the table. His arms hung down past his knees.

"Bloody hell!" Brackenreid exclaimed. He turned and bellowed for Crabtree, "Crabtree! Get Doctor Ogden!"

Y-y-yes, Sir!" George sputtered as he dashed through the station, heading to the morgue.

Murdoch and Brackenreid exchanged looks, "Looks like the old bloke popped his cogs again," he lifted his eyebrows quickly as he looked back at the Councillor.

Murdoch was about to say something but chose not to. He knew what his boss meant, but wasn't going to chastise him for his terminology. "Perhaps we should notify his wife," he suggested, instead.

"Let's see what the good Doctor has to say first. This isn't the first time the old boy died, is it?" the Inspector cast a glance at William.

"No," Murdoch answered with a puzzled looked on his face. "It does seem rather odd, indeed," he added as he stared at Best from the doorway of the interview room.

"Everything these days seems a bit odd if you ask me," Brackenreid grunted. "Notify me when Doctor Ogden arrives. I'm going to have a drink," he stated clearly.

"On days like this, I wish I could join you," Murdoch sighed as he watched his boss walk back to his office for a quick nip. The Detective had taken a few drinks himself, but not while on active duty, mostly with his wife over dinner. He preferred a clear mind whilst working on a case, and in this instance, a very curious case, indeed.

Across the street, George Crabtree hustled to the city morgue and quickly entered. He found Doctor Julia Ogden and Miss James working on a body; they both looked up in surprise at the entrance the Constable had made, "Ladies," he quickly smiled.

"George! What is it?" Julia stopped what she was doing.

"The Inspector asked me to fetch you," Crabtree pointed to the door. "It would appear that Councillor Best has died," he added.

"Died? Again?" Julia asked as George nodded. "This is so bizarre," Ogden looked at James. "Please continue on here while I look into this," she smiled at her assistant.

"Certainly, Doctor," Miss James watched as the Doctor quickly washed her hands and took her medical bag before she joined George Crabtree. The two hustled back across the street and entered the police station. "He's in the interview room," George said as he stopped at the bullpen. Brackenreid noticed the Doctor as he finished his drink and quickly got to his feet to join her. He was more than eager to find out what was going on.

"William?" Julia asked as she entered the dark-panelled room.

"Julia," Murdoch acknowledged his wife.

"What happened?" Ogden asked as she approached the Councillor's body.

"He seemed quite fine when he came in for questioning, and between the time we asked him in here, and I came back..." he paused. "This is how we found him," he looked down at Best.

Julia drew a deep breath and began her examination. Even her eyebrows knitted together in question, "He was like this the first time we found him," she stated as she felt around his neck.

By now Brackenreid was at the door, "So did he finally cash it in?" he asked.

Julia looked up with a slightly bemused look on her face, "I don't think so," she continued her exam, "He has a very faint pulse," she then smiled.

"Which means what?" the Inspector quickly asked.

"He has had a fainting spell or something," Julia hypothesized.

"So every time he's been found "dead" he was actually alive?" the Inspector questioned.

"It would seem so. But I wouldn't know without further tests to know why," Ogden stepped back. "I suggest that he might have a medical condition which might be brought on by stress, or a shock," she hinted.

"I see," Murdoch's eyes narrow. "That makes sense," he smiled at his wife.

"It does?" Brackenreid questioned.

George over heard the conversation and quickly joined in, "I've read about some goats that fall over "dead" when they are shocked or surprised. Maybe he's like that," he offer, only to have Brackenreid glare at him.

"Perhaps, George," Murdoch acknowledged the Constable's comment. "I have a sneaking suspicion that Councillor Best has been very much involved with the shrunken head and the Egyptian amulets," Murdoch noted.

"Oh? How so?" Brackenreid asked waiting a little bit impatiently for the answer.

"I haven't put all the pieces together yet, Sir. But," Murdoch turned and faced his boss, "But I do believe we're close. We just need Councillor Best to wake up," he smiled.

"Bloody hell. He's wandered off the last two times," Brackenreid pointed out.

"Indeed. But tonight, he's our guest," Murdoch smiled as he motioned for Crabtree, "Get him to a jail cell, and see that he stays there," Murdoch ordered.

"Yes, Sir," the Constable got right to the job.

"We'll question Mister Best, later today," Murdoch smiled.

"If he's alert by then," Julia said.

"Yes. If he's alert by then," Murdoch nodded. Brackenreid rolled his eyes, "This bloody case will never end!" he snorted and headed back to his office. "I feel the same way," Murdoch sighed also.

"Certainly it will," Julia smiled. "I'll come back later to check on your guest," she said as she flitted away. Again William sighed.