Murdoch walked to the holding cells and Best saw him, "I demand to be released, right now!" he stood up and grabbed at the iron bars.

Murdoch flashed his charming smile, "First we need to talk," he said as he unlocked the cell door and swung it opened. "Please come with me," he motioned with his left hand. "Whatever is going on here, has to be very big misunderstanding," Best stated.

"Then we had better sort it out," Murdoch countered. "Now, please," he again motioned. Best tossed the blanket onto the cot and scowled at the Detective as he slowly left the cell. He didn't say a word as they entered the station proper, where he noticed his wife talking to Raquel. The Councillor swallowed hard and his eyes widened and his face reddened. "Is there a problem, Councillor?" Murdoch asked as he looked at Best and then to the women.

"Oh, no. I...I just didn't want Florence to see me here," Best stammered.

"We had to tell her. Remember, you fainted," the Detective said.

"Oh, yes, yes,, yes," Best tried to brush Murdoch off. "Let's get on with this interview, shall we?" he said regaining his composure.

Murdoch reached for the door on the interview door and watched Best. He then glanced over his shoulder to see Raquel give the Councillor a little flirtatious wave. He looked back at Best who smiled weakly before he entered the door; the Detective's eyebrows knitted together.

Best took a seat at the table and Murdoch was just about to close the door when it happened.

"Who were you waving at?" Florence curtly asked Raquel.

"None of your business," Wilkins' thrust her nose in the air.

"I saw you looking at my husband," Florence growled. "How do you know him?" she demanded an answer.

"Again, it's none of your business!" Raquel countered as he forcefully crossed her arms over her chest. "The police asked me to come here, and for what reason I don't know," Wilkins growled back.

Florence almost jumped to her feet, "You've been seeing my husband, haven't' you?" she almost yelled.

Brackenreid was quick to his feet and into the bullpen just as Raquel was onto her feet defending her comment. The two women began to swat at each other, and then their fists became faster and faster as they engaged in a miniature brawl. The Inspector stepped forward to try and separate the women only to get a fist in the left eye, which caused him to reel backward, tripping over a chair before he hit the floor with a groan.

Murdoch's eyes were wide in surprise at the ensuing carnage. He quickly went to his boss' aid, helping him back to his feet while the women continued to pummel each other, before they engaged in pulling each others hair.

"Stop!" Murdoch yelled as he too tried to break up the fight. Crabtree and Higgins were now also involved as they tried to separate the women. Finally Murdoch used his two pinkie fingers in the corner of his mouth and blew hard creating a deafening whistle. "Stop it right now!" he bellowed again. And slowly Florence and Raquel released each other. They remained on their feet, breathing heavily and glaring at one another.

Murdoch looked over to his boss; Brackenreid was holding his hand over his left eye, "Get those two separated before they start the next bloody war," he ordered.

Crabtree ushered Mrs. Best into Murdoch's office and made her sit in the chair in front of the Detective's desk, "I strongly encourage you to stay there until the Detective wants to talk to you," he said with a tone of warning. Florence tried to recompose herself. She couldn't imagine what people would say if she looked a fright when she left the police station looking the way she was.

Meanwhile, Murdoch was watching his boss , "Maybe you should have Julia look at that, Sir," he suggested once the Inspector lowered his hand. Murdoch winced at the sight. The Inspector's eye was already swollen shut and turning purple. Brackenreid glared at the Detective, but knew he meant it sincerely. The Englishman wouldn't dare admit that it hurt like hell too, especially since it was a woman that inflicted the injury. The Inspector's shoulders sagged as he went in search of Doctor Ogden.

Murdoch turned his attention to Raquel Wilkins, "Care to explain what that was all about?" he asked.

Raquel was busy trying to get her hair back in order, "Perhaps after you talk with Max," she smiled coyly. Murdoch frowned and drew a deep breath. Nothing about this case was easy. With a slight huff, he marched back to the interview room and opened the door. Thankfully Best hadn't pulled one of his fainting spells. The Detective lowered himself into the chair across from the Councillor.

"Detective, just what is all this about?" Best huffed.

"I was hoping you would tell me," Murdoch said as he clasped his hands together on the table.

Best shrugged.

"Okay. Let's start with the theft from the University," Murdoch said as he produced the list from his pocket and slid it across the table.

"Yes, I'm aware of this," Best shoved it back. "I am on the Board of Antiquities, after all," he stated.

"So how is it that when you were found the other day, seemingly dead, with a swatch of cloth in your hand that matched the missing piece from a sack that contained a shrunken head?" Murdoch watched the man across from him.

Again Best shrugged, "I don't recall any fainting spell or cloth."

"The shrunken head is on this list," Murdoch pointed out. "As were the Egyptian amulets that were found not too far from where you found 'dead' the second time," the Detective pushed.

Best struggled and swallowed, "Someone told me where they were, I was going to look and someone spooked me," he stammered.

"Mister Best. Something happened just now in the bullpen. Your wife and a Ms. Raquel Wilkins just had a row. I am willing to bet that you, Ms. Wilkins and the thefts are connected somehow, and I'm going to prove it," Murdoch boldly stated. "Perhaps I should bring Ms. Wilkins, or your wife in here right now," the then threatened.

"No! No, please," Best panicked. "Don't do either," motioning with his hands.

"Why?" Murdoch asked just as Brackenreid entered the room.

"Yes, why?" the Inspector almost hissed. He was totally miffed with the whole situation.

"This will ruin me," Best sighed and bowed his head.

"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you did what ever it is you did, Sunshine," Brackenreid said as he leaned forward on the table, looming over the man.

Best sighed. "I think it's best that I speak to my wife, first," he looked up at the Detective and the Inspector.

Brackenreid straighten up, "Fine then. And then you are going to spill the beans," he added. Murdoch stood and looked at his boss; he couldn't help but feel sorry for him as his swollen eye looked even worse. "I'll bring in Mrs. Best," he said as the two men left the room.

"Make sure this ends and soon," Brackenreid cautioned. "I've had enough of this nonsense," he sputtered as he walked back to his office.

Murdoch more than felt the same as he walked to his office to invited Florence Best to join her husband in the interview room, "Mrs. Best. Your husband would like a word with you," he tried to smiled feeling that what the Councillor was going to say was not what Mrs. Best would want to hear. She stood and he escorted her to the room, opened the door and left them to talk. Murdoch walked back to his office where he found Julia.

"The poor Inspector," Julia tried to hide her smile. "He told me what happened," she stated.

"It was quite the sight," Murdoch agreed.

"So now what?" Ogden asked.

"Seems that Councillor Best wanted to talk to his wife. Perhaps to tell her what he's been up to," the Detective purposely looked out to the bullpen at Raquel Wilkins.

"Hmmm," Julia noted. "Do you think they had an affair?"

"The more I think about it, I think they did. And I think Councillor Best was stealing the antiquities to sell them and get the money for," his words trailed at the shill sound of Florence Best calling for help.

Murdoch, Ogden, Brackenreid, Crabtree, and Higgins rushed to the interview room. The Detective, Inspector, and Doctor entered the room to fine Councillor Best flat out on the floor. Julia swooped down and felt for a pulse. There was none. She looked up at the men and shook her head, "He's really dead now. There's no pulse what-so-ever," she stated. Murdoch crossed his heart and then looked at Florence, "Did he say anything?"

"Only that he loved me," Mrs. Best said before she cupped her hands over her mouth and began to sob as Julia continued to look over the body.

Murdoch looked over to Brackenreid, "We need to talk to..." he stopped talking as he looked out to the other room. Raquel Wilkins saw what was happening and took it upon herself to make a hasty retreat, and a successful one at that. She was never seen again.

"Murdoch?" Brackenreid questioned.

"Our only other suspect seems to have disappeared," William stated. "I suppose this case is now closed."

"Bloody hell," Brackenreid cursed as he too looked out into the room. "Scotch," he sputtered.

"Sir? May I join you?" Murdoch meekly asked.

"Come along, Murdoch," the Inspector half laughed as the two men walked back to Brackenreid's office.

The End.