"Cracking fine job on solving the case, Murdoch!" boomed Brackenreid, thumping him on the back as he made his way over to the alcohol.
"Actually, sir, it was mostly Henry's due diligence that led to the arrest."
The inspector shook his head as he poured himself a glass. "Learn to take credit for others work. It's the mark of a good leader." He looked at Murdoch wryly and shook his half full glass. "I don't suppose I can tempt you with a celebratory drink?"
"That would be very nice, sir."
"Bloody typical," he muttered.
Wait a minute!
Brackenreid whipped his head up. "You're accepting my offer?"
Murdoch simply smiled.
"Bloody hell!" he said in hushed tones. "I never thought I'd live to see the day!" Brackenreid quickly poured another glass and brought it over to Murdoch who removed one hand from behind his back in order to receive it.
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
Murdoch stared at the contents and said, "I am to be married tomorrow. I thought it might help calm my nerves."
Brackenreid clinked his glass and said, "May you have many happy years together, me old mucker. You deserve it."
The detective looked up. "Thank you, sir. That's very kind of you to say."
They took a simultaneous swallow from their tumblers and Murdoch made a face.
"Now I remember why I don't partake."
Brackenreid laughed, in truth it was more like a growl and said, "This stuff puts hair on your chest! Makes you a real man!"
"If you say so, sir."
"So Murdoch, I know you probably don't want any marriage advice from me but I'm going to give it to you anyway because that's what friends do. First piece of wisdom is, you never want to go to bed angry. If you don't smooth things over with the missus before you go to bed, she's bound to stay mad at you for a long, long time. And you know what that means."
Murdoch appeared confused so Brackenreid spelt it out for him.
"No hanky panky."
"Oh."
"My second piece of wisdom helps with accomplishing the first. Always let the missus win a fight or two. It makes her feel superior once in awhile and she'll appreciate you more for it. Which means more hanky panky."
Murdoch nodded and took another sip, wincing.
"Thirdly, make sure to take the time to make her feel special, by taking her out for a night on the town. They bloody love it when you do romantic dinners or dancing. This is especially important on their birthdays or your anniversary. If you forget either of them, you'll be in for it big time and that's again when you want to remember my second piece of wisdom."
The detective was staring at the glasses contents again.
"Murdoch?"
"Yes, sir?"
Brackenreid got a bit annoyed. "Are you even bloody paying attention to me?"
"Of course, sir. Make her feel special and get hanky panky."
"Ah, I think he's got it!" exclaimed Brackenreid, clapping him on the shoulder. "Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, Murdoch, make sure you clean up after yourself. They bloody well hate it when you're a slob!" Murdoch looked at him politely and Brackenreid frowned. "Oh but I suppose that doesn't apply to you, you'll have bloody servants doing everything."
Murdoch downed the rest of his drink, and Brackenreid was surprised that the detective had finished before him.
"Everything all right, Murdoch?"
"Thank you for the drink, sir, and the words of advice." Murdoch handed him the empty glass. "I take it I'll see you tomorrow then, at four o'clock?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Murdoch tipped his hat to him. "Good night, sir."
Brackenreid just had an idea.
"Wait a second, Murdoch!"
The detective halted at the eastern threshold to the office. "Yes, sir?"
The inspector opened up his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a wooden box. From that he retrieved a cigar. Before Murdoch could object, he placed it in his chest shirt pocket. Murdoch looked at him enquiringly.
"Trust me, Murdoch," he said with a wink and a click, "you'll want that tomorrow night."
Since he had no idea how long the inspector would be keeping Murdoch, George hurried off on his bicycle towards 22 Ontario Street, feeling increasingly guilty as he got closer to this destination. He had to keep himself motivated by telling himself this was for the greater good. If he didn't look into this matter now, he would surely not get another chance before the detective's wedding. And once Murdoch was married and off on his honeymoon, it would be too late. Whatever was troubling Murdoch would be free to ruin this most special of occasions and leave Dr. Ogden to be blind-sighted. George didn't want that. He only wanted them to be happy together for once and if a little breaking and entering was necessary to expose Murdoch's new nasty habit, then so be it.
Leaning his bike against the iron gate a house over, he stealthily crept up to the back door, peeking in the windows along the way to make sure no one had seen him. Luckily it was now dark out and this cover assisted him most soundly. In any case, none of the other tenants having dinner seemed to have noticed his passing. George took out the 'borrowed' skeleton key and inserted it into the lock. He tip toed along the hallway, stopping at the first gap to peer into a darkened room. No one was in there. It seemed the real trick would be getting to the beginning of the stairs without the chatting individuals seeing him.
George went right up to the edge of the lightened doorway and then realized he had been worrying for no reason. The door to the kitchen was mostly closed so all he had to do was slink on past. Dashing past the crack without being caught, he then slowly made his way up the stairs. Near the top they creaked but the dinner party was making too much noise to hear him.
Quickly he located Murdoch's apartment at the end of the upper hallway and reached into his pocket for the skeleton key. After a few seconds of indecision, he placed it into the lock and instantly gained entrance. Closing the door behind him, he pulled out a flashlight and began scanning the tiny space. Thankfully it wouldn't take long to search the place.
He started in Murdoch's dresser, (again looking for any latches that might indicate a secret compartment) then made his way to the desk and then the closet and finally the bed. When he still hadn't located anything out of the ordinary he decided it was high time to leave.
At the door he thought of something else. Only a little while before they received the Jewish maiden case, Murdoch had been drugged and attacked by a confidence trickster who had been looking for stolen gold. It turned out that it had been in the ceiling. And above this room was the attic. Where better to stash something you didn't want your landlady to find?
It was fairly late when William knocked on her door. Her servant, Marcella, gave her a disapproving look when she allowed him entrance into her home. Julia couldn't have cared less what she thought, it wasn't as though William were some strange man; he was her fiance for crying out loud! And they were to be married tomorrow afternoon!
"Though I love your company, William," she said as they made their way into the parlour room, "I'm a bit surprised at such a late visit."
"Forgive me, Julia, but I felt compelled to see you tonight."
She detected alcohol on his breath which was highly unusual and thought she understood his motive for being here.
"Yes," she said smiling, placing a hand to his face, "I suppose we have unfinished business."
He placed a hand over top hers and removed it. "I don't think that's a very good idea, Julia, given what happened at the station house."
She raised an eyebrow.
Then why is he here?
"I see," she said, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
Correctly reading her he said, "There will be plenty of time for that in the coming days. I promise."
She nodded slightly and then sat down. He took a spot beside her and took her hand.
"The reason for this somewhat unorthodox visit is that I wanted to discuss the future with you."
Normally Julia would have been extremely excited about this but based on everything he said the previous night, she wasn't sure that she wanted to know anymore.
"You don't have to, William. I shouldn't have pushed you to divulge such secrets."
He seemed confused for a second.
"Not that future, Julia. But our future."
What was there left to discuss? They had already decided where they would live, and how many children they would adopt, and how much of her wealth she was allowed to lavish on her family at any one given moment. Needless to say, him telling her what she was allowed to do had not gone over very well. But based on his more than usual serious expression, she didn't think they were about to discuss finances again.
Since she had no idea what this was about, she impatiently waited for him to continue.
"Ever since I returned from the Toronto of the future, I've been feeling uneasy and out of place, like I don't belong here anymore."
She studied his handsome face for a moment. "Why have you never mentioned this before?"
"I didn't want to worry you."
"I appreciate the sentiment, William, but it was wholly unnecessary." After a bit of an awkward pause, "Anyway, in regards to this unease, that seems perfectly natural. You've only been back for six months." Squeezing his hand, "I'm sure that this feeling will eventually pass."
"That has not been my experience, Julia. If anything, this unease has been growing stronger over time. To make matters worse, it's frustrating me to no end that I can't be more effective in my case load. I know things now that would solve them instantly. It's as if I'm only going through the motions, pretending to take an interest in them."
It pained her that he was suffering from something that she had no ability to help cure.
"What are you trying to say, William?"
He seemed lost in thought which gave her time to think and then she thought she realized what he was saying.
"You want to go back? Don't you?" He didn't seem to have heard her so she nudged his shoulder. "William." He gave her his attention. "You want to go back, to the future?"
Quizzically, "What gave you that impression, Julia?"
"Oh, I don't know!" she snapped. "The way you've been talking, for one thing!"
"Ah, no, that's not what I was implying."
She was immensely relieved to hear this. She had been expecting him to ask her to travel to the future with him! Where once she would have been thrilled to do so, now she was terrified of experiencing a crumbling civilization. But she would have felt compelled to go, or risk losing him forever.
"It would be unwise to go back there now that I am a wanted fugitive."
He didn't continue and she lost her patience again.
"Oh for heaven's sakes! Then what, William! What are you trying to say!"
"That I wish to leave the constabulary."
He said it as if it was such common sense, as if it was so obvious that that had been what he was leading up to all along.
Despite her best efforts she burst out laughing. Somehow this seemed more ludicrous than travelling to the future. Murdoch and detective were synonymous words in her mind. It was hard to separate the one from the other.
"Julia," he said frowning. "I don't understand what is cause for such merriment."
"I'm sorry, William," she said getting a hold of herself. "If you feel that is something you need to do, then I fully support your decision."
William seemed a bit uncertain. "But how can I just leave it all behind? The inspector and George and-"
She put a finger to his lips. "They will get along just fine on their own. You have to do what's right for you. Your mental health is too important to be playing around with unnecessarily." She smiled, "Besides, I need you in tip top shape for when we start our family."
After a few seconds he smiled behind her finger and she removed it.
"Now the only question is what you will do with yourself. Have you any ideas?"
"I'm not so sure that I really need a new profession. You've got enough money for the both of us."
In mock annoyance, "So now I am allowed to use it, am I?"
He seemed a bit guilty over their previous discussion on the matter. "About that, I was wrong to suggest how you choose to use your inheritance. If you want to spoil our children rotten, then by all means, go ahead...as long as I get to raise them as Roman Catholics."
This was another sore point between them and consequently they shared a look for a second. Julia didn't feel like opening that can of worms right now.
"Seriously though, William, you can't just sit around all day. You're liable to lose your mind even faster that way. You must have thought about this a bit."
He was silent again. "You're going to laugh but I was thinking that I'd simply stay home with the children. I'm sure that they could keep me well occupied."
Julia chuckled a little. "So you are saying that you want to become a housewife?"
He grinned. "What's wrong with that?"
"Whatever will the neighbours think?" she said in mock concern. "We are sure to be the talk of the town."
"Let them talk," he said, grinning even more, leaning her horizontally back onto the plush green sofa.
Smiling, "I thought you said you weren't here for this, detective?"
"What can I say?" he mumbled as he kissed her neck. "I'm a liar."
"Thank goodness for that," she breathed out, eyes closed, gripping the back of his head lightly. "I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss all day. Where did you learn to do that?"
He continued his blissful ruminations and didn't respond.
"William?"
"Enough talking," he said, claiming her mouth, utilizing his tongue in that same maddening way. Her fingers dug into his scalp but he didn't seem to mind.
Oh my God.
