Night fell on the city. The lights of the lampposts on the street corners were reflected in the puddles similar to mirrored in the hollow paved roads. The rain had ceased, finally. But yet the smell of damp and sewage perfumed the narrow streets as the most popular avenues. The crowd that thronged the streets still consisted of anonymous people, look grounded. Some umbrellas emerged from time to time, and it had become a veritable obstacle course for Detective Murdoch to avoid metal arms which escaped from all sides. He had almost lost an eye more than once since he left the police station, unable to concentrate on his investigation. He then decided to walk to the nearest church, that he frequented almost every Sunday, without exception.
He went up the three small steps to push the heavy wooden door and finally catch his breath. He immediately took off his hat, he walked to the nave and dipped two fingers in the holy water and crossed himself by putting one knee. He looked at the altar a few moments before turning to his right and to go to the confessional. He lives quietly towards him he knew well the ready for all these years, the one that he saw every week. A shy smile appeared on his face and William smiled back.
-William, what are you doing here on a weekday evening? I have not seen you for two weeks already.
-I had a lot of work Father, William replied simply, I ... I would confess.
-It must be important if you came tonight.
-It is, muttered the young man the lump in his throat.
The priest simply nodded and pointed to the confessional in which they were swallowed them both.
William sat in silence, uncomfortable. He knew he had to talk about all of this to his confessor, but he was ashamed, so ashamed. The small wooden flap on the other side opened softly marking the beginning of the interview.
-Forgive me Father because I have sinned, William whispered.
-I listen to you my son.
-I ...m et a woman through my investigations. And since I met her gaze, I only think about her day and night. I lose my abilities when I am in her presence and I miss her when she is not.
-I do not understand why it torments you William.
-I do not have to have such thoughts to her, such desires.
-Desires?
-I dreamed of her ... I dreamed, William whispered, closing his eyes, we committed the carnal act. I know I have sinned, I have to forget her.
-Thoughts and dreams are not under control.
-This is bad.
He spent a long time in silence before the priest spoke again softly.
-Do you love this woman?
-I barely know her.
-Do you refuse you not to do so because of Liza?
-I do not know, William sighed.
-It has been six years William, you need to allow you to live and love again.
-I tried with Enid. But I have never felt what I feel for her, not even for Liza. For no one.
-So perhaps she is the woman that God has sent you to start a family.
-It can't be.
-Why can you be so sure?
-We are so different, William whispered, laughing softly, I know she could never experience feelings for me. Well then ... there is a man in her life.
-Oh I see, answered the priest regrets.
-I do not know what to do Father. I am lost as I never have been.
-William, you are a man experiencing such feelings towards a woman is quite natural. But if the woman is married you have to silence these feelings, for her own good, not to compromise her. Not to live in sin.
-I know it.
-When you will not see her again, you will forget her and you will forget what you feel for her. If this in only desire, that means God wanted to tempt you. And you need to not succumb to temptation.
-And what if ... if it was love? William ventured.
-It can not be my son, we can"t love a person that we just meet and that we do not know. You recite two "Holly Mary" and "Our Father". And you think of all this. God bless you my son.
William does not have time to answer that he saw the little flap slam. He closed his eyes and recited prayers lip. Yet he could not drive from his mind the look, the smile, the scent of the young woman. He could hear in the back of his head her laughter again and again.
After a few minutes, William took the road to his home. He rushed into a crowded Streetcar, still lost in thought, and he joined his small apartment on the third floor. He did not bother to turn on the light. He carelessly threw his coat and hat on his couch in the center of the large room and stomped, he climbed the three steps leading to his bed, where he let himself fall just before falling asleep.
The police station was already in turmoil for many minutes already. The investigation of dogs robbery was at the heart of all discussions, to the despair of the Detective who was struggling to move on his own. Then, while he was talking with Constable Higgins on the open space, a tornado came and ravaged everything in its path.
-HOW DARE DID YOU DO THAT TO ME ? Julia screamed, rushing toward him.
He met her eyes, and he understood immediately. She waved under his nose a newspaper and before he has time to say anything at all, two men seized the young woman.
-DO NOT TOUCH ME ! She screamed. You had me swear not to inform the press, she said to William, while the two men still held by the arms.
Immediately, both turned to him he simply nodded to the two men who stood next to her and they simply let go.
-I do not know what you tell me Mrs Ga ...
-From this, cut Julia, approaching him quickly handed him the newspaper, it has been published this morning.
He met her gaze and a second later, he read what was there. The Phoenix club was suspected of covering drug trafficking after the police found a badly mutilated body in a dark alley in the rear of the building. The owner of the place was suspected.
After reading it over, he looked up at the young woman who was still in front of him, short of breath but tried to regain her composure.
-I trusted you, Julia murmured without leaving his eyes, you knew it was important to me that you remain discreet.
-I did you say that I will take my investigation ...
-And I never covered drug traffic, Julia cut with authority again, but do you have any evidence?
-No, not for the moment.
-Not yet, repeated the young woman bitterly, so you are considering.
-We can not rule out any hypothesis Madam.
-I see, said Julia finally leaving his look, I understand. You are just as rotten as them, she said, pointing to his colleagues. I thought you were a different man Detective, but I see I was mistaken about you.
She snatched the newspaper from him and without a word or even a glance, she left the scene as quickly as she had come, and did not return.
William shook his head from side to side before hearing his superior at his side.
-What happened Murdoch? He grumbled.
-The owner of the "Phoenix", sighed the young man.
-Will she give you problems in the investigation?
-I do not know sir.
-Try to avoid it, and make your girlfriend does not call the mess in my station in the future.
-Girlfriend? William threw raising an eyebrow at the ceiling.
-Yes, it shows as the nose on your face, she likes you.
-Save your respect, Sir, she insulted me and she nearly slapped me.
-All women do that Murdoch, open your eyes, he said with a laugh before disappearing, leaving him more lost than he had been.
to be continued... ;)