The return to the police station was in total silence. Detective launched regular looks in the rearview mirror to see the woman in the back. She had not noticed he looked furtively, she kept her eyes on the landscape parading, giving from time to time a glance and a reassuring smile to the girl sitting quietly at her side.
The police car rushed into the small courtyard surrounded by high walls and parked in front of the garage remained open. William took a deep breath and got out. He opened the door to Julia who gave him a glance before going out, followed by the child who was still holding her hand.
-Please follow me Madam, William whispered, taking her wrist to make sure she does not escape, he had to admit, he doubted.
She just nodded and the police car off again to rush into the garage as they entered the building.
They only do few meters before the Detective Murdoch cross Constable Crabtree.
-George, he said softly after crossing his eyes, take this girl in my office and call Dr. Grace to care for her. Notify Dr. Garland that she is here with her mother.
The young man nodded and turned to the girl. He smiled fondly despite the fact that the child hid behind her mother.
-Do you come with me, young lady?
She looked up at Julia who just nodded and smiled.
-Go ahead my love, you do not risk anything. I have to discuss with Detective Murdoch. And as soon as we're done I'll come get you.
After a moment of hesitation, the girl nodded and the woman placed a tender kiss on her forehead before releasing her hand and see her move away with the police officer.
-There, simply muttered William pulled in with him.
They walked on the open space in silence, they crept between the crumbling offices in folders, smelling the smoke of cigarettes and stale odors and sweat. Then they took a narrow dark hallway to get in front of three doors. William then let go of Julia's arm to pass before him, and he closed the door immediately after.
The room was dimly lit by a dirty lamp in a dark corner. The walls were gray, a simple square wooden table stood in the center, two chairs, one way mirror covering half a wall. No more, no less.
After watching the space around her, the young woman gave her attention to the young man who was in front of her. He had a folder in his hand, she had not even noticed him take it earlier.
-Sit down.
She obeyed and he sat opposite her. Julia put her hands on the table in front of her and she looked up to him simply.
-Well, let's start ... Mrs. Garland
-Ogden, cut Julia, my name is Julia Ogden, I'm not married.
At these words the heart of William swelled with joy. He had never imagined for a second that she was not married, not her. If he had had the chance to be the man who danced with her, who had the right to cover her with kisses, the one who could whisper that she was beautiful and that he was crazy in love with her, he would have proposed her for a long time already. Without him noticing, he stood there, silent, staring into hers. And slowly, he smiled. He saw her do the same, with modesty, before she purses her lips, apparently embarrassed and she looks down at her hands.
He came to his senses and he continued.
-Madam Ogden, William began focusing on the notes before him, you're here because we found your fingerprints and those of your daughter, at least I strongly presume were hers, on the murder weapon.
At the mention of her daughter, the young woman tensed for a moment and he could see in her eyes the fear of leaving her with a man she did not know in a police station performs other men, of thugs.
-Do not worry, sheis safe in my office with our coroner.
He saw her even more concerned and for a moment, he cursed himself for having revealed it. Any mother wants to hear that her little girl is alone with a pathologist in a room, especially since he had not specified that Dr. Grace was a woman. He then reassured her immediately.
-Doctor Grace take care of her until the arrival of Mr Garland, she is a serious young woman.
So Julia's face softened and she smiled tenderly. He resumed without delay the course of his interrogation by releasing a photo of the file he slid in front of her.
-Do you recognize this knife? He said, looking up at her again.
She looked carefully the photo before meeting his eyes.
-Yes, it ... it's mine, it is part of a batch of knives that I have in my kitchen.
-How do you explain that it is found four kilometers away? In a dump garbage near the club? Just ten meters from the place where the body lay?
-I do not know, Julia threw, I swear. It's not me, and my daughter is not involved in this story.
-Admit this is odd, no? Only your fingerprints of you both are on the handle. Our coroner confirms that this knife is the murder weapon.
-I swear I had nothing to do with this.
-I'll have to interview your daughter, you are aware. And she will tell me the truth.
-Leave Olivia out of it, threw Julia, she is only a child.
-But perhaps she saw or heard something. She is the only one that has not been questioned. Yet she was the club that night, is not it? She was in your office, behind the screen.
Julia did not reply. William then saw her eyes take on fear, sadness, panic, he breathed deeply and he spoke calmly.
-I do not want to get there Mrs. Ogden, but I want to find the killer of James Dawson. And you are involved in this murder, one way or another. Tell me about your club.
-What do you want to know? I already gave you a list of my employees and my most loyal customers.
-How a woman like you has come to hold such a business?
He saw her frown and he spoke again.
-Diplomed from Bishop's University with a medical degree, heiress of one of the great fortune of Toronto from your mother died there many years ago, with a father Doctor retired and reputation unblemished . Tell me why do you get a facility of the kind in which women begin to dance almost naked in front of men who pay to watch. An institution or reign alcohol and party, or no limits.
-What do you really know about this place Detective? Replied the young woman. You will have set foot twice and you think you be able to judge me and judge my actions?
-I just see.
-Well look a little better. My institution is probably the best view of the whole city, the drug is banned there, young women who work there have a decent salary, they are not prostitutes, I ensure that they are healthy, that they can provide food and clothing for their children when they have. I sometimes pays their apartment. They have all chosen to come and work for me, because I respect them because they know it is safe. My clients are men and women from uptown Toronto and that is your problem. But know that there has never been an accident with any of my clients or employees.
-How do you call murder?
-I can promise you that this is not one of my employee. I know them. And it's not me.
-This comes from your kitchen knives yet you admitted.
-I don't know why, carried the young woman, I swear to you Detective. I do not know how this knife has been found to be the murder weapon and why it was in this dump with my fingerprints and those of Olivia.
-Who has access to your home?
-Well, my family and my closest friends, I often give dinners with many guests, I can not watch everybody.
-Do you live alone with your daughter?
-No, I live with Darcy, but do not imagine for one second that he could do that. This is a good and honest man.
William did not answer and kept his gaze dipped into hers own, as he did during the entire interview. Then, regretfully, he closed the file and he spoke in a whisper.
-I do wish to believe you Mrs. Ogden, really. I think ... that you had nothing to do in this story but I also think the murderer is near you. So I ask you ... be careful and inform me if you have any doubt, any fear.
He slipped his hand into his jacket and he took out a piece of paper on which he wrote a phone number and an address. He slid on the table again and Julia took frowning.
-Do you think I'm in danger? She asked dry throat. And as Olivia?
-We do not know why James Dawson was killed, too, I would not take any risks. If it goes anything at all you can contact me at the police station, or to the number.
-Thank you, Julia nodded, smiling gently, thank you to trust me and believe me.
He smiled shyly and they stayed there, one opposite the other, in silence, their eyes plunged into one another. They had no need to talk, their eyes said everything. This heat invading the heart and body of the young woman again, as every time she met the gaze of the young Detective. Since she had seen him standing there at her table at the club, she had felt this strange sensation. She felt his gaze slid over her like a tender caress, it was tender, attentive but also passionate and in love. Never had she felt such a disorder by crossing the eyes of a man, she had never trembled in this way at the touch of their fingers on her skin. She had confidence in him from the moment he smiled for the first time, and since it happened to be lost in thought, imagining what man he could be when he remove this jacket, this badge, this tie.
Each lost in their thoughts, simply bound by the invisible thread of their eyes, they jumped when shots were given at the door and it swung open. They immediately broke contact and Julia discreetly folded the paper that William had given her for slipping into hershirt.
-Sir, threw Higgins, Dr. Garland is there, he asks to see Mrs. Ogden and her daughter.
-Mrs. Ogden is ... free to leave, threw William looking her in the eyes again, you can go Mrs., but do not leave the city, you are under house arrest until further notice.
-Thank you, Julia murmured as she rose to leave the room at a run.
William stood there a few seconds, catching his breath and his senses, trying to calm his heart was pounding in his chest. Then he jumped up, taking the corridor leading to the open space and see Darcy Garland took Julia Ogden in his arms. He saw him kiss her in the neck as he slid his hand along her spine. Well then Dr. Grace arrived at their side with the girl. Julia immediately forsook the young man to kneel down and hug her child sank against her.
-We go home my princess, threw Julia.
Darcy took against him and so they headed for the exit. Oliva then gave a huge smile to the Detective over the shoulder of her mother. She greeted him with her hand and William did the same, smiling. A second later, without stop walking, Julia turned. He saw her send him a tender smile that gave him a shiver down his entire body and the next moment, they passed all three corner of the hall, leaving Detective Murdoch smiling and jubilant on the open space from the police station number four. Happy to have spent those few minutes alone with the young woman who haunted his days and nights and seemed to have no grudge against him.
to be continued...