Julia looked quickly at the space around her. A single apartment whose owner spent probably more time to clear his work rather than here, she thought. There was only one large room and the bedroom was separated from the lounge by a perforated wall. She could see through the boards inclined a bed and a night stand on top of three small steps leading to the bedroom. There was a smoke glass wall a little further and she supposed it had to hide the bathroom. The kitchen table was crowded with papers and newspapers, the work plan was meanwhile completely clear, and there was a leather sofa, armchair and coffee table in the center of the room. There was a library filled with books doing a whole wall and some storage units in the corners. When she finished her meticulous inspection, Julia turned to William again. He had not moved, he just watched in silence.
-Mrs. Ogden?
-I ... I will not ... I shouldn't, Julia mumbled as she walked toward the door, it's late and ...
She tried to open the door again, but she felt William put his hand on her shoulder tenderly, which stopped her immediately.
-Stay, he murmured lip, if you came to this hour with your daughter that's for a good reason.
She turned and met his gaze before nodding slowly.
-I have some information for you ... and I no longer felt safe at home.
-Come, William continued by leading to the living room, go lay her in the bed and we'll talk about all of this.
-I do not know if I do right Detective, after all we know and not ...
She left the sentence unfinished, could she tell him that she was decently acts on a whim because she needed to see him, because she felt safe only from him and that she had complete trust in him only? No, she could not. She had no excuse to come at the middle of the night in his apartment. Her heart had simply shouted at her to join him.
-You are exhausted, William whispered after having spent a long time staring into hers, stay here tonight. I sleep on the couch, do not worry, he said, laughing softly.
Julia grinned at him and she nodded, then she followed him into the bedroom and he left her alone with Olivia.
-Mom, do we arrived? Asked the little girl, looking around her.
-Yes darling, Julia replied bordering her again, we'll stay here tonight, you are safe.
-Who is your friend?
-Detective Murdoch, said Julia after throwing a glance at William she could see through the wall, you've already seen him at the police station.
-Yes, it made me hello.
-He will watch over you and me tonight and tomorrow we'll see, okay?
-Okay.
-Goodnight Olivia, Julia threw before filing a tender kiss on the forehead of the girl who was already asleep again clutching her doll against her.
She gave her one last look before joining William at the center of the appartement.
-Would you like something to drink? Asked the young man politely dry throat and still messed see the stand in his apartment.
-Something strong please. A whiskey would be good.
William simply grimaced.
-I have no alcohol, I only have tea, coffee and alcohol-free beer.
-Well, a beer, a beer will be fine, Julia replied smiling politely.
He did the same and went to the refrigerator. He took one for him also, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. He did not know how he should act. Julia came to him asking for his "protection" because he had said he would be there if she needed him. But he had not thought for one second she would accept this help, she would come to visit him. He cursed the space of a second, I have had to tidy up this morning, thought William, and shower. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He was not used to such situations, alone at night with a beautiful woman in his living room. He was to resume, recover his wits and his legendary calm.
He rejoined Julia, sitting on the couch. He handed her a beer he had just opened and she drank once a long sip. He was surprised in a moment, but he did the same and he sat silently at her side, without even looking. They stood there, motionless and silent, drinking several mouthfuls without looking at each other, like two teenagers on their first date. Then Julia took her courage in both hands and began the first.
-You must think that I could go to the hotel but I ... I needed to feel safe and to Olivia safe.
-What has happened tonight Mrs. Ogden? William threw turning to her.
-Julia, she answered looking back at him, please. Mrs. Ogden was my mother, I prefer you call me Julia.
-Very well, Julia, William whispered, smiling.
She did the same feeling her heart leap into her chest and a warmth invade her body.
-I surprised Darcy on the phone, I think he was with Leslie, his brother. For a few days that Leslie returned to Buffalo with their parents. Darcy said it was because their mother was ill. But he lies to me, I know. I think Leslie is guilty Detective.
-Why do you believe that?
-Leslie was there that night, the night when Dawson was murdered.
-He was with you, Dr. Tash and her brother all night.
-Not all night. I was absent a few minutes to see if all was well with Olivia who was sleeping in my office, when I returned, Leslie was not there. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was enough to kill this man.
-I can not base myself on that Julia, it is not enough.
-Darcy said on the phone, "Yes, she's at home, this is proof that they have nothing against her if they would have kept her." He spoke about me and Leslie lived with us in recent weeks. He had access to my kitchen, he could have taken that knife. Olivia knows she has no right to touch them, she would never have taken if we had not given to her.
-Why put the prints of your daughter?
-Because it's Olivia who threw the knife in the bucket, Julia whispered, feeling the tears earn her eyes. Who would have thought about a little girl?
-She said it to you?
-No, I understood. We walked next to this dumpster the next day and I talked with one of my employee as I left Olivia ran past. I heard a noise but I thought she had kicked a pebble. These men have my daughter involved in a murder Detective, I would never forgive them. And I want to help you to stop them.
Without her noticing, the tear that was born in the hollow of her eyes slid down her cheek. She then left the gaze of William, too ashamed to be so weak. William then moved his hand to her, without he even realizing it, he put his fingers on her skin. He wiped her cheek with his thumb and Julia closed her eyes to this contact, and he could not help smiling to see that she accepted his caress.
-We will arrest them Julia, and your daughter will risk anything, I promise you. I will contact the police of Buffalo tomorrow, I'll put you under protection, you and Olivia, and they will go to jail.
She opened her eyes again to meet his eyes and she smiled shyly.
-Thank you, thank you for everything you do to me Detective.
-William, threw he, call me William.
She smiled at him and he replaced one of her dancing curl on her cheek, behind her ear. He was dying to kiss her at that moment. He struggled against his heart. He wanted more than anything to take her in his arms and taste her lips. He wanted to prove to him that he would protect her against everything and everyone, no one ever hurt her, neither she nor the little girl was sleeping quietly a little further. William wanted to kiss her not only because she was beautiful, but also because words failed to tell him how much he was in love with her. She was so close to him that he could feel her jerky breath on his skin. Her look was rooted in his and his fingers tenderly caressed the thin skin below her ear. The minutes passed and, in the most total silence them simply staring into one another. And very slowly, Julia leaned towards William without leaving his eyes. She stopped a few millimeters, as if she hesitated and looked at his lips, his eyes again. She closed her eyes and she placed her lips against his. She did not know why she did that. He would reject her, she was certain. William does not react right away and she was about to walk away when she felt him draw against him softly. He also kissed her lips and the next moment, she opened a little her mouth, caressing the young man's lips with her tongue. He responded to her request by doing the same. Their tongues touched and the slow, sensual dance began. William gasped. Julia shaking like a leaf, and yet they do not want to see that kiss to end. Their first kiss. So pure and passionate, tender and loving. It was only when the air ran out that they parted to catch their breath. They met their gaze. William slowly away while Julia bit her lip, and then they took their places on the couch in silence, without any contact. Their heart was pounding and it was their almost impossible to keep them calm. Never neither they had felt what they felt at that moment. As if everything was clear, as if he had known another life and that he had recovered. They both knew that this moment would happen one day, and it was as magical as they had imagined. But they also knew that everything was complicated and that the moment was not well chosen. William knew that the young woman was vulnerable that night, and although he was full of joy, he did not enjoy the situation. Julia meanwhile could not drive from her mind the guilt of betraying Darcy. The fact that she still loved him or not was not the most important. She knew she was angry because he had lied to her, because he had involved her daughter in a heinous crime to protect his brother. But he was none the less she lived with this man for four years.
Julia closed her eyes for a few seconds and she inhaled deeply.
-I have to go to bed, she murmured, the day was long and ...
-Yes, I..., stammered William in turn, I am too exhausted.
They finally looked, they exchanged a shy smile before getting up at the same time.
-The bathroom is behind the wall at the back of the bedroom.
-Hum, can I ask you one more favor? Julia threw hesitant. I have no clothes. I left hurriedly and took essentially for Olivia. Do you have something I can wear for the night?
-I ... um, shirt, would it be okay?
Julia nodded and he walked to the dark cupboard a little further out for a white shirt and hand her. She immediately took, brushing his fingers. They smiled again.
-Thank you, Julia said, good night ... William.
-Good night ... Julia.
She went to the bedroom to climb the stairs and quietly heading into the bathroom. For that time, William make some cleanning and placed a pillow and a blanket on the couch. He looked up to the bedroom to see the young woman barely dressed in his shirt, bare legs, slip into the bed to hug the girl. Julia switched off the light and he did the same. Only lampposts in the street lit apartment plunged into darkness. William then undressed slowly, removing his jacket, his pants and shirt he put on the chair next to him. He had not noticed the woman watching him tenderly. He had not seen with what strength she clung to not come jump into his arms, he had not heard the sigh of desire when she watched his muscles draw under his shirt. He was far from suspecting what he was causing her, but he was too conscious of what she provoked in him. He then lay down on his couch and he covered below the shoulders. His gaze traveled one last time to the room, as if to convince it that all this was true. He could barely distinguish the two elongated bodies, closely pressed against each other. But he saw perfectly blue eyes delving into his, that look where that little spark danced with mischief. That look he loved so much and that he would never leave.
to be continued...