A Friend in the Shadows
WANTED FOR MURDER
Detective Watts almost choked on his pretzel; the headline, stark above a photo of Detective William Murdoch was a surprise. If he had been pressed to say which of his acquaintances would be featured in an article surmising their fugitive status after committing murder, the strait-laced Detective Murdoch would not have been on his list. Still, there much be something to it, he thought, so he absently paid the newspaper vendor, and read on.
A dead burlesque dancer in his bed… Again, very un-Murdoch-like. Watts supposed that if the principled and respected Murdoch were to kill, it would be to uphold some personal value. Bedding a woman who was not his wife, then garrotting her was certainly not morally just.
He and Detective Murdoch were certainly very different. Like chalk and cheese. Although I've never understood that expression, he mused. Yet, Watts had thought Murdoch was one of the good ones. The constables with whom he worked were good fellows, too. They were a far cry from the ones Watts himself had had the misfortune of working alongside at Station House One. With the gruff, yet on the whole respectable, Inspector Brackenreid at the helm, there seemed little indication of corruption within Station House Four, let alone murder.
Still, Watts knew from personal experience that people could hide multitudes about themselves.
He sighed, disappointed. He had quite liked the man.
DOCTOR JULIA OGDEN KIDNAPPED
WIFE OF ACCUSED MURDERER MISSING
Another shocking headline, although thankfully Watts was not consuming food this time.
Doctor Ogden, Murdoch's wife and colleague (he still couldn't fathom how they did it), was, in his opinion, diligent, compassionate and intelligent (despite her questionable taste in neck-wear). And she had gone missing. Had she joined her husband? It was a possibility, Watts decided, but something felt off. Despite his previous musings, he hadn't felt completely convinced that William Murdoch was a murderer. And with his wife missing, it seemed more likely that Ogden was being held against her will by someone more powerful than they, in order to force Murdoch out of hiding.
And thus, Watts felt compelled to help.
Murdoch's constables were loyal to him; Watts had gleaned that much from his brief stint working with them. One fellow in particular seemed particularly faithful: Constable Crabtree, an eager yet earnest man. And so, Inspector Watts tailed him. As an outsider, he knew that Crabtree would not accept his help, not until he had proved himself to be trustworthy. Yet just following Crabtree and the other constables proved to be quite enlightening. It seemed as if they were in sporadic contact with Murdoch, and the fugitive detective in question had asked them to meet him at the church at Younge and Heath.
That evening, from his position in the shadows of a nearby building, Watts watched the three constables enter the church. He crept closer once they had disappeared inside. He was just at the door of the church when he heard gunshots. So many gunshots. He was torn; to go inside would surely lead to his death. And so, he ran to the nearest police call box, desperately phoning for help.
He was on his way back to the church when Detective Murdoch himself dashed past him, straight to the same telephone. Watts almost stopped him, and then he saw two constables approach the detective, and knew that he was about to be arrested. So, Watts decided to keep himself concealed for just a little longer.
Back at the church, Watts checked on the constables. Higgens stirred: good. Jackson… He wasn't hopeful, and felt a momentary pang of sadness; he'd liked the man. But accustomed as he was to compartmentalising his feelings, he pushed them away and checked on Crabtree, who was in a bad way but alive. He hefted him up with some difficulty.
Now was the time to act.
He chose to seek aid in Rebecca James, Doctor Ogden's assistant, who was hopefully loyal to the woman and her husband. It seemed Watts had made the right choice for the did a fine job of treating the wounded constable, remaining calm despite the dire situation.
After the operation, and before Watts left Crabtree in her capable hands, she hastened to assure him that she would keep the constable's presence a secret. But Watts had no concerns; he could tell that Miss James, too, was one of the good ones.
Down in the cells at Station House Four, waiting in the shadows again, Watts was sickened to hear Robert Graham taunting Murdoch, listing off the peril that the man's boss, his colleagues and his wife were in. All because Graham wanted a confession.
It was as Watts had suspected: men in power blackmailing, threatening and coercing Murdoch and his companions.
Murdoch looked desolate, imprisoned and apparently isolated. But Watts wasn't going to let him suffer alone any longer.
"Detective Murdoch. It appears you are going to need some help."
A/N: Many thanks for reading! This is a Secret Santa gift, with the prompt, 'Murdoch & Watts, (platonic) bros'.