It had been half an hour, since Susannah got kidnapped, when George, Henry and other constables had arrived on the scene and began searching the area and interviewing the witnesses.
"Dr, tell me again what happened?" Asked McNabb
"I have already told you, twice, McNabb. I'm not talking to anyone else until I see William."
"Julia"
She turned, "William" and hugged him
"Julia wants going on? They told me Susannah was missing?"
"She's been kidnapped William"
His eyes went wide, "by who?"
"I didn't see, it was her little friend Victoria, who witnessed it."
"Has she given any details of the kidnappers description?"
"All she said it was definitely a male, by his voice and body structure. He wore a mask, but Susannah was defending herself, Victoria said she saw his mouth, nose, and a bit of the eyes from a distant."
"I need to speak to her Julia?"
"Just be gentle with her, remember she's 4, and is guilty she didn't save Susannah"
"Of, course, where is she?"
"Over at the bench, sitting with her nanny. She lives around the corner, so she comes to the park by herself"
"No parents here?" As they began walking to the bench
"They're traveling around Europe. They've been gone for the last 7 months"
He turned to her, "seriously been gone that long, without their daughter?"
"There not us, William"
"No, indeed not"
"Victoria, this is Susannah's father detective William Murdoch, he just wants to ask you some questions" Julia said to her in a gentle voice
Victoria nodded, "am I in trouble?"
"Not at all. We're grateful for all you did to save Susannah. Now, where were you when you saw the man snatched her?"
She points, "At that tree counting. I had my eyes clothes, when I heard Susannah screamed help me."
"Then what happened?"
"I ran to her, and began pulling on the man's shirt and I scratched his neck."
"Wait you scratched his neck?" Julia asked
She nodded, "yes, see, I got a bit of blood on them"
"That's excellent, there will be skin as well. Anything else?" Asked William
"As I was pulling on him and scratch him, Susannah grabbed his mask, and I saw his chin, mouth, nose and a bit of his eyes. Also, I saw a tattoo"
"You saw a tattoo, you never said that before?"
"I'm sorry, Dr. Ogden, I just remembered now. It was a black tattoo of a ship anchor."
"It's, alright, go on" Julia said
"The man he pushed me away and that's when I tripped on a stick. I looked up and saw he had a tighter grip on her, and continued running in that direction, between those two trees"
"Thank you, Victoria. You have been a big help" William said
"Very big, help" Julia responded
"May I take her home now?" Asked the nanny
"Yes, you may. But first come by the station, so we can draw up the description and to get the skin and blood examined"
"Of, course" as the nanny took Victoria's hand and walked away
"Ok, well we got clues" Julia said
"A black anchor, some facial recognition and maybe some skin from Victoria's nails." William said
"And blood"
He nodded, "yes, blood," as they looked at each other when George approached them
"Sir, doctor"
"What have you, George?"
"Detective Watts and I interviewed Miss James, and Miss Jackson. When you were finding the purse and they didn't see a thing as their backs were turned."
"Right, I forgot I helped Miss Jackson retrieve a purse."
"It's understandable, but Julia, could it be the purse snatching was a ploy?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if the person…"
"Right, Miss Jackson said it was a man with a mask on" George interrupted
"Thank you, George…as I was saying what if the man who snatched the purse was a distraction, and the other man grabbed Susannah"
"Could be. Miss Jackson said nothing was missing from her purse" Julia said as she shook her head
"Sir, doctor," Watts said from behind them
They turned, "Watts, have something?"
"Yes, as Henry and I were looking in the trees, we found this on a branch" and showed them the item
"That's Susannah's ribbon. She was wearing it in her hair." Julia said as she grabbed it
"Watts, show us where you found it" William said firmly
"Of, course following me"
They follow Watts through the park, between the 2 trees, that Victoria showed them, all the way near Don River, "here, in this bush is where I found it"
William noticed something, and took out a hankerchief and grabbed the object from the bush, "William, what is it?" asked Julia
"Looks like a strand of Susannah's hair."
"She must have ripped it off and threw it on the bush" Julia said
"I believe that, especially the bush's height is at my stomach." William responded
"Also, I found the ribbon right on top, and from Susannah's height, I doubt she threw it on top."
"Yes, Watts. Thank you"
"Sir, what are your orders now?" Asked George
"Continuing scanning the area. Someone must have seen the man holding Susannah around here" William ordered
"Also, remember Susannah had her teddy bear with her. She may have dropped it as well"
"Yes, you're right Julia. Look out for her Teddy. George, you're in charge. Julia and I will head to the station to get the blood sample and description from little Victoria."
"Sir" both George and Watts said
William took Julia's hand to the carriage, and rode to the station.