Going Forward-Gillies's View

Gillies hit the water feet first and sank beneath the surface, then rose. He was able to grasp a floating limb and hang on. After all he wasn't ready to die. He had too much unfinished business to live for as long as Detective William Murdoch still existed. Gillies wouldn't be done with the good detective until he had proven once and for all that he, James Gillies, was the better, smarter man. As he looked back he saw Murdoch falling into the river as well. The detective had followed him, he thought with a wry smile. But Murdoch hit the water poorly and as he surfaced Gillies noted that he appeared unconscious. The current seized the detective and tossed him about as Gillies himself hung tightly to his log. His shackled hands were a hindrance but not totally debilitating. As the river widened the current lessened a bit and Gillies was able to begin to maneuver himself toward the bank. This was not the first time he had escaped via a swift river. The very first time was upon leaving Station House Four for prison after his trial in the professor's murder. That had been a piece of cake, and he could do it again. He was now beginning to feel the river bottom and could slowly move closer to the shore. He was sore and battered but he was certain he had no broken bones. There was a lot of detritus in this part of the river. When he looked back at Murdoch he saw the detective, caught in a swift eddy of it, slam suddenly into low-hanging branches and rocks, catching his body with a jerk by his left arm. The water pulled at him but the limbs held him tight. Gillies thought he could go back and finish him off once and for all, but that wouldn't be sporting, would it? And for all he knew the detective was already dead. No. It would be much more exciting to keep everyone guessing whether or when he would return. He slowly climbed out of the water and began limping quickly away from the river, into the bordering forest, hoping to escape while the constables searched for their beloved detective instead of him.

With torches the men of Station House Four began searching for Murdoch as soon as George had reported the two men jumping off the trestle.

It was slow work and dawn broke before someone spotted a body tangled in the low hanging tree limbs along the near side of the river. Higgins was first to spot it and yelled back as the others all began to converge on the area, including Dr. Ogden. As she got closer she could see that it was William, but he was not moving. Her heart sank. Please don't let him be dead. George and Brackenreid climbed down to him.

The inspector felt his neck for a pulse and yelled back up the hill, "He's alive!"

He and George extricated him carefully from the tangle and carried him up the hill to the waiting doctor.

Julia knelt beside his cold, wet body, taking his hand. "William, why would you do this, you sweet, silly man?"

"Be careful, doctor. He was hanging by his left arm, which was pulled over his head."

As they began to remove his wet clothes William came to, groaning as his shirt was pulled off his left arm. Eventually Julia relocated his shoulder. George led a search for Gillies with no luck, much to William's chagrin.

As he travelled further into the woods Gillies began to smile. He was already plotting his next move. He was sure that no one knew whether the river had claimed him or he had escaped. Let them worry, keep guessing. He had all the time in the world.