Murdoch Mysteries

The O'Sheas are mine.

- Aah! -

So, what does Mr. Dawkins want to talk about?

I don't know.

He wouldn't say a word to me.

He has been acting odd lately.

That's because he's an odd duck.

So, what's on your mind, Richard?

Not everyone's here yet.

Well, I wager we'll find out soon enough.

Gentlemen.

Mrs. Blake.

It's a pleasure to see you all.

You as well, Mrs. McKinnon.

So, are you all here to petition for my removal?

Cecily, heavens, no.

The harbor has never run more smoothly.

I suppose sometimes it does take a woman to do a man's job.

Well, doesn't he have nerve?

Her husband hardly in the ground.

Well, Mr. Dawkins, why have you gathered us all here?

Could we please eat first?

I'm famished.

The first courses are set to arrive.

Could you please get a move on?

Oh, good Lord!

His name was Richard Dawkins.

Well, the cause of death looks clear.

His skull is crushed.

And he was killed in plain view of the others?

His assailants obviously weren't worried about being seen.

Sir -- Oh, good gracious.

Sir, the inspector's on his way.

Really? This was enough to rouse him from bed?

A murder in the dining room of the Queens Hotel.

- I should hope so. - Right.

Detective.

Inspector Slorach.

Good Lord.

Are you sure we can't cover him up or...

Get him down to the morgue and clean this up.

Sir, I miss Inspector Brackenreid.

So do I, George.

So do I.

Thank you, Dr. Grace.

May I take my wife home?

Mr. Blake, the detective will want to have a couple of words.

Sir, this is Mr. Arthur Blake.

Mr. Blake.

Do you have anything to add

past the general description that it was two men?

I'm sorry, no.

Protecting my wife was my only concern.

Mr. Dawkins was a friend of yours?

A business associate.

And a friend, Arthur, surely.

I'm Cecily McKinnon.

The Toronto harbormaster.

Ah. Pleasure.

What was the purpose of tonight's dinner?

No real purpose. We often got together.

Who arranged this meeting?

McKINNON: Mr. Dawkins.

Do you have any idea what it was about?

McKINNON: I don't.

It all unfolded so quickly.

They just went straight for Richard, like madmen.

So, he and he alone was the intended target?

Yes.

They paid us no mind.

Were any words spoken?

Nothing I heard.

They clearly came in here with the intention of killing him.

You all knew Mr. Dawkins well.

Could there be a reason for this?

And nobody will say anything?

They all recounted the events.

Not much more.

Dawkins was the target?

So it would appear.

No money was stolen. Not a word was spoken.

So it was an assassination.

Possibly an assassination.

Possibly something more.

A message.

Exactly.

We best get on this.

A murder in a fine Toronto establishment

-does not reflect well on us. - Of course.

Oh, and, Murdoch, I've noticed

you've yet to request any time off.

Sir?

You are getting married, aren't you?

Yes.

You haven't picked a date yet?

Oh, don't worry. It won't be on a work day.

Oh, Murdoch.

You got to make an event out of these things.

As my wayward wife used to say,

there's more to life than murder.

My practice keeps me quite busy, Miss Haile.

- And I am getting married. - Of course.

But I do think that we can accomplish this,

especially with the assistance of women like you.

I doubt that you need me.

That's where you're wrong.

You are a woman of great achievement.

And more than my share of scandal.

I can look past that.

You do agree that women are deserving of the right to vote?

Of course.

I intend to see

that women's suffrage is achieved in my lifetime.

And I can't do that without people like you at my side.

Add your voice, Dr. Ogden.

You do believe in justice, don't you?

And what is more just

than granting women the right to franchise?

I appreciate this, Mrs. Dawkins.

The loss of your husband must be a terrible blow.

Thank you. But please be brief.

Yes, yes, of course.

Your husband owned a business down by the Toronto docks.

Yes. A chandlery.

Right.

Did he often have dinner with his fellow merchants?

No. He didn't much care for them.

Then why did he set up this dinner?

I have no idea.

Do you have any idea what he may have wanted to speak

to his fellow merchants about?

I don't know.

Mrs. Dawkins,

the men who killed your husband very clearly targeted him.

Richard was a quiet man.

Most people hardly gave him the time of day.

And yet someone wanted him dead.

Could it have anything to do with this dinner?

Detective Murdoch, if you want the truth,

Richard was considering selling the chandlery

and getting away from the waterfront altogether.

Why is that?

I don't know.

But something was troubling him.

In the last week, he wasn't the same man.

All right.

Do you have any idea why that could be?

Who was he planning to sell to?

Mr. Lionel Jeffries.

I once considered a seaman's life.

Did you, George?

The smell of the salt air,

the sound of the crashing waves,

the bracing wind in your hair.

No doubt a result of your Newfoundland upbringing, George.

No, I wouldn't say, sir. Why do you say that?

Oh, I don't know.

Doesn't the thought of a rousing nautical adventure

appeal t0 you?

I have my share of adventures, thank you, George.

Mr. Jeffries.

Detective Murdoch.

Have you any further information?

Unfortunately, no. Only more questions.

Go ahead.

You expressed interest

in purchasing Mr. Dawkins' chandlery

prior to his murder.

I did.

By all accounts, it was a successful business.

Why would he care to sell it?

I have no idea.

I see.

Mrs. Dawkins mentioned

that her husband had been acting strangely.

Would you know anything about that?

No, I don't.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man.

Your inspector was here some months ago.

I'm terribly sorry about what happened to him.

As am I.

Did he tell you what he'd been investigating?

There had been some vandalism. Hooliganism.

Nothing much, really,

just men too long on boats letting off steam.

MURDOCH Indeed.

A dangerous place for a woman to work.

That may be, but I've had little trouble down here so far.

Did the merchants tell you what they were meeting about?

Oh, sir, I am merely the harbormaster.

I log the movements of the ships entering and leaving Toronto.

What they do with their businesses here

is of little concern to me.

Yet you were at their dinner.

Yes. I had been invited.

I suppose they were taking pity on the widow.

Detective, are you sure you're looking in the right direction?

How do you mean?

Contrary to what others may tell you,

Richard Dawkins was no saint.