Jack Walker is the owner of a butcher shop, introduced in Season 13 of Murdoch Mysteries, portrayed by Jesse Lavercombe.
Appearances and Mentions
Season 13
The Philately Fatality
- While investigating a murder in the house where a men-only party took place, Inspector Brackenreid recognizes a picture of his butcher: Jack Walker. He visits Walker at his butcher store, asking why there was a photo of him with his arm around Mr. Paxton, the murder victim.
- Walker explains that they were old school chums and he was being polite when he ran into him on the island. Brackenreid is satisfied but Detective Watts questions his alibi.
- Walker is brought to the Station House for further questioning by Murdoch when evidence is brought to light that reveals he was, in fact, at the Paxton house party. Walker reveals that he was in a relationship with Paxton, but they had broken up because of their differences. He goes on to confess to the policemen that he was the one who found Paxton's body but he didn't kill him. Not believing him, Brackenreid asks for him to be placed in the cells.
- Watts seeks Walker's help in locating Paxton's missing stamp collection, as the motive could be due to his philatelist hobby and not his personal life. Walker agrees to help, but only if he can run an important errand afterwards. "Let you out, you mean," Watts says. "I'll come back," Walker replies, "I promise."
- True to his word, Walker aids Watts in recovering the missing stamp collection, and in return, Watts holds up his part of the deal and gives Walker an hour to visit his mother. When the Inspector finds out, he is enraged and warns "he could be on a train halfway across the country by now!" Indeed, he could be, but Walker is back in the cells, just as he promised.
- Once the case has come to a close, with Walker's name cleared of suspicion, Detective Watts takes it upon himself to thank the butcher for his help. However, Walker can tell there is something more. "Can I call you Jack?" Watts asks. It appears a verbal response isn't needed as Jack steps back into his apartment, leaving the door open for Watts to follow – and he does, closing the door behind him.
The Killing Dose
- Detective Watts has spent the night at Jack's apartment. Just as he's about to head out, Jack stops him, making sure he doesn't forget his lunch, "I hope you'll come again." Watts is clearly worried at the notion of anyone finding out, but Jack reassures him, "some things are worth the risk."
- When Jack answers the knock at his door, he finds Constable Crabtree with Watts. In an awkward wink-and-nod questioning about a wrapper from his shop found as possible evidence of a theft, Jack explains that the wrapper was from the chicken kidneys Mr. Kerr fed to his cat. Satisfied with the simple explanation, Watts exits followed by a polite bemused Crabtree, leaving a half-smiling Jack.
In the Company of Women
- Jack assists Watts in finding a missing five hundred pound pig, fearing that the pig may have already been slaughtered.
Things Left Behind
- Watts and Jack share their first on-screen kiss, but it is soon interrupted when Watts discovers a body. Watts instructs Jack to leave; that he'll take care of this.
- Later, Jack and Watts meet up at a pub. Watts assures him that Detective Murdoch is now on the case and that he does not know the truth about how he came across the body. Moments later, Detective Edwards enters and asks if he could join the two of them. Watts introduces Jack as merely a friend.
- Jack has been arrested by Station House One previously on charges of suspected homosexual activity.
The Future is Unwritten
- Sitting in the cells of Station House One, Jack is shown to have sustained numerous beatings, after Edwards apparently exposed him to whoever was around. Watts tells him he'll get him out, but Jack won't let him throw away his life as a policeman. The two embrace as much as one can through bars before Watts departs.
Season 14
Shock Value
- Jack and Watts are planning to meet up on Friday. Watts offers to drop by that night but Jack rushes to deny him. Jack appears to be hiding something, and Watts becomes suspicious. Jack is seen talking with a young man later revealed to be a baker named Andrew.
- That evening, Jack's discussions with the baker come to an abrupt halt when Watts storms into Jack's apartment. The butcher is quick to explain - Andrew is a friend of his, and together they'd planned and baked a cake to celebrate Watts and Jack's anniversary.
- Believing he's made a fool of himself, Watts turns to leave, only to be stopped by Jack. He invites Watts to sit down. "Since you've ruined the surprise, we might as well have cake." Jack isn't angry, though. Rather, he's flattered. No one has ever been jealous of him before.
The Ministry of Virtue
- Walker's shop has been vandalized. Written in blood-red letters across the front window, a blaring sign of all to see, is the word sodomite. Jack is understandably anxious. Watts tells him to go home, he'll take care of this.
- Later, Watts comes by Jack's apartment to tell him the good news - the vandal has been caught. But Jack is not happy. He wanted things to disappear without a fuss, he didn't want a trial or a conviction. "It won't be justice, it'll be every bigot in the city gossiping about the fairy butcher." Watts tries to make amends, tells him he'll get the charges dropped, but Jack is not optimistic, especially with Watts' own career and reputation on the line. Solemnly, Jack breaks things off with Watts.
- While Watts is not ready to let things go, it's clear that Jack has already begun to think about his future. He becomes engaged to Clara Cartwright, a young woman pregnant out of wedlock.
Everything is Broken Part 1
- Jack asks to meet up with Watts, telling him that he plans to leave Clara, but Watts disapproves of this. He has already made the commitment to marry her, to be the father of the child that isn't his, and it's wrong of him to run away now.
Everything is Broken Part 2
- When Watts drops off a wedding gift, Jack catches him in the hallway and pulls him inside.
- The two lie together on the bed later when Clara comes in and demands Watts leaves. Then she turns to Jack and tells him that she is going to marry him, and only afterwards will he be free to engage in whatever "filth" he'd like.
Season 15
Blood on the Tracks
- Even as he acts as a husband and a father to Clara and her son, Jack still finds time to be around Watts. The two help reunite baby Jordan with her father Henry.
Close Encounters
- Jack has sent a letter to Llewellyn who in the end with suitcase in hand leaves Toronto for New York.
Season 16
Trivia
- Jack Walker is the second butcher named 'Jack' appearing in Murdoch Mysteries, the first was Jack the Butcher in Murdoch On The Corner.
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