Strange Bedfellows
This is a Father Brown Mysteries fanfiction. I do not own the characters and mean no harm.
Chapter 1
The young woman hurried into the churchyard. Her green dress swayed around her slim form. Multiple baskets hung from her arms. She found her friend sitting outside the church with the local scoundrel that he was working on saving. When she spoke, it was with very little accent. Only the occasional inflection could be heard. "Good Morning Sid, good Morning Father. I must admit, I'm a little surprised to see you up so early Sid." Sid gave her a cheeky grin and a wink before saying. "Who said I've been to bed yet?" Shaking her head; her red hair falling across her bright blue eyes, but still smiling she turned her attention to the Priest. "Father Brown I was doing some baking, it seems I made too much. I wondered if I could ask you to assist me?" Holding out one of the smaller baskets to the Father she continued. "I made some butter tarts." Father Brown's eye got their jovial twinkle. "Oh you do spoil me Lady Lisbeth. I shall have to hide the butter tarts from Mrs. McCarthy. Is one of those for Emily? You are very kind to Emily and Linnie. I wish more people would follow your lead." Lisbeth scowled. "People forget that the only one that should judge her is God. Emily is a sweet girl and a good mother to Linnie. She loves that little girl. That's all that matters to me." Father Brown nodded. "Where's Jameson?" Lisbeth turned around and pointed to where the small red headed boy of 5 was playing with Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow. The Sergeant was attempting to put his hat on Jameson, but it was so big it covered his entire head. Lisbeth smiled at the scene before her. Father Brown noticed the way Lisbeth looked at the Inspector and noticed the extra basket. "Don't let us keep you from your travels." Lisbeth didn't hear them. She watched the way the 2 men had her son giggling and wished that he had a father that could teach him the things she couldn't. Pulling herself out of her daydreams she turned back to Father Brown and Sid. "Please excuse me gentleman. I should be going. Don't forget to hide the butter tarts Father." Father Brown chuckled and touched the side of his nose. "Thankyou again for the goodies my dear. We'll see you Sunday?" Lisbeth turned to leave. "I didn't realize it was optional Father, you should have told us that in Sunday school." Sid watched Lisbeth walk away, admiring the view as they say. "Oy, she's a nice looking lady. I wouldn't mind her baking for me." Father Brown glared at Sid, but remained quiet.
Lisbeth moved out of the courtyard to stand near her son. "Are you causing trouble Jamie darling?" Lisbeth teased her little one. The Inspector quickly stood and removed his hat. Little Jamie looked at his Mother with his most sincere face. Unlike his Mother, he had a very proper English accent and spoke like a little gentleman. "Oh no Mommy. I wouldn't want the Inspector to arrest me. I want to be a policeman when I grow up." The Inspector smiled and crouched down again. "But Sir Jameson when you grow up you are going to be a great Lord." Jameson shook his little head and explained to the Inspector. "My Mommy says with hard work, education and compassion that I can be whatever I want to be. I want to be a detective like you." The Inspector's proud smile quickly turned into a frown when he heard the boy finish with. "And Father Brown." Sergeant Goodfellow and Lisbeth fought to restrain their chuckles. Trying to change the subject from the Priest that was the Inspector's thorn in his side. Lisbeth offered up the smaller basket. "Inspector, I was busy baking. Loaf of bread, scones and butter tarts. You make sure he shares those tarts with you Sergeant." Sergeant Goodfellow smiled and nodded. "You can be sure of that." Inspector Sullivan placed the basket in the Police car. "Thank-you Lady Lisbeth." "Are you gentlemen in a hurry? I have to pop over to Emily Hargrove's to drop off this basket. Would Jamie be alright here?" Inspector Sullivan nodded. "We're not in a hurry, he's just fine with us." The little boy leaned in with a look of pure delight and whispered loudly and dramatically as he said. "Thank-you Inspector, you have surely saved me. I don't like going there. It always smells funny and the baby is always spitting things up." The adults all chuckled slightly. "My pleasure sir." Inspector Sullivan answered the boy. Lady Lisbeth nodded and headed over to the small cottage a short distance away. Sergeant Goodfellow couldn't help to tease a little. "So Lady Lisbeth, how come I don't get a basket?" Lisbeth threw her answer over her shoulder. "You Sergeant have a very lovely wife that bakes and takes good care of you. Inspector Sullivan hasn't found his good woman yet." The Sergeant couldn't hide the smirk this time. "If you say so." Inspector Sullivan shot his Sergeant the dirtiest look he could manage.
Lisbeth pushed open the gate and moved into the yard. As she approached the door, she was slightly surprised to find it slightly ajar. She pushed open the door and saw Linnie fussing in her playpen. Putting down the basket she turned and scooped up the child. "Where's Mommy? Let's go find her, shall we?" Lisbeth moved through the small cottage to the kitchen. Glancing into the bedroom, her blood ran cold and she had to swallow a scream. Slowly backing out of the kitchen she ran for the door. Once outside she started screaming. She had almost made it to the gate when she mis-stepped and fell down hard on her knee. Clutching the baby she was unable to break her fall. Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow turned at the first of the screams. Inspector Sullivan immediately started running. Sergeant Goodfellow turned to Jamie and told him to go to Father Brown. He followed Inspector Sullivan to the cottage. Inspector Sullivan had already leapt the low stone fence and was by her side. "Lisbeth are you ok? Are you hurt? What's happened?" Inspector Sullivan was in a near panic, but was very gentle trying to check Lisbeth for injuries. Looking like she could be sick at any moment, Lisbeth turned her tear soaked face to the Inspector. "There was a man on top of Emily. He's killed her." Inspector Sullivan turned to his Sergeant and gave a look and nod. Sergeant Goodfellow nodded in return. He made his way into the cottage. The Inspector returned his focus to the woman beside him. "Lady Lisbeth, can you walk?" He helped her stand; but when Lisbeth tried to put any pressure on her bad knee, it buckled. Inspector Sullivan caught her and steadied her. "Do you have a hold on the babe?" When Lisbeth nodded, Sullivan scooped them both up in his arms. Just than Sergeant Goodfellow emerged from the cottage looking pale. "Only Emily in there now Gov. He's worked her over good. She's definitely gone."