The Blake Adventures: Seen and Not Heard
January 1961
Jean bustled around the kitchen, as she did every morning, but something about her movements made Lucien watch her rather closely. There was something different about her that he couldn't quite place. It was like she was moving faster but more carefully. She wasn't as effortless as usual. And there was a worry line etched into her forehead.
"Are you alright, Jean?" he asked with concern.
"Yes, of course," she replied dismissively.
The phone rang, interrupting any pressing he might have wanted to do on the subject. Jean went to answer it. "Dr. Blake's surgery." Her frown deepened as she listened on the line. "Of course. We'll be right there." She hung up and turned back to Lucien. "That was Frank. He needs us both to go to the Conroy farm. It's just out of town. Neighboring my old farm, actually."
Lucien was curious. "Frank asked for us both? He usually gets annoyed when I bring you."
"He said this one is particularly nasty but that there's something he has me in mind for. I can't imagine what, but I think it's best we get a move on."
"Right. I suppose we should go, then."
They drove out to the farm in silence. Jean's mood persisted. Lucien remained concerned over her, all the while feeling apprehensive as to what they would find at the farm.
When they arrived, the farm was swarming with police cars. Jean looked around wistfully. Lucien made a mental note to ask her about the farm and the Conroys later. He'd noticed in the past that speaking about her old life at the Beazley farm with Christopher and their boys often made her smile, though a little sad. He never wanted her to fell that their life together and the happiness they shared in their marriage in any way replaced or negated her past with her family. Hopefully asking her about it would be a nice way to be supportive. But that was for later, after the work was done.
Frank came out to greet them himself. "Dr. Blake, the deceased are Mr. and Mrs. Conroy."
"Both of them?" Jean asked in horror.
He nodded. "Mrs. Blake, I was hoping you could help Sergeant Davis while Dr. Blake and I are with the bodies."
She was visibly confused. "Help Charlie? With what?"
Frank called behind him, "Davis!"
Charlie emerged from behind the house carrying a child. A little girl who couldn't have been more than five years old. "This is Rebecca," Charlie introduced.
"We only just got her to stop crying. She doesn't seem to talk. Just scream and cry so far. Now, I know it's a lot to ask, but would you be willing to look after her?" Frank asked.
"Oh of course. Charlie is needed elsewhere, I'm sure. I'm happy to sit with her while Lucien works. Since I do tend to come to these things anyway," Jean reasoned.
"No, that's not what I meant." Frank clarified, "Rebecca's grandmother is in Sydney, and she's going to be coming down to retrieve her and take her in, but it'll take a few days for her to get here. Instead of putting her in an orphanage, I thought she could stay with you. If it isn't too much."
Jean's eyes went wide. She looked to Lucien.
"I'm always happy for more house guests. But you're the one who does the world. It's up to you," he told her.
She nodded and walked right up to the little redheaded girl. "Hello, Rebecca. I'm Jean, and this is Lucien. You know Charlie already. How would you like to come stay with us, hmm?"
Rebecca didn't say anything. She just stared at Jean with big brown eyes.
Since there seemed to be no protest, Charlie handed her to Jean, who held her tight. Frank, Lucien, and Charlie all went inside the house.
"Oh my god," Lucien whispered upon seeing the bodies. Mrs. Conroy was crumpled on the floor in a pool of her own blood. Mr. Conroy was nearby in a slightly smaller puddle. It was a gruesome scene. "Did Rebecca see this?"
"We think so. A neighbor was driving by and heard her screaming so went inside to check and found her in her bedroom down the hall and the Conroys like this. Called the police right away," Charlie answered.
Lucien nodded, taking a precarious step closer. "They've been shot. Multiple shots to Mrs. Conroy, it looks like. Just one to Mr. Conroy, at the temple. Oh how awful."
"We haven't found a weapon. And there's no sign of forced entry, but the window here was open. We're going to fingerprint to see if we can find anything that way," Frank said. "Any theories jump out at you, Doc?"
"If there was no weapon, it obviously wasn't murder-suicide. No forced entry is curious. Anything taken?" Lucien asked.
"Not that we've noticed. The only thing that seems out of place in the house is the bodies," Charlie replied.
"Based on rigor, I'd put time of death at sometime very early in the morning. Perhaps around five. But I've done all I can do here. The bodies can go to the morgue. I'll meet Dr. Harvey there a little later. If Rebecca's coming with us, I'd like to drive her home with Jean and help get her settled." Lucien bid adieu to the police and went outside to see to Jean and Rebecca.
He found them sitting in the car together. Jean had Rebecca on her lap, absent-mindedly stroking her hair.
"How are we doing?" he asked with a kind smile.
Rebecca looked at him but said nothing.
Jean answered, "We're just fine. I've been telling Rebecca about our house and the room she'll stay in, and about Mattie, and our garden where she can play."
"Oh yes, I think you'll really like it, Rebecca," Lucien added.
Once again, they were meant with only silence.
Lucien turned his attention to Jean. "I've got to meet Alice, but I think we should get her settled first." Jean nodded in agreement, and they drove home.
When they parked the car, Lucien opened the door for Jean and Rebecca. He was intending on picking her up off of Jean's lap, but Rebecca got out of the car by herself and took Lucien's hand, looking up at him expectantly. He smiled kindly, trying not to seem too surprised. He and Jean led her into the house, showing her around to the kitchen and the parlor and upstairs to Jean's old bedroom, which had been turned into a guest room. But with its pink walls, it seemed perfect for a little girl to stay in.
"Now, Rebecca, this is all yours while you're here. Charlie is going to bring your things later today so you'll have your clothes and such. But I hope if you need anything, you ask," Lucien told her.
Rebecca nodded, indicating understanding for the first time that day.
Jean had a thought, which she voiced. "Lucien, I know she seems mostly fine, but do you think it would be a good idea to examine her?"
"Rebecca, I'm a doctor. Would it be alright if we went down to my surgery to make sure you're alright?"
She nodded again. She still hadn't let go of his hand. Lucien led her downstairs, with Jean following closely. He checked Rebecca's pulse and breathing, both of which were a bit quick, but that was to be expected. He checked her ears and nose and throat and did a cursory check of her little body to make sure nothing was broken. Rebecca just sat there like a rag doll, unflinching at every examination, regardless of the explanations and assurances Lucien gave as he worked.
"Everything seems to be in order. I think she's in shock, which is why her pulse is fast and she hasn't spoken. It might take a little time, but she'll come out of it. The kind of trauma that comes from what she witnesses…that stays with you," Lucien said knowingly.
Jean gave his shoulder a compassionate squeeze. "I can't even imagine. But if she's alright, I'll take her, and you go to the morgue."
"I'll be home before dinner," he told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He tapped Rebecca on the nose, eliciting an expression from her that was very nearly a smile.
Dr. Alice Harvey was waiting for Lucien to arrive before she began the autopsy. "Took you long enough. Decided to take the scenic route, did you?" she asked sarcastically.
"The Conroys have a little girl. Rebecca. Jean and I are looking after her until her grandmother comes to town to take her. I gave her an examination and helped get her settled," Lucien explained. "Now, what do we have on Mr. and Mrs. Conroy?"
"Jane Conroy, four bullet wounds. All in the chest. Someone really wanted to kill her," Alice said sadly. She turned to Mr. Conroy. "Paul Conroy, single bullet to the temple. No exit wound. Actually, no exit wounds on either of them. Shall we retrieve the bullets?"
"I think so, yes. The police will need to know what sort of gun they're looking for. By the wounds alone, I can tell you it isn't a .38. I think it might be a .45."
Alice regarded him curiously. "You say things like that and I can never decide if it's alright because you're the police surgeon, or if it's mildly frightening due to your service record."
"And what do you know of my service record, Dr. Harvey?"
"I know you were an officer for many years before the fall of Singapore, when you were taken prisoner. After that, you were a spy for quite some time. And before returning to Ballarat, you worked as a surgeon to an army mining town, Major Blake," she replied.
"Quite right. Though, as you know, I prefer to go by Lucien now."
Alice gave a small smile and returned to the examination. Other than the bullet wounds, the Conroys appeared to be the picture of health. Not a mark on either body, no signs of struggle, no defensive wounds or evidence of restraints. They'd been shot to death and their shooter disappeared without a trace. The bullets were removed from Jane Conroy, and Lucien had been correct about the .45, which was a rather uncommon revolver in Ballarat.
After they finished the report, Lucien returned home eagerly. He hoped Rebecca was getting comfortable and Jean wasn't having too difficult a time. He found them both in the kitchen. Jean was cooking dinner and Mattie was reading a book to Rebecca at the kitchen table. She stopped reading when Lucien came in.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. But wouldn't you be more comfortable in the parlor?" he asked Mattie.
"She started screaming when I tried to take her away from Jean," Mattie said quietly.
Rebecca jumped out of her chair and ran to Lucien, grabbing ahold of his hand. "Oh my. Yes, hello," he said awkwardly.
"Would you like me to keep reading to you, Rebecca?" Mattie asked kindly.
She nodded and went back to sit at the table, pulling Lucien with her.
"Jean, I was going to ask if you needed any help, but it looks like I'm going to listen to Mattie read instead," he commented.
Mattie went back to the story. Jean turned from the stove with a smile, watching the three of them at the kitchen table.
Charlie came home just in time for dinner. He'd brought a large suitcase full of Rebecca's things. Jean told him to put it upstairs in her room.
Dinner was a strange affair. Usually, they talked about whatever police case Lucien and Charlie were working on, but it didn't feel appropriate to discuss in front of Rebecca. And while she still would not speak, she gobbled up every spot of food put in front of her. It was clear, however, that she was still suffering. When Jean stood up to clear the plates, Rebecca began to whimper. And when Lucien stood to help his wife, the child cried in earnest. In the end, it seemed to make the most sense that Mattie and Charlie do the washing up.
"Rebecca, I think you should have a bath," Jean suggested. She picked Rebecca up and carried her up to the bathroom. She seemed fine as long as she was in someone's arms. Jean's heart broke for her, and she knew she'd do whatever she could to keep Rebecca calm and relatively happy. Even if that meant carrying her around with her whenever she left the room.
When Jean bathed her, she was glad to see that there were no signs of injury or abuse on her. Jean knew from experience that farm life was fraught with all kinds of unspoken cruelty and hardship. She was glad to know that little Rebecca seemed thoroughly loved and well cared for. Until today, of course.
Bedtime was another ordeal. Jean got Rebecca changed into her nightgown and into bed just fine. But as soon as she walked away, Rebecca would moan and cry. Jean tried singing her to sleep, but nothing seemed to calm her. Rebecca just wouldn't fall asleep. Finally, as a last effort, Jean came to lie on the bed with her arms around Rebecca. That seemed to do the trick. Rebecca fell asleep within a few minutes. But then Jean couldn't move for fear of waking her.
Lucien came looking for his wife and found her in her old bed, holding little Rebecca.
"I don't want to wake her. She cries if I try to leave," Jean whispered to him.
"You go and get changed. I'll stay here with her. If she stays asleep, I'll be able to join you," Lucien replied.
Jean got up as gently as she could. Lucien gently stroked Rebecca's hair, hoping that his presence would distract her from missing Jean's. That seemed to do the trick. She did stay asleep, and Lucien was free to leave. He went to bathe and get ready for bed.
While Lucien was in the bathroom, Jean overhead a noise. She went to investigate, and sure enough, Rebecca had woken up and found herself alone, and began sobbing. Jean got back into bed with her to keep her calm. Within moments, she was asleep again. Jean had to admit, it was quite comfortable. After all, she'd slept in that bed for many years. Soon, she'd drifted off to sleep as well.
Lucien came out of the bathroom to find the room empty. Curious, he went out into the hall to find his wife. Sure enough, she was in the room with Rebecca. They were both fast asleep. Not wanting to be away from Jean for the whole night, Lucien silently moved the chair from the corner of the room. He leaned against the wall and settled into the chair and closed his eyes.
Jean was awoken abruptly, though she was unsure why. The sun hadn't quite risen yet, but light just starting to peek through the curtains. She was glad to see Rebecca still sound asleep. But upon turning over to stretch, she saw Lucien asleep in the chair. Without getting out of bed, she could just barely tap his knee. His eyes fluttered open. She pressed her finger to her lips to keep him quiet. He smiled at her sheepishly, clearly embarrassed that he'd chosen to sleep in a chair next to his wife rather than in their bed without her. Jean matched his smile and gestured for him to join her. Lucien was all too happy to do so. Jean curled up on her side, facing Rebecca. Lucien laid down on his side, pressed against her. He put one arm beneath her head and the other over her waist. Feeling much more comfortable, they both fell back asleep.
