When Opportunity Strikes 4

…
Later that evening
…

Hand in hand Lucien and Jean walked up the corridor to the ward room where Mavis was resting. Lucien felt a little satisfied glow that he could now hold Jean's hand in public without fear of gossip or censure. In Jeans' other hand was a neatly wrapped parcel of her latest batch of cheese and bacon scones*. She reckoned that Mavis would enjoy them more than the food served here.

Jean wrinkled her nose a bit at the 'hospital' smell of disinfectant and illness, but to Lucien it was a normal, comforting scent. As they approached, they saw Matthew sitting on a chair just outside the room, apparently waiting for them. He noticed them both and stood up to greet them.

'Ah, Lucien. About time, she has just woken up. I'm waiting for the all-clear from that Tartar of a Head nurse.' Matthew looked at Jean, raised an eyebrow at her and continued, 'And good, you've brought Jean with you.'

Jean looked at Matthew in astonishment. 'You don't mind me being here?' she asked.

'Don't know if I could stop you.' He replied. 'And I think Mavis would be more comfortable answering questions with you here.'

'So, I take it you don't think I'm a suspect, then?' Jean shot back.

Matthew looked uncomfortable. 'Well, technically speaking, you probably are. But the reality is that we both know you didn't do this, and I can't see you having any motive for doing so anyway!'

'I should think not!' huffed Lucien.

Jean patted Lucien's arm soothingly. 'Thank you, Matthew.' She appreciated his faith in her and that he was bending the rules a bit in her favour.

Just then the Head Nurse exited Mavis' room. She looked at Matthew with an air of disapproval, but her expression changed when she saw Lucien.

'Ah, Doctor Blake,' she cooed. 'Your patient has just woken up. She seems to be doing well apart from a headache. I assume you will prescribe the usual analgesic treatment?'

Lucien smiled tolerantly at the nurse. 'Most likely Nurse. I will just check her over now and give you orders before I go. I'd like to see if she is up for a bit of questioning by the Inspector here.' Lucien waved a hand in Matthews direction.

The nurse sniffed somewhat disdainfully. 'If you approve, I can't stop you. But mind you don't upset her too much with your questions Inspector! Not more than 15 minutes, You,' she stared pointedly at Matthew, 'I'll be watching!' With that the formidable woman turned on her heel and stomped off.

Jean raised an eyebrow at Matthew. 'You are not her favourite person, I gather?'

'We've had our run-ins in the past,' Matthew shrugged. He pushed open the room door and gestured for them to enter.

Mavis lay on the hospital bed; the adjustable bed back having been raised to a semi-upright position. She looked as pale as the white sheets, her forehead bandaged, swathed in a crepe bandage. Her blue rinsed hair stood out brightly on the white pillow case. Her bright blue eyes focused on her guests and she gave them a watery smile.

''Ello Luvies. Come to check up on me, eh?' she asked.

'Afraid so, Mavis.' Responded Lucien. 'How are you feeling?' He studied her chart at the foot of the bed.

'Like I was hit by a truck!' she exclaimed. 'My heads' thumping something fierce!'

'I'll get Nurse to bring you something for that soon. But we were wondering if you felt up to answering a few questions for the Inspector here, first,' asked Lucien.

'Aye. I can do that. Nurse said she'll be bringing me a cup of tea in bit, though.'

'It won't take long Mavis,' put in Jean, and she stepped up and gave the woman a quick kiss on the cheek. 'Plus, I've brought along a special treat to have with your tea if you feel up to it.'

She handed Mavis the parcel and Mavis took a quick peek inside the wrapping. 'Ooooh! Lovely! Ta' ever so much Jean dear.'

'Better hide them from Nurse, though,' suggested Lucien, taking the parcel from Mavis and tucking it into the drawer at the bedside table. 'She frowns on food that actually tastes good!' Mavis chuckled.

Jean pulled up a chair and sat next to the bedside, taking Mavis' hand in her own. 'Can you tell the Inspector what happened this morning? Can you remember?'

Mavis frowned in thought. 'I got to the shop around 8, I think. Ben was waiting for me at the door. Ben! Oh Ben! No one's said what's happened to Ben!' cried Mavis.

'I am very sorry Mavis,' said Matthew gently. 'Ben was attacked and killed in the back room. That's why we need to know anything you can tell us.'

'Ah me. The poor ol' bugger. Poor old Ben.' Grieved Mavis. Jean stroked Mavis' hand in comfort.

'Who would do such a terrible thing to an old man?' asked Mavis angrily.

'We don't know Mavis, that's what we need to find out. Did you hear or see anything?' responded Matthew.

'He were a war hero, did you know that Jean?' Mavis turned to Jean with tears in her eyes. 'He was in the Dardanelles and then in the Sinai. 3rd Light Horse Brigade! He never talked about it much.' Mavis shook her head. 'Poor old bugger. Never did the march. Thought he and his mates had been hard done by. Had three Walers shot from out under him. Said that's why he wanted to help in the shop, he sorrowed so about them horses. Wanted to help the ones living he said.'

'Does Ben have family, Mavis? Anyone we can contact?' asked Matthew.

'No,' said Mavis sadly. 'He had a wife once. And a kiddie. A daughter. But when he came back he couldn't settle. They left him, he never saw them again. Didn't know where they went. Ben was jumpy. Loud noises upset him. That's why he liked working in the quiet, in the back room by himself. No one to bother him. No noise.'

Lucien was pensive, shell shock from the sound of it. He knew about the campaigns in Gallipoli and in the Sinai deserts. They were blood baths and hell holes. Men who survived were changed by the experience, many never recovered.

'Someone knocked on the back door!' exclaimed Mavis in sudden recollection.

'When was that, Mavis?' asked Jean gently.

'Not long after we got there. I opened the front door and let Ben in. Then locked it behind me. Otherwise people just barge in even though it isn't opening time. I went into the office to check the accounts, and Ben went into the back room to sort through all that stuff that Kiwi bloke left us.' Mavis paused a bit, thinking. 'Maybe 15 minutes later I heard a knock at the back door. Ben went to answer it. I just thought it was poor old Pat come to cadge some coin off Ben again for beer and didn't think much of it.'

'Pat?' questioned Matthew.

'Pat O'Brien.' Replied Mavis. 'Sometimes he kips in the alley behind the shop. He and Ben were in the Brigade together. Poor Pat had got shot up bad and got on the grog when he came back. He smells a caution. But Ben never minded, always stood by Pat. Said they were mates.'

Matthew knew Pat O'Brien. Pat would drink anything he could get his hands on and wasn't found of bathing. Lately he had been known to be on the meth's, which meant he wasn't long for this world either. Pat was a regular visitor to the Ballarat jail. Mainly drunk and disorderly. He wasn't a mean drunk, generally, but Metho could cause aggressive behaviour. Matthew had often wondered where Pat had gotten the money for the drink and now he knew. Maybe Ben had stopped the supply of funds?

'And then?' prodded Jean gently.

'I… I don't really know. It's sort of fuzzy. I thought I heard a voice, maybe a thump. I got up to check, but… I don't know, I can't remember…' Mavis was beginning get distressed, tears running down her face.

Lucien looked down at Mavis with concern. 'Mavis, it is quite normal to have a bit of memory loss after a blow to the head. Please, don't let it upset you.'

'Shh, shhh,' soothed Jean. 'It's alright, you've done really well, shhhhh,' Jean stroked Mavis on the cheek.

'I THOUGHT SO!' exclaimed an angry voice. The Head Nurse stood in the doorway. 'I WON'T have you upsetting my patients!'

Lucien looked over at the Nurse and in his most placating voice said. 'It's quite all right Nurse. I am right here, and there is nothing going on that is out of order!'

The Head Nurse scowled at Lucien. 'This is MY ward, Doctor. You know that. What I say, goes. And I say, enough. This patient needs her rest and you are upsetting her.'

'Quite right. Quite right.' Said Lucien conciliatorily. 'Come Jean, it's time we go.'

Jean looked at the distressed Mavis and said, 'Don't worry Mavis, dear. It will be alright. I'll watch the shop for you and Inspector Lawson will catch this person. You'll see.'

Mavis looked at Lawson with a fierce gaze. 'You catch this rotten bugger, Inspector! You catch him good! My Ben deserved better. A war hero he was.'

Matthew nodded back.

…

As they left the ward, Matthew and Jean walked on ahead. Lucien stayed behind momentarily to prescribe some painkiller for Mavis.

Jean looked up at Matthew and asked. 'When can I go back to the shop, Matthew? There will be customers. And accounts. And the cash box to balance. And donations arriving that need to be dealt with. Not to mention cleaning up the mess in the back room!'

Matthew was considering, when Lucien strode up.

'Say Matthew,' he interrupted, 'I think I need to go back and look at the crime scene again! Maybe we missed something.'

Matthew threw up his hands in defeat. 'Right, right, you two! Lucien, you and Jean come around to the shop tomorrow at 10. I'll have Bill meet you there with the key. You search again and see if you find any new leads. Report to Bill. And Jean, you can do your accounts or whatever, but you can't open the shop until Bill has given you the all clear, agreed?'

Jean nodded her head in agreement and Lucien just grunted.

'Right, and when you do open again, I want Bill there. I want him to see who comes and goes, who are your regulars. I need names. I want him to interview as many of your regulars as possible. See if anyone held a grudge against Ben or noticed anything suspicious.'

'And what about Pat O'Brien?' asked Lucien

'He shouldn't be too hard to scare up. Charlie knows all his haunts, I'll get him to bring him in for an interview.'

'I'd like to be there for that,' asked Lucien.

Both Matthew and Jean looked at each other and grinned.

'Oh, you don't know what a treat you are in for, my son!' chuckled Matthew. Lucien looked at them both in bemusement while Jean just giggled.

…

*Just an aside… Jean's famous Cheese and Bacon scones…. (well, mine actually) … metric measurements used.

3 rashers lean bacon, rind removed and diced
3 cups of self-rising flour
80g of butter (not margarine!)
100g of extra tasty cheese finely grated
1 to 1 ¼ cups full cream milk
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
2 pinches of smoky paprika
extra milk

Preheat oven to 200c, line a baking paper with baking paper

In non-stick frypan gently cook bacon for about 4 minutes until golden. Drain on a paper towel and let cool.

Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the cubed butter. With your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add the cheese, chives, bacon and a pinch of paprika and mix well.

Make a well in the centre of the mix and add the milk. Mix with the back of a wooden spoon or a flat knife until it comes together and forms a soft dough. Add more milk as you go if needed. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead. Do not over knead, that makes the scones tough. Just knead until smooth.

Pat the dough down to about 2.5cm thick. Using a 5 cm cookie cutter, or the rim of a glass dusted with flour, cut approximately 16 rounds and place on the tray leaving at least 2 cm between. Brush the tops with mile and sprinkle with the second pinch of paprika.

Bake in oven 20 to 25 minutes until risen and golden brown and yummy.

Eat warm with lashings of butter, or cold with vegemite (or butter). Great with soup in winter! Also, can be split and toasted under the griller next day.

(if you are dieting, you can use low fat milk, low fat cheese, low fat margarine, but they are nowhere near as nice!)