A tandem and follow on chapter to 'the sky's the limit.'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Frank answered the phone expecting to hear his wife's sweet voice. His first thought, when he heard Dr Blake, was the worst.
'Frank,' he heard, 'It's Lucien.'
Why the hell would the Ballarat Police Surgeon be ringing him? It was too early for Alice to ring. Oh God!
'Don't worry,' the voice said, echoing round his head. 'Alice is fine.' Lucien recounted the events of the morning, playing down how much in danger Alice had been. 'She's staying with Jean and me until you get back, she'll be well taken care of.'
'Blake!' He shouted down the phone, 'What the hell happened?'
Lucien again reiterated that Charlie and Bill were in no way to blame, that it was a horrible accident and everything had been dealt with.
Frank put down the phone. Alice had been in danger. Oh, he knew she would brush it off when he saw her, but she was his wife and he should be there to protect her! That was it! He'd had enough of politics. He was either reassigned to Ballarat as the Superintendant or he would resign. The town was more than big enough for a station led by a Superintendant, and he was sure that was going to be him!
If they pushed him to resign he'd find some other way to earn a crust, but he was not going to stay as an instructor at the police college when he could do more as a Superintendant of a police station in a good sized Victorian town.
He booked a meeting with those in charge for the following morning. Alice was safe and cared for where she was. He rang the Blake's to see if he could speak to her once his temper had subsided but she had retired for the night. Jean said she would let her know he had called. Jean's voice soothed him, she told him Alice was fine, fast asleep; she'd actually checked as if she was a child; and pain free. Lucien, she said, had administered a painkiller with a light sedative and Alice was unlikely to stir before the morning.
Frank went to bed but couldn't sleep. Every time he drifted off he saw Alice with a knife in her side, blood running down her torso and he woke several times.
The next morning at the meeting Frank spoke about the relevance of leaving a provincial station without senior leadership. How the skills of an experienced officer could enhance the working of such a station. He went on to speak about how local stations knew the public, the relationships, the areas, the working life. This was vital information when it came to solving crime. He urged the Brass to re think their ideas about Ballarat. It was, or had been, an efficient station with a good conviction rate. A station that was always sure of its facts before it filed them and sent then to Melbourne.
He left the meeting hoping he'd done enough to at least get the powers that be to understand that it wasn't right to pare down a station just because they felt it was a small town. Ballarat wasn't really that small, and it was growing; so why couldn't they allow the Police Station to do the same?
He was called in twice more to discuss why Ballarat was such a good station, what he knew about the officers who were currently serving there.
He told them everything they knew and then they decided to home in on Lucien Blake.
Frank explained that he trusted the Police Surgeon, his insight into the human condition was yet another reason the station functioned at the highest level. And it was this insight that invariably got to the truth.
The end of the day came and went, he was told to go and come back the following day. He decided to go and write his resignation letter. He was convinced he had nowhere to go, his career as a police officer was over. If he was lucky retirement was his only option , but he would at least be with Alice. The downside was that she would be working, he would be a kept man and that would never do! So what could he do?
He put an early evening call into Alice. He was relieved to hear her voice, and as he suspected she played down the incident
'Frank, I'm absolutely fine.' She smiled down the phone, touched by his concern, 'Lucien has done a nice job of stitching the wound, Sister asked him if Jean had been giving him lessons! There's no pain or infection, so don't worry.'
'But it shouldn't have happened, Alice' Frank was still upset about it, no matter what she said, 'The station needs a more senior officer in charge.'
'I don't think it would have made any difference, sweetheart,' Alice tried to placate him, 'He had hidden himself so well he'd never have been found if he hadn't gone back to the plane. Charlie's upset about it enough as it is, don't make him feel any worse.'
Frank decided it wouldn't be a good idea to tell Alice he had been talking to the Police Board about the station at Ballarat. He hadn't mentioned the concerns he had over this case as it involved his wife and it might be construed that all he wanted to do was to get back to the warmth of her bed. Which was a damn good reason to go back.
Alice told him about the case, how it was due to the Flying Club buying an old plane; but unbeknown to them it was being sold by a gang who had committed a robbery in Adelaide. It was their idea that if they sold the plane they could hide their ill gotten gains in the body of the plane and retrieve it when it got to Ballarat. It was an ingenious idea she thought and it would have all been ok if they hadn't fought over the distribution of the money. So in then end the only winners were the flying club who got the plane they wanted anyway. Three of the gang of thieves were dead and the fourth was in hospital under police guard.
'I wish I'd been there,' Frank said, 'I'd like to have seen the look on your patient's face when Lucien threatened to take his leg off!'
'He genuinely believed he'd do it, too.' Alice smiled at the memory and it came through in her voice.
'So, what are you doing this evening?' He turned the conversation to the more mundane issues of the day. Imagining her sitting with Jean and Lucien over an evening whisky after one of Jean's tasty meals. He was a little jealous.
'Not much, I'm going to avoid Lucien and his syringe, or he'll give me another sedative.' She grinned at the memory of him giving her a mixture of pain relief and sedative the previous night. She didn't need either now.
'He's only thinking of your comfort,' Frank said, 'you should be glad. He could have left you at home to suffer alone.'
'I know,' Alice replied, 'and I'm grateful. It is better than the alternative he offered, an overnight stay in hospital. I'm a doctor, I know what they do to you in those places!' She laughed, doctors rarely made good patients and she had to admit she was one of the worst.
'Alice, you're incorrigible!' Frank laughed back at her, imagining her giving the nurses short shrift if they didn't look after her they way she wanted. He was sure Lucien had to take it carefully too!
Frank signed off, whispering a few sweet nothings down the phone which made her blush. He said he'd try to get back earlier than usual.
Alice composed herself and went to join the Blake's in the living room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Frank was called to the Conference Room during a lecture the next morning. He left his cadets to write up the notes while he went to hear his fate.
The Commissioner indicated he should sit, this was going to be a long one, Frank thought.
'Superintendant, I hear you have some concerns that Ballarat Station has been left rather in the lurch?' He said, looking at the notes from the previous day's discussions.
'Sir, I left Ballarat because I was told I was needed as an instructor here. However, there has been no replacement Superintendant assigned to that station. Currently, two senior sergeants are in charge, which is neither efficient or a good use of their time.' Frank still didn't want to bring their attention to what he knew about the case of the plane and the Adelaide robbery.
'I hear there has been a case involving the police surgeon and pathologist this week.' The Commissioner was trying to draw Frank out, 'and I believe that same pathologist is your wife, would I be correct in that belief?'
Damn! thought Frank, 'Yes Sir, that is correct.' Frank sat up straight and looked his inquisitor in the eye. 'It still remains that there is no senior officer at Ballarat.'
'You feel you've been hard done by, don't you, Carlyle?' The Commissioner eyed him sternly.
'If you mean because at the present time my wife and I live apart during the week, yes in a way, but I had only been at Ballarat for a year and we had a good conviction rate and no false convictions had been made during that year. But it's not just me that's been 'hard done by', Frank continued, 'it's the people of Ballarat too. They have been let down by you!'
The Commissioner tried to interrupt but Frank wasn't going to stop, not now he had something to say and he was going to say it, to hell with his career.
'Ballarat station was reeling from the retirement, on medical grounds, of Matthew Lawson, injured in the line of duty, as he tried to protect one of his junior officers. It was and is a good team, including Dr Blake, they all pull together to protect the residents and keep them safe. They are well know by both the good and the not so good, Ballarat is all the better for them and I want to be a part of that.'
That was it, Frank had said his piece, now all he could do was wait and see what the brass had to think about that, but before he left he stood up and,
'I'd just like to inform you that I am considering resigning from the force, should you continue on this destructive line.' And with that he stood up, saluted and left the room.
The very senior officers in the room sat back and scratched their heads. They turned one to the other and started to argue and mutter about what Superintendant Carlyle had said. Some came right out and said he was right and that the Victoria police department could do with a few more like him. others said he was a loose cannon, brainwashed by that lunatic Lucien Blake. Voices were raised, tables thumped until the Commissioner stopped them.
'Frank Carlyle's record stands before us. Commendations for bravery, testimonies to his fairness, plus his dogged determination to get the right result and conviction.'
'Yes, but, ' a Commander intervened, 'Ballarat is such a small town, it doesn't need a senior led station.'
'Ballarat is growing,' the Commissioner answered, 'the population has increased over the past few years, even if now you don't feel it warrants a Superintendant it soon will do. I am going to put this to a vote. A show of hands for Carlyle to be reassigned to Ballarat for the foreseeable future.'
Out of the six people round the table three raised their hands for Frank. That meant the other three were against. Therefore the Commissioner held the deciding vote...he voted for Frank to go back to Ballarat.
'Would you come back in, please,' the shorthand secretary who had been taking the minutes of the meetings poked her head out of the door.
Frank stood up, drew himself up to his full height (6ft) and almost marched into the room. Standing at the end of the table facing the Commissioner he stood erect with his cap under his arm and waited to hear his fate.
'Superintendant,' the Commissioner stood to deliver his verdict, 'we have listened to you extol the virtues of Ballarat station, and you speak passionately about the staff and the people of the town. I decided to put it to a vote, and it was an even split.' He saw Frank widen his eyes, 'I had the casting vote.'
'Sir...' Frank tried to speak.
'Superintendant Carlyle it is my wish that you continue at Ballarat as their Superintendant for the foreseeable future. However, be aware the station, conviction rate and conduct of all those attached to the station, including the Police Surgeon and pathologist will be on our radar. There is no hiding place.'
'Sir, yes sir, and thank you.' Frank breathed a sigh of relief.
As he walked out with Frank the Commissioner whispered to him, 'Keep your nose clean, Carlyle, and reign in Blake and all will be well.' They shook hands and parted company.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Frank decided he wouldn't phone Alice with the news, knowing where she was he would just turn up. If he caught the next train he could be back at Lucien's in time for dinner. He hoped Jean wouldn't mind!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Frank paid the taxi and stood in front of Blake's front door. He knocked...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'I'll get it,' the familiar call as Jean went down the hall, Frank could just see her in his mind's eye. He smiled as the door opened and put his finger to his lips to indicate she should say nothing. She smiled and let him in, 'She's in the sun room.'
Frank went straight through, nodding to Lucien as he went and opened the door to the sun room. Alice was sitting nursing a cup of tea. she didn't notice him stand and look at her. He thought she looked pale and a little tired. and it cut him that he should have been there when she needed him. He walked over to her and sat down , 'Penny for them.'
She wheeled round, 'Frank, how, when?' But words were replaced by kisses as he pulled her close to him gently, afraid to hurt her, but desperate to hold her.
He smiled, 'Everything's ok, I'm back as Superintendant here.'
She looked up, her eyes wide, 'How?'
'I told them what was what and threatened to resign.' He grinned and pulled her into a glorious passionate kiss. They parted when they heard Jean called that dinner was ready, Frank stood and extended his hand to his wife and led her into the kitchen.
'Jean,' he said, 'I must apologise for dropping in on you like this, but I couldn't resist surprising Alice.'
'Oh, Frank,' she smiled in reply, 'don't worry, there's always room for one more.'
Lucien shook his hand, 'Good to see you. What news from Melbourne?'
As Jean served the meal Frank told them all that had happened, how he had spoken up for Ballarat Station and the wider community. But the most important part was that he had persuaded brass to let him come back to Ballarat as their Superintendant. Just as he said that Charlie came through the door. He pulled up short, was that Frank's voice he heard, he wasn't looking forward to seeing him. He still blamed himself for the situation with Alice and the doc.
'Charlie!' Jean called, 'dinner's out!'
Alice squeezed Frank's hand and gave him a look that said, 'be kind.'
Frank stood up and went to greet the young officer. Charlie looked worried when he saw his former boss, but Frank held out his hand. Charlie took it and Frank smiled and said, 'Good to see you, son.'
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief, 'Boss.'
'Indeed, Charlie, I am your boss, for the foreseeable future.'
Charlie couldn't help but grin at this news, it was a huge relief to him and he knew it would be to Bill, too. Neither of them had enjoyed being in charge, the uncertainty of not knowing what was happening had made things difficult, unnerving even.
'Really?' Charlie's eyes widened, 'That's bonzer, good to have you back, Boss.' He shook Frank's hand enthusiastically.
'Ok, son,' Frank grinned, 'now I think Jean is waiting to serve dinner, and I would hate to keep her waiting, would you?' He clapped him on the shoulder and they walked into the kitchen.
Alice could see that Frank really did not bear any grudge against Charlie, she was pleased. Pleased she had Frank back and pleased Frank could forgive the incident. Things would get back to normal, or as normal as life was in Ballarat.
It was too late for Alice and Frank to go home by the time they had finished catching up on all their news so they stayed the night at the Blake's. In Mattie's old room, the only one with a double bed, Frank held Alice gently, kissing and caressing her, scared of hurting her. Alice reached up and kissed him. He returned the kiss and it deepened until they forgot all their cares and worries and Frank tenderly made love to her, until they finally lay, curled together, and slept.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well, I decided that even though we won't see Frank on the screen I could bring him back in fanfic. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the series. I'm sorry if these two chapters which cross between 'Of children...'and 'Pulled' are a little detailed and possibly waffly but I'm known for my waffling out of the fanfic world!
