Alice and Jean stood behind the open boot of Blake's Holden, parked outside a small brick house on the outskirts of town. The house had a neat lawn with rows of bright flowers on either side of the door. A small white fence ran the front of the property. The whole scene struck Alice as rather strange for a gruff town policeman. He'd never mentioned having a wife or children but it was the only explanation. It's not like Alice ever asked. Jean pulled out a casserole and handed Alice a tray full of roast beef.

"Let's go, shall we?"

Alice hesitated. "I don't even know what to say."

"Say hello for a start," Jean smiled. "We don't need to be that entertaining, mostly giving him someone to talk to is the important part." Jean turned and headed down the front path to the door.

A good minute after Jean knocked at the door, Matthew answered. He was still in a wheelchair. "Jean! Alice! What a surprise! Come on in!"

Jean stepped through immediately and clasped Matthew's hand in both of hers. Alice stepped over the threshold more slowly and looked around. The hallway opened up into a parlor area on one side and an open dining room on the other, with a kitchen behind that. The darkly lit rooms were neat but sparsely decorated. Alice began to think maybe he did live here alone after all.

"I'm sorry I took so long to answer. It's going to be a while before I can put weight on the leg and it takes a while to get around in this thing." He gestured at his own wheelchair. Alice brought her attention back to the present.

"How are you feeling Chief Superintendent?"

"Better, but still rough to be honest. And call me Matthew. I'm not the Superintendent any more, or won't be for much longer."

"Well surely they'll find a place you, after everything you've done."

Matthew sighed. "They were already looking for an excuse. Now they have it."

"Well that's not right!" Jean cut off Alice's protest. "Matthew where should we put these? I have a casserole and a roast."

"That's more than I could eat in a week!"

"It'll keep. And this way Rose can have some too."

"Just put it in the fridge. I can reach the shelves and the stove without bother."

"Alice, why don't you put the kettle on? I'll let in some light." Jean cheerfully busied herself about the room opening curtains. Alice was struck at how Jean walked around the place as if she owned it and belonged there. It seemed like hubris but then again, Jean was a housekeeper. This was her area of expertise.

While Alice made tea Jean helped Matthew into a kitchen chair. Alice sat in silence, slowly sipping her tea while Jean and Matthew talked. Matthew gave an update on his recovery and how Rose was getting on at the Courier. Jean told Matthew about the goings on about town and the latest misadventures Blake had been up to that she knew he would not have confessed to Matthew on his visit. Matthew was greatly amused by this latter bit. Alice was relieved that Jean and Matthew had plenty to say. She tried to join in but kept drawing a blank. It was embarrassing. She started when Matthew said her name.

"Alice, Blake was telling me about the new case you two are working on?"

Jean scowled. "He's not supposed to be talking to you about work!"

"I forced him. I'm still technically his superior. Also I got him drunk first."

To that both Alice and Jean looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Matthew smirked a little. "Anyway Alice, two bodies this time?"

"Yes! Found together in a hotel room, naked. No signs of violence, no poison."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Found together, in the same bed?"

"Yes that's usually how it works."

Before Matthew could react Jean piped up "I really think that's enough work talk!"

After a brief awkward pause Matthew spoke. "So Alice, Jean brought the casserole, do I have you to thank for the roast?"

"No. I don't have the slightest clue how to make a roast. But if you need me to dissect it and identify the muscle groups, give me a call."

Matthew laughed. Jean just shook her head. "We had better be going. You need your rest. Matthew, as soon as you're feeling strong enough we want you over for dinner."

Matthew smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you so much for the food, and the visit." Jean helped Matthew slide back into his wheelchair. Again Alice couldn't help but admire how easy Jean made all of this look. No awkwardness, no hesitation. She was just there. He wheeled them back to the door. Jean took Matthew's hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be back to visit in a week or two. Lucien will be by sooner. But I'm warning you, if you let him drink up all your whiskey I'm not going to let him visit."

"I can't control what he does. Never could!"

Jean smiled and put her hands on her hips. "I thought you were still his superior."

Matthew laughed and waved as Jean headed out the door. Alice tried to appear warm. "I'm glad to see you are on the mend. Good day Superintendent."

"It's Matthew, and Alice," Alice turned around half way through the door. "You'll come back and visit again?"

Alice stared at him. It was a simple request from a sick man and somehow she found herself startled by it. Lawson smiled weakly.

"You can't leave me with just that lug head Blake for company."

Alice could not help but smile at that. "I'll try." She turned and headed out the door.

Alice was quiet on the ride home. Something about the visit had rattled her. Matthew was clearly doing better, and she was relieved. But she served no real purpose on the visit and if Jean hadn't been there it would have been a disaster. And now she had to go back. Alice wondered if she could get Jean to come with her. She chastised herself for even needing the help of someone else for such a simple task. Alice knew she could do better. It was Jean that eventually broke the silence.

"I think that went very well, don't you?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

After a few minutes, Jean spoke again. "Everything alright, Alice?"

"I promised I'd visit again."

"Well that's very nice of you!"

"I don't know what we'll talk about. I barely know the man."

"I've known Matthew for as long as I've been working for the Blakes. He lives for his work and now he's losing that. You're one of the few people associated with the police force that he can talk to."

"What about the policemen? The constables?"

"He's their boss. Even retired they will never really be his friends. And I don't know what you're worried about. You were fine. And you'll be fine. Matthew enjoyed your visit."

"I was barely in the room."

Jean smiled. "You'll be fine. Trust me."