"Isn't Mr. Molesley with you, Mrs. Butte?" Mrs. Patmore asked, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she immerged from the kitchen. Luncheon had just been taken upstairs.

"He said he needed some time alone to think. We walked to the river, just in case she tried to take the easy way out."

"I don't know as I'd call that easy." Beryl wrinkled her nose at the idea. "But he shouldn't be alone. Not in his state of mind and not with those mob thugs out there! Lady Mary told Anna poor Jimmy had been garroted and dumped in the Thames. That seems low, even for their sort."

Mrs. Butte bristled to hear her handy work so disparaged, but she could hardly defend it now. "You're right, Mrs. Patmore, but I didn't leave him alone. I left him at the local and asked the barkeep to look after him and send him home when he'd had enough. When I left him, he was nursing a hard cider."

That sounded like Mr. Molesley alright, Beryl thought. "Poor man, he really just cannot catch a break. Just when things were looking up for him, he finds out that the woman he fancies is married to a thug who is rotting away in prison and her family may be systematically killing people associated with her."

"Yes. Poor man." Lucille found it hard to find any sympathy for Mr. Molesley. She had spent a frustrating morning trying to get him to remember a name or a landmark that Miss Baxter might have mentioned. But he could not think of a one. He had spent the whole morning alternately moping and grousing. At one point, as they were checking the river, Mrs. Butte had been tempted to give him a little shove as he leaned out over the water for a better view. It would have been efficient and effective, but there was still the possibility that Mr. Molesley might be useful. And Lucille would be the last person to speak to Mr. Molesley, which would put her on the suspect list, which was absolutely unacceptable.

Lucille could not afford to be distracted by a brokenhearted footman. She had to refocus and finish off Thomas quickly so she could turn her attention to Miss 'Baxter'. Helping Mr. Carson was still important, but revenging her father was suddenly much more important. Fate had brought Miss Baxter into Lucille's sphere for a reason. Lucille now believed that, though sometimes slow and difficult to see, justice would always come to those who are patient and are willing to prove themselves worthy.

Now was the time to wrap up Mr. Barrow's fate good a tight. Lucille knew it was possible that Thomas would be released from the authorities soon. She knew they did not have enough evidence against him yet. All the evidence they needed was hidden ineffectively in a dusty attic room of Grantham house, if they only bothered to look.

"Was there something else I can help you with?" Mrs. Patmore looked at the housekeeper warily.

"No. I am sorry, Mrs. Patmore, I was just woolgathering. There is so much happening around here, but we must still run a household, mustn't we?"

"Too true. Let those upstairs do the worrying. We're too busy down here." With that, Beryl retreated back into her kitchen to start on the tea sandwiches.

-00-

"What the devil are you doing here?" Charles was as agitated as Elsie had ever seen him. He paced furiously around his pantry, apoplectic with rage. Elsie was disappointed with her reception, to say the least.

"Her Ladyship needs a maid. They sent word first thing this morning and requested that I come back with Mr. Branson. I am to fill the position until a replacement can be found."

"And who is going to come into a household where servants are disappearing?" Charles bellowed. "It is not safe here. I should have expected you to realize that, Elsie. You should have stayed at Downton. You should have said no."

"I wanted to be with my husband, who I thought would be glad to see me." She put her hands determinately on her hips.

Charles grabbed her firmly, almost violently, by the arms. "People are dead, Elsie! Dead! Murdered! I want you as far away from this as possible." He looked desperately into her face. Finally, she saw that he was not angry with her; he was afraid for her. She reached up to touch his face.

"And I want you far away from it too, but you are here doing your job and so am I. Besides, I would rather be here with you than sitting, powerless in Yorkshire."

Charles had to accept that she had a point. He pulled her into his arms and almost crushed her with his protective embrace. "Of course I am glad to see you. I have missed you, but I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you. I've already proven that I am not capable of protecting the people under my care."

"If this is about Anna, you were not the only one who was deceived."

"That is very little comfort, but it is not only Anna. Now, there is Ivy and James and Miss Baxter."

"It is a terrible business, but I don't see how we could have prevented any of that. We still are not sure exactly what has happened." She forced him to loosen his grip on her as she pushed back from him slightly. She kissed the down turned corner of his mouth, trying to dispel the worry on her man's face. "Now, you must go ring the changing gong and I must see to Her Ladyship. We will talk more tonight."

-00-

"Carson," His Lordship tried to sound nonchalant as he sipped his brandy with Mr. Branson after dinner. "The authorities have released Thomas and will be bringing him home tonight."

"Is he still a suspect, My Lord?"

"They would not say, but I don't think they'd send him back to us if it were unsafe." Lord Grantham said dismissively.

"And do we trust their opinion on the matter?" Carson raised his eyebrows to show that he, in fact, did not.

"I hardly know what to think. Tom, what is your opinion on the matter?"

Tom was only barely following their conversation. He was preoccupied with wondering if Edna's abandoning the his son had anything to do with the recent happenings around Grantham House. It seemed unlikely, but the timing was very suspicious. He only just realized that he had been asked a question. "Huh? Oh, yes, I would say even if he is the culprit, he'd be a fool to try anything with the police watching so closely."

"I do not find that a very comforting thought." Robert admitted. "But, it is best to keep him where we can watch him, I suppose."

"Very good, My Lord." Carson growled, not at all happy with allowing Mr. Barrow back into the house. "But when he is not on duty, I shall lock him in his room. If that is acceptable to you, My Lord?"

"Yes, I think that might be for the best." Robert agreed.

"He might even thank you for it." Tom observed wryly.

-00-

"I completely understand, Mr. Carson. I hope to make you believe I had nothing to do with these deaths, but I know it does not look favorable for me at the moment."

"That is putting it mildly, Mr. Barrow." Carson glowered at Thomas. "I have given you a bell to ring if you need anything. It is for emergencies only. I am sure that I do not have to tell you to use it judiciously."

"Of course, Mr. Carson. Thank you." The odd thing was, he meant it.

Hearing the key turn in the lock of his door was the most beautiful sound Thomas had heard in weeks. At least two people in the world knew that Thomas was innocent. Now, one of them was locked safely in this room and one was locked safely out. He threw himself, fully clothed on the bed and relaxed fully for the first time since Jimmy had gone missing. Within moments, he was fast asleep, the stress and exhaustion finally overwhelming him. He slept the sleep of the beleaguered innocent.

TBC...


AN/ So Molesley did survive his little walk with Lucille, but just barely. There are lots of little pieces moving about the chess board just now. But who will survive and who will be caught in the trap? And Elsie is back! Yea?