Chapter 12: Results

The next morning Poppy got up as Max's alarm beeped at five o'clock.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Max asked

"The same as you, getting ready to go to work." She replied

"I don't think so – you need to rest, you've been through a lot"

"Max, we've both worked too hard on this case to miss this arrest and I feel fine – I feel like me again!" She was insistent and so he agreed.

Five hours later Otto Nowak signed his statement admitting his involvement in the importation of illegal immigrants. He also named Raymond Adler as his business associate, along with three other major criminals. He also confessed that his nephew Fred had discovered what was happening and that he had agreed that Adler should arrange for his permanent silence. He also revealed that he had bribed an officer to lose certain bits of information relating to the case. Otto named Adler as Frederick Nowak's murderer and sobbed as Max and Poppy left the interview room.

The couple entered the incident room to a round of applause and Poppy grimaced as Jack Meadows handed her a plastic cup of Champaign, a drink she used to love. The case had been closed, and the killer would be brought to justice. Poppy and Max were also free to attempt a normal relationship now that Adam had been arrested and was undergoing a psychiatric assessment.

Ten Months Later.

Max sat in the public gallery waiting for the jury's final verdict, he was sure they would find Adler guilty, but then nothing was ever certain in this life. It had taken so long to get the case into court and the hearing itself had been extremely lengthy, Adler had squirmed every which way, but the odds were stacked against him. The mousy haired detective looked around as the door closed, it wasn't Poppy, he had no idea where she was. He checked his phone, nothing. She was supposed to be here when the jury returned. The spokesman for the jury spoke in answer to the question. 'Guilty'.

Still smiling Max parked his car to see the now Detective Sergeant Calder rushing towards him, looking flustered.

"I thought you were coming to court to hear him sent down!" He questioned.

"I was but something came up." She said breathlessly

"What?"

"I was late." Poppy tried to explain.

"You could have snuck in at the back or waited outside; I wish you had seen it." Max misunderstood having no idea what his partner was trying to tell him.

"No Max, I don't mean I was running late – I mean I'm late, late." Poppy hinted. Max's face showed signs of confusion, and then changed to amazement.

"But...I mean...I thought..." He cleared his throat "I thought you wouldn't know if we could have children until we tried."

"Yeah, well I had that stomach bug just before your birthday, so it appears we tried by accident! I know it wasn't planned but..."

"That's brilliant! Oh my god! I...Wow!" He couldn't stop grinning "Maybe this means you'll say yes to my next question then." He pulled the ring he'd picked up before going to court out of his pocket and knelt on one knee. The passing officers, including Smithy stopped in surprise to watch. "Poppy Calder, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" Poppy pushed her astonishment aside to answer with certainty.

"Yes!"