'Come in, Alice,' Jean smiled and let her friend and children in. 'Hello, Gaia, how are you today?'

'Hello, Aunty Jean.' Gaia held her arms up for a hug and smiled. Jean bent down to the child and hugged her, sending her off to the playroom.

'Are you sure about this, Jean?' Alice looked worried, Jean had said if Alice wanted to do some work in the morgue she would happily look after Richard as well as Gaia.

'Alice,' Jean sighed, 'you yourself said it, you are never going to be the stay at home mother. There's nothing wrong with that.'

'So you keep saying,' Alice carried her son down to the kitchen, 'but some are already saying I should be sitting at home, knitting or something.'

'Oh, and since when did you ever follow convention?' Jean smiled and put the kettle on, 'I take it one of those people is your mother?'

'Yes.' Alice agreed, 'and some I've met in town.'

'Some people should keep out of other's business.' Jean huffed.

Alice just sat and sighed. 'I do love them,' she whispered, 'it's just...'

'I know you love them,' Jean said softly, 'but you can still love them and work. It's not as if you are working full time, just helping out, really. Mathew agrees to it, doesn't he?'

'Of course.' Alice nodded, absentmindedly stroking Richard's head, 'he suggested it. He said someone needs to keep a reign on Lucien again.'

'Yes, well,' Jean smiled, 'he has been a bit too involved in a couple of cases lately. He misses you helping him, you make a good team.'

'Thank you Jean.' Alice accepted the compliment, 'but about you looking after my children, I should get a mother's help, shouldn't I?'

'Why?' Jean asked. 'I like having the house full of children. I always wanted a big family, and I have Cath to help.'

Alice sighed.

'Alice, what is the matter?' Jean could see it was more than a little sniping about being a working mother that was bothering her.

Alice handed her an envelope, 'I received this in the post this morning.'

The envelope was addressed to 'Mrs A Lawson', not 'Dr A Lawson'. In it was a crudely written note expressing almost anger that she was not staying at home with her children, and threatening to inform Family Welfare that she was not a fit mother.

Jean looked at it and turned the paper over in her hand. It was cheap notepaper, and the handwriting was poor. It was a local postmark on the envelope

'Hm..' she looked at Alice, who was not as calm as she tried to make out. 'I don't think you have anything to worry about.' She sipped her tea, 'You are making provision for the children. It's not as if you are leaving them in the house to fend for themselves.'

'I know, but if Family Welfare became involved...'

'Then you have your doctor to vouch for you. The local police officers, we can't ask Matthew, he's your husband and therefore biased, you have nothing to worry about.' Jean reached over and touched her hand. 'Don't pay any attention to it.'

'Thank you Jean.' Alice smiled, 'well, I suppose I'd better get off.' She handed Richard over to Jean and stood up. At least she didn't have to give Jean instructions, it was usually the other way round.

'Go on, I'll see you later.'

'I'll just say good bye to Gaia,' she headed off to the play room where her daughter was happily playing with her friends, but still had time to give her mother a kiss good bye.

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Lucien looked up as the door to the morgue opened and smiled as Alice hung up her coat and put her white lab coat.

'Good morning, Alice,' he greeted her cheerfully, 'how are you?'

'I'm very well, thank you, Lucien.' She smiled back, 'how are you?'

'Glad to have you back, my dear.' He grinned.

'So, what have we got?' She went over to the table where he was just uncovering the body of an elderly man.

'This was Michael Upjohn.' Lucien said, 'aged seventy six years and four months. He was found at his small herb farm near Smythe's Creek.'

They looked at the tiny, wizened figure, sun-burnt leathery skin, from years tending his produc, they supposed. His hair, thick, long and snow white, fell onto the table like a short bride's veil.

'He looks so wise, even in death.' Alice murmured, resisting the urge to stroke his head, as she would Gaia's or Richard's.

'He does, doesn't he?' Lucien felt she had hit the nail on the head, he had struggled to describe the man before him, but, yes, wise.

'So, why are we looking at an old man, is there something suspicious?' She asked, after all, they couldn't stand there all day looking at him.

'He was found in an empty rain barrel, curled into it.' Lucien described with his hands how the man had been found, 'not a fall, specifically put there.'

'An empty rain barrel?' She picked up the old man's left hand, 'broken fingernails,' she observed. 'Maybe he tried to climb out.'

'Possibly,' he agreed, 'he's so slight, I wouldn't have thought he'd be able to put up much of a fight.' Lucien looked at the other hand, 'see, here.' He turned the hand to look at the palm, 'splinters.'

'Hm...' perhaps he fought off whoever it was with a piece of wood.' She suggested.

They continued their examination of the body. There were multiple bruises, finger bruises mainly, the odd larger one, but it looked as if he had been jabbed by many people, Lucien imagined a group of people around him, jabbing, poking. Alice looked at him and imagined much the same. There was a larger bruise to the side of his head, which both thought would have rendered him unconscious before he was put in the barrel. They performed the autopsy finding a healthy set of internal organs, no damage to the heart or liver.

'Do you, suppose,' Alice said, as they closed him up, 'that when they put him in the barrel the position caused him to suffocate?'

'Well, if he was unconscious...' Lucien finished and they pushed him into the fridge. 'Come on, Alice,' he said changing into his suit jacket, 'let's go and look at a herb farm.'

'Er...alright.' Alice smiled, this was more like it. Although he usually left her in the morgue while he went out 'investigating'.

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During the drive Lucien and Alice chatted about her children, and she told him about the letter she had received, that Jean had told her not to worry about.

'I agree with Jean,' he squeezed her arm, 'don't you worry, but I'll have a look and get the lads to keep their ears open. Nobody in the station has said anything, and Agnes admires you for being the person you are.'

'Oh, that's kind of her.' Alice was surprised, though it was like Agnes, again, not one for convention.

'I suspect she's a tad jealous.' Lucien observed, 'you are doing what she would have done, given half the chance.'

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The farm was small and well maintained. The herb beds once neat and well kept were now trampled and plants ripped out and thrown around. Crop labels in English and Latin were strewn about. They found the barrel that Mr Upjohn had been put in.

It was dry, for the most part, some dampness in the base, but he definitely hadn't drowned.

'You know, Alice,' Lucien said, still peering into the gloom of the barrel, 'I know he was small, but if whoever did this curled him into the barrel you could be right. Suffocated.'

'But why?' Alice frowned, 'he was just a herb farmer. A slight little man, I doubt he did any harm to anybody. Did he have any family?'

'Don't know.' Lucien looked round the plot, 'let's see if we can get into his house.'

'Breaking and entering, doctor?' She teased.

He tried the handle of the door to the kitchen, 'No, it's unlocked.' He pushed the door open and entered.

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The kitchen was neat and tidy. There was the remains of a sandwich and cup of tea on the drainer, he was probably just tidying up after his meal. The refrigerator held some milk, sausages and butter. There was bread in the bread bin, and a dish of tomatoes on the counter.

They wandered into a small living room. The furniture was shabby but clean, a couch and two arm chairs. A newspaper was folded on a small side table and the fire place was still slightly warm from the previous night. There was a little dust, but nothing that indicated the house was neglected or unloved. They headed up the stairs to find two doors. One led to a bathroom with the usual facilities. On the sink was a glass with two toothbrushes.

'Alice, look.' Lucien pointed to the items, 'there should be someone else here.'

'The bedroom.' Alice kept her voice low, but she sounded worried.

'Come on.'

Lucien knocked gently on the bedroom door and listened. He heard a very quiet, frail voice,

'Michael?'

He pushed the door open slowly in the room was a bed, an old Victorian iron bedstead, and in the bed was a tiny figure.

'Mrs Upjohn?' Lucien went swiftly to the bed, 'I'm Dr Lucien Blake. Are you alright?'

'Where's Michael?' She whispered. Mrs Upjohn was tiny, white haired and as wizened as her late husband.

Lucien turned to Alice, 'I saw a phone in the kitchen, get the ambos, ask them to bring Mattie with them.'

Alice just nodded and headed downstairs, swallowing her tears. Since becoming a mother she found she was prone to being more emotional than before.

When she returned to the bedroom she found Lucien cradling the frail old woman, who was weeping into his chest.

'I am so sorry, Mrs Upjohn,' he whispered, 'I'll find out who did this, I promise.'

'Mrs Upjohn,' Alice sat at the foot of the bed, 'would you like me to make you a cup of tea?'

Lucien smiled at her and nodded.

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While Alice made tea for the old woman Lucien asked her, gently, if she had heard anything the previous night.

'I did hear voices, but not clearly, doctor,' she sniffed into the handkerchief he had given her, 'then it went quiet. I must have fallen asleep.'

'You didn't notice your husband hadn't come to bed?' He asked.

'He tries so hard not to wake me,' she smiled, still speaking in the present tense, 'so, no. He usually wakes, woke me with a cup of tea, before he went to check the herbs. Doctor,' she looked at him out of bright blue eyes that, under normal circumstances probably twinkled with mischief, 'who would do this? We have nothing to take, all we have is in the business.'

'I don't know, but I will find out.' He propped her up with the pillows and she drank the hot sweet tea Alice brought her.

'Thank you, my dear, you are very kind.' She smiled at her.

'This is my colleague, Dr Alice Lawson.' Lucien introduced her.

'Mrs Upjohn,' she asked, 'do you have any family? Is there someone we can contact?'

'We weren't blessed, doctor.' She smiled sadly. 'Do you have children?'

'Between my wife and I we have six children.' It was the first time Lucien had bothered to think about their combined progeny and even he had to gasp a little. 'Dr Lawson has two.'

'Six, my word doctor.'

'We were both married before we met, so we have grown up children and little ones.'

'You are so lucky.'

'I am.' They were interrupted by the arrival of Mattie and the ambos. Mattie helped Mrs Upjohn into her dressing gown and collected a few necessary toiletries and an extra nightgown.

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Lucien used the phone to call Matthew and ask him if anyone was coming to investigate the case. And, how had Mr Upjohn been found?

Matthew looked at his notes, apparently it had been called in by a passer-by who saw a group of youths messing about the previous night.

'Well,' Lucien wasn't pleased, 'whoever was on night shift last night needs to think a bit harder.' He told the superintendant what he and Alice had found.

In the station Matthew rolled his eyes, and looked at the roster.

A new sergeant had been in charge, well, it wasn't one of the 'old guard', and two junior constables. He'd review the roster and see if he could mix some of the more seasoned team in with the new ones. Meanwhile he'd have a word with Sergeant Robins about the incident, and find out why he hadn't done more on the case.

'Davies, you and Constable Simmons head over to the herb farm at Smythe's Creek,' he called across the office, 'the owner was found dead last night, Blake says the place is trashed and his widow was found upstairs in bed.'

'Anything else, boss?' Charlie asked as he picked up his hat.

'It was called in by a passer-by, when they got home,' he passed him an address in Nintingbool, 'look round the place then go and see what they have to say.'

'Boss.' Charlie and Ned headed out to the farm and Matthew sat and mused about the problem.

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Mrs Sophie Upjohn was given a wash and some breakfast before Lucien gave her a thorough check up, then she was settled in a bed and left to rest. Mattie said she would pop in during the day and see how she was doing.

Lucien spoke to the sister on duty to give her instructions as to the old woman's treatment and care.

'Anything she wants to eat is fine, but make sure she drinks.' Lucien said, 'she has been in bed with a heavy cold for the last week, but she says she is generally, in her words, a little wobbly on her pins, these days.'

'Very well, doctor,' the nurse smiled, 'shall we encourage her to get out of bed a little later, perhaps sit in the chair?'

'If she feels up to it.' Lucien agreed. He headed back to the station to hand in his autopsy report and then back to the morgue to see Alice.

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Alice had had a second look at Michael Upjohn to see if her thoughts about suffocation would hold water. Now that rigor had passed she could curl the body up and from what she could see it would have led to what she originally thought. Lucien entered just as she was deciding that she was right. He smiled at the sight, she had obviously learnt a few of his tricks.

'What do you think, Alice?' He joined her at the table.

'I think he was alive when they stuffed him into that barrel, but unconscious. He suffocated before he could regain consciousness.'

'I agree.' Lucien touched her elbow, 'I hope he knew nothing.'

'So do I.' Alice sighed, 'I'm sure he caused no offence to anyone.'

'Matthew has sent Charlie and Ned up to the farm and then to the witness'.' He informed her, 'it would seem the officers on night duty were less than thorough.'

'New, are they?' Alice couldn't imagine any of the regular team not being thorough, not even Bill Hobart.

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It had been agreed that Alice would only work in the mornings so she went with Lucien to pick up her children before she went home and prepared the evening meal and did a few domestic chores, or played with Gaia, which was preferable.

She had been dropping Gaia off at Jean's if she went shopping after one or two snide remarks had upset the little girl, they'd hurt her too but she was an adult and had more knowledge of the world. She still did not understand why anyone would point out that Gaia was not actually hers, in front of the poor child. It had taken some effort to explain to a three year old that while Mummy may not have carried her in her tummy like Richard she did love her with all her heart and not to take any notice of the, as they were at home, 'mean old lady'. So if she was out and about with only Richard in the pram and anyone made a comment about it, she just replied,

'Gaia is playing with her friends,' and left it at that.

She bit her tongue when one evil old harridan, Jean's description, passed a remark about 'Poor, put upon Mrs Blake.' When Jean heard she was furious and she, Alice and Cath took all the children out shopping and to the park and made sure they were seen to be having a wonderful time and that the children were well mannered and happy. Alice could not see how her friend could be described as 'put upon' when she never showed any sign of stress or annoyance about having so many children in the house, never complained about it, in fact she seemed to thrive on her busy life.

'You know, Alice,' Mattie had said when they met one day in the hospital, 'Lucien loves Jean so much that nothing can upset her, and if it does he knows exactly how to make her feel better.'

Alice smiled in agreement and decided to ignore the gossip and sniping.

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Ned and Charlie reported that there was a lot of scuff marks round the barrel, so they couldn't see how many were there. Whoever had been there had left no evidence apart from the wanton destruction of the herb beds and the old man. Nobody could understand what the purpose of the visit was, why they had gone there, there was nothing out at Smythe's Creek.

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The following day Alice took her children into town after work. Gaia needed a new coat and she could do with some groceries. She walked past the Colonist's Club and down past the electrical store, where there were a group of teenagers were hanging around, smoking and chatting. They were reluctant to move aside to let her past until one of the shop owners came out and chastised them for their lack of manners.

'Thank you,' she smiled at the man and pushed the pram onward. Pausing for a moment, turning, then carrying on. She had caught the distinct scent of rosemary, thyme, mint and sage, at least. She carried on, talking to Gaia, who was asking if she could have another red coat like the one she used to have.

'We'll see, darling,' she smiled down at her daughter, 'if there's one in your size.' Gaia skipped and smiled. Red was her favourite colour.

As she walked she scanned the road for a police officer, anyone would do, even one of the new ones.

'Mummy,' Gaia tugged her coat, 'look, there's Uncle Bill.' It had amazed everyone that Bill Hobart would accept being called 'Uncle Bill' by Gaia, but he did and he seemed to like it.

Alice smiled, even better, Bill Hobart would do nicely.

'I just need a word with him,' She told her daughter, 'then we'll get your coat.'

'Ok.' They walked over the road with Gaia waving and calling,

'Uncle Bill!'

Bill turned and smiled.

'Miss Gaia, well hello.' he stroked her head affectionately.

'Bill,' Alice said quietly, 'those boys over there.' She moved her eyes to the side, 'I can smell herbs on them.'

He nodded, 'Well enjoy your shopping Miss Gaia, won't you,' he said, loud enough to be heard.

Alice left him and headed to the children's outfitters for Gaia's coat, but out of the corner of her eye she could see Bill wander over to his police car and lift the radio mike. Then, obviously satisfied with his conversation with the station, he stood and perused the apples outside the grocers, all the while watching the group of young men.

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In the shop Alice was looking at the children's coats.

'Can I help you, madam?' An assistant sidled up to her.

'My daughter needs a new coat.' Alice indicated Gaia, who was watching Bill through the window, 'she'd like a red one.'

'I see.' The assistant didn't think that a child should be making such requests, she should accept what her mother bought her, without question.

'I agree with her,' Alice noticed the pursed lips and frown, 'she looks nice in red.'

'Very well.' She took two off the rack, 'we have these two, in red.'

'Gaia, sweetheart,' Alice called the child over, 'come and try these coats on.'

'Ok, mummy.' She obediently went to her mother and accepted having the coat she was wearing removed and another put on.

'Hm...' mused Alice. The coat was, nice, was all she could think about it. It fitted, was single breasted, had a round collar and plain sleeves. 'Can we try the other one please.'

The second one was much better she thought. It was double breasted, fastened with four large black buttons, was fitted to the waist and had a slightly flared skirt. the collar was again rounded and the sleeves had turned back cuffs.

'I like this one, mummy.' Gaia smiled, 'please may I have it?'

'I like it too, darling.' Alice turned to the assistant, 'my daughter has rather good taste, don't you think?'

'Madam.' Was all the assistant could say, but she, privately, agreed. The coat did suit the little girl rather well.

When Alice left the shop the boys were gone, so was Bill. She hoped that something had happened but if it had, she was glad Gaia did not see Bill arresting the boys.

she picked up the rest of the things she wanted and headed home.

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Matthew turned the key in the door and stepped inside the house only to have Gaia's arms wrapped round his knees.

'Daddy!' She squealed, 'I've got a new red coat.'

He swung her up high and laughed at her, 'Have you indeed?' He carried her into the kitchen where Alice was just finishing spooning Richard's dinner into him. Where had the last six months gone? His son was growing even faster than Gaia, he ate everything in sight, slept like a top and was even trying to crawl.

Alice looked up and smiled.

'Hello,' She accepted his kiss, 'he's nearly finished, then I can get on with ours.'

'Has he grown since this morning?' Matthew laughed.

She laughed back. 'Lucien says he has caught up well, considering how small he was when he was born.'

'Be on steak next.' Matthew went to spend a few minutes with Gaia before he took over child care duties. He loved these times, when he came in from work and the children were around. Gaia would show him something she had done at Jean's and Richard would roll around until Alice said that dinner was ready and put the baby to bed.

They didn't talk too much about work at dinner. some subjects were not really for the ears of a three year old. But the purchase of a new coat was. Alice remarked that the assistant seemed to think Gaia was spoiled because she got the coat she wanted.

'...and your thoughts on the matter?' He asked, finishing his last potato.

'The coat suits Gaia, I would have bought it even if she hadn't asked for a red one.' Alice took the plates to the sink and brought a cloth back to wipe Gaia's fingers.

'Well then,' he took the glasses over, 'what's it got to do with anyone else. And she's not spoiled.'

They tidied up while Gaia had her last play before bedtime.

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Children in bed, whiskies poured, Alice and Matthew sat together on the couch. Now he could tell her if her suspicions held any water.

'Those lads you told Bill about...' He turned to her and sipped his drink, 'you were right. They had been up at the farm.'

'Why?'

'They were riding past, so they say,' Matthew told how they were on their motor bikes just riding around when they passed the farm. Mr Upjohn was checking the herbs before he turned in for the night. It's so remote that they decided to have some 'fun' and walk around the property, pulling at some of the plants, laughing at the old man. He had told them to get off his land and leave his plants alone. They poked him, and made light of his business. They claimed he came at them with a piece of wood so they defended themselves. He fell against the veranda step and lost consciousness. So they put him in the barrel and left.

'But he was alive when they left.' Matthew concluded.

'He suffocated!' Alice was aghast, 'they killed him.'

'As Blake pointed out, but we need to know which of them actually put him in the barrel.' Matthew sat back 'Whoever did so will be charged with manslaughter. They didn't actually plan on killing him, the others will be charged with aiding and abetting Mr Upjohn's death.'

'If you can't find out who did, put him in the barrel...' Alice asked.

'We'll charge them all with manslaughter.' He said, bluntly.

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So the actual outcome of this case will be in the next chapter, as will the identity of the person who has threatened Alice with Family Welfare.