The next day, they walked into town and found a lovely ring with five small stones set in a row. They were both happy with the pick and since it already fit, they took it with them. Matthew walked them over to the small square in the centre of town, sat Alice down on a bench and pulled out the ring box.

"Can I put it on for you Alice?"

"Please. Yes."

When he did, Alice kept looking at the ring; Matthew lifted Alice's hand and kissed the ring then kissed her on the lips.

"Would you like to go and get some lunch Alice?"

"Sounds lovely."

As they were leaving the café, Constable Crowe pulled up in a police car, "Boss, there's been a body found in the woods. The woman who called it in was walking her dog; she said it looked like he was shot. Peter looked over at Alice and said, "Doc, we're going need you too." Peter looked at both of them, saw the ring on Alice's finger, pointed at it and said, "you two got something to share?"

Both Alice and Matthew turned bright red; they hadn't discussed telling people. Alice opened her mouth and said, "ummm".

She looked at Matthew and he took her by the hand, kissed her fingers and said, "yes. We're getting married."

He looked back at Alice and gently and quickly kissed her on the lips. Alice blushed profusely but felt so very happy.

Matthew cleared his throat and said, "I should go and put my uniform on and you should pick up your bag sweetheart?"

Peter looked over at both of them and said, "congratulations. That's great news boss, Doc. Really great news."

"We'll see you there, Constable."

Matthew and Alice got in the car and on their drive back, Matthew looked over at Alice and said, "sorry about earlier. I would have liked to have told Jean first but… It makes me so happy and I wanted to share our good news." He smiled at her and said, "will you forgive me, Alice?"

"Nothing to forgive" replied Alice then kissed his cheek. "Let's get ourselves sorted and out to the woods. There's always a body to ruin our fun!"

Alice had spent the afternoon elbow deep in the body that had been found in the woods; as she was leaving to go home, she received another call to another body in the woods and picked up her bag and headed for her car. She forgot that she had come in with Matthew and as she stood there, Matthew drove up with Constable Crowe.

"Need a lift Doctor Harvey?"

"Thank you. You two are my knights in shining armour!"

"It's a police car sweetheart, it definitely doesn't shine!"

Peter looked at Matthew driving and Alice in the back and said, "you two are lovely together" and turned back round. Matthew said, "stop smiling Peter" and Alice said, "oh do leave him alone Matthew."

It was another body with similar wounds to those they had seen earlier.

"Sergeant Hobart? Can you have the body transported to the morgue please?" Alice asked.

Bill made the arrangements and Alice walked over to Matthew and asked if she could get a lift back to the morgue.

"Alice, sure but can't it wait till the morning?"

Alice took a deep breath and said, "I should get it done Matthew. Especially if they two people were killed the same way. You'll be wanting the reports as soon as I can get them to you. If I go now, I could be back before morning."

"I'll get Peter to drop you off. What about getting back later? Why don't I get Peter to drop you at yours so that you can get your car?"

Alice leaned over to kiss Matthew then remembered where they were; Matthew saw Alice hesitate and decided just to lean over and complete the job Alice started.

"Matthew! We can't."

"As far as I see, we just did! Now go. I'll see you later. Don't stay too late sweetheart."

By the time Alice had autopsied the second body and written the two reports, it's was after 4 am. She took the reports and headed home, thinking she could give them to Matthew in the morning.
When Alice unlocked her door, it was dark and as she walked into her bedroom, she saw that Matthew wasn't there, and as she thought about it, she realised that he didn't have a key so wouldn't have been able to let himself in. She thought about what to do; it was almost 5 am and it was pointless going to bed as she'd need to be up again in a few hours for work.

Alice got washed and changed, picked up the reports and headed over to Mycroft Avenue; she arrived there just after 6 am and Matthew answered looking rather tired in his pyjamas and dressing gown.

Alice walked in and leaned into Matthew for a kiss and cuddle, "how did you sleep?"

"Awful! I've been sleeping with you in my arms every night for more than a week now and I tossed and turned when you weren't there." He looked at the reports in her hand and said, "is that my morning reading?"

Alice nodded and said, "can I make some coffee? I could make us some breakfast while you change."

Matthew smiled over at her and said "sounds lovely. I won't be long."

Alice made scrambled egg and toast and poured Matthew a mug of tea and a coffee for herself.

"This looks great, thanks" and leaned over to give her a kiss.

"Alice, have you been to bed at all?"

Alice shook her head and said, "I'll try to get away earlier today and have a nap."

She looked at Matthew and said, "I'll need to have a key cut for you; I expected you to be at home, but I was disappointed when you weren't in our bed. Then I remembered you didn't have a key. I just washed and changed and came over here for breakfast with you."

Matthew took one of Alice's hands and kissed her knuckles, "you just called it our bed."

"Well…it is now."

Alice explained that the deaths were very similar, and cause of death was the same: death from exsanguination from a gunshot wound.

"Matthew, the shots were not fatal on their own, but they were left to die. Someone wanted them to suffer. There were ligature marks around the wrists and ankles in both cases. I also noted that neither of them had any shoes on and that their feet were extremely filthy and that there were lacerations and severe abrasions on the soles of their feet. It looks like they were running through the woods."

"Do you think they could have been running from their killer?"

"Yes, it's possible. It would make sense wouldn't it? Perhaps the killer has them bound by their ankles and wrists then let's them run? Like prey or perhaps he's hunting?"

Matthew thought for a moment, "it's a possibility but we don't need a serial killer running loose in the woods, do we?"

I've got some further testing of some foreign material I found in the gunshot wounds. I couldn't identify it…and to be honest, I just wanted to finish the reports and get home."

"Maybe you should have a couple of hours kip, sweetheart? No offence but you look like you've been up all night."

Alice just gave him "a look" and he knew not to say anything else. They tidied up the breakfast dishes and Alice said, "do you want a lift to work, Matthew? Also, maybe we should collect some shopping for Jean on our way home tonight; milk and bread and some eggs should do for a few days."

Matthew leaned in and kissed her on her temple, took her hand and led them out to Alice's car. As Alice drove them to the police station, she said, "I'd much rather have spent the day in bed with you."

"Me too sweetheart. Me too."