We've reached 5.06 with this chapter, and as SO MUCH happens in this episode, it'll be split over a few chapters, please enjoy! - Dee
"Auntie Jean!" Anna hurried into the house - not running, she knew she wasn't allowed to run in the Blake house - with a grin on her face and paint splashed on her clothes.
"Oh, look at you! I see painting went well today," Jean laughed as she held the girl at arm's length - smiling at the lavender, light blue, and light yellow paint smeared on her clothes, arms, and face. "Did you get any on the walls?"
Alice's laughter echoed down the hallway as she soon joined them in the kitchen - equally covered in paint, "We got her room done, the rest of the living room, and the kitchen; it looks good!"
"That's great! How much more is left?"
"Oh… the master bedroom, the guest room, the bathrooms, and the hallway, I believe. I'll get Matthew to help us more with those," Alice sighed as she sat in a chair next to Jean - smiling when Jean handed her a fresh cup of tea. "We'll be out of your hair soon enough, Jean."
Jean laughed, "You aren't bothersome, I swear."
"I just… I feel bad, like we're taking advantage of your hospitality."
"Nonsense, you pay rent and help out around the house! You take as long as you need to make that new house of yours feel like a home, and not before."
"Jean, you're plainly exhausted."
"Oh, it's keeping Lucien here without getting cabin fever," Jean waved her off, "you know how it is."
"So it's not a cold like you thought?"
"It could be, that daughter of yours brings home all kinds of germs," Jean winked at Anna, who giggled in response. "Walking petri dishes, that's what school children are."
"Oh, you…" Alice swatted at her elbow with a laugh. "You'll let me know if it doesn't get better? I know Lucien's not seeing patients for another week, but I can always run tests for you."
"I promise, Alice, if I need tests run, you'll be the first to know."
"Alright."
"Now, you and Miss Anna are in desperate need of cleaning up, once that's done Matthew should be home and dinner almost ready."
"Need any help?"
"No no, it's just a simple roast; Charlie's working the later shift tonight, so I'm not making as much food as I normally would."
"What's Rose up to?"
"She's covering the debutante's ball for Wendouree Grammar."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she's friends with the teacher who's helping to run the event, so she's taking pictures for The Courier."
"I never saw the appeal."
"Of what?"
Alice sipped her tea, "Of… all of that. The debuting, the whole thing."
"Did you not do one?"
That got her a chuckle, "No, one, I was far too busy with school and finishing up my preparation for university; and two, I was too poor."
"I did my debut, and my family wasn't well off, Alice."
"Ballarat is a much smaller town than Melbourne, Jean; Collingwood is no place for a debut."
"Do you regret not having one?"
Alice sipped her tea again, gnawing on her lower lip as she thought; Anna wiggled her way into her mother's lap.
"Mumma, what's a dee-boo?"
"Debut, and… it's an age old practice of presenting young women of age into society so they might meet potential partners and marry. It used to be very important with arranged marriages or making sure women would be taken care of financially once they went from their parents' care to out in the world."
"Nowadays, though," Jean smiled at Anna, "it's more of a night in the spotlight for girls to wear a pretty white dress, have their name and achievements listed out, and dance the night away if they choose."
"Oh, I like pretty dresses! Do I have to do a debut?"
"Not unless you want to, Anna. I did, but your mum didn't."
"Why didn't you, Mumma?"
"I was busy with school, and I didn't have a lot of money at that age, my girl."
"Oh… did you want to do one?"
"I… I don't know. At the time, I didn't, but now… I don't know."
"Would you have danced with Daddy?"
Alice laughed, "Daddy and I didn't know each other yet, Anna. I would have probably been escorted by Mark, you remember him."
"The other man in the alley?"
"Yes, the one we met afterwards who made us tea, he was… almost like a brother to me."
"You have to be escorted?"
"Yes."
"Who escorted you, Auntie Jean?"
"The man who was my first husband, Christopher Beazley. Now, Miss Anna, you won't be getting a pretty white dress any time soon if you don't go get cleaned up."
Anna giggled as Jean lightly tickled her, "Auntie Jean, no!"
"You behave for your mum in the bath, alright?"
"Yes, Auntie Jean!"
"Good, now skedaddle out of here so you're all nice and clean for dinner and then your story."
Anna giggled again and tugged Alice up from her seat; Jean watched them go with a smile - relishing in their banter as Alice took her daughter to get cleaned up. It would feel a little odd, not having the girl underfoot all the time, and the house would be quieter in the evenings, but Jean knew the Harveys (soon to be Lawsons) would still frequent their kitchen table for years to come.
Anna and Alice got nice and cleaned up by the time Matthew came in the door and Lucien awoke from his nap - which were happening less and less as he recovered; Matthew changed from his uniform into his regular clothes and laughed as Anna recounted all her and Alice's adventures with painting the new house that afternoon while Jean finished up with dinner.
"Daddy, Auntie Jean said Rose is at the debut."
"She did?" He pulled her up onto his good knee, "Well, it's true, that's where Rose is tonight."
"Auntie Jean had a debut."
"She did, I remember her having a very nice night."
"You were there?" Anna's eyes grew wide as Jean chuckled at the stove.
"I was," his eyes grew wide like hers. "I was escorting my sister, Vera, who's Rose's mum."
"Will you escort me at mine, Daddy?"
"Oh, I think we've got some time before then, sweetheart, and by then you won't want your old man around."
"That's silly!"
"We'll see about that in thirteen years."
"Dinner's ready!" Jean smiled as Anna hugged Matthew around his neck and Alice and Lucien came in from the parlor where they'd been discussing new procedures.
Dinner was a rounding success as always and they settled into their post-dinner activities in the parlor with ease of habit; Lucien plunked away at the piano while Matthew read his paper, Jean knit, and Anna sat ensconced in her mother's lap as she quietly read their current book out loud.
"Alright, Anna, that's the end of the chapter," Alice kissed the top of her daughter's head as she closed the book and set it aside.
"But, Mumma!"
"Ah-ah!" Alice held up her finger, "I told you one chapter and then it's time to get ready for bed. You have a full day of school tomorrow."
Her daughter pouted, but slumped off Alice's lap to go hug Matthew; Alice exchanged an amused look with Jean as Jean finished the next stitch in her knitting before the phone rang.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Matthew told Anna as Lucien got up from the piano and Jean went to answer the phone.
"I tell you what, Matthew," he winced as he sat in Jean's vacant spot on the couch while Anna lingered in Matthew's lap. "Rest and relaxation - I don't know how people do it."
"I like it," Matthew shrugged and grinned as Anna hugged him again.
"Matthew, you're needed at the station," Jean interrupted further conversation. "There's been a death at the debutante ball."
"Give me two seconds," Lucien told Matthew as they all stood, "I'll be right with you."
"No, Lucien-"
"You're not fit enough, Lucien," Jean chided her husband.
"I'm still the Police Surgeon!"
"No," Matthew shook his head as Alice picked up their daughter. "I'll get Wallace."
"Wal- Jack Wallace? He wouldn't know a carbuncle from a kidney! Look, I could work from here; Alice can manage the autopsy. All you need to do is bring over the reports."
Matthew sighed - not sure about any of this, but he knew Lucien was right. Wallace was an absolute idiot when it came to working a case, but Lucien was technically still out of commission, and Alice technically wasn't qualified to cover his police surgeon duties as she wasn't on the list of suitable locums.
'We really should reevaluate that list,' he thought as he looked at his fiance. He could feel the hot spot flaring up on the right side of his mouth as she shrugged.
"Come on, Matthew, you know I'll do a better job than him," Lucien pleaded.
"He won't stop annoying you until he's working," Jean shook her head when Matthew looked at her.
Against his better judgement, Matthew agreed, and soon the Blakes' parlor was a whirlwind of activity; Matthew went to go change into his uniform, Alice and Lucien had their heads bowed over the small notebook Alice was currently feverishly scribbling down instructions, and Jean rounded up little Anna to head to bed - though the girl was now thoroughly curious and wide awake at all the commotion going on in her house.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," he bent and kissed her forehead as she caught him in a hug outside his and Alice's room. "We'll be quiet later when we come back in, I promise."
"Okay, Daddy, go catch bad guys."
"Will do," with another kiss, Anna bounced up to her room - chattering excitedly to her auntie - as Alice and Lucien wrapped up their conversation in the parlor; Alice slipped in their bedroom and came over to help him with his uniform.
"I can do this by myself you know," he teased softly.
"I know, but we're on a time crunch, aren't we? Want me to go to the station with you, the scene with Charlie, or wait in the morgue for the body?"
He chewed on his lower lip as she tied his tie, "Ah, well, technically, you're not supposed to be at the scene, so…"
"Morgue," Alice nodded.
"I'll send Charlie to assist you, if you need the extra pair of hands, and he should be able to answer your questions about the scene."
"Good," she tightened the knot and used his tie to pull him in for a kiss before he could put on his jacket. "Thank you, Matthew."
"You're welcome. We'll see how this works, if not… I'll see if I can fix the list of locums so you're on it."
"Oh…" Alice flapped a hand as she went over to pull on her shoes, "don't bother on my account, dearest."
"I want to, you deserve to at least have the chance of being acting police surgeon every so often if Lucien's out of town, sweetheart; besides, Wallace really is an idiot to work with most of the time, I prefer your deft touch."
"That, I know," she teased in the mirror of her vanity - crammed in the corner of the room - as she touched up her makeup and hair.
Matthew smiled and limped over to her.
"Maybe you can show me it later when all the hubbub has died down," he whispered in her ear and kissed her blushing cheek.
"Someone's feeling randy."
"Appreciative of my fiance's many talents."
With another kiss to her cheek, Matthew straightened, allowing Alice to finish getting ready as he pulled on his jacket and donned his hat - settling into his role as Chief Superintendent, no matter how much Matthew wanted to stay home and enjoy a quiet evening with his fiance.
Alice was just putting the chain that held her engagement ring around her neck when the door to the morgue opened. Charlie popped his head in and she gave him a slight smile.
"Ah, Sergeant Davis, come in."
"Boss wanted me to assist you tonight."
"Yes, he said he would send you."
Charlie entered just as the ambos came in the other door with the body after the x-rays had been done; Alice let out a sad sigh at the sight of the dead girl - she was so young to end up here. She smoothed a hand over the girl's hair.
"We'll find out what happened to you," Alice promised her quietly before she cleared her throat. "Charlie, I could use your help with her clothes."
"Of course, Dr. Harvey."
In short order, Miss Charlotte Worthington lay nude on the table - a sheet covering her for modesty, and Alice looked down on this girl wondering what had happened to her, but she had a list of things she wanted to tell Lucien about already.
"Shall I call the doc, Dr. Harvey?" Charlie asked her quietly - startling her from her thoughts.
"Yes, thank you, and you don't have to stay for the entire autopsy; I know the superintendent will be waiting for a preliminary report."
"It's alright, Doctor, you might need the help."
Alice smiled - touched at Charlie's willingness to help, "I'll be fine. Let's see what time it is once the preliminary autopsy is done and go from there."
The sergeant nodded and picked up the phone to dial Lucien - who was no doubt waiting anxiously at home.
"Right, Alice, I'm here. Is Charlie with you?"
"He's assisting," Alice answered promptly as she looked at the x-ray while Charlie waited by the body. "There's no apparent damage to the vertebrae or skull; however, there is a small amount of free intracranial gas visible on the x-ray."
"Which can occur post-mortem."
"Doctor, I'm afraid I'm going to need a full autopsy to establish cause of death," Alice told him as she held the receiver up to her ear with her shoulder when she went to pull the sheet back from Charlotte's body; Charlie hurriedly took both the phone and the receiver in hand to hold it up for her while she worked, and Alice had to smile.
"There's no sign of a struggle, no damage to her clothing, no skin or fibres under the fingernails," she continued.
"Could it be a stroke, given the mother's history?" Charlie asked.
"It's possible," she nodded, "but there are other things to consider."
"Such as?"
"She has minor blistering in the oral cavity and pharynx," Alice took out her penlight to look in the girl's mouth - and to show Charlie.
"Any idea as to the cause, Alice?"
"Not without toxicology. Also," she drew the sheet further down to expose the girl's arms, "she had healing contusions on her upper arms."
Alice heard Lucien scribbling on the other end, no doubt writing this all down, "How old?"
"There's significant yellowing; I'd say at least a few days, possibly more. And finally…" Alice moved down Charlotte's body, lifting the sheet up to expose her upper thighs.
Clucking her tongue lightly, Alice frowned, "There's scarring on the upper thighs… they're burn marks, Lucien."
"Describe them to me."
"Small, about a square inch; triangular with an emphasis on two sides pointing downwards. Repetitive and very deliberate."
"She was abused before she died," Lucien voiced what they were all thinking, and Alice nodded even though he couldn't see.
"As soon as I have the results of the full autopsy, I'll bring them to the house."
"Wonderful, thank you so much for this, Alice."
"You just focus on getting better and not giving Jean a hard time."
Lucien's laughter echoed down the line before he said his goodbyes and hung up; Charlie put the phone back as Alice chewed on her lower lip. Whatever had happened to this girl, she'd root out the cause - Charlotte deserved that much.
"Doctor?" Charlie asked her softly - startling Alice from her musings, the second time tonight he'd done so.
"I'm sorry, Charlie… young victims like this are never easy," she smiled.
"It's alright… I suppose if it ever does get easy to deal with, that's a cause for concern."
"For sure," she nodded. "Let's get started."
It didn't take long to draw up the preliminary autopsy report - it gave enough information for the police to work with until Alice was done with the full one; normally she had preferred not to give over any reports until all of her work was done, but since working with Lucien, and knowing that Matthew's hands were tied in an investigation until he had leads to follow, Alice had eased up on her usual restraints. She still didn't speculate as much as Lucien might have, but drew conclusions based on the evidence that was there (and not there).
"Thank you, Dr. Harvey," Charlie covered a yawn with his hand. "I'll get this to the Boss right away."
"Good, I'm going to get started on the full autopsy as soon as possible. If Rose is outside, could you send her in? I'll need her help."
"Of course. And…"
"Yes?" Alice looked up to see the young sergeant's tired smile.
"I forgot to say this earlier, but congratulations to you and the Boss," he nodded to the ring hanging on the chain around her neck.
Fingering with her own smile, Alice nodded, "Thank you, Charlie."
A knock on the morgue door made them both look up to see Rose peeking around it.
"The front desk said you asked for my assistance, Alice?"
"Yes, please come in, Rose, I need your photography skills. Thank you, Charlie, for your assistance."
"You're welcome, Doc, I'll get this report over to the station; let me know if you need any more help."
Matthew sat behind his desk - the preliminary autopsy report in his hands as Charlie told him everything that had been observed at the scene and later in the morgue with Alice; Alice's familiar slanted handwriting comforted him even as his heart ached for what this girl had gone through.
"Dr. Harvey said the burns occurred over a period of time… most have already completely scarred, but there are a few in the final stages of healing. They're a couple of months old."
Matthew sighed and put the report down on his desk, "How long's she been with the boyfriend?"
"Only since the school started preparing for the deb, so no more than six weeks."
He chewed on his inner lip, and felt an answering hotspot a short time later; all he could think of was Anna, and how he could protect her from something like this in the future.
"What's your take on the father?" He asked Charlie softly.
"He's strange…" Charlie crossed his arms, knowing where Matthew was going with this. "Very controlling… You think he's capable of abusing his own daughter?"
Matthew could almost feel the ridged scars on Alice's back under his fingertips as he thought of what fathers were capable of doing to their daughters.
"People are capable of anything, Charlie."