A Second Chance
Inspector Brackenreid
He'd removed her from her cell, ushered her through the station house and into his office, pouring them both a glass of whiskey and directing her to sit on his settee. He'd lost count of the number of people he'd counselled while sat on that very seat. Some rejected his guidance; others took his words on board. He hoped Miss Hart would do the latter.
For her part, Miss Hart eyed the glass of alcohol in her hands warily, uncertain as to the inspector's intentions.
"Miss Hart," he began, not one to beat around the bush. "You will not be charged with any crime. I can see that you acted in self-defence in this instance. You went through something horrible, and there's no sense making the situation worse for you."
She was silent a moment, taken aback by the reversal in the inspector's attitude. "Well, I thank you for that. You are right; it was not pleasant." She gestured to her arm, the sleeve of which had, by then, become almost blackened by the dried blood. She shifted uncomfortably with a grimace of distaste. "Your decision will allow me to move on. Is that all? I would very much like to clean up."
"Not yet." He halted her progress, determined to say all that needed to be said; her other actions also needed addressing. "Regarding the other allegations, we've decided to give you a second chance to prove yourself."
Once again, she was stunned. She had felt sure that they would attempt to remove her from her position. Why the sudden change? In her experience, she was not treated so kindly for no reason. Surely they want something? She narrowed her eyes, on high alert. "May I ask why?"
He almost laughed at her obvious distrust, as if it were him who had wronged her. Then after a moment of reflection, he realised that living a life of crime, constantly looking over one's shoulder, would lead to a suspicious nature, with no idea who to trust. Bloody hell, Doctor Ogden's psychiatry mumbo jumbo must be rubbing off on me, he mentally huffed before returning to the matter at hand. "You've aligned yourself with the wrong people before. But if you're in trouble in the future, I want to you come to me or Murdoch, or even Watts. We'll help you."
She wasn't as certain as the Inspector that her men would help her. "I'm not so sure I can trust Detective Murdoch. He has not treated me with kindness this past year."
"Because he suspected you of a crime. With good reason!" The woman was getting him riled up again, when all he was trying to do was help her.
"Did he not commit a crime by covering up his wife's wrongdoings?"
"Miss Hart, you're not making this easy!" He forced himself to pause and recollect, gulping down his whiskey before continuing. "None of us are without mistakes. As I said to Murdoch, I don't know what you've experienced in your life. I don't know what drove you to do what you did. That's why we're giving you a chance. Hold yourself to a higher standard. Don't let ambition or vanity get in the way of doing a good job."
"And what if best is not good enough?" She shook her head in frustration. Could he not see that sampling following the rules was not a guarantee of success and stability? "I lose this job, and I lose everything. I'll have to return to the life I led before." A frown fell upon her features and her voice quietened. "I don't want to become that person again."
"You won't, not if I have anything to do with it. You follow the law, and I'll have your back. You have my word." His voice was firm, sober, and he held out his hand.
She hesitated, then accepted his firm handshake. At the very least Inspector Brackenreid was an honourable man, and she felt she could place at least some trust in his words. Even if she could not trust Detective Murdoch.
Doctor Ogden
Violet Hart's second conversation was with Doctor Ogden, who entered the morgue only the day after Inspector Brackenreid's offer to make peace. As she was in her own place of work, Miss Hart felt much more confident and in control to face whatever the other woman threw at her.
"Miss Hart." Doctor Ogden descended the ramp, down into the lower area of the morgue, and stopped to face her former assistant over the empty examination table. "I wondered if I may speak with you."
"Certainly." She smoothed her skirt and straightened her posture, yet continued drying and properly storing the instruments that she had recently washed.
"I heard about your recent circumstances. I thought-"
"That has nothing to do with you," Miss Hart interrupted. The doctor's words had immediately put her on edge. She had thought her conversation with the Inspector meant that the issue was behind her. Obviously not.
Doctor Ogden opened her mouth to retort, then sighed, forcing herself to calm. "I did not come to fight with you, Miss Hart."
"Then why did you come?"
Resolving to remain civil, she paused before answering, glancing around the room that had been her second home for so many years. Yet it was now the domain of the woman standing before her, the woman with whom she could have developed a camaraderie had things not gone awry. "I thought me might start a fresh. I thought we might become, if not friends, then at least good colleagues."
"We no longer work together." The coldness is Violet's tone did not abate, yet Julia persisted.
"No, but our work might intersect. I might have a patient in need of an autopsy, and I'd like to think that you can come to me if you need advice."
"I've no need of your help, thank you." She was not pleased at the other woman's unwelcome interference, yet she resolved to remain polite and proper.
"Miss Hart-"
"You've never thought I was good enough for this job, have you?"
"That's not true!" Julia protested.
"Then why did you refuse to recommend me as your replacement."
"Because you're not yet a qualified physician. You do fine work, but you still have a lot to learn."
"Yet coroners in other cities have no knowledge." She recited the list of unqualified persons that she had given to Detective Murdoch and Inspector Brackenreid the previous day. She still smarted at the unfairness of being passed over in such a manner.
Julia sighed. "Yes, well, I would certainly never support an unqualified candidate for the position of city coroner. If I were given the chance," she said pointedly, "I would have chosen someone suitably qualified. And I would have ensured that they retained you as an assistant, and continued training you."
Miss Hart shook her head. She placed the final scalpel in its organised draw, and finally turned to face the other woman directly. "I find that difficult to believe. Right from the start, your attitude towards me was condescending."
"Condescending? What do you mean?"
"When we met at the medical exposition, you belittled my work."
"I have seen far too often the dangers of patent medicines and supplements." Julia spread her hands, imploring the other woman to understand her viewpoint. "At best, most of them have no effect. Otherwise, many of them harm the people whom they are supposed to help. Many who produce and sell them have limited medical knowledge."
"My products were carefully researched," Violet bit back, thinking back to the long hours she had spent pouring over medical textbooks and medical journals. And she certainly had no complaints from any of her customers.
"Yes, and when I understood that, I could tell that your talents were wasted. It was obvious to me that you have a keen scientific intellect. I would not have encouraged you to apply to medical school, nor offered you the job as my assistant if I had thought any less."
"Yes, assistant. I made it clear that I was no one's assistant for very long."
"Miss Hart, you have pride and grit, both admirable qualities, but you have to recognise that you cannot yet know everything." Julia sighed, again; she had been wary of approaching Miss Hart, yet the conversation was going so much worse than she had imagined. "Look, I will admit that I failed you. There was much I should have coached you on, beyond the science of conducting an autopsy."
"Such as?"
"Well, ethics for one thing. Not falsifying evidence."
Violet raised an eyebrow. "Are you really lecturing me about that?"
Julia exhaled in a puff of frustration. "Neither of us are without fault, yet it is something important to discuss. Then there are writing reports, presenting evidence in court, interacting with the constabulary, lawyers and grieving family members."
"You think I cannot comport myself satisfactorily." The implication stung, and Violet stood even straighter, forcing herself to remain strong in the face of perceived derision.
"Not at all. But I have picked up a few tricks along the way. I had no one to truly help me when I started here, and I learned the hard way, often through mistakes. There is no need for you to struggle alone, too. Let me be your mentor, in an unofficial capacity. I promise not to interfere, merely to guide."
"And what of your husband? Will he approve of your proposal?"
"Detective Murdoch is willing to give you another chance. However, I do not speak for my husband, just as he does not speak for me. Miss Hart, I admire and respect you." She steered the conversation back on track. "Please know that I believe you are capable of doing this job well. I just know from experience that it can be a very lonely job without anyone to turn to."
She softened, marginally, becoming aware that they may in fact share some similarities in their drive for a career. Perhaps that is why we clash. "And I admire and respect you, too. Very well, I accept your offer." She paused. "I suppose it would be nice to have someone with whom I can discuss the job."
Silence followed, during which Julia shifted, opening and closing her mouth a couple of times before finally speaking. "Miss Hart, I… I must apologise for breaking into the morgue. That was, ah… That was wrong of me. I can assure you I will take no such liberties in the future."
"I am glad to hear, although I sense that the apology did not come easily."
"Yes, well, apologies are not exactly my strong suit." Her voice took only a slight jesting note, "I imagine that is true not only for me."
Surprising even herself, Violet released a short laugh. "Perhaps so… Then I suppose I must reciprocate. I apologise for my part in the awkwardness that befell our professional relationship. And I apologise for using my evidence against you to blackmail Detective Murdoch. I was afraid of losing my position, that seemed my only option left to maintain it." A sudden urge to truly make amends swept through her. "If you would like to use the morgue in the future, please do ask. Though I should like to be involved in your analyses."
"That sounds like a fine compromise." Julia rose with a smile. "I will contact you to arrange our first mentorship meeting." She grasped the other woman's hand. "I do believe that this will be a rather beneficial arrangement."
Detective Murdoch
The next visitor to her morgue was the one she had been dreading the most. He arrived mere hours after Doctor Ogden's departure.
"Miss Hart…" If possible, the detective was stiffer and more formal than ever before.
"Detective," she returned.
"I understand that Inspector Brackenreid spoke to you, about giving you a second chance."
"He did." She, too, remained rigid in her manner; she was not going to give him an inch of vulnerability, nor aid him in his conversation.
"I would like to let you know that I agree with the inspector's decision. Yet I must caution you. Your conduct has not inspired trust."
"There is no need to continue, detective. Your Doctor Ogden has already spoken to me about ethics. I will be taking guidance from her."
As she spoke, Murdoch assessed her tone. Although she was not particularly warm, there was none of the bitterness or scorn with which she has previously spoken about his wife. Perhaps Julia was right in her conclusion that she and Miss Hart had reached an amicable agreement…
"Very well, then." He made to leave, but he was conscious that nothing had really been resolved between the two of them. Much as he lamented the loss of Julia from the morgue, he knew he needed to form at least a professional relationship with Miss Hart, if only for the successful investigation of his cases. He paused then turned back to the coroner. It seemed it was up to him to make the first move towards reconciliation. Julia will be proud of me, at least, he thought. "Miss Hart, I would like to reassure you that I will not hold your past and recent actions against you. And if you find yourself in trouble again, no matter the circumstances, please know that we will do our best to protect you."
"Thank you, detective," she conceded, somewhat surprised that he made such offers after so many months of coldness and mistrust. In return, she said, "And I will work hard to prove to you that I am fit for this position."
The two weighed each other for a moment, then nodded to each other. The nod, very formal, was at least civil and respectful – an improvement, at least.
Detective Watts
Her final visitor of the end entered into conversation with no preamble, merely coming to a stop next to her desk, hands in his pockets and began to speak. "It's come to my attention that you have recently been involved in a spot of bother."
Miss Hart looked up from her paperwork with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, so they've decided to tell everyone, have they?"
"Not at all. Inspector Brackenreid merely informed me, as I am the other detective at Station House Four. He did not go into details, but he told me enough so that I may be aware."
"Oh really?" She bristled. "So that second chance means nothing?"
"Again, not at all. But you must realise that you must work to prove that they can trust you. However," he hurried on, "I did not come to lecture you. I wondered if you would like to join me for a drink. Perhaps you might need the company of a friend?"
A friend… She mulled the idea. He had helped her, back when she was trying to prove her worth in the morgue, and she had enjoyed his easy company. Eventually, she smiled. "I would like that very much."
Later, settled in an out of the way establishment, less classy than the one she'd frequented recently, Watts slumped over the table towards her, idly waving a beer mat in her direction.
"It has not escaped my notice that there has been some, shall we say, friction between you and Detective Murdoch."
She laughed humourlessly. "You could say that. Although… He did speak with me earlier. I must say, I was somewhat surprised."
"Again, not lecturing you. But I will say that Murdoch values the law very highly. He is a good man, if a little… Ah… Judgmental and uncompromising. I do believe he is sincere in forgiving and forgetting. I would strongly advise that you do likewise."
She was still unconvinced, given the building tension between her and the other Detective Murdoch. But she moved on. "And Inspector Brackenreid? What of him?
Watts paused, watching the beer mat twirl between his fingers. His superior's recent actions had been a much-needed lifeline, so different from the attitudes of many in society. "I've come to realise that Inspector Brackenreid is a noble man. If you demonstrate integrity, he will reciprocate."
Miss Hart nodded, and they lapsed into a companionable silence while she mulled Detective Watts' words and the events of the previous few days.
Could she trust them? She didn't know, but if she wanted to keep her position (which she most certainly did), she had to at least outwardly pretend that she did.
Detective Watts seemed to be the easiest to believe. After all, hadn't he helped her before? Despite his unconventional manner, he seemed non-judgemental. She had to admit, she had rather enjoyed his easy company. Her profession was a lonely one. Would it really hurt to establish some manner of professional relationships?
Inspector Brackenreid… Despite his gruff exterior, he had always been polite to her, unlike others. And the offer of the proverbial olive branch had originated from him rather than Detective Murdoch.
The relationship with Doctor Ogden was one that had never clicked, despite its potentials when the two had been working together. Now that some of her misconceptions had been dispelled, she suspected Doctor Ogden had been unable to warm to her because of her forthright nature. This was not something she was going to change; her plainspoken manner had served her well in a life where people would otherwise have dismissed her.
She was confident enough in her own abilities. However, she had to concede that there were times when a sounding board would be useful, someone with whom to discuss theories or methods. If the need arose, she would consider approaching Doctor Ogden. She could not promise more than that.
The real sticking point was Detective Murdoch. She was not convinced that with his rigid nature he could truly forget her actions, although she had to admit that his coverup of his wife's crime suggested he was able to waive his principles. Nor was sure she could forget the months of cold conversation and rude interactions between them. She would proceed with professionalism yet with caution, she decided.
Yes, she concluded, overall she was willing to begin anew with her colleagues. Although it remained to be seen whether she would truly turn to them if trouble found her once again.
A/N: Many thanks for reading. My purpose for writing this was to resolve some of the tension between Miss Hart and the other characters. I would like to see her have a greater role outside of the morgue in the new season, yet I believe that some relationships need to be mended (at least partially) for this to happen. This was my attempt. We shall see how the writers portray her second chance in the new season! I know opinions are divided, but I find Violet to be a very interesting character, and of course she is fantastically portrayed by Shanice Banton.