I chose the name Lewis as it is a typical English name. No resemblance to anyone living or dead is intended.

Mr. Lewis

It was nearing the end of October, the days were cool, leaves covered the sidewalks and the fall rains had started in London. Matthew and Lord Grantham had telephoned to say they were on their way to meet with James Lewis. Tom and Sybil were well set up in Crawley House and Katie was occupying the housekeeper's quarters downstairs. The Bransons being stanch believers in socialism had insisted Katie receive the equivalent of two full days off a week. Whether it was two half days and one full or two days together was decided between her and Sybil. As well Katie was welcome to take her meals with the family as long as Sybil's family was not in attendance.

Katie's eyes had rounded when the new working conditions had been discussed with her.

"This is going to take some getting used to for all of us," Sybil had said. "We will figure out who does what as we go along. And for heavens sake no more black and white uniforms."

Matthew and Lord Grantham arrived before lunch. Their meeting with James Lewis would be in the afternoon and they had requested Tom be in attendance. A half hour or so later Tom walked in from the street dressed in the cloths of a lower class working man.

"Good gracious! What have you got on?" Lord Grantham exclaimed. "You look more like a rubbish collector than a respectable journalist."

Tom was wearing a flat cap with a narrow scarf tied around his neck. His shirtsleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows and he had on the oldest pair of trousers and waistcoat he owned. On his feet was a pair of work boots that had seen better days.

"I was fitting in at a union rally I'm covering. In my experience most people pay little attention to those dressed like them," said Tom. "I've been trying to find this Frank Wilson that Vera Bates was involved with too but no luck so far. I've tried to find him twice, but he seems to have moved."

"Sounds like he doesn't want to be found," Matthew said.

"Hard to say. He could be moving around looking for work, but somehow I don't think so. We'll see what this Lewis fellow has to say. I don't want to spend a lot of time hunting for someone if he has no bearing on Bates case."

"Yes, quite right," said Lord Grantham.

That afternoon the three men made their way to James Lewis' office. It was close to the courts and on one of the most prestigious streets in the legal district with a view of the river Thames. A plaque by the door proclaimed Lewis and Mason Barristers and Solicitors, Established 1598. Lord Grantham barely raised an eyebrow, while the younger men felt their collars tighten slightly. If the man they were going to meet was as good as his reputation, he would be worth every cent their father-in-law was about to spend.

They were shown into a room with a large table in the center with chairs pushed in around it.

"Gentlemen, please have a seat. Mr. Lewis will be with you shortly," said the young woman who had greeted them when they entered the office.

It wasn't long when a young man in his late twenties entered the office. He had black hair that was severely slicked back, a long face, bright green eyes and was wearing a black suit. He had a no nonsense demeanor and a brisk efficiency to his manor.

"Lord Grantham, what brings you here today?" James Lewis inquired in an Eton accent.

Lord Grantham gave Mr. Lewis an overview of the case, but quickly deferred to Matthew.

"My sons-in-law have been doing some investigative work in regards to the whole Bates affair. Mr. Crawley is a solicitor and can better explain the particulars."

Matthew drew out a large file containing copies of the time line and the documents they had collected thus far. James Lewis took the documents scanned through them and then read the court transcripts from the trial. After a few minutes, he set down the transcripts and addressed the three of them.

"This case is purely circumstantial. There is a significant amount of cross-examination by the defense missing from these transcripts. While there may not be enough here to establish innocence there was certainly enough to discredit the case by the prosecution. Why wasn't it done?"

"We don't know. We have sufficient evidence to prove the defense solicitor on the case was in conflict of interest," said Matthew.

"Why was the case tried in York when the crime was committed in London? That is highly irregular."

"Murray arranged it," said Lord Grantham with a look of growing distaste on his face.

Lewis suddenly looked at Tom who had remained silent up to this point.

"Do you have anything to add, Mr. Branson?"

"I am a journalist by trade. My work depends on finding facts. There is a great deal about this situation where the facts seem to be missing, whether by intent or neglect, is uncertain," said Tom.

"Lord Grantham, I will take Mr. Bates case. Mr. Crawley and Mr. Branson I would like to book an appointment with you next week to go over your research once I have had time to review it. I must get to my next appointment. Gentlemen, my secretary will see you out, and book the next meeting."

With that he got up, stopped to give his secretary instructions and was off to another door down the hall.

"Most peculiar," said Lord Grantham when they were back in Lady Rosamund's limousine. "Not overly polite."

"He's a busy man," Matthew volunteered.

"I liked him," was all they got out of Tom for the entire ride back to Crawley House.

The following week Tom met Matthew at the train with the Alvis. It was pouring with rain and Tom had the top up.

"Any word from Lewis?" Tom asked.

"No, but I expect he will be grilling us with questions."

Matthew's assessment of James Lewis was correct. The man had a sharp eye for criminal law and asked pointed questions on every event they had marked on their timeline. As well he uncovered some areas where they had failed to notice irregularities.

"The coroner's report with the police file is incomplete. It lists poison as the cause of death but fails to provide the method of delivery."

"The police stated there was poison found in the teapot," said Matthew.

"That does not determine the method of delivery or even if the deceased woman ingested any of it. Because I have a bottle of whiskey in my office, does it follow that I drank from it for my lunch? What was the type of poison found in her stomach if any? And how did it get there? As well Mr. Bates has admitted to buying poison months before the crime took place, but the police have failed to produce the packet at the scene of the crime."

"I find the entire scene where Vera Bates was found a bit odd as well," Tom said. "She was laying in the middle of the room with a cup of tea. Not something someone trying to kill herself would do. More like something you would do if you were entertaining a guest."

"Yes, you're quite right," said Mr. Lewis. "Its definitely not the behavior of someone expecting to die. What can you tell me about her paramour?"

"Not much I'm afraid. I was never able to locate him. Seemed to always be moving on or just vanishing for long periods of time."

"We'll have to get a private detective on to it. Leave that part of the investigation to him," warned Mr. Lewis.

"Matthew I would like to arrange a visit with Mr. Bates. As well I would like you to arrange for Mrs. Hughes, Miss O'Brien and the current Mrs. Bates to visit me here. I would like to interview Lord Grantham again as well, but on a separate day."

"There is one thing Tom didn't mention. Vera asked him out some years ago. He turned her down."

"It was a little more than going out she was asking for," Tom said, his face coloring slightly.

"A pattern of adultery. Relevant in a divorce case but not here, at least not at the moment," Lewis returned. "There is one thing I must mention before you leave. I will not spare the witnesses under the pretense of politeness. This is law, gentlemen, a battle of wits. There is nothing nice or polite about it."

"That is why we approached you to take on the case," Matthew said.

"Being polite almost cost John his life. Do what it takes to get to the truth," Tom commented.

"As long as we understand each other. Please arrange the interviews as soon as possible."

"We will," said Matthew as they got up to leave.