Please feel free to comment or leave a review. Thank you to everyone for your comments on the last few chapters. This story has been fun, although its a bit longer than my usual. I re-watched episodes 2.7 and the christmas special. Que dramatic music. Inspiration has struck!

Another Connection

O'Connor, O'Connor, Jane O'Connor. "Who the devil is Jane O'Connor?" Tom Branson blurted out. He was meeting with Mr. Lewis this morning and reviewing yet again the materials that had been collected in the defense of John Bates.

"Who is that or I should say why do you ask?" queried James Lewis.

The two men were seated at the conference table at the offices of Lewis and Mason. The copies of the materials Matthew, Mary and Tom had collected over the months of the investigation were laid out around them and now joined with the report of the private investigator on Frank Wilson.

"John Bates received a copy of a letter Vera Bates sent to a Jane O'Connor from the police. It was used as evidence against him in the first trial."

"Yes, I clearly remember seeing a copy of it."

"Well? Who was she? Why did Vera Bates write to her? From everything we have learned and what little I remember about Vera Bates, the woman did everything with a purpose. I feel like we are missing a connection," Tom rubbed his hand through his hair. "I don't know, just something still isn't right with all this."

Tom was trying his best to think of where he had seen the name in all this tangle of paper, but it just wouldn't come to him. He was tired and had been working non-stop submitting stories. There were many things happening in the British parliament and in the labor movement that had direct repercussions on Ireland. There was enough to write at least two or three articles a day. As well his mother had written that she wanted to come for an extended visit for the arrival of their second child and Tom still hadn't told his wife. To say he dreaded his wife's reaction to his mother's visit and his mother's to the house where he was now living was an understatement.

"John told Anna it was a letter to a friend. What friends? Vera Bates was a nasty piece of work. I doubt the woman had any," said Tom.

"She may not have been a woman either of us would have found attractive, but remember she drew the attention of at least two men we are aware of and possibly more. She must have had some attribute that was appealing, at least in some circles."

"We're looking at this from a male perspective. A woman would see things differently."

"She did have Sarah O'Brien's sympathy for a while. Perhaps the woman in question felt she was a woman wronged? We won't know until we find Jane O'Connor or make a connection," Mr. Lewis sat back in his chair and thought over the problems associated with finding Jane O'Connor. "The name keeps popping up, I'm sure its on more than one of these documents in the room."

"Lady Mary did a lot of work on Vera's correspondence. Perhaps its worth a telephone call to see if she can pinpoint it."

"Can you call her now? You can use the telephone in my office."

Tom headed off with James Lewis' secretary to put in a call to his sister-in-law. Mr. Lewis picked up the report from the private detective. On the last page in what usually would be insignificant details, he found the first connection. Tom returned to the room and resumed his seat.

"Lady Mary said she believed there were at least two letters Vera Bates had received from Jane O'Connor, although they seemed to be just general chatty letters about family," Tom said.

"Take a look at the bottom of page three," said Mr. Lewis while handing Tom the detective's report. "The man I hired was thorough."

There in a detailed list of immediate family connections the name leaped off the page. Sister Jane O'Connor nee: Wilson. Tom let out a whistle.

"That is one big connection, plus there must be more letters from her somewhere in this assortment," Tom remarked.

"It certainly speaks to motive for handing Vera Bates' letter over to the police, if she were trying to protect her brother. She doesn't look as much a trusted confidant trying to bring her friend's killer to justice now."

A short while later they had located two letters from Jane O'Connor to Vera Bates.

"These were written while her brother was incarcerated. Both letters contain sections urging Vera Bates to do the right thing. Everyone must have assumed it was to do with John Bates and clearing his name. That is why it was overlooked," Mr. Lewis stated.

"Have you heard anything regarding having the body exhumed?" Tom inquired.

"No, the motion will take at least two months. I should hear back from the court in April. It is more a matter of paperwork. There is no court appearance for the motion."

"Its getting late. I have some work I must attend to," Tom declared when he looked at his pocket watch.

"Your help has been most beneficial," said Mr. Lewis. "I will contact Lord Grantham when I have more information. I assume he is still in daily contact with Mrs. Bates?"

"Yes, Mrs. Bates lives at the estate and works for Lord Grantham. The staff is like a family to her. She is well taken care of there."

A few hours later Tom had completed an interview with a prominent labor organizer and headed home to work on the associated article. The library doubled as office space and the family living room. It was the smallest of the three rooms on the main floor of the house and the easiest to heat but still much grander than anything his mother would ever have been exposed to. He dreaded her lecture on being a sell out to the "English upper crust." With the turmoil in Ireland he doubted he would ever be able to safely raise his children there. If anyone ever found out they carried the blood of the English ruling elite it would not be safe for their small family. He had set his priorities and his children and wife came before his or his family's politics. He just had to make that clear.

Matthew and Mary were just finishing their tea when they were advised there was a call for Mr. Matthew from Mr. Branson.

"Tom called earlier about some woman named Jane O'Connor," Mary said. "I don't know if I was much help."

"He must have turned up something to call twice in one day," said Matthew before he headed off to take the call. He returned shortly.

"It seems Jane O'Connor is the sister of Mr. Wilson, Vera Bates' paramour."

"Goodness Me," exclaimed Mary. "This business certainly resembles a cheap novel more and more."

"You sound like your grandmother."

"Well, she would be correct in this instance."

"I'll need to go and see John Bates next week and bring him up to date. He may have more to add."

"I don't see how. Its so melodramatic already."

"It does remind one a bit of living inside an Arthur Conan Doyle novel. Speaking of dramatic, your Grandmother was by today."

"What did she have to say?" Mary inquired.

"Not much besides wanting an update on the John Bates situation. She is enjoying every turn of events to the fullest. She wondered if there was any sign of us producing an heir," Matthew said. At Mary's look exasperation, he said, " I told her we would get right on it."

Mary began to laugh as she took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled in the direction of the stairs.