Well here's another chapter. It's a bit of a two for one, a little case for Lucien and Jean at home, dealing with Evelyn and domestics. I find Mrs Toohey humourless so I'm sorry if you think I shouldn't take the mickey. Does anyone remember her mentioning her husband? Hope you like this and sorry, but it is a bit long.
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Jean and Lucien had celebrated their first anniversary relatively quietly. Jean hadn't wanted a fuss; at six months pregnant she had felt a little uncomfortable when Lucien had insisted on taking her out for dinner at the club. She claimed she had nothing wear but Lucien would have none of it. Although he had asked Cec for a discreet table, Jean was still a little shy about being shown off. But as Lucien said it would show those who said it wouldn't last that they were closer than ever, their friends were for the most part really happy for her and the baby. The sewing circle had squealed with glee when she'd told them she was expecting, well Evelyn Toohey hadn't. She had quietly congratulated Jean but Jean couldn't help feeling she didn't really approve.
Jean found a dress that was both smart and flattering over the bump, It was midnight blue, long sleeved with a white collar, and pleated from a yolk. She reasoned she could wear it with a belt after the baby was born.
It was a lovely evening. Some members of the club came over to congratulate them but otherwise left them to a quiet meal. Cec looked after them, ensuring they had everything they needed.
One the way to the car at the end of the evening Jean lifted her head and kissed Lucien's cheek.
'Jean', he said, in mock horror, 'think of your reputation!'
'Oh, I think that's shot, don't you?' she grinned, 'thank you for a lovely evening, darling.'
Opening the car door he kissed her hand, 'My absolute pleasure, Mrs Blake, my absolute pleasure.'
Back at the house Jean checked on Bobby, flat on his back, arms thrown above his head, the picture of innocence, he was fast asleep. Lucien peered over her shoulder and smiled.
'He's fine,' and nibbled her earlobe.
Jean giggled softly and leaned back against him. As her belly had grown she had worried he would no longer find her desirable, but this had turned out to be not so and she knew he would desire her tonight, as his hand slid the zip of her dress down her back and he moved his hand inside the dress to caress her belly.
He guided her towards the their room and closing the door proceeded to love her as only he knew how.
Jean awoke to a gentle knock on the door. Looking over at Lucien's watch she saw it was nearing half past five in the morning.
'Doc, it's Charlie.' Charlie's voice was just loud enough to wake Lucien. Jean shook his shoulder gently.
'I think you're needed,' she whispered.
'Mmm...' he replied, sleepily.
'Not by me! Charlie's at the door.' Jean playfully slapped his arm.
'Uh, oh, right,' he opened a bleary eye, 'coming!'.
Grabbing his dressing gown he opened the bedroom door, 'What?' not unkindly, he knew Charlie would have a good reason, he was sensitive that way.
'Phone, Doc, two lads on the highway, beaten up.' Charlie informed him.
'Tell Frank I'm on my way.'
Lucien washed and dressed quickly, at the same time he told Jean he'd been called out. She was used to it, after the years when she'd roused him before they were married this hadn't changed. The one thing that had changed since she had told him that she was pregnant was that he and Alice had worked out a rota, meaning that he didn't have to go out to every scene. When they'd told Alice about the baby she was clearly delighted for them and it was her who had suggested the rota. They still examined, surmised and 'detected' together, but the workload was shared.
He kissed Jean as he left, promising to ring if he was going to be late for dinner. He would had preferred to stay with her, she looked so...
He left the door slightly ajar so Bobby could go to mama when he woke. He was safe now in his bed and they had no need of the safety sides they had put in place when he first arrived. Nevertheless he checked on him before he left.
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The two boys had been taken to the hospital by ambulance where Lucien could examine them. They were about fifteen or sixteen and looked like they'd been beaten up by a gang. No part of their bodies was free of bruises or cuts, but the one thing that bothered Lucien was he could not rouse them, they were not unconscious, just out of it. He took blood samples to send to Alice but as he looked at the eyes he smelt alcohol, whisky to be exact! A really harsh scotch; moonshine! What had they been doing?
Lucien arranged for bones to be set and wounds to be dressed while he went down to see Alice.
Frank was down in the morgue discussing the case with Alice.
'Anything, Dr Harvey?' he questioned.
'Not yet, but they've definitely been drinking. It was a very high strength, possibly an illegal whisky.'
'Do you think they were making it themselves?'
'Unlikely,' she countered, 'it's too high grade for teenagers.'
Lucien decided he'd better make his presence known.
'Ahem, where were they found? It could help us find where the still is.'
Alice turned round, was she slightly pink? Lucien wasn't sure, deep in the back of his brain he thought, no hoped there was something there; but for now there was a case to be solved. (Mental note, speak to Jean). Meanwhile, Lucien remembered the case where Harold Morris had been brewing moonshine and killed a man and tried to kill Lucien, until Lucien had shot him through the knee cap! He hoped this wasn't a re-enactment of that. Frank said he would take Bill out to where the boys were found and would Lucien come with them. Of course he would, he could never resist the invitation, real or imagined, to go to the scene of the crime. Alice said she'd let Jean know he was off detecting!
'Wait a while, Alice please,' he asked, 'let her have a lie in, if Bobby will let her.'
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Jean fully awoke about an hour later. She dreamily remembered Lucien being called away by Charlie, but what really awoke her was the small, chubby arms of Bobby encircling her neck and a sloppy kiss on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around the child and whispered,
'Morning, Bobby.' Kissing his dark curls, so like his father, she breathed in the smell of babyhood. Charlie had given him a bath before he'd put him to bed and he smelt of baby soap.
'Better get up before Evelyn gets here,' she said to him. Evelyn came twice a week now to help with the housework and today was bed changing day. She wondered if Charlie had remembered to strip his bed, he usually did. While she thought about moving, she heard the sound of Mrs Toohey coming through the door. They'd given her a key in case Jean was in bed or resting when she came. Jean didn't rest, as in have a nap during the day, but she did occasionally lie in a little later than she used to. Jean heard her go into the kitchen and knew the first thing she would do would be bring her a cup of tea if she wasn't about.
'Come on Bobby, we need to get moving!'
Bobby just snuggled closer, he just loved it when he could get onto the bed with his mama, and papa when he was there too.
'No you don't young man, you're as bad as papa, up you get!' There was a quiet tap at the door and it started to open just as Jean realised she didn't have any nightclothes on, her modesty was covered by a sheet! Her clothes from the night before were where Lucien had dropped them, so were his, where she'd tossed them. Before she could stop Evelyn from coming in she was there with the tea, surveying the room, it was obvious what had gone on the night before (even though Jean and Lucien had employed her for the past month she had never seen the room like this, even if she had brought Jean an early morning cuppa). Jean wasn't sure who was the most embarrassed her or Evelyn. Evelyn's mouth dropped open, she couldn't have looked more startled if she'd actually caught them!
'Morning, Evelyn,' Jean tried to sound quite casual about things, 'tea? Lovely.' Jean sat up holding the sheet over her breasts with one hand and reaching out for the cup and saucer. Bobby, as was his wont, hid behind Jean.
'Er, good morning Jean,' Evelyn didn't know where to look, 'I'll wait in the kitchen, shall I?'
'Yes, I'll be through soon.' Jean gave that ice-melting smile, but somehow it didn't work on Evelyn.
As Evelyn went out of the room, closing the door behind her, Jean burst out laughing, she couldn't help it, she ought to have been embarrassed but the expression on Evelyn's face was priceless! She couldn't wait to tell Lucien later. Of course Mrs Toohey should have waited to be invited into the room. Oh Lor' she hoped this wouldn't mean Evelyn would leave, she really appreciated the help. She'd have to apologise, but Evelyn should too, for not waiting. She found herself wondering if Evelyn and her husband (she never talked about him) ever got a little carried away. Somehow she couldn't imagine it. 'Jean behave yourself,' she told herself. Hey ho! It was going to be an interesting session.
Washed and dressed, the clothes picked up off the floor, Bobby and Jean went into the kitchen. Evelyn was drinking tea at the table, although Jean suspected a sherry would have been a better idea! Jean smiled as she settled Bobby on his chair and proceeded to make their breakfast.
'Are all the beds stripped, Jean?' Evelyn asked.
'I just need to see if Charlie had time to do his before they went out this morning, but ours and Bobby's are.'
'I'll start to load the washer then, shall I?' Evelyn got up and took her cup to the sink.
'Thank you, Evelyn.' She put Bobby's egg in front of him and he started to eat while she made his toast and poured a drink for him. Although she hadn't suffered from morning sickness she found it easier to have just a piece of toast herself first thing, then something a little later. When Lucien had worried about her not eating properly he'd been given a withering look, so he'd not said anything again, thinking Jean knew what she was doing. In fact he knew quite well that Jean knew exactly what to eat, everything, but in moderation!
Telling Bobby to eat up, Jean went up to Charlie's room where she found his bed linen piled up outside his room as usual. She took it down to Evelyn and the day started. It was obvious Mrs Toohey wasn't going to mention the bedroom so Jean decided it was best to pretend it hadn't happened.
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Out on the highway Lucien, Bill and Frank were scouring the area to find where the two young lads had got hold of such powerful moonshine. There were no buildings of any kind to hide it in and no mine shafts; much to the Doctor's relief; so they were still no wiser as to what had happened and where. They decided they would have to wait until they could get the boys to talk and headed back into town.
They were about halfway back to Ballarat when Lucien spotted an abandoned Ute. It looked to have spun off the road at some point. Bill pulled the car over and he and Frank went to look it over. While they were looking in the cab for signs of a driver Lucien went to the rear of the vehicle and lifted a tarpaulin to find several demijohns of liquid. Taking the stopper out of one he sniffed it, wow! That was powerful stuff, he certainly wasn't going to taste that! Calling the others over he showed them what he had found. Frank said it looked like the owners had done a runner so they would have to get the Ute back to town themselves. Bill tried the ignition, it still ran, and drove it out onto the road. It looked like he would be able to drive it back if he took it carefully so Frank and Lucien drove the police car back with Bill following.
Back at the station Charlie was sent to see if the boys had come round yet and to take their fingerprints. Bill and Ned dusted the Ute for prints and they were able to eliminate the boys as drivers. Charlie said the boys were awake but had monumental hangovers and were feeling extremely sorry for themselves. Lucien went to check on them while Charlie contacted their families to say the boys were safe.
In the hospital Lucien could get no information out of the boys, they resolutely kept their mouths shut. Lucien gave them a lecture about the evils of drink, particularly very strong spirits! Charlie thought that was a bit rich given his history with whisky but then thought, who better to educate them! When their parents arrived they were shocked to hear what had been going on. They admitted their boys had been hanging round with some blow-ins and they had been trying very hard to keep an eye on them, but what can you do with teenagers? Charlie took down all the details they could give them and went back to find the Superintendant to tell him the news. Frank and he did a tour of the pubs to see if anyone had been offering cheap whisky. In the Pig and Whistle they discovered a couple of likely lads giving the landlords the chat about their wares. Seeing two uniformed police officers they tried to leg it out through the back but Charlie was quicker. They were taken back to the police station and locked up on a charge of supplying illegal spirits. They were then treated to the sight of Bill, Ned, Charlie and Frank pouring most of the liquid down the drain. Charlie had taken a photograph for evidence and they were keeping one jug for the same reason.
At the hospital Lucien told the parents they could take the boys home in a couple of days but that they may well be charged, that was up to the Superintendant.
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Back at home Charlie and Lucien were greeted by Bobby flinging his arms round papa's legs. A delicious smell emanated from the kitchen,
'Dinner in half an hour!' sang out Jean, she sounded happy thought Lucien, must have had a good day with Evelyn.
She smiled as Lucien came into the kitchen carrying Bobby, he went over and kissed her.
'Good day?' he asked.
'Tell you later, you?' she had a look in her eye that said it was for his ears only.
'Yes, all sorted, two teenagers who will think twice about drinking strong drink again.' He took the paper off the table and went into the lounge, pouring himself a small whisky he smiled at the thought of those two lads downing, what he described as, rocket fuel.
Later, snuggled up in bed, Jean told him about Evelyn coming into the bedroom that morning. She still found it funny, although as she said to Lucien,
'I should be more embarrassed but...' and she giggled.
Lucien roared with laughter, although he was used to Evelyn being in the house he still found her a little po-faced and lacking in humour.
'She'll have learned to knock and wait in future I expect.'
'I hope so!' and Jean cuddled up to him. She was still smiling when she fell asleep.
