Warning: this is a particularly brutal murder.

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It had been a dreadful case. Murder, attempted murder, assault … Vivi was exhausted but finally, with all the evidence collected by the Police Surgeon, the Ballarat police, intense questioning in court, tears and recriminations Saul Rivers had been convicted and would be sentenced to hang.

"Hanging's too bloody good for him," she muttered to Lucien as they walked out to the cars.

"Yeah, five minutes in the general population would be quicker, more painful, but we got him and he won't see the light of day, again." He nodded, "you comin' for dinner?"

"Just got to go and give Bill the good news," she sighed, "it should help his recovery."

"He's bloody lucky," Lucien stopped and looked at her, "he'll be okay and be back at work eventually."

She bit her lip. "So you keep telling me."

"Vivi, is there something we should know, about you and Bill?"

"He's been a good friend, Lucien, never asking anything of me, was quite prepared to pay for Evie's case, and is never anything else but a gentleman."

"Bill Hobart, a gentleman?" he raised his eyebrows.

"He's a lot different away from work, loves gardening …"

"… it shows, yours looks lovely, but he won't be mowing and digging for a while," he warned.

"That's ok, you can come and mow the grass until he's fit enough." She gave a half laugh.

"Happy to." He opened her car door for her, "drive carefully and we'll see you five thirty?"

"Alright, thanks."

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Bill had never been much of a reader, but stuck in a hospital bed it was about all he could do. Vivi had lent him some books, a variety of titles to keep him busy, and took the paper into him each day, telling him to try the crossword to keep his mind working. At first he had been too angry to concentrate much but gradually, as she kept him apprised of progress on the case, and she came in with gifts of fruit and cordial from Jean, he calmed down and let them get on with it. If he got hold of Saul Rivers there would be nothing left of him. What he had done was heinous.

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It had all started when Rivers arrived home one night to find his dinner wasn't quite ready. Always handy with his fists and a tendency to call into the pub on the way home, he went for his wife. Nobody would ever know why he went as far as he did but the results were stomach churning.

He took up the first thing that came to hand, usually it was a kitchen implement that bruised or broke a limb, such as a rolling pin or a pan, this time, because Mrs Rivers had been jointing a chicken, it was a heavy meat knife; he grabbed it, slashed through the air and sliced her head clean off. The children, a girl of around two and a baby boy, screamed loud enough to alert the neighbours who ran round just as he was throttling the elder child. All were covered in blood.

"Call the police!" one shouted, "and an ambo!"

Without thought for her own safety the neighbour ran towards Saul and the child only to be thrown against the wall and the child thrown after her. The husband launched himself at Saul and they began fighting; Saul trying to reach for the knife and the husband pounding furiously at any part of him he could. Saul's blind fury won out and he stabbed the neighbour in the side, ramming the blade in to the hilt.

The police arrived and charged in, all they knew was Rivers had gone off his head and two kiddies were in danger. Bill Hobart was first in, boiling with fury at the sight of Mrs Rivers' headless body in a lake of her own blood, the neighbour, dazed and holding the child who was gasping for breath, choking sobs her only sound. The baby was in a corner in a bassinet wailing and screaming, splattered with his mother's blood and the neighbours husband taking his last breath. Rivers stood up, still holding the knife and charged at Bill. Bill swerved and the knife caught him a glancing blow on his arm, cutting but not dangerously so; Bill went to grab Rivers' arm and take the knife but Rivers smashed his forearm into Bill's jaw, breaking it and loosening a few teeth. Despite the excruciating pain, Bill lowered his head and rammed it into his midriff, driving him back against the table. The table went over but still Rivers would not give in and pounded Bill anywhere he could, his ribs, his head, his hips; he kicked his shins, his knees – dislocating one – until three other officers managed to grab limbs and an ambo thoughtfully jabbed a heavy dose of sedative into the nearest part of Rivers – his backside.

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Under the heavy sedation, Rivers was cleaned up and examined for any injuries, patched up and handcuffed to the bed – by his hands and feet. Nurses would be guarded by the burliest of Matthew's officers whenever they attended him.

Lucien turned his attention to Bill, and decided he would try to put him back together. He knew he was a friend of Vivi's as well as one of Matthew's best officers and treated him with the utmost care, setting his jaw and realigning his knee. His ribs were strapped and all cuts were stitched and dressed as necessary. He was given a room all to himself, with a radio and open-ended visiting hours, even the nursing staff regarded him a s something of a hero; they had dressed Mrs Rivers' cuts and bruises over the years.

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Vivi had only heard because Lucien was late for dinner that night, bringing with him the two Rivers' children. Baby Rivers refused the bottle feed the nurses offered him, he screamed the place down, in the words of the Maternity Sister, and she didn't know what to do with him, even with all her years of experience.

"Would you like me to take him with me?" Lucien watched her try to pacify the infant. "My wife is breastfeeding Jennifer, I'm sure she can handle an extra mouth."

Sister looked at him with a raised eyebrow and some sympathy for Mrs Blake.

"She says she could feed the street," he smiled, "and this little chap might respond better to that. I'll take his sister too, she won't want to be parted."

"Oh, well, perhaps it would work, shall I give you some extra nappies and gowns?"

"That would be most helpful," he smiled, "don't suppose you know how old he is, or what his name is?"

"I remember him being born," she smiled, handing him over, "Mr Rivers was delighted to have a son, most men seem to be," she frowned at this thought, "if you hang on a minute, I should be able to find his notes and give you his name, he's about six weeks, if I recall correctly."

While he stood trying to pacify Master Rivers a small hand tugged his jacket.

"This is Millicent Rivers," the nurse standing just behind him indicated the small child, "she likes to be called Millie."

Lucien bent down and touched her shoulder with his free hand, "Hello, Millie," his voice was soft and kind, "I was just wondering if your baby brother would do well with my wife. She has a baby girl and might be able to feed him, you can come too, if you like."

Millie nodded, he seemed kind and he hadn't hit her, which was her father's usual greeting.

"Millie has some bruises, doctor, round her neck and to her legs and back," the nurse sighed.

"Who?" Lucien frowned.

"Daddy," she whispered.

"He won't do it again, sweetie, he won't hurt anyone again."

"Where will they go, doctor, I mean …" the nurse cleared her throat.

"For now, with me. Their health is the prior concern and after what Millie has witnessed …"

"Of course."

"Here you are, Dr Blake," sister had returned, "Nurse Ivers, will you carry these to the car for the doctor, perhaps you could carry Baby Jacob for him, up to the house."

"I'll have you brought back, afterwards, Nurse," Lucien smiled, "but I would be grateful for your help."

"Nurse, you can end your shift with this task," Sister smiled.

"Thank you, Sister."

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"What a lovely house," Nurse Ivers looked at the pretty hanging basket and the tidy gardens, "don't you think so, Millie?"

Millie had her thumb in her mouth and was obviously tired, but she nodded. "You are going to stay here, with Dr Blake and Mrs Blake, for a while. They will look after you."

"Nurse, you will join us for dinner," Lucien didn't quite make it an order, but she knew she should.

"That's kind of you, Dr Blake, perhaps I can help Mrs Blake with the children."

"There's young Peter, as well," he lifted Millie into his arms, "he's about Millie's age, two and a half. Someone for you to play with, Millie."

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"Lucien, where …?" Genevieve was just about to ask him why he was late for dinner, he usually rang, Vivi and Li were close behind her.

"Long story, maman," he heaved a sad sigh, "this is Millie, her brother Jacob and Nurse Ivers."

"Come, come," Genevieve didn't ask questions, that was for later, "you must all be hungry. Jean …" she called through. "More mouths to feed."

"Genevieve?" Jean looked round from the kitchen, "oh," she blinked, "come down to the kitchen, dinners ready."

"Jean," Lucien bent and kissed her cheek, "d'ye think you might have something for Jacob, only he refuses a bottle and … well I'll tell you later."

"I fed Jennifer about an hour ago, I should be able to," she held out her arms, "Genevieve would you …?" she waved to the table "while I see to this little man."

"Bien sûr."

Millie watched anxiously as Jean walked off with her brother.

"Go on, child," Genevieve bent down at ushered her forward, "you go with your brother, if you want."

Millie looked up at this lady with the soft violet eyes and gentle accent and trotted after Jean.

"Papa?" Li tipped her head, "what's going on?"

"Ah, Li, we have some little lodgers for a while." He smiled, "perhaps you could make up the bed in the room next to you, for Millie, we shall have to sort something out for Jacob in our room, with Jennifer."

"The laundry basket, for now," Genevieve hummed, "if the cot is put up tomorrow they could share for a while, until …"

"Splendid, maman."

"What happened, Lucien?" Vivi waited until they were all seated at the table in the kitchen.

He told her all that he knew, about Saul, about Mrs Rivers and the children, about the brave neighbours who would be alright, and the one who wouldn't, and Bill.

"He's charged in with no regard for himself," he sighed, "he'll be out of action for a while, but he'll be back on duty in due course."

Vivi put her hand to her mouth and went to stand by the sink, Lucien frowned then followed her.

"Vivi?"

He's a good friend, Lucien, that's all. It's so shocking, that a man could be in such a rage for what?"

"I don't think we'll ever know, unless he tells us."

"Is Bill allowed visitors?"

"Oh yes," he smiled, "unlimited hours. Why don't you take some cordial down for him, maybe some soup when Jean gets round to making some, he's on a soft diet for a while."

"Right," she hummed, "I may just do that. So, Rivers? Clear cut case?"

"Should be but the children and the neighbour might need representation. I don't think he's well off, and we'll have to look into other family members or off up to the orphanage they will have to go."

"I'll represent the children," she straightened her shoulders, "see they get some comfort, a good home and the neighbour should get compensation though who'll pay it, I don't know."

"She's lost her husband, he tried to help Millie, apparently, so did she."

"Right, let me know, then."

"Yeah, we'll have dinner then I'll run Nurse Ivers back."

"I'll do that, maybe pop in and see Bill."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Let him know not to worry about the garden."

"Ah."

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Alice sat at their kitchen table, head in hands and a whisky in front of her. She'd had to do the autopsies on Mrs Rivers and the neighbour. What kind of man existed that could slice of his wife's head with a kitchen knife. Cause of death was easy to determine, there was no way Mrs Rivers could have been saved, and the neighbour – the knife had gone through the lungs and into the heart - he didn't stand a chance. She knew Lucien was repairing the breaks and dislocations on Sergeant Hobart so she was alone with the bodies, not that that bothered her, it would have been nice, though, to have him by her side, this time. They propped each other up in such cases.

Matthew stormed in, glaring. She pushed the glass towards him. He swallowed it before greeting her.

"How's Hobart?" she murmured.

"He'll be okay, in time," Matthew reached over for her hands, "Blake's repaired him, put him back together."

"A brave man."

"Some may say stupid, but it was kids, you know what a softie Hobart is, underneath that granite exterior."

"What will happen to the children?"

"I believe they are with the Blakes, the baby wouldn't take a bottle so Lucien offered Jean's services as a wet nurse …"

"Charming," she hummed.

"Yeah, well, you know those two, he knew Jean would give it a shot."

"I haven't sorted dinner."

"Fish and chips?"

"Alright."

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Saul Rivers maintained it was his wife's fault. His dinner wasn't where it should be after a hard day's work, the children were whining and she didn't see to them, she deserved a beating.

Nobody could understand how he could have pleaded not guilty to two murders and a case of assaulting a police officer and his daughter. He accused the officer, Sergeant William Hobart, of trespassing on his property. Then he insisted the children weren't his and he didn't know where they came from.

"Of course the children are his, poor buggers," a friend of his wife huffed when interviewed, "he was cock-a-hoop when the little lad was born. Frankly, I think they're well rid of him."

Lucien had to agreed, though he kept that thought to himself.

A search was done to find other family members that could offer the children a home, but to no avail. Mrs Rivers' parents had left Ballarat after her wedding, not happy with her choice of husband and having been insulted by him and seemed to have disappeared off the planet. His parents were dead – apparently a suspicious death that had never been solved. Matthew thought he'd look into that. Both were only children so there were no aunts or uncles to speak to.

"They can stay with us, for now," Jean smiled. Jacob had begun to settle and Jennifer didn't seem to mind sharing. Peter was happy with his new, quiet playmate who rarely said a thing, except to occasionally ask for 'mummy'. It hadn't been easy telling her that her mummy was gone. Jean told her she was a star looking down on her every night, and that she loved her, would always love her, but Millie was only two she didn't really understand. Li still adored Peter, and loved Jennifer and she found room in her heart to love Millie and Jacob.

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Vivi continued to visit Bill, in between preparing a case for the children to be awarded compensation to be held in trust until they each turned twenty-five. She thought originally, twenty-one, but had been persuaded that at the older age they would be better able to decide what to do, and maybe hold off suitors looking to catch a wealthy partner.

"He hasn't got any money," Bill grunted through the frame holding his jaw together.

"More than we thought and what he does have will go into a high interest earning account," Vivi looked up from her file. "He doesn't have lawyer's fees to pay because nobody will represent him, and the one court appointed lawyer was told to 'sling his hook'. We've discovered he wasn't giving his wife much for housekeeping, drinking some of it but he appeared to have savings which he was hanging on to for some reason. A reason he won't divulge, but it doesn't matter, he's not going to get the use of it."

"What's going to happen to the kiddies, if no family will have them?" he frowned.

"Orphanage," she sighed.

"Not the Blakes?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," he shifted up the bed, grimacing as a bold of pain shot up his leg.

"You alright?" she stood up to go and call a nurse.

"Fine, sit down," he grumbled, "the Blakes. Jean's feeding the baby, as well as hers, the lass is the same age as young Peter …"

"I don't know if they've thought of it, but four children, Bill, and the ages? It would be like raising two sets of twins." She laughed, "they are good parents, though and Li's good with them."

"She's a great kid, Miss Li," he nodded, "he did well with her before they got home?"

"He did."

They talked for a little longer, as they did when Vivi visited, about May and Evie visiting and how Evie was getting on preparing for university.

"She's working really hard," he tried to smile, Vivi patted his hand.

"Good, I thought she would." She got up to leave, "I'll pop in tomorrow, get a good night's sleep."

He waved good bye and settled down to finish reading the book she had passed to him, one he'd asked for.

"Treasure Island," she'd raised her eyebrows.

"Missed it when it came to the pictures," he blushed.

Vivi made no comment about him watching films, just found Lucien's old copy from his childhood and passed it to him.

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Saul Rivers' parents had been buried in a pauper's grave about five years before Millie was born. He just shrugged and said they died.

"People do," he grunted.

"We know that," Matthew scowled, "we want to know how?"

"Dunno, what're you askin' me for?"

"Because you are their only living relative and we thought you might know; because I have a file that says case still open. In other words it seemed suspicious to the officers that were called out."

He shrugged again and bit his nails.

"I think, Inspector," Blake leant back in his chair and folded his arms, "that Saul, here, killed them. Some kind of poison because according to the autopsy in the Bendigo morgue there were no other signs of injury. They were found together in the living room, at first it was thought they died in their sleep, on the couch in front of the fire, but they had no medical issues and with no gas to the house that couldn't be a cause of death. So, it was put down to some kind of poison."

"Why would he kill them?"

"Money? Perhaps he was after some spare cash," Lucien rocked on his chair, "they refused …" he let the idea hang in the air, hoping that Rivers would incriminate himself.

"Says here," Matthew tapped the file, "that Mr and Mrs Rivers, senior, ran a newsagents, a good one. When they died and he had them buried he sold off the business and took the money."

"That might be the money found in that savings account, the money Miss Blake intends to be given to the children and held in trust for them." Blake turned to his friend.

"Yeah, he's spent some though, there isn't as much there as he got for it."

"That's my money!"

"What're you going to do with it, you're goin' down, mate." Matthew slapped the file on the table and stood up. "Anyway, back to your 'room', trial starts in two days."

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The trial went on for a week. A long week, Vivi would comment later, in fact she wondered why they took a week, five minutes would have been enough, in her mind, to convict Saul Rivers of murder and assault. Bill said he'd be happy to be taken down to the court to give evidence – Vivi said a picture would be enough, if they needed it. He supposed he was relieved, he was a proud man, proud of being a police officer and he didn't like that a bad-tempered little toe rag (his words) got the better of him.

"Adrenalin, Bill," Lucien told him, "he was fighting for his life …"

"So was I," Bill grunted.

Blake patted his shoulder.

"What's going to happen to the kiddies? Miss Vivi says the lass asks for her mother occasionally."

"They'll stay with us, for now," Lucien smiled, "Vivi put the case to Welfare that Millie is a trauma case and I'm the one to understand that, the past y'know. Moving her around won't help and there is no guarantee there will be a foster family able to take the both of them, that and Jacob, the baby, won't take a bottle."

"Your wife's a marvel, Blake, I hope you tell her so." Bill blushed.

"I'm a lucky man, Bill, a second go at a family with her and Peter and Jennifer, Li settled. Funny, I never imagined coming back to Ballarat."

"Strange, the way life goes, eh?"

"Very," he wondered if he should ask Bill what his intentions towards his sister were, but reasoned Bill's fists were undamaged so he'd keep quiet. "Right, how's the pain level?" he went back to being a doctor.

"Bearable, unless I move suddenly; thanks, for what you did for me."

Blake nodded.

"And thanks for arranging the open ended visiting, its' a bit boring otherwise."

"It's going to be a while, I'm afraid, the jaw; the knee was just dislocated and will heal soon, but you'll need crutches then a stick, for a while. You can use it to poke the other little toe rags, as you call then, prod the junior constables to get your tea …"

Bill grunted but tried to smile.

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Vivi needed to arrange the transfer of Saul's money into a trust fund for his children, but this wasn't her area of law. It would be easier if Saul would just agree to the transfer, but he insisted it was his money and the 'little bastards could whistle for it'.

"You've been sentenced to hang," she sat opposite him in the prison, "you have no use for that money. Why not give it to your children? I'm sure it's what your parents would have wanted."

"To hell with them," he snarled, "they wouldn't give it to me."

She sighed.

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"Right," Bill huffed, "get me over to him. Those kiddies are having that money, whether he likes it or not."

"Bill," Vivi ran her hands through her hair, "I don't know."

"Look, I don't know if it will do any good, but I'm stuck here in this bloody – sorry – hospital feeling useless. I want to do something, even if it's only to scare the shit out of him – sorry, about the language." He frowned.

She waved his apology away, her mother used to wince at her language on occasion. "I'll speak to my brother."

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"It won't do him any harm," Lucien shrugged, "it might even do him some good. Of course he'll have to go by ambo …"

"Oh, I don't know how he'll feel about that," Vivi swirled her drink around.

"He can't go in your car, not enough leg room …"

"What about a police car, then Matthew could drive him and they could go in together?"

"That might work," he nodded, "I'll ask him."

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"Er," Matthew scratched his head, "well, I suppose so. I'll have to ring the jail, though, get their ok."

"The bank are reluctant to release the funds to Vivi for the children, as in won't do it without his permission."

"The man's a convicted murderer waiting for the noose, what are they going to do with it once he's dead?" Matthew snapped, "dear god, what does it take?"

"Leave it mouldering in a box in the bank, I guess," Blake sighed. "No idea what they do with unclaimed cash."

"I won't dwell on that, I'll go down a rabbit hole with no exit."

"Yeah, so, if the jail give their ok are you willing to drive Bill, you might have Vivi as a passenger."

"What is it with those two? Is he soft on her, or is she sweet on him?"

"She says they are just good friends, and I'll admit Bill has been kind to her; I'm rubbish at gardening other than mowing the lawn and all the other gardeners seemed to want to look her over – this reclusive lawyer with the burns. He does the garden, she buys him the beer he likes and sometimes shares whatever Jean has sent up." Lucien smiled at the idea of his sister and Bill Hobart as a couple. "Oh, he did take her out to dinner, after she sorted out his niece."

"Wonders will never cease, I thought he was a confirmed bachelor."

Lucien just shrugged. He'd had similar conversations with Jean, who told him to leave his sister alone, she was a grown woman; and his mother who worried about her because there was the occasional rumour.

Lucien was under no illusion that Vivi's bed had always been empty but she hadn't brought her name, or the family's, into disrepute, or her profession, so he kept his council on that.

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Bill had practiced getting about using crutches in his room and along the hospital corridor; he wasn't ready for a stick, just yet, so he had no choice if he was to go and persuade Rivers to part with his ill-gotten gains. Matthew had arranged the time of the meeting and was to use one of the bigger cars to ensure leg room, and Vivi was to accompany them with the relevant paperwork to be signed.

"I reckon if you go in first, Vivi," he hummed, "try to persuade him yourself then if he still refuses me and Bill'll come in and encourage him."

"Sounds like a good plan," she agreed, "then I can present the papers to the bank and arranged the trust fund."

"I hope they're still adding on the interest," Bill grunted.

"Hm," Vivi frowned, "I'm not sure, they should be, but that bank manager is a bit of a little Hitler. I don't think he actually defrauds his customers but he isn't easy to deal with. Do you know he refused to let Jean draw money on the surgery one day, because he said her signature was slightly different, even though she wrote the cheque and signed it in front of him?"

"Surely he knows Jean," Matthew huffed.

"Doesn't everybody? Anyway she stood her ground and mentioned something about taking her business elsewhere. He soon gave in."

"I don't think anyone's signature is absolutely identical each time," Matthew shrugged, "mine isn't."

"Or mine, and remember I sign court papers."

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"What do you want?" Rivers growled as he was pushed down into a chair opposite Miss Blake.

"Your signature on these papers, giving your money over to your children. It's going into a trust fund until they reach twenty five," she pushed the papers across the table.

"No, they an't getting' it," he pushed back from the table with his feet.

"They deserve it, and they are your children," she nodded to the guard who pushed him back to the table.

"It's mine."

"You don't have use for it, even if your sentence is commuted to life, which it won't be, you will never need that money, they will."

"Don't care."

Vivi nodded to the guard again and he opened the door to let in Bill and Matthew.

"I believe you know Sergeant Hobart and Inspector Lawson," she hummed pleasantly.

Bill swung forward on his crutches and loomed over Rivers.

"Sign it," he poked him in the shoulder with a crutch.

Rivers looked up and tried to glare at him. "You trespassed on my property," he gulped.

"No, I came in in response to an emergency, you were throttling your girl and had sliced her mum's head off. I did my duty, now you do yours," Bill glared back, more successfully.

The guard stood examining his finger nails and staring at the ceiling.

"My money."

"Sign the papers you murdering little toe rag. Do one decent thing in your life," he leaned close, "give him the pen, Miss Blake."

Vivi passed over a pen and turned a page to show him where to sign.

"Sign," Bill hissed menacingly.

"… and here," Vivi turned another page. "Thank you, Mr Rivers, a pleasure doing business with you." She took the file, added her signature as witness and stowed it in her briefcase. She did not smile.

"There now," Bill stood up, "that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Thieving bastards," Rivers grunted.

"Language, Rivers," the guard stepped forward to lead him back to his cell, "there's a lady present." He started to push him forward, "Miss, Officers," he nodded.

"Thank you," Matthew let Bill lead them out, ignoring the jab to the middle of the back Bill gave Rivers.

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They sat in a café having a well-earned cuppa and some sandwiches, or in Bill's case, soup.

"What now, Vivi?" Matthew poured another cup of tea.

"I take these to the bank and arrange the trust fund. I've got an advisor to come with me for that, someone who's done this sort of thing before and knows the best way to invest the money. Thank you, boys," she grinned, "you were quite gentle, Bill."

"Oh," he coughed, "I thought I'd start out that way … I don't know what he thought I'd do, though."

"You could do some damage with those crutches," Matthew hummed, "yet all it took was a poke in the shoulder."

"Coward."

"Yes, well," Vivi sighed, "he wasn't fired up on beer and anger. My guess is he always was a coward."

"The nurses did say Mrs Rivers needed patching up from time to time."

Matthew sighed, he couldn't imagine hurting Alice, or any woman, and he knew Lucien wouldn't hurt Jean. He wondered if Bill … nah, Bill wouldn't hurt Vivi, he saved his fists for men like Rivers.

"All over a late dinner, crazy," Bill shook his head.

Matthew said nothing, Alice and he were busy people and quite often they cooked together, one didn't wait for the other.

"Right," he called for the bill, "let's get back home, I believe we are all eating at Blake's tonight. I think they want to hear how we got on."

Bill sighed, it had been ages since he had a proper meal.

"You too, Bill, and I bet it won't be soup, either." Matthew slapped him on the shoulder, "chin up, mate, Jean's a good cook."

"I remember," he hummed.

"I'll run you back to the hospital afterwards," Vivi smiled, "if I can get the seat back far enough."

Bill brightened at this, he rather liked her little MG, she'd even let him drive it a couple of times. "I'll manage," he smiled.

"Of course you will," she smiled back.

Matthew wondered again.

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"You're back!" Lucien grinned as he opened the door, "how did it go?"

"Patience, dear brother," Vivi smiled, "patience."

Lucien could tell by the looks on their faces that it had gone well so he didn't push them. "Bill?"

"Good, thanks, doc," Bill swung through, "still in the pieces I was this morning."

"That jaw's coming along nicely, we'll take an x-ray tomorrow."

Bill nodded, moving his jaw had become easier as time went on, tender still, but easier.

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Jean had made a shepherd's pie for dinner, something everybody could enjoy and Bill would have no trouble eating, even Millie and Peter could join in. Millie had come up to Bill as he swung down the hall and touched his hand. "Nice man," she muttered and gave him a small smile.

"Hey, kid," he mumbled, seemed she remembered him from that dreadful night. He hoped that was all she remembered.

"She has nightmares," Li sidled up to him, "not bad nightmares, but she cries at night, for her mum."

"And you know what it's like," he squeezed her arm.

"Yeah, I still dream of mama, but they are good dreams, now."

"Your dad's a good man, Miss Li, and Jean."

"I call her mum, now."

"I expect she likes that."

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Jean and Lucien had pulled out the table in the dining room and added the extension leaf. It left little room around the table but nobody seemed to mind. She seated Bill where he had room to stretch out his damaged leg without anyone tripping over it.

"Peter and Millie, to the table please," she called through, "dinner's ready."

Vivi watched Peter take Millie's hand and help her climb onto a chair then he settled himself next to her. She wondered about Bill's suggestion that they be placed, if not adopted, into the Blake family. Of course, it would be up to Jean and Lucien and as she had reminded him it would be like bringing up twins, two sets of twins.

Alice was the last to arrive, having finished her duties in the hospital labs – no autopsies today so she was in good time for the meal.

"Just in time, doctor," Genevieve looked up from tying a napkin loosely round Millie's neck. "You must be hungry."

"I always am, now," Alice laughed, "comes of feeding two, I suppose."

Bill looked round, and yes, Dr Lawson was a little thicker round the middle than he remembered, not that he took much notice, she was the boss's wife after all.

Matthew went to greet her with a kiss, and lightly touched her stomach.

"They didn't want to advertise it," Vivi whispered, "she lost one last year."

"Ah," he nodded at Alice, "thinks there's room for you here, doc," he pulled out the seat between himself and where Matthew would sit.

"Thanks, Bill, how are you?"

"Not doin' too bad, all things considered." He smiled, "nice to be out of hospital."

"Lucien says you could go home, if you didn't have stairs."

"Well, I've lived there for a long time," he hummed, "it was mum's house so it seemed daft to move, as I work in Ballarat."

"I agree."

"So …" he cleared his throat.

"Yes, sorry, Bill, we kept it very quiet."

"That's ok, but, congratulations."

"Thanks," she took her plate off Jean, "oh lovely," she grinned, "it's ages since I had shepherd's pie."

"Well, I think it's just the weather for it, cool, and it's easy to make in vast quantities." Everyone laughed at this, Jean was always able to feed the masses.

"How are the babies, Jean?" Bill took a smaller mouthful than he used to, it was delicious.

"They are doing very well, Bill, thank you. Jennifer is just a little ahead of Jacob but we are happy with their progress."

"I see Miss Millie likes her food."

"She's become a good eater," Jean agreed, "she wasn't so sure in the beginning, you know …"

"I think I understand," he nodded.

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"Say your goodnights, children," Jean chivvied Peter and Millie towards the stairs.

They did as they were bid then Millie went up to Bill and touched his damaged knee, "thank you, nice man," she whispered.

"Er," he cleared his throat, "okay, Miss, you sleep well, eh?"

She nodded and trotted back to Jean.

Everybody turned and looked at him, he turned bright red.

"You might be what she needs, Bill," Lucien went over to him, "if she recognises you from that night you might be the happy memory from then. She needs that, so, if you ever feel you can come over, please do, for her."

"Well, doc, I'm not one for kiddies, really. The only one I've had dealings with has been our Evie …"

"You don't need to do anything," Lucien squatted in front of him, "she calls you 'nice man', that's all you have to be – nice."

"It'll ruin my reputation," he huffed.

"We won't tell, Sergeant," Genevieve laughed, "but I have always known, ever since M'sieur Clements invaded our home."

"You're a lady, ma'am," he nodded, "he weren't no gentleman."

Thomas laughed, he had been largely quiet for the evening, concentrating on the children and Genevieve.

"Now, Bill, Matthew, Vivi, how did it go at the prison? You all seemed relaxed when you arrived," he settled in his chair.

Lucien poured them all their preferred drinks and they sat to listen to what had happened that day at the jail. How Bill hadn't had to be as forceful as they thought, how Vivi had been firm and taken the lead at first.

"All Bill had to do was poke him with one of his crutches and glare at him and he was putty in our hands." Vivi smiled, "and now, Bill, time to go. I need to get you back to the hospital before they send out a search party."

"Are you sure about getting into that little car, Bill?" Matthew stood up, "I can always take you in the police car."

"Nah, boss, I'll be ok," Bill waved the idea away.

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They watched Vivi help Bill settle into the passenger seat of the MG and chuck the crutches in the back. She waved and roared off down the drive.

"Hm," Jean murmured, slipping her hand into Lucien's.

"I thought you said to leave her alone," he whispered.

"I did, and we will, but we must be there for her." She looked up into his blue eyes, "she has been a good friend to me, Lucien, never judging me, always there to lend a listening ear and I will do that for her, if I have to."

"So you think there might be something in it?" he closed the door.

"If there is it will be a slow burn. She still suffers from the burns, she has to trust whoever she lets into her life, and maybe Bill is the one she can trust."

"That's why he does her garden, you know," he slipped his arm round her shoulders, "the other gardeners were only interested in gawping at this reclusive lawyer, with the burns."

"She's not what I'd call a recluse, not really," Jean moved into his embrace, "just keeps herself to herself."

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"Ready to face the wrath of Sister?" Vivi pulled into the hospital car park.

"I said I might be late."

Vivi laughed, "she's not your mother."

"Try telling her that," he took the crutches. "In spite of the reason for me getting out of here, it's been a good day; I've enjoyed myself."

"Yes, a bit weird, but I agree. We must do it again, sometime."

"The jail visit?"

"Maybe we'll miss that bit out."

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"Night, Bill," Vivi turned from the door, "see you tomorrow."

"Night, Vivi," he smiled.

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Vivi tossed and turned. It was only because Bill had stairs to deal with at home that he was still in the hospital. Her brother had mentioned something about a convalescent home, but he didn't really think it was a good idea, he'd never get the open ended visiting hours he had now. The bungalow was quiet, it was always quiet, but tonight it seemed even quieter. She didn't usually feel lonely but tonight she did. She got up and wandered through the rooms: living room, dining room, kitchen and study. Two bedrooms and a bathroom. It would cause gossip, gossip her parents would have to put up with, and Jean and Lucien, Jean had had it bad when Lucien had come home and they weren't even courting, Vivi would be on the receiving end this time … bugger!