Chapter
02 – Meeting Inspector Thatcher
Benton
woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and happily he
stretched and with his usual efficiency jump out of bed. "Good
morning" he said and walked the few steps over to kiss his wife
like he had for the last five months, well they had only been married
for one, but had lived together in Stine's apartment when work hadn't
forced Benton to stay at the Consulate almost since they met. "Good
morning Ben" Stine said and smiled at him. She couldn't believe
how fast it all had gone since she had first laid eyes on him when he
in his red formal uniform had stood two steps behind the Canadian
Consult in Copenhagen, his back straight as a pole and hands on his
back. She had been working with the Danish government, she still did
as she had gotten a position on the Danish Consulate in Chicago. “I
think we'll probably have to shop a bit this morning” Stine said.
“I guess so” he agreed “There's nothing in the fridge is
there?” he asked and got a look from Stine “Or in the cupboards,
I know you've lived on your own, but some more plates and glasses
wouldn't go amiss” Benton pulled her close and kissed her. At least
he had gotten some curtains at the windows when Francesca stayed in
his apartment for a few days when the family was threatened due to a
case he and Ray worked on, but he thought maybe it was time to look
for a nicer place, there wasn't even a proper bathroom in the
apartment. He pulled away from Stine and sat down at the table “Maybe
we should look for another place to live as well” he suggested as
she sat down in his lap “Maybe, but this will do fine to start
with” it was the simple things that made this man she loved so
much. “So, I don't have to report to the Consulate until Wednesday,
what shall we do today?” she asked “Well” Benton started “I
need to check in with work and then I thought if you liked to that
we'd go by the 27th precinct and I'd introduce you to my
friends there” Stine smiled at him “May I join you at the
Consulate too, I'd like to meet your boss and colleagues too”
Benton nodded his approval “And I think it's good to bond with
another Consulate now when I'm going to work at one too” she added.
As
usual Benton dressed in his red uniform, but with the less formal
attribute and Stine had to admire him just as she always did, he
looked smashing in red. She dressed in a simple pant-suit and was
ready to leave. Out on the street Benton put his hat on and then took
Stine's hand. On the other side of him Diefenbaker trotted nicely,
smelling around as he hadn't been back much in this neighborhood the
last six months. It took them almost 20 minutes which was four more
than it usually took Benton to walk to work, but he had gotten into a
bit slower pace when he was out walking with Stine, when he walked by
himself he still kept his efficient step. Benton was a bit nervous,
he didn't know how the Inspector would take the news about his
marriage. They had kissed a few times, but it never lead anywhere,
mostly because she was Benton's superior. They stood just beneath the
steps to the Canadian Consulate as constable Turnbull opened the door
to go stand on his post in front of the building. The guys greeted
each other by last names and Benton introduce Stine to the junior
constable. Since the post was to start at 9am sharp there were no
time for small talk and Benton was happy about it, Turnbull could be
a bit too much sometimes. “Fraser is that you?” he heard from the
inspector's office as he closed the door. “Yes Sir, it's me” she
came to the door “Oh, it's you” she said as she saw him “I
thought it would be your sister” Benton's sister Maggie Fraser had
been his stand in when he had been in Copenhagen “I'm here Sir”
Maggie came out of the little closet that was the senior officer's
office “I'm sorry” the inspector said “I didn't know you were
already in” she attempted a smile. “Bright and early, needed to
type last week's report” she said and with the same precision as he
brother handed the report to the inspector. “Thank you kindly”
the inspector said “Can I see you in the office” she turned to
Benton “And bring your wife” Benton stood still and actually had
a surprised expression on his face. As Benton closed the door behind
them he looked at the inspector “Sir?” he asked. “Didn't you
think I'd find out when your sister wanted the weekend off to go to
Copenhagen, she said for your birthday but we all know your birthday
isn't for yet another month” she extended her hand to Stine
“Welcome to the Canadian Consulate, I'm inspector Margret Thatcher”
“Stine Jensen...Fraser” Stine said as she shook the inspector's
hand, she still wasn't very used to her new last name. “So, Mrs
Fraser” “Please say Stine” “Stine, I heard you will work at
the Danish Consulate” “Yes I will” Stine confirmed “I'll
start on Wednesday” “I hope you will like 'the windy city'” the
inspector said “I'm sure I will, miss Thatcher” Stine said “I
think I'll go catch up a bit with Maggie” she added and left the
two Canadians to sort out whatever needed to be sorted out. Neither
Benton nor Margret knew what to say or who should start, Benton took
a step closer to the desk the inspector stood behind “So...” he
said “So...” the inspector parroted, no one of them really used
to talk about feelings and maybe that was the reason they never
gotten together. “Oh, this is ridiculous” she went on “we're
both adults and we never promised each other anything” “That's
true” Benton agreed. It took a few more minutes but then the ice
broke and they talked more freely and after 15 minutes or so Margret
asked Benton to go get Stine, as they again entered the office she
asked them to sit down. “What I know want to talk to you about is
that since I learnt about your marriage I've been thinking of
throwing you a party when you came back here. Would you two agree to
let us do that, I've already asked your sister” she looked at
Benton “She's been in contact with some caterers” Benton looked
at Stine “Why not, none of your friends just your sister attended
the wedding, all my family and friends were there so I think it's a
great idea” she then looked at the woman behind the desk “It's a
nice gesture, have you thought about a particular date?” “How
about the next Saturday?” Stine dug out a calender from her purse
“That will do just fine for me” she had already a working
schedule and no weekends were booked so far “That is if the
Consulate hasn't gotten any new appointments since I got my schedule”
“It would be much appreciated if you could look into that as quick
as possible and get back to me” “I will have an answer for you
this afternoon” Stine promised “Thank you kindly” Inspector
Thatcher said and stood up “Why don't you show Stine around the
Consulate” she suggested to Benton who too stood up, just as
straight backed as usual “I might just do that” he said “Thank
you kindly Sir for throwing us the party” “You're most welcome
constable” she lead them to the door and then went back to her
work.
Disclaimer/Copyright 2013 and forward: I don't own
anything from the series Due South, it's just borrowed for your
entertainment. This is my story though and I feel I own that.
No comments:
Post a Comment