Archive of Our Own ^beta

Melbourne, Australia;

After the war, Peggy Carter lived in Melbourne, Australia during the Roaring Twenties. After retiring from the army, she solved mysteries that came her way and live life with her friends and family. It was stark change from her days serving the country, but her skills were sharp.

Sometimes, she found herself in the middle of truly monumental mess. However, if she could lead an army, she could solve a case.

Bucky and Steve had some alone time. The couple sat in their house, not far from the police station. The early morning was busy with workman traveling into the city to either find a job or get to their job.

Bucky, a constable, had a rare day off. Steve, coming off a bad asthma episode, cuddled under his arm. Bucky just chuckled and kissed him softly.

"You look like an angel," he whispered. Steve just cuddled closer.

"Don't let the city go to your head," Steve teased.

Kora laughed, "I promise, Steve. Visit me sometime and I will take you and that man of yours around."

"Deal," the man laughed and helped her carry her bag to the waiting taxi.

While the friends were parting ways, their employer Cavlin Chadwick staggered in the bathroom, sweating. He tried to go about his usual routine, but the pain overtook him and he collapsed to the bathroom floor dead. His skin was hot and clammy despite his pulse slowing to a trickle.

Peggy's hotel penthouse suite, local hotel, Melbourne;

Peggy met Nikki at her hotel suite. The suite was home to a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The best friends exchanged hugs and sat down to catch up. Nikki poured some tea with sugar and cream and handed it over to Peggy.

"So you're home for the time being?" Nikki was saying.

"Yes, I need to find a house." Peggy responded. "I want to settle down some more, but I cannot do that in my current apartment."

"I have a friend that is a real estate agent. She will get you some guidance, and if it is up to snuff, you can hire her," Nikki suggested.

"That might be the route I have to take."

The radio on Bucky's hip went off and he picked it up.

"We need to get to the Chadwicks. Peggy will meet us there." he replied.

Melbourne general hospital;

Nikki and Peggy headed to the hospital where Nikki worked. They met with Claire Temple; a nurse. The RN was the head for that shift, so many other nurses reported to her every day. That also meant she was privy to every single case in the hospital that came through the ER department.

"We have a new patient," Claire reported. Then they headed to the room where Nikki treated Kora. "She was brought in via taxi. Both drivers report a mysterious man pushing her into the taxi and running off. They immediately drove to the hospital."

"What was the injury?"

"Wound to the abdomen, right over where her uterus would be," she remarked. "Her name is Kora but we could not get more of her name before she was wheeled to the OR."

"Thank you. Call us when she wakes up?" Peggy asked. Clare nodded.

"That's him!" Pietro and Riley said in union as they pointed to a picture of Grant's companion. Bucky looked at the picture as did Daniel when he stopped by Bucky's desk.

"Who is he?" Peggy asked.

"Leonard Stern. He used to be a doctor but he lost his license to practice." Daniel said. "He has a bad rep for back alley medical procedures and scripts, but no one on the board has caught him yet."

"You may get your break," Peggy replied. Daniel waved her into his office and closed the door.

Daniel's office;

Peggy talked with Daniel in his office. They talked a bit more without prying ears.

"We think he is doing abortions. However, he is not a specialist in OB-GYN services, so many of his victims ended up at the ER with severe bleeding or infection," Daniel explained.

"Why not bust him if he has so many victims?" Peggy asked.

"Then they admit to getting an abortion, which is a felony and can land them years in prison and ruin their lives," Daniel reasoned. "Most of these women already have children, friends, and family that rely on them. If they go away because of this butcher, what happens then?"

"Then we do old fashion detective work. We find the proof he is doing these things without putting a victim at risk," she reasoned. She gathered her bag and rushed out of the office. She was determined to get this bastard off the streets.

guest bedroom,

Inside, Whitney was hiding from everyone. She jumped when the door closed, and Peggy held up her hands.

"I mean no harm. Just have some questions."

Peggy talked with Whitney briefly. Whitney was still woozy. 

"He looked fine at firs, just breathing in and out. Then he went to the bathroom and just collapsed.  When I went to check on him, I saw his chest wasn't moving," she explained. "Placed my finger under his nose. No air was coming out." Peggy made a note of that. While she was investigating the reckless surgeon, she would need to also chase every lead in this case.

the parlor, Chadwick residence;

Maria introduced Peggy to Valentina before taking her leave to talk with the next guest. Peggy got to talking with Valentina. She was a beautiful woman and a light in the room. Everyone seemed to flock to her, but her eyes were firmly on Peggy for their talk.

"You're welcome to come and check out the baths." Valentina smiled. "It is wonderful and highly relaxing."

"I will have to do a raincheck," Peggy replied. "Far too busy to idle too long."

"Aww, well if you change your mind," Valentina smiled before being whisked away by more guests. Peggy used that as a way to get around the room and look around. The other guests were dancing on the floor until the music changed. Peggy, seeing Ralph, stepped in with him.

the parlor;

Peggy and Ralph performed a tango. It had been years since she did any ballroom dancing. Still, her body moved off of pure memory. The tango gave her an opportunity to watch the room. Some of the best leads were just from having a watchful eye.

"This is so we can eliminate you from our inquires." Daniel explained. Instead of getting a reply, Whitney collapsed. Bucky laid her on the ground on her side and looked at her airways. He looked at Daniel.

"It's swelling! Get an ambulance!"

"Could she have ingested some of the poison? They were eating breakfast." Peggy asked. "They finished right before people got here!"

"I don't know, but we need to shut the party down!" Daniel yelled as he called the emergency line.

"I brought you flowers," he said, offering her yellow tulips. She took them touching the petals and smiling softly. He waited for her to talk and joined in on the conversation. It helped soothe his worry, but soon enough, the visitor hours were over.

"Come back another time?" Kora asked. Riley smiled.

"Of course. Can I bring you anything?"

"A book, please. Come back soon."

She jotted down his name, if it was his name, and made a note to investigate him later.

the streets of Melbourne;

Peggy had decided to follow Ralph on foot. She brought her trusty pistol. She arrived at an alley and spied on Ralph from a discreet distance. Minutes later, Ralph ran by with Crossbones and Emil Blonsky in hot pursuit.

Peggy pressed herself against the wall to conceal herself. However, Emil spotted her right away. He crowded her and tried to stand right over her.

"Thank you for that." he said.

"I would like my money back," she simply replied. He deflated but still handed her back her money. She placed it in her breast pocket and looked to him again.

"Who were those two?" she asked.

Ralph answered, "Muscle for a local drug kingpin. The same kingpin that sold the drugs that killed my sister."

"You're hired. But you will have to deal with the phone and other technology. Times are changing." Peggy warned. "I will be out in the field for the most part."

"I can do that. I can handle the phone," Steve smiled.

"Good, go get some lunch. I will be at the hospital talking to Kora," she smiled. She handed him a key. "Here is my office key. Lock up when you leave."

"I got the job with Peggy. I will be in the office, just like I hoped."

Bucky nodded, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I got pregnant with a guy that ended up running off to marry someone else," Kora admitted. "I was distraught and knew I couldn't handle a child on my own."

"Who led you to the doctor?" Peggy asked.

the sitting room, Jennifer's place;

Peggy and Steve met with one of Peggy's friends, Jennifer, to set up a sting. After securing Jennifer's agreement, Peggy gave Jennifer instructions.

"I need to catch a recruiter. She is leading young vulnerable women to a back alley surgeon with no experience with reproduction," Peggy explained. "We need to smoke him out."

Valentina's office, a bathhouse;

Three hours later, Jennifer met with Valentina. She'd stuffed a small pillow case and shoved it under her shirt to mimic an early pregnancy. Valentina was dismayed.

"Oh no, you too?" she stated. Jennifer nodded, tears in her eyes and her nose running.

"My husband was killed working on a ship," Jennifer wept. "I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was planning his funeral. I can't do this alone."

"Don't worry. I have friends that can help you," Valentina reassured."

an alley across the street;

Pietro, Riley, Peggy, and Steve watched Valentina from across the street. They were in a van Pietro and Riley owned. Bucky accompanied them, waiting to catch the guy off guard. It was a deal with Daniel: Peggy could run the sting as long as Daniel is able to collect evidence to nail the doctor.

A few minutes later, Leonard arrived in his car. He spotted Jennifer wearing a red rose in her lapel. He and Grant got out and rushed over to Jennifer before bundling her into their car. Pietro started the van three seconds after the car left and followed it.

Leonard's clinic;

The group caught up to Leonard within ten minutes. But finding where his clinic was easier said than done. Riley caught up to Leonard and fought him. The van blocked the car, and Riley hopped out when Leonard got out.

******

While Riley and Leonard was duking it out, Pietro, Bucky, Steve, and Peggy rescued Jennifer. They managed to escape just as police cars arrived. Leonard was left with a bloody nose and his accomplice was taken into custody with him.

Case #1 was finished.

Peggy's hotel suite, a local hotel;

Peggy met with Steve. Peggy was on her way out, chasing a lead she pieced together the evening before. With her bag, handgun, and coat, she turned to Steve. 

"If I'm not back by 9, please call the police." she requested. Steve nodded and followed her to the door. He locked it behind her, a policy they developed after realizing just how risky their work could be. 

The man waved to her before she walked to catch a bus to the bathhouse.

"If I don't return in 30 minutes, go to the police station and tell them what happened." Peggy requested. Pietro nodded and helped Peggy sneak into the office area. Pietro stood outside to wait. Sadly, the patrolling duo of Emil Blonsky and Brock 'Crossbones' Rumlow spotted him. So Pietro was forced to run for it.

He zipped through the alleys, using his knowledge of the city's grid system and back alleys to get away. He dipped into a bakery's side door, shutting it behind him and cutting through it. The pair lost him as he hid behind the counter, manned by an older guy that looked more tired than surprised.

"You lost, lady?" one of the goons smirked.

Peggy shook her head, "Not particularly. I think I am right where I meant to be."

"No, lady, I think you may have gotten turned around," another goon answered. "Let me give you a hand."

Peggy's fingers touched the gun in her purse and prepared to fire her way out. However, as she was calculating the risk, a door opened. The ringleader of the drug ring entered the room with Crossbones. Ralph was shocked to recognize Whitney.

Whitney smirked at Peggy and Ralph. She was radiating smugness. Her heels clicked as she walked right into the room.

"Surprised to see me?" she announced.

"Not really. I suspected you, but I just needed the confirmation," Peggy replied. Whitney's face smirk dropped into a sneer. She looked at the lone woman with clear disgust and disdain.

"Watch your mouth. Don't want me to do you in like I did poor Calvin, do you?" the woman replied. "Put them in the steam room! Watch the door."

"Stevie? What's wrong?"

Melbourne police station, Melbourne;

Pietro was arguing with the front desk sergeant Jack Thompson when the phone rang, and Bucky picked it up. The young man was trying to get them to mobilize and go after Peggy. However, he was hitting a wall as the desk sergeant stalled.

"Calm down, Stevie, what happened?" Bucky asked. He listened before his eyes went wide. He rushed to Daniel's office. The door practically hit the wall as Bucky rushed in.

"Ms. Carter is in trouble!" he exclaimed.

"That's what I've been saying!' Pietro exclaimed. "You want to argue with me now, Jack!?"

Daniel got up, grabbing his jacket, hat, and gun. He ran through the bullpen and called on his unit of officers. Bucky rattled off the address, and one of the officers ran it.

"We have two units nearby but they are five minutes out," the officer said. "I'll get dispatch through to them."

"Let's go, people!" Daniel told them. "Bucky, you're with me!"

"Ms. Carter!" Daniel yelled, helping her to the paramedic bus that waiting. She was awake and talking, but they needed to check on her and Ralph.

"I guess no more missions on my own," she tried to joke. However, no one shared her humor.

"Morning, you made the news." she announced. Peggy took the paper and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She yawned and read it over. Apparently, while she was in the ambulance, the other units managed to corner Whitney before she could take a train out of the city and get on a boat to another country.

"Congratulations." they said. Peggy accepted their hugs and beamed.

"I'm going into business as a detective." Peggy smiled. "I think this could be credible enough for me to get some clients."

"Congratulations. Would you know anything about the bathhouse exploding in the middle of the night?" Daniel inquired. Peggy's eyes widened. 

"What? It did what?" she asked. Nikki spoke up.

"That wasn't in the paper at all! Was it a bomb?"

Bucky replied, "That is the theory. We think they used the bathhouse as a storage space for drugs, and after they got away, they set a timer."

a house, Melbourne;

Peggy, Nikki, and Steve met up at a house. The realtor showed them around. After working more cases over the past month, her savings were large enough to finally find herself a house. She trusted her friends to give her some insight. In fact, Bucky and Steve would move in as well, taking one of the two top floors as their personal space.

"This looks perfect," Peggy smiled. "Decent sized backyard, four bathrooms, ten bedrooms, a full sized kitchen and living room."

"Will all your employees move in?" Nikki joked around. Peggy thought on it.

"Nope, but I will not write it off."

Instead, he stood and watched as the cell doors were shut in his face.

the parlor, Maria's place;

Peggy had tea with Maria. Maria was shocked by Whitney's actions and tried to make sense of it all. The Whitney she knew was kind and thoughtful, not a drug running murderess.

"My heart! I never expected her to do such a thing! Did you know?" she was saying.

"Not at first." Peggy responded. She patted her aunt's hand. "I figured it out when I tracked her dealers down. They were more willing to talk once they realized what they were dealing with." 

"You need to be careful, Peggy. Don't let this work get you hurt," Maria asked.

Peggy smiled, purposefully hiding the sauna issue. "Of course, Aunt Maria."

Bucky pulled Steve in for a deep kiss and hugged him close. Steve sighed into the kiss and smiled. This was the life he dreamed of and he had it with his best friends.

When Steve had said goodbye to Kora, he wasn't expecting his employer to be arrested for murder, yet to find another job. However, Steve couldn't bring himself to regret his new path. He was curious to see what the future brought.

Peggy was a whirlwind. While she was calm and collected, her curiosity got them in to one hell of a fuss. Still, they were ready to take on the day.