Spoilers and warnings: This story contains spoilers for all seasons SGA up to end Season 3. It contains original characters and is a mystery story. The answers are not in the first chapter and are not always obvious. Bear in mind that these are our characters reacting to outsiders.

Disclaimer: None of the SGA characters or situations mentioned belong to me. Note: all the original characters do belong to me.

Where a coroner is informed that the body of a person ("the deceased") is lying within his district and there is reasonable cause to suspect that the deceased-

- has died a violent or an unnatural death;

- has died a sudden death of which the cause is unknown; or

- has died in prison or in such a place or in such circumstances as to require an inquest under any other Act,

then, whether the cause of death arose within his district or not, the coroner shall as soon as practicable hold an inquest into the death of the deceased …

Coroners Act 1988 (UK)

Reasonable Cause to Suspect

By EllieV

Chapter 1

They sat in silence as if waiting for the end of the world. Tapping, doodling, the occasional sigh, all were greeted with faint glares until the offender stopped. Sometimes a shift in a chair indicated a desire to pace. This, too, was frowned on. Finally, Carson Beckett had enough. He cleared his throat, giving Lt Col Sheppard unspoken permission to jump to his feet.

Sheppard waved a hand in Beckett's direction as if the entire thing was his fault. In some ways it was, thought Beckett.

"I don't like this," Sheppard announced, as though it was something he hadn't said dozens of times before.

Weir sighed, earning a glare in response. "Yes, John, you said. None of us like it."

Teyla and Ronon shifted in their seats, Teyla venturing hesitantly, "I still do not understand … it."

Sheppard replied obliquely, "I don't know how they got permission. Isn't Atlantis still a big secret from, well, everybody?"

"It doesn't matter," Weir said.

Sheppard's reply was almost disconsolate. "It's just that it's a bad time," he said. Instead of frowns, he received sympathetic nods. It wasn't a good time-not for anyone.

"The wheels of justice, Colonel," Beckett said, as though he hadn't said it before, "even if it is just going through the motions."

"I don't understand 'it' either," Ronon rumbled.

Beckett started, "Well, you know we have different governments on Earth …" but was interrupted by Weir touching her earpiece.

"They're here. Cooperate, please," she said firmly.

Beckett could see the staff in the control room moving to the balcony to watch Caldwell and a couple of marines escorting their … guests? Wrong word. There were four of them. Watchful. He could see them taking in the control room and especially the crowd watching them back. Weir and Sheppard moved down to meet them.

He was very tall. Dark-haired, icy blue eyes. He looked like a copper, thought Beckett. The petite brunette, slightly behind him to his left, looked like a model. The other two looked like henchman. The "bagmen," Beckett figured. Stoic automatons.

"Dr Weir," Caldwell greeted her. "This is Commander Cameron Stretton of the British police. He's here about the death of Dr Peter Grodin."

"Greater Manchester Police, Colonel," Caldwell was corrected in mild, pure Mancunian tones. Interesting, thought Beckett, he wasn't RP. He sounded like a copper, too.

"There's a difference?" Weir asked, even though she likely knew the answer. She smiled a little nervously. Commander Stretton looked like he didn't know how to smile.

Stretton raised an eyebrow. "Yes," he said, "There's a difference." He didn't explain what it was.

Sheppard frowned.

"My remit, Dr Weir." Stretton handed her a folder and said formally, raising his voice slightly as if to address the room, "Ma'am, I am charged by the Greater Manchester North Coroner to investigate the 'Death Abroad' of Dr Peter Grodin under Section 8, Sub-section 1 of the Coroner's Act, 1988."

"Which says what?" Sheppard interrupted, almost aggressively. Beckett winced.

The officer was unimpressed by the posturing. "Coroners have the authority to hold an inquest where a British citizen has died in suspicious circumstances outside the UK, Colonel Sheppard. The Pegasus Galaxy is outside the UK, I think. Do you really want me to quote the Act for you?"

Sheppard hadn't been introduced, Beckett noted. Sheppard's frown deepened but he held his tongue. Beckett looked around. The crowd had grown. Grodin's death hadn't been their fault but he could see the defensive postures of the Atlantis team, even the ones who hadn't been here before the siege.

"Surely, you don't think that Peter was murdered?" protested Weir. "He was killed by the Wraith. Unless," she stiffened, "you think it was negligence?"

"I don't think anything, hence the investigation," Stretton said patiently. "Dr Weir, please understand-Dr Grodin's family asked the Greater Manchester North Coroner for an inquest because they were dissatisfied with the information provided to them regarding his death. The police service was asked to assist the Coroner. This investigation has been given clearance by the IOA at the request of the British Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We didn't just decide to come off our own bat."

Beckett could see Weir and Sheppard exchange a glance and Stretton and his team note the exchange. Authority established, everyone sorted according to rank and place in the pecking order.

"Well, where do you want start?" conceded Weir. "My team will cooperate fully." She nodded around the room.

"Thank you." The policeman's face didn't change its bland expression despite having won the first round. Beckett suspected he'd have the same expression throughout the entire ordeal. "Anyone involved in the mission to the Legrange point satellite will do for starters. Lieutenant Miller. Dr McKay, in particular." Stretton tilted his head just slightly, watching the reaction.

"Well, that's going to be a problem," drawled Sheppard. "Dr McKay is dead."

TBC …

Notes:

I have no reason to think that Grodin comes from Manchester. I just like the place.

RP 'received pronunciation' otherwise known as BBC English, the oft described 'hoity toity' upper class English accent.

Copper: police officer.

This story was, believe it or not, inspired by an article on the death of Princess Diana.