CHAPTER 1: PHRYNE
Phryne Fisher sat in the armchair, staring at the glass of whiskey in front of her. She didn't want to touch it, not now. Just minutes earlier Jack had walked out on her, effectively ending their association, both personally and professionally, it seemed.
She sighed. It wasn't her fault that Jack had heard the message incorrectly. But she somehow felt that she had something to do with it. She could feel tears pricking the corner of her eyes. How would she cope without her Jack? They needed each other, didn't they? That's what she thought, anyway. Her earlier statement was right- it would feel like he was lying in that wreckage if he walked out on her. And that's exactly what he had done.
The tears began to flow, and she broke down. She could vividly remember the last time that she cried like this- it was that day with Janey. Jack was there then, to hold her hand, to get her through that difficult time. But now he had gone. Phryne Fisher was on her own. And she didn't know what to do.
Phryne didn't realise that Dot had made her way into the parlour and stopped, frozen, in the doorway. She had not seen Miss Fisher like this for a long time, not since Janey. Dot knew that Jack had misheard the message- Hugh had told her. But she didn't expect to see Phryne Fisher sobbing in an armchair, and Jack not with her. She never looked like this. She looked strong, feisty, heroic even. Especially when armed with that pearl-handled pistol of hers. At this moment she looked vulnerable and distraught.
Dot moved closer and put a comforting hand on Phryne's shoulder. Phryne looked up. "Oh Dot…. I didn't realise you were there…. I'll just... umm… go to bed I think…" she managed to say whilst wiping her eyes.
"I heard about the misheard message, it's okay Miss, you'll get through this, you always do"
"I know… but… Jack…." Just saying his name made Phryne cry even more. Dot reached forward and grabbed Phryne in an embrace "oh Miss Fisher, I'm so sorry. Here, have some tea, Mr Butler has prepared some for us"
"Thank you Dot… that would be lovely…" Phryne replied, wiping her eyes and sitting up straight.
Mr Butler walked into the room carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups and saucers. He poured out some tea for Phryne and Dot, and looked sympathetically at Phryne "hopefully this will make you feel better, Miss Fisher. There's some biscuits there too if you would like them"
"Thank you Mr Butler, that's so kind of you" Phryne replied, smiling for the first time in about half an hour. Mr Butler smiled back at Phryne, and walked out of the room, leaving Dot alone with her.
They had their tea and biscuits in silence before Phryne spoke again.
"Dot, what do I do? I just don't know what to do without him. I mean, he needs me and I need him, what happens now?"
"I know Miss, he'll soon realise what you mean to him, and what he means to you. He'll eventually find out that he can't solve an investigation without you soon enough. You might want to get some rest Miss, it's late" Dot replied sympathetically.
"Oh well, I suppose you're right Dot, thank you so very much. I'm off to bed, so goodnight. See you in the morning" Phryne said, wiping her eyes once again.
Once Phryne was lying in her bed, she began to cry once again. She looked up, and whispered "Oh Jack, why? What am I going to do without you?" She thought of a life without Jack, one she couldn't bear to live in. She curled up in bed and buried her head in the sheets. She eventually fell asleep, tears soaking her pillow.