The phone rang just as Jack was leaving the office.

'Of course. Yes, sir, I'll be there as soon as possible.'

He sighed. It was late, but there had been another robbery.

'Collins! Get your hat!' he called, gathering his things. 'The jewel thief strikes again.' Jack glanced at his reflection in the dark glass of the window and straightened his collar. Was it ridiculous to be concerned about what Phryne would think, when she wouldn't even be at the crime scene? Then again, she did always manage to appear when something interesting came up. He sighed at his unpolished reflection, grabbed his coat and hat, and rushed out to the car, collecting Collins on the way.

Jack opened the front door of the old mansion and collided solidly with Melbourne's foremost and only lady detective. Phryne smiled mischievously, and pressed closer against him.

'How lovely of you to join me, Jack. You made good time.'

Jack took a breath and stepped back momentarily to regain his composure, ignoring her warmth and the soft scent of her perfume which was, he admitted to himself, quite delectable, as always. He raised his eyebrows at her and risked glancing away from her startling eyes to take in the fine grey silk gown she was wearing.

'Miss Fisher, how did you possibly-'

'Why Jack, you should know by now that I'm always on the lookout for some fun. Especially if you're around.' She smiled coyly and turned on her heel, displaying quite a lot of bare skin where the grey silk dropped away. He let his eyes drift down the curves of her body.

'It's this way, Inspector.' She smiled over her shoulder, knowingly.

Damn it, she had caught him looking.

x

Phryne was delighted to have surprised the Inspector (as usual), but less delighted by the robbery that had occurred right under her nose. As she marched the party of policemen down the hallway, she updated them.

'Mrs. Davies is being looked after upstairs. She received quite a fright when she realised her prized possession had disappeared. She sent all her guests home immediately.'

'And the necklace with them, we would assume. Slipped into a bag or a pocket. It could be anywhere by now,' Jack said, frowning.

'Indeed.'

Jack couldn't help but watch the soft shimmer of her dress as she walked ahead of him. It slid across her hips almost indecently, and the back dipped daringly low. He shook himself. This was why their relationship could not be allowed to go further than it had the time he had kissed her. He would not be able to control his feeling towards her, whereas she would remain as in control as ever: indifferent to his love, or at least, unable to return it. She was not the marrying kind.

Phryne led them up a curved marble staircase, and into an elegant and expensively furnished lounge. She gestured to the back wall, where a forlorn display box sat in pride of place, empty. The lock had been smashed, and lay crumpled on the floor.

'The ball began at half past seven this evening,' she said, as they examined it. 'Everything was as you would expect. Although there were some unexpectedly delicious canapés,' she mused. 'Anyway, Mrs. Davies - the owner of this lovely house, and a friend of Aunt Prudence, you see - retreated upstairs to her rooms to refresh herself, and next thing you know, she's screaming like she's been stabbed. When I rushed up with my g- umm, with my wits at the ready, I found Mrs. Davies in hysterics, and the necklace, of course, was gone.' She frowned. 'But no one I talked to had seen anything suspicious.'

Jack nodded and looked grim. They appeared to be no closer to finding their criminal than before.

'There must have been hundreds of guests here. If we find no more evidence in the house, it looks to be a long case.'

x

Phryne sat on Jack's desk just to taunt him, he was sure of it.

'Well, there's no other way round it, Jack. This ball is the perfect opportunity to catch our thief. They'll be getting arrogant after three successes. I'm sure that they'll make an appearance tonight.'

'Are you suggesting we stake out the house?'

'No, Jack dear. You can be my date,' she said, smiling smugly.

Jack rubbed his hand across his face. He had suspected this would be her conclusion. At the moment, however, he was not sure he could survive a night exclusively in her company.

'Phryne, surely my presence is suspicious. Do you think the thief won't notice that police are in attendance?'

'One policeman. I can acquire an invitation through Aunt Prudence, I'm sure. And don't worry Jack, I'm sure we can pull off the act convincingly,' she said, lingering over the last word. Her eyes flicked across his face, assessing his response.

The stern expression made her smile.

'Excellent, well, now that that's settled, I'd best be off. Do find a nice suit, Jack. You'll look very dapper, I'm sure.'

With a swirl of white silk and a fleeting smile, she disappeared.

'Only if Collins and Miss Williams accompany us!', he called after her, too late to receive a reply. He sat down heavily. Oh dear. What was he in for tonight? He had seen Phryne dance on numerous occasions, the least of which was a rather risque fan dance. It almost made him blush just thinking about it, and he never blushed. He hoped to God she would wear something with a back this time. Where was he supposed to put his hands?

His imagination suddenly took him from ballroom to boudoir as he thought of his hands on her soft white skin, of running them down her back and pulling her against him, slowing undoing that silk dress so that he could reach more of her, and feel her hot skin rub back against his body. Her green eyes would be burning with lust for him, and she would breath his name into his ear. She would press him onto the bed, and sink down his body... she would watch him through her lashes and dare him to move as she wrapped her lips around him and-

'Inspector?'

Jack nearly had a heart attack.

It was Collins, from beyond the office door. Jack cursed his overactive imagination and berated himself for his utter stupidity. At work, of all places. He called for Collins to enter, sounding, to his embarrassment, slightly strangled.

The situation was becoming problematic, Jack thought. This infatuation was out of control, and he was behaving like a hormonal teenager. As Miss Fisher surely did not return his feelings, the best course of action would be to avoid her company. He would shield himself from her flirtations as much as possible tonight, and nothing would happen between them. And that would be the end of it.