This is the second to last chapter.
Enjoy!
The next week, Phryne goes about her detective work with abandon. The sooner she finishes the case, the sooner she can look into Andrew's life. To her chagrin, she finds she is able to do both at the same time when her casework leads her toward a rather expensive home. Pulling up to the house in her Hispano- Souza, Phryne parks the car before happily heading up to the front door. Ushered in by the butler, the female detective makes her way to the sitting room while taking in the room and all its nick-knacks and curiosities. She turns to a cleared throat who greets her with a kiss to her hand.
"Miss Fisher?" The man inquires. With a smile, Phryne answers, "Mister Sussman. I appreciate your meeting with me."
Soon enough, Phryne begins her questions regarding her case and its stolen items when she notices a familiar face pass the door way. She tries to contain her shock as Andrew walks in. He seems to do the same as introductions are made.
"Miss Fisher, this is my grandson Andrew. Andrew, Miss Fisher was just asking questions about a robbery than occurred next door a few weeks back."
"I had a kid back in Collingwood who was pretty attached to me. One time I saw him near the house and had to tell him to leave. The neighbors are horrible gossips. I would have asked him to tea if Misses Kline wasn't such a busy body."
Phryne smiles slightly as she gains a little more insight into the real personality of her ward's boyfriend. Her smile soon diminishes as Andrew keeps speaking. Now aware that the Collingwood boy is a possible suspect, she sighs before asking Andrew to meet her at the station with the boy in a few hours.
"Phryne," Jack sighs once his lover tells him the story and to expect Andrew in another hour. Perched on his desk, Phryne counters, "Jack, you consider this to be more of a trial than it already is. I'm only using him to talk to the young boy."
"I know that, but the Captain will not see it that way. You and I both know that."
Phryne merely shrugs and smiles knowing her lover cannot keep his resolve up for too much longer. Suddenly their moment is broken by an angry knock. Raising an eyebrow, Jack silently questions if the person will be Andrew. With Phryne giving a noncommittal answer, the Inspector opens his office door to be met with the gaze of an angry teenager. Letting the teen inside, Jack mutters that he needs to speak to Collins.
"You brought my boyfriend in for questioning!" Jane hisses once Jack leaves his office. With a sigh, Phryne answers, "He was a possible suspect, Jane. I'm not going to give him special treatment simply because he is your boyfriend."
Jane clamps her mouth shut as she tries to rationalize the situation. Her boyfriend is in custody and she is currently under the tutelage of Mac who–
"Was I just performing an autopsy on Andrew's uncle?" Jane asks once realization dawns on her. Offering a concerned expression, Phryne replies, "Yes, Dear. But, I am having Andrew brought here for my case, not Jack's."
"Your case?" Jane asks confused. "Andrew wouldn't steal!"
Sensing her ward's frustration, Phryne tries to calm her by explaining that Andrew is not on trial, but soon hear a commotion coming from the outer room. Entering the main office, Jane and Phryne watch as Jack tries to wrestle a twelve year old into staying put while Collins blocks the door. Andrew merely tries to reason with the lad above the ruckus until Phryne yells for them to be quiet and letting a little of her old Collingwood manners slip through before she motions for the boy to come toward her.
"What's your name?" She asks softly. He stays silent. The child eyes Phryne warily before deciding to trust her answering, "Jim. You're from Collingwood?"
Phryne smiles and looks up at Jack, "He's bright."
"Yes, well, all those from Collingwood, if you'll follow me," Jack states as he heads toward interrogation. A second later he adds with a smirk, "Except you Jane."
Rolling her eyes, Jane decides to bother Hugh instead. Standing next to his station, Jane comments, "You look upset."
Hugh sighs knowing his problems to be more for home than for a teenager. Instead, the constable comments with a nod of his head, "So does he."
Jane looks over at her boyfriend who still stands in shock. Realizing her boyfriend is rightfully not as unaccustomed to a police station, Jane nods to the bench by the main door so they can talk. Sensing his discomfort, Jane offers, "Let's take a walk outside."
Grateful, Andrew nods and escorts her out of the precinct. They walk for a few minutes before Jane apologizes, "I know this is probably upsetting. I forget not everyone is constantly around a police station."
She watches as her boyfriend laughs uncomfortably.
"Thank- you. It's not that, though. I'm just worried about how this will affect my grandfather. His health has been declining recently."
Jane takes her boyfriend's hand in comfort before explaining how things will eventually be okay.
"I was an orphan once, and then Miss Fisher took me in. Everything has a bright side, Andrew," Jane remarks deciding to act a little like Dot in this instance. She is also wary of telling him about the autopsy she is working with Mac on, and hopes the reassurance will do them both some good. As they walk further away from the precinct, Andrew becomes more relaxed and barely notices his girlfriend wave to one of his fraternity brothers who is walking toward them.
"Hey, mate! Good job stealing that egg. You'll be the leader of our fraternity for sure next year," His classmate remarks before reassuring Jane, "Don't worry girlie. It's safe."
Andrew is keen to his girlfriend's glare, and decides against defending himself as they walk back to the precinct.
"How could you do that!" Jane exclaims as they walk. "Miss Phryne has been searching everywhere and it was with you! I trusted you! How could I have fallen in love with a thief? Why would a social club even ask you to do that? Maybe you should find a new one."
Andrew tries to tune her out, but finally upset over his girlfriend's various accusations, Andrew grabs Jane's arm and yells, "I don't think you know how much this fraternity means to me!"
"No, but you could have talked to me," Jane begins, but soon notices the anger in his eyes and his grip getting tighter. A second later, she asks him to let go of her arm.
"Not until you understand," Andrew spouts. His girlfriend shakes her head saying, "That you are a thief? No! I've had my fill of theives for a lifetime."
Hearing commotion from outside, Hugh goes out to break up the fight just as Andrew slaps Jane and yells, "I'm not a thief!"
In shock, Andrew soon apologizes as Jane enters the safety of the precinct and into Phryne's arms where she, Jack, and their suspect return from their interrogation.
"Jane!" Andrew calls out hoping to make amends. Jack and Hugh both create a protective barrier from him. Phryne merely sits with Jane and tries to calm her down as she keeps her own memories of her post war, Parisian lover from resurfacing. Upset by what he witnesses, Jack drags Andrew into the recently vacated interrogation room. As the men leave, Jane looks up at her guardian and tells her the entire story.
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