Chapter Six

Phryne was suddenly very, very cold. Mechanically, she nodded. "You have to do your job, Alastair, I know that. You're wrong, and it'll be harder to work out why with Jack locked up; but I'm going to find out who really did this." It pained Warren that she clearly regarded anything his own team might do in that regard would be worse than useless.

She turned to Jack, whose eyes were now closed in resignation. He rose to his feet and tossed the mug of tea onto the hay.

"Come on then, Alastair, let's get it over with. Frankly, the way my head is right now, I'll be happy with a cold flagstone floor as long as it's quiet."

"Hang on, Jack" Phryne held his arm, having helped him up. She ran off to Limoncello's stable, and with a brief apology to the horse, helped herself to the blanket lying over the door. Returning to the two policemen, she shook it out, and put it round Jack's shoulders.

"This will have to do for now. I'll be back first thing in the morning with a change of clothes and quite possibly a lawyer. Ascot police station, Chief Inspector?" her tone to Warren was civil but chilly. She was already taking sides, and he was on the wrong one.

"Yes, Miss Fisher. I will tell my people to co-operate with you as much as possible."

He turned his back for a moment, as he saw their heads come together. Her hand brushed Jack's cheek, and she kissed him gently.

"I'll have you out before you know it, Jack. Get some rest."

He essayed a half smile which didn't quite reach his eyes and followed Warren to the police car.

Phryne followed their departure with icy-cold demeanour, and then looked around the rest of the yard. Spotting her quarry, she approached him.

"Max. Come here. Playtime's over, we've got work to do."

"Phryne!" her gentle giant loomed over her. "Of course, anything I can do. Where's Jack?"

"He's just been arrested as a suspect for the murder of that stable lad. To the best of my knowledge, murder is a hanging offence in this country?" she said in a voice of flint.

Max nodded, eyes widening.

"So you and I are going to get him released as soon as possible. I'll explain. Pay attention."