At this point in the series of escapades currently revolving around a certain book of erotica owned by the honourable Phryne Fisher, the aforementioned book had already been sent to Jack Robinson's house by mail, planted in his car and hidden in his bookshelf during Miss Fisher's break and enter. Phryne was experiencing a great deal of delight from this series of events, and, although he would never openly profess it Jack too did get some degree of enjoyment from it. However he had vowed not to read the book, and he'd be damned if a mere break and enter would change his mind. However Phryne Fisher had barely begun her game.
It was a slow game, long, languorous. With brief moments of intensity, usually when Jack Robinson came storming into her parlour, scowl on his face and book in hand. But intermittently weeks would pass. In time since she had broken into his house they had worked together even more, and she had only nearly died once, quite a feat for Miss Fisher.
As it was she was once more entangled in another murder investigation, one which Jack had decided firmly not to be involved with. The fact seemed to disgruntle Miss Fisher (and it did him some small degree of pleasure to see her frustrated). Having made his involvement in the case, or lack of, quite clear it came as quite a surprise when Hugh knocked on the door of his office one hand hidden behind his back.
"Yes Collins."
"Uh Sir, Miss Fisher dropped by earlier, she wanted to discuss the case…but as you…well…" Collins fumbled
"As I have made it explicitly clear I want no involvement in the case, yes."
Collins nodded "Well, ah, she asked me to give you this. She said it was very important evidence, and that it might encourage you to change your mind."
As he spoke Collins took his hand from behind his back. In it was an altogether too familiar book, wrapped in brown paper with string. Jack's eyes widened slightly and he was rendered speechless. Collins saw his reaction and must've mistaken it for he took a hasty step back.
"Uh, I'm sorry sir. I wouldn't have shown it to you, but she was quite insistent. I suppose seeing as I'm on the case I should go and examine it myself" He fumbled.
"No!" Jack cried, somewhat more passionately than he intended.
Hugh looked stunned. Jack quickly tried to compose himself. "My apologies Collins…I believe that this is evidence relating to a different case. It would be best if I looked at it."
"Oh, I'm sorry sir. I didn't realise…what case Sir?"
"It's…uh…well its unofficial Collins; I'm doing Miss Fisher a favour." Jack declared.
If Collins was doubtful he didn't say anything placing the book tentatively in Jack's hands and almost running out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Jack felt an overwhelming desire to bang his head on his desk, were it not for fear of alarming Collins even further. With a sigh he looked closely at the book.
He was tired of having Miss Fisher playing games with him…it was at that moment he recalled her earlier statements. This game could be played by two…perhaps it was time that he started playing.
He leaned back on his chair and smirked slightly. He wondered how Phryne would react if the tables were turned on her?
Despite Jack's newfound desire to participate in the game it was some time before he was able to pass the book along to Phryne. Principally because it wasn't entirely polite to be concerned with a mere book when Phryne was being pursued by a maniac hell bent on sacrificing her in order to reach the afterlife.
It was a challenging time, for all of them, it was not the time for flirtatious banter...with the exception of those few moments at the party…those terrifying, exhilarating moments which had haunted him ever since.
But those moments were fleeting, and there were larger concerns at hand. Jack had always marvelled at Phryne, her vivaciousness, her life; now more than ever when Jack understood just how much Phryne had gone through.
It was then that Jack realised just how much he was a part of Miss Fisher's life.
He had worried for a while, whether she would be okay, but on the 21st of December, her birthday party, seeing her surrounded by so many people she held dear he knew she'd be alright. She was Phryne Fisher after all; she was made of stern stuff.
He realised with a start he hadn't gotten her a gift. Not that there was much a poor policeman could get for such an immensely wealthy woman that she couldn't get herself. He wondered for a while before a grin spread across his face. He knew exactly what to get her.
He didn't give the present to Phryne directly. He sent it via Collins when he went to see Miss Williams. He had decided the present should be a little more decorative than brown paper so he bought wrapping paper especially. It was bright red and covered in peacock patterns, he thought it very fitting for Phryne. He tried it up (with some difficulty) with a black ribbon and a small card which said
"Dear Phryne, Happy belated birthday and Merry Christmas. And in case you were still curious, a print of page 58 would be my suggestion. Jack"
He could barely suppress his smirk when he gave the book to Collins to deliver.
He had intended for Miss Fisher to open the present when alone, certainly not in his company, but a rather cheerful Christmas morning murder had thrown them once more together, alone, as everyone else had stake time off for Christmas.
"You know Phryne; I am somewhat surprised that you're here. You are an upper class socialite…shouldn't you be…socialising?" He noted whilst examining the corpse- a man, about thirty who had been cheerfully impaled by a decorative icicle shaped piece of glass.
Phryne sighed. "Dear Aunt P wishes I was. She was absolutely appalled when I left the brunch early…but other than that…I don't really have anywhere to be.
"Really?" He asked incredulous.
"Well Christmas tends to be far more family oriented, and most of mine are in England- not that I'd want to spend time with them anyway…normally I do something, but what with everything happening, I didn't really feel up to being host" She said with a faint shudder. "Tonight's plan was drinking alone in the parlour. Maybe if Mac got back from her parents early enough she'd come round and join me…" she mused sombrely. "Even Mr Butler and Dot have gone to see family." She slipped off into sombre contemplation for a moment.
"And what about you Jack?" She suddenly questioned "Don't you have somewhere to be now?"
He shook his head "My parents live up in Sydney, too far to journey for too short a time, and besides, someone has to do the job- crime doesn't just miraculously stop on Christmas."
"Apparently not" Phryne noted as she studied the weapon.
"I tell you what," She said snapping her head up quite suddenly and staring at Jack "come over to my home tonight. We can share a nightcap and enjoy being lonely at Christmas, with someone else" She smiled a little as she spoke. Jack could do nothing but agree. As much as Phryne said she didn't want to be around people after what had happened with Murdoch Foyle, he thought there was a considerable part of her which was very much saddened by the prospect of being alone.
"…and anyway we're there sprinting down this alleyway in the middle of god knows where with a baguette under one arm and a porcelain owl under the other and this man is running after us screaming in some language I still for the life of me don't know which…I think it was Swahili, but I'm not entirely sure and then suddenly this car pulls up out of nowhere. Next thing I know I'm in Somerset."
Phryne and Jack burst out laughing till there were tears in his eyes.
"You've certainly not had a quiet life have you?" He finally managed between chuckles.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She grinned.
Suddenly she clapped her hands together in a sudden epiphany. "I haven't opened your present yet."
Jack's eyes widened "Oh…right I was…" he trailed off. He couldn't think of a good excuse for her not to. And the prospect of watching her reaction was too tempting to refuse.
He sat silently as she rummaged under her rather sizeable Christmas tree. "Here we are!" She called triumphantly holding up the small parcel. She returned to her seat and stared at it a moment. A look of confusion passed over her face, she looked up at Jack who did everything in his power to look innocent. Tentatively she flipped over the card and read it. Her mouth fell ever so slightly agape and her eyebrows rose in surprise before there was a small tug at the corner of her mouth.
"Well inspector!" She said breathlessly "I never thought you the sort of man."
"It would be foolish to assume you knew everything about me. But of course I chose it due to its artistic merit. Though I must say I found it very informative personally." His voice was dangerously low and far more seductive than she had ever heard. For her part Phryne was finding it very, very attractive.
"Well inspector…"she ripped open the wrapping and stared in shock which she then exaggerated for dramatic effect eyes wide and mouth virtually on the floor she let out a laugh.
"A botanist's guide to obscure weeds in the lakes district by J. Walsworth!" She exclaimed.
"Oh Inspector!" She cried, throwing her head back in passion. "I would have never thought you to be so forward!" She put her hand on her chest and began to breathe deeply. "Oh Jack…I think you've made me blush!" She said fanning herself.
Jack meanwhile had lost himself to laughter which had been barely suppressed as she had opened the book. He had chosen it deliberately not only because it was the furthest thing from erotica he could think of but also because it was a very close match in size and shape.
By this stage the alcohol had gotten to both of them and any normal polite behaviour and propriety was recklessly abandoned. "You may want to have a closer look at page fifty eight." He all but growled.
"Are you quite sure Jack…I am after all a virtuous woman, all but a virgin to this strange and dangerous new world of…botany. Would it be…appropriate"
"Phryne let's just jump in together. Damn what society says!"
At this point they were overcome with a fit of giggles.
"I've got you a present too inspector." She said with a grin when she finally was able to compose herself. She pulled out a small parcel. It was a leather bound copy of Antony and Cleopatra with golden edges and embossed letters.
"I realise you probably have an old copy you're attached to, but I was hoping you could keep this one for me." She said with a small smile. "Look inside."
He flicked open the pages, inside the end papers had vivid illustrations of settings from the play- two small tickets fell out."
"Oh God, they aren't to operetta are they?" He cried.
"Oh relax Jack. I wouldn't be that cruel" She grinned.
"Yes you would." He muttered playfully. The tickets turned out to be to Antony and Cleopatra. For the two of them. The two of them alone, in a dark theatre seeing a play with painfully obvious similarities between himself and Miss Fisher…a play about…lovers.
"At least this time, if the leading man dies we'll have someone to fill his place, or indeed if the leading woman dies, or if both die, we could both step into those roles. Wouldn't that be fun Jack…of course it would men you'd have to kiss me."
Jack flushed a little. "I tend to think people dying isn't especially fun" He said, expertly avoiding the last part of her statement.
Phryne simply raised an eyebrow "And oh of course, I'm forgetting the best part!" she cried pulling out a long tubular present which he eyed sceptically.
Phryne grinned positively salaciously as he went to open it. Jack suddenly felt very frightened. He opened it up- it was a painting…no a print of some kind.
Oh.
OH!
So that was what page 58 looked like.
