Epilogue
The celebratory meal had been finished; the toasts had been drunk; and Mr & Mrs Collins had bidden them farewell and disappeared into the night. Mr & Mrs Robinson returned to the parlour, where he poured them each a glass of whisky.
The evening had been cheerful enough, but Jack as he leaned against the mantelpiece saw that familiar line of worry forming between Phryne's brows. She looked up at him from her perch on the couch.
"Jack, will Finn O'Connor be arrested anyway? Surely it's going to be difficult to try the case without making mention of the murderer's motive?"
He nodded. "It's going to be difficult, certainly. A lot will depend on the judge. If at all possible, we will try to get the motive dismissed as the lunatic ravings of a madman."
He met her gaze steadily. "I'll also be making as much as I can of Finn's bravery in assisting the police in the investigation – he didn't have to throw himself in harm's way as he did, and he very nearly died in the process of helping us catch our murderer."
She dropped her gaze to her lap, where her fingers were fidgeting absently with the ends of her scarf.
"I think I may find myself obliged to attend that particular case when it comes to court, Jack."
He half-smiled. "In case the law proves itself to be an ass?"
"Just so," she smiled, and uncurled to stand beside him.
"I do sometimes think that the law doesn't realise how fortunate it is, Inspector. What with the expertise of its Detective Inspectors …" she took his empty glass from his hand and placed it next to her own.
"And not forgetting the sheer genius of its Private Detectives …" he reminded her as he took her hand to lead her upstairs.
"Oh, never forgetting that," she grinned, "it's really a wonder any criminals have the nerve to break the law at all."
He halted at the top of the stairs and placed an admonitory finger on her nose.
"But if they didn't, Miss Fisher, we would never have met."
Tipping her head, she snatched his finger between her teeth and released it, walking the last few paces to the boudoir.
"And you'd never have had the chance to be a radio star."
"And you'd never have shown me your fan dance."
"And you'd never have recited Shakespeare for me on the stage."
"And you'd never have kissed me."
With each line, another item of clothing was dispensed with, but at that, they both halted.
He took her face in his hands, and whispered a very special prayer on her lips.
"Thank God for criminals."