I split the chapters up – not sure how they got messed up in the posting – obviously operator error!
Chapter 10
Jack can't go home until City South recovers the third little girl's body. He knows deep in his gut that she is a victim like the other two, and he can't bring himself to stop looking for her. It takes several days of combing the city for Jack's men to find the girl's body. This little girl is found in an abandoned house near Alma Park along the Dandenong Road. The crime scene is eerily familiar, there are no surprises other than a nose bleed that the other girls did not have.
"This sometimes happens in strangulation," Dr. Johnson tells Jack. Both men are quiet and deep in thought as Dr. Johnson prepares the body for her parent's verification of identity, careful to remove the traces of blood so that her parents are spared the shock of it.
This killer's style is distinct and Jack knows it is the same man. His anger grows as the investigation stalls. He must clench his fists tightly to keep from hitting things as he tells yet another family their baby isn't coming home, and the sobbing out of another mother's anguish pounds against his ears.
Now that the third little girl has been found and her parents notified, and since no other girl children have been reported missing with the same coloring, Jack decides that his men need to be with their families. Others on the force can work additional cases for a time. He sends everyone home for a much needed respite.
Jack sits at his desk staring into space trying to piece things together. The phone rings, its shrill jangle causing him to jump. Quickly he shakes himself back to the present and answers the phone, "Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, City South."
"Jack, Commissioner Thompson here. I know you sent your men home. That is commendable. I want you to get some rest as well. I know you Jack, and you will drive yourself to find this killer, but you must rest as well. I believe the increased presence of the police searching for the bodies will cause him to go silent for a time. Use this time to rest up and figure out how to catch him."
Jack wouldn't have gone home. He would have stayed at the station thinking and brooding and analyzing. Clearly Commissioner Thompson knows this as well. "Sir, there is much to do and organize for the investigations," Jack argues his voice gravelly with lack of sleep.
"Jack, this is an order, not a request. Go home. Good night," and with that the Commissioner rings off leaving Jack staring at the phone in his hand. He shakes his head and gathers his things grumbling under his breath about needing to stay at the station.
It is late; way past the waking hours of the St Kilda household. Jack enters the foyer quietly and takes off his shoes so that he won't make noise crossing the foyer to the stairs. He stops at Jane's door and peeks in, sighing with relief as he observes her deep even breathing from the doorway, one of the many weights in his chest lifting a bit.
He moves on to the bathroom very conscious of the fact that he has been in these clothes for days. He feels about a hundred years old. He begins drawing his bath, sinking into deep thought while he waits for the tub to fill. Why haven't they found more clues? What have they missed? What has he not done correctly? "There must be something I'm not seeing," he mumbles aloud in the empty bathroom.
Jack has rarely been so affected by the deaths he investigates as the three murders he attended over these last days. Rubbing his eyes and trying to get the image of the open, lifelessly staring blue eyes and dark hair to stop replaying in his head, Jack sighs deeply before stripping off his many layers and sinking into the steaming hot bath.
He soaks, his muscles slowly relaxing in the heat, but he is unable to stop the images. They flash continually and vividly across his closed eyes. He gives up the attempt to quiet his mind. He carefully washes; Dr. Wilson's cautions on cleanliness not far from his mind even with all the heaviness of the investigation. He needs Phryne's warmth and solid presence to ground him. He knows she is asleep and probably has been for hours, but he cares little at this moment if he wakes her. His desires drive him, compelling him to her bed.
She is peacefully sleeping her hands curved under her chin, a slight frown whispering across her features, her raven hair caressing her cheek. Jack watches her sleep for a few minutes allowing the peacefulness of the scene and her calm breathing to steal over him. She has kicked the covers off so the swell of her belly is evident through the silk of her nightclothes.
Suddenly he must assure himself that the babies are well. He slides into the bed beside her and wraps his lanky frame around her his right arm resting on her hip his fingers and palm splaying across her tummy.
Phryne mumbling incoherently snuggles back against him the curve of her bottom fitting to his body. Despite his exhaustion Jack's body responds to the contact; his hard length pressing against her bottom. His hand tightens on her belly and he feels a responding push from the babies. He breathes out more of his tension. It also dawns on him in this moment why the images of the murders are so vivid and haunting to him; it is because he imagines these babies, his babies, with dark hair and blue eyes. He shivers slightly pulling Phryne even more tightly against him his hand sliding over her drawing comfort from her familiar curves and the steady beat of her heart. He buries his face in the curve of her neck breathing in the clean scent of her shampoo and the soft French perfume she has delicately placed on her neck attempting to get the stench of death out of his nostrils. Jack huffs softly into her neck; he doesn't like the smell of death. It sometimes sends him back to France.
When Phryne accompanies him at a scene it is less noticeable, but without her these last days he struggled a bit – not that others would notice. Phryne would notice and she would squeeze his hand or distract him with some wild theory, often closer to the truth than any of the theories of the formally trained men on his staff, and she would help him to stay focused and in the present. And, he admits, with her knack of finding evidence his men, and sometimes he, overlook, they might possess more information than they do today.
Not wanting to wake her now, Jack wills his breathing to match hers, the exhaustion he feels quickly overcoming his body's reaction to Phryne's nearness, and he falls into a sleep filled with haunting dreams. Still, because of his tiredness he moves very little and his dreams do not wake Phryne.
Phryne wakes to the feeling of Jack against her back, the rise and fall of his heavy breathing causing his chest hair to scratch softly across her silk covered back and his morning erection pushing against her. Grinning, she turns to face Jack intent on pleasuring him, but the exhaustion still etched across his features causes her to pause and decide not to wake him as much as she hungers to, "Oh Inspector, you look as if the weight of the world is on you," she barely breathes the words out, not wanting to disturb him.
She watches him sleep, his hair tousled and falling across his forehead, his lips soft and very kissable. Her eyes wander to his strong chest, muscular arms and taut abdomen, all revealed as the sheets pool around his waist. He is thinner she notes with a frown, and she is bigger. She chooses not to dwell on the state of her pregnant body as she finds her husband incredibly desirable. He hands itch to stroke him, but she lets him sleep on. She burrows into him and dozes, his erection now pressing against her belly.
Jack wakes with a slight start expecting to see Phryne attempting to wake him, but quickly notes that she is sleeping. He wonders what woke him, and then he feels it again. Realization dawns on him and he blushes in embarrassment and moves away from Phryne – the babies are awake and making their presence known!
Jack's rather sudden movement wakes Phryne, "H'lo Jack," she smiles sweetly at him gazing into his pale blue eyes, her voice slightly raspy with sleep.
Mesmerized by the clear blue of Phryne's eyes, Jack gazes lovingly at her.
She notes his eyes are slightly shadowed and files this away for later.
As one they move toward each other, Jack wrapping Phryne's fragile frame in his strong arms and she taking her lead from him for now.
"I missed you Miss Fisher, on the case and in my arms. This has been one of the worst weeks of my life as a detective. The investigation is horrifying, but I don't want to talk about it now. Right now I want to hold you and talk to our babies and have breakfast with Jane and then spend the rest of the day in bed with you…and if we have time later, we may discuss the case.
Phryne nods at him, frustration evident in her features, but she decides that Jack's needs are more important than her own at the moment. "I would hate to waste that glorious greeting," she grins down at his obviously still needy body.
Grinning lopsidedly at her, his sleep roughed voice indefinably sexy, "Not to worry, my love, your patience will be rewarded."
Placing a kiss on Phryne's forehead, Jack slides down her body until he is level with her belly button. He begins to talk to the babies, his deep melodic voice vibrating through her, filling her with more peace than she has known in days. He talks about how much he wants to see them, and how he loves them and their mother and their big sister. He talks about going to the shore and building sandcastles. Jack drones on for a time and then he begins to sing various nursery rhymes including Riding Song and The Southern Cross. The movements of the babies increase quite a lot while Jack is singing and Phryne laughingly tells him to stop. "Jack, they are pummeling me. I am going to be bruised," she snickers, her fingers ruffling his hair. Jack finishes the song he is regaling the babies with, the final strains of sounding softly in the air.
There is a soft knock at the door. "Enter," Jack commands after a pause, quickly donning his thick robe.
Jane enters the room and with a small cry launches herself at Jack hugging him fiercely. He hugs her back just as fiercely thanking God that she is safe.
"Da-Jack, I missed you," Jane's sweet voice speaks into his chest, her arms still tight around his middle.
"I missed you as well Jane," Jack growls softly placing a kiss on top of her head. "I'm glad you are up and we can have breakfast before you are off to school. I think I should carry Phryne down to the parlor, what do you think?"
Jane's delighted "yes!" echoes around the room. Phryne can't help smiling as she observes them, her hands rubbing her tummy with light rhythmic strokes, the firm movements in multiple locations giving her peace of mind.
Jane gets Phryne a beautiful red silk robe with a riot of embroidered birds to wear downstairs.
Jack picks Phryne up, noticing that in the week he has been gone that she is heavier and he can't suppress his smirk and the soft grunt as he lifts her. He takes Phryne to the bathroom first and then he follows Jane, careful to take his time down the stairs. After depositing her on the chaise, he heads to the kitchen to let Mr. Butler and Dot know the plan.
Jane is already sharing the news in an excited voice, talking animatedly with her hands.
Mr. Butler and Dot grin at Jack and shoo Jane and Jack out of the kitchen. "Breakfast in the parlor in 10 minutes, Inspector," Mr. Butler intones calmly.
Nodding Jack turns to Jane, "Let's go keep Phryne entertained while we wait."
Jane nods eagerly and grabs Jack's hand. They return to the parlor with Jane talking a mile a minute about things at school and the latest book she is reading.
Phryne thinks again what a picture they make as they return hand in hand, Jack's head inclined toward Jane.
The three of them talk companionably while waiting for breakfast, each reveling in being together again as a family.
Once they have eaten, Jack eating extra, his hunger finally winning over his sense of dread and frustration, they send Jane off to Warleigh Grammar and have a second cup of tea, staring silently into each other's eyes.
Suddenly Jack places his cup on the table and takes Phryne's from her. He picks her up again and carries her swiftly up the stairs. He places her gently on the bed and then pads over to the bedroom door, locking it. He does not want to be the cause of traumatizing Dot yet again.
When he turns back to the bed, Phryne is watching him, a slight smile curving across her lips, her eyes wide with anticipation. Jack sheds his robe and Phryne runs her eyes hungrily over his body, sucking in her breath. He clearly missed being home these last many days.
Jack moves back to the bed, holding himself over her, the look of desire and lust and love fighting the shadows still in his eyes. Phryne wonders at this, but knows that what Jack needs, what they both need is to spend time loving each other. There will be time to explore the shadows. Phryne reaches up for him, drawing him to her and kissing him ravenously, the taste of tea and fruit pleasant on her tongue.
Jack breaks the kiss and begins to trail soft kisses along her jaw and down her throat mumbling against her skin how delicious she tastes and how good she smells. He continues his quest just grazing her with his teeth, her body's reaction causing him to grin appreciatively. He lavishes attention through the silk of her pajamas, the silk soft and smooth against his lips and tongue, his tongue leaving the silk wet and a darker shade of peach. Groaning softly he continues down her body softly kissing her tummy before he slides her pajama top up to reveal her creamy skin. He kisses her tummy all over and allows his fingers to ghost lower still, barely caressing through the silk. Phryne is moaning softly now, wanting more of his touch. She can hardly wait to feel Jack's skin against hers, so she pulls her pajama top over her head and lets it float off the bed. "Jack, please," she pants ever so slightly.
Jack's hands lovingly caress her and he moves over her again, careful not to put any weight on her, but allowing himself to push against her silk covered center. He can feel the silk growing damp and the longing to rip the silk from her body becomes more than he can fight. With one hand holding himself up, he uses the other to push Phryne's pajama bottoms down her legs exposing her to him.
Jack groans louder this time unable to suppress his reaction, "you are so gorgeous Phryne. I missed you so much." Jack, taking himself in hand teases her mercilessly; his velvety tip wreaking pleasurable havoc until she shudders in the throes of what he intends to be the first of many orgasms. As he hovers over her quaking body, he is nearly overcome with the desire to plunge into her warm heat.
He rolls quickly to his side lest he give in to the desire to fill her, his breath coming in jerky gasps. He slides down and begins to pleasure her again, not wanting to lose a second of their time together. He finds the spot he knows she loves best and the torture begins anew, her moans and soft cries of pleasure spurring him on. After he has brought her to the heights of ecstasy and pushed her over the edge many more times, Phryne is limp with pleasure and Jack moves up to cradle her in his arms capturing her mouth in a searing kiss, his own desire mounting as he feels the soft tremors still shaking through her body.
"Jack, I don't think I can move, my very bones feel like liquid, but I positively want to return the favor," she says a deliciously languid tone in her voice and her eyes pansy soft. "I must confess I've been dreaming of doing naughty things to you. Perhaps we can find a suitable alternative, Inspector?"
"An excellent idea," Jack's response is thick and filled with lust. He moves around until Phryne can pleasure him with little physical movement on her part. Jack is so caught in the warmth of her hands and mouth that it isn't very long before he is gasping in the throes of his own release, his head thrown back and his eyes tightly shut as the white hot climax surges through his body.
They sleep for a while then, wrapped in each other's arms, touching each other from head to toe. They wake only when Dot brings lunch and then they make love again, Phryne watching the shadows lurking in Jack's eyes.
When they have rested again, Phryne needs the bathroom so Jack takes her and when they return to bed she goes on the offensive. "Jack, I can see you are deeply troubled, out with it."
"I don't think I can. It is so sad and gruesome," his voice is low and she can hear the pain.
"Come now, Inspector, it will help to talk it out as we do all of our cases."
Jack sighs heavily though he nods. He lies back on the bed with his arms under his head, staring at the ceiling with unseeing blue eyes. The shadows are deep now Phryne notes before she snuggles into his side preparing to listen as he shares.
Once Jack begins to talk, it is clear to Phryne that he needs to get it out. His frustration and indignation for the little girls cloud his usual calm assessment of the clues and evidence. As he talks Phryne begins to form a picture in her mind of the dump locations.
She lets Jack talk uninterrupted, her mind absorbing the information. "And an abandoned house on Dandenong Street is where we found the third victim," his heavy voice finally fades into silence.
"Autopsy results complete yet?" Phryne asks her first question since he started talking.
"Not yet"
"I think that may give us some additional clues," says Phryne thoughtfully. "Clearly this serial killer has a very distinct type and age."
"Yes, yes he does," Jack's voice hardens with suppressed anger.
"Jack, I have just had a thought," Phryne's voice pitches higher with excitement. "We need to interview the friends of these little girls to see what they may have seen or heard."
"An excellent idea, Miss Fisher. We'll make a real detective of you yet," he teases already feeling his load lighten just having shared with her.
She smirks, pleased that he is teasing her. "There are parks close to where the bodies were found. Perhaps he is luring them away from the parks somehow – using their natural curiosity as children against them."
"Let's map out on butcher paper the locations of the bodies and then add pertinent facts to it like the parks that are close by and the streets and tram routes to see if we see a pattern.
Jack nods his agreement some additional tension leaving him. He is able to focus his mind now thinking through the tasks. "Are you sure it won't bother you to see and hear more of the details?" Jack asks cautiously.
I believe I will be fine Jack. I need something to keep me busy. You can bring me some old unsolved cases as well if you like. I can study them and perhaps shed new light on some of the case."
"Hmm," Jack's interested voice responds, "let's see what Dr. Wilson says tonight. Is he dining with us this evening?"
"Yes, both he and Mac are coming for dinner. I'm sorry Jack, I wasn't sure when you would be home, and I need diversions," Phryne explains.
"I am happy to have dinner with those two," Jack says fondly, one of his arms reaching to stroke her silky hair; "they are taking good care of you for me."
Phryne smiles to herself, and they both drift off to sleep again, their exhaustion for very different reasons, but pulling them together for a refreshing nap.
Dot wakes them in time to prepare for dinner with Dr. Wilson and Mac.
Dr. Wilson performs his check of Phryne prior to dinner, "All is going as well as can be expected at the moment."
Jack breathes out a sigh of relief and Phryne follows suite.
They spend a delightful evening with Dr. Wilson and Mac, enjoying good food and friendship. Once he sees the doctors out, Jack returns to the parlor for Phryne.
He slides his arms around her, lifting her and cradling her close to his chest, growling, for her ears only, "Now, my darling, it is time for dessert!" and without further ado, they retire for the evening, Phryne's laughter echoing down the stairs as Jack carries her to her room.