"So, what exactly is the plan, Inspector?" Phryne asked as they drove down another quiet street. She missed her steering wheel, but Jack had insisted on the police car for their nightly excursion. She didn't really mind being chauffeured by him, though he did drive a bit like a milkman. Particularly for the lady of his heart being in peril.

"The lads on nightshift should already be at the house," he explained, as if he could read her mind. "I've telephoned to send a car."

She nodded.

"So, what is our role in this drama?" she asked.

"I, intend to go inside and ensure my fiancee and her brother are safe and sound and remain so. You, Miss Fisher, will be so kind as to wait in the car for me," Jack said firmly. She glanced at him. Usually she gloried in ignoring such obvious attempts at ordering her around, but tonight she chose a different strategy.

"Do you feel I will be safe in the car, considering the gunmen lurking in the bushes?" she asked sweetly. His eyes flickered at her and he licked his dry lips, a gesture she knew all too well. It was almost too easy.

They arrived at the small house without speaking another word, but once he had climbed out, she sat obediently until he had rounded the car and opened her door.

"You may join me for your own safety, Miss Fisher. But if you could be so kind as to not upset Concetta, I'd be deeply grateful."

"What do you take me for, Jack?"

"Would you really like me to answer that?"

She pouted at that, but followed him down the garden path all the same. It was odd how easy it was, she realised. Almost normal. The feeling disintegrated the moment the door flew open and a figure almost threw herself at the Inspector's chest.

"Gianni! Thank God," Concetta exclaimed, between stroking his face as if she had to make sure he was alive. "Are you harmed? Your men, they said you were attacked."

Jack set to ensure her of his perfectly good health, without paying attention to his companion, who stood behind him, watching the exchange with mixed feelings. The displayed tenderness between the lovers didn't fail to touch her, but her heart fell into a now familiar ache.

"We should head inside," Miss Fisher finally said, glancing over her shoulder into the darkness. Jack nodded his agreement. Concetta looked like she woke from a dream to realise that her fiance hadn't come alone.

"Come in, come in," she said quickly, ushering both her guests into the house. "It is much warmer inside."

"And hopefully safer," Phryne added under her breath.

When they stepped into the hall they noted Constable Foster standing behind the door, having witnessed the whole exchange. For a brief moment she spotted embarrassment flashing across Jack's features. Of course, having so many eyes watching his moment with Concetta would do that. Phryne smiled to herself, while the Inspector went straight to business.

"Anything out of the ordinary, Foster?"

"Nothing, Sir. We searched the house, the garden, even the street. Neither Mr. Strano nor his sister have noticed anything unusual."

"Good, good. We mustn't let our guard down though."

Jack chewed his lip. Miss Fisher could see the cogs in his head turn, wondering what the next step should entail.

"Miss Fisher, may I take your coat?" a soft voice asked behind her. She could barely keep herself from flinching. With a forced smile she turned to Concetta.

"Of course, thank you."

She slipped out of her damp coat and hat, carefully smoothing down her bob. Concetta watched her out of dark eyes.

"Gianni - he was at your house when those men shot at him?" she asked.

"He was just leaving," Miss Fisher explained, keeping her voice level. "We had business to discuss," she added for good measure. Upsetting Concetta wouldn't do, but it was hard to resist the temptation all the same.

"I see," Concetta said calmly. Her smile looked just as forced as her own, Miss Fisher noted. There was a pause. "Thank you for keeping him safe," the other woman added. Phryne started.

"I'm afraid it was due to blind luck rather than me," she smiled thinly. "Fortunately those thugs weren't good shots."

Both turned to look at where Jack was in heated discussion with Foster, along with another officer Phryne didn't recognize, and Vincenzo Strano, who looked like he had been called out of bed.

"We do not need polizia in the house!" he exclaimed loudly. "It will only provoke them!"

"I believe we are beyond provoking them, Vincenzo," the Inspector argued. "I will not wait for Concetta or yourself to be shot down in your front yard."

A string of swearwords was aimed at him, most, but not all, in Italian. Phryne slipped between the men quickly and quietly like a cat.

"Surely that is not the language you want to use in the presence of ladies," she said, smiling broadly at Vincenzo. He huffed, but fell silent. Concetta appeared, gently touching her brother's arm. He glared at Jack.

"You may stay! But those two," he waved at the other policemen, "they are not welcome in my house."

Jack opened his mouth, then closed it and sighed.

"Fine. I'll stay myself until the morning. Foster, please escort Miss Fisher home and organize a guard in front of the house at 7 am sharp."

He turned to Vincenzo.

"I hope you are happy."

The man just shrugged. "I'm going back to sleep," he said stubbornly, already on the way to the stairs. "Wake me if anything happens."

Jack looked after him, then turned on his heels and closed the kitchen door behind himself, just gentle enough to not offend, yet sufficiently hard to express his annoyance. The two officers exchanged a look.

"Miss Fisher," Foster said with some resignation, opening the front door for her. The lady detective considered the offer for a long moment.

"You know, I believe I'm happy to find my own way home," she smiled sweetly. Foster looked confused but was obviously not ready to argue with her. His fellow officer mumbled something and shoved him out the door before she could change her mind.

"Vorrei scusarmi, Miss Fisher. Vincenzo, he gets very angry when disturbed in his sleep."

Concetta smiled ruefully at her remaining guest. Phryne nodded.

"And I'm afraid I will have to upset him further," she said after a pause. "Because I have not intention to leave. Your brother may be perfectly content to know Jack here alone, but I am not."

Concetta didn't react to the challenge in her statement.

"He will not be alone, Miss Fisher," she said, adding: "But you are welcome to stay if it suits you."

Phryne's eyes followed her into the kitchen, where she doubtlessly would keep 'Gianni' company through the long hours. In that moment all Miss Fisher wanted to do was leave, go home to take a hot bath and curl up in her own bed. Instead she walked into the kitchen with her head held high, disarmed Jack's protest and settled in for the night.