Blind Passion

Thank you to the wonderful Kerry Greenwood for her marvellous creations and for inspiring the ABC's establishment of Jack and Phryne as a romantic couple.

If you haven't already done so, please contact the ABC and beg them to continue producing the show. Even one more episode featuring a Phryne/Jack resolution would be better than nothing.

Sorry for the delayed post. I was about to upload about 4 hours ago when I realised I'd completely mucked up my timeline. It's taken me ages to fix but I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until it was done.

xxxx

Sunday

Following Hugh's report, the sleuths (private and official), had formed a plan of action and then gone their separate ways. Hugh had returned to the station to seek official information on their main suspect; and Dot, after first telephoning Andrew Richards and then Bert and Cec, had gone to search through her mistress's collection of costumes and disguises for some necessary items.

As for Phryne and Jack; after disappearing into the lady's boudoir for some time, they had emerged flushed and laughing and keen to get on with their own tasks.

Their first stop was to be the Queen Vic Women's Hospital and since they were using the Hispano-Suiza, Phryne naturally took the wheel. Resisting the urge to object, Jack was left to hang on for dear life with fedora safely secured in his lap and his eyes tightly closed; the theory being, that what he didn't see, he couldn't be questioned about in court later. It was a remarkably quick journey.

As Dot had arranged earlier, Albury and Andrew Richards were waiting for them.

As Phryne and Jack explained their theory on who was behind the attacks on Albury and her belongings, the young women went increasing ashen.

Andrew Richards was the first to break the pair's stunned silence. "I quite see what you're saying Miss Fisher, Inspector Robinson, it's all too much of a co-incidence." He turned to his stricken wife and took her hand, trying to rub life into it. "Darling, I'm so sorry that I didn't believe you. I've been a blind fool, I can see that now. Can you forgive me?" She forgave him of course, they were newlyweds after all.

"But Phryne, I don't understand. Is she the person responsible for turning the wives against me? Why? Why is she doing this to me? What have I done to make her hate me so?"

"Don't either of you have any ideas? Mr Richards, forgive me, but I need to ask. Were you ever involved with her in any way?"

Andrew Richards was looking genuinely mystified. "No. I mean I took her out dancing a couple of times but mostly we just pal-ed around in a group."

"And you Albury?"

"Well Muriel and I were never close friends, but I thought that we liked each other well enough. Really, this all seems quite farfetched but I can't help feeling rather relieved, this means those wives are in the clear doesn't it?" Jack looked rather awkward over this. After all, his sister was one of the wives and whilst he didn't doubt that she and her friends had only acted as they had out of misplaced concern; his faith and Muriel's apparent responsibility, hardly constituted proof. Phryne interceded to move the conversation along.

"Well the Inspector and I have put out some feelers, I'm sure that between us we'll be able to find out something. In the meantime though..."

"In the meantime Mrs Richards, I'm afraid that we're going to have to take steps to keep you safe." Jack waited for the couple's expressions of shock had wound down. "In my experience, these sorts of thing often escalate. Anonymous letters and petty spite has moved on to an active attempt to injure. Yes, I know we have no evidence, but given the other events, including the break in and vandalism this morning, I have no doubt that you were deliberately pushed down those stairs."

"What can we do Inspector, Miss Fisher?"

"Albury my dear, are you still being discharged tomorrow?"

Albury nodded. "They said tomorrow afternoon before tea."

"That's good. She should be safe enough until then don't you think Jack?"

"Yes, there are too many people around. It wouldn't be worth the risk. You won't be able to go home when once you are discharged though. We'll need to go somewhere safe, a hotel or..."

"You're more than welcome to stay with me if you'd like Albury, no one knows that we have a connection and my companion Dorothy is very capable young woman. I can assure you Mr Richards, that Albury would be quite spoiled." Albury and her husband readily accepted Phryne's invitation and then she and Jack proceeded to outline the rest of their plan.

xxxx

Morning visiting hours were over and as the two Detectives left the Queen Vic with Andrew Richards, Phryne took the opportunity to re-ask a question.

"Mr Richards..."

"Please call me Andrew." Phryne and Jack reciprocated.

"Andrew, now that Albury's not able to hear us, is there anything more that you can tell us about Muriel Smythe?"

"Not much I'm afraid, and nothing that I couldn't say if front of Albury."

"Just tell us whatever you can Andrew. Were you close?"

"I've know her for a long time. Harry Simpson and Meredith were childhood sweethearts you see and Muriel was always tagging along behind them. When she was sent to Finishing School I had already been up at Cambridge for two years. Anyway, apparently some bounder had been sniffing around and Harry got wind of it and asked me to step in. Not much more to tell really, there was no sign of the fellow but I took her around a bit and just played the big brother."

"But not her real brother and in my experience, when a handsome boy pays even a bit of attention to a teenage girl..."

"Eh?" Andrew caught on. "Oh no Miss Fish... Phryne. Nothing of that sort. Of course she used to bat her eyelashes a bit but... ah."

'Penny dropped?' Phryne just nodded and smiled and then closed her eyes for a moment to hide their expression, determined not to look at Jack. The eternal blindness of young men, never failed to amaze her.

"But surely, that can't be what this is all about? I mean, I know that I've been a bit obtuse over this but Muriel's always been such a sweet kid. She might be hurt because I didn't... well, return her interest but this business, with Albury, it's pretty nasty stuff. She'd have to be mad, quite mad."

"Yes there's something here we're still not seeing. The wives all seem to think there's some sort of scandal in the background and that an innocent person had been badly hurt."

"Phryne, Albury would never hurt someone like that, it's just not in her nature."

"I believe you Andrew. Try not to worry, we'll get to the bottom of this somehow."

xxxx

Having said farewell to Andrew Richards, Phryne and Jack were back in the Hispano-Suiza and about to set off for their next destination; Jack's home so that he could collect some essentials and, though neither would have admitted it, so Phryne could indulge her famous streak of curiosity.

"Jack, I was wondering... your housekeeper doesn't live in does she?"

"No." Jack was riveted by the sight of Phryne's teeth sinking into her own bottom lip as she looked at him suggestively.

"And she doesn't do Sundays?"

"No." His collar was suddenly feeling very tight.

"So there's not a soul at your house right now?" The wattage of Phryne's gaze had increased.

"Ahem... That would be correct." Jack's eyes were sparkling and his lips turned up in a half smile of challenge. "What did you have in mind, Miss Fisher."

"Oh... I thought I might take the opportunity to ravish you senseless of course." The Lady Detective leant over and headless of any observers, drew her handsome lover into a kiss that left them both breathless and tingling. Then, when she had recovered enough to concentrate, Phryne started her car with a full throated roar and headed out to put the life and limb of other people at risk; leaving Jack, as the passenger, free to enjoy his passion induced haze and quite blind enough to disoblige any court of law.

xxxx