Fumbles

All hail the wonderful Kerry Greenwood. Thanks for your inspiration. I don't own, etc.

I'll keep saying it. 'Logies Vote'. Don't forget and if you have anyone you can bed, borrow or steal a vote from please try. Oops I wrote bed, that's funny, I meant beg but bed's good too.

Sorry for rabbiting on. I got sunburnt at the beach this arvo (I was swimming laps and I forgot to put sunscreen on my back). I was a bit sore so I self medicated with half a bottle of pink Moscato and then there was this Daiquiri mix in the freezer and it was calling to me. I only had a couple but I'm pretty damn tiddly right now (cheap drunk). It'll be interesting to see how I feel about the chapter in the morning. If it suddenly disappears, you'll know why.

Thanks for the reviews, you're all wonderful people. Oh and hello to the person from Estonia. How cool is that? Estonia watches MFMM. More reviews please, they make me very happy.

xxxx

Approaching five o'clock

Bert and Cec's taxi was parked in Blessington Street, Bert was at the wheel his usual fag hanging off his bottom lip and Phryne, dressed down in department store clothes, was sitting in the missus seat. They were pretending to be talking about domestic matters as Bert kept watch on Dr Donaldson; pacing in front of the Botanic Garden's gates. Dot and Cec strolled up, looking for all the world like a courting couple. Pretending to spot their friends in the taxi they stepped over to say hello. Casually they chatted through the open window, only yards away from Donaldson yet invisible in their ordinariness.

Bert went on alert. "Fumbles Malone!' he murmured. "What on earth's he doing here?"

Phryne turned in her seat as Cec took advantage of Bert's inattention and bagged Abbotsford's latest footy results. She asked softly. "Who's Fumbles Malone?"

"Best lock pick in the business. They reckon he can get through anything, never fumbles." Bert watched as Malone, a stout, average height man of indeterminate age, strolled along the footpath in the direction of the gates. "I heard he done a runner across the ditch after that job at the Dickens Street Jeweller's went bad."

"Obviously not. Do you think he's our man?"

"Reckon so, look out." Phryne turned back in her seat to speak to Dot and Cec, she could just see that Fumbles had now approached Donaldson. "You two go now."

"Well, me and Dottie better get going before it gets completely dark! Cheerio you two." With Phryne and Bert's farewells, Cec took up Dot's arm and escorted her into the Garden.

As Phryne and Bert watched them leave, their targets, still unaware of the observers, began an intense conversation. "Oh dear, it doesn't look like Fumbles is prepared to hand over all the files." Eventually though, the men reached some kind of agreement and the Doctor reluctantly handed over a fat envelope and accepted a thin package in return.

Unsurprised, Bert shook his head. "He'll be planning on stinging the poor sod again, somewhere down the track." They continued to watch as Malone entered the Garden leaving his unhappy victim behind.

Miss Fisher was please. Although she had prepared for any contingency; Mr Butler and Julia were stationed at the end of the block behind them and she and Bert had been prepared to block his other potential exits; she had hoped the Blackmailer would actually enter the Garden. It was the ideal spot for an ambush after all.

Hiding her gun in the folds of her skirt, Phryne quickly climbed out of the car. With Bert a half a step behind, she walked past the Doctor (oblivious as he miserably inspected the package) and followed Malone through the gates.

Once inside, she and Bert had separated. Treading softly, off the path, they were in the perfect position to cut off escape when Cec, brandishing a Mauser Broomhandle semi-automatic, stepped out of the gathering dark.

Startled, the man held up his hands and took a step back; then froze as he felt something round and hard press between his shoulder blades.

A woman spoke in honeyed tones at his ear. "Very sensible Mr Malone. Now, keep your hands high and turn around slowly." He followed the instructions and found himself staring into the steely eyes of a beautiful but somehow frightening woman. She took a couple of steps back from him and spoke again. "That's right. Now my friend here is going to shackle you." She read his fear as he felt Cec's pistol against his back. "Don't worry, as long as you do what we ask, no harm will come to you. Now, one hand at a time please. Left." Bert clicked the Police issued shackle (which Phryne had 'borrowed' from the Station that afternoon). "Right." Of course, when Bert stepped behind him to cuff his other hand, Fumbles tried to take advantage of the situation (some people are just stupid like that). He had some cause to later regret that choice when in the ensuing scuffle he met Bert's infamous 'fist of steel'.

He came to, on the ground, with his arms firmly trussed behind him as, hand in arm, the Doctor and Julia Phillips stepped into view. Since Donaldson was Julia's own doctor and would therefore trust her, Phryne had asked Jack's sister to collect the man from outside the gates and bring him to the party.

Phryne turned to greet him. "Hello Doctor, thank you for joining us. Do you remember me?"

"Yes of course, it's Miss... Fisher isn't it?" He looked nervously down at the prisoner. "I told Mr.. the Inspector that I wanted this matter to be left alone."

"And the Inspector has done as you asked Doctor Donaldson. He's not part of this." In fact it had been quite a challenge to convince him to stay away, even with Phryne's assurance that he would not be required to arrest her later. Of course, apart from the weapons (which had now carefully been hidden from the Doctors sight), only a body or a complaint would require an arrest. Miss Fisher was confident that neither would be an issue.

Julia spoke up, patting the man's arm where her hand rested. "Don't worry Doctor. Miss Fisher is going to make sure you get all your files back and that this gentleman will no longer be a problem. You can trust her."

"Thank you Julia. Now Doctor, I need to know how many records did he sell back to you?"

"Only ten I'm afraid Miss Fisher."

"Was Miss Sanderson's one of them?"

"No I'm sorry, it wasn't."

Phryne spoke to the man on the ground. "So you still have another ten hidden away somewhere, is that correct?"

Fumbles hesitated and then shook his head. "Nine. I only have nine."

Though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer, Phryne asked, "Where's the tenth?"

"I can't say."

"Why not? Does someone else have it?"

Malone was looking frightened now. "Look Miss. I can't tell you. It doesn't pay to cross someone like her."

"Her?" Fumbles shut his mouth looking mulish. Phryne looked at Julia. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Julia her mouth looking grim, gave an almost imperceptible nod. Both women silently swore.

I need to move this elsewhere and I need to reduce the number of people involved. If she and Julia were right, Rosie Sanderson was even more ruthless than they'd thought. It would have taken a lot to get something like this organised so quickly. She'd have had to access some pretty serious criminal connections."Dot dear, would you please take the Doctor back to Mr Butler. You too please Julia."

Jack's sister began to protest. Phryne moved to speak quietly in the other woman's ear. "Julia please, the less people involved in this the better and... frankly, if we are both caught up in this and it goes wrong, it's going to look very bad for Jack."

She could see her friend wrestling with her desire to stay; it can't have been an easy battle, but eventually common sense won out and Julia agreed to go. Dot stayed behind for a moment.

"You'll be careful won't you Miss Phryne? I mean... you won't hurt him too much will you?" Her employer smiled before giving the young woman a quick peck on the cheek; she could see the effect Dot's soft words had on the bound man.

"It'll be fine Dot, try not to worry. I'll be home as soon as I can."

Finally, the Lady Detective and the comrades were alone in the dark with their captive.

"Well, men. I think we need to move Fumbles here to somewhere more comfortable so that we can have a proper chat. Any ideas?"

The old friends had one of their lightning fast silent conversations. "Cec's sister's husband's cousin's has a shack down at the docks."

"Perfect, let's go." She held out her hand for the Mauser which Cec had tucked under his dust coat. "I'll carry the guns," she grinned down at Malone, her white teeth feral in the faint light, "you carry the dead meat."

xxxx

It had taken some sneaking around but eventually they were safely hidden away in Cec's sister's husband's cousin's icy cold shack. Fumbles Malone, still shackled was seated on a large crate in the middle of the small room. Somehow still managing to look elegant, Miss Fisher was lounging on top of a second crate, which had clinked suspiciously as she'd sat down; Bert and Cec's faces had worn a don't ask expression as she'd quirked a curious eyebrow.

"So Fumbles. You don't mind if I call you Fumbles do you?" She casually lifted her skirt displaying a flash of stocking and white thigh before plucking a pearl handled dagger from her garter. The three men in the room suddenly decided it was quite a warm night after all.

"I understand your last job went a bit awry. Is that right Bert?"

"Safe job at the Jewellers on Dickens Street. Fumbles' mate, got a bit trigger happy when a guard showed up."

"Oh dear, isn't that a hanging offence?"

"May's well be. Armed Robbery with Attempt to Murder, just being there gives Fumbles thirty years hard time in the Jug."

"Tsk tsk. Fumbles, what are we going to do with you?"

"I'm no nark Missus. That's a sure way to end up dead."

Phryne casually trimmed a rough nail with her dagger.

"Well I suppose we could always try the easy way first. What do you think Gentlemen."

"He's after money Miss."

"Very well," She straightened up and looked serious. "No cops and £50."

"No cops and £1000. I reckon the Doc'll pay if you can't."

"No cops and £100 and..." she remembered something Bert had said earlier. "and... I get you out of the country. That's my final offer."

Fumbles made a show of reluctance, but she knew she had him. "Done but I get to keep the money I already got."

"Fine." All things considered she didn't think Donaldson would quibble at the price. "You give us all the files you have and tell us what you know and I promise we'll have you out of the country as soon as it can be arranged."

Fumbles glared suspiciously. "Right. Give you everything I've got and you'll just promise to keep up your end. What sort of muggins do you reckon I am? Why should I trust your word?"

Phryne snarled and as she darted across the room toward him, Cec's strong arm wrapped around Malone's neck.

"Because, the easy way requires less mess and effort than the hard way." Malone broke out into a fine sweat and gulped against the pressure on his throat. There now seemed to be something rather sharp poking through the cloth that covered his groin. "Now, do we have an agreement?"

"You can bank on her word either way Fumbles." Malone looked across at Bert as he spoke. Somehow, he knew he could believe what they were saying. "Yes." He began to talk as soon as Cec released his grip and eventually Phryne put her knife away.

xxxx

Note:

I love it writing about Bert and Cec, I get to use lots of colloquialisms. Please let me know if I miss any or if I've explained something unnecessarily.

Fag – A cigarette. Yes we really did use this word. I couldn't resist. I hope at least one reader did a double take or giggled over the modern day connotation. Let me know if you did.

Missus Seat – the front passenger seat where your wife sat of course.

Bagged – criticised or make fun of.

Abbotsford – Bert's footy team. I'm sure he probably heard and will be speaking to Cec about it when he's got time.

Footpath – Pavement or Sidewalk

Done a runner – run away, escaped or gone into hiding.

Across the ditch – New Zealand.

Dickens Street Jeweller's – A real Jeweller in 1929 that was robbed. By a remarkable quirk of fate, Jack actually mentioned this robbery in Chapter 11 but I hadn't even begun to develop the Blackmail storyline at that point.

Cheerio – Goodbye

Stinging – Stinging or demanding money.

Sod – person deserving pity or derision

Somewhere down the track – in the future.

Mauser Broomhandle semi-automatic – German weapon souvenired by Mr Butler during WW1.

Borrowed – Of course when I say Phryne 'borrowed' the shackles, I meant that Dot distracted Hugh whilst she'd lifted a set of shackles from behind the front desk. I'm sure she'll return them to the Inspector at a later date. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Hard time in the Jug – Breaking rocks in prison.

Nark – police informant.

Muggins – fool