Dear Diary

by NancyMay

Phryne writes a diary, she has to talk to someone about her personal feelings and who better than someone or something that doesn't interrupt. Now decided to update, I am binge watching the series. The rating may change, though not above T, leastways I don't think so, but for now it is K. As you have noticed these are not published in episode order.

26. Marked for Murder

Dear Diary

It's years since I went to a footie match – not since I was 10 and my mother caught me smuggling beers into the team sheds – well a girl has to make a living! Anyway – Harry Harper, the captain of the Abbotsford team was found hanging in the shower, the water still running – but the reason I was there was because the coach had had his lucky cap stolen and Bert had asked me to investigate. Of course he blames the opposition.

I met Rosie (Jack's ex) again, first at the sheds and then at the memorial for Harry. We chatted about how close Harry's widow, Celia, and the vice captain, Vince Barlow, seemed to be. Apparently Harry was a notorious womaniser and Celia had asked Rosie about divorce – Rosie didn't think she had it in her.

Rosie and her fiancé, Sydney, (she didn't waste time, I wonder if that was the reason she wanted a divorce, I'm damned sure it wasn't Jack's idea) are Abbotsford fans, Sanderson is a West Melbourne fan, as is Jack and me – I'm on the winning side!

Harper was hung by a rope, not the scarf he was found with, strung up by the West Melbourne coach because he had got his daughter pregnant 2 years ago and she had tried to abort the baby – she was got to the team nurse but it was too late to save her. Gibbs, understandably, never forgave Harper and forced him to confess so he killed him, leaving it looking like suicide – he made Harper stand on a block of ice and turned on the shower, as it melted Harper was slowly hung – urgh! Gibbs, the WM coach then went to kill Baines, Harper's mentor because he told Harper to leave the his daughter, deny he had anything to do with the baby she conceived ...

Sanderson tried to get Jack to keep Vince Barlow in the cells until after the match, without reason of the law.

Harper used to work for Sydney on the docks and from what his widow said he also gave them a house – now what sort of employer does that unless they are hiding something – I think I shall put Sydney Fletcher on my watchlist he's far too well dressed and smooth for my liking.

Oh, and the hat – found and returned.

I swear Jack was close to kissing me at the match, the way he put his scarf round my neck and drew me a little closer than was proper, he has lovely eyes with a little twinkle in them. Hmmm...