Chapter 8
Thank you again for all of your kind words and encouragement! I apologize that this chapter didn't come to fruition more quickly. I have been busy at work and had the flu. This chapter and some of the future ones also required a good deal of research. Thank you to Seldarius and Ariadne for their help in researching and allowing me to bounce ideas off of them in the middle of the night on one continent or another. This chapter is a bit darker than most to this point.
Jack wakes to the insistent ringing of the phone. Groaning softly he carefully untangles himself from around his wife, pulls on his robe and pads silently out to the top of the stairs just in time to hear Mr. Butler saying, "Yes, Constable, I will wake the Inspector, one moment."
Mr. Butler places the phone on the hall table with an audible sigh and turns toward the stairs to find Jack on the bottom step. "Constable Adams is on the phone, sir."
"Thank you Mr. Butler. Go back to bed. I'll be fine." Mr. Butler nods silently and heads off toward the kitchen.
Jack picks up the receiver, "Hello Constable, what is happening?" He listens intently, the sounds of Mr. Butler working in the kitchen bringing a slight quirk to his lips, the knowledge that there will be a meal before he is ready to leave and food for later packed to go with him warming him. There really are some advantages to having a staff.
"Constable Adams, please call Constable Collins to meet me there, and tell the police photographer to take general pictures of the scene, but not to disturb anything until I arrive. Hanging up the phone Jack moves swiftly back upstairs pausing outside Jane's door debating. He enters her room, noting she her covers are on the floor. The serene expression on her face causes Jack's heart to contract as he gently places her covers back over her; how he loves this former street urchin, now for all intents and purposes his daughter. He gently kisses her brow before leaving having reassured himself she is peacefully sleeping in her bed.
Jack returns to Phryne's bedside, "Phryne, I have to go to work," he gently shakes her shoulder. She opens one very sleepy eye, "I don't know when I'll be home. There's been a murder."
Phryne is immediately alert, "I wish I could go with you."
"I know," he breathes, "I wish you could too." He trails his fingers down her arm, "I won't know what to do without you pestering me Miss Fisher."
Phryne arches her eyebrow at him, "You say the sweetest things, Inspector. You really know how to sweep me off my feet."
They both laugh, "Let me dress and I will take you to the bathroom before I leave," Jack gently tucks a wayward raven lock behind her ear his fingers lingering briefly on her face.
Jack bathes quickly, shaves, cleans his teeth and puts on his armor, knotting his tie carefully before he returns to Phryne. He helps her to the bathroom and back to bed taking a couple of extra minutes to talk to the babies; after all, the body isn't going anywhere.
Phryne huffs in mock frustration as Jack finishes speaking to her stomach, "Really Jack what am I; Vegemite?"
Chuckling he places a kiss on the top of her head, "you, my darling, are Chateaubriand!"
He dodges the pillow Phryne throws, "Duty calls," and he walks away, an elegant sight in his suit with the jacket tightly hugging his shoulders.
"He really is a beautiful man," Phryne smirks to herself. "Bye now," her wistful voice floats to his retreating back.
He raises his hand in salute and is gone, traipsing down the stairs and gathering his coat and hat before making his way to the kitchen where delicious smells cause his stomach to growl loudly. He finds Mr. Butler has scrambled eggs on toast and hot coffee ready for him, and is also placing a thermos into a basket as he enters the room.
"Mr. B, you are indeed a godsend," Jack smiles appreciatively at the offerings. "I don't know when I will be home. As Jack finishes up his simple breakfast, the phone rings again. Jack swallows quickly the coffee nearly scalding his throat. "I'll get that," he chokes out.
"Inspector Robinson," Jack barks into the phone.
"Sir, another body has been found," Constable Adams says.
"I am walking out the door Constable," and taking the basket Mr. Butler is holding out to him he leaves 221B the light shining softly through the stained glass side lights.
Jack arrives on the scene of the first victim which was discovered off of the Balavlava Road in the Balaclava suburb just a short distance from Luna Park. He finds that his men already placed a blanket over the body. When Jack looks under it he understands why. The body is of a young girl, perhaps ten years old and she is naked. She is face down and her hands are tied behind her back with some type of cloth. His heart drops, dreading that he is going to be breaking some parents' hearts later. He sees something in the girl's mouth, but chooses not to roll the body over here. He will wait for the morgue. He carefully examines the scene, but finds no other clues. He gives Constable Adams instructions for Dr. Johnson to wait for both bodies and his arrival at the morgue before he begins his examination. He walks away, motioning for the body to be removed.
"Constable Adams, please check with the rest of the Victorian Constabulary for missing child reports when you return to the station. Collins, with me please," Jack's voice is heavy. Children are the worst part of their job and all of them are solemn and slightly troubled.
Hugh makes notes along the way as he and Jack review the area and potential places for the crime to occur.
"I notice no footprints, hoof prints, tire marks or anything around the body. It is hard to tell if the ground has been swept with something, although the ground isn't soft here so there wouldn't be much in the way of footprints to sweep away. The murderer either murdered her very nearby or brought her here. How would that be possible? Bring men back to search abandoned houses and buildings. I want to know if this happened near the placement the body if at all possible."
"Yes, Sir," comes Hugh's resigned voice.
"And Collins, also note what public transportation is available in this area and how far it is from where the body is located." Hugh scribbles down the instructions so he doesn't forget to relay them.
Jack and Hugh jump into the police vehicle with Jack driving and move to the location of the second body.
As they approach the area near Prince's Bridge, Jack's stomach sinks as he sees another small blanket covered body near the foot of the bluestone steps leading down to the river. Sure enough it was another dark-haired naked girl child, bound and gagged. Jack, his stomach roiling, drops the blanket back over the body. She is just a baby he thinks. What kind of person does this to a child? In the background he hears the gentle lapping of the Yarra, the sound completely incongruous to the violence that has taken place. He glances at Hugh who is clearly disturbed, his large blue eyes are shimmering and his jaw trembles slightly.
"Come on Hugh," Jack utters in his deep bass uncharacteristically calling the man by his first name knowing that his Constable will register that fact, "let's get on with it."
Hugh blinking rapidly nods at the Inspector, and taking out his notebook he begins writing. Once again they find no real clues and Jack requests that men search the area here as well.
Jack drops Constable Collins at City South and drives on to the morgue.
In the morgue Dr. Johnson has both girls laid out for examination. He has not started anything yet per Jack's request.
"Inspector, shall I begin?" Dr. Johnson asks in a resigned voice.
Jack nods staring at the first little girl's body. He notes the dark hair again and now observes blue eyes as he bends to examine her more closely. He is glad that Phryne isn't here to see this. The child reminds him eerily of how he imagines Phryne at a young age. He shivers. There are bruises on the little girl's neck. There is some type of cloth stuffed in her mouth. He steps back slightly to allow Dr. Johnson to do his job.
Dr. Johnson starts the examination by removing the item of cloth from the mouth. "These appear to be little girl's bloomers," Dr. Johnson says as he removes the item and places it in a basin. Jack's eyes close momentarily. He feels sick again, his mind leaping ahead.
"Bruising at the neck and petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes suggest strangulation. The wrists were bound with what appears to be a ribbon or tie, perhaps from her missing clothing." He becomes silent as he continues the exam.
"There is some bruising along the torso." He moves further down her body commenting along the way. When he reaches her thighs, he becomes very quiet. Jack is growing impatient to know what he is observing.
"Doctor Johnson what are you finding?"
Dr. Johnson's sigh is long and he spits out with barely suppressed rage, "There is significant Punctate bruising of the thighs and penetrative trauma to the vagina and anus. There appears to be seminal fluid as well. These injuries suggest she was raped." He glances at Jack, noting his pallor, "Inspector, are you sure you wouldn't rather wait for the report?"
"No Dr. Johnson, I need to know what kind of monster we are hunting. These girls are so young, but they are very similar in looks and age. I think we may be dealing with a true serial killer."
Dr. Johnson nods thoughtfully and moves to the second body. He finds the same types of injuries and also panties wadded into her mouth. He gives Jack this info in a very clinical voice.
"Dr. Johnson, please make sure to check stomach contents," Jack says as he turns on his heel to leave the morgue, "and take lots of pictures".
"Yes, Inspector, I will do so." He turns back to the bodies to complete a thorough examination frowning in concentration.
Jack pushes through the morgue door squaring his shoulders as he mentally prepares for the task ahead – notifying two families their little girls aren't coming home – his mouth thinning into a tight line, he huffs out a shuddering breath. He returns to the police station the slight nausea he has felt since going to the scene of the first victim still making its presence known.
Jack enters City South barking questions as he does, "Collins, where are we on the follow up of missing children?
Constable Collins drops his pen and pad as he jerks in response to the Inspector's commanding question, "Uh, there are four reports of missing girls, sir," his shaky voice reports.
Jack rubs his eyes wearily, "Get the descriptions of the children Constable."
"Already done, sir," Hugh responds. "There are three girls described as having dark hair and blue eyes. One missing child is blonde with green eyes. They are all under the age of twelve."
Jack's stomach drops to his toes and his nauseous stomach roils again bile rising in his throat. He and Hugh exchange a long look of dread.
"Call the families of the three dark haired girls to meet me at the morgue," Jack's voice rings with regret.
"Yes, Inspector," Hugh's hands shake slightly as he reaches for the phone.
"And Collins, put the men on alert for another body and to follow up on any suspicious behavior or reports." Hugh nods his acknowledgement of the instructions.
Upon returning to the morgue to await the arrival of the families, Jack lets Dr. Johnson know that the families will be coming to identify the bodies and then waits in the police car. He wonders briefly what Phryne is doing and how the others are coping with her. He knows it is going to be a long time before he returns home.
After the families of the two girls identify them, Jack asks them to come to the station to provide information for the investigation.
When Phryne wakes again she feels the loss of Jack's heat surrounding her and grimaces against the annoyance that she can't join him on the investigation. The babies are drumming incessantly at the moment, and Phryne realizes she is ravenously hungry, not to mention her bladder is protesting the activity of the babies. She reaches for the bell and rings it loudly then falls back on her pillows. She is already fighting the malaise of missing him and Jack has only been gone a few hours. She supposes knowing that he might not be coming home is what has this darker mood stealing over her. She shakes herself and pastes a weak smile on her face as Dot comes in with a breakfast tray.
"Good Morning Miss Phryne," Dot's cheerful voice sounds as she sets the tray on the table. "Let's get you to the bathroom and ready for the day."
Phryne nods, "Thank you Dot."
After they return from the bathroom, they eat breakfast and Phryne's mood improves marginally.
"Dot, let's look at our list today and see what we can get done next."
"Very well Miss."
They look over the list and Phryne selects the installation of the bedroom telephone and the shower for the bathroom the items that they will pursue and make the arrangements today.
Phryne bites into a white peach thinking about what to do now that she has Dot busy with the other two activities.
She decides that she will work on the invitation for the Naming the Babies party.
She takes up her journal to work on the design of the invitation. She considers various color schemes: black and white, black and gold, white and gold, red, pink and blue before settling on a white background with gold lettering. She makes the decision to keep the invitation fairly straightforward and simple.
You Are Cordially Invited
to a
Name The Triplets Party
October 15
Seven o'clock in the evening
221B The Esplanade, St. Kilda
She draws some simple scalloped edging around the invitation, smiling absentmindedly as the babies make their presence known by doing some type of internal gymnastics. They are really moving around this morning, "I am delighted that you three approve of the party. Don't worry your father and I won't saddle you with names that are too horrid!" she laughs and strokes her belly, wondering what names will be presented at the party.
Phryne rings the bell again, pleased with her decision and wanting to have Dot take the design to the printer's right away.
Dot arrives a bit breathless, "Yes, Miss?"
"Dot, let's get this design for the baby naming party to the printer today," Phryne's voice is laced with a bit of excitement that does not go unnoticed by her companion. "Dot, I want you to pick out the final design of the invitation. It can be a surprise for me. I want the invitation to be on a white background with gold lettering and accents, but you choose whatever other design elements make you happy." Phryne's eyes are sparkling and her cheeks have a bit of color as she shows Dottie the drawing she has made in her journal.
"This is lovely," Dot says of the sketch, "it will make a beautiful invitation."
As Phryne and Dot are happily contemplating the party and names for the babies and a future of love and a growing family Jack is very sadly dealing with the harsher duties of his job and two families whose lives are irreversibly changed and whose future will not be contemplated with happiness for some time to come.