A/N Hi everyone, if you are still following this story, well, WOW, thanks, sorry I haven't posted in YEARS, my life rather took a sharp turn in a fantastic way, and I completely forgot about this, until someone reviewed it earlier today. This isn't a whole chapter yet, I still have to dust off the cobwebs in the back of the brain and figure out where I was going with this, so I guess we will take that adventure together. I should have more up by tomorrow, but the more reviews I get the more I am motivated to write more MUAHAHAHA. Enjoy!
Okay for those who have already read what I put up, I made some amendments, I had to go back and reread everything I had wrote, to make it consistent. I know this is a short chapter, there is more to come, I just have to figure out how to get there! Keep reviewing. Thank you to my Guest reviewer who got RIGHT back to me after I posted!
Phryne drove away even faster than usual, needing space and air. This case was not sitting comfortably with her, and she knew both Jack and Mac would try and coax her into talking about it, but all she wanted was to know who was doing this, and why, and how they were connected. She knew logically that it couldn't be Foil, he was long since dead, but it felt as if he were returning from the grave to taunt her. She knew the only way to rest easy was to find out who was doing this, and how they were connected. First things first though, she wanted to check on Jane, make sure she was safe. So she went to meet Cec and Burt at Wardlow, to find out what they had learned at their previous trip to the docks.
"Hello boys, what have you discovered?"
"Well, Miss, seems Squizzy is in a tizzy, telling everyone he isn't responsible for these murders, and threatening to turn anyone over to the coppers if they rat on him." Bert announced, once they were sufficiently out of earshot of Jane and Ruby. "He's apparently still looking for somewhere to hide but no one will have 'im, seems no amount of threats can get them to harbour a known violent criminal."
"Fantastic" replied Phryne, "This was just what I needed to hear. I need Squizzy to come in and tell his side of the story, so we can get to the bottom of this, are you two up for a man-hunt"
"I don't know Miss, we are not very welcome these days at the docks, we wouldn't want to make any more enemies" Bert replied
"I don't want to put my family in harm's way" Ces chipped in.
"Alright, how's about you help me look for him and then I'll send you two back to keep an eye on Jane, I wouldn't want you to lose your contacts, or put you two in jeopardy for that matter, and I am much more comfortable knowing you are with Jane and Ruby."
"Yeah, alright I think we could do that, what do you think Cec?"
"I suppose so"
So off they went, in search of their bank robber. It wasn't hard to do, after all, he was scrambling a place to stay, and getting reckless.
Meanwhile Back at the Morgue...
Back at the Morgue, Jack was left flustered and slightly confused...Phryne had done her usual teasing, but there was something off about her, he could tell.
"It's the girls, that's what's getting to her" Mac said, after a moment of silence. "She's worried about Jane, and it's all a little too close to home with Janey's death. That's a wound I reckon will never fully heal, but looks like you two have gotten a bit cosier than usual, don't tell me you have actually managed to pin her down?" Mac looked up at him with questioning eyes, almost accusatory.
"If you are implying that Miss Fisher has decided to give up all men in favor of me, I highly doubt that, that is her decision not mine" Jack replied.
"Well good luck with that, now I suggest you go after her, I should think you know her well enough by now to know that when she gets upset, she has a tendency to delve a little too deeply into her investigations." Mac knew Phryne well enough to know that she wouldn't talk to anyone about her fears, but had a tendency to get quite reckless.
"Good point Mac, thank you, I'll be on my way then" And with that he tipped his hat to her, and walked out the door. He got to the station, and had Hugh look into the similarities between the two dead girls, to see if there was a connection, and see if they in turn were connected to the death of the Bank manager.
"I'm going to go assist Miss Fisher in finding Squizzy, I trust you and Miss Williams can find a connection between our victims without too much difficulty."
When Jack caught up to Phryne she, Bert and Cec had just found where Squizzy was rumoured to be. He quietly walked up behind where the three of them were hiding.
"Any sightings?" He whispered. The three of them nearly jumped out of there skins. Phryne turned around to see Jack there, smiling.
"What are you doing here, I thought you were supposed to be looking into the connection between our two dead girls!" Phryne exclaimed.
"I left that very important matter to my top constable and your assistant, and I feel very confident that they can take care of the matter, leaving me free to come assist you in finding our suspect." Cec and Bert looked at each other knowingly and began to make their exit.
"I think now is the best time for us to go keep an eye on Jane, and you two can continue the search for ole Squizzy" and they headed back to their cab.
"You know you don't need to protect me Jack," she said somewhat teasingly, but with a hint of truth to it, and turned her back to him.
"What if I just enjoy spending time with you, Miss Fisher," he said quietly in her ear, in a gruff voice. She smiled and turned around to look at him.
"I suppose I can allow you to do that" And she gave him a chaste kiss before returning to her lookout. "There he is, and look he's bleeding, looks like he got shot in the process too. That's why he's been scrambling around trying to get help"
