Chapter 4

"You summoned me?" Phryne's plan to go to Royal Melbourne was temporarily thwarted toward the morgue. Mac was just finishing up another unrelated autopsy when she arrived.

"If I actually had the power to summon Phryne Fisher, my life would be very different," smirked Mac, "But I did ask you to drop by, yes. Where's your partner?" Mac asked.

"My partner?" Phryne looked at her confused.

"Detective Inspector… City South… about so tall," Mac gestured with her hand, "you share your bed with him? Ring any bells?"

Phryne rolled her eyes, "I didn't know if you meant Jack or Dot… she sometimes comes with me, on…"she trailed off as Mac gave her a sarcastic look.

"Yes, clearly I meant the very pregnant woman and not the officer of the law."

"Didn't you call him as well?" Phryne asked in a high-pitched query.

"I figured you were working this together."

Phryne felt a momentary pang of remorse for not letting Jack know she was coming here, but she decided quickly she'd just catch him up later.

"So, what did you find?" She asked Mac.

"There was definitely hydrofluoric acid in her nebulizer," Mac reported, "I had Collins go back and get the vials adrenaline chloride, which is the medicine used in the nebulizer, and it seems like small quantities of the hydrofluoric acid were introduced into several of the vials, but I haven't been able to determine when. It's possible I might be able to figure it out based on the concentration and breakdown of the glass... but I'll need more time."

"Who would be able to do something like that?" Phryne asked.

"Hydrofluoric acid isn't that difficult to get. It's a pretty common rust remover. Motorcar repair garages would have it easily enough. Hospitals keep it on hand, of course. I would bet even Mr. Butler has some," Mac said.

"But who would know how to get it into the adrenaline chloride?" pressed Phryne.

"Getting it in there isn't that difficult. Doing it in the right amounts so that it doesn't melt the bottle or instantly kill the victim would take some finesse… or luck. If it were intentional, I'd say a pharmacist or a chemist or possibly even a biologist. It could possibly be… or even likely be… a doctor, as we have to study the effects of the medicines we prescribe and both chemistry and biology are a big part of that," Mac mused.

Phryne stood to leave. She had a sudden rush of pain behind her eyes and a wave of dizziness hit her. One hand reached out to catch herself while the other shielded her eyes from the suddenly painful light in the morgue.

"Phryne! What in the hell is going on?" Mac was next to her in an instant, forcing her to sit again. She moved Phryne's hand away from her eyes and took her chin in hand to tilt Phryne's face up to her.

Phryne blinked painfully at her, "It's noting Mac. Just some kind of sinus headache, I think. I meant to ask you about it. It comes and goes."

"Sinus headache?" Mac looked at her dubiously, "Any other symptoms?"

Phryne shrugged lightly, "Not as such. Maybe a little overly tired. I fell asleep yesterday afternoon and didn't wake up until Jack got home after dark."

Mac put her hand on Phryne's head and then on both sides of her neck behind her ears, feeling along her lymph nodes. "Hmm. I'd rather do this in my office than the morgue."

"I don't feel sick. Just the headaches and sometimes I get tired." Phryne reported.

Mac was still feeling her neck, "Any nausea at all?"

"No. None."

"What about your menses?" Mac queried.

"I'm not pregnant. We've been very careful." Phryne insisted.

Mac looked at her reprovingly, "How many times have I had to tell you, Phryne? That diaphragm isn't fool proof. There's still a chance of pregnancy… even if you use it properly every time."

"Well, I don't have any nausea. It's likely just a sinus headache. Can't you just give me a powder… or something?" Phryne asked.

Mac rolled her eyes, "Nausea isn't always a part of it, darling girl. I'd prefer to do a test. I don't have any thing to do the test here. Come to the Women's Hospital tomorrow and we'll do a test."

"That poor rabbit," said Phryne sadly, "Can't I leave you the… sample?"

Mac sighed as she stood, "The things I do for you, Phryne Fisher. Fine. Ladies is down the hall," She handed Phryne a specimen jar, "Don't make a mess."

Phryne carefully stood. Head still throbbing and made her way to the lavatory.

Mac was on the telephone when she returned, "I'll let you know. I have to go," she said as she disconnected.

"Who was that?" Phryne asked.

"What?" Mac looked at her confused and then at the telephone, "On the telephone? A… just a detective. Different case."

Phryne eyed her suspiciously. Had Mac just called Jack behind her back? She narrowed her eyes at her oldest friend. "Are you sure that wasn't Jack?"

Mac shot her an incredulous look, "What? Of course, I'm sure. I know what Jack Robinson sounds like. That decidedly wasn't him."

"You called Jack behind my back, didn't you?!" Phryne accused Mac, "You told him about the headaches… and everything… Oh God… Mac! Why!?"

"Phryne!" Mac grabbed her by the shoulders and insisted, "I did NOT talk to Jack! But I think you need to."

Phryne huffed, "I'm fine."

"And if you are pregnant? What then?" Mac asked.

"Then I'll talk to him. But no need to worry him for a headache. Speaking of which…" Phryne looked hopefully at Mac.

Mac went to her bag, "Here. Don't take a lot of them, " she handed Phryne a bottle, "It's essentially cocaine. But it should help with the sinus pain."

"Thank you, Mac," Phryne said taking the bottle, "I'm sorry I accused you… this case is just getting to me."

"Got what you needed, then?" Mac said grumpily.

"Yes, I believe so. Thank you, Mac," Phryne agreed. She moved toward the door but paused before exiting. "One more question, Mack."

Mack looked at her with eyebrows raised in inquiry.

"Did she suffer?"

"Phryne… you don't want to know th…"

"Mac."

"It would have been a terrifying and painful way to die," said Mac sadly, "but it was relatively quick."

Phryne nodded and walked out the door.

Phryne took two of the pills as she left the morgue and drove herself over to Royal Melbourne Hospital. She made her way to Dr. Florey's office to find Hilda, his secretary. Hilda Beattie was a stern looking blonde woman with thin press of lips. Her face was made up of harsh angles and deep hollows. The effect was made more severe by the tightly pulled back bun hairstyle she wore.

She looked up at Phryne as she entered the office, but failed to greet her.

"Is Dr. Florey in?" Phryne asked her.

She studied Phryne for a moment in a look that could be most accurately read as 'disdain' before she answered. "He is not."

Phryne smiled tightly, "I'd really like to speak to you Ms. Beattie."

Hilda looked at her skeptically, "What do you want, Miss Fisher?"

"I know that Dr. Florey said he knew nothing about Dr. Gilbert and Nurse Murdockson," began Phryne, "But you know everything that happens in this hospital, don't you Ms. Beattie?"

The stern woman looked at Phryne carefully. A smile slowly creeped slowly along her tight mouth. The effect was slightly alarming and vaguely sinister, but Phryne smiled encouragingly in return.

"Perhaps."

"Dr. Gilbert claims he only had casual dates with Nurse Murdockson and Nurse Isaacs. Were you aware of anything different?"

"I'm sure he thought that," replied the woman, "but those women… I think he charmed them. They weren't ready to let him go."

"Hold on," said Phryne, "Dr. Gilbert said he only went out once with Marjory Murdockson, and that she turned him down after that."

"I don't know the particulars of their date, Miss Fisher. But they seemed quite chummy for some time. And the word around the nurse's station was that she'd been jilted. She was very stand-offish after that and barely spoke with anyone," she shared.

"What about Rebecca Isaacs?" Phryne asked.

Hilda eyed her cautiously, "I can't say much about Nurse Isaacs."

"Why not?"

"I can tell you that she seemed completely taken in by Dr. Gilbert. She would do whatev… I can't really say anything else about it, Miss Fisher."

"When will Dr. Florey be in?"

"Not until tomorrow. He's gone home for the afternoon."

Phryne pursed her lips in thought. She needed to know more about why no one would talk to her about Rebecca.

"Is Emily Flynn a nurse here? Dr. Gilbert's fiancée?" Phryne asked the blonde woman.

"She was. She resigned this week. Her last day was two days ago," Hilda reported.

"That's interesting. Do you have a forwarding address for Miss Flynn?" Phryne asked.

Hilda nodded and went to her file cabinet. She found the file and copied down the address for Phryne. It was a boarding house in Fitzroy. Phryne recognized the address from another case she had worked before she left for England.

"One more question, Ms. Beattie," Phryne said as put the address in her purse, "Is there a nurse who was close to Nurse Isaacs by the first name of 'Doris'… possibly around the same age?"

"Doris Counts? We have several nurses named Doris, but that would be my guess. They were on the same ward."

"Can you tell me is Nurse Counts working now?" Phryne asked.

Hilda went to her chart, "Uh… yes. Her shift ends in about ten minutes though."

"Thank you… what about Dr. Gilbert?" Phryne pressed.

"His shift is over, but he might still be around. He sometimes stays later," the woman responded.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then. You really are the power in this hospital, Ms. Beattie," Phryne praised her.

The woman smiled more easily at her, "Please, call me Hilda."

Phryne headed to the Mother's ward to find Doris Counts. She asked the sister at the reception desk and was pointed to a plump young woman about Rebecca's age. She had ashy blonde hair that she tried to tame into finger waves, but the waves had become choppy throughout the day's chores. She was a few inches shorter that Phryne, and looked completely exhausted. Her face was shiny with the sheen of sweat under her makeup and her mascara had left her looking a little like a panda who'd lost her bamboo.

"Doris Counts?" Phryne approached her carefully.

The young woman looked up at her cautiously. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Miss Counts, I'm Phryne Fisher — I'm a friend of Rebecca Isaacs." Phryne noted Doris's face darkening.

"Who?" The nurse seemed to almost sneer the response back at her.

Phryne was taken aback. This was unexpected. "What do you mean 'Who?'" she demanded, "You used to work with her, you graduated with her… you rang her on the telephone just this morning… she's your friend! Rebecca Isaacs!"

Doris Counts looked at her for a long moment, "I remember a Rebecca Isaacs from my class and who worked here, but she left a while ago… I can't remember when," Doris looked her deeply in the eye, "But the idea that we are or were ever friends… is absurd. And I wouldn't even know how to ring her even if I want it to… which I never would." She practically spat this last. "Now, if you'll excuse me. My shift is over. I've had a very long day. I'd like to go home."

Phryne nodded in stunned silence and let the woman pass. Either Doris Counts was lying or Rebecca was. She's have to dig into Doris a little more. Before she got too far down that path of thought, she spotted Dr. Gilbert walking out of the hospital.

She'd seen him, but he hadn't seen her. She followed him to the parking lot and watched him get into his navy-blue Holden and then rushed over to the Hispano Suiza.

It was almost painful trailing someone driving so slow, but Phryne kept several car lengths behind. They headed south, across the Yarra past the Royal Botanical Gardens toward St. Kilda. Not heading to see his fiancée then, at least not at her last known address. They drove through St. Kilda into Elwood and the Holden turned onto Byron Street. Byron! Phryne's mind was racing… was that a clue? Could that be a clue? The headache from earlier had come roaring back. The Holden pulled into the driveway of a white art deco style home. Phryne parked the Hispano and waited.

It was twilight, nearing dusk. She watched a light come on in the house. After a few minutes, she quietly exited the motorcar and walked down the street. She wasn't prepared for reconnaissance in her light-colored driving coat over aubergine chiffon, but she told herself wouldn't stay long. She'd just have a quick look and make sure this was the right place, then set Bert and Cec on the job.

She approached the house carefully. It was close to the street, as were all the other houses on the street. Like much of Melbourne, the houses were built close together. Elwood wasn't quite as fancy a neighborhood as St. Kilda, but there was money here. It was no Collingwood.

The house itself was a respectable size. Not nearly as large as Wardlow, but at least twice as large as Jack's…the Collins' bungalow in Richmond. It was two-story and very modern and sleek. Smooth white stucco with rounded corners topped with curved glass. There were little patches of flowers and greenery in front of the house, but nowhere in the front to really conceal herself.

She crept along the driveway looking for a good vantage point. She found a window that didn't have an internal window covering and peered inside. The furnishings were as modern and sleek as the outside of the house. She could see handsome blonde doctor moving from room to room with a glass of something amber-coloured in his hand. He was reading what looked to be a letter as he wandered.

She watched him for a time. He sat down at his desk with his back to the window and pulled out a large book. He seemed to be copying something from it, but Phryne couldn't make out what.

His head turned toward the front door and then he stood, moving to carefully hide what he was writing. She watched from outside as he quickly schooled his features into a smile as a beautiful young brunette entered the room. He greeted the newcomer with a passionate kiss. This must be Emily Flynn, thought Phryne.

Probably-Emily pushed away from him and spoke frantically. He looked at her as if trying to understand what she was saying, holding her by the shoulders as she spoke and nodding along with her story. He then turned to the desk and picked up the telephone. Phryne pressed closer, trying to hear what he was saying on the telephone. He reached for something in the desk and then disappeared into the other room, leaving Emily Flynn alone in the room.

Phryne tried to peek around the edge to see where he was going, but lost sight of him.

She had a sudden thought that she should warn Emily of the danger of this man, so she went to the side door and tried to open it. Locked, of course. She fished her lock pick out of her brassiere. She made quick work of the easy lock and slipped inside the house. She stealthily made her way toward the room in which she could see Probably-Emily waiting.

Probably-Emily was peering out the windows into the darkness when Phryne got to the doorway. Dr. Gilbert was still missing from the room.

"Emily!" Phryne whispered loudly, causing the young woman to whip around at her.

"Who are you?!" The young woman demanded, she turned to shout for Dr. Gilbert.

"Wait, Emily! You're in great danger! Dr. Gilbert is a monster!" she hissed at the terrified woman in front of her.

"Hands where I can see them!" a man's voice ordered from behind her.

Phryne turned to see her prime suspect Dr. Brian Gilbert standing at the end of the hallway with a revolver pointed at her.

She debated whether she should try to draw her own gun, but thought better of it. Surely, Dr. Gilbert wouldn't try anything here in his own home. She raised her arms in surrender.

"Miss Fisher?" he said confused, "What the hell are you doing here?"