Phryne stood and linked her arm into Dot's and they walked slowly away from the crime scene when Phryne overheard a constable call out.
"Inspector! Sir, you're needed in the stables. Apparently there's…" the constable's voice lowered as he whispered something to Jack. Phryne watched as Jack's face became etched in concern. He turned to Phryne and she knew it couldn't be good whatever the constable had whispered. Jack signaled to some of the constables and went off towards the stables.
"Dot, I'm afraid something's just happened and I'm sure it's not pleasant. I think this case just got much more intriguing," Phryne observed before setting off to follow Jack. It took a few more minutes to reach the stables than Phryne had anticipated, but upon reaching the entrance, she heard the sound of someone heaving their guts out. Phryne peeked around the corner and found Hugh losing the rest of what must have been his breakfast.
"Hugh, are you alright?" Dot asked, going to her fiancé's side. Hugh had been much better at holding his stomach, but if he were to lose it now, it must mean it's pretty bad, Phryne pondered.
"Miss Fisher, you won't want to see this. It's pretty brutal. Miss, I'm asking you not to go in there," Hugh implored before retching again.
"Dot, stay with your fiancé. I'm going to go see Jack," Phryne decided, leaving Dot to comfort Hugh as he continued to retch. Phryne was amazed to see the stables so busy but then glancing at her watch noticed it was close to when the first race was to begin. Phryne found Jack standing outside a stall with the other constables and by the looks of the young constables, the sight within the stall was not at all pleasant.
Phryne tried to get closer to the stall, but Jack caught her arm and pulled her further away from it.
"Miss Fisher, you shouldn't be here. You should be at home seeing to your girls and not looking at a scene that makes even my stomach queasy. Please, Miss Fisher," Jack begged. Phryne could count on her hand how many times Jack had begged.
She looked at him in defiance and retorted. "Inspector, I've been on the frontlines and seen my share of horror. I doubt anything could be as bad as what I saw there." Phryne knew using the war as a reason to see a dead body was beneath her as she knew Jack had seen his fair share as well, but she was extremely curious to see what made a man like Detective Inspector Jack Robinson appear so shaken.
"Alright, but at the first sign of losing your feminine constitution and I'm removing you from the scene and escorting you to your car," Jack relented, releasing Phryne's arm. He escorted her to the stall where the stench of death was quite strong. Phryne covered her nose with her hand and stepped into the stall.
Blood was splattered all over the stall walls and in a particular pattern Phryne was barely able to recognize as someone having their throat cut. Phryne lifted the sheet to confirm her suspicion of a throat cutting, which turned out to be correct.
"Do we know who this is? Based on the stench of the body, he's been dead about a day. Judging by the height of the victim, the killer was taller and had to yank the victim's head up in order to cut his throat," Phryne voiced her observations before letting Jack help her back to her feet.
"No. It's a bit hectic in here right now and locating someone who would know who he is, is rather impossible right now," Jack informed.
"I would try the jockey registrar's tent. He's about the right height and weight to be a jockey. We can ask them if any of the jockeys haven't checked in," Phryne mentioned.
"I'll look into it without you, Miss Fisher. Phryne," Jack said, pulling her out of earshot before looking at her, "I know you want to help with this case and, usually, I would let you, but I fear when the governor and police commissioner hear about these two deaths, they will want this to be done in a swift manner. I can most definitely guarantee they would not think too highly of a woman inserting herself into a police investigation. So I need you to go home and wait. I know waiting will be difficult, but in order to not break the law, I need you to do that." Phryne felt as if she had been thrown into a cell. Jack knew she wanted to help and, upon looking at the empathy on his face, she knew he wanted her help, but he also wanted her safe? She wouldn't let her law-breaking personality be the reason Jack got terminated from his position. It would kill her if they couldn't work on cases together.
"Very well, Jack. I promise to go home, but I expect to see you and Hugh at my home tonight to discuss the case," Phryne said in defeat. She fixed his tie before turning on her heels and walking away from the smell she loved that was all Jack Robinson.
Phryne found Hugh and Dot outside the stables and couldn't help but giggle. "Why, Hugh, you look as if you've become a ghost. I think it would be best for you to go back in there as Jack will need someone he can trust since I won't be able to stay and help. It might help to breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. We'll see you tonight, Hugh."
Phryne linked arms with Dot once again and got out of there before she convinced herself to turn around, throw herself into the case and completely disregard Jack's request. Not once did she care about missing opening day for the Cup.
/
Phryne drove like the devil all the way back to The Esplanade, hoping her daughters had been able to fair alright in her absence. She pulled up in front of the house and as soon as the Hispano was parked and turned off, she bolted up the walkway and through the front door.
"Jane? Ruth?" She cried out.
"They're in the kitchen, Miss. It seems Miss Ruth is quite shaken, in fact she hasn't stopped shaking since Cec and Bert brought them in," Mr. Butler appeared from the parlor.
"Would you call the hospital and have Mac come? Tell her the girls have had a little scare and need a sleeping tonic?" Phryne asked as she moved to the kitchen. She found Ruth trembling in her sister's arms.
"Oh, Ruth, darling. I feel awful for you to have seen that. I've been a terrible mother," Phryne opened her arms and Ruth rushed to her. Phryne held the traumatized girl tightly in her embrace, in hopes it would calm her shaking.
"It…sob…wasn't…your….sob fault. I've…just never….seen so ….much blood…before…," Ruth whimpered into Phryne's chest. Phryne shifted Ruth around and slowly guided into the parlor to the settee where Phryne's arms wrapped even more tightly around her younger daughter. Phryne grabbed the throw that was slung across the settee and wrapped it tightly around Ruth before holding her head to her and rocking her gently. Jane had followed them and Phryne could tell her eldest daughter was also shaken. Opening her free arm, she allowed Jane to nestle into her. That was how Mac found them when she arrived 20 minutes later.
"Goodness. What on earth happened?" Mac asked after being shown into the parlor.
"A rather horrible event which I'll fill you in on later, Mac. Right now, I'm hoping you could prescribe a sleeping tonic; a very mild dose for both Ruth and Jane. They witnessed the horror and are quite shaken. The Inspector will be dropping by later and I want them to be relaxed for when they have to give their statements. Would you be able to do that?" Phryne asked without letting go of her girls.
"Of course. Give me a moment to mix it up and then we'll send them to bed," Mac said with her medical bag in hand. Phryne nodded and Mac disappeared into the kitchen for about 5 minutes, returning with Mr. Butler in tow. "Ruth, take this," Mac instructed, handing Ruth a small packet. Mr. Butler offered a glass of lemonade and Ruth took the powder.
"Mr. Butler, would you see to it Ruth gets to her room alright? I'll send Jane up in a minute," Phryne said, noticing how Jane was hesitant about taking the powder Mac had given her.
"Of course, Miss. Come along, Miss Ruth," Mr. Butler helped Ruth stand and they exited the parlor.
"Jane, what is it?" Phryne asked, turning her attention to her eldest daughter.
"Mum, I've spent time thinking about this and I wanted to know if you were okay with me going to medical school, after graduating Twelfth Year. Yes, I saw a lot of blood today and at first it stunned me, but I found I wasn't shaken up about it. I want to be one of those women doctors, like Dr. Mac. I want to be the one to save people," Jane revealed to Phryne.
Phryne was shocked to say the least that her daughter would want to go into the medical profession after seeing so much blood, but then Jane had on more occasions than not proven herself an excellent student and was praised by her teachers for her academics.
"Jane, I can't say that I'm alright with the idea of you wanting to become a doctor, but as your mother, I can't keep you from choosing the occupation you want. How about we talk this over more in depth later? We can even have Mac with us when we talk about it, if you want. Alright?" Phryne bargained with her daughter.
"I'd like that very much. I'll take the tonic and go lay down. I look forward to our discussion. Mum. Mac," Jane agreed in a very adult manner as she left the parlor.
"She's grown up so quickly, Phryne. What on earth are you going to do when the boys come knocking?" Mac teased rising to pour herself a Grand Marnier cognac.
"I was going to see if Jack would be up for instilling a small amount of fear into them, although he has no relation to the girls," Phryne contemplated. She, herself, poured a small bourbon and downed it in one swallow before pouring herself another.
"So what on earth happened? You're covered in blood."
"Well we were at the fairgrounds enjoying the festivities when a man was stabbed and bled to death. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. And then Jack found another body with his throat slit. This is certainly going to be an interesting case, despite my not being involved," Phryne stated with a sigh.
"Not involved? How'd the Inspector manage to persuade you off?" Mac gaped.
"Apparently, Jack was certain that once the governor and police commissioner received word of the deaths, they would want it solved quietly, and to have a woman participate in the investigation might prove to be deadly for Jack's career. I didn't want to pull out of it, but losing Jack for the sake of one investigation is most definitely not something I want to risk," Phryne grumbled.
"But…," Mac prodded.
"But Jack is going to keep me in the loop as long as I don't go investigating on my own. I don't know why he thinks I might get into trouble investigating on my own."
"You always manage to find trouble and he always manages to get you out of it. Well, I enjoyed the drink, but I'm afraid I'm due back at the hospital. The girls should wake just before supper. I've left in Mr. Butler's care, three sleep tonics so if you want the girls to sleep tonight, you can give it to them in addition to taking one yourself. I'll check in tomorrow to see how the Fisher women are making out." Mac stood and set her glass on the table before taking up her hat and bag.
"Thank you, Mac. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I'm sure you could think of something or someone," Mac teased before leaving through the front door.