Chapter 2

Summary: Jack gets put under pressure as news about Miss Fisher's implicated involvement with Murdoch Foyle reaches his superiors.

With one final check in the side mirror's reflection, Inspector Jack Robinson gave his newly chosen tie a wholly unnecessary tug before climbing out of his motorcar. He reached the familiar door to City South Station within minutes, but glanced down at his wristwatch anyway to confirm that he was just over a quarter of an hour late for his shift. One of the very few positive remnants from his experiences as a soldier was the ability to make himself presentable within minutes.

"Good morning again, sir," Constable Hugh Collins immediately greeted Jack perfunctorily from his post at the front desk. The younger man had readily accepted the explanation that his superior officer would be slightly delayed that morning after being briefed fully on what had happened the night before. Hugh was, in fact, horrified and then extremely worried about Dottie, but the inspector had quickly reassured him that she, and all other members of the Fisher household, were absolutely fine. Since Foyle had cut the household's only telephone wire, Dot had not been able to telephone Hugh directly until the cabbies had been dispatched to quickly find a replacement shortly after breakfast.

Collins had been slightly confused at first when his sweetheart had informed him that Inspector Robinson would speak to him after his boss had finished eating breakfast with Miss Fisher. But then, the ever loyal constable naturally assumed that the inspector would have returned that morning to personally ensure himself of everyone's well-being after a cold-blooded murderer had managed to have himself invited right into their very home. Besides, Hugh felt quite chuffed that Inspector Robinson had enlisted his help in sorting out the station's guard duty schedule to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone at Wardlow around the clock.

"Morning, Collins," the inspector replied, and was about to continue on through towards his office when he glanced over in time to see the younger man's eyes widen in a mixture of hesitation and expectation. "Is everything all right, Constable?"

"Yes, sir. Of course, sir," Collins began to stammer before lowering his tone and glancing down the corridor. "Erm, you might like to know that the deputy commissioner is waiting in your office to see you, sir."

"Oh? When did he arrive?" Jack immediately enquired, his face and voice betraying nothing but his usual professional demeanour.

"About fifteen minutes ago, sir," Hugh reported. "I knew you were due in at any minute so didn't want to bother you at Miss Fisher's when he had telephoned here earlier looking for you."

"Of, course, thank you, Collins," Jack again schooled his features to betray nothing of his thoughts had his superior officer actually contacted him at Miss Fisher's house so early in the day. Not that he had to report his off-duty whereabouts to any of colleagues, by any means. But the fact that the deputy commissioner had been trying to reach him, and was now here waiting for him in his officer, however, definitely didn't bode well. Jack nodded at Collins before moving past the front desk and pausing only briefly as he approached the slightly opened door to his office.

"Good morning, sir," Jack grounded out his greeting out stiffly after clearing his throat loudly and closing the door behind him. "What brings you out to City South today?"

Deputy Commissioner George Sanderson rose to his feet just as Jack rounded his desk and waited expectantly for an explanation of the older man's presence. Sanderson also cleared his throat as the awkward realization hit him suddenly that this was the first time he was face-to-face with the man who was now officially no longer his son-in-law. His daughter, Rosie, had agreed with her father's recommendation to keep the divorce proceedings as low-key as possible in order to evade any hint of public scandal. Unfortunately, the gossipmongers had been speculating and tongues had been wagging enough as it was despite all of their attempts to be discreet.

As a result, George had not been present at the courthouse yesterday, although he had been briefed about the grand finale after Rosie had come by to have dinner with him afterwards. Overall, the deputy commissioner was relieved for his family's sake that it was all legally over now. As a father, he couldn't help feeling disappointed again that his daughter had had to endure so many wasted years without even a grandchild to show for it. On another level, however, Sanderson also knew better than to throw the blame entirely onto the shoulders of the stubborn young man standing before him. For whatever may have been Jack Robinson's shortcomings as his daughter's spouse, George still regarded him as a good man and an excellent police officer. Shame that he still persisted on turning down any hints or actual offers of promotion.

"Inspector, I'll cut to the chase then," Jack's former father-in-law began in an official tone, conveying the fact that this was not meant to be a personal visit. "I wanted to come and inform you directly that there's to be an investigation commencing shortly due to public pressure and demands for the force to account for Senior Sergeant Grossmith's unacceptable conduct during that recent circus case you solved."

"Yes, I was already aware of that, sir," Jack replied, trying not to reveal his true reaction to the inadequate description of Grossmith's 'unacceptable' conduct. The bastard's greed and corruption had resulted in the death and the ruin of innocent lives. "I've been asked to be interviewed in order for the panel to take a fresh statement."

"Excellent."

"But assuming that you would have already known this, why would this investigation merit a personal visit? You could have easily updated me via the telephone."

"Yes, well, I had thought to do so and did try to reach you earlier," George paused significantly. "But, you were unavailable."

"My shift has only just started," Jack pointed out as he kept his frustrations reigned in even though he knew Sanderson would have been able to acquire these basic details from his own personal assistant.

"I tried to telephone you at home, Jack," the other man lowered his tone slightly. "Several times, all morning. So, naturally, when I couldn't reach you there, or here, I began to worry and wanted to reassure myself of your well-being."

Jack narrowed his eyes slightly, not so much from the other man's seemingly paternal concern, but more from wariness over Sanderson's true motive in being there. After all, he had spent nearly two decades in close proximity to the man and had learned all of his tricks to influence others, often for his own gain. Sadly, Jack had also experienced much of the same from his daughter.

"Why are you really here, George?" Jack decided he had had enough and just wanted the other man to state his purpose and leave.

"All right then, Jack," Sanderson agreed. "As part of this ongoing enquiry and investigation, I wanted to inform you ahead of time that we will also have to question Miss Phryne Fisher. She's a self-styled, so-called 'lady detective' with whom I believe you are acquainted?"

"Yes, she was instrumental in solving the case implicating Grossmith," Jack reminded Sanderson, wondering why he had to repeat information from the thorough and detailed report he had submitted to Russell Street mere days ago. "In fact, Miss Fisher has proven to be of invaluable assistance to the constabulary's case clearance rates."

"You mean, your clearance rates," Sanderson stated. "Which, of course, is to be commended."

"However….?" Jack knew there was more to the other man's tone.

"However, Jack," the deputy commissioner leaned forward to punctuate his next words. "I need to ask you to please stay away from her now. For the sake of the constabulary's reputation especially, not to mention your own."

"I should think that you, of all people, know my thoughts about my so-called reputation, George."

"Jack, you must sever any connection with this socialite immediately," Sanderson persisted. "Your association with her has now become a major conflict of interest."

"Whose interests, exactly?" Jack tried hard to not spit his words out.

"Look, we're still not sure how the press go wind of this, but Miss Fisher has been implicated in Murdoch Foyle's escape. It's now further eroding the waning trust in the police, especially with the investigation into Grossmith."

"So, you mean to tell me that the top brass is willing to use Miss Fisher as a convenient scapegoat? In order to shift the attention from the very real corruption recently exposed amidst our ranks because of some ridiculous and unproven allegations by a tabloid rag?"

"Not completely ridiculous." The deputy commissioner's tone again grew official. "We know that Foyle was in contact with Miss Fisher directly before his disappearance. That he explicitly requested she rescind her objection to his parole in exchange for supposed information about her missing sister."

"Yes, I'm aware of her visit to the prison," Jack grudgingly admitted as the seriousness of the situation began to sink in. "As well as of this letter. But I also know that she didn't act on it." He didn't feel the need to go into detail about how he knew this or that he had watched her burn the horrible missive with him as witness in the privacy of her parlour. His detecting instincts instantly began to whir as Jack silently wondered how Sanderson became privy to this information.

"Then you know, as well as I do, Inspector, that that is grounds enough for us to be forced to suspect her motives. She has a long history and connection to a convicted criminal and murderer who happens to be roaming free among the citizenry of our city!"

"With all due respect, Deputy Commissioner, that is not concrete evidence that she in any way corroborated in his escape!"

"That is why you must cut any ties with her on both a professional or personal level," Sanderson instructed before softening his tone. "Jack, you know we need to follow procedure and objectively follow this lead through like any other."

He continued in the wake of the inspector's stony silence. "Phryne Fisher is the only person with the means as well as the motive to aid in Foyle's escape. And until we can rule out any proof that she did or didn't, you need to forget that you know her."

And with that, Deputy Commissioner Sanderson left his former son-in-law to ponder on this latest turn of events. Jack knew that what George had said was logical, and in the interest of the constabulary's reputation, justice, and not to mention his own job, he ought to heed his superior's orders. But, how could he simply cut off all ties with Phryne, just like that? Especially after she nearly lost her life due to that scoundrel Grossmith's attempt to silence her? And the fact that Foyle very nearly harmed Jane right in her very own home? That he was out there even now planning god knows what other evils on innocent citizens that Jack was bound by his conscience and his badge to protect?

Jack sank into his chair and buried his face in his hands. His mind knew what he was expected to do, but deep down, some other innate compass was pointing him towards another course of action quite entirely. And that gut instinct had led him well during his early days of navigating the police force and since his quick rise through its ranks as well as preserving any scant hope to be found in the bloody fields of France. It had also been instrumental in acknowledging a hollow marriage from which he and his former wife were now free. This inner sense of direction had never failed him yet thus far in terms of guiding his personal or professional choices in life.

A sudden knock on his office door broke through Jack's reflections just as Collins hovered momentarily in the doorway.

"Pardon me for interrupting, sir, but Miss Fisher is on the telephone requesting to speak with you. Apparently, there's something urgent that you need to hear about."

"Thank you, Collins, please put her through." Straightening up with fresh resolve, the inspector reached for his telephone.