Chapter Two
Inspector Jack Robinson entered his office to see a painfully familiar picture – Miss Phryne Fisher perched on his desk in a casual but sensual pose that drew him completely crazy. And she was well aware of that. Jack did not know what was worse – the casual or the sensual part. For a woman to place herself so unrestrained on his desk implied certain level of closeness between him and the said woman. On the other hand, the sensuality of her position implied the present or the promised intimacy. Both variants did not represent the reality of his relationship with the mystifying Honorable Phryne Fisher.
"I think I had asked you numerous times not to sit on my desk, Miss Fisher. I noticed lately, that the desk became uneven on the side you are constantly occupying."
Phryne turned around, brought back from her musings. She repeated over and over again in her head what she was going to say. Her plan was flawless. It was her plan after all. Now just to feed it to Jack and everything will be alright. Wait a minute, has he just made an insulting comment about her weight?!
"I will be brief, Inspector," she began, not even moving an inch from the rumored uneven desk. "I am leaving for seven, maybe ten months for Japan. Mac was asked to help to start a women's clinic there. I decided to accompany her since I always wanted to go there."
"This is a rather abrupt assignation."
"It has been in the works for quite some time, but the funding was secured only recently."
"Is that so… Was not Jane coming back in two months?"
"Yes… I arranged for her to join us there."
"Safe trip then. Now if you could kindly free my desk from your presence?.."
Phryne slid from the smooth surface of the desk top and glided out of the office. Jack followed the retreating figure with a tired glance. He thought before that woman would be the death of him, now he was certain of it. He took the phone receiver and called the number he could dial blindfolded.
….
Later that evening Phryne was lounging in the parlor mentally comprising the list of things she will take on her trip to Japan. Then there was Jane… She did not want her to know about her condition, but she could not just leave without even meeting her but waiting here for two more months could be dangerous-
"Miss Fisher, Inspector requests an audience tonight if your schedule allows it."
"What a strange man. Why does he see the need to ask in such a formal way? Of course, he can come, Mr. B. Around seven will be alright."
"Dinner, miss?"
"No… Tea with light snacks in the parlor, please."
"As you wish."
Exactly at seven o'clock there was a knock at the door of the Fisher residence. Then followed the familiar ritual of leaving his coat and hat on the rack in the hall and going after Mr. Butler into the parlor where the mistress of the house would wait spread on one of the couches. Nothing was different this time.
"What a surprise, Jack. Are you missing me already? Tea?"
"Yes, please."
"So what brings you here, Jack?"
"Your lies."
"Excuse me?!"
"What a wonderful tea. Already getting acquainted with the Japanese culture? So about you lying to my face today…"
"What are you talking about, Jack?! You are coming to my house and accusing me of-"
"No need to get all flustered. But the fact is, you cannot lie to me, Phryne."
Phryne took a deep breath to regain her composure and not to melt at Jack's usage of her first name which happened extremely rarely. She did not remember the last time he called her that. "What could I possibly be lying to you about?"
"I do not see the point of playing games, so I will ask directly."
"Please do."
"Phryne, are you with child?"
The cup of the finest china was saved from braking into a thousand pieces by the thick carpet, but the carpet itself was most likely irrevocably stained by the tea from Phryne's cup.
"I do not understand what you are talking about, Jack."
"No lying, please, Phryne."
"But how could you possibly know?! Did Mac tell you?"
"No, I am a detective. I detect things. Should I elaborate?"
Phryne was too shocked by Jack's revelation to utter a proper reply, so she just nodded.
"First of all, your behavior today. You called me 'Inspector'. You do not address me like that, especially if there is only the two of us. Secondly, you tried to act naturally, but your movements and words were strained, rehearsed. You did not sound panicked, but your eyes sure were. There was almost no eye contact. Coming from you, the master manipulator of words and double meanings, such performance instantly alerted me. On the other hand, last week… how should I put it… you did not act the way you usually do during such time."
"What time? During a case?"
"Around the third week of every month."
It was hard to make Phryne Fisher speechless, but the aforementioned comment did exactly that. She did not know how to respond to a man discussing her menstrual circle. It was just unfathomable. "And how was I supposed to act?" she finally squeezed out of her throat.
"You are more irritating than usual. Tend to make decisions without thinking them through. Snappy, uncooperative, somewhat irrational. You need to be watched over or you will get into big trouble. Even bigger than you usually get into. Last week your behavior could be considered normal, so the usual reason for your irrationality was absent thus I could drew only one conclusion. So am I right?"
"Your skills of deduction are impeccable as always, but- You do not have to answer, I just want to know personally, how did you… know… about…"
"You keep forgetting, Phryne, that I was once married. Such knowledge is natural. Let's return to the matter at hand. I understand, you decided to give the child up for adoption?"
"Yes, I-"
"I am sure that you were going to say that it is none of my business, and you are right. This is your child and it is for you to decide upon its fate. But let me tell you a story that may or may not influence your decision. As your… close acquaintance, I cannot just keep silent on the matter. Will you listen?"
"You do not leave me much of choice, Jack."
"You can say no, and I will leave."
Something told Phryne that Jack wanted to tell that story as much as he wanted for her to listen, so she agreed. "Alright, but I think, we require a fresh pot of tea for that."
"As you wish."
The consequences of Phryne's lapsus with the tea cup cleared and a full teapot on the table, Phryne got comfortable on the couch to listen to Jack's story. Of that it was going to be Jack's story she had no doubt, because it was clear that he overcame some difficulty to let himself share it. She knew only bits and pieces of Jack's biography, not to mention any personal details. It was utterly unfair, the man knew when her period was for God's sake!
"As you know, Rosie and I married young. Her father noticed me in the Police Academy and saw potential, I suppose. He took me under his wing which brought upon me the wrath and jealousy of my classmates. I did not particularly mind such disposition. One day I was invited to dine at George's house, he was Chief Superintendent at the time, where I met Rosie and well… Young love and so long and so forth. George supported the union. He was of opinion that being married will motivate me to actively pursue a career in the force.
"And then war happened. When I came back… I was not the man I left. I was not the man Rosie married. After the events of 1921, bit by bit we started to rebuild our life. You once asked me if I had children, I said that we had not been blessed. I was not telling the whole truth. Rosie got pregnant in 1922. We were overjoyed. I always wanted children, at least one son to support Rosie if something happened to me due to work.
The pregnancy did not go smoothly. It is always hard for all involved, but I and other family members bared it in the anticipation of the new life, new hope for our family. In due time Rosie went into labor. …The child was stillborn. Everyone was devastated, but Rosie more so. She blamed herself for not fulfilling her role as a wife and a mother. Upon returning from the hospital she declared that we would be sleeping in separate bedrooms from that day on and would never attempt to have children again. Our marriage started to deteriorate from there."
"But this is wrong! No one was to blame for the death of the baby."
"Yes, but it does not matter. A child is not a broken car that you can just replace with another one. A child is a piece of yourself you are caring under your heart. If you decided to give birth only to try what it is like, like flying a plane or steering a boat and then discard it, then… I thought better of you, Phryne. I know that you do not like children, but-"
"What do mean by that insensitive accusation? I do have a child if you have forgotten!"
"Jane does not count. You did not bring her up since infancy. She is here only two months a year, what guidance can you provide her within such a short time?"
"She is receiving the best available education and experiences life to the fullest!"
"Is she now? She is eighteen now. A beautiful, intelligent young woman that will definitely apply to study in university and, I am sure, will complete her studies perfectly. But she is still a beautiful, intelligent woman with a wealthy guardian and that can get her into serious trouble. Have you prepared her for dealing with men while you two were enjoying your life to the fullest? Did you advise her to safe herself for when she finds her true partner for life or follow your example? The life of that girl is in your hands, as well as the life of this innocent baby. I know that you do not take life seriously on principle, but at times the principles must be changed."
"God, Jack, I do not know what you want me to do!"
"Does your aunt still employ Mary?"
"Yes, but what-"
"Talk to Mary."