Constable Collins was waiting for them at the station, plainly looking forward to catching his first glimpse of the woman he had thought was dead.
"Miss Fisher!"
"Hugh!" Phryne shook the younger man's hand warmly.
"I am so glad you're alright."
Jack cleared his throat, and Collins stepped back, coming to attention. "Sir."
"Constable Collins. I'd like you to fetch me Sergeant Jones and Constables Abbot and McKay. Requisition a second car, sign out weapons and collect three – no, better make it four – sets of shackles, and be ready for a briefing in-" he glanced at his watch "- thirty minutes."
"Yes sir." Collins nodded to Phryne and headed off to follow his orders.
Jack headed into his office, not bothering to see whether Phryne was following him. Hell would freeze over before that woman would wait to be invited in. He hung up his coat and hat, placed her file on his desk and sat down, reaching for the phone. "Make yourself comfortable, Miss Fisher."
She smiled and hopped up onto his desk. "I always do."
He hesitated for a moment and just looked at her sitting there before returning to business.
Half an hour later the pair were joined by a rather out-of-breath Collins and the three other policemen. Jack outlined the case, then explained their strategy.
"I'll take the first car with Constable Collins and Miss Fisher. When we reach the farm we'll park in the driveway, thereby blocking it. The rest of you will be in the second car. You'll park on the road, being careful not to obstruct our vehicle. Jones will take point up the driveway. I'll enter the house through the front door; Abbot, you'll take the back. Miss Fisher informs me that there are two out-buildings near the house: Collins and McKay will search those. Sergeant Jones, you'll remain outside until the buildings are secure, and shout a warning if you see anybody who isn't a police officer or Miss Fisher. Miss Fisher will be with me. Remember, we want answers, and that means arrests and not bodies if at all possible. However, Kemp and Lawrence should be considered armed and dangerous, so if necessary don't hesitate to use your weapons. Any questions?"
Sergeant Jones raised his hand, and Jack nodded to him. "I was wondering why Miss Fisher's coming with us, sir. It's dangerous, and she's-" Jack raised an eyebrow, and the sergeant broke off nervously.
"She's what, Sergeant?" Collins, who had heard that deceptively mild tone of voice before, took a discreet step backwards. Jones hesitated, instinctively searching for the least dangerous word.
"Well, she's a civilian, sir."
"Sergeant Jones, as strange as it no doubt seems to many of us, civilians are occasionally willing to assist the police in the execution of our duties, and when they are I believe we should make a point of accepting their aid." He was glad Phryne was standing behind him, as he wasn't certain he could have seen her expression at that blatant lie and kept a straight face. "Miss Fisher is also the only person here who knows the exact location of the farmhouse, and has seen the faces of our suspects. I'm sure we wouldn't want to risk entering the wrong property and arresting the wrong people."
It was a flimsy excuse, he knew, but his real reasons – that if he refused to bring her she would in all probability summon Burt and Cec and follow them anyway; and that he wanted her by his side – would sound both unprofessional and unconvincing to anyone who wasn't already familiar with his lady detective. So he spoke with conviction and the direct gaze that he used to bring hardened criminals to heel and remind subordinate officers that he could make their lives very difficult indeed, and was grateful that Jones appeared satisfied.
"Now, if there are no further questions, I think it's time we left."