Chapter 6: Long Shadows

The detectives found Pauline Denier sobbing into Miss William's arms. The companion seemed little concerned with the fact that her already wet coat got another thorough soaking by a lady she had never met before. It was her nature to take care of people needing her help, even if she really had just wanted to catch up with her sweetheart for a minute. Phryne shared a look with the Inspector before she slipped beside her friend onto the sofa and took her hand in her own. She instantly lived to regret that move. Paulines skin was warm and clammy.

"Pauline, what happened?"

Another whirl of sobs shook the Lady, but she finally wiped her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief and found a voice, drowning in tears.

„I wanted to look into the safe to find Marcel's last will. I was hoping to encounter some details on the service he wished for, who to inform of his acquaintance, something to keep me occupied. And it's all gone. Everything!"

More crying followed. Phryne patted her hand, resisting the urge to wipe the sweat off her hand onto her expensive dress.

"What are you missing, Mrs. Denier?"

Pauline looked up with a hint of shock. Inspector Robinson stood near the door, his note book in hand, very much a deja vu to a scene earlier this day. This time however her eyes lit up in understanding.

"You are Phryne's policeman aren't you?" She asked quietly.

"Detective-Inspector Robinson." He stated calmly, preventing himself barely from nodding. „What appears to be missing, Mrs. Denier?"

He half expected another series of sobs, but the lady of the house seemed to have finally gotten a grip on herself.

"Everything. Every single piece of my jewellery, Marcel's coin collection, a rather precious watch I inherited from my father, money, some important papers - all gone. Our safe has been plundered."

Jack looked up from scribbling down notes to meet her eyes. They were nice. Kind. He hadn't noticed that before, probably been too distracted by her bawling. And didn't she have every right to cry on the day her husband had been murdered? Suddenly he wasn't sure anymore what had angered him so much about it. Maybe that he had felt the urge to sit down beside her and join in.

The thought shocked him somewhat. He didn't have time to dig deeper into this though, as Phryne had started talking quietly to Pauline asking her about the details of the robbery. She didn't have to add much to her story however.

"Was there anything of considerable value in your husband's sitting room?" The Inspector threw in on a hunch. "On the fireplace perhaps?"

Pauline Denier only had to think for a second.

"A golden goblet with sapphires in it. A treasure from a trip to Egypt a long time ago, even though I'm not quite sure how he had gotten a hold of it."

Jack saw the flinch in Phryne's shoulders. Some shadows never died. But the moment passed quickly without her even stopping to rub calming circles on the back of her friends hand.

"I found it rather foolish to leave such a prized possession out on display but Marcel was set on it. And arguing with my husband has always been a rather futile exercise I'm afraid."

Jack nodded slowly, taking more notes.

"I would like to also ask some questions about your husband's death, Mrs. Denier."

The look in her eyes was that of surprise.

„Why? Please don't think me ungrateful, Inspector, but I don't understand why the police are even here. He drowned, didn't he?"

Jack didn't manage to more than open his mouth, when Phryne cut-in in a gentle tone of voice.

"I'm afraid he didn't, Pauline. It looks like he was already dead before he reached the lake."

The Inspector watched curiously as the two women locked eyes. A whole conversation seemed to fly between them without words. The forgotten Miss Williams looked increasingly uncomfortable. He couldn't blame her. Jack cleared his throat.

"Mrs. Denier, was it a habit of your husband to go swimming in the middle of the night? In a state of complete undress?" His eyes searched out Phryne. He had her words echoing through his brain. Moonlight skinny dipping. Maybe he imagined her avoiding his gaze.

"I'm afraid Marcel thought that rather wild and romantic." Pauline Denier smiled wryly. "It was of course not only indecent but also rather dangerous when he was as drunk as last night. So, to be honest, Inspector, I was shocked but not surprised when we found his body. I have always told him that it was a silly habit that would cause him harm someday."

At that, her voice lost its confidence again and started to sound teary.

"Thank you." The Inspector said simply and left the room, knowing that Miss Fisher would follow right behind. And sure enough she appeared just seconds later.

"Moonlight skinny dipping?" He asked, leaning against the reassuringly cool wall. What he really wanted to ask was, how she had known. But he decided that that could wait.

"Marcel might have been a tad eccentric." She quipped, with a poker face of a smile. He looked at her, eyes dark with questions that she currently didn't want to answer. Miss Fisher swallowed. She had to talk to him and soon. They stood in silence, neither of them speaking the words that needed to be said, two pairs of eyes searching for a way to resolve this without getting hurt.

That was when they heard the turmoil down the hall.

X

It took some time and some futile attempts at calming the group of people to figure out what exactly had happened, but finally Jack raised his voice and everybody trailed off. The mixed group of guests, save the Sinclairs, who had decided to take their drive home, despite everything, had returned to inform the Detective-Inspector of another theft. Mr. Prices car had gone missing out of the garages, with no trace as to its whereabouts.

"What kind of place is this? First a dead man and now my car? It's impossible."

Phryne rolled her eyes in silence at David Price. That man really was obnoxious.

"Oh I'm rather enjoying myself. I quite like a bit of cabaret." The Captain quipped, drawing some more uneasy laughter, just as Collins and Mr. Ellis arrived back from quietly finishing their interview. A pale Elisabeth stepped towards them and whispered something into the butlers ear. He cleared his throat loudly.

"Inspector, I'm afraid, we are also missing a young man of our staff. Ryan Binley, who helped me lay out the body this morning has vanished from the stables. He might be in shock."

Wild chatter grew loud at those words. Jack lifted his hands.

"Please, be quiet. Has anyone seen Mr. Binley since the morning?"

Phryne saw Elisabeth pulling on Ellis' coat like a little girl would tug on the sleeve of her father, trying to get his attention. She stepped closer to the maid.

"Have you noticed anything?" She asked the young woman with the mass of curly, blonde hair spilling out under her cap.

"No, but I think I might know where he would go, if he'd done a runner." She stated simply. Phryne listened.