Chapter 10: Jack and Phryne: The Raid
Phryne and Jack explain their plan to the other three. Hugh is uncomfortable with the plan. "But Inspector," he says, "I should be the one to go with you. I am the police after all." Jack gives Hugh an understanding nod, but says firmly, "Constable, I need you to remain here so that you can charge in later if necessary. I need you to lead the GlenRowan officers. I don't think they will respond well to Miss Fisher's directions." Sighing very loudly Hugh acknowledges Jack's orders with a shake of his head. Dot is similarly upset that her Miss would leave her behind, "Are you sure Miss Phryne?" asks Dot. Phryne squeezes Dot's hand and replies quietly, "Yes Dot, I am very sure. I'm not taking you back there with that man. He may prove to be a difficult blighter."
Shivering slightly as she thought about their encounter with Geoffrey Warrington White, Phryne turns to Jack, signaling that she is ready to go. David Johnson is also expressing his distress, saying "My wife may be with that lunatic. I should be there with you. I want to wring his bloody neck." At this Jack says decisively, "Mr. Johnson we cannot allow a civilian to go with us. Miss Fisher is a detective, and she regularly assists City South on cases. I know her capabilities. There will be no further discussion. You will also need to provide information regarding the house and grounds to the GlenRowan constabulary when they arrive." Jerking his head at Phryne the two of them leave Hugh, David and Dot a safe distance away from the house. Jack's last instructions to Collins are very clear, "It is 10:00 now, Constable. If you don't hear from us by midnight, get the reinforcements and come back to the house. Don't hesitate."
Jack and Phryne move quickly toward the house. Jack checks his revolver one last time. Phryne mentally goes through her list again; checking her gun and verifying her dagger is securely attached, giving Jack a view of her creamy thigh during the process. He rolls his eyes, but smiles appreciatively, and this is not lost on Phryne. She can feel her lock picks against her, the metal warm from resting against her skin. "Jack," she teases, "Can you check to make sure my lock picks are secure?" Jack rolls his eyes at her yet again. "I believe that qualifies as harassment of a police officer Miss Fisher and I may have to cuff you," he says in his best inspector's voice patting the handcuffs in his pocket. "In that case, Inspector I will do the checking," she responds with substantial sass and slips her hand inside her shirt to double check.
Jack's face turns a bit pink at her actions wishing he dare take her up on the offer. He is thankful it is dark, and she can't see his reaction. Phryne chuckles at him, making him wonder if she senses his thoughts. Your thoughts need to be on the case he berates himself, not on Miss Fisher. As they approach their target they quietly talk strategy again. Jack will still take the front and Phryne the rear as they observe no reason to change their plan. Phryne expresses disappointment that she isn't going to get to climb on this case. "On my signal," says Jack, ignoring her comment and demonstrating the call of the Pied Currawong bird. Phryne responds back with a passable imitation and Jack nods his head affirming her effort.
They creep around the house which is silent as a tomb; eerily silent. They move into place. On Jack's signal Phryne responds with the bird call and tries the back door. Finding it locked she pulls her lock pick out of her décolletage and begins working on the lock. She works for a number of minutes finally hearing the click of the lock as it moves. Taking out her gun, she opens the door slowly and steps inside, closing the door noiselessly. As she stealthily moves into the room a cold voice says, "Don't move" and before she can react she feels a gun thrusting coldly into her side and a flashlight shines in her eyes blinding her. Phryne halts, wondering where Jack might be. "Don't worry Miss Fisher, I've already caught your partner like a rat in a trap," giggling distractedly Geoffrey Warrington White continues, "I don't advise you attempt to escape." Phryne can't suppress the prickle of uneasiness that runs across her back, but she schools her face to remain passive.
Geoffrey takes her gun, and pocketing it, roughly binds her hands and gags her. Phryne is concerned as Geoffrey is clearly unstable, but her fear for Jack borders on overwhelming. She keeps reminding herself to breathe and think, breathe and think. He hasn't searched her, so there is hope she might be able to use her dagger at some point. She observes everything she can in the darkness as he moves her further into the house using the flashlight to provide light. She doesn't observe signs of other people or accomplices. He leads her upstairs and ties her to a chair. The room is dimly lit and the light gives Phryne a ray of hope; she can see at least. Geoffrey has such a malevolent look on his face; her heart begins to pound even more frantically. She is uncertain what he is going to do to her, and she hates the loss of control being bound takes from her; however, he leaves and she hears him dragging something toward the room. She expects it is Jack. Phryne struggles against her bonds. The knots are tight, but she thinks she feels a slight give in them. She works at the knots until it is clear that Geoffrey is coming back. She stills upon this observation, not wanting to the alert him to any progress she makes toward escape.
Geoffrey drags Jack into view. Jack has clearly been knocked out. His body is limp. The man maneuvers Jack onto a chair and ties him to it. Jack slumps against the ropes. Phryne's blue eyes are huge with concern and fear. Geoffrey is agitated, an evil look in his eye. "I should have known you were up to something when you came to the house this morning," he spits out, "Where is your little friend?" He pulls out a knife, its blade glinting evilly in the dim light of the room, and waves it at her. Her eyes close in reaction, but she recovers quickly schooling her features to show no emotion. He places the knife on a table close to him and sits down for a moment as if they are going to chat, looking at Phryne like a cat looks at a mouse it is getting ready to pounce upon.
Jack is coming around. He growls and opens his eyes slowly. They widen as he sees Phryne bound before him. She communicates with her eyes and a very slight nod that she is ok; he closes his in relief. His relief is short-lived, however. From his seat in the wing back chair, Geoffrey begins ranting about Silvia and how they will never find her, especially now that he has captured them. "Where is she?" Jack asks conversationally. The man laughs "Close, very close, but yet so far away. You will never see her." The man is silent a moment, then suddenly he barks out "I want the rest of the jewels and the amethyst necklace. I know you have them." "I don't know what you are on about," says Jack blithely. "We are looking for Mrs. Warrington because her daughter is concerned about her. She has been unable to contact her mother for some time now." "Liar!" Geoffrey shouts, and grabbing the knife off the table he strides across the room and stabs Jack in the shoulder. It happens so quickly; Jack yells out in shock, blood gushing from the wound.
Phryne's eyes are huge and dark with shock; she mewls against the gag, struggling violently to get to Jack. Jack's eyes search for hers; his riddled with pain, but also begging her to calm down and not provoke an attack on her as well. The man seems oblivious to Phryne now that Jack is bleeding. Geoffrey is completely demented looking, his features etched with evil as he advances once more on Jack. "Tell me what I want to know," he grinds out, stabbing Jack again, this time in the side. Prepared this time, Jack grits his teeth against the white hot pain ripping through his body. He will not give this psychopath the satisfaction of crying out again. Jack's police and army training coming to his aid, he lets his mind drift to a safe place, far away, as the knife enters his body over and over, blood spurting, his white shirt staining crimson, blood dripping on the floor around him. Finally, Jack mercifully passes out. Phryne watches in mute horror scrabbling at her bonds as the mad man repeatedly stabs Jack. Her heart is bursting with fear for Jack's life. Is this to be the end? Jack killed before she tells him how she really feels about him? Jack dying before she can tell him that thinking about marriage with him doesn't send her running scared anymore? Jack dying before she can tell him she loves him to distraction? She has to do something! She has to save him. As these thoughts race through her mind she realizes Jack saved her not just from death, or worse, on the Pandarus, but also from the frivolous life she saw stretch before her and the constant stream of men who pleasure her physically, but not mentally or emotionally. None of them touch her soul, and Jack Robinson has certainly done that. A world with no Jack is too bleak to contemplate. But how will she save him? She draws a deep, but silent breath and finding her inner strength begins watching for her chance to escape, hoping Hugh will arrive soon.
After what seems like an eternity the man stops stabbing Jack then laughing maniacally, leaves the room, muttering incomprehensible words, not even giving Phryne a backwards glance. She quickly begins working the knots again, desperate to escape her bonds and get to Jack. She hears his breathing become more and more shallow, the pool of blood around him growing larger by the minute. Her fingers are pushing and pulling at the knots. It is so difficult when they can only move a little bit at a time, and the position is so awkward that her fingers grow numb from the work. If only she could reach her dagger, but she knows it is futile. She will have to work the knots loose. Slowly she feels the knots begin to give way. Surely it is nearly time for Hugh and Dot to arrive she thinks frantically. It seems like they have been here for many hours. Finally the rope gives way and her hands are free.
Quietly she removes her remaining bonds, listening intently for any sound marking Geoffrey's return. She slips her dagger from her garter and moves to cut Jack's bonds, blanching at the sight of all the blood. Fear grips her heart, the situation is grave, her nursing experience sending alarms bells to her brain. She cuts him out of his bonds and gently lays him out on the floor, his dead weight straining her muscles, but fear for him giving her the strength she needs. She applies pressure to the wound closest to his heart. She tenderly brushes his hair from his face, her fingers lingering briefly, drawing strength from him. She can't fail him. "Everything will be alright Jack. I love you, don't leave me. Please Darling Man don't leave me," she whispers desperately. Hearing a noise, she quickly places a soft kiss on his lips before grabbing up the ropes that Geoffrey used to bind them. Then tucking her dagger into her sleeve and picking up a heavy vase from one of the tables in the room, she prepares to ambush the man when he returns.
She hears no more noise, so she takes a chance quietly cuts strips of cloth from her under skirt to use as bandages. Phryne feels like hours are passing due to her concern for Jack's injuries, but in reality only a few minutes have gone by before she hears the sound of Geoffrey's footsteps coming back up the stairs. She glides over to the doorway and prepares herself for the attack. He comes through the door and a look of surprise covers his face as he realizes that Jack is not where he left him. Not giving him time to realize she is no longer his prisoner, Phryne brings the vase down on his head as hard as she can. There is a sickening, yet satisfying thud as the vase hits its mark. Geoffrey crumples to the floor, and Phryne wastes no time in tying him up. She binds both his hands and his feet, using the inescapable knots that her Portuguese sailing lover taught her. For good measure she quickly pulls the handcuffs from Jack's blood soaked pocket and claps them on Geoffrey's wrists as tightly as she can.
Now that they are apparently safe, Phryne turns her attention to Jack. She hears no other sounds in the house, so she believes that Geoffrey has no accomplices. Phryne is frantic with worry, now. Jack is losing so much blood. It is seeping everywhere and his breathing is very labored and shallow. He is pale and pasty grey-looking. She stops counting at 20 stab wounds. What will happen if he dies? What will she do? She is beside herself; tears falling down her face. "Jack, please hang on, hang on love. I love you Detective Inspector Jack Robinson. Don't die on me now, just when I can admit that I don't want to live without you. Don't die now Jack, when I'm ready to marry you," she stops babbling stunned by her words, but she feels at peace with the revelation. She acknowledges the truth in the moment – she can think of the ramifications later. She takes her dagger and continues cutting strips from her under skirt and bandaging his multiple wounds. "Don't die on me Jack," she whispers fiercely applying pressure again to the wound in his chest, very close to his heart, "When I finally realize you are the only man for me. I can't live without you." His eyelids flicker at her words, but nothing else. He is as still as death.
She needs help to stop the bleeding. There are so many wounds she feels overwhelmed. Where are Dot and Hugh? Why is it taking them so long to get here with reinforcements? She applies more cloth bandages to the wound by his heart and works to tightly bind them to his chest. As she turns him to pull the binding strip around him, she gasps at the number of wounds she sees, the bleeding increasing as the pressure of his body lying on them is removed. She notes another really nasty wound around the kidney area and begins to panic. How is she going to stop the bleeding? She begins breathing frantically, her mind going blank. Reminding herself that Jack needs her and she can't fall apart, she lets her nursing training kick in. She becomes methodical and slightly detached in her assessment of his condition, talking to him all the while as she works. She uses the few medical supplies she brought in her pockets; they are meager in the face of his overwhelming injuries. She rips more fabric to staunch the flow of blood in the kidney area and efficiently bandages it, noting absently that a few additional wounds are covered with the new bandaging. She continues to cut strips of cloth from her clothes and apply pressure to his wounds. Despite her best efforts they continue to seep blood. Phryne works on in a daze, her hands slippery with Jack's blood, not allowing fear to overcome her. She uses the new realization of her deep love for him to keep her moving and applying pressure and new bandages. As she works she continues to talk to him about how much she loves him and how she can't live without him.
After what seems to Phryne to be many hours, she finally she hears the police arrive. Shouting for them Dot, David and Hugh pound up the stairs, and breathing again she thanks God for bringing them and begins giving orders so they can get Jack to the hospital. Dot goes and pulls sheets off of one of the beds. David gathers some blankets and prepares a flask with some brandy. Hugh deals with Geoffrey who is coming around from the blow to his head. He questions him about where Silvia Warrington is, but Geoffrey refuses to tell him laughing evilly at them. "Pentridge is going to gain another deserving man," Hugh says disgustedly to Geoffrey. Hugh has to restrain David Johnson, "Sir," Hugh says with authority, "You may not beat the prisoner." The GlenRowan constabulary begins to look for Mrs. Warrington. David Warrington will stay with them and help them search all of the hiding places that he knows about. They take responsibility for Geoffrey, freeing Hugh to help get Jack to a location where he can receive medical attention.
Hugh and Dot grab the sheets to wrap Jack in and to help carry him to the car. The sheets will also provide bandages if he should bleed more once they start down the road. They cover him with blankets. Phryne is loath to be apart from him for even a minute. "Hugh, you're driving. Don't obey the speed laws this trip," she says thickly. Phryne climbs in the back with Jack and fiercely holds his bleeding, unconscious body to hers. Falls Creek is the closest town so they go that direction, Phryne allowing Hugh to drive with no instruction other than, "Faster, Hugh," her mind focusing on Jack. Willing him to live by the strength of her warmth and her words of love, she cushions his body against hers as they bounce across the terrain. The drive seems endless to Phryne. She talks softly to Jack all the way to Falls Creek, telling him she loves him and that she never wants to be separated from him. Finally they arrive at the Falls Creek doctor's office
Hugh gently carries the Inspector into the office, Phryne and Dot following on his heels. Dr. Henry Taylor is appalled by Jack's condition. He begins assessing Jack, unwrapping some of the bandages and shaking his head. "Who did this to him?" he asks not expecting an answer. He knows that Jack won't survive attempts to take him to another location without at least some of the wounds being stitched up. "I will do the best I can to save him, but I suggest you pray. Can you help me with him?" Dr. Taylor asks looking at Phryne who is completely baptized in Jack's blood. Phryne does not hesitate her response is quick and firm despite her utter exhaustion, "Yes Doctor, I can help. I nursed during the Great War" Dr. Taylor gives her a look of understanding and they begin. "Dr. Taylor," Phryne says, "There are several very deep wounds. The one near the heart and the one near his kidney are the worst. I think he may have a collapsed lung as well." After assessing Jack for a collapsed lung, he decides that the lung is definitely collapsed and proceeds with the necessary procedure to allow the lung to re-expand. Jack's shallow labored breathing eases almost immediately. Dr. Taylor stitches for at least three hours. Phryne does not falter for a moment. She helps the doctor spurred on by her love for Jack. When they have stitched all they can, Dr. Taylor tells Phryne that they must wait and see, but that they can't move him. The nearest hospital is in Melbourne and is too long a journey for a man in Jack's condition. "The Inspector needs a blood transfusion. Do you know your blood type Miss Fisher?" asks Dr. Taylor hopefully. "Yes, my blood type is O Negative," Phryne says her voice gritty with exhaustion. Dr. Taylor allows a very brief smile to touch his face, "I think your Inspector is a very blessed man Miss Fisher," he states. "Let's get a move on." Dr. Taylor preps Phryne and taking two pints of blood from her very rapidly, begins transfusing them into Jack's arm using a slow drip. He says by way of explanation, "As you know Miss Fisher, this transfusion will take most of the day. I want to transfuse slowly so that he doesn't have too much shock. He is in a precarious state. If Jack makes it through the next 48 hours or so, we will decide on a course of action." Dr. Taylor, noticing that Phryne is on the verge of collapse both from the removal of such a large quantity of blood in a short period of time and the stress of the nightmare she survived, puts her in a bed next to Jack. "Doctor," asks Phryne in a weak agitated voice, "Can you move this bed so that I can hold Jack's hand? I won't be able to rest unless I can talk with him and touch him. He needs to know he has a reason to come back to me." Tears form and cause her large blue eyes glisten as she continues, "You see I'm not the marrying kind, and Jack is aware of my feelings. In fact he bared his soul to me just before all of this happened and shared with me that he loves me and wants to marry me. I was stubborn about being free and not being placed in a cage. That's how things were basically left between us. Dr. Taylor, I have to do whatever I can to help him want to live. The war took a terrible toll on Jack and then his wife rejected him, and essentially, I rejected him as well with my insistence on independence," she trails off her weak voice choking with suppressed sobs, her face etched in misery.
Dr. Taylor can see her love for the dying man in her eyes, and resolutely he pushes her bed over so that she can reach Jack. She immediately takes Jack's hand and begins tracing slow, soft circles on it. As Dr. Taylor leaves them he hears her soft voice speaking words of love to the unconscious Inspector.
Dr. Taylor has a word with Dot about the situation, asking her to make sure Phryne eats and drinks plenty of fluids just in case they need more blood for Jack. Dot says she will make herself useful and prepare the meals for Phryne and for the Doctor. She will keep some broth available for the Inspector.
Phryne refuses to leave Jack's side for anything more than the bathroom. She spends her time caring for his wounds, applying cool compresses to his fevered brow, reading to him, singing and talking to him and gently touching him. When she can stay awake no longer, she stretches her body out beside him so that she is touching him in as many spots as she can and she laces her fingers in his before she allows herself to fall into short periods of sleep. Dot cares for Phryne as she would a child. Dot's patience is endless as she sees two people she cares about going through such a dark time. Knowing Phryne will want to wash the blood from her body and remove her bloody clothes, Dot brings Phryne food, tea and a basin of hot water so she can cat wash and then helps her change her clothes. Dr. Taylor watches over Jack with special care. He knows that infection is Jack's most serious enemy now.
On the third day Jack finally opens his eyes; her face swimming into view. "Phryne," he says very softly his voice thick and rough from lack of use and very weak, "Will…" Phryne places her fingers against his lips to stop his words. "Hush, Jack. Don't waste your energy talking; the answer is yes." Jack looks deeply into her eyes trying to gauge if she is being truthful, his eyes radiating pain and love as she traces his lips with her thumb. He sees that her eyes are filled with fear, concern and most definitely love. Feeling reassured Jack gives her his signature half grin and promptly falls into an exhausted, but healing sleep. The next time Jack awakes, Phryne is asleep, her body pressed against him, their hands interlinked. Jack is thirsty, he hates to wake her, but he wants a drink really badly. Just as he prepares to wake Phryne, Dot comes into the room. "Inspector," she says smiling with relief, "You are awake. Would you like some broth?" Jack shakes his head affirmatively. Dot scurries out to get the broth. When she returns, he is asleep. She sets the tray down and sits in a chair to watch over them both, glad she thought to put the broth in a thermos. He stirs again in a few minutes and Dot is able to get a few spoons full of broth into his mouth before he falls asleep again.
Jack is as weak as a newborn kitten and about as fractious. Phryne is improving rapidly, now that it appears Jack is out of the woods. She knows he is feeling better because that very morning when Dr. Taylor comes to change his bandages, Jack says modestly "Miss Fisher it is not appropriate for you to be the room while Dr. Taylor examines me and changes my bandages." "And just who do you think helps him with your bandages Inspector? Dot?" asks Phryne archly, smirking at him. Jack's pale cheeks suffuse with a slight pink blush, and stuttering in confusion, he says, "Why his nurse of course." "Very well Jack; I'll go get her," Phryne says serenely and she leaves the room.
Jack ponders why Phryne gives in so quickly as that is not her nature, but thinking gives him a headache so he stops contemplating too much and waits for the nurse to appear. He gets his answer as Phryne returns to the room having gathered up the items Dr. Taylor needs for changing the dressings. "But," Jack splutters. Dr. Taylor takes pity on him and explains, "I don't have a nurse with Miss Fisher's experience. She has been meticulous in her care and attention to your recovery. Your wounds are much more like someone brought in from the battle field. You likely owe your life to her quick thinking during the attack as well as her dedication in getting you here and nursing you. Miss Fisher spent hours talking to you and, um, other things to help you decide that you wanted to live."
Jack's eyes narrow in concentration, "I thought I was dreaming," he says in a hushed voice. He raises his eyes to seek Phryne's gaze. She looks steadily at him, letting her love for him shine out of them. He sighs, "Oh, alright, but watch your hands Miss Fisher," he says in a threatening but light tone. He finds both Dr. Taylor and Phryne to be gentle as they clean the wounds and change the bandages. He feels Phryne trace some of his wounds very gently with her fingers. Jack shivers slightly feeling these as more of a lover's caress than the touch of a nurse. Phryne is however, caught up in the nursing process and doesn't notice that Jack is reacting to her touch as a man and not a patient.
Dr. Taylor's pleasure with the healing process is evident by his relieved expression. "Jack," he says, I think you will be able to travel in a few more days or a week." Jack nods, not sure he likes this news. The next day Jack receives a sponge bath from Dr. Taylor's nurse and then sits up in a chair for a while. Phryne allows Dot to watch over him and manage his lunch as she strips and remakes their beds. She then takes her first bath since before the ordeal began. Hugh still has not been able to come. He sends word from time to time, but they haven't found Silvia Warrington Johnson.
As they prepare for bed that evening, Jack looks very uncomfortable, "Miss Fisher, it isn't right for you to sleep with me," he says formally. "Jack, I promise I won't ravish you tonight, but you better get used to me sleeping with you as I'm not going anywhere else while you are recovering. And besides, we're engaged," Phryne says delicately. Jack chokes on his tea, "We're what?" he splutters. "Engaged," Phryne says impishly, "Don't you remember proposing Jack?" "No Miss Fisher, I do not remember proposing to you. Did you say yes?" Jack asks in a disbelieving tone, his eyebrows raised practically into his hair line. "I did indeed Inspector. I can no longer resist your many charms," she says her voice light with promise. "In that case Miss Fisher, I suppose I can't turn you out, and I am too weak to fight you in any case," his voice soft with double meaning.
Phryne dutifully settles Jack into the center of his bed grinning somewhat wickedly. Jack settles down in the clean sheets and covers, grunting softly as his wounds protest the movement. Phryne climbs into the center of her bed and snaps off the light. She snuggles down in the covers and attempts to sleep. She feels lonely. She misses the feel of Jack's length as she lies beside him and misses holding his hand. She grits her teeth in determination. She wants him to ask her. Thankfully he doesn't make her wait too long.
"Miss Fisher, may I have a drink of water?" he whispers in case she is asleep. "Of course, Inspector; your wish is my command" she says silkily. She hears the sharp intake of his breath and knows he is thinking about the two of them together in the bed. She gets up and pours him a glass of water and hands it to him perching on the side of the bed while he drinks it. "Do you want anything else Inspector?" she asks watching him closely. "Well Miss Fisher, my back is itching, can you help me with that?" he asks innocently. "Of course," she says with a smile. Jack can't turn for her to scratch from where she is standing by his bed because it will put too much pressure on the wound near his kidney. She helps him turn toward her so that his back is facing her bed. "Hang on a moment Jack," she purrs, "I'll be scratching in no time."
She climbs back into her bed and scoots across the bed until she is so close to him that he can feel the heat radiating off her body. She lightly scratches Jack's back, taking great care around his healing cuts and stitches. Jack can't help reacting to her touch, shivering slightly as goose bumps appear on his arms. "Mmm, that feels good," he says drowsily, "Please don't stop." Phryne continues to scratch his back and arms, and Jack drops off to sleep in a short amount of time. Once Jack is asleep Phryne whispers her love to him. She settles herself gently against him and pulls the covers over them and allows herself to drift into sleep, a slight smile lingering on her lips.
The next morning Dot reports getting word from Hugh that they still haven't found Silvia, and David is desperately worried that they won't find her in time. Phryne and Jack are going back through the conversation with Geoffrey Warrington White trying to glean any clues they can to help Hugh when Phryne suddenly remembers something he said that horrible night. "Jack, do you remember Geoffrey saying something about Silvia being closer than we think?" Phryne asks wracking her brain for details. Her memory is clouded by the fear she felt at the time so it is all a bit hazy.
Jack is thoughtful and reviews what he can remember of that night with her. As he talks, he remembers, "Yes, Phryne he did say that." She responds excitement making her voice rise in pitch, "She has to be in the house somewhere, not somewhere on the estate. I think we need to call Silvia's daughter and see if she knows of any secret rooms or tunnels in the house." "That is an excellent idea Miss Fisher," Jack says attempting to sit up excitement in his own voice, his eyes alight with the thrill of discovery. "Jack, you need your rest," Phryne warns, "Dr. Taylor will put you in isolation if you don't behave. I'll place the call while you rest." Grimacing at her, but nodding his head, Jack obediently lay back down. He didn't want to be put in isolation when they might know how to solve the case.
The phone call proves very fruitful as Silvia's daughter remembers a secret room below the wine cellar. She hasn't been in it since she was a child. "Geoffrey killed a bird and locked me in with it once, and I never went to the cellar after that. I'm sure that David doesn't know the room exists," the fear and concern for her mother obvious in her voice. "Thank you, "Phryne says, "Hopefully we will find your mother very soon."
Phryne runs to tell Jack the news. He senses her exhilaration. "Go Phryne, go tell Hugh and bring Silvia home safe. Dot can keep an eye on me for a few hours," his voice taut with disappointment and resignation. Phryne understands he wants to come with her, but they both know it can't happen. She takes both of his hands in hers, and places a kiss on each of his palms. "I'm sorry you have to stay behind, but I'll share all of the details with you tonight. It's going to be quite the bedtime story," she promises.
Phryne lets Dot and Dr. Taylor know what is happening. Dot prepares tea and some food for her to take. Dr. Taylor prepares some medical supplies for her. After these items are gathered, Phryne takes off in the Hispano Suiza pushing the car to its highest speeds. She arrives at the house and finds Hugh and David. She quickly explains that the house has a secret room. They troop to the wine cellar and then set about finding the room. Phryne remembers the sliding panel in the Warrington's other house and looks for one in the cellar. Sure enough, she finds the panel and it slides aside to reveal a set of stairs.
They race down the stairs. Silvia is there. She is bound. She has clearly been beaten. Her pulse if very faint, but Phryne does find one. She calls for blankets, as the room is quite cold. She sends Hugh for the medical supply box. They get Silvia covered up. Phryne uses the smelling salts to wake her. They support her to a sitting position. David Johnson can hardly contain his joy. He sits on the floor with his wife hugging her and providing his strength to her. Phryne breaks up the little reunion after a few minutes.
"David," she says, "We need to take Silvia upstairs, and get some fluids in her and possibly some food. I need to check her for injuries and then we need to get her to Dr. Taylor as soon as possible." David nods and they set about assessing Silvia. As far as Phryne can tell her physical injuries are minor. Her emotional trauma is going to be much harder to recover from, but Phryne expects with her family's love she will make a full recovery. Phryne drives David and Sylvia back to Falls Creek leaving Hugh to secure the house and fill out reports. Geoffrey Warrington White will be charged with two counts of attempted murder.
They return to Falls Creek, and Dr. Taylor immediately evaluates Silvia. After the evaluation is complete Phryne takes Silvia to meet Jack. "Inspector, I understand you agreed to check on me for my daughter," Silvia said softly, "I will be forever grateful." Jack nods humbly giving credit to the GlenRowan constabulary and to Hugh, Phryne and David.
That night there are 4 beds pushed together in sets of two in the room Dr. Taylor now calls a ward. David and Silvia hold each other close talking softly. Jack and Phryne are lying on their backs, their fingers entwined as she tells him about what happened that day in a hushed voice. Lulled by her voice and the joy of finding Silvia alive, Jack drifts off to sleep. Neither he nor Phryne has any nightmares that evening as the shadows of darkness are pushed back by their victory in solving the case.
After a few more days under Dr. Taylor's care in Falls Creek, Jack and Silvia are deemed fit for travel. Dr. Taylor will drive Hugh and Dot to the Warrington house in GlenRowan. Phryne, Jack, David and Silvia ride in the Hispano. Phryne opts to let David drive, so she can keep a closer eye on Jack, a decision which secretly thrills Jack – not her taking care of him, but holding her hand under his blankets is quite appealing and the pace of the drive will be much more sedate with a law abiding citizen at the wheel. The four of them have a delightful drive. It is amazing how beautiful the world around one looks when death has been but mere moments away and how thankful for life one is to have been given additional time on earth.
Jack and Silvia doze a good deal of the drive, their healing bodies reacting to the fresh air and being out of bed for an extended time. Jack allows himself to hold Phryne's hand, and he rests against her when he gets sleepy having gotten used to the feel of her next to him during his recovery. As he wrestles with a bit of propriety guilt; he reminds himself that she says they are engaged! A slight smile rests on Jack's lips as he sleeps, making him entirely too kissable for Phryne's stretched thin patience, but she doesn't want to wake him, so she plots a future encounter where she will exact her revenge and talks quietly with David.