Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 14
breathing peacefully. He followed her to the kitchen where she
opened the Butlers’ door and listened for Mr. Butler’s snore
and Mrs. Butler’s whuffle. Both present and correct. Beside
the combustion stove, which had not been lit, there was a faint
noise. But it was only Ember rising from beside his puppy and
suggesting politely that although it appeared to be the middle
of the night, if Phryne thought it was breakfast time then he
was ready to graciously fall in with her wishes.
She stroked the cat and told him that he must wait until a
reasonable hour.
They returned to Phryne’s rooms, where she let out a great
breath which she had not known she was holding. Then, to Simon’s
surprise, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him hard for
almost a minute, her wet head on his silk-clad shoulder.
‘Dear Simon,’ she said softly. He held her close, feeling her
heart beating fast against his own. Then she pulled away and
surveyed the damage.
‘What a mess, but nothing is too badly damaged,’ she commented.
‘Help me,’ she said, and he grabbed the end of the
mattress.
Half an hour later, and Phryne’s boudoir was in its accustomed
state.
‘There’s nothing missing, and fortunately for them they didn’t
disturb the rest of the house or I would have had their blood,’
said Phryne matter-of-factly. ‘This definitely excludes you and
your friends, Simon. It must have happened while we were at
Kadimah. This must have been one of the dark young men
who robbed Mrs. Katz. Erk. I hate to think of him being in my
room, handling my things. Though what he made of all those
silk cami-knickers he fumbled through I’d like to know.’
‘Excludes me?’ asked Simon. ‘I needed to be excluded?’
‘Don’t be offended, old thing. It’s part of being a detective.
You have to suspect everyone, it’s one of those rules. But they
didn’t find my safe deposit,’ she said in satisfaction.
‘They didn’t? But everywhere they looked!’ protested Simon.