Chapter 3: A New Lead

Phryne slept fitfully, her dreams filled with images of the case and snippets of conversation with Jack. She woke up feeling a bit more energized, but her throat still ached and her body felt stiff. Dot had left a tray of breakfast in her room, and Phryne gratefully accepted the cup of tea and toast. As she ate, Phryne went over the case in her mind, trying to piece together the clues. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had missed something important. She made a mental note to review the evidence again, and to ask Jack about the security footage he had mentioned. After finishing her breakfast, Phryne got dressed and ready for the day. She chose a simple but elegant outfit, and Dot helped her into her coat. "Are you sure you're up for this, Miss Fisher?" Dot asked, concern etched on her face. Phryne nodded. "I'm fine, Dot. I just need to get out of the house and focus on the case." Dot nodded, but Phryne could tell she was still worried. As they drove to the police station, Phryne went over her plan for the day. She would meet with Jack, review the security footage, and see if they could identify the thief. When they arrived at the station, Phryne was greeted by Jack, who looked rugged and handsome in his police uniform. "Morning," he said, smiling at her. "You look a bit more rested today." Phryne smiled back, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Thanks to your phone call, I had a good night's sleep." Jack chuckled and led her to the conference room, where a large screen was set up. He pressed a few buttons, and a grainy image appeared on the screen. "This is the footage from the security camera near the scene of the crime," Jack explained. "As you can see, it's a bit grainy, but I think we can make out the thief's features." Phryne leaned forward, her eyes scanning the image. She gasped as she saw the thief's face, and her mind racing with possibilities. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Jack smiled. "That's the million-dollar question. But I think we can find out. The image is a bit distorted, but I think we can enhance it." Phryne nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. She was one step closer to solving the case, and she couldn't wait to see what other clues they could uncover. As they worked on enhancing the image, Phryne's phone rang. She answered it, and her eyes widened as she listened to the voice on the other end. "What is it?" Jack asked, noticing her expression. Phryne's eyes locked onto his. "It's the museum director. He's just told me that another artifact has gone missing."