Chapter 2: Sniffles and Suspects

The luxurious mansion in St Kilda loomed before them, its grandeur and beauty a stark contrast to Phryne's miserable state. As they stepped out of the car, Phryne's congested nose let out a mighty sniffle, and she reached for another handkerchief to blow her nose. Jack, walking beside her, cast a concerned glance her way. "Are you sure you're up for this, Phryne?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism. Phryne nodded vigorously, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm fine, Jack. Just a bit...under the weather. A minor cold, I assure you." She snuffled and snorted, her nose reddening as she blew her nose again. As they entered the mansion, Phryne's sniffles and sneezes became more frequent. She would ask a question, only to interrupt herself with a loud "Ah-choo!" or a series of explosive sneezes. Jack tried to hide his growing frustration, but it was clear that Phryne's condition was starting to take a toll on her work. Their first interview was with the mansion's owner, a wealthy businessman named Mr. Jenkins. Phryne's questions were laced with sniffles and apologies, as she tried to focus on the case despite her worsening cold. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Jenkins," Phryne said, blowing her nose for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. "Can you tell me exactly what happened on the night of the burglary?" Mr. Jenkins, a tall, thin man with a pinched face, looked at Phryne with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Yes, of course. I was at a dinner party that night. I didn't notice anything unusual until the next morning, when I discovered that my collection of jewels and artifacts was missing." Phryne's eyes lit up with interest, but before she could ask another question, she let out a massive sneeze. "Ah-choo! Oh, dear me. Sorry about that." Jack shot her a stern look, but Phryne just smiled weakly and continued with the interview. As they spoke to more suspects and gathered clues, Phryne's cold continued to worsen. Her sneezes grew more violent, and her handkerchiefs became increasingly sodden. Jack watched her with growing concern, his patience wearing thin. Finally, as they left the mansion, Phryne's sneezes became too much to handle. "Phryne, I think you've had enough for today," Jack said firmly, as she let out another massive sneeze. "You're not well, and I won't have you collapsing on me in the middle of the case." Phryne looked at him, her eyes flashing with protest, but Jack was firm. "I'll see you tomorrow, Phryne. Try to rest and recover. We can handle this without you for today." With a huff, Phryne gathered her things and left the mansion, determined to prove to Jack – and herself – that she was more than capable of handling a little cold. As she walked back to her car, she felt a sense of disappointment and frustration. She had been so sure she could handle the case, despite her cold. But as she drove home, Phryne's sneezes grew more frequent, and she found herself feeling more and more miserable. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was letting Jack and the case down. As she pulled into her driveway, Phryne let out a final, massive sneeze. She blew her nose, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as fine as she thought.