The pair of figures crept with practiced steps through the shadows of the dark hotel room. It was easy for them to locate the box of jewels that hadn't been stored in the hotel vault yet. Foolish guests, it should have been the first thing they did. But instead they went in search of tea service. Which turned into cocktails, then supper, dessert, after dinner drinks. That was the thing about honeymooners, they tended to fly off on whims, leaving their rooms quite unattended.

Then again, some couples returned to their room too early, only to find a man and a woman, cloaked in black, raising a vase to break over the wife's head. Meanwhile the husband struggled with the man, eventually staggering back into the wall, a dagger sticking out from his chest. This was how the couple was found; unconscious, bleeding out, and sans a very expensive box of jewelry.

x-X-x

"I do love a wedding, Miss." Dot grinned as the bride and groom passed their pew. The daughter of an old family friend had kindly invited Aunt Prudence, who was unable to attend and sent Phryne in her place.

In Phryne's opinion it was a waste of a perfectly good afternoon, but she agreed to attend the service and drop off a present. They would put in a quick appearance at what was to be a dry reception. Not even a glass of champagne to toast the new couple? What was this world coming to?

"Phryne, dear! How marvelous to see you!" Caro greeted at the front of the receiving line.

"Caro, you look beautiful." Phryne smiled, passing the impeccably wrapped present to the bride's mother.

"Such a shame Prudence couldn't come."

"Yes, an ill friend required her company." A practiced excuse, which was executed with the appropriate nod of understanding.

"Of course. I'm so glad you could make it."

"Wouldn't have missed it."

"The party may last longer than we originally intended. We received a call this morning letting us know that the hotel couldn't accommodate our reservations. Apparently a man was murdered in what was to be our room and since we were only staying the night before our ship leaves tomorrow…"

Caro's words went unheard as a man was murdered continued to ring in Phryne's ears.

"A murder? How grisly. What happened?"

"They weren't quite clear. Although it sounded as though the pair were running around with the wrong sort. In the honeymoon suite, can you believe it?"

"Dreadful." Phryne nodded, taking Dot's arm, ready to lead her away. "Congratulations again, shan't keep the line from moving."

"Of course. Thank you for coming."

"Miss, aren't we going to stay?" Dot asked as her employer as they moved for the doors.

"Didn't you hear, Dot? There has been a murder."

x-X-x

"How did everything go at The Preston this morning?" Jack asked as he pulled off his jacket and settled into his desk chair. Collins lingered in the doorway, passing on the information of the new case. An early morning meeting kept Jack away from the scene that morning.

"Fine, sir. Well… as fine as a murder…"

"Constable." Jack spoke simply, heading off the on-coming ramble at the pass.

"Right, sir. My notes are one your desk, the body is in the morgue awaiting autopsy, photos of the scene are being developed, and I'm waiting to hear from the hospital when the wife of the deceased wakes up."

"Was there anything from the wife?"

"She was barely conscious…"

"Isn't that just the way of a wife?" Phryne mused, appearing in the door next to Collins.

"Miss Fisher, I assume you've heard about the…"

"Mysterious and deadly goings-on in the honeymoon suite at The Preston. Yes, I heard and imagine my surprise when I arrived to find that the scene had already been catalogued and cleaned."

"And how did you hear about the passing of Mr. Cabot?"

"Word of mouth. I happened to be attending the wedding of the young couple intended for the honeymoon suite this evening. Naturally, when the bride mentioned murder…"

"The cogs in your head began to turn." Jack smiled softly.

"The cogs can't be stopped, Jack."

"Sir?" Collins interrupted.

"Yes, go on, Constable."

"Mrs. Cabot was able to tell us that it was a duo that attacked them. They took her jewelry and took valuables off the bodies after the husband was killed and she was knocked out."

"Have you found any similar cases?"

"Yes, sir. Well, not the murder, but there have been a number of robberies at The Preston, all from the same room. There was a string of similar robberies at a few different hotels, but those were some years prior."

"Thank you, Collins." Jack nodded, giving the man permission to leave the room. As the Constable returned to the counter where Dot was waiting for him, Phryne settled onto the edge of Jack's desk.

"So, Detective Inspector, what is your intended course of action in this case?" She questioned, looking down at the man sitting in front of her.

"Something invasive will have to be done. These people have managed to go unnoticed thus far, they will have to be caught in the act."

"Does that means what I think it means?" She grinned.

x-X-x

"Checking in, sir?" Asked the clerk at the desk.

"Yes." Jack smiled, setting down his case. "Mr. and Mrs. King."

"Of course, sir. The honeymoon suite. And this must be the new Mrs. King."

"Yes, Phryne King." With a smile she hooked her arm through Jack's. "Our room please."