DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Death Before Wicket 1
‘Poets’re in that far corner,’ said the chucker-out, looking a little
disappointed. He stood back, allowing her to pass, and Phryne
walked slowly across the room, collecting a teacup and some punch
and leaving a shilling in the saucer next to the washing tub. She
had no intention of drinking the foul concoction and insulting
the University’s port, but it was protective colouration.
She put a hand on the back of a chair at the furthest table
and said, ‘Mind if I sit down?’
The whole table stopped in mid-word and stared.
‘Bet you a deener I fuck you in a week,’ said a young man with
a very conscious grizzled beard and locks of hair straggling into
his uncollared neck. Phryne assessed this as an opening bid.
‘I wouldn’t put any real money on it, but I’ll watch your progress
with great interest,’ she promised. She sat down. The chair
was paint-stained and rickety, thrown out by some respectable
kitchen. Phryne leaned both elbows on the table and said, ‘Nice
to meet you,’ to the grizzled beard. ‘My name’s Phryne Fisher.
I’m thinking of establishing a magazine, since Vision has gone
down the drain. What do you think?’
This was a demand bid and she was not disappointed.
‘Who sent you here?’ asked the beard.
‘Chas Nuttall,’ she answered. ‘Why, do I need a sponsor?’
‘You do to come into Theo’s, unless you’re just slumming amongst
the gay Bohemians. Don’t mind about Jack, he says that to every
new woman he meets after it worked once in 1924, even though
it never worked again. I’m Bill, this is George, and Christopher
Brennan is…er…not entirely with us at the moment.’
He referred to a large man who was snoring, face down, in
a puddle of punch.
‘But doubtless he’ll be back,’ added George.
‘I’m from Melbourne,’ said Phryne. ‘Via Paris. This is the first
cafe I’ve seen which bears any resemblance to Bohemia. Smoky.
Contentious. Noisy. Colourful. Not, however—despite Jack’s
sporting offer—very salacious.’
‘Night’s young. And the girls from Tillie’s haven’t knocked
off yet. They usually come in here after the evening rush.’