Sherlock Holmes and the case of the cyanide toffee.
Prologue.
The last toffee lay in the jar on the dusty shelf. The shelf was dusty because it was in a private room and the maid could not enter, and the room's owner, Mr Porpington Swipes, did not care to do the dusting himself. Hence the dust coating the room. Mr Porpington reached for the toffee and unravelled the wrapping paper.
The guests would be arriving soon and he was wearing his best suit and tie. This deal would ensure a great life insurance and inheritance for his family. The toffee tasted strangely of almonds. Suddenly he realised what was going on. "Oh no!" he exclaimed.
*
Sherlock Holmes was on the scene as soon as he got the message. The family of a Mr Porpington Swipes had called to hire him and Watson, and he did not waste any time getting to the scene. The study had been sealed of and everybody was under strict police instructions not to enter.
"You mean we can't even see the crime scene?" Watson blustered. Sherlock quickly tried to calm him but to no avail. "I am perfectly sure that Mr Holmes will be able to sort it with scientific and logical deduction alone." said Mrs Swipes. She was a small thin woman and she had a soft squeaky voice. "Oh yeah, Sherlock will do it!" Watson yelled losing his temper. "But what is the point of me being here when you've got mr amazing!" and with that he stormed out.
Sherlock sighed. "So let's go over the facts again shall we? So you say you found him in the bedroom, dead with cyanide poisoning, with a half eaten cyanide toffee in his mouth." She nodded. "And there were no other visitors or people in the house yet, apart from you and your five children. But he had only brought the toffees last night, and there was no sign of a break in." She nodded again. "Could you think of anyone who might have a grudge against him?" Mrs Swipes nodded. "His investors, his business was failing and they wanted the money. He wasn't very good at business because of his absent mindedness."
Sherlock Holmes thought for a while and then exclaimed loudly "I think I have it. May I know what his meeting today was supposed to be about?" Mrs Swipes told him that it was with some lawyers, will makers and insurance men.
Sherlock started to say his conclusions "Mr Swipes was under financial pressure and there was nothing he could do, but he knew that if it carried on you would all be out on the streets." Mrs Swipes looked shocked "You mean he committed suicide?" She exclaimed. Sherlock shook his head "No, but he set up today's meeting to get life insurance and make a will leaving his money to you. He then laced some toffees with cyanide so that he could pass the money and life insurance to you tomorrow. But you said he was absent minded and you were right. He accidentally ate the toffees today. He hadn't made the deal yet so you get nothing, I am afraid."
Sherlock got on his coat "Excuse me" he said "But I must go after Watson." And he left.
THE END
