It was mid-morning when she got the phone call. She had just showered and dressed before sitting down for her breakfast of tea, milk, eggs, toast, and fruit. Walking over to the elegant ivory and gold decorated rotary phone, she picked up the handle and answered it.

"Hello? This is Marjery. Can I help you?" she asked in her crisp, yet dulcet tone.

"Marjery! Just the girl I needed to talk to," the familiar male voice said with a hint of enthusiasm. "Do you have time to come over later in the afternoon for tea?"

"Ah, Detective Dupin! Hello! Yes, my schedule is clear. Anything the matter?" she asked.

"Not at all. Just another case. I need to go over it with you," he chuckled.

"I'll eat my breakfast and get down to your house straightaway. Or was there another place?"

"No, no. My place is fine! I'll see you soon."

"You, too!" she laughed softly and hung up the phone. Another case? Oh, how I hope it will be exciting! I'm not fully dressed yet, though. If I am to meet with Dupin, then I need to look my best. Who knew what could happen around him? He was a renowned detective, and, if his services were required, then it was always a fact that he called on me. Eating her breakfast quickly now, she went to her somewhat sparse bedroom. The place she lived in was a rental flat that was already furnished. She had no need to spend on much. She could live comfortably in a home, but she had no need to move.

She went through the drawer full of her underthings to pull out a clean silk shift. A full dress with an overlaying petticoat of a soft grayish-blue color was next to put on with silk stockings for her slight heels. She was always very modest in her dress. She wasn't very busty, either, but she had enough. Going to her vanity, she placed on a slight amount of makeup in the form of eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss. Brushing out her long, soft, dark brown hair, she adjusted the locks to frame her light green eyes, as she pinned it all up into place. She liked to let others think that her hair was short.

When she studied her face, she pouted a little that she wasn't very pretty. Her nose seemed too small against her larger eyes. Even her mouth looked tiny when she pursed her lips together for the lip gloss. She wasn't very tall, either, at only five feet in height. However, it was her intellect that made her a desirable candidate to help with Dupin. That was more than she could have wanted.

Grabbing her purse to ensure she had her keys to lock up, she was soon out the door. It took a while to get to his house. He lived across town. Flagging down a horse-drawn cab, she gave the address to be taken there. When they got halfway there, the cab stopped.

"This is as far as I can go, Miss," the man said.

"What? Whatever for?" she frowned.

"There's construction down the way. It's a known fact. It's a risk to the horse," he shrugged. Sighing, she paid what fare she owed and got out of the cab. At least my destination wasn't too far off.

"I don't see any construction!" she grumbled to herself, as she walked on the pavement. As she continued to walk, her feet began to hurt from the shoes she wore. If I knew I was going to be walking a distance, I would have brought better shoes. Scowling softly, she found a small outdoor café and sat down in one of the chairs for a small rest. She ordered a water with lemon when the waiter appeared. As she moved through her purse to see what change she had, she looked up at the man that now sat in a chair next to her.

"I had forgotten that they were doing construction on various parts of the main road," the pale man with shoulder-length brown hair sighed. "I figured you would have made it here before your shoes began to bother you. I wouldn't have worn walking boots, either, unless I had known."

"Dupin," she smiled softly. His straight brown, neatly combed, shoulder-length hair was actually starting to grey a touch, but his bright, blue eyes were clear and alert. Even his voice was strong and resilient, and it seemed to reflect a touch of known wisdom. His frame was tall, lean, and evenly proportioned from all the detective work he did through his life.

He wore a light brown suit with a white undershirt. His top hat was neatly settled on his head, and his golden ball top cane was resting against his hip. Pulling up a menu, he browsed through it with thought. Then he looked at her and said, "You haven't eaten yet?"

"I ate a light breakfast. I never eat heavily," she shrugged.

"I'll pay for this meal," he smiled. "I don't want to get into what our call was about earlier. We shall wait until we get to my house."

"I wouldn't dream of speaking about such things publicly," she agreed. After a small brunch was ordered, they chatted about daily weather and odd things seen in the morning paper. With the tab paid, Dupin offered her his arm to escort her to his house.

"I never bothered to ask, but do you have any family?" he asked.

"I do. Just my sister now. My parents have passed on," she sighed.

"I am so sorry to hear that," he frowned.

"It's all right," she smiled. "It's been a few years, since the carriage accident. Muddy roads and horses don't mix. I was living here at the time. My sister could have stopped them from going out."

"You resent her?"

"No. The weather was clear that night. From what she told me. I'm not sure what to think."

"I see. It does sound like an odd case."

"I'd rather just let it be."

"For now," he nodded. Marjery only looked away. He knew she was heavily troubled by it. Now he knew how deep of a private wound it was. Wisely changing the subject, he said, "You must forgive my memory. I think I locked the gate and couldn't find my key again."

"Again?" she looked at him skeptically. He gave her a sheepish grin in response. "Let me guess. You added that new puzzle lock, too, didn't you?"

"I did," he shrugged. "You know how I like my puzzles."

"All too well," she sighed. He laughed softly and walked her up to the massive gate that bordered around his house. On studying the intricate lock, she searched around the leaves and bricks to find the necessary pieces to put them back in place. "They always fall apart on you!"

"It keeps the mind sharp," he smirked and watched her carefully fit each piece back into place.

"Okay. I have the lock fixed up. Where is the key?" she asked.

"Ah..." he blinked. She groaned and almost tripped over a loose stone. He caught her deftly to help her stand. Sighing a bit, she was able to find a nearby crowbar to pull up the stone to get the key.

"You are a difficult man," she chuckled.

"I just like to make my home impossible to get into," he said with a smile.

"Even yourself?" she grinned and turned the lock.

"Touché, my dear," he muttered. She laughed at him, and he lead her into the Victorian-Gothic style, two-story mansion of a house.