CHAPTER 6

BLUE ANSWERS

The next day Holmes was busy at his chemicals. After Mrs. Nindt had gone, Holmes had moved straight to his worktable, and had been there ever since. I was itching to know what he was working on and why, but I knew better than to disturb him. I figured it had something to do with the poison method used to kill Mr. Greyson. Holmes had established that it was indeed Rikael who had murdered his father. The simple history of father-son conflict related to us by Ms. Nindt, combined with the evidence against him in Holmes' mind, was enough to convince us of the fact. Rikael, Ms. Nindt had told us, was a creative person. She had always believed he could have been a very good artist. This was Rikael's opinion as well. His father Mr. Greyson, however, was a respectable businessman, and believed Rikael should be one as well. Or at least, Greyson had declared, Rikael must choose a more practical job; one which made consistent money. And so, Rikael was forced either to take up a more practical trade or, thanks to Mr. Greyson's stubbornness, be completely disinherited. Rikael had protested at first, but then had recently sought to make amends with his father, and had taken up carpentry as a seemingly permanent occupation.

"I thought he had taken it all quite well!" Mrs. Nindt had gasped.

"Quite well indeed!" I huffed, frowning. "He's a ghastly criminal!"

"AHA!" Holmes cried. "How imaginative this man was! The artistry in this poison is quite complimentary." I immediately rushed to my friend's side. His hands were stained with a blue chemical, and a small-ish beaker with a clear solution was bubbling over a heat source. "You have figured it out then," I inquired eagerly.

"Yes," said Holmes calmly. "Here is what happened. Rikael had more than one inheritance. Besides gaining his father's immense wealth, he had also inherited his determinedness of character. Rikael wanted to follow his passion for art, and was willing to go to unspeakable lengths to insure his own happiness. Holmes shrugged his shoulders and continued. "So he devised a plan to eliminate his father, that he might gain his full inheritance and live comfortably without any resistance to his pursuing an artistic profession."
"Leave it to an artistic fellow to develop eccentricity," I chuckled. "But this narrative is intriguing Holmes, please continue."

"The critical point in his plan was that he should not attract any suspicion. Any suspicion at all from the authorities might put him at once in risk of losing his inheritance, which was one of the main objects of his pursuit. No, Rikael needed to maintain endearment to his father, which would allow him more opportunity for the murder, as well as fool everyone else as to the real state of their relationship. As Rikael was formulating a baffling plan of murder, he likely stumbled upon Ms. Nindt's advertisement, or heard from someone else that she was seeking additional help in her studio with carpentry tasks and manual labor. Some devil in his mind responded to this new knowledge, and his murderous plan was carried out thusly; he established himself as a carpenter immediately, for the benefit of his father. He approached Ms. Nindt as an eager candidate for the position helping with manual labor, knowing that it would give him access to her shop, and her paints. Having secured this position, it was easy enough to move forward. He ascertained the paints, created the painting, and gave it to his father. His plans moved slowly- he couldn't risk being suspected of anything. Rightly so, Rikael speculated that Mr. Greyson would place a sentimental decoration such as a gift from his son, in his private office. It was only a matter of time then before the brilliancy of his deviousness was carried through.
You might have noticed me working diligently with my chemicals earlier. I had indeed made an excellent discovery. If you would remember, Mrs. Nindt mentioned that there was a certain chemical component she added to her home-made paints. I carefully examined the makeup of this chemical, as well as the composition of an extraction of paint taken from the piece previously occupying Mr. Greyson's office. They were a match, upon all but one account. The painting from Greyson's quarters contained Mrs. Nindt's extra ingredient— as well as an oxidizing agent, comparable to an aerosol. It must have been lightly coated over the face of the masterpiece- like a shiny seal, encapsulating an impending doom. All it took was for Mr. Greyson to light a lamp, a candle, a fire- and through the process of combustion, a catalyst for breaking the seal and releasing the airborne chemicals had been born. You must have noticed, Watson, the blue streaking the victim's eyes. It was exactly the same hue as the ocean splashing over the painting I removed from Mr. Greysons personal office, where the body itself was found. It was really very more than likely then, that a symptom of such coloring would be indicative, rather than coincidental, as has proven the case." Holmes paused here, his chin tilted towards the ceiling, as if the satisfaction of solving such a boggling case hovered above him in the rafters. A few more seconds passed by, before he snapped back into the conversation. "I shall inform Lestrade immediately, of the method in which our killer completed his dark task."
"Indeed, Holmes!" I uttered, amazed. "I find it most fortunate on many occasions that you are so adept with chemistry, and in this case your skills proved a formidable ally. Well done sir, you are the true artist in this adventure!" I could see a bit of humor twitching at the corners of Holmes' mouth.

"You mean at the art of sleuthing?" He mused.

"Of course Holmes, of course!" I laughed, and Holmes turned his gaze upward once more. I thought he had dismissed my compliment, but his nonchalant manner was only a guise- one glance at his face and I knew he was secretly pleased.

THE END