December 16th, 1921

I have been sitting here for at least five minutes with my pen hovering over this page in search of the precise word to describe how I feel. Elated? Euphoric? Overjoyed? None of these superlatives seem adequate.

I have been on cloud nine since Detective Cosgrove brought me the news that he has obtained information that may lead him to the man who brought me here. Finally, after three long months, a breakthrough!

I had not expected to see the detective so soon after our first encounter and was quite surprised to spot him gliding through the doors of the Common Room with Lilian in tow. As they drew closer, I could not help but notice her high-colored cheeks, no doubt due to the close proximity of my visitor.

My nurse shared with me that Detective Cosgrove had made quite an impression on the nurses in the ward during his earlier visit. I wondered if she counted herself as one of the group enamored with the handsome police officer who is investigating my case. Her deep blush provided me with my answer.

This did not surprise me as Joseph Cosgrove is without a doubt as handsome as Valentino and quite amiable. He is also a widower, a fact that was recently relayed to me by Dr. Head. And I have no doubt that his marital status adds considerably to his appeal for those ladies still baiting their hooks.

Once Lillian left, the tall law enforcement officer with chestnut colored hair and piercing blue eyes recounted the events that led to his discovery. Cosgrove began by stating that since he was not satisfied that enough effort was put forth in questioning the nurse who manned the Admitting desk on the day I was brought to the hospital, he petitioned her to grant him a second interview.

At first, Nurse Barnes was reluctant to spend any more time discussing the matter as she was certain that she had relayed all the information that she possessed to the Scotland Yard investigator who interviewed her back in September.

Fortunately for me, Detective Cosgrove is not the type who gives up easily when he wants something. And he is determined to break this case. The investigator flatly refused to leave the premises until the admitting nurse would agree to meet him after her shift had ended. He flattered and cajoled her, insisting that she have dinner with him that evening and ultimately his persistence and charm won her over.

In a relaxed setting and guided by an experienced detective who made interrogation feel more like friendly conversation, Nurse Barnes did remember details she had not when questioned the first time around. In retrospect, the most important came in her visualizing one piece of the mystery man's clothing.

The nurse now recalled that the man who delivered me to her wore a cap with an insignia on it. And with Detective Cosgrove's gentle prodding and guidance, she was able to picture that emblem clearly in her mind. Seeing it led to the floodgates opening.

It occurred to Nurse Barnes that the symbol emblazoned on the man's cap was not completely foreign. In fact, she was now certain that she saw a different chap wearing a cap with the identical marking quite recently. This man had stopped by her desk to learn where he could locate a friend who had been admitted to the hospital earlier that day. She remembered, too, that this bloke had some type of dolly with him and she had cautioned him not to take the contraption upstairs.

The detective continued his tale by telling me that after further deliberation, Nurse Barnes slammed her hand on the table, startling the stylishly dressed woman next to her so badly that her glass of wine wound up in her lap, and cried out, "He makes deliveries to the hospital!"

After offering an apology to the diner frantically dabbing soda water onto her stained skirt, the nurse added that when she followed the man who had brought me in, she had spotted a lorry parked across the street. At the time, she thought nothing of it. But now realized its importance.

Detective Cosgrove paused a moment and told me that I needed to breathe. As I had been hanging on his every word, I hadn't realized that I had forgotten to exhale.

I resumed breathing and he resumed his report by giving me the last piece of information that he received that day. The lorry was owned by Smith's Potato Crisps. And this company did, in fact, routinely deliver their product to the hospital as well as many other establishments close to it.

Furthermore, the detective advised me that he was meeting with the owner of Smith's upon his return to London the upcoming Monday to ascertain the name and address of the driver who made deliveries on Whitechapel Road on the day in question.

I wanted to pinch myself to be certain that I was not dreaming but feared if I did, the detective would surely think me unhinged. Still, it was difficult to contain my excitement. As he rose to leave, I did the same. And in an effort to release some of the pent up energy bubbling inside me, I accompanied him on his way out of the hospital.

While we walked side by side down stairs that smelled as though a bottle of disinfectant had recently been poured over them, Detective Cosgrove cautioned me not to be overly optimistic as we still had a long road ahead of us. I admitted that though this would not be an easy task for me to accomplish, I would make a valiant attempt to do so.

A moment before we reached the doors leading out onto the street, the Scotland Yard investigator took me by surprise by stopping short and asking if I would commend him to Lilian. I'm sure I looked as perplexed by his request as I felt because upon seeing my expression, he added that he was hoping that she would accompany him to Hyde Park, if weather permitted, the following day. And he clarified that he believed my recommendation would sway her decision in his favor.

I wondered what would lead him to believe that my opinion held any weight in the matter and asked him as much.

Looking me squarely in the eyes, Cosgrove declared, "If I did not know better, John, I would think you speak in the spirit of mockery, for it is as plain as the nose on your face that Lilian Pomeroy is in love with you."

I blinked. Then I could not help but pinch myself.

AN: Hyde Park is one of the largest parks as well as one of the Royal Parks in London. It was the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851 which was a World's Fair of its time. Rudolph Valentino was an actor and screen idol. Quite the heartthrob in 1921. Finally, there was an actual company by the name of Smith's Potato Crisps based in London that produced and delivered the popular snack. I guess some things never change.