Disclaimer: See part 1.
*****
I walked into our sitting room, chilled to the bone.
"I have had a call from two police constables." Holmes informed me.
I looked over to where he stood by the fire.
"Questioning you no doubt." I said as I made my way over to my seat.
"Yes. And damned incompetent they were too. A child could have done a better job." He made no effort to hide the indignation in his voice. "And they refused to tell me anything. Me!"
There was no point in commenting so I changed the subject, unfortunately it was not much better. Holmes listened as I repeated everything Lestrade had said. When I had finished he sprang from his chair and began to pace the room with unusual fervour.
"This whole mess is ridiculous!" He was taking his most superior tone now; that was never a good sign. "To think that if I committed a murder I would be foolish enough to leave an item of mine at the scene of the crime!"
He abruptly stopped in front of his window, but just as quickly changed his mind and started to pace again. He started to rant again, and I made no move to stop him.
"James was left handed, not right. I cannot believe that has been overlooked."
My mind was just beginning to work on the relevance of his statement before Holmes continued.
"And has it not occurred to anyone that if I was supposed to have hit him from behind, it would have been quite impossible for him to get hold of my cuff-link before falling unconscious to the floor! In which case he must have either been holding it before hand or it was planted there, either way it does not incriminate me!"
"Yes, you're quite right Holmes." I said, grasping his point.
"Of course I am right."
I shook my head and stood up. I put a restraining hand on his arm to stop his incessant pacing and then guided him down into a chair, moving behind him so that I could put my hands on his shoulders. I started to massage and almost instantly I felt some of his tension fall away, relaxing at my slightest touch.
"That is very good, Watson." He said quietly.
I smiled, "I am glad, but unfortunately you shall have to wait till tonight for me to finish it. I haven't even started on your list yet, and it is nearly midday."
"But surely you will stay for lunch?" He looked up at me with an arched eyebrow.
"No, I'm fine. I must push on." I replied, giving him a friendly tap on his shoulders as I stopped massaging. "I will see you later Holmes."
Steeling myself against the cold, I went to visit the first name on my list.
*****
I walked into our sitting room, chilled to the bone.
"I have had a call from two police constables." Holmes informed me.
I looked over to where he stood by the fire.
"Questioning you no doubt." I said as I made my way over to my seat.
"Yes. And damned incompetent they were too. A child could have done a better job." He made no effort to hide the indignation in his voice. "And they refused to tell me anything. Me!"
There was no point in commenting so I changed the subject, unfortunately it was not much better. Holmes listened as I repeated everything Lestrade had said. When I had finished he sprang from his chair and began to pace the room with unusual fervour.
"This whole mess is ridiculous!" He was taking his most superior tone now; that was never a good sign. "To think that if I committed a murder I would be foolish enough to leave an item of mine at the scene of the crime!"
He abruptly stopped in front of his window, but just as quickly changed his mind and started to pace again. He started to rant again, and I made no move to stop him.
"James was left handed, not right. I cannot believe that has been overlooked."
My mind was just beginning to work on the relevance of his statement before Holmes continued.
"And has it not occurred to anyone that if I was supposed to have hit him from behind, it would have been quite impossible for him to get hold of my cuff-link before falling unconscious to the floor! In which case he must have either been holding it before hand or it was planted there, either way it does not incriminate me!"
"Yes, you're quite right Holmes." I said, grasping his point.
"Of course I am right."
I shook my head and stood up. I put a restraining hand on his arm to stop his incessant pacing and then guided him down into a chair, moving behind him so that I could put my hands on his shoulders. I started to massage and almost instantly I felt some of his tension fall away, relaxing at my slightest touch.
"That is very good, Watson." He said quietly.
I smiled, "I am glad, but unfortunately you shall have to wait till tonight for me to finish it. I haven't even started on your list yet, and it is nearly midday."
"But surely you will stay for lunch?" He looked up at me with an arched eyebrow.
"No, I'm fine. I must push on." I replied, giving him a friendly tap on his shoulders as I stopped massaging. "I will see you later Holmes."
Steeling myself against the cold, I went to visit the first name on my list.