Chapter 2 – The Strange Guest

Holmes was up to his usual methods of deduction, listening intently at the door. Though he disputes my acclaim of his reasoning powers, I would stake my reputation that he could deduce the identity of someone just by listening to them in the next room, as he was now.

"A woman," he started, "light footsteps with a faint 'clacking' sound. Obviously some form of high-heeled footwear. I might also add that she is wearing a long dress."

"How can you possibly deduce that, Holmes?" I asked in complete shock that he could guess something that he could neither see nor hear.

"She stopped for a moment, at the top step, before continuing towards our door. And, as you know," he said just as she started to knock, "from measuring the steps, I know that the top step is slightly higher then the others. Thus, I deduce that she stepped on the hem of her dress, and had to change her footing, as to not rip the fabric."

I nodded as Holmes opened the door. And, as I had predicted, he was correct in his account. However, he was wrong on one point, her dress. It wasn't long, but rather short, a newer fashion. Something must have thrown Holmes off. In looking at her handbag, opened with random objects sticking out in an un-orderly fashion, I assumed that she must have dropped it, and paused to pick it up before reaching our door. Thus, Holmes was right; she had stopped before reaching our door.

Walking in, it was apparent that she was soaking wet. Holmes took her coat and placed it on the fireplace mantle. I, standing from my chair, offered it to her, as so she could warm by the fire. Sitting on the couch opposite her, I watched as Holmes started to speak.

"Good-evening, Madame. I do so wonder why you didn't call upon me, instead deciding to walk all the way here."

"H-how did you know that," she said, with an obviously American accent.

"You are soaking wet, and have neither a chaperone nor an umbrella. Any woman roaming the streets of London in the late hours of the evening is either a prostitute or a foreigner. And, with your fine dress and concealed knife in your shoe, I can assume that you are American. Thus, you are the latter of the two."

"Well, I sure am glad that I wasn't mistaken as a…"

"There's also assassin, however, they usually try to enter my apartment in a more discrete manner," Interrupted Holmes, trying to go off of that subject.

"Now I'm sure you're just the men I'm looking for… My story is not too important to the subject, so, all you need to know is that I need you for a job. However I cannot reveal the time or location in which you are needed."

"I cannot understand, Miss…"

"Reed," she responded

"Miss Reed… Why would we accept such a situation which would leave us most vulnerable."

"It's a painting, a forgery, to be exact. However, it's meant to draw attention to itself. You see, the original painting was rumored to conceal a fine gemstone inside of it, however, we had found such a gem on the estate of the artist in question. Apparently, his last wishes were to place the diamond inside the painting. His son was the man asked to do it; however, he was murdered three months ago, before he could even do it. Thus, this forgery carries the diamond inside of it. We just want to see if we can catch the murderer, as we suspect that he's looking for the jewel."

"We?" I asked, wondering if she had misspoke.

"Yes, well, now that I've told you the case, I might as well tell you who I am." She responded, standing up, and opening her purse. "I am Detective Julia Reed. I'm here on behalf of the American government. And, though I have been reassured that the shipment is safe, I had a feeling that something would not go as planned. You see, I think that the man was killed by an assassin, working for an underground society in London. No one believes me; however, having read some of your books, I thought that they might have been from England."

Holmes stood silent, taking in all of her information. Grabbing his pipe, I could tell that he was thinking of exactly what to say. Finally, striking a match, he began to clarify things with her…