Chapter 3 - Surmises

"You are a detective," Holmes started, standing by the fire, "sent here, from America, on a fake-mission: planning on trapping a murderer. However, you have reason to believe that there may be more to this, rather odd situation, and would appreciate assistance. From what you have said, I can also reason that you are the only one who believes this fact, and, as many do, confronted Scotland Yard. It is most obvious that you were not taken as seriously as thought you had been, and now am asking for my help? Or are you here just to have a witness, in the case that you are somehow killed!"

"Like I said," she responded in a slightly angered tone, "I just want back up…"

"You have nothing more to tell me?"

"Nothing," she responded, her accent coming out again.

"Nothing in the slightest? If you have indeed read some of Dr. Watson's dialogues, then you should be aware that I often look at even the slightest, most seemingly unrelated, facts into account… Anything more you can share?"

"Now that you say that, I can give one more assumption of mine. I'll warn you, however, it's a little racist."

"Any assumption you make, especially against any particular ethnicity, could only be of help, as my unbiased mind may uncover something you had not thought of, within the fact itself."

"Alright, then," she responded, sitting straighter in the chair, "I have a feeling that the killer, or at least an accomplice of his, may have been a chinaman."

"Could you please explain how you reached this assumption?"

"I think," she responded, looking through her purse, "It's that, a small box had been left behind, on the recently deceased's desk. When we had arrived, myself first, he was alive. But just barely. He asked me to take the box, upon his work-desk, and conceal it for the safety of a friend. It contained Opium."

"Great Scott," I jolted, taking the comment to be rather racist, without good reasoning.

"The box, if I may continue, doctor," she continued, "had Chinese lettering upon it." Taking it out of her purse, she added, "I know, as I learned the language while working on a previous case, involving a Chinese family hanging. You can trust my judgement."

"Well," I responded, "If you say you are sure, I can only believe what you have to say."

"I'm sorry to say, my dear," Holmes started, stating his own point, "I cannot wholly trust you recollections until I have more evidence. Surely you can understand."

"I do," she responded, "being a detective myself. I'm sure my tale sounds absurd, and, I wouldn't be the kind of person you would immediately trust."

It appeared as if she was about to respond to his statement, however, gazing at our wall-clock, she said "I must be off gentlemen… I think that I was being trailed earlier. I thought that I had lost them ages ago, however, if they are native to this area, they may suspect that I gave you a visit. Staying here any longer would only give them more time to assume my location."

"I thank you for relating that information, Madame," he responded, opening the door for her, "However, do take this cane of mine… Don't worry, I have others."

"Why do you want me to have this? It have some sort of tracker in it?"

"No, I'm afraid," he responded with a fake chuckle, "I do not have access to such a technology. This cane can be most invaluable in protecting yourself from muggers that may lurk nearby."

"Self-defense you mean?" she laughed, handing it back, "a language wasn't all that I learned from the Chinese."

Holmes finished their goodbyes, and, in quickly shutting the door, turned to me a little anxiously.

"We need to work fast Watson," he quickly muttered, "Help me with my potion vials."

"Why?" I responded, having trouble adjusting to his sudden change in pace.

He took out the Chinese box from his back pocket, "The Chinese taught me a thing or two as well…"

I could only but laugh at his statement. I hadn't expected such a remark from him, when, before I could laugh any more, he corrected my misunderstanding.

"I was referring to the chemical properties of Opium… If we can see this mixture turn purple, then we have discovered more truth in her statements."

"Oh," I breathed, jumping to help him. "If miss Reed is as intelligent as she seemed, she would be back within a few minutes." I added.

Over the course of the next few minutes, we worked with the utmost swiftness…