Chapter 2: The Thin Man

I pulled my Blue Mustang Coupe into a parking space, and then got out. I entered the main dojo just in time to watch Liz's match against another girl. I smiled; Lizzie has been practicing tae kwon do for seven years now, and I do say, she far surpasses her black belt.

Her adversary attacked first, sending out a flurry of scissor kicks; Lizzie dodged them all. Frustrated, the girl countered with with a roundhouse to the midsection, only to receive a kick to the chest. She tried again, sending a straight kick, but Lizzie caught the leg and whirled around, delivering a nasty horse kick into her opponents solar plexus. The people around me groaned as the girl doubled over with pain. With cool efficiency, Liz finished off with a devastating axe kick and sent her to the mat out cold.

The spectators applauded, as Lizzie calmed herself and bowed.

When the instructor called it quits, I called out her name, and she immediately turned around and greeted me with a smile that can only be described as "Hearts on Fire".

Lizzie, my partner in crime, my best friend in the world.

If I would be Sherlock Holmes, then she would most certainly be my Dr. Watson. However, I doubt that Holmes and Watson were ever as in love with each other as Lizzie and I were.

Oh. Right.

Did I mention that I'm dating my step-sister?

Lizzie rushed upon me and enveloped me in one her warmest hugs.

"You came!" She exclaimed.

"Of course I did. How else are you going home?"

She smacked me. "Nutcase!"

I laughed and kissed her.

Just than, two of Lizzie's peers walked by. "Don't worry, Jenny," one of them said, "I'll help you find it."

The girl named Jenny was clearly agitated she probably lost something valuable. Lizzie must have thought of that too, because she leaned into me and said, "Hey, mind helping these poor girls out a little? I'd really want to see your sleuthing talent."

"All right," I broke away and turned around, "Excuse me ladies," – The girls turned around curiously – "I hear that you're looking for something. Perhaps I can be of an assistance."

Jenny's friend scoffed, "Please, as if you could. Like you would know where her charm bracelet is."

I smirked. "Try me."

The two girls eyed me with suspicion. "Who are you?" Jenny asked.

"I'm Edwin V. I'm sort of an amateur detective

"How can you help me, you don't even know me."

"Just answer some of my questions and I'll figured it out."

The girl hesitated. "Come on," I assured her, "You've got nothing else to loose."

Convinced, the girl began her tale. "Okay, it's my charm bracelet," she said, "It's my most valuable possession, but now, I can't find it."

I nodded. "Where did you last see it?"

"In my bedroom, while I was putting on my uniform."

"How far do you live from here?"

"I'm not sure."

"Where do you live?"

Her friend frowned at me. "How does that matter."

I gave a her a look "Every detail is important" I motioned for Jenny to continue. She told me an address that clearly was not walking distance from here.

"Interesting," I said, "What time did you leave for Tae Kwondo ?"

She pursed her lips, "Around four-ish ... four thirty."

A picture was forming in my mind.

"And how did you get here?"

Her friend answered for her, "I picked her up and we came together."

I nodded, "What's your name?"

"Dana" she replied.

"Dana, did you get here on time?"

"No, we were a bit late."

"By how much?"

She hesitated. I glanced at Lizzie. She was always aware of what goes on in her class.

"They arrived four to five minutes after class started," Liz answered for Dana, "Like they usually do." Dana stuck her tongue at Liz.

I smiled. Perfect!

"Okay, last question, Jenny," She turned to me, "What else did you bring with you in your purse?"

"I brought my phone, house keys, and some cash."

"Can I see your bag please."

Nodding, she handed me her purse (a designer bag). I opened it up and found the keys, the phone, and the money. I also found a notebook – probably a diary ("How did that get it there?" exclaimed Jenny) – and some pencils.

"Fantastic," I gave the purse back to Jenny, "It's so obvious."

Jenny looked at me incredulously. "You know where her charm is?"

"I do," I kept my eyes on Jenny. "It's at home, in your bedroom, under your bed"

– Lizzie –

The silence was deafening. I watched in amusement as the girls stared at Ed like he'd grown a pair of antennas. Then, Dana reacted first.

"Are You Kidding Me?" she exploded, "Under her Bed? That's it?"

Edwin nodded. "Yeah, that's it. "

"you must be joking"

"Oh, I'm dead serious."

"It's not possible."

My boyfriend smirked, "I think it's very possible. Jenny if you doubt me, just give your mom a call."

Jenny eyed him suspiciously but took out her phone all the same.

"Hey, mom," Jenny said, "Could you check under my bed and see if my bracelet's there?"

Two minutes later, Jenny's eyes suddenly went wide with shock. She stammered out a thanks to her mom and snapped her phone shut.

"She found it." Jenny exclaimed.

"Where" Dana questioned.

"Under my bed!"

"NO WAY!"

Dana's eyes snapped at Ed, "How did you– How could you–"

Edwin's eyes twinkled.

"Think about it," He said to them, " You live about an hour or so away from here, and Karate starts at five-fifteen, don't leave until four thirty, so obviously you're in a hurry. It's four twenty, and Dana here is probably honking her horn for you. You quickly swipe everything on your night stand into your purse, Not realizing that your diary came with you as well. What you also didn't realize was that your charm didn't quite make it into the purse and fell onto the ground while you hurriedly left four Tae Kwon Do."

I giggled Those two girls' shocked expressions were just too priceless.

Jenny shook her head. "I guess I owe you one for helping me."

Edwin chuckled "Don't mention it, oh and word of advice, Try to prepare earlier for Karate, like this girl here who's in her hi an hour before. Just like her sister"

"Shut up."

I elbowed him in the ribs (lightly).

Ed sniggered, "Well, we have to jet. Later."

When we left the building, I wrapped my arms around his torso and sighed.

"I just love your deductions. They are so cool!"

Edwin smiled, "Thanks."

"And yet, when you lay everything out the way you did, it seems absurdly obvious."

Ed chuckled, "Of course, Liz, when you inspect everything closely. The world will seem frighteningly simple."

He kissed me.

It was well eleven when we got home, I took a shower and changed for the evening. As I came out of my bedroom, I heard the distinct sound of a violin playing a sweet melody. I closed my eyes to the music; my feet carried me up to the attic bedroom where Ed lived. When I opened the door, I found him waiting for me. Wordlessly, he turned his attention to his lovely violin, and I found myself swaying back and forth. My feet stepped in rhythm with his music; my arms found themselves on his waist, and the two of us danced to his beautiful waltz. 1, 2, 3... 1,2,3,... the Merry Widow Waltz held us in a tight embrace and drew us closer to each other.

Together, we danced into the night, just me and the love of my life. Until we were overcome with sleep, whereupon we collapsed onto the bed. And with a last good night and a kiss, we closed our eyes and drifted off into the world of dreams.