questions asked. The fingerprint man arrived and set to. A brazier had appeared from somewhere, and the uniformed police were standing around it, warming their hands. The night was very late, and the cold, though not bitter, was penetrating. Impatient grumbles and glances were beginning to drift our way. There was no room for me in the cab, so I left and went to stand by the fire with the police constables.
I smiled up at the big one next to me. 'I wanted to tell you how glad I am of your presence here, all of you.
Someone seems to bear Mr. Holmes considerable ill will, and he is — well, his body is not quite so fast as it once was. I feel considerably better with some of the force's best on hand. Particularly you, Mr. — ?' I leaned toward the older constable, a question on my face.
'Fowler, Miss. Tom Fowler.'
'Mr. Fowler, particularly with you. Mr. Holmes found your fast action most impressive.' I smiled sweetly around the fire. 'Thank you, all of you, for your vigilance and attention to duty.'
I went back to the cab then, and though there were numerous glances, they were directed into the dark night, and there were no more grumbles. When Lestrade was called away to attend to some matter, I held the lamp for Holmes.
'So you think I am slowing down, do you?' he said, amused. 'Your mind, I think not. I said that to encourage the troops, who were getting careless with having to stand about to no purpose. I exaggerated, perhaps, but they will be attentive now.'
'I told you, I do not think we shall be attacked.'
'And I am beginning to suspect that this opponent of yours knows you well enough to take your thoughts into account when planning his actions.'
'Slow as I am, Russell, that idea had come to me. Now.' He sat back. 'Your turn. I need you to go through and tell me if there are any scraps that are not from your things. It will take some time, so I will send over that tall young PC to help you, and another to find some hot drink.
I shall go and examine the neighbourhood.'
'Take someone with you, Holmes, please.'
'After your performance out there they'll be tripping over each other in their eagerness to protect my doddering old frame.'
It took some time to sift through the cab's contents, but eventually, with the help of young PC Mitchell, I had a large pile of paper and fabric scraps heaped outside, and three thin envelopes in my hand. We climbed out of the cab and stood stretching the cricks out of our spines, drinking mugs of hot, sweet tea until Holmes reappeared with his eager bodyguards.
'Thank you, gentlemen, you have been most dutiful. Go and have some tea, now. Off you go, there's a good fellow,' he said, giving the most persistent constable a pat between the shoulder blades that shoved him off towards the tea station. 'Russell, what have you found?'
'One button, with a scrap of brown tweed attached, cut recently from its garment by a sharp instrument. Another thick smudge of light brown clay. And one blonde hair, not my own, considerably shorter. Plus a great deal of dust and rubbed-about dirt and débris, indicating that the cab has not been cleaned in some time.' 'It has also not been used in some time, Russell, so your three finds are undoubtedly worthy of our attention.'
'And you, Holmes, what have you found?'
'Several things of interest, but I need to smoke a pipe over them, perhaps two, before I have anything to say.'
'Will we be here long, Holmes?'
'Another hour, perhaps. Why?'
'I have been drinking champagne, then coffee, now tea. I cannot last another hour without doing something about it.' I was determined not to be embarrassed about the problem.
'Of course.' He looked around at the noticeable dearth of female company. 'Have the older man — Fowler — show you the — facilities — in the park. Take a lamp with you.'
With dignity I summoned the man and explained the mission, and he led me off through the park along its soft gravel paths. We talked inconsequentially of children and green areas, and he stood outside as I entered the little building. I finished and went to wash my hands, placing the lamp on the shelf that stood above the basin. I reached for the tap and saw there a smear of light-brown clay. I took the lamp to look more closely, unwilling to believe.
'Mr. Fowler,' I called sharply.
'Miss?'
'Go and get Mr. Holmes.'
'Miss? Is something wrong?'
'No, something is not wrong, for a change. Just get him.'
'But I shouldn't — '
'I'll be safe. Just go!'
After a moment's hesitation, his heavy footsteps went off quickly into the night. I heard his voice calling out loudly, answering shouts, and the thud of several running men returning up the path. Holmes stood at the door of the Ladies', looking in uncertainly. 'Russell?'
'Holmes, could the man we're looking for be a woman?'
TWELVE: Flight
She eludes us on every side; she repudiates most of our rules and breaks our standards to pieces.
'Russell, you have struck the very question upon which I proposed to meditate with my pipe. You have also saved me from the worst sin a detective can commit: overlooking the obvious. Show me what you have found.' His eyes gleamed fiercely in the lamplight.
More lamps were sent for, and soon the little stone building blazed with light. Fowler was consulted and confirmed that the building had been cleaned about eight o'clock on what was now the previous night. I stood back with Lestrade, watching Holmes as he worked, tensely examining every scrap of evidence, muttering to himself continually, and occasionally snapping out instructions.
'Boots again, the small boots, square heels, not new. A bicycle rider I see. Lestrade, have you had the Men's blocked off, and the street outside? Good. She went here, here she stood. Hah! Another blonde hair; yes, too long for a man in this day, I think, and quite straight. Mark these envelopes please, Russell. Mud on her hands, traces in the sink, yes, and the tap. But no fingerprints on the mud. Gloves?' Holmes looked up absently at his reflection in the mirror, whistling softly through his teeth. 'Why should she have mud on her gloves, and wash them? A perplexing question. Another light over here, Lestrade, and have the photographer take another set of the cab, would you, after MacReedy has finished? Yes, as I thought, right handed.
Washed, shook the water from her hands, or rather her gloves, and to the door. Off the footprints, man!
Heaven help us. To the street, then — no? Not to the street, back on the path, here it is, and here.' He straightened up, winced, frowned vacantly up at the bare branches overhead while we watched in silence. 'But that makes no sense, unless — Lestrade, I shall need your laboratory tonight, and I want this entire park cordoned off — nobody, nobody at all to set foot here until I've seen it by daylight.
Will it rain tonight, Russell?' 'I don't know London, but it does not feel like rain.
It's certainly too warm to snow.'
'No, I think we may risk it. Bring those envelopes, Russell. We have much to do before morning.'
Truth to tell it was Holmes who had much to do, as there was but one microscope and he refused to say what he was looking for. I labelled a few slides, my eyes heavy despite strong coffee, and the next thing I knew it was morning, Holmes was standing at the window tapping his pipe on his teeth, and I was nearly crippled from being asleep with my head on the desk for several hours. My spine cracked loudly as I sat back in the chair, and
