Consulting Detective Vol 4 by Ron Fortier (ed)

Author:Ron Fortier (ed)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: anthology, detective, illus, mystery, Sherlock Holmes, victoriana
Published: 2013-02-02T07:00:00+00:00

***

“Watson, it seems we are making progress.”

Sherlock Holmes had spent nearly an hour examining the area where I had been shot at. We had returned there as the sun was coming up; we had been forced to wait for dawn because of a sudden storm in the middle of the night.

“The elements themselves seem determined to add difficulties to this case.” I said.

Following his usual thoroughness, Holmes had even lowered himself slightly over the edge of the small cliff in order to give himself a more exhaustive picture of the area. After he had satisfied himself that there was nothing more to be learned from the edge of the river he led me back towards the far woods, pausing every few minutes to look around and assure himself that he was still on course to whatever point he had determined as the location where the shooter had stood.

“Really, Holmes. I can hardly envision the circumstances where my being shot would constitute progress,” I argued.

“But of course it does, old friend. In and of itself, the attempt on your life is genuine proof that our very presence in the area has made someone quite, quite nervous.”

“But it could have been just an accidental shot, a hunter taking aim one last time as the sun was going down,” I pointed out.

“Possible, but not likely. I believe this is what I am looking for,” he pointed with his walking stick at a sturdy-looking pine, not as tall as the others around it, but still topping ten feet in height. The area around it was muddy, a good thorough rain storm had moved through during the night leaving a sea of mud where the grass had not taken hold.

“Yes, here is where he stood.” Holmes ran his hand along one of the branches of the tree. “I should judge that he was well over six feet and was right handed.”

I arched an eyebrow.

He would deny it, but I have always been convinced that Sherlock Holmes has a strong streak of the music hall performer in him. He loves being the center of attention, especially when it comes to explaining how he has seemingly read someone’s mind or discerned some fact about a scene without any apparent help.

“Last night’s rain has obscured much evidence, such as footprints which would have given more exacting evidence as to the perpetrators’ height and weight. Look here at this branch; there are several marks on it that lead me to believe that your attacker steadied his weapon here.

“The location of the branch and the stance that holding a rifle requires gives me an idea of how tall the man might be. He chose the spot carefully; this is an older tree and the branch was sturdy enough to hold still while he planned his shot. It is only by happenstance, Watson, that you are still here. Unfortunately, I can find little else to give me information beyond the fact that the man has obviously had some experience using a rifle and has no compunction about taking a human life.

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