Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #18 by Marvin Kaye

Author:Marvin Kaye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: elementary, sherlock holmes, mystery magazine
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2015-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

LUCKY MAN, by Steven Shrott

The cerulean blue crystal around my neck swayed back and forth as I shoved the knife into Thomas Semples, my business partner. We managed our New Age Shop, ‘Good Fortunes,’ for six years with great success. But when Thomas began embezzling, I decided that he should be off the payroll, so to speak.

As I drove home, I realized I was on quite a roll. Thomas had been my seventh murder in the last few weeks, and they had all gone exceptionally well. The police had no idea that I, Ronald Darling, committed these devastating (but amusing) acts.

I was a tad concerned as I hadn’t received my full eight hours of sleep of late, what with so many requests for my talk: ‘Crystals, from Egyptian to Aztec.’ I have to admit I was dead tired.

When I think back on the murders thus far, I realized I’d made some amateur blunders—walking through blood, not wearing gloves, forgetting to wipe down surfaces I’d touched.

Some would say it must be some kind of miracle that I hadn’t been caught. And they would be right. That miracle was my crystal.

It had come from the Hunto Sero Factory in Jakarta. Amethyst, clear as a water droplet. Of all the crystals I ever purchased, this was the most potent. From the moment I wrapped it around my neck, good luck surrounded my every action.

Of course, I did learn a lesson as well. I should ensure I have enough slumber before I murder anyone.

I left Semples’s gaudy apartment and drove home, exhausted. I set the alarm for eight a.m. and awoke in the morning feeling wonderfully refreshed.

When I reached my store, I opened the glass door and marched in, as I supposed a commander might on the way to inspecting his troops. I began dusting, making everything clean and sparkly.

I waited for the onslaught of customers. But as it turned out, no onslaught today, just some badly dressed boors and tight-wad tourists.

At eleven, however, one of my favorite clients, Miss Delores Montgomery, trounced in. She’s an older matron with a generous bosom. She gave me a toothy smile, then pointed toward a pink crystal resting on my wall shelf.

I delicately removed the item and laid it onto my red velvet show-pad. “This would really bring out your eyes, Miss Montgomery.”

She blushed. “It’s beautiful.” She scooped it up and held it against her chest.

“Do you feel the energy?”

“Yes. How much?”

“A very reasonable eighty-two fifty.”

Her face fell and she placed the crystal back onto my show pad. “That’s a little too dear for me, Mr. Darling.”

“I understand. But you see crystals that emanate such powerful vibrations are rare. This is the first I’ve found in over three years.”

She smiled, and then I saw it—-the glint in her eye that told me the sale was mine. However, when she searched her purse, I sensed something wrong.

“Mr. Darling, I have to be honest, I only have sixty dollars and that’s food shopping money for myself and my elderly father.

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