About the Author: Barton Paul Levenson has 70 published short stories, poems, and essays. His novels "The Celibate Succubus," "Another Century," "Recovering Gretel" and "The Argo Incident" are available from amazon.com. Barton was banned from entering the Confluence Short Story Contest again after winning first prize two years in a row.
“Find something,” said Brigadier General Hopton-Smith.
The two of them sat in overstuffed green armchairs in the India Club, which, despite its name, was in London. A dignified old man in a tie and tails had led them to the private conference room, and the brigadier had asked him that they not be disturbed.
Dr. Gerald Mannington had already felt out of place when he arrived at the opulently outfitted club, with its green carpets, ancient paintings, and quiet, well-dressed men smoking in armchairs, and now he felt helpless. “Suppose there’s nothing wrong with them?”
“There will be. I’ll tell you about that later. I’m just hoping you’ll be able to find something else, some clue.”
“I’m not Sherlock Holmes, you know.”
“You have somewhat of the same reputation. Diagnoses from tiny clues.”
“But those were medical cases. I’ve no police experience at all.”
Hopton-Smith scratched his nose. The brigadier very much matched the stereotype—ruddy complexion, just a bit overweight, clean-shaven except for the black mustache. He had been Mannington’s defender when they were both in public school, and now that he was asking for some help in return, Mannington felt like he wouldn’t be able to grant it.
“Go over it again for me,” said the doctor.