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About the Author: Dr. Martin Hill Ortiz has published almost a dozen Holmes' mysteries, several in Mystery Magazine.
My dear friend Sherlock Holmes sometimes deployed a personal and peculiar mode of justice, thereby allowing the guilty to receive a measure of mercy where the law provides none. He has told me, “I believe in second chances, depending, of course, on the gravity of the crime. I do not, however, much believe in third chances.”
That aphorism described the dilemma facing one Cuthbert Fowler, a man in peril of being proven culpable by Holmes for a second time. Although the accusations against him were straightforward, this case possessed a noteworthy turn of fortune beyond my meagre abilities to foresee.
All that was left of our morning’s breakfast routine was tea. Between sips, I buried my nose in the Sunday paper, scouting for items of interest. Holmes puffed on his pipe, his brow furrowed, his eyes keen, deep in contemplation.
Some sounds came from the outside hall.
“Yes, Mrs. Hudson?” Holmes said a moment before she rapped on the door to our room.
Our landlady opened the door just a crack, enough to peek in and say, “Pardon my intrusion, but I have a young lady here who is quite insistent that she sees you, Mr. Holmes. She followed me up the stairs.” A young, ginger-headed lady pressed open the door, entered, and stood before us.
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