Merely Holmes

Chapter 3

The next days we did not recieve any news about the interesting and unusual case that had my friend's most deeps thoughts straight. She spent long hours sitting on her sofa with her face on her chest, sank in her most deep thoughts, and of course forming possible theories about the case. Other times, she went out without saying nothing and went back with a shine in her brown eyes. She surely had discovered something that could not be told that easily.

It was not until Sunday while we were having an excelent breakfast prepared by our maid, when Merely Holmes talked about the case.

"Our friend, officer Louis is taking the wrong road. He is going to fall."

"How come" I asked. And suddenly he gave me the newspaper.

"Please, read it out loud. I do not want any detail being escaped if possible."

"As you can remember, the misterious murder of bussines man, Mr. Elley that paralized all London was a shock to everyone. But, thanks to the clever officer Louis and his abilities to the investigation, the murder was finally found and arrested. Thanks to a watch found on the floor next to the body, the crime could be proved. The intelligent officer had planned to reguard the crime scene for the next three nights. The second night, Mr. Collin, a famous bussines man and also manager of big factories with great power around the world, entered the hotel at 2:00am and went straight to the victim's room. The officer and the guards instantly pushed him against the wall and arrested him. He first refused to go with the officers to the police station, but then he gave in. He said he had entered the bedroom because his friend, Mr. Ellie had sent him a note saying the day and place of their meeting. This confession was fastly descarted as he accepted the ring was his."

"Anyway, Watson, look at this." She placed a ring on the table. It was made of gold and very shinny.

"Where did you find it?" I asked astonished.

"It was under the sofa of the room. Surely, the police lacks of observation. They do not do good research and always end up going trough the wrong way."

"Definitely, but..."

"Watson, let us let that uncapable officer believe on his talent. We'll solve this mistery with our own proves. First, we have the ring, nor a wedding or engagement ring, but a women's one. That is interesting..."

"Holmes, that can be her mother's ring, don't you think? It is a tradition to some families to conserve the women's jewerelly for generations."

"Don't think so. There was no reason for this man to have  his mother's ring in the excat moment of his death, unless he had known it was approaching, which is not possible taking in account that if he had known it, he could have easily escaped from the country without leaving a clue."

"So, what do you think about the ring?"

"From a young woman who has good tastes for jewerelly but has not enough money to afford them. She uses a very expensive parfum bought by her lover. I can deduce it from the smell of the ring."

I was surprised especially for something she had mentioned.

"How can you prove she is unable to afford that kind of expensive stuff?."

"You see Watson, that the ring has little deep marks. If she was a rich and educated woman, do you think she would let this ring being marked knowing the cost of it and the valuability it has? Also, the marks are of the ones that can be vanished by polishing them. If she had the money to send it to a professional, she would have already done it. Rich people like taking care of their valuable stuff."

"Now that you have explained it. It seems so simple."

She took out of her pocket three slices or paper and grinned.

"I insist, Watson," She gazed at me still focusing on the papers. "these drawings are interesting."

"Sings... you said before."

"I did. And they are still getting my attention. As the ring, the paper used for the drawings is expensive and the letter is women's. I will study them my friends. If these drawings have something being hidden i will find it out." She stood up." Now, I am going to my room."

"Sure you are!" I laughed.

"Just one thing my dear friend. Can you do me a favour?" Her eyes focused on me with the serious expression of always.