The Devil's Grin - a Crime Novel Featuring Anna Kronberg and Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free PDF Page A

inflamed, and don’t show the typical appearance of a tetanus entry wound.’
    Mr Holmes was standing next to me mulling things over silently. I was almost done cleaning up my dissection equipment when he muttered: ‘I need to take that bowl with me,’ indicating the collection of twigs, leaves, and beetles I had picked from the man.
    ‘ How good are you at identifying them?’
    ‘ I dare say the best.’
    I could have guessed that much.
    He pulled off his gloves, apron, and mask and I showed him how to disinfect himself and the contents of the bowl he wanted to take with him.
    ‘ I suggest we meet Inspector Gibson at my residence tomorrow morning at eight.’
    ‘ Hm...’ I replied.
    ‘ Would that be a problem?’
    ‘ I’ll think about it. I may go to the main quarters directly.’ I avoided looking at him. He turned to leave but then seemed to think otherwise. ‘I assume you wouldn’t tell me your real name?’
    Aghast, I shook my head. ‘Don’t try to find it out behind my back, please.’
    He looked slightly amused then.
    ‘ Do you want me to find out your address behind your back? Just in case, I mean.’
    He sla pped his hand against the door frame, ‘221B Baker Street.’

Chapter Three

    I step ped off the omnibus and just managed to avoid a pile of horse manure on the pavement. Turning around, I spotted the street sweeper. He was leaning onto his broom handle, chewing on something obviously ropy, which he repeatedly picked from the gaps of missing teeth to suck the findings of his archaeological excavation off his fingers. There were a few things that did excel dissections in being unappetising.
    I tipped my hat at him, entered the eastern end of Regents Park, and turned north. The bustling of the street behind me gradually dimmed to be replaced by the quiet chatter of couples walking arm in arm and sparrows’ grating chirps.
    After a few minutes I reach ed 221B Baker Street. As its neighbours, the three story house was built of red bricks with its base looking as if it had been dipped into cream. It had large white-framed windows and a smoked oak door. As my hand closed around the cold brass knocker I wondered how much Holmes earned with that odd occupation of his. After a knock and a short moment of waiting, the stout landlady beckoned me in.
    I watch ed my feet climb the stairs while thoughts swirled around in my head like a swarm of mosquitoes. To me, Holmes was a magnet with North and South Pole unified. He knew my secret and could, with a single statement, destroy my life. I did not know whether avoiding him or observing him would be the safer tactic.
    Upon reaching the landing I finally lifted my gaze and noticed a small crater in the wall. I probed with my finger, which disappeared entirely. Amazed to have found a bullet hole, I extracted my finger again, brushed the plaster off, and knocked at Holmes’s door.
    Gibson open ed, I stepped in, and the world changed from polished and gleaming to utter chaos. The ceiling was decorated with stains exhibiting a spray pattern indicative of an explosion. Some spots looked as if acid had eaten into the plaster. I had noticed splotches on Holmes’s hands yesterday but wasn’t able to identify them. Now I knew - the man was a hobby scientist.
    Enormous stacks of paper hid the desk, a chair, and most of the mantle piece, where a knife stuck in the nicely carved wood holding a bunch of papers. On top of the marred thing I noticed the photograph of a beautiful woman.
    I apologise d for being late. Gibson was pacing the sitting room, looking important. Holmes himself was smoking a pipe in an armchair by the fireplace, looking bored. His violin lay on the coffee table as if he had recently played it.
    A small and very timid chamber maid with hair the colour of dirty egg yolk served us tea and biscuits. She did not glance at anyone in the room. Slinking here and there, she seemed to go unnoticed by Gibson, who now lowered himself into the other armchair to