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

forgotten it,’ I mumbled and then, seeing him pointing his chin at the photograph, I said softly: ‘Your weak spot.’
    Upon that he pulled the corners of his mouth down and looked deeply disappointed.
    ‘ You are reading Dr Watson; how ignorant of me!’ he announced, slapping his forehead.
    That was an odd answer. In my mind I scanned through the last publications I had read, but couldn’t remember any by Watson and colleagues. Holmes noticed my confusion.
    ‘ Are you reading the papers occasionally?’ he enquired, a little perplexed.
    ‘ Er... No, not really. What does that have to do with the matter at hand?’
    ‘ If you would have read my friend’s little stories, you would know who Irene Adler is,’ he said, indicating the picture.
    ‘ Your friend writes stories about you in newspapers?’
    ‘ Unfortunately, yes. He’s publishing in The Strand , but that’s of no import-’
    ‘ Is it Dr Watson you live with?’ I interrupted, suddenly curious. I had noticed a worn looking coat hanging next to the door. It was made to fit a stocky man of approximately my height. Also, the two armchairs appeared as if both were regularly used. I could not quite imagine Holmes receiving visitors every day and openly inviting them to wear down his furniture. Probably, his distressed customers preferred to pace the room and ruin the carpet instead.
    After a moment of a measuring stare he grumbled: ‘He lives with his new wife now. You are evading my question again.’
    I start ed to enjoy my own sauciness . Besides, I had a plan now.
    ‘ You are rather impatient, Mr Holmes. May I?’ I asked, taking the picture in my hand. He didn’t look too happy but let me proceed and I started walking him through his sitting room.
    ‘ There are a few pictures on the walls, which are almost completely hidden behind that chaos of yours. I should assume they hung there before you moved in and are of no importance to you?’
    He raise d one eyebrow and I continued: ‘That’s in sharp contrast to her though. She is the only picture on the mantle piece, possibly because you don’t know how to drive a nail into the wall?’
    A frown on Holmes’s face indicated he did know how to use a hammer. Good for him. ‘There is all that stuff of yours on the mantle piece, too. If she would be insignificant she would be hidden at least partially. But there she is, in full view. However, she is not someone you are fond of because you never take her off her place. Although I’m not entirely sure you would ever do such a thing even if you would be fond of her.’
    Holmes’s appeared very alert now and I, not knowing whether he could sense my plan, put a little more distance between us as I continued my explanation. ‘The frame and the glass are almost completely free of fingerprints. I guess she had been touched once to be put there. The maid cleans your rooms daily. But she’s not very thorough mostly because she doesn’t dare touch your personal belongings.’
    R eaching one of the two tall windows next to the fireplace, I opened it and pulled the curtain aside while coughing and taking a deep breath of fresh air. The room was filled with pipe smoke. Inwardly, I was vibrating with excitement and foreboding – I was about to step on a rather fragile tight rope.
    ‘ There is only one possible explanation, Mr Holmes. You dislike the woman, yet you keep her photograph. That can only mean you adore her in an odd way. Considering what I had learned about you yesterday, I conclude that she outwitted you. You are convinced you are the smartest man alive and being outwitted by a woman is more than unacceptable for you. This is your greatest preconception and your weakest spot. You should get rid of it.’
    With these last words my hand shot out the window, Holmes inhaled sharply and bent his long body towards me, reaching for Irene.
    ‘ For Christ’s sake!’ he exhaled , as I placed her gently on the outside windowsill. ‘Would you be so kind to