Tangled clues lead Holmes and Watson into an experience in terror that both will never forget as they pursue a madman whose only goal is to maim and torture Holmes.
Excerpt:
"The fellow appears to have died from poisoning," Watson declared as he pried open the jaw of the man and examined his tongue, the back of his throat, and then his nostrils. He peered closely through Holmes spyglass, though he had his own in his black medical bag which never left his side.
"And strangulation," Watson added.
"And…" He sniffed at the inside of the man's mouth. "…And it would seem he also consumed some kind of toxic liquid."
"Undoubtedly from the cord that strangled him, Watson," Holmes pointed out as he climbed down from the stepladder back onto the factory floor.
He bent down and took a vial from Watson's black bag, unstoppered it with one hand and his teeth, then placed his swab into it and reclosed the vial. He placed the vial into a smaller bag that Watson kept to protect samples, then reclosed it.
"We're done here, Watson," Holmes declared and then headed for the factory entrance.
As he passed Constable Evans who had been watching the two of them, he said, "221B in about two hours, Constable, if you please."
"Why two hours?"
"Watson is starving," Holmes replied with an amused smile.
Watson's stomach chose that moment to bellow out its hunger pains.
"Oh dear me, oh my," Watson cried out, alarmed by the sound of his own body.
