Free A Study in Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 4) by Ichabod Temperance Page B

hair...”
    … … ...
    After a pregnant pause that would encompass the gestation period of a Bull Rhino, I decide to get things moving again.
    “Just for a few little highlights, to complement the natural tone, my dear. Let us now return to our mission.”
    “Yes, Ma’am.”
    “The room is a shambles of smashed glass and porcelain. Ah, investigation reveals the porcelain to be from a large wash basin. Hmm, no, a comparison with other fragments reveals a discrepancy in grade. These porcelain shards are from a larger wash tub.”
    “Our detective consultant sure can pick out itty-bitty little details, can’t he, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am?”
    “Indeed, the man is a cunning criminologist, without a doubt, Mr. Temperance.”
    “I flew from my laboratory completely unprepared; no magnification lens do I have in my possession to bring that which cannot be seen by the naked eye to visibility. Let’s see, what do I have? Here we are, a six foot tape measure. Excellent! Temperance, take this notebook and pencil.”
    “Yessir!”
    “Take down these figures.”
    “Yessir!”
    The lean and hungry investigator lies flat upon the floor to get a closer look at the evidence there. He is apparently able to differentiate amongst the footprints in the room. More than that, by identifying peculiar characteristics for each print he is able to describe the varied suspects in great detail. Height and weight are extrapolated by measuring the length of stride and crushed tread of glass. Mr. Temperance quizzes the detective on his wild conclusions, but each time the Great Detector is able to explain his postulations with simple reasoning. Mr. Temperance is wildly absorbed in the process. He sends me many exclamations of wonder and delight via some very active eyebrow waggling. Ichabod is thrilled at the opportunity to study such remarkable technique at the elbow of a master. It is my conjecture that this detective may not always be the most outgoing or friendliest of fellows. Some people are just more introverted than others. I think this is an introvert who secretly wishes for exhibitionism. At this time he relishes the chance to have a partner whom to instruct in his craft and a friend to share in his adventures.
    I enjoy a charming third person vantage point of a wonderful camaraderie being born. Mr. Temperance has hero-worship in his beaming face. We are well into the morning of a new day, but the two new friends feed upon the energy of the other. Neither man suffers from lack of sleep or nutrition. They are as a dynamic twosome. This electrifying case spins their generators with fresh energy at every new clewe discovered and fact borne out.
    After a few more footprint measurements the model detective shares his extrapolations.
    “Five of our group are large and hearty men. They travel in a peculiar and rough manner. Each member of the gang is over six feet in height and in excess of fifteen stone. One of their number is well over the eighteen stone mark. He is slothful but able to exert great strength and discipline upon his underlings when necessary. Many if not all the members drink heavily and often, preferring whiskey to rum. Each has a close association with an unusual steam-powered device. There are also the tracks of the other three. Two are of men, and one is a woman. These three entered wearing sandals, and exited wearing standard bootwear, but I have been unable to get a better estimate of their appearance.”
    “There are several shattered chemical bottles in one corner. I believe that the bottles are smashed into small shards in an attempt to hide the former occupying material, but as I work closely with these sorts of bottles everyday, I am very familiar with their contents and odours. Some contained hydrogen peroxide, some citric acids, and some others contained hydroquinone solution.”
    “Query, sir. I see how the brutes came to enter this room, but how did they leave and where have they gone?”
    “Through the back