Of Night and Dark Obscurity

???

Val looked over the wire he had just received. It was interesting but also intriguing.

Felix joined him in his office smiling. “How was the concert?”

“Fine,” Val said curtly. “We received a cable from the States.”

“Oh yes?” Felix piped up. “Regarding our doctor friend?”

Val raised his eyebrows, “Except our doctor friend is not a doctor. Not anymore anyway.”

&nb

sp; “You don’t say!” Felix said smiling.

“They are sending more information via the post but it seems our doctor was caught up in quite the scandal.”

“Do tell.” Felix said eagerly.

Val placed the cable inside his jacket pocket. “Let’s go pay a visit to our dear medicine man.”

???

Odean Barton was scribbling notes out for his patients when the knock fell upon the door. He answered it himself and admitted the Inspector and the Sergeant into his office.

“Gentlemen. What brings you to my office?” He asked warily.

Val took a seat across from Odean and Felix sat next to his boss.

“I wanted to go over some of the notes I took and get some clarification,” he took out his notebook as well as the cable he had received.

“Of course. Anything I can do to help.”

“That’s very kind of you. For instance. Miss Caroline Derry. The one with the menstrual problems,” Val began.

“Yes?” Odean nodded.

“She was in fact Irene Derry using her sister’s name.”

“Irene Derry?” He repeated the name.

“Irene Derry was found strangled in Hyde Park.”

Odean’s manner seemed to change. “Strangled. Well surely you can see that has nothing to do with me.”

Val smiled. “I didn’t say it did.”

Odean looked at Felix and then back at Val.

“You said Miss Derry suffered from menstrual cramps,” Val read from his notes. “I recall you used the word heavy,” he said meeting Odean’s eyes.

“That’s right. She did.”

“What treatment did you prescribe?” Val asked.

“Umm, a little bit of this and some of that.” Odean responded.

“A little bit of this and some of that?” Val repeated. “That sounds quite scientific. At our last meeting you said you prescribed medicine and that she was pleased with the results I assume.”