The Detective and the Woman by Amy Thomas Page A

him. I emerged and dusted myself off, looking at him curiously.
    ‘I assume you followed her,’ I said. ‘Did you discover anything pertinent? Her behaviour was certainly unusual.’
    ‘Nothing apparent. She went to the restaurant at the end of the street and was met by a German army officer who was out of uniform. I gather she came here to avoid being seen in the street while waiting for her appointment.’ I didn’t ask how Holmes had divined that the man was a German officer. No doubt, he’d have had a long list of details that yielded the information.
    ‘I wonder if her father knows of the connection.’
    ‘Hardly our concern,’ said Holmes, and I had to agree, though I couldn’t help wondering.
    ‘Now,’ I said, ‘tell me what you wish me to do in this guise.’ I walked to the counter and stood in front of him, my arms folded.
    ‘It’s simple,’ he said calmly, ‘I wish you to reenter society with the story that your husband Bernard has returned to England on business, but that you have remained behind to look after his interests here. You will go to the Keystone Hotel on Park Street and use the money on your person (I had no idea how he knew about that) to procure a room in the name of Lavinia James. You will send notes to the Edisons and McGregors, informing them of your presence and apologizing for your earlier disappearance. You will wait for invitations. If pressed by Ambrose McGregor, you will tell him that you are married to the detective Sherlock Holmes and that a case has called him back to England. The lovely and charming Lavinia James will not be left on her own for long, I’m sure.’
    ‘How do you wish me to communicate with you?’ I asked the question as soon he was quiet.
    ‘I will communicate with you if necessary. Do not come here or try to contact me.’
    I stared the detective down as hard as I could. ‘Holmes, are you trying to get rid of me while you work?’
    He looked straight back, equally resolute. ‘I have already told you this is necessary. Believe me or not as you will.’
    ‘Fine,’ I practically spat. ‘What information am I to seek?’
    ‘I want you,’ he leaned toward me slightly, ‘to make it appear that you have never existed in the world as anyone except Lavinia James and to make her as socially visible as possible. Can you do that?’
    ‘I will do it,’ I said, ‘but if it turns out to be without purpose, you won’t get away easily.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Madam,’ he answered coolly, ‘I wouldn’t dream of putting the great Irene Adler to any extra labour. That would cost extra.’
    ‘Holmes,’ I said suddenly, my tone serious, ‘Sanchez is part of the Edisons’ social circle. How do I keep from being recognised without a disguise?’
    ‘Leave his whereabouts to me,’ said the detective. ‘All the while you’re working, I’ll be just as busy. You will be safe.’
    ‘Working,’ I mumbled, going upstairs to gather my things, ‘more like being put out of the way.’

Chapter 10: Holmes
    Holmes was worried. He watched The Woman disappear toward the better-kept part of Fort Myers, and he couldn’t help feeling concerned that things wouldn’t proceed according to plan. He hated the necessity of separation. If Irene had been Watson, he wouldn’t have been so concerned. Watson was used to the procedure and used to the risks. He was also meticulous about following orders and not overly curious about their meanings. But Irene Adler was none of those things. The one thing that comforted him was her frankness. He did not believe she’d have agreed to the plan disingenuously. Far more like her to take a stand and refuse to move than to stab him in the back after agreeing. Still, it was a risk, and he disliked risks when they concerned someone other than himself. The detective forced his mind to stop musing on possibilities and went upstairs to ready himself for his next task.
    This time, he dressed as a day labourer but did not change his face. The