It was March, the winter would soon be leaving, but not without leaving his last storm.
I remember I was about to snow when I entered the house of my brother and said:
- Are you ready for one more?
- More that one?
Elliot was always distracted, living in their own world. And since married lived holed up in this house, now with his books and now in his law office.
- Another adventure, walk get up there ...
- Lucy! I am no longer prepared to do this, I am now a married man.
- You know it's boring.
I sat and talked in the old armchair that was my father, attests his death. I knew it would convince him sooner or later.
- Where is your wife?
- It was a visit to an acquaintance.
- So this is the perfect time. This will be the last time I bother you with my mysteries, Elliot.
- That's not what you said last time ... Come on we have on hand.
At that moment I knew I had already convinced.
You should be asking, because I need my brother?
Well in 1920, I could not go out alone, not what I wanted to do. In England in 1920, only men lived and solved mysteries in action, so the charts with applications for aid which were close to me, were actually addressed to my brother. Let's say I was seen only as a helper.
- Let me read the letter to you:
"Dear Baker Brothers, I think I do not see such a great job since the accident Bridge. But it did not come to talk covers. Two days ago, I noticed a note apparently left my wife and I wanted to show you what it is, the more I wanted to do it personally.Thomas Graham "
- E. .. I called you to come ... Here. - I talked half afraid.
- What time?
The doorbell rang.
- Now.
A tall, slender waited by the door. Holding a closed umbrella in hand, and that meant he was a cautious man.
- Good afternoon. - He said - I think I got the wrong house, here is where the Baker Brothers live?
- Yes, one is talking to them, sir. - Elliot spoke - I wanted to go.
- Thank you. - He came in and greeted me. It was a remarkable gentleman.
- Sit down. - I said - as we help you?
- When they sent that letter, I wanted to personally tell you what was happened. Here is the note that my wife left.
I took the note, which read:
"Help, I do not know what's going on!"
- And when did that happen? - It was my brother who asked the questions.
- I think she disappeared early in the morning, two days ago, the more I realize the ticket was only at night.
- You did not notice the absence of his wife?
- Yes, but I think she had gone to the house of some well-known. She always made these morning walks.
- And that's all you have proof? - This time it was me who asked.
- Yes
- Do you expect your wife could have any enemies?
- No. I mean not after we were married. She did not leave the house much except for the morning walks with our son.
- But that morning, she decided to leave alone? - I asked again.
- Yes, according to the maids, she said she would visit a sick friend and could not take the boy.
- For now we can not do anything Mr. Graham, tomorrow we may have some news.We will inform you.
The man walked out the door and realized it was already snowing.
- I already know that you already have an idea formed about this case. What do you think?
- Well, it seems that he has been married for a short time with this woman, and he did not name her maiden.
- You think we should know more about the woman?
- Yes this visit has been ingrained. Did you notice that he neither touched the wife's name?
- Yes
- We need to know more about this woman.
- After all, the more we know about it the more we know why she was missing. - My brother said.
- Until you're getting the hang of it, Elliot.
- I also solved mysteries with my dad when I was younger, then you stole my seat. - He laughed.
- You are married, by the way is not worried about Mary?
The phone rang.
- It must be her.
Mary was lucky to have married Elliot. He was tall and not so thin it was not more robust. It was considered good advantage by London society due to the good inheritance that dad left us, besides the college in good form he chose.
- Yes, sure, sure. A kiss. - Got him talking on the phone.
- By the way, I can sleep here tonight, I promise to give a warning call to Mom and from there we caught a train and takes up where Mr. Graham lives and one we investigated.
- Of course you can sleep here, Lucy. Now as part of the mansion go to Graham I do not know, I have a client tomorrow morning.
That night I slept in the house of Elliot. The snow was falling furiously on the wooden ceiling. In the morning the sun shone on the ground weak and there were traces of the storm.
- I answered your client? - I asked anxiously.
- Yes, but I think ...
- So let's just take a train, we have much to do today.
- At least you know where they live?
- The Graham mansion in Surrey, is very close.
- But Lucy ...
- No buts, Elliot. Come on! Maybe we get back on Mary
We took the train of eleven and took just one hour to reach the mansion.
The mansion was great Graham, but he looked well worn. The facade was big and wide, it seemed impossible to climb up the windows. Plants climbing over the wall, showing neglect.
Who we attended was Mr. Thomas himself. The expression of astonishment it was unforgettable.
- That's why I do not like to tell! - I whispered to Elliot.
- Good morning, Mr. Graham. We are here to complete the case.
- Yes, please enter. Sit down, please.
At that moment, entered the room a lady of good weight, high voice and with a chaperone at his side.
- Son, who are these?
- The Baker brothers. They came to settle the case of Amelie.
- Hmm, well. - You made a face of contempt and left the room.
- Sorry, my mother does not much like my wife.
- And because his mother does not like her very much? - I asked, after I was there for that.
- Because I wanted a better future for my son. -Responds to mother.
- How so? - Asked my brother.
- My son was studying in France a few years, soon after his father died. He again formed, but he returned with a young woman expecting a child.
- And just why did not you like her?
- Yes
- Can I talk to the employees? - I asked myself driving to the Lady.
- Of course.
- Elliot, will you. I'll ask some questions to Mr. Graham and see some things in the house.
Elliot nodded.
- So, Mr. Thomas. You were married?
- Yes, it was a simple ceremony. But Mom insisted. She did not want people to comment.
- And how many people, I mean, of her relatives were at the wedding? - I asked.
- No one. She said parents died on a cruise.
- Right. I can see the bedroom?
- Sure, it's here.
The row house was narrow and dark. So that night it would be impossible to pass by without a candle or lamp.
Down the hall, there was a staircase leading to the rooms.
- Here.
It was a simple room and large. In the room there were only three furniture: a bed, wardrobe and a dresser.
- Could I? - I asked myself referring to the wardrobe.
I opened the wardrobe and looked every bit. Her clothes were the strong colors and a little different. Since his clothes were dead color.
- Could you show me the ticket?
"Help! I do not know what's going on! "
- And where she left him?
- No, this note came by telegram. After a few hours she was gone.
- I can see the garden?
- This way.
The garden of the house was a little careless, as I said. The gardener pruned some trees over in the corner.
- This is your son?
- Yes, Henry.
- He does not miss the mother?
- Do not sit,. - Said the Lady Matilda Graham bringing my brother to her.
- Mother! - Son called attention.
- You have to accept her son. The Amelie never paid attention to this boy. He always came from the employees.
While they spoke my mind flew. I watched the gardener who did not care for the trees or flowers.
It seemed to me that looking for something.
I started searching too - I did not know that - but it was something important. That gardener was not there for nothing.
Suddenly the dog began to bark, and no one seemed to notice but me.
I looked around and it seemed that the gardener gave up looking for whatever it was. Maybe I could see his footprints. And beside the tracks of it, maybe I could turn up some prints, smaller, beside him.
Follow the footprints smaller. This is the advantage of snow day for us detectives. On snow things remain.
It was easy. The ticket was well escondidinho deep in the bush. Easy and amateur.
I went back to the conversation of adults, and when Mr. Thomas was answering the phone.
- How's the name of your gardener? I asked.
- Pierre. Pierre Rousseau.
At this time Thomas Graham came breathlessly.
His terrified mother, shaking him until he said.
- She spoke to me.
- Who? - His mother asked what was clear to me.
- Amelie.
- And what did they say? - Elliot asked.
- She said she does not know where, and only when they are with money in hand is that they will return it.
- We can not afford my son.
- Mother, we have to save my wife. We can sell the house and rent a house in the countryside. I think that will suffice.
I wavered between now and the next. Maybe I should say now.
- Mr. Thomas, and if I say where his wife now?
- I thanked him for all my life.
- One last thing. How many telephones are there in this house? - I asked.
- Actually there are two, and me in the room in a basement. My father used to have a small carpentry shop in the basement, but since he died we no longer have the courage to close wounds.
- Great. Please follow me.
We walked a few steps forward.
- I do not know if the ladies can see. There are two footprints there. One, the smallest heads north at the bush, where I found this note.
I showed them the ticket.
- It is the letter from my wife, Amelie. - Thomas said.
- Now see that other larger footprint there. She goes to the east. Ahmm, Elliot could follow footprints and see where that leads?
- Yes
We walked on for some ten or twelve steps and arrival in a brick wall - on the outside of the house - where there was a small door.
- You can open the door, Elliot.
At this point Elliot knew what it was, opened the door.
There they were. The gardener and the supposed wife of Mr. Thomas.
- Amelie? - They had not noticed our presence, to Mr. Thomas speak.
- Thomas? - She said. It seemed to me a very beautiful girl. She was tall and had long black hair and the color contrast of her pale skin.
- And you? - Mr. Thomas is referring to the gardener.
- Thomas I'm sorry, I could not resist - she said, stroking his face. You could see that he still liked her. - When I first saw it, I fell in love. Only this was not my job. I come in?I'll explain better.
- And he? - He pointed to the gardener.
- My brother, let go, I said I'll explain.
We went and sat down. Amelie, before beginning to speak, in the eye of every one of us.
- In my family we have ... You can call it tradition, a tradition very bad. Let's say we steal each other. And you were right there, innocent, kind of lost there. And I really fell in love with you - you could see she was telling the truth. - Actually, I would not go behind you if it were not for my brothers. I'm not very connected in the 'family business'.
- So it was all a hoax? - Thomas asked.
- No! - And a tear trickled into her eyes.
- Do not fall into this conversation my son. - He looked at her as if to decide who to believe, in the mother or wife.
- It's the truth, Thomas. If you do not believe I can do nothing.
The next hour is always bad. We would have to notify the police. Just now I came to the head, long ago, I read in the newspaper "bandits steal Brothers museum in France."
- It is the family that decides. - Elliot said.
- If you let us go, never returned to this city. - The gardener said, turning to Mrs. Graham.
- Come on Elliot. Anything you can communicate.
We left at two o'clock train. Until not take long to get home. Mary Elliot sought, not to mention not a word of what we did that morning.
We spent two whole days without news or Mr. Thomas, let alone his wife. Neither newspapers nor in the mouth of the people.
Until the morning, the letter came into my hands. I ran to the house of Elliot, who was on the same street as mine.
- Elliot! - I met him in the room. Reading as always.
- Ahh Lucy.
- Early in the morning, I received a letter.
- From who?
- See for yourself.
I handed him the letter, in which the following was written.
Dear Baker Brothers,
I no longer see this as a job when, from the Bridge Accident. But I did not come talk about it. Two days ago I received a note apparently left my wife and it changed my life. I believe the 'godfathers' of this event are you. I'll tell you now why.
So, what came out of my home I realized I could not live without this woman. The power and gravity that it exerts on me are too big so I can leave them aside.
It was evening and decided to run away like two teenagers in love. My mother was sleeping and left everything behind me with a letter of explanation. Every one thing, my son. I know that life I will take going forward, will not be a life worthy of a child, but do not want to leave an heir to my mother because she can make the same mistake he made me. Pamper me too much.
Well, let's get rolling. I just have to thank you both. For everything. Even though I have completely solved the problem, and this is the cause of most of my gratitude. I leave this letter with the money to pay for research.
And remember: Love, when true, can overcome any barrier.
With dedication,
Thomas Graham
End
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