Nancy Springer

– but already I felt my breathing cut off, my body thrashing in pain, my mouth stretching in a voiceless scream, my vision dimming to darkness, and I knew I was going to die.

– still, you must not allow yourself to become emotionally entangled in the problem

“There is no useful purpose to be served by telling you anything at this time, my dear Mycroft. If I am in need of your assistance, rest assured I shall call upon you.”

It had to be, but still I did not wish to believe it.

Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes a moment and called to mind my mother’s face. Along with that image I could almost hear her voice: “Enola, you will manage very well on your own.”

“Um, yes,” said Dr. Watson uncertainly. “Quite.” He really did have gentle eyes, all the more so when he was worried. “But I am not sure – the matter is delicate – you see, Holmes does not know about this visit.”

But – my brother has not sent him?

My heart settled down somewhat, yet began to ache.

He has lost weight, his colour is unhealthy, and he has grown quite melancholy and irritable.”

What a very tactful way to say that I looked entirely too much like my brother Sherlock.

What a very tactful way to say that I looked entirely too much like my brother Sherlock

Meshle.” Take the name Holmes, reverse its syllables – Mes hol – then spell it the way it is pronounced, Meshle; absurdly simple. Yet he would never guess. No one would.