She came into the apartment after a light knock on the door. I thought it was only the land lady, so I didn’t worry too much about how my room looked. As I turned, instead of the land lady there was a young woman. When I saw her I made some quick effort to straighten my desk which, I suddenly realized was quite cluttered. She asked if I was the detective which the sign on my door referred to.

“Yes ma’am I am.” I said, turning to look at her with my notebook in hand. Her voice seemed to falter slightly, but she obviously had control of herself.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you. Perhaps it would be best if I took my business elsewhere.”


She seemed a little unsure about the way my apartment looked. I admit that I’m not the tidiest person you’re ever going to run into, but at least there was a chair for her. I shoved some things off the back of a chair onto the floor and offered her a seat. As soon as I was sure she wouldn’t run out the door if I sat down, I sat. It had been quite a while since I had had any clients and I wanted to make sure I didn’t do anything to scare her off.

“Now, what is your name?”

“My name is Glen Farthing. My father was recently...”

“And how old are you Miss Farthing?”

“I am nineteen. My father is a…”

“Ah, excuse me a moment.” I said quickly. When she walked in I had been writing a list of the animals I was going to feed for Mrs. Quintet and I had just remembered about the dog. I could see her leaning in to read what I wrote as I scribbled down: Don’t forget to feed the dog.

“Sorry about that, how can I help you Miss Farthing?”

“My father is an inventor, he and I lived together until yesterday evening when I got home and found that my father wasn’t in his laboratory. He hasn’t let me in his laboratory for a month now and wouldn’t talk to me about what he was doing there. He never goes out when he’s working on a project, so I opened the door and found that the shop was completely empty, except for this golden ring my mother gave him.”

I started taking quick notes now that she was actually telling me something.

Glen Farthing, 19

father kidnapped?

ring only thing left

“Miss Farthing where do you live?”

“One-twenty-two South Baker Street.”

“Where were you before you found that your father was missing?”

“I was at school when it happened.”

“What are you studying and at ah what school?” She seemed a little bit old to be going to school.

“I am attending the London Academy I am studying to be a horse trainer.”

“Oh! One minute.” I remembered that I needed to buy more food for the cat.

“Miss, why are you studying to be a horse trainer?”

“Because I like doing it.”

“Oh.” She had said that very matter- of-factly and like she didn’t want me to ask any more questions in that direction.

“You said your mother gave your father the ring. What is your mother’s name?”

“Her name was Roseland.”

“Was?”

“Yes.” She said. I cleared my throat I didn’t like getting into this sticky stuff, especially when I was trying to keep a client.

“What is your father’s name then?”

“His name is Edward.”

“His age?”

“Forty-two.”

“Were you and your father very close?”

“This last month he wouldn’t let me anywhere near what he was doing, whereas, when he was working on his last project, he asked for my help quite often. This last month I haven’t had much contact with him except to slip him his meals through the door.”

“Miss Farthing, I hate to bring this up at a time like this, but how much are you willing to pay me?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll try to let you know soon.”

“Was there any one customer coming around the shop more often than the others?”

“Last week there was a man, Ronald Growm, who was coming more often, but the last day he came he and my father had an argument. I haven’t seen him since.”

“May I see the ring that was left in the laboratory please?”

“Of course.”

“Miss, did you ever see your father fidgeting with the ring when he was wearing it?”

“Well, no.”

I took the ring from her outstretched hand. I looked at it for a moment then rubbed my fingers along the outside of it. A small piece of paper slid out from the inside of the ring. On one side it said: Onitsuka. On the other side it said: Don’t regret forgetting. It was obviously a very ancient piece of paper.
Now I had a list of notes:

Glen Farthing, 19

Don’t forget to feed the dog

father kidnapped?

ring only thing left

122 S. Baker St.

Glen in school when happened

L.A. horse trainer (because like)

buy more food for cat

gone (mother) Roseland

father Edward 42

doesn’t see father too often

father (knowingly?) for Onitsuka

No pay

small paper in ring. threat?

:-D:-D:-D:-D

I LIKE much!

I'd very much like to have more of this story to read... *hint hint*