It was late and minutes were fading like the grains of sand drifting out of a broken hour glass. For the life of me I had no suppositions as to what this half-crazed murderer was on about. Clear as my red wine I had with dinner last night I would avenge George.

“He was my truest of friends” I humbled to my late friend as I turned to gaze upon that hideous grotesque face one last time. “Perhaps painting a target on his face and using it for knife throwing practice last birthday of our savior was a poor decision” I recollected as I held down an urge to expunge my midday meal.

I grabbed my cloak and went to grab the handle on the office door when it suddenly responded with unearthly alacrity. I stumbled back to my desk and retrieved a rag to cease the blood as it sought invigorating freedom from my nostrils. I turned to see what had just transitioned a moment before. Standing at the threshold was a woman. This woman was like no other I had seen before. Her beauty could sink ships and scorch lands. Her eyes, with rivers flowing freely, burned a gaze through my very core.

When she spoke a trembling tune flew past my ears at which I did not hear what she first said. “Sir DaVinci, please, I beg your kindness and empathy. You are a pious detective, well renowned. You must....” She began to reiterate.

“It's all yours George” I announced as I left the office. The splintering crack like a great oak plummeting to earth rang through the outer chamber as the hinges reverberated to an eagerly sought after repose. George was more than competent enough to handle her nonsense. After all, he's the one man I trust in this world more than myself. I have urgent pressing matters at hand, a murderer slaying guards; but far more grave, a wife who I have not lied with in weeks and cooed in my ear as I left this morning that she wished me home early.

I presented myself to the cold murky atmosphere lying heavy outside the archways. An inebriated scoundrel staggered haphazardly past. His eyes rose to meet mine with what must have been hell itself yanking the strands which held their gaze. His eyes finally piercing mine, he uttered but a few words that rang a portent down upon my soul.

“He knows...” his statement was made with a raspy voice that cringed my very nerves.

“He knows what?” I demanded.

As it became near but unbearable to repose my eyes upon this ghastly figure let alone inhale the putrid, rancid, malodorous fumes erupting from the geyser that one calls a mouth, the final warning was conceived.

For the next half hour I scrupulously cleansed my cloak of the man’s many drinks that night. It would seem that I have to relinquish this kind man to the gracious care of the nearest guard house before I may see my wife. May father time yet smile on me.