RANSVESTIA

with one heel in the resulting pool of blood; by measuring the distance between the bloody heel marks on the floor, the pace of the individual could be measured and thus their height acertained. The murderer was exactly five feet, six inches tall, your height Diane. On the floor I found scrappings of some facial powder, the same shade you wear. On the wall I found smudges from a blonde eyebrow marking pencil, the same color you wear. There, that is my proof!"

"Is that all you have?" Diane asked with a sly smile on her face.

"Indeed, Lady Hampton, is that all you have as proof?" Lestrade inquired. "I'm afriad I can't arrest her on that proof. A good barrister could produce fifty such women who meet the elements of that evidence."

"There is more," Olivia continued. "Adrian informed Dr. Watson and myself, Tuesday last, that she was being blackmailed and that the blackmailer had threatened to kill her on that very day. Diane left early in the evening, which gave her ample opportunity to follow Adrian to the hotel when she left. As she left early, I easily fooled her into believing a special meeting had been called for tonight so that we could capture her here and confront her with the evidence."

Diane threw back her golden curls and laughed. "With that evidence, Olivia, all you have is a good case for me to bring you to court in suit for false arrest."

"I'm afraid she is quite right, Lady Hampton, I cannot hold her on that evidence," Lestrade said apologetically.

"Before you let her free, Inspector," Olivia flared, "perhaps you should see this."

She grabbed a towel and proceeded to wipe away the makeup from the face of the blonde woman, just as she pulled the towel away she tugged at Diane's golden locks and sent her blonde wig tumbling to the floor. The loom of complete surprise on Lestrade's face could have only been bested by my own.

"Professor Moriarty!" Lestrade exclaimed in disbelief.

The professor only responded with a gesturely nod.

42