Excerpt: Through Dead Eyes

“Hello?” I ventured, for some reason expecting an echo even though the space was not big enough to allow one.

“Yes, inspector?” a voice replied. It was a clear, human voice, not raspy or unnatural like the one I had heard the last time I had talked to a dead thing. This voice was crisp and precise. And cold. More than anything it was cold.

“Mycroft?”

“I have been called that yes. I understand that you have some questions for me.”

I looked around again. The voice seemed to be coming from all around me, but that might only be the result of the enclosed space. “Yes.. “ I said.

“Then by all means, begin.” Mycroft encouraged in a flat tone that indicated supreme indifference as to whether I asked my questions or not.

“Yes. I have been told that you have read my reports.”

“Yours, and that of all your colleagues. I am about three hours behind at the moment, but I have been briefed on the report you just made to Chief Inspector Grey.”

“Then you are aware that there is evidence of a professional ring of reclaimers operating for an unknown purpose and that the same people more than likely have been gathering information of a delicate nature about at least one highly placed individual.”

“Of course.” The voice sounded slightly impatient.

I sat up a little straighter in the chair and tried to concentrate on asking questions. “Analyze the situation from the information given and extrapolate a probable motive for the actions described in my reports.”

There was silence for a moment. “Likeliest motive for the actions described in your report is a desire to find the truth and to combat crime, Inspector. After all they are the actions of an inspector of Scotland Yard.”

I was quiet for a moment. It felt like the voice was mocking me. It had answered my question precisely and to the point, just not the point I was after. I half expected it to give a derisive laugh but there was none. I tried again.