The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues (17 page)

Dickory held up one finger, meaning wait, bent down and brought her purse up to the tabletop. Isaac’s eye moved, following her exaggerated motions.

Dickory opened her purse. She took out a notepad and pencil. She tore off a sheet of paper. She indicated to him that she was going to write a note.

Isaac nodded in slow recognition.

Dickory wrote in bold block letters and held her message against the glass for Isaac to read. She pointed to herself, then to the paper. To herself, to the paper. To herself, to the paper.

Isaac leaned his large frame close to the partition, his scarred face touched the glass and backed away.

Once again Dickory pointed to herself, then to the paper. She smiled broadly.

Isaac traced the shape of each letter with his finger; his lips moved silently, his injured brain struggled with the words. Then he looked up and pointed to Dickory.

Dickory nodded and pointed once again to the paper.

A loud howl erupted from the crippled mute like a clap of wondrous thunder. He rocked in his chair and threw back his head, uttering cries that echoed through the room. Dickory could hear his “ung-ung-ung” through the thick glass. Isaac Bickerstaffe was laughing.

Professor D’Arches looked up; Harold Silverfish looked up; F. K. Opalmeyer looked up; Winston S. Fiddle looked up; Eldon F. Zyzyskczuk looked up; Donald Dock looked up. They laughed along with the laughing Isaac. And Blanche and George and Professor D’Arches’ wife and even Harold Silverfish’s mother laughed. Isaac pointed to the note. One finger traced a circle, then two fingers climbed the air and down again. He pointed to Dickory and laughed some more. Dickory’s heart was like a singing bird.

Garson clapped his big friend on the shoulder, smiled lovingly at his apprentice, and picked up the phone to speak to her.

“Good work, Sergeant,” Inspector Noserag intoned. “Your dexterous detection and meritorious compassion have earned you a promotion. Congratulations, Captain Kod.”

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The happy quote
On the note she wrote
Said, “I am Dickory Dock.”