Morse’s Greatest Mystery and other stories

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Chief Superintendent Strange took back the snapshot of Grandson Number One (two years, three months) and lovingly looked at the lad once more.

“Super little chap. You can leave him with anybody. As good as gold.”

He poured a little more of the Macallan into each of the glasses.

Birthdays were becoming increasingly important for Strange as the years passed by — fewer and ever fewer of them left, alas. And he thought he was enjoying the little early-evening celebration with a few of his fellow senior officers.

Only two of them remaining now, though.

Quite predictably remaining, one of the two.

Musing nostalgically, Strange elaborated on memories of childhood.

“Huh! One of the first things I ever remember as a kid, that. This woman was looking after me when my ol’ mum had to go out somewhere — and when she came back she asked her whether I’d been a good boy while she’d been away and she’d been looking after me — and she said she could leave me with her any time she liked because I’d been as good as gold. Those were the very words — ‘As good as gold.’ ”

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