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can’t see how we can come to any other conclusion than that Mr. Houdini’s death was accidental.”
    In a voice so icy it nearly froze me, Kennedy said, “And I will write in my report that you appear to have recovered and should be released tomorrow morning if nothing occurs during the night. To be honest, I’m very tempted to throw you out on your ear right now. I also want it clear I never want you to come within a mile of this hospital again, and will call for your arrest if you do.”
    â€œQuite understandable. I shall not.”
    I heard the door to the room slam closed, and stepped out.
    â€œLooks as if you can go back to your nap.”
    Still in ill humor, Mr. Holmes turned on his side and soon began to snore. I listened to the radio for a while and slouched in my chair. I must have dozed off myself for I awoke some time later with Mr. Holmes, dressed in robe and slippers, shaking me.
    â€œWake up, Wiggins. We have work to do.”
    I came to with a start. “What time is it?”
    â€œEleven-thirty. I have heard no one in the hall for nearly an hour.”
    I stretched and got to my feet.
    â€œI expect you know where the records are kept?” Holmes said.
    â€œI do. I’ve gone there to get information for my articles on numerous occasions. We do have a trek ahead of us, though.”
    â€œThen let us begin,” he said.
    The hallway outside the door was dark. A ways ahead, a light indicated the nurse’s station. I took the lead in case she suddenly appeared.
    Fortunately she wasn’t at her desk, and we took the stairway down to the first floor. Opening the door to the hallway, I suddenly didn’t remember which way to go.
    â€œIs there a problem?” Holmes asked in a near whisper.
    â€œA small one.”
    I caught sight of a linen-covered window. Pulling back the curtain, I saw the lights along the Detroit River. “This way,” I said heading to the right.
    We followed a dimly lit hallway between doors with gilded letters on their windows.
    â€œThese are obviously the business offices,” Holmes muttered. “Do we need to worry about security?”
    â€œSomewhat. The hospital has a guard who makes regular rounds. One of his stops is here.” I pointed to a keyhole in the wall next to a door marked “Bursar.”
    â€œI take it you brought your tools, Wiggins. I hope you haven’t forgotten your skill with locks.”
    Before I could answer, I heard whistling beyond the door to the lobby. It seemed to be coming towards us. I dashed for one of the unmarked doors and turned the knob. Locked. Grabbing my astonished friend by the arm, I pulled him toward the second unmarked door. This one opened. I pushed him inside, with me a step behind. The door to the janitor’s closet closed just as the door to the hallway opened.
    The whistling stopped.
    Had I left something behind?
    In a panic, I grabbed the door knob just as whoever was in the hallway tried to turn it. Luckily the knob was at its locked position and it didn’t move with me holding it in place. The guard, or so I assumed, tried two more times before giving up. Then, once again, the person returned to whistling “I’ll See You in My Dreams.”
    Rather badly off-key, I have to say.
    I kept my ear pressed closely against the door and took tiny breaths for several minutes, listening for movement in the hallway. Finally I heard the door to the lobby open and close.
    Even though the coast was clear, I waited in silence another two minutes before turning the knob and stepping out.
    Mr. Holmes’s disposition remained testy. “That was uncomfortably close. I shouldn’t like another such fright again tonight.”
    â€œIt was no stroll in the park for me, either, my dear sir. I hope we can finish our task without further incident.”
    Pressing my ear against the lobby door, I heard a radio playing. It had to be the one next to the reception