<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f2/Beardycox.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Avery Burnham<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>Law Dogs (1)<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 18th, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Late Morning<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Burnham Detective Agency<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Dr. Aveley; CLOSED<br/><hr/><br/>Avery left the jailhouse in good spirits.  His meeting with Dolores Whateley had gone better than expected.  Admittedly, he’d been somewhat less than pleased with the dictated ending to his story, the young woman insisting that the handsome brown-eyed and decidedly English knight -- a rather charming fellow in his own opinion -- be eaten by the dragon, after which it burned down the castle and absconded with the delighted giggling princess.   That wasn’t quite how he’d planned it out in his head.  It could be there really was something rather wrong about Miss Dolores.<br/><br/>That was a trifling matter, however, when considering that he’d left with a lead, one that had so far eluded the sheriff’s office.  Avery would eventually share the information with Bilton, provided he uncovered something more substantial than a single word -- Doggy -- but for now it was his clue alone.  He could not quite resist the lure of imagining himself cracking this case, preferably over the department’s stunned head.  It was not that he had anything in particular against the sheriff and his deputies, beyond them being very different sorts of men than himself.  It was merely the competitive spirit in Avery.  An itching desire to prove that he was in fact the superior detective in Gomorra, a thousand leagues above what passed for law enforcement in this ragged little frontier town -- mere pistols with badges.<br/><br/>He recognized the doctor at once upon reaching his little office, not so much from familiarity but simply by the man’s demeanor.  Educated men were so few and far between in Gomorra that it was not hard to pick them out.  “My sincere apologies, sir,” Avery stated, extending his hand as he approached.  “A man of your esteemed profession should not be made to wait outside of doors.  I understand how valuable your time can be.  I’m afraid I was held over by a rather insistent client this morning, but I do appreciate your coming here.  Please, step inside…”<br/><br/>Avery ushered Dr. Aveley through the empty waiting room and over to his desk, where he at once poured him a shot of the good bourbon from his drawer.  “As you probably guessed, I’m not feeling especially ill myself but I needed to have a word with you.   About the poor unfortunate Lady Boyle.”  His polite smile turned more grave as he turned to business.  “I’ve been hired by the Whateley family to look into this recent unpleasantness.  It’s my belief an innocent young woman is about to be unjustly tried and quite possibly hung for a crime she almost certainly couldn’t have committed.  I am hoping you might be able to confirm that, doctor.  I understand the nature of the situation is very delicate but a girl’s life could hinge on the truth.  I’ve been given to understand Ms. Boyle was violated in a most foul manner that night and as her physician I am hoping you could tell me if there was any…well, let us say, evidence left behind that would indicate a male attacker?”