Thread by @wmcarterelliott

If I'd tried to explain the line of reasoning to a "superior" who never grasped the office/date outfit concept, he couldn't follow the lead.

So I said, "I'm psychic."

In Sherlock Holmes stories, Dr Watson allows ACDoyle to explain Holmes' reasoning.

In Sherlock Holmes stories, Dr Watson was educated but not observant.

Inspector Lestrade was neither, but a firm adherent to Occam's Razor. The most obvious explanation was the right one.

Holmes was vocal about deductive reasoning, but known for his observational skills.

Eg:

You'll need to open the picture.

This is a picture of a college freshman in her dorm room, posted on Facebook (IIRC).

... Where her parents had accounts.

It's an "all settled-in, love college, making lots of friends" shot.

On the surface, all observations fit that narrative.

See it yet?

Since I already gave away the big hint about Sherlock Holmes and his uncanny observational skills, I'll zoom in on some of the details Lestrade would have missed.

Note the photo's composition - What's the photographer's subject?

Pretty girl?

Close-up of the girl:

See it yet?

How about now?

I'll give you a big hint.

NOW do you see it?

It's a cleat with red cord, fastened to the wall above her bed.

So she's into bondage, right?

Lestrade would come to that conclusion.

Occam's Razor, right?

Except for another detail, which you've already seen - the girl's face.

See it, yet?

Look at her eyes.

It's supposedly morning.

Her eye makeup is flawless.

She's pranking her parents.

NOW do you see it?

If the photographer were just taking her picture, it'd have been framed more like the second one.

And one more hint...

WTF is the boxy thing covered w/ fabric? Clock-radio?

She hid a clock-radio, but ignored the cleat?

Why?

Her parents probably know what her clock-radio looks like. It's not hers.

My guess: That isn't her room. She saw the cleat and got the idea for a great prank photo.

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