Disclaimer: "I own only what's mine"
Midnight Rose
An angry yellow toothed man bounded after the retreating form of a boy in a black billowing coat. Yellow Teeth doubled over wheezing slightly from the chase before taking out a revolver from his inside jacket pocket and took off once again cursing all the while. Just as he turned the corner of a deserted alleyway a frying pan came swinging around the wall catching him right in the nose and the man yelled out in pain and rage.
When Yellow Teeth caught his bearings, he found himself alone in the alleyway once more and his gun missing. He cursed loudly. They had gotten away again but he swore that would be the last time. As the man trudged away a figure dispatched itself from the opposite wall a distant street light catching the side of the figure's face revealing surprisingly feminine looks and if Yellow Teeth had paid enough attention he would have realized the boy was in fact a woman around the age of 23 or so.
The disguised woman tucked the stolen gun into the back of the manly trousers she sported pulling the button down shirt down over it hiding it perfectly. The mysterious woman slinked through the shadows of every building as she passed not pausing until she found the one she was looking for. She sneaked up the stairs of the house and peeked through the front window smirking when she saw what she'd come for but she very well couldn't use the front door now could she? She was going to have to wall climb to the roof where she would come down the chimney, a skill she'd perfected years ago.
The woman picked up the rope she'd left in a hiding place she'd scouted earlier that day before skillfully scaling the wall by pipe. She quickly made it to the top with ease now ready to avenge her parents. The woman tied the rope to the beginning of the pipe before wrapping it once around her waist. Taking a collective breath she started down the chimney which was despite her small frame a tight fit.
The owner of the house must have known of her intentions because the moment she landed in his kitchen he was there ready to jump her. Just as he went for her she shoved the stolen gun in his face causing him to freeze before suddenly smiling disarmingly.
"What a marvelous surprise but why go to the trouble of using the chimney when the door is working just fine." The man standing before her was older but looked as if he had been quite handsome in his prime.
He was smiling but the worry lines around his eyes and wrinkles on his forehead revealed the hard life he must have led. The woman remained silent even as he studied her closely. "Rose Middleton, correct?" She frowned the supposed killer knew of her identity.
The man chuckled quietly. "Don't look so surprised, my dear. I also know you've been watching me for a while now waiting for the right moment to...strike."
The gun Rose had pointed in his face was shaking badly as she realized she was caught but the man made no move to take it from her. "You think I killed your parents and the truth is I didn't nor do I know who did I'm afraid."
He looked sincere enough for the death of a stranger's parents but something was still off or so it seemed to Rose. "But...but you're a thief, a criminal, and a killer. You killed my parents. All the evidence points to you."
His smile wavered slightly but he didn't move from his relaxed stance, hands shoved in his pockets. "Two out of three, Miss Rose. As I stated before I didn't kill your parents nor have I ever killed before in my life. I may be a well-known thief and grifter but ending another human life..."
He genuinely winced at the implication. "Now that is just something I'd never do...So how's about you lower the gun, girl, I'm not going to hurt you. I might have been a little mad you came through the chimney but since you were under the assumption I killed people you held dear I'll let it slide."
Rose slowly lowered the gun but didn't put it away still rightfully suspicious. "If you didn't kill them, who did?" The man raised his eyebrows questioningly. "What? Do I look like Mr. Know it All to you? I don't have a clue who did it. I'm not a detective and from the looks of it neither are you."
She rolled her eyes at the slight dig at her lack of detective skills. "But you must know something...otherwise they wouldn't have picked you to frame especially if they know you're no killer." He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Why must there always be a reason for someone to do something. I was targeted randomly same as you." Now it was her turn to raise her eyebrows. "Just as you said everything happens for a reason there is no random in killing. All killers have ulterior motives, something to gain. Figuring out what that motive is now that's the tough part." He smiled.
"That's very insightful for a girl of your age and inexperience. I'm impressed." Rose cocked the gun, done playing games with him. "Who killed my parents, Malone?"
He raised his hands in surrender paling slightly. "I told you I don't know! Now get out of my house before I call the authorities!" Rose merely smirked not the least bit scared of the threat. "If you call the authorities they'll be arresting us both, me for trespassing you for murder. I can live with that."
Malone decided he wasn't getting anywhere with his threats so he tried a softer approach. "Kid...Rose, I swear on my mother's grave I didn't kill your parents...but I might know who did." He handed her a crumpled piece of paper which she opened to read but he grabbed her wrist.
"Not here, Rose it's not safe. You need to leave now, the guys that killed your parents have deemed me next on their list. Go." As she ran from his house she wondered what a criminal like him had to gain from helping her.
Rose Middleton sighed in defeat, that had been her only lead to her parents' murder. She still wasn't completely convinced he wasn't involved in some way but she could tell she'd already over stayed her welcome.
Her parents had been killed in the little apartment they had rented in London, England. It was an apparent house robbery gone wrong. Most of the apartment had been flooded courteously by the 'Wet Bandit' but strangely nothing was missing. The man she had just talked to had been the alleged Wet Bandit himself, Curtis Malone, a curious fellow indeed. Old newspapers said the flooding of the home after it was robbed was his favorite calling card.
She realized a little late as she was walking down the street that he had never actually denied robbing the apartment only that he didn't commit the murders. Before she realized what she was doing she had turned around, heading back to his house once more despite the threat of him being the next hit. As the house came into view she noticed the door standing wide open with a giant emblem running down the middle, it read LXXIX.
When she reached the front steps she gulped in horror as the emblem was marked in blood. It didn't take a genius to figure out whose blood exactly it was. Right before she called out to Mr. Malone she thought better of it in case the killer was still there. Rose knew the right thing to do would be to call the police but this could be her one chance to catch her parents' killer and she wasn't going to waste it. Again, She pulled the revolver from her back waste band and cocked it readying for a fight if need be.
She stealth fully crouched through the door whirling this way and that looking for the intruder knowing he wouldn't stick around for long but she could never be too careful. When the entire house had been searched thoroughly she went back to where Curtis Malone's body lay no wounds visible and she knew better than to touch a dead body unless she wanted to be arrested for the murder of Curtis Malone.
It was time to call the authorities since there was nothing more she could do for now until she talked to the Scotland Yard Investigators. Wait, how was the emblem written in Malone's blood when she saw no visible wounds to get the blood from...unless something far more sinister and not to mention gross was going on. After calling Scotland Yard she considered bailing but decided against it favoring more information for her parents' murder.
She'd already decided her alibi would be that she was simply going for her usual midnight stroll when she found this stranger's door wide open and a bloody writing marked haughtily down it. She could maybe fake some tears to look the part of a scared woman who just saw her first dead body. Rose sat patiently on the steps of Malone's house until a mouse faced man in a funny looking hat strolled up to her.
She stood as he came closer and he tipped his hat politely to her but stared awkwardly at her attire making her realize she was still wearing men's clothing from her earlier escaped. Rose merely smiled ignoring the stares from the men in official suits who were standing behind mouse faced man.
"Good...um morning? Mr.-Miss uh-" She almost giggled at how incredibly awkward this mousey man was and decided to help him out a little. "Miss Middleton" His ears tinged pink in embarrassment and he looked away.
"Right uh" He cleared his throat. "I'm Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard and I believe an emergency call came from this address?" Rose lost her smile looking dutifully solemn at the reminder of someone's untimely death.
"Yes Inspector." He motioned for her to sit down. "Why don't you explain as best you can what happened." She cleared her throat and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"I was walking on one of my nightly strolls when I noticed this stranger's door open and curiously went to check it out. When I came closer and I saw the bloody writing I ran inside to use the owner's phone to call Scotland Yard. That was when I noticed him dead as a door nail on the floor."
Rose skillfully faked the shaky voice and trembling hands. Inspector Lestrade was writing in his handy-dandy notebook. One of his men who had gone into the house moments ago strode past her and whispered fiercely into Lestrade's ear who then cast a worried glance at me before looking back again at his man.
Lestrade whispered back but she caught what was said this time. " Clarkie, get Holmes...we need him."
Clarkie made haste to 221B Baker Street where one Sherlock Holmes resided. He rapped loudly on the door despite the early hour. A flustered older woman opened the door a moment later. "Are you aware it's the middle of the night and some people are trying to sleep."
He knew she had to be speaking of herself because Holmes hardly ever slept at least not at night when you were supposed to. "I apologize Mrs. Hudson but I must speak with Mr. Holmes immediately, the Inspector says its urgent."
Mrs. Hudson narrowed her eyes before finally huffing in resigned agitation. "If you insist but please make it quick!"
Clarkie tipped his hat politely and hurried inside not waiting for her to shut the door and escort him to Mr. Holmes' room. When he reached the appropriate door hand poised to knock he noticed it already cracked open and the room black inside. Clarkie gulped, he hated the dark.
"M-Mr. H-Holmes are you in here? Inspector Lestrade says it's urgent and would like you come with me immediately." Silence followed as Clarkie entered the room the rest of the way letting the door creak open.
"Sir?" Suddenly he felt his foot catch something and he yelped in surprise.
An object came swinging out of the dark hitting Clarkie in the face causing him to jump back and promptly fall flat on his back. He began whirling his arms wildly panicked and beyond reason hoping to hit some part of his supposed attacker.
A hand clamped down on his arm and he went to throw it off when he heard the familiar voice. "Clarkie?" As quick as it came the hand was gone again and suddenly light flooded the room.
There was Holmes standing by the now closed-door in all his glory dressed in...black tights? Then Clarkie noticed the rather odd device wrapped around Holmes' head and eyes making him look much like a big eyed bug of some sort.
"Mr. Holmes if I may? What is that on your head?" Holmes once seemingly frozen body suddenly snapped to life. "What? Oh this? It's just a little invention I've been working on..."
He pulled the impromptu goggles off his head staring offhandedly at it with narrowed eyes. "They're...night vision goggles or they're supposed to be anyway."
He turned abruptly before stalking towards two cages Clarkie had just realized were there. "I've been studying these peculiar creatures for a while now and yet still...nothing."
Clarkie too stared at the owls Holmes was referring to and they were indeed beautiful peculiar animals. Suddenly something darted across the floor accidentally brushing Clarkie's leg who jumped a foot in the air in surprise.
"W-What was that?!" Clarkie's eyes were darting frantically around the room trying to find what did that while Holmes merely stared calmly off into space looking rather bored and lost in thought. Again he snapped to attention.
"Oh Charlie? He's just my uh...fox. He needn't be a bother I assure you." Clarkie's eyes widened in shock. "A-a fox Mr. Holmes?" Holmes' lips quirked upwards his eyes sparkling madly.
"That is indeed what I said Clarkie weren't you listening?" "Blamey! Why on Earth would you need a fox Mr. Holmes?"
Holmes simply rolled his eyes, unimpressed with Clarkie's lack of knowledge yet excited to tell another human being not just his dog Gladstone about new information. "A fox is a nocturnal animal not unlike the owl over there. I've become quite curious of the night dwellers and especially their love of the dark as I'm quite accustomed to it myself..."
Clarkie opened his mouth but Holmes started up again. "Nocturnal creatures like the owl have what scientists would call scotopic lux, or night vision as most call it. It's absolutely marvelous Clarkie! It's vision that is due to the activity of the rods of the retina only; occurring only at very low levels of illumination, detecting differences of brightness but not of hue. Revolutionary I must say! Revolutionary..."
Holmes had a huge smile on his face as he stared off into his imagination while Clarkie continued to look clueless about most of what was just said not that Holmes noticed. Suddenly Holmes' head snapped back to look at him suspiciously.
"Clarkie, why are you here? Can't you see I'm in the middle of a great discovery?" The questions fired at him caught him by surprise as Holmes seemed perfectly alright with his presence just moments before. "Um..."
Holmes narrowed his eyes impatiently. "Well? Spit it out, dear man. I haven't got all night."
Clarkie straightened the hat on his head all business now. "Inspector Lestrade has sent me to fetch you...it's an emergency, sir. The alleged Wet Bandit is dead, killed in his house in the dead of night."
Holmes was already heading to the door. "Why didn't you mention that before you silly man!"
Clarkie stopped him before he got too far. "Sir? Perhaps it'd be best if you changed?" Holmes glanced down at his attire and frowned. "Perhaps you're correct..."