Unpleasant Memories Begin

"Mr. Basil!"

I had smiled as I stepped down from the train.

"Welcome home!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Judson," I had replied. "I had the most extraordinary time at the university. I studied fascinating subjects, and I have no doubt my courses have prepared me to be the sort of detective I hope to become."

"You'll make a fine one," she assured me. "And just in time too!"

"Yes. I've read in your letters to me that a sinister fiend has been terrorizing London's streets. I must say I'm quite eager to bring this villain to justice!"

My first act was to buy a newspaper. When I saw the headlines, my heart sank. Surely I was misreading! Padraic Ratigan, a criminal?! How was it possible?! He was my best friend!

How wonderful! I had chosen the finest profession in Mousedom! It was now my duty to see my closest friend taken to jail, and more than likely hanged! In the interim, he would be attempting to plot my demise as well!

I spent the rest of the day grieving, but I tried to set aside my personal feelings. Ratigan had to be apprehended, or innocent citizens would perish.

To take my mind off my problems, I accepted my first case the next day. A woman was complaining that someone had broken into her home and stolen numerous items of great value while she was purchasing a few groceries. The burglar was blatantly an amateur, for I found enough evidence to prove his guilt and have him arrested that very day. Apparently, the crime rate in the empire was even higher than I had originally suspected, for the idea of a detective who solved a case in less than twelve hours was considered worthy to appear in various newspapers.

As I was sitting on a park bench later the subsequent day, a gentleman sat next to me.

"You're that new detective, aren't you?"

"What's it to you?" I rejoined.

"Inspector Prescott."

"Basil." I shook the hand he had extended.

"I'll come right to the point, Mr. Basil. I don't think you've got what it takes to capture Ratigan. However, I must admit you've got potential. Would you be interested in a partnership?"

"Hardly."

"Then prepare to hear your first confession."

"Hear a confession?!" I scoffed. "Since when did I become a priest?!"

Prescott clicked his tongue disapprovingly several times. "Too arrogant. Sarcasm over words that have more than one meaning won't help you solve any cases. I meant hearing someone confess to guilt, the way criminals sometimes confess to police officers."

"Is this to take the rest of the day, or will you speak and be done with it?"

"You've got the intelligence to outwit Ratigan, but I've got the personality for it. That being, I am forced to admit that I'm highly interested in being the one who brings the rat to justice, for such would earn me the greatest honor in the empire. It might even impress Queen Moustoria herself!" He paused. "You wouldn't be interested in gaining royal favor?"

"Not at all," I retorted.

"Whoever captures Ratigan will also save many lives and destroy the most powerful criminal ring in Mousedom."

"So I've read."

"I'll come right to the point, Basil. I intend to be the one to see to Ratigan's arrest."

"I've noticed."

"However, I know that as a novice detective, you're eager to make a name for yourself, so you'll want to see the felon apprehended."

"A true gentleman need not 'make a name' for himself; he is content to serve his community."

Prescott frowned. "So you don't want to be the one to order Ratigan's imprisonment?"

"Not particularly. It would please me immensely if someone else were to take him into custody." I sighed wearily. "However, it's not to be. His cunning is second only to my own. It is my duty to see him behind for bars, for I am the only one clever enough to do so."

"Mr. Basil, I'm afraid you're beginning to confuse me."

"If I'm confusing you now, just wait until you try working a case involving Ratigan."

"I offer you a partnership so we can work together to make sure this felon is punished for his crimes, and you refuse. Then I ask if we're destined to be rivals since we cannot be partners, and you make it sound as if you're too superior to be rivaled by any other investigators in the empire."

"Correct on both counts."

"Furthermore, you feel as if it is your duty to society to make sure Padraic Ratigan goes to jail…"

"Prison."

"Fine! You feel as if it is your duty to society to make sure Padraic Ratigan goes to prison, but you don't seem thrilled by the idea."

"Brilliant deduction, my dear Prescott."

He left, muttering something about how "novices like that give all investigators a bad name."