The Case of the Mysterious Man-Part Two

by HA Senidal

Blake studied the big hard rock on the desk. Shirley had invited him over to see her attic. He picked it up, trying to find out what it was.

"It's petrified mammoth dung," Bo told Blake. "Very rare." He remembered how disgusted he felt when he discovered that fact while playing with it one time. The idea that he was juggling ancient animal excrement disturbed him.

"Really?" Blake looked at Shirley.

"Really," Shirley said.

Blake held the dung to his face for a closer look, much to Bo's amazement. "Fascinating."

Putting the dung back, Blake noticed the portrait of Sherlock Holmes. "Is that who I think it is?"

"It is." Shirley stood next to the painting. "He's my great-granduncle."

"I thought he was just a fictional character," Blake said, taken aback that there really was a Sherlock Holmes. "I have all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries ever written. Doyle based Holmes on a surgeon he knew, Joseph Bell."

"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes were based on some of his actual cases," Shirley said. "Doyle heard about him and was reminded of Bell. Sherlock allowed Doyle to publish the stories so that criminals won't believe he actually existed, albeit with some embellishment."

"Well, I see where you got your love of mysteries." Blake grinned at Shirley.

Shirley tried her best not to blush. "Bo and I have solved quite a number of them."

"Oh yeah." Bo was beginning to feel left out before Shirley mentioned his name. "We've pretty much solved every mystery we've come across. You could say I'm the Dr. Watson of this team."

"Now, how did you become interested in mysteries?" Shirley asked Blake.

"I guess I got it from my parents," Blake said. "My mom's always trying to solve the mysteries of ancient civilizations. She has some plausible theories on stuff that have stumped the experts."

"What about your dad?" Bo asked.

Blake hesitated for a moment. He looked at Shirley's chemistry set. "Say, where did you get this?"

Bo gave Shirley a look, and soon the subject was changed to Shirley's chemistry set.

With her backpack slung over her shoulder, Shirley sighed as she looked over the shopping list Gran had given her. Gran was preparing an exotic dish for dinner and had sent Shirley to get the ingredients at the supermarket. Unfortunately, of all the items on the list, Shirley had found only one.

"Hey, Shirley." Shirley turned around to see Alicia walking towards her. "What're you doing?"

"Gran's cooking dinner and she sent me to get the ingredients," Shirley said. "What about you?"

"Just looking for my favorite health drink," Alicia said. "You need some help?"

"Sure. Gran's listed some interesting items," Shirley said as she showed Alicia the list.

Alicia studied the list. "I think I know where these are," she commented, pointing to some items on the list. "I'll show you."

As they walked to the proper section, Alicia decided to ask the question that was on her mind when she spotted Shirley. "So, what do you think of Blake Hewitt?"

Shirley tried to keep a straight face. "He's okay, I guess."

"Okay?" Alicia could not believe Shirley. "He is a drop-dead hunk and all you can say about him is 'Okay?'"

"What's your point?" Shirley asked as she found one of the items on her list and placed it in her shopping cart.

"Well, he talked to you, Shirley," Alicia pointed out. Shirley found another item Gran wanted. "You talked back to him. You like him, don't you?" Alicia said with a grin.

"And you arrived at this conclusion because I talked to Blake?" Shirley reached for something. "I talk to Bo, so does that mean I'm enamored with him?"

"But when you and Blake talked, I saw you two click." Alicia grabbed something and placed it into the shopping cart.

"Alicia, you know full well that I am not interested in any romance," Shirley said matter-of-factly. She did agree with Alicia on one thing: She and Blake did "click," as Alicia so charmingly put it.

As the two went off to find Alicia's health drink and the rest of Gran's ingredients, Alicia continued the conversation. "You know, Shirley, you have to get interested in boys sometime in your life. Oh wait, there was Matt when we went to that ranch, but I don't think he's called you recently, right?"

Shirley was annoyed with Alicia at that point. Being a great detective requires focus, and having a boyfriend would be a distraction. Besides, if she ever got interested in someone, it was a personal matter not fit for public consumption. Unfortunately for Shirley, she was interested in boys. She did appreciate Alicia's encouragement to pursue Matt at the ranch, but Alicia was right. Matt had not tried to call her since.

Shirley sighed. Matt Harris was her first crush. She remembered him, especially his dark hair, cowboy getup, and lone wolf manner. It wasn't exactly love at first sight, but her attraction to him grew during her stay. He returned the feeling with a near kiss; they were interrupted. Still, he had not tried to contact her lately. She tried to forget him, but she could not. In the end, she decided to label him as her first crush and move on. To her, Blake Hewitt was a fresh start. Like her, he liked mysteries, and he seemed nice. However, she couldn't help but sense a similarity in manner between Blake and Matt.

"Are you okay?" Alicia asked.

Shirley snapped back to reality. "I'm fine."

Both found what they were looking for and were in line at the cash register. Shirley looked at the tired-looking man in front of her, whose purchases were a tabloid magazine and a bottle of Pepto-Bismol. He wore a baseball cap on top of his long, blond hair and a pair of sunglasses. His clothes looked clean but messy, as if they had not been ironed for days. Shirley noticed how he was looking around the store and how he was muttering about the time as the cashier tallied up his total. He paid for his purchase, got his change, refused a bag, and quickly exited the store while looking through the tabloid and with the Pepto-Bismol in his pants pockets.

Shirley watched the man closely through the glass door as the cashier added the cost of her purchases. The man stood outside the door for a moment reading something in the tabloid. He was clearly reacting to what he was reading because he clinched his fist and shook it repeatedly. He seemed to be talking to himself. The man finally folded the tabloid and placed it under his arm and walked away, obviously upset.

"Miss?" Shirley focused her attention to the cashier, who was done with calculating the total cost of her purchases. "Miss, you can pay now."

Shirley turned to Alicia. "Can you hand me that tabloid?"

Alicia stared at her blankly. "Which one?"

"That one right there." Shirley pointed to the same magazine the man had bought. Alicia grabbed it and passed it to Shirley. "Add this to my total," Shirley told the cashier while holding up the tabloid. After the cashier adjusted the final total, Shirley paid, got her change, and got her purchases, now in plastic bags, from the bagger. She heard Alicia about to say something to her while she walked out the exit.

The next day, during lunch at Sussex Academy, Shirley showed the tabloid to Bo and Blake. "So, Shirl, when did you start reading about the private lives of celebrities?" Bo asked with a smile.

Shirley flipped through the tabloid until she found what she was looking for. "Read this," she said, showing him what she found.

Bo glanced at the article before him and read the title out loud. "MONA LISA THEFT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED." He read what Shirley had marked in yellow the previous night. "According to a clerk with the Paris police who wished to remain anonymous, two days before the theft of the Mona Lisa, a strange note was sent to the Paris police department. The clerk says he was the first one to see the note. It simply read, in both English and French, 'We will capture a lady who is safe, but not at home.' The note was unsigned. 'The captain thought it was a joke,' the clerk said. 'We ignored it.' After the Mona Lisa was stolen, the clerk came to his own conclusions about the note's meaning. 'When we were informed of the theft of our beloved Mona Lisa, I realized that the lady mentioned in the note was the Mona Lisa. Her painter was Italian and she was well-protected by a fine security system. The Mona Lisa was indeed safe, but not at home.' The clerk tried to convince his colleagues of the note's significance to the case, but they have so far dismissed it as a 'mere joke.'"

Bo looked up from the tabloid at Shirley. "You believe this?"

"Let me see that," Blake said. Bo handed him the tabloid and Blake read the marked part of the article. "So, the police did miss something."

"A riddle that hinted at the theft," Shirley said.

"Hold it." Bo was still in disbelief. "Why would anyone send a note to the police with a riddle that tells them what the crime is?"

"Well, whoever took the Mona Lisa must have been good. Too good," Shirley said. "I guess the thief wanted to give the police a chance."

"A small chance," Blake said. "'We will capture a lady who is safe, but not at home?' That sounds too vague. It could have been a real lady."

"I guess that's the point of the riddle," Shirley said. "Give the police a chance to stop the theft, but baffle them. When the theft was committed, it was too late."

"Adding insult to injury," Blake said. "The Mona Lisa theft happened, and the police were given a hint about it, but they didn't act on it. Boy, no wonder they're still denying the riddle's part in the whole thing."

"Excuse me." Bo raised his hand. "Exactly why are you still obsessed with finding the Mona Lisa?"

"Yesterday, I saw a man buy a copy of this tabloid while I was shopping at the supermarket." Shirley held up the tabloid for emphasis.

"So?"

"His clothes were all wrinkly and he seemed tired."

"Maybe he's a slob," Bo said. "A slob who stays up late at night."

Shirley shook her head. "He had jet lag, Bo. He was complaining about the time here. He's been living out of a suitcase. Hence the wrinkled clothes."

"Meaning he's not a local," Blake said.

"He also kept looking around, as if looking for someone."

"Like he was being followed. He's paranoid about something."

"While I was watching him read the tabloid, he became upset."

"Maybe he got angry at something else," Bo said. "His favorite celebrity probably got some bad press."

Shirley ignored Bo's remark. "A man with jet lag who becomes upset about an article on the Mona Lisa theft and is paranoid. Since the police don't have any leads, and therefore no suspects, that means..."

"That means he's involved with the theft," Blake completed Shirley's thought. "Which probably means..."

"Hold on a minute." Bo looked at Shirley and Blake. "Are you saying that the Mona Lisa is in Redington?"

"Or at least someone who has an insight into the crime," Shirley said. "Now if only I could solve the other riddle."

Bo stared at Shirley. "What other riddle?"

"The one that was delivered to the Redington Police Department three days ago," Shirley said. "Its significance was lost to me until I read the article."

"So another crime is going to be committed right here in Redington," Blake said. "I heard of a strange note being mailed to the Redington Police Department three days ago, but I can't remember what it said."

"'Playing is easy and fun, but the clothing is murder,'" Shirley recited from the top of her head.

"You memorized that?" Blake sounded impressed.

"She pays attention to every little detail," Bo said to Blake. He looked at Shirley. "So someone who has information about the Mona Lisa theft is in town and there's going to be another crime committed if we don't solve a vague riddle." He shook his head. "Can't we just have one day without a mystery to solve?"

"The Mona Lisa missing, a man who may have been involved, and a riddle that hints at another crime," Blake said.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Shirley sounded pleased. "A real challenge."

"We still need to find the guy," Bo said. "I'd be easier to find a needle in a haystack."

"I remember what he looks like," Shirley told Bo. "If I see him again, I'll recognize him."

At that point, Molly Hardy walked up to where Shirley, Bo, and Blake were sitting. She stopped near Blake. "Are you Blake Hewitt?" she asked him, ignoring Shirley and Bo.

"I am." Blake looked at Molly. "And you are...?"

"Molly Hardy, student council president," Molly said with pride, holding out her hand to Blake. Blake shook it. "I'd like to welcome you to Sussex Academy. I would've done so yesterday, but I was out sick."

"No wonder it was so peaceful around here," Bo whispered to Shirley, who tried not to crack a grin.

Molly shot a look of contempt at Bo and Shirley, then refocused on Blake. "If you need to know anyone important in this school, I'm the one who can make it happen," she said with a smile.

"I'll keep that in mind," Blake said. "Thanks."

"Excellent." Molly looked at her watch. "Well, I must be going. I'll see you around, Blake." As she left, she smiled at him. Shirley did not miss that and it took all of her willpower to suppress her anger.

"I'd be careful when it comes to Molly," Bo warned Blake. "She's-"

"Deceitful, cunning, and manipulative?" Blake said with a smile. "Don't worry about me, Bo. I don't trust her as far as I can throw her."

Bo was surprised. Shirley was impressed. "How did you...?" Bo began to ask Blake.

"Well, you can tell by the way she walks and the way she talks," Blake said. "I knew someone like her at my old school."

"Molly Hardy is definitely not to be trusted," Shirley said. She knew from experience how Molly could be tricky. Although she managed to thwart a number of Molly's schemes, the blonde always escaped punishment.

"You know, Shirl, have you ever wondered if there's someone in our age group who's worse than Molly?" Bo asked.

"There's a chance," Shirley said. "Personally, I hope that person doesn't exist."

Mr. E put down the phone and breathed out a sigh of relief. Nigel looked at his employer. "What did he say, sir?"

"He's finally agreed to his pilots' demands for a raise." Mr. E looked amused. "Our client is a miser when it comes to paying his employees, Nigel, and the pay raise was at least fifty percent of what the pilots earn. He definitely wants our little painting."

"I'm amazed he didn't hire a new pilot and fire the rest," Nigel said.

"Security risk." Mr. E opened a new game of Freecell on the computer. "The newcomer probably would've demand an outrageous sum to keep him quiet about his new acquisition. He wants only his men, his loyal men. With that pay raise, those men would take a bullet for him or even donate a liver to him while they're still alive."

"When will he arrive at the meeting place?" Nigel asked.

Mr. E moved a card with the mouse. "In a day, at the least." He sighed. "I hate delays." He moved another card, and then another.

The phone rang. Mr. E picked it up and pressed the button on the side of the receiver before speaking. "Yes?" He listened for a while. "Excellent. Put him on." He pressed the button on the phone just as another man spoke to him. "Good to hear from you. Report." He heard the other man's report. "Good, good. The painting?" He heard more talk. "Good. Keep it that way. Our client should be arriving at your location soon. Stand by. Over and out." He hung up the phone and continued his game of Freecell.

"Number Four-Four-Zero?" Nigel asked.

"It was," Mr. E said as he moved a column of cards. "He just gave me his daily report. He and his confederates have not been caught, and the Mona Lisa is well-hidden." The pointer dragged more cards across the screen.

"I take it that everything is going according to plan?" Nigel asked.

Mr. E looked at the screen and made one more move. He watched as the cards flew to the right corner of the screen. "Yes, Nigel," he said with a sinister smile. "Everything is going according to plan."

"Playing is easy and fun, but the clothing is murder," Bo said out loud. He and Shirley were on their way to the Redington Mall. "It doesn't make sense, Shirley."

"It is rather vague," Shirley said. "It's definitely hinting at a place."

"Maybe a clothing store?"

"Too obvious." Shirley shook her head.

"Well, here's some more weirdness. Stink gave this to me earlier." Bo handed Shirley a folded piece of paper. Shirley opened it and saw that it was a photocopy of a short newspaper clipping. It was a brief public announcement and it read "PLACES CLOSED DUE TO ODOR OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN: Sam's Clock Repair, Computer Counseling, Jazz Java Hut, Quickie Cleaners, Papa Pete's Pizzeria, Redington Community Theater, Costumes, Inc., Redington Public Library, Arturo's Fine Clothing, Alternative Clothing, Newt's Video Arcade, and Maxwell Cinemas."

"Stink found it funny. He was wondering where he can get the stuff that caused that so he can shut down school," Bo said. "Care to solve that case, Shirl?"

Shirley was still looking at the paper when she heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw Blake heading toward her.

"Hi, guys," Blake said as he joined them. "Where are you going?"

"The Redington Mall," Bo said.

"What a coincidence!" Blake said. "That's where I'm going, too. Thought I'd check it out."

"Some coincidence," Bo muttered.

"You can come with us, if you like," Shirley said as she restrained her growing excitement.

"Sure. No problem," Bo said, looking away from the other boy.

As they walked, Shirley showed the paper to Blake. "Strange," he said. "A pipe leak maybe?"

Shirley was about to say something when she spotted a man step out of a nearby clothing store. She stopped walking and looked carefully at the man.

Bo and Blake stopped also. "Shirley, why'd you...?" Bo started to ask.

"That's him." Shirley pointed to the man.

It was the man Shirley had seen at the supermarket. She recognized the baseball cap, the long blond hair, and the sunglasses. His clothes were different from last time, but they were wrinkled. He walked in front of Shirley, Bo, and Blake and joined the crowd of people crossing the street.

"Come on." Shirley started to cross the street, keeping an eye on the man.

Blake shrugged and followed Shirley. Bo shook his head and reluctantly joined them in the pursuit.

END OF PART TWO