"For goodness sake, Holmes, why would it be on the school sidewalks? Are you sure it's blood?"

"I'm positive!" Holmes said, vehemently. "It's blood, freshly spattered..." Then he looked up. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't talk about..."

"Blood? In front of a lady?" I mocked him. "Oh, come on. I'm not one to go squeamish."

"Good." Holmes said, standing. He dusted his hands off and looked carefully around the school. "Watson, we're going to see my older brother Myron."

"Why?"

Holmes took my hand, something that surprised me. "He works for Scotland Yard. Let's go."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


I stood in the back of Myron's office, feeling slightly out of place.

"But I'm certain of it!" Holmes was saying. "Listen, this could all fit into the pattern!"

"Of your vanishing females?" Myron asked without looking up. "Really, Sherry, that's too much. Teenage girls run away from home all the time."

"But there have been FIVE in the last five months. June 5th, July 5th, August 4th -"

"Enough, Sherry!" Myron sorted through some paper work on his desk. "Some stray runaways and red paint. That's not a crime. Not even a mystery. Go do your homework with your nice friend."

"Don't. Call. Me. Sherry. And it WAS blood."

Myron chuckled. "Mm-hm. Just like last time?"

"I've learned my lesson, okay?" Holmes sounded peeved.

"Sherlock," Myron set down his papers and looked him straight in the face. "There's no doubt in my mind that you believe that you actually saw blood. But I'm overworked as it is and I can't spare the time to check. Go home."

Holmes snarled, turned on his heels and walked out. Feeling uncomfortable, I waved slightly to Myron and left.

"Holmes, what's this all about?" I demanded as we exited the police station.

He took a deep breath. "For the last five months there have been young girls disappearing. The first was June 5th, then July 5th, then August 4th, September 2nd, and finally October 2nd. All of the girls disappeared from this neighborhood. And that wasn't the first time I've found traces of blood."

I shivered. "That's frightening," I said, and found his hand again.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you."

"Are you kidding, Holmes? I'm made of stronger stuff. I'll be fine." We walked in silence.

Then I laughed. "Nice try. I just remembered."

"Remembered what?"

"It's Halloween."

Holmes frowned. "But I'm serious..."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Mr. Donnelley smiled at me. "Good work," he said as he handed back my paper. I glanced at it - A+! Yes! Yesyesyesyesyes! Who's the girl? Who's the girl?

Across the room Sherlock frowned. I held up my paper. He sighed and held up his. Holmes got a C+? But we had worked on these papers together!

Now I frowned. Holmes shrugged. I tipped my head to the side. He shook his head. I put my chin in my hand and pretended to write on my desk. Holmes looked appalled and shook his head again. I raised my eyebrows, frowning. Holmes rolled his eyes.

Some of the kids in the class stared, but most have gotten used to our unspoken conversation. Here's what we really said:

Me: That's not fair!
Holmes: I don't care.
Me: Are you mad at me?
Holmes: No.
Me: Are you going to revise your paper for extra credit?
Holmes: No way!
Me: You should!
Holmes: Oh, go on. You and Mr. Donnelley.

I sighed and looked up. Mr. Donnelley had been watching us, torn between being amused or being bewildered. I blushed.

The bell rang and I met Holmes at the door.

"Holmes! Watson!" Mr. Donnelley called. We turned around.

"As I said before," Mr. Donnelley laughed. "You two make quite a team."

We smiled and turned back to leave, but something caught my eye. I grabbed Holmes' arm and pointed to the doorframe. Holmes turned white.

Blood. On the door.

We couldn't help it, we turned back around to look at Mr. Donnelley. The laughter was gone from his face. He took a step forward and opened his mouth to say something...

Holmes pulled me out of the classroom. We ran one hallway, then another, until we had put as much distance between us and Mr. Donnelley as we could.

We stopped abruptly, and hunched over panting. When my heart stopped freaking out, I looked up at Holmes and straightened my back.

"Watson," Holmes took a step forward. "Promise me..." he paused. "Promise me you'll never, ever be alone with that man."

"Holmes, really," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "We don't know that even was bl-"

"Promise me," Holmes pleaded.

"Holmes, be reasonable. He probably didn't have anything to do wi-"

Holmes grabbed the collar of my shirt and threw me back against the wall. "Promise me!" he yelled, his hands shaking.

I gulped, my eyes wide with surprise. "I - I promise."