The Case of the Manila Envelope-Chapter 19
by HA
"Well, this turned out to be an interesting night," Bo remarked as he wheeled his bicycle to the driveway.
"I have to agree," Shirley said as she walked by his side.
"Yeah, it's not everyday that your guests just disappear like that," Bo said. "Not to mention try to kill you."
"Bo," Shirley said with a sigh just as Bo was about to mount his bike.
Bo stopped and looked at his friend. "Look, it's bad enough that ENIGMA wants you dead, but now we've got the Strangers gunning for you."
"We don't have any proof that the Strangers are-as you put it-gunning for me," Shirley said.
Bo frowned and folded his arms over his chest. "That Arthur sure has a funny way of assessing people."
"Maybe he just wants to be sure about something," Shirley said.
"Well, I think trying to strangle me to get you to play a card game is really going just a wee overboard," Bo said sharply.
"Yume did apologize repeatedly for that," Shirley said. "She had to make it seem real so that I would have no choice but to accept her challenge."
"Oh, that's just fine, considering I was nearly choked to death," Bo said with a sigh. He was about to mount his bike when he suddenly had a thought. Looking around, he noted that only he and Shirley were standing outside. "Uh, Shirley..."
Shirley fixed her inquisitive blue eyes onto her friend. "Yes, Bo?"
Even in the dark, Bo could still make out his friend's blue eyes. The outside light in the distance and the night sky only accented her pale skin. Bo thought he was looking at an etherial beauty, and he felt his stomach churn. His heart was about to leap out of his chest, and the words he wanted to let out of his mouth were slowly forming on the tip of his tongue. His hands shook, and the grip he had on the handlebars tightened. Finally, he spoke, but not what he originally wanted. "Just be careful, okay?"
Turning around, Bo was about to mount the bike again when he felt something soft envelope him tightly. Looking back, he found Shirley embracing him from behind with her arms wrapped around him, and his face started to heat up. Before he could say anything to her, she quickly kissed him lightly on his cheek on a spot dangerously close to his lips, causing him to lose his grip on his bike, and as it hit the ground while Shirley released him, his face really reddened.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Her face feeling a little warm, Shirley found herself feeling surprised and a little embarrassed at what just happened, and Bo kept himself facing away from her, not sure that the night would fully conceal the blush on his face. Finally, after regaining some self-control, Shirley spoke shakily, "Thanks...for being there for me, Bo."
Gulping, Bo bent down and picked up his bike. "Um, no problem," he said, almost stuttering in a rapid fashion. "I'll see you later then." Without even looking at her, he mounted his bike and kicked off. Keeping his focus in front of him, he couldn't help but play back the embrace that had just happened a minute or two ago, and he still felt the touch of her lips on his cheek.
Shirley watched as her friend rode off into the night, and once he was gone, she went back into the house. Watson, her pet basset hound, looked up from his place in the hallway as his mistress closed the door, and he resumed lying around lethargically as Shirley entered the kitchen.
Yume looked around her and took in the surrounding bookcases of the chamber with awe. Various hardcovered and paperback works such as the complete works of Shakespeare, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huck Finn, The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, The Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were, Edith Hamilton's Mythology, the current volumes of the Harry Potter series, the Chronicles of Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time and its companions, and books by Roald Dahl filled the bookcases. Yume, Rika, and Sara stood before a large desk with a flat-screen monitor and matching hard drive. A stainless metal bowl of soap water sat besides the mouse pad.
"I hope you found Shirley to be quite interesting," the young man behind the chair said shortly a stream of bubbles flew upward.
"She's like you said she was, Arthur-kun," Yume said cheerfully.
The chair swung towards the three girls and revealed the bespectacled, colorfully-dressed president of the Strangers' Club. "That's good to hear," he said, his right leg lying over his left knee. "Rather determined, don't you think?"
"She sure was," Yume answered.
"Resourcefulness, determination, and the detective skills of the legendary Holmes," Arthur said as he dipped his pipe into the water bowl. "Rather dangerous combination against criminals, don't you think?"
"Yes, it is," Sara said.
The three girls watched as Arthur blew out a stream of beautiful, shiny bubbles which danced its way skyward and descended to the ground while zig-zagging seconds before they popped in the air or from making contact on the well-carpeted floor. "I take it you've thought over my proposal, Yume?" he asked.
"I have," Yume answered.
"And?" Arthur said as he moved his mouse, which removed his screen saver, a scanned photograph of a man, a woman, and a small, bespectacled boy, and replaced it with his e-mail inbox.
"Considering what you've told me, I consider it an honor to join your group," Yume said with a bow. "I will do my best to help while I conduct my own mission."
"I know you will, especially since a certain matter that will be decided soon," Arthur said as he clicked on an e-mail. Seconds later, he remarked, "Ah, Danielle Ender has agreed to my proposal as well."
"Danielle Ender?" Sara stared at Arthur incredulously. "Didn't she turn her babysitters into dolls?"
"Loneliness at its worse," Arthur said. "Thank goodness Lucy convinced her to turn them all back. Their parents, not to mention the agency who sent them, were rather happy to see them."
"I was just happy not to be a doll anymore," Rika said. "Had to stop Collette from slicing her to ribbons, though."
"Danielle is still grateful for what we did, and now she wants to help," Arthur said as he moved on to the next e-mail. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm inclined to give her a chance, and considering certain circumstances, we're going to need all the help we can." He looked at the screen closely. "Hmmmm...Damian, you might be interested in this."
"Huh?" Sara looked at the chief Stranger. "Um, Arthur, Damian's not..."
"What would interest me?" a voice said from behind the girls.
Sara nearly jumped to the ceiling, and she turned around to find Damian there. "Don't do that," she said as she clutched her chest while catching her breath.
Still with his red-tinted goggles on, Damian looked at Yume, who stared silently at him. "Ah, Yume. We meet again."
Yume's face immediately reddened, and she bowed her head quickly. "Um...um...yes...it has, hasn't it?"
"Ah..." Rika flashed a smile at her old friend and shook her head as Damian approached Arthur's desk.
"What would interest me?" Damian asked again.
"An e-mail from a young lady you once saved," Arthur said with a smile as he put his pipe into the water bowl. "Actually, two."
"Who?" Damian asked.
"Melissa and Sarah," Arthiur clarified as he looked at his monitor. "They just wanted to let you know they're still grateful for what you've done and that they're okay."
"Ah," Damian said with a nod.
"So," Arthur said with a small grin, "what should I tell them?"
Damian stayed silent before giving his answer. "Tell them I am okay as well."
"I'll do that." Arthur looked from his monitor. "I take it everything worked out?"
"It did," Damian answered.
"Good," Arthur said. "We do have to look out for each other, and I didn't want Shirley to suffer so much."
"That's rather funny considering what we put her through tonight," Rika said.
"Hmmmm..." Arthur cupped his chin. "I guess you're right. Still, at least I'm now sure she's ready for them."
"I must agree," Yume said, her head still bowed and her face still as red as a stop sign.
"And she won't be alone," Arthur said as he reached for a manila envelope lying on his desk. It had been opened recently, and he pulled out a piece of computer paper. "A pity this didn't shine any more light on them than I would've preferred."
"I thought that would interest you," Yume said as she raised her head slowly, her crimson blush almost gone. "I'm just wondering why you didn't have me take it to the police immediately."
Arthur took out his pipe and blew out more bubbles. "I'm afraid the police would've just been too slow in cracking the code. Besides, they would've thought this was just a list of ridiculous sentences." He put the pipe down again. "Still, I hope the good person I've sent the translation to will understand its significance before I send it to the proper authorities."
"You sent a copy to Shirley, I presume?" Rika asked.
"Of course," Arthur said.
"Why didn't you send it to her earlier?" Sara said. "I'm sure she could've solved it."
Arthur leaned back in his chair. "I did, but I believe she's been too busy to look at it."
Damian walked towards the girl and stood by Yume, who bowed her head again. "A pity I cannot be there when it happens."
"At least something will happen," Arthur said. "Sadly, it won't be beneficial to anyone."
"I fear you speak the truth," Damian said solemnly. "They are always prepared when something like this happens."
Arthur nodded and returned his focus onto his monitor. "Ah, Vanessa e-mailed me back."
Sara frowned as she folded her arms in front of her chest. "Vanessa e-mailed you back?"
"She did, indeed," Arthur said. "I've been e-mailing her about joining us officially." He clicked on the subject line and skimmed through the e-mail. "Looks like we've got ourselves an American branch."
"That's very good news," Rika said.
"Yes, well, good for us," Sara said, still frowning. "Vanessa, huh?"
"She's in a position to help us greatly," Arthur said as he looked through the rest of his e-mail. "We'll need all the help we can get."
"I'll bet," Sara muttered as her eyes narrowed at Arthur, who alternated between blowing bubbles and humming a soft tune. To everyone present in the room, it sounded mournful, and Arthur blew even more bubbles between hums, often up to the point that they could've flooded the room if he blew harder.
As Bo closed his door, his mind still played back the embrace his best friend gave him moments ago. To be more accurate, he was reflecting on the kiss she gave him on the cheek. The fact that it was placed so close to his lips was still fresh in his mind. He still thought about it as he got on his bed, ready to call it a night.
As long as he had known Shirley Holmes, he knew that she wasn't very emotional by nature. When she had cried in his arms, it had shown that she was human, and he had always felt that she kept trying to hide that side of herself. When she had broken down in the attic, that had surprised him, but he also knew that he was tempted to do more than comfort her. Once again, that temptation came when she felt her arms wrap tightly around him and her lips touch his cheek. He did his best not to hug her back, but a part of him wanted to turn around, seize her in his arms, and...
"Argh!" Bo grabbed his head with both arms and fell onto his bed. He silently admonished himself for even thinking about his best friend that way, but at the same time, he wondered if it wouldn't have been such a bad idea to respond in kind. After all, if Shirley had kissed him, albeit only on the cheek, it could've been a sign that she felt the same way he did about her. She did kiss him, so he probably still had a chance, and if she had just kissed him a little bit more to the...
Suddenly, Bo felt too good, and when he looked down, he threw his head back in frustration and tried to concentrate on other things boys would be interested in. Once he was back to normal, he admonished himself again for thinking such ridiculous thoughts. *Yeah, like I have a chance,* he thought bitterly, but he once again recalled the kiss. *Still, why did she do that? What does it mean? What?*
Those questions bothered Bo as he lied there on his bed, and even when he finally gave in to sleep, he still couldn't take his mind off his best friend. He began to dream, and the two sides on the matter clashed in his subconscious until the usual one triumphed, making Bo feel good once again as he slept.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Shirley went immediately to the attic with the intention of doing more research on the Gamer of the Dark. However, while she was online, she got an e-mail notification, and as soon as she accessed her inbox, she found a message with the subject line "Something of interest" which contained the following:
Open the numerically first file first before opening the second, and I'm quite positive you'll come to the same conclusion I did. In fact, I expect something to happen soon. Let me know ASAP if I should send this to the proper authorities.
Excalibur
Shirley smiled a little when she looked over the first attachment, and when she opened the second one, she found that her conclusion was indeed the same as Arthur's. Immediately after she did so, she replied to the e-mail telling Arthur to send it out quickly. Once that was out of the way, her mind drifted to a matter she had vainly tried to suppress for the remainder of the night.
No matter how much she tried to get her mind off it, she kept recalling how she had hugged Bo. That expression of affection had stunned her, but it was the kiss that shocked her. Coupled with her tearful breakdown the other day, that momentary loss of control bothered her greatly, for she had always felt that controlling her emotions contributed to her deductive powers and her image as a determined detective. On the other hand, Bo had been there for her, and no matter what, he always had her back. Ever since they became friends, a part of her always wondered why he always stuck by her side despite all the dangers she put him through. Considering that one wrong move would land him in juvenile detention, it occasionally surprised her that Bo would be willing to help her solve cases. She recalled vaguely hearing Bo calling out for her as she was knocked down by Tomie's monster, and she could've sworn she heard Bo telling the others that he was going to jump down and help her. She couldn't understand how she could believe that since she wasn't fully aware of her surroundings at the time, but something told her it was all true despite her doubt.
A thought crossed Shirley's mind suddenly. *Is it possible that I think of Bo as more than a friend? Could it be that I...?*
Shaking her head, Shirley stopped herself from going further. Of course, there had to be a logical reason for what she did. Bo was just her friend, and when she just wanted to thank him for helping her, she allowed her emotions to surface again, and instead of a simple verbal thanks, she acted on her emotions and hugged him in a similar way he had hugged her. The kiss was also a result of her emotions taking over her logic, but then she started wondering why she did it. Even more puzzling, she couldn't get the feeling of Bo's cheek against her lips out of her mind; it had felt rather nice, and she swore that she felt a slight tingle on the tip of her lips. Shirley closed her eyes and pressed her fingers against her forehead, and she told herself not to think of Bo in that way. They were just friends, and she was sure she wasn't his type. Boys like him probably didn't go for girls who would rather dig through trash for clues; the typical fashion-conscious, fun-loving girl seemed more suited for him. Then, she recalled how she felt when Bo started paying attention to the transfer student who was really the heir to an Asian country. Was she just jealous because of the attention she had gotten or because of how Bo was attracted to her? Shirley had told herself that it was the former that was true, but in light of what happened a while ago, she began to have second thoughts, especially when she recalled how he held her in his arms as she allowed herself to cry over Blake. It could've been her imagination, but it seemed like he didn't want to let go. Then, there was the hug he gave her after she had beaten Tomie, and to be honest, although she nearly got crushed by him, it did feel good at the time.
A loud ring broke her out of her confused state, and she stared at her cell phone, which was sitting next to her computer. Curious as to who would be calling her at that time of night, Shirley picked it up quickly and answered it. "Hello?" she asked, expecting either one of her parents (they were still out) or Bo (huh? Why Bo? He was probably in bed by now. Why would he call her?) to respond to her.
"Shirley?" a familiar voice asked, sounding a little shaky.
Shirley blinked as she recognized the voice. "Blake?"
END OF CHAPTER 19