Chapter Two


JWJ: Once upon a time there was this stupid mouse and this stupid rat and all they did was run around London. Finally the mouse killed the rat and then the mouse was killed and all the humans didn't care and JWJ became president and outlawed all mouse stories and everyone lived happily ever after. The End.

Meg: That's it? That's the brilliant story of JWJ?

JWJ: I would rather read that than what you write.

Meg: And who would vote for you for the presidency anyway? Oh wait, I forgot. (coughs, sounds like "Manda.")

RAEB: If you'd just ignore him, he wouldn't bother you like this.


I stormed out of the courthouse, Basil of Baker Street running after me.

"Megana, wait just a minute!" he said.

"I can't believe him! You think I could get a simple divorce, but no! Why won't they let me?" Basil struggled to keep up with me.

"Miss Sarentis, calm down! We'll solve this."

I stamped my foot, frustrated. "Mr. Basil, I'm tired of this. Why won't any of them help me?"

Basil patted my shoulder. "Don't worry; where there's a will, there's a way."

"But there's no way. Basil, this is eating me up. I can tell Josh gets upset, too. I'm afraid to go to him and tell him the bad news yet again."

"That didn't seem to stop him from asking for your hand in marriage."

I hung my head. Basil stood next to me. "Meg, go home. I'll solve this."

"Can you?" I asked.

"I've never failed before," he said, grinning. "Meg, go home and forget about all this for a while."

I toyed with my purse clasp. "I will never be able to forget as long as I live."

"I know," he said. "Now, I have an appointment at three o'clock, so if you'll pardon me, I must be on my way."

"All right. Thank you for trying, Mr. Basil," I said. We parted.

Instead of going home, however, I went to the library.

After being assisted by the librarian, I went through a record of old newspapers, starting from thirty years ago. It took me a while, but I finally saw one that was of interest to me.

NEW DETECTIVE CRACKS CASE the title read. It was dated November 1883. The article was based on an illegal drug dealer by the name of Professor James Ratigan, whose operation Basil had exposed. The dealer himself had escaped.

I shivered at the picture of my husband, 17 years younger. He looked exactly the same as he had the last time I had seen him.

So this is how Basil first met Ratigan, I thought.

I pulled out another set of newspapers, this time from December 1900. This time the title read: RATIGAN STRIKES AGAIN! Late Professor Still Alive! I quickly skimmed this article, growing more ashamed of myself. How could I have let this happen!

Embarrassed, I quickly gathered the papers up and put them back into the file cabinets. I shouldn't have even come here. I just keep reminding myself.

Rain poured outside. I hadn't even noticed. I didn't have an umbrella; I was going to get drenched. I left the library, hurrying to get home as quickly as possible. Few mice were on the streets.

I was walking along, trying to hail a cab, when I heard it. I jumped, scared out of my wits. I turned around; no one was in sight. Then it happened again. "Mrs. Ratigan!" a voice hissed.

Terrified, I ran. I ran, blind fear following me. He was everywhere! Every sound was he, sneaking up on me. Every shadow was he, waiting to grab me.

I somehow arrived at my door, fumbling with the doorknob. I finally got the door open, stumbling into the hallway. I slammed the door shut, sobbing silently. Mrs. Hanson, my landlady, came running down the stairs.

"Miss Sarentis, Miss Sarentis, why, what happened?"


Josh left the London Theater Company in a hurry. He had hoped to see Meg that evening, but someone else changed his plans. He was roughly grabbed and a paw clamped over his mouth. Josh struggled, trying to fight off the strong grip of the creature. Then his captor said, "Mr. Havers, stop it! It's Basil!"

Josh stopped. He was released. He turned around, and saw a hardened old crone glaring at him. With a few quick changes, Basil appeared before his eyes, dripping wet.

"Basil! What in heaven's name are you doing? I was reaching for my knife. I would've stabbed you!"

"No you wouldn't have." Basil twirled a switchblade between his fingers. "Havers, follow me."

Basil led him to Baker Street. After sending Mrs. Judson to get some tea boiling, the detective produced a book from one of the shelves.

"Basil," Josh began, "what were you doing in that alley? If you wanted to talk to me, all you had to do was ask me, as most mice would've done."

"Josh, I have wanted to speak with you for quite some time." Basil flipped open the book in his paw. "I accompanied Meg to see Judge Taylor today."

"What happened?" Josh asked urgently. He became downcast when he saw the look in the detective's eyes. "Not again," Josh groaned.

"We were informed, none to kindly, that Ratigan would have to agree to the divorce as well."

"This is ridiculous! They can't force a young girl to remain married to a criminal, especially if she was forced to do so! If only I had stopped him. It's all my fault!"

Basil said, "British law does not require that you need both spouses to agree to a divorce in such a case. But every judge I have told this to has laughed at me. One judge reviewed Meg's reasons for marrying him, and then told her that she had never really been forced to do so, since it had happened in front of an audience. Another judge even asked you fiancé if she really wanted to bring such shame upon herself by getting a divorce!"

"Shame? She's already been shamed enough!" Josh said angrily. "This is impossible, Basil!"

"I know," he said. "I have been investigating this. The law would've divorced her quickly. But I have been doing a little prying around, and have come up with something." He pulled out four letters from his desk drawer. "I copied these. But since all the judges we've gone to have had these, I've come to one conclusion: Someone is blackmailing them into preventing Meg from divorcing Ratigan."

"It has to be him! Basil, he's still alive!"

"Yes. That means that you and your fiancé are in grave danger, Josh. He may harm you both for revenge. I have reason to believe that he may kill you."

"What should we do?"

"I would suggest leaving the country, but he may have ways of finding you. Josh, the only way I believe you can remain safe is if you break the engagement." Josh glared at him. Basil continued, "I know that's not the most favorable option, but-"

"But WHAT?" Josh shouted. "I will not abandon Meg! I don't care what he can do to me; I don't care anymore. I will NOT be threatened by that no-good, hateful sewer RAT again!"

"I thought as much." Basil sat down in his armchair, suddenly looking exhausted. "Mr. Havers, I suggest that you leave your flat, for the time being, and reside here for a while." Before Josh could protest, the detective said, "If anything did happen to you, it would be possible for me to find Ratigan more efficiently."

Josh pondered the offer for a moment. "All right, I'll do it."