Chapter 8


Meg: A very short chapter just wrapping things up a bit!

JWJ: (Still tied to chair) You really like to wrap things up... including me!

Meg: Yeah, well, you deserve it.


"So Delevan was the one behind all of this," Dawson said quietly. We were on an ocean liner on our way home. Ryu drowned before anyone could arrest him. All the other pirates had surrendered. Now, five days later, we were on our way back. I had explained everything to Basil and Dawson, about the martial arts lessons, Mr. Liang, and some of the secrets Li Yan had kept for me. As we sailed farther away from Shanghai, I realized how much I missed that sweet girl.

"Delevan." Basil muttered. "I observed the signet ring on his hand the first night that we came here. The ring that he had acquired from his lofty position with the Emperor was eventually used against the old mouse when they smuggled goods. The pirates had the correct documents whenever they entered the harbors."

"And the cigarettes?"

"That was the final clue. They were the exact type Delevan had offered us during that first meeting in the old cottage."

"So, is Delevan tied in with the Seven Plagues?" I ventured to ask.

"Yes. He'll most definitely be executed for his crimes in a matter of weeks." There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Basil said.

An old mouse entered. "Mr. Liang!" I exclaimed.

"Mrs. Havers, Dr. Dawson, Mr. Basil," he said, bowing his head to each of us in turn.

"Good evening, Liang. How is your granddaughter?" Basil asked.

"Excuse me?" I said. "Granddaughter?"

"Yes, my beautiful granddaughter," Mr. Liang said quietly. "She is very well. She is coming to London to improve her English. Someone needs to take over Delevan's position."

"Pardon?" Dawson looked as surprised as I felt.

"Liang, I believe that we've thoroughly confused the poor girl and dear Dawson here," Basil laughed.

"Li Yan, your lovely guide, happens to be my daughter's daughter," Mr. Liang answered.

"You must be joking!" I exclaimed. "All this time, I never knew? Wait, how did Basil know?"

"Ask him yourself," he replied.

"Ah... well... um... no." Basil looked a little embarrassed.

"Meg, I've known your employer for a good ten years now. He informed me in his last letter, just before you arrived in Shanghai, of a young woman who showed amazing promise in forms of fighting."

"Basil? You suggested it? That's why you brought me along!" I jumped up and hugged him for the second time in my life. "Then why did you yell at me when I snuck out for lessons?"

"So you wouldn't suspect. Li Yan didn't even know. Meg!" he tried to say sharply, but in vain.

"Let her show her gratitude, Basil," Dawson said. He was beaming.

"All right, that's enough!" Basil said, disengaging himself from me. "Now, this doesn't mean that you can be careless on another one of my cases, Miss Havers, erm, Mrs. Sarent-, eh-"

"Basil. Just call me Meg."

"Oh. Ah, yes. Meg."

I smiled. "That's an improvement. We have a long way to go, don't we?"

He put his arm on my shoulder. "Yes. We do."

Neither of us voiced the 'thanks,' which we felt for the other. I saved his life; he saved mine. And we never mentioned it to each other. I was beginning to discover a friend in the great mouse detective.


Lizz: Awwwwww!

Sarah: What is it now?

JWJ: I thought I was the one who was supposed to complain about the 'aws'.

Lizz: I just love this whole Meg/Basil thing!

Leigh: What Meg/Basil thing? It's not like they're really even close to falling in love.

Lizz: But Meg set the stage for it.

Meg: (Singing) 'I'm trying to forget that

I'm addicted to you

But I want it, and I need it

I'm addicted to you...'

Leigh: (Annoyed) What is she doing?

Emma: Singing to Simple Plan, I think.

RAEB: And I thought I was the only one who did that...

Emma: She's never quite gotten over the Valentine's Day fiasco.

Leigh: (Still annoyed) But what does she need to get over?

Emma: The fact that you and RAEB got to spent V-day with Johnny and Orlando.

JWJ: Oh brother.

Meg: 'I need to hold you

I need to feel you

I need to love you

Save me from the

Shadows of my making

My world is breaking

My heart is screaming-'

JWJ: (Interrupting) – 'for you to shut up!'

Meg: (Singing and glaring at him) 'For your love.'

JWJ: Ew! YOU WANT MY LOVE?

RAEB: Not you, you moron!

Lizz: Meg, we really need to end this story.

Meg: (Singing) 'Look, my heart is dying...'

RAEB: Finish it please Lizz! For our sakes!

Lizz: Okay, well hope you enjoyed the story! Next story: "The Great Locomotive Chase." So read it!