Chapter 1
The day slowly started as the rim of the sun slowly shone over the edged of the town as if taunting the inhabitants. The rust on the buildings hung defiantly as the earlier risers rose from bed followed by the smoke that puffed out of the chimneys. Along the small streets of the slowly awaking London doors began to open and shops signs switched to "OPEN".
Among the shops and public places was a small building in the corner of London, tucked away so far it would have been impossible to find only for its sign that stood on the top of the building. Though it was, the sign, ripped and torn with mud stains that covered most of it and the paint and wood was beginning to chip off it stood un teetering. If some where lucky and had been there 21 years ago the sign would have been legible and across it would have read: "Inverse and Gabrieve Detective's Association". The lean building looked as if it was crammed in between the two buildings where it sat because it looked ugly with a gap so at the last resort this was jammed between the blocks. The sides of it had been gnawed away at by the years and bricks all around seemed missing. Most of the window's were fogged up or broken in with wooden boards barring them up. It was about 5 stories high.
The owners of the building had long passed away. But being there almost as a monument it some what, and the job, became a family heirloom. It has been handed down for almost 5 generations, producing some of the most well known detectives and agents. Now there luck hasn't seemed to improve very much . the owners now are not exactly doing to well . economically . and socially.
"How many times have I told you to not read over my shoulder!" said the red head scolding her secretary. She closed her pocket journal and tied it shut.
"Sorry Miss Mina, it's just that it wasn't a word and I wanted to help edit ." started the secretary but closed her mouth tightly when she received a glares from her boss. The redhead sighed and leaned back into her chair placing her feet up on the table as her secretary placed her tea on the side wrinkling her nose and her boss's dirty shoes.
Mina Inverse was one of the owners of the building, her great-grandfather and her partner's were the ones that had decided to hand down the honor of being inspectors to their kin. On the walls hung plaques and pictures of recent and/or deceased family members of the same trade. On the left wall where shelves that had metals of honor and trophies that shone no more for the dust that coated them was to thick. Mina looked longingly at that shelve each day imagining her name being up there on day. The last time their family name was presented a trophy was when her sister, she shuddered at the thought of her, had brought down a whole house full of crooks and criminals. Her sister was still young but quit the job handing it over to Mina and got a job as a waitress at a café near Hampstead Heath.
Mina was brought out of her deep though as she heard the floor boards creak outside the office right under the door. Getting this office redone was her first priority when the company got the money. Amelia who was just dusting the walls and coat hanger walked over to the door and opened it. In walked a man of twice the height of Mina.
He had yellow piercing eyes and his aqua green hair hung over his eyes. As he walked in an evil smirk formed on his lips and Mina scowled.
"What are you doing here?" she said half growling getting up from her desk. The man made his way over to the front of her desk the smile still on his lips. He wore no hat or coat but only a white shirt with her gray pants and suspenders. When he reached the desk her leaned forward and gripped the edge of the desk with his powerful hands.
"Now that wasn't a very ladylike of you was it Miss Inverse," he said coolly. Amelia was now standing behind them at the door looking worried that a fight might break out.
"I don't have to act ladylike around you," she said as calmly back as ever crossing her arms over her chest.
"No I suppose not, though you never act ladylike around anyone. But it probably doesn't surprise them because your figure sure doesn't look very ladylike either." Lina shot her self forward her petite hands gripping the end of the desk and leaning forward as well. There foreheads where almost touching each of them having a scowling look on their faces.
"Take it back," Mina hissed. Instead of replying the man whipped his hand out and took her journal which was laying shut beside him. Mina gasped somewhat and made a jump for it but it was too late he had already undone the bindings and was reading. A lump of hate was boiling up in side of her and so was her anger.
"Mr. Brown! Please leave at once, you are not welcome here," said her secretary's determined voice from behind her. The man turned and walked over to her his figure towering over her. He bent down so they were about face to face then he smiled. Her face was flushed so red it looked as if she were going to faint but she kept her stern look on. He tossed his head back and laughed and with that he pushed the journal into Amelia's chest and headed for the door. Just as he opened it he turned around to bear his yellow eyes on Mina and said -
"Back off from this one Inverse, it's out of your league. Stay out of my way," and with that his footsteps died down the hall. Amelia who had slowly recovered shut the door and placed the book back on her boss's desk. Mina sat down very quickly her hand dug into the arms of her chair and she clenched her teeth.
"Who does eh think he is!!! Oh the Victor makes me so mad! If I ever get my hands on him I'll ." she trailed of as she made strangling motions with her hands. Amelia smiled and chuckled some at the idea for her self she did have some kind of hate for that man.
"You shouldn't push your self to hard though Miss Mina we still have a job to do," she said reassuring her partner tapping her shoulder to comfort her.
"Ya . I guess but I wonder what he meant by 'Back off from this one Inverse'? God I hate that man!!! He thinks he knows everything!! We'll I'll show him we'll get a case and beat him to it," Mina said smiling as she thought of her self holding ten trophies and millions stacked behind her as she laughed her head off and Victor stood crying somewhat as he lost his job. She furrowed her brow as she though more then she realized something. " Uuuuhhhhhhhhhh . Amelia?"
"Yes Miss Inverse?" she said as she collected the cold tea from the paper covered desk.
"Where's Gourd? He's a half an hour late," she asked straightening her tie.
As if right on queue they heard a large thumping as if someone was bringing a heard of elephants down the hall. The closed door slammed open and both of the women jumped so when it did. A taller man then before stumbled in. His long blonde hair swung from under his hat and his bleu eyes widen as he tripped over his own feet crashing to the floor. The other two both sweatdropped as he rolled to his front looking somewhat dazed.
"Oh dear," said the secretary, "Are you alright Mr. Gabrieve?" She scurried over to the man and helped him up. He held his hand in his head and Mina shook her head and sighed.
"Good afternoon Gourd, nice entrance as always." The man smiled as if she was giving him a real compliment and mumbled the word thanks. After steadying him self he sat down in the chair in front of Mina's desk.
"Sorry I'm late I slept in and then . would you believe it I got lost again," he said scratching the back of his head.
"I believe it, but anyways . why were you in such a rush to get here?" she said raising her eyebrow.
"Oh yeah!" he said slamming his fist into his open palm, "I almost forgot about that . it's uuuuummmmmm . Well uuuuuuhhhhhh . err . Now I remember! I was really important too!"
"Well that what was it?!" said Mina her patient wearing thin a vein appearing on her temple.
"There's a lady down stairs to see us, she wants to hire us," he said shaking his head as if he had thought if over before and was pleased with his answer.
Mina had jumped up in her excitement she clasped onto Gourd's wrist and pulled him out from the office grabbing her hat with her other hand. Amelia was slowly on their heels as they all raced down the spiral stair case leading to the main office. Mina was so ecstatic all month she had been waiting for a real case, especially now that her rival Victor had made his visit today, and now their was one right at their feet.
Amelia, in the process of running, her heel of her shoes had snapped and she fell forward only to collide into Gourd who, like a trio of dominos, fell over Mina. Now they all sped towards the stairs in a mass of three. Mina's head hit the stair and she cursed as they still went on their way down the stairs like a pool ball. At the second last step they hit a bump which sent them somewhat flying into the air and landing at the bottom. Amelia groaned as she found her self at the bottom of the pile. Mina was pounding the floor with her fists a cursing.
"Oh this sucks this sucks this sucks!!!" If it weren't for the little coughing sound of someone right before them Mina would have probably continued to choke Gourd, who was at the moment unconscious and laying on top of her. Mina smiled nervously as she looked up to see a woman standing right in front of her.
She had blonde hair that reached past her back and her bleu eyes sparkled with some fascination at them. Taking in she was probably very wealthy by the way she was dressed. She had a simple pale bleu dress on that matched her hat and a pink rose was fastened right over her heart. She looked down a smiled at them.
Tipping her hat to the lady, Mina said - "Welcome to Inverse and Gabrieve Detective's Association for hire, Ma'am. How may we help you?"
The day slowly started as the rim of the sun slowly shone over the edged of the town as if taunting the inhabitants. The rust on the buildings hung defiantly as the earlier risers rose from bed followed by the smoke that puffed out of the chimneys. Along the small streets of the slowly awaking London doors began to open and shops signs switched to "OPEN".
Among the shops and public places was a small building in the corner of London, tucked away so far it would have been impossible to find only for its sign that stood on the top of the building. Though it was, the sign, ripped and torn with mud stains that covered most of it and the paint and wood was beginning to chip off it stood un teetering. If some where lucky and had been there 21 years ago the sign would have been legible and across it would have read: "Inverse and Gabrieve Detective's Association". The lean building looked as if it was crammed in between the two buildings where it sat because it looked ugly with a gap so at the last resort this was jammed between the blocks. The sides of it had been gnawed away at by the years and bricks all around seemed missing. Most of the window's were fogged up or broken in with wooden boards barring them up. It was about 5 stories high.
The owners of the building had long passed away. But being there almost as a monument it some what, and the job, became a family heirloom. It has been handed down for almost 5 generations, producing some of the most well known detectives and agents. Now there luck hasn't seemed to improve very much . the owners now are not exactly doing to well . economically . and socially.
"How many times have I told you to not read over my shoulder!" said the red head scolding her secretary. She closed her pocket journal and tied it shut.
"Sorry Miss Mina, it's just that it wasn't a word and I wanted to help edit ." started the secretary but closed her mouth tightly when she received a glares from her boss. The redhead sighed and leaned back into her chair placing her feet up on the table as her secretary placed her tea on the side wrinkling her nose and her boss's dirty shoes.
Mina Inverse was one of the owners of the building, her great-grandfather and her partner's were the ones that had decided to hand down the honor of being inspectors to their kin. On the walls hung plaques and pictures of recent and/or deceased family members of the same trade. On the left wall where shelves that had metals of honor and trophies that shone no more for the dust that coated them was to thick. Mina looked longingly at that shelve each day imagining her name being up there on day. The last time their family name was presented a trophy was when her sister, she shuddered at the thought of her, had brought down a whole house full of crooks and criminals. Her sister was still young but quit the job handing it over to Mina and got a job as a waitress at a café near Hampstead Heath.
Mina was brought out of her deep though as she heard the floor boards creak outside the office right under the door. Getting this office redone was her first priority when the company got the money. Amelia who was just dusting the walls and coat hanger walked over to the door and opened it. In walked a man of twice the height of Mina.
He had yellow piercing eyes and his aqua green hair hung over his eyes. As he walked in an evil smirk formed on his lips and Mina scowled.
"What are you doing here?" she said half growling getting up from her desk. The man made his way over to the front of her desk the smile still on his lips. He wore no hat or coat but only a white shirt with her gray pants and suspenders. When he reached the desk her leaned forward and gripped the edge of the desk with his powerful hands.
"Now that wasn't a very ladylike of you was it Miss Inverse," he said coolly. Amelia was now standing behind them at the door looking worried that a fight might break out.
"I don't have to act ladylike around you," she said as calmly back as ever crossing her arms over her chest.
"No I suppose not, though you never act ladylike around anyone. But it probably doesn't surprise them because your figure sure doesn't look very ladylike either." Lina shot her self forward her petite hands gripping the end of the desk and leaning forward as well. There foreheads where almost touching each of them having a scowling look on their faces.
"Take it back," Mina hissed. Instead of replying the man whipped his hand out and took her journal which was laying shut beside him. Mina gasped somewhat and made a jump for it but it was too late he had already undone the bindings and was reading. A lump of hate was boiling up in side of her and so was her anger.
"Mr. Brown! Please leave at once, you are not welcome here," said her secretary's determined voice from behind her. The man turned and walked over to her his figure towering over her. He bent down so they were about face to face then he smiled. Her face was flushed so red it looked as if she were going to faint but she kept her stern look on. He tossed his head back and laughed and with that he pushed the journal into Amelia's chest and headed for the door. Just as he opened it he turned around to bear his yellow eyes on Mina and said -
"Back off from this one Inverse, it's out of your league. Stay out of my way," and with that his footsteps died down the hall. Amelia who had slowly recovered shut the door and placed the book back on her boss's desk. Mina sat down very quickly her hand dug into the arms of her chair and she clenched her teeth.
"Who does eh think he is!!! Oh the Victor makes me so mad! If I ever get my hands on him I'll ." she trailed of as she made strangling motions with her hands. Amelia smiled and chuckled some at the idea for her self she did have some kind of hate for that man.
"You shouldn't push your self to hard though Miss Mina we still have a job to do," she said reassuring her partner tapping her shoulder to comfort her.
"Ya . I guess but I wonder what he meant by 'Back off from this one Inverse'? God I hate that man!!! He thinks he knows everything!! We'll I'll show him we'll get a case and beat him to it," Mina said smiling as she thought of her self holding ten trophies and millions stacked behind her as she laughed her head off and Victor stood crying somewhat as he lost his job. She furrowed her brow as she though more then she realized something. " Uuuuhhhhhhhhhh . Amelia?"
"Yes Miss Inverse?" she said as she collected the cold tea from the paper covered desk.
"Where's Gourd? He's a half an hour late," she asked straightening her tie.
As if right on queue they heard a large thumping as if someone was bringing a heard of elephants down the hall. The closed door slammed open and both of the women jumped so when it did. A taller man then before stumbled in. His long blonde hair swung from under his hat and his bleu eyes widen as he tripped over his own feet crashing to the floor. The other two both sweatdropped as he rolled to his front looking somewhat dazed.
"Oh dear," said the secretary, "Are you alright Mr. Gabrieve?" She scurried over to the man and helped him up. He held his hand in his head and Mina shook her head and sighed.
"Good afternoon Gourd, nice entrance as always." The man smiled as if she was giving him a real compliment and mumbled the word thanks. After steadying him self he sat down in the chair in front of Mina's desk.
"Sorry I'm late I slept in and then . would you believe it I got lost again," he said scratching the back of his head.
"I believe it, but anyways . why were you in such a rush to get here?" she said raising her eyebrow.
"Oh yeah!" he said slamming his fist into his open palm, "I almost forgot about that . it's uuuuummmmmm . Well uuuuuuhhhhhh . err . Now I remember! I was really important too!"
"Well that what was it?!" said Mina her patient wearing thin a vein appearing on her temple.
"There's a lady down stairs to see us, she wants to hire us," he said shaking his head as if he had thought if over before and was pleased with his answer.
Mina had jumped up in her excitement she clasped onto Gourd's wrist and pulled him out from the office grabbing her hat with her other hand. Amelia was slowly on their heels as they all raced down the spiral stair case leading to the main office. Mina was so ecstatic all month she had been waiting for a real case, especially now that her rival Victor had made his visit today, and now their was one right at their feet.
Amelia, in the process of running, her heel of her shoes had snapped and she fell forward only to collide into Gourd who, like a trio of dominos, fell over Mina. Now they all sped towards the stairs in a mass of three. Mina's head hit the stair and she cursed as they still went on their way down the stairs like a pool ball. At the second last step they hit a bump which sent them somewhat flying into the air and landing at the bottom. Amelia groaned as she found her self at the bottom of the pile. Mina was pounding the floor with her fists a cursing.
"Oh this sucks this sucks this sucks!!!" If it weren't for the little coughing sound of someone right before them Mina would have probably continued to choke Gourd, who was at the moment unconscious and laying on top of her. Mina smiled nervously as she looked up to see a woman standing right in front of her.
She had blonde hair that reached past her back and her bleu eyes sparkled with some fascination at them. Taking in she was probably very wealthy by the way she was dressed. She had a simple pale bleu dress on that matched her hat and a pink rose was fastened right over her heart. She looked down a smiled at them.
Tipping her hat to the lady, Mina said - "Welcome to Inverse and Gabrieve Detective's Association for hire, Ma'am. How may we help you?"