-ANNOUNCMENT: Editations...by Helen of Troy...have been added to Chapter One
CHAPTER 2
"Kit, Kit, wake up!"
Minnie shook her friend furiously by the shoulder.
"No, mummy, jus' a few min'ts more..." Katherine rolled over.
"Wake up!"
"I dun wanna go skool t'day...go'way..."
"KATHERINE MOUSECHESTER, GET UP!"
Her eyes snapped open. "What? Where's the fire?"
"Look at this!" Minnie shoved a newspaper under the mouse's nose.
Katherine read it out loud.
"GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE SAVES QUEEN Yesterday, famous detective Sherrin'ford Basil foiled a plot t' kill Queen Moustoria by the notorious Professor Ratigan. Makin' 'is escape in a giant blimp, Ratigan was pursued by Basil an' two others-David Q. Dawson an' 'Iram Flaversham. The professor an' Basil struggled on top o' Big Ben, where Ratigan fell to 'is death-What?!"
"That's exactly what I said. An' look!"
She pointed to a corner in the picture. "If that ain't the bloke in the striped shirt, pygmy shrews can fly."
Katherine squinted. The picture was blurry, but she could make out a chubby mouse with a mustache. "Lord, you're right, Minnie! But then...'oo's that?"
In the center of the picture was a mouse in an Inverness cape and a deerstalker hat. He was kneeling in front of the Queen, obviously getting knighted.
"That can't be..."
"It is, Katherine, it is! That's Sherrin'ford Basil...Basil o' Baker Street!"
"Basil o' Baker Street? It can't be." The mouse in the picture was tall and thin, not at all what she would expect Ratigan's killer to look like. He was trying to act humble, but the smile on his face gave away his arrogance. "'E's too conceited."
Minnie shrugged. "The paper says that's 'im."
"Well, Minnie, the paper ain't always right. I'll believe that scrawny mouse is Basil o' Baker Street when I see 'im for meself."
She pulled on her pink cape and drew a skirt up over her waist, covering the feathery adornments of her leotard. "An' that's what I'm gonna do."
"Huh?!"
"Cover for me if the boss finds out."
"But...but Kit, you can't just...I mean...it's rainin'!" "Well, goin'up into the rain's better than stayin' down in the sewers. Lord knows what's in the water we get down 'ere. Gimme the stuff you took off that bloke."
Half an hour later, shillings and clipping in hand, she knocked on the door of 221 ½ B Baker Street. {This better be the right bloody 'ouse.}
A plump female mouse in a cap and apron opened the door for her. "Yes? 'Ow can I 'elp you?"
"I'm lookin'...er, looking for Basil of Baker Street. Is this his house?"
Just in time, she remembered the part she was playing. It was doubtful that someone as arrogant as Basil would let a cockney-talking bar girl inside his house.
"Yes it is, as a matter o' fact. Oi'll just get 'im for you...Mister Basul! Mister-"
She hurried into the house. Katherine slipped in behind her.
The room was dim, as a blazing fire was the only source of light. As her eyes adjusted, Katherine could see a table full of strange tubes, liquids, and other items that she didn't know the names of.
In the center of the room were two chairs, with two mice sitting in them.
She recognized both of them.
Basil, who was every bit as skinny and conceited-looking as the picture implied, was curled up in his chair, playing his violin. Katherine didn't know who the song was by, but it sounded good, and she was even tapping her foot slightly in time.
The other was chubby and mustached, and was-without question-the 'bloke' from the Trap. He was listening eagerly, leaning forward, and completely ignoring the protests of the woman for "Mister Basul" to "stop playing for a moment! You have a client!"
Basil seemed to be ignoring this as well.
After a few minutes, the tan-furred mouse played the last notes of the...sonata? Concerto? Opera? Katherine didn't know, and didn't particularly care.
The chubby mouse stood up and clapped. "Bravo! Bravo!"
Basil bowed. "Thank you, thank you Dawson, Mrs. Judson, and-"
He cut off, spotting Katherine. "When did you get here?"
"This is yer client, Mister Basul," Mrs. Judson said. "I tried to tell you, but-"
"Yes, yes, I know." Basil motioned to Katherine. "Dawson, if you would-"
"Certainly." He got up from his chair, motioning Katherine to sit down.
"Now," said Basil, putting his fingertips together, "how can I help you?"
His fingers flew over the strings of the violin, playing a song he had practiced countless times. In the background, someone was calling him- probably Mrs. Judson. It was either a client or dinner. His violin came first either way.
It was probably dinner; clients had been hard to come by these days.
He finished the song, stood up, and bowed.
Dawson...his assistant, partner, friend...stood up as well, giving him applause that an entire opera audience didn't give Mozart. "Bravo! Bravo!"
He bowed. "Thank you Dawson, Mrs. Judson (she hadn't been clapping, but oh well) and-"
Then he saw her.
She was completely white, wearing a pink cape with a blue skirt. A blue bow was tied on the back of her head, more for looks than usefulness; her hair was the exact same color as the rest of her fur and was cut short.
Basil's jaw dropped, more from surprise that a visitor had come in so quietly than at said visitor's beauty. "When did you get here?"
Mrs. Judson said something about clients, but Basil brushed her off. The girl was looking at him with a mixture of disbelief and contempt, and he didn't particularly like it.
"Dawson, if you would-"
His partner got up from the chair. The girl sat down, still watching Basil.
Basil settled in his own chair, observing the girl over his fingertips. {A sewer mouse, entertainer of some sort...probably singer.} She probably needed him to find her lost boyfriend...who would most likely turn up in the sewers with a knife in his back. However, a case was a case, and Lord knows they needed to pay the rent.
"Now then...how can I help you?"
The girl affected an innocent look. "You are Basil of Baker Street, are you not?"
Basil blinked. "Of course I am. And this is my partner, Dr. David Q. Dawson."
Dawson smiled pleasantly. "Pleased to meet you, madam."
"All right then." The girl stood up. "Goodbye."
It took Basil five seconds for the words to sink in. "What?"
"I said goodbye, Mr. Basil. Thank you for your time."
She calmly walked out of the flat, leaving Basil sputtering behind her.
When she was a good block away, she dissolved into girlish giggles.
The look on Basil's face had been priceless. {An idiot like 'im kill the Professor? Not if 'e 'ad the entire Royal Army be'ind 'im!}
When she arrived at the Trap, she was bowled over by the twins, both panting.
"It's true, Kit, it's true!" They spoke in unison. "James's dead!" END CHAPTER TWO
-A/N: Sherringford (the name) is © Diane Tran.
-Sorry I'm taking so long with these chapters, but sometimes I have to force myself to write.
-Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, everyone! I love you all!
-P.S. Check out my pal mepb's fics. She's the one I'm mooching off to get my story up here. Her DND fic r0x0r. Read it.