The anxious audiences looked at the single spotlight shining on the stage, awaiting for their next chapter...

A familiar figure steps into the spotlight, her sliver mask gleamed under the light as she scans the audiences, and spots jaka ray & Sherlock-fan19...

"Long time no see, jaka ray. Looking forward to your next update... If you need help, feel free to ask, I'll be glad to lend a helping hand." (smiles politely)

"Yes. Sherlock-fan19 read your story. Very promising update soon..." (winks)

Looks back at audiences...

"Yes I know that you have been waiting for it. Sorry if I took so long, here's a nice & long chapter 3 for you to enjoy..." gives a bow

"Hey... where's my light switch remote?" (feels her pocket)

The Masked Phantom steps away from the spotlight seeps into the darkness of the stage to search for her remote...

The story continues...

Disclaimer: All the characters in SH22 do not belong to me. Excluding a few that are going to appear in this story.

Distant Relative

Chpt. 3: The search is on...

Tracking down a possible relative of Sherlock Holmes was definitely not an easy task, as there was an almost two century gap to trace. Nobody knew where to start, so Holmes suggested that Lestrade could try her luck at the yard, Watson and Tennyson can try searching the internet whereas he and the remaining two irregulars could try the New London Library.

Lestrade ruffled long brown hair in frustration as she stared at the number of old files that had the initials 'Holmes' written on the old yellowing covers. She did not know where to start because there were at least hundreds of it. She started to grumble to herself, "How in the zedding world am I going to look for another Holmes, like as if one isn't enough for me to handle. I won't have to be here staring at these zedding files if I didn't visit him yesterday." That was when she remembered the kiss she shared with him under mistletoe...

The beeping of her wristcom snapped her awake. "What were you thinking?" she slapped herself before answering to a very angry Chief Inspector Grayson.

"LESTRADE... what are you doing here when you are needed at a crime scene investigating a burglary at New London Mall." He bellowed, before she could explain herself, he continued.

"No more buts Lestrade, I want you to get there ASAP or I'll have your badge. Do you get it clearly Inspector Beth Lestrade!" before disappearing from the screen.

"Oh Great..." Lestrade mumbled to herself as she stood up and made her way to New London Mall.

Holmes sighed in relief as he finished browsing through the last book among the many that he had found about his family. It seems that the contents are unreliable and the authors had made many wild guesses about his family background. Ha can't blame them for it as he himself had never really mentioned much of it to the original Watson.

He discarded the book on the left hand side of the table, stretched his long legs lazily and wondered how long does it take for two teenagers to get back from lunch, though it seems that they might had gotten bored from searching the library.

He stood up and carried the wanted books he placed in front of him, called for a droid to return the unwanted books and proceeded to the counter to borrow them.

As he walked past the rows of metal shelves, he noticed a section on genetics and he stopped and thought, "Why didn't I thought about it?" and picked a book on hereditary.

After borrowing the books, Holmes called Watson through his communicator once he was outside of the library. (Well... he wasn't allowed to use it in the library.) Then making his way to meet up Wiggins and Deidre at the nearest fast food outlet.

When he finally found the two teenagers his communicator beeped and a frustrated looking Lestrade appeared on the screen.

"Yes Lestrade."

"Holmes I need your assistance on a burglary case at New London Mall."

"Calling me on a simple burglary case, why Lestrade I'm impressed."

"Hey! It's not just a simple case it seems that our thief didn't leave any traces. No DNA traces, nothing much to determine the identity of our thief."

"How intriguing, however there's no such thing as a perfect crime. I'll be there shortly."

"Make it snappy Holmes." Lestrade said before pressing the 'end' button. Holmes looked at the two irregulars and asked.

"Well. I'm needed at New London Mall, care to join me?"

"Sure. Why not." Replied Deidre as Wiggins on the other hand nodded in agreement.

"Why to be robbed on the eve of Christmas, now we can't even serve our last minute shoppers." said the manager in an unsatisfied manner to Lestrade who was now getting irritated by the manager's complaints.

"What taking Holmes such a long time..." she thought as she gritted her teeth and shot daggers with her eyes at the manager who was now snapped shut by her expression. Holmes arrived shortly with the two irregulars.

"Please fill me in with the details." asked Holmes while he started inspecting the scene of the crime.

"It looks like our burglar had planed his moves really well. He had looped the security cams with the replay of the same image of the empty store to prevent from being spotted while committing his crimes. Stole some expensive items and had done a pretty clean job." said Lestrade.

Holmes noticed that the burglar had paid quite an attention on the quantity of items stolen. A ruby ring, two branded shirts and three sets of halo-disk player were stolen by the thief.

"Why a few, not everything..." Holmes pondered to himself when Deidre interrupted.

"What! You mean that the latest model of the X50 halo-disk portable was among the stolen items." said Deidre in a rather wry tone.

He then studied Deidre remark and then the air ventilator and said to Lestrade, "It seems that we're dealing with a young and clever thief. However, I'm not certain of the motives of our thief."

"Eyes and brain Lestrade, Deidre remark on the halo-disk player and the size of the air ventilator." added Holmes.

"Wait... Wait Holmes, You mean to say that some kid had beaten me in my job?"

"Well... if you say so my dear Lestrade, yes." said Holmes while trying his very best to hide the smirk on his face.

"ZED!"

There was a short pause in the room, before Lestrade continued, "If you're so smart, why not shed some light on who our thief is." Her face lit with triumph the moment she saw the change of expression on Holmes face.

"Hmm..."

"Now for once it great to see you stumped for a change." Lestrade smirked back at Holmes.

Fortunately, Holmes communicator beeped, before the argument could get worse. Watson appeared on the screen looking excited.

"I have found a match, Holmes."

"Good, Watson. I'll be coming right over."

"What match?" asked Lestrade as she looked at the two surprised irregulars and then back to Holmes.

"I guess we'll have to settle the case later Lestrade. I'll explain on the way." Holmes said as he led them away from the scene of the crime and towards Lestrade hovercraft.

The Masked Phantom steps into the spotlight again...

"As I had promised in chapter 2 here's a juicy news...

the name Sherlock means fair-haired no wonder Holmes has sandy blonde hair...

if you need evidence try this website on my profile page. "

"That's all for now... if you want it to move on... click on the 'go' button for reviews."

"Talking about buttons, I haven't found my light switch yet... but I have this instead." (takes a black remote with a big red button on it)

"Hahaha..."

She bows again, presses the button and disappears instantly in front of her audiences.

The search of the missing remote commences.