Prompt: The Mystery of the Missing Mice

From: sirensbane

…..

Poppy and Delphine were delighted with the results of the serum, and they each took it in turns asking Toby all sorts of questions about being a dog, and his perspective (or paw-spective, as Poppy joked.) on the cases he had been on with their famous relatives.

It was all well and good until a mouse, dressed like Mrs. Hudson, waved Toby over and whispered something to him. Delphine and Poppy remained where they were, concerned they'd frighten the poor mouse away.

Poor Toby! His tail drooped, and his ears sagged. When the mouse had gone, the girls went to see him.

"What's wrong, Toby?" Asked Poppy.

"It's my mouse masters," Replied Toby mournfully. "Mrs. Judson, their landlady- whom I was speaking with just now- told me that they have been missing for a whole night and haven't sent word!"

"Are they on a case?" Poppy wondered.

"Do they solve cases?" Asked Delphine, doubtfully.

"They do, much like your relatives," replied Toby, "and I help them! I helped Basil sniff out that horrible rat, Professor Ratigan!" he paused. "They're not on one at the moment. Apparently, they snuck out here during the night, and haven't reappeared."

"Not much hope, then," Sighed Delphine.

"Oh, for goodness sake, Del! We have to have faith!" Said Poppy, crossly. "We'll help you, Toby. Where do you think they'll be?"

Toby brightened at this. "Thank you, you two are the best!" He frowned. "Well, Basil sometimes takes the Master's tobacco," he said, thoughtfully eyeing up the Persian slipper.

Delphine whipped out a magnifying glass. It was actually her cousin's, she just liked to pretend to be him from time to time.

"Right," she proclaimed, grandly, and marched to the fireplace. Poppy followed suit. She examined the Persian slipper for some minutes, until she let out a "Eureka!"

"Yes?"

"Here," Said Delphine, pointing to tiny footprints in the tobacco surrounding the slipper. Footprints. So, our missing mouse made it here, and along…" she moved slowly around, muttering deductions like Holmes himself, piecing together everything that happened."

"I think," She said at last, pointing at some footprints on the floor. One seemed to be different from its partner. "Out mouse hurt his leg, and could not walk, so sought refuge, but has been trapped."

"And Dr. Dawson must have come to help him!" Added Poppy.

"Yes." Agreed Delphine, thoughtfully.

Poppy made a deduction of her own. "So, they'll be hiding in a cupboard, perhaps with some means of warmth, nourishment, or both, until they can escape and return home."

"We'll proceed along those lines," Said Delphine, affectionately (and clumsily) patting her friend on the back.

They searched the cupboards, one by one, till Poppy nearly squeaked in fright at coming face to face to face with a chubby, moustachioed mouse, dressed in greys and reds, and who looked older, but very kind and gentle. He was guarding a younger, thinner mouse dressed in brown, who was unconscious.

"Oh, my!" He exclaimed.

"Ah, good, you've found them!" Toby exclaimed. "Doc, this is Poppy Watson, the Doctor's niece. Poppy, this is Doctor Dawson. Other one's Basil." As Delphine squeezed in beside her friend, he added. "That's Delphine Holmes, a something-or-other cousin of Sherlock Holmes."

"Pleased to meet you, my dears," Said Dawson, awkwardly, still timid of the humans now crowding the cupboards.

"We're not going to hurt you," Said Delphine, in a surprisingly gentle tone. "Toby is our friend, and we won't hurt friends of his. Besides, you seem nice."

"Thank you." Dawson bobbed his head. "My partner, Basil, he… he ran out of tobacco last night, but the weather was too foul to get more, so he came here to borrow some, but he hurt his leg, so I came to help him, but unfortunately, I had to hide and now cannot get myself or Basil back to Baker Street for treatment."

The girls felt sorry for him and offered to help him and Basil back. Dawson accepted with a cautious gratitude. Poppy took Dawson, whilst Delphine cradled an injured Basil in her warm, pale hands. Toby led the way back to their hole.

….

"Thank you again, my dears!" Dawson trilled, happy to be home and able to treat Basil at last. "I shall ensure your kindness is never forgotten, and will repay the favour should you need my, or Basil's, assistance."

The girls thanked him and watched as he- and Basil- disappeared.

"Why didn't you just sniff them out?" Asked Poppy. Toby sagged.

"I have a keen sense of smell, but I sometimes lose track of what I'm supposed to sniff." He said, miserably. "But I appreciate your help." He added, brightly. "They're safe now, thanks to you two!"