Chapter 4: Basil of Baker Street

In the beginning, the moment when he and I first met, I had feelings for him, but that was when I was little and all I knew of him was just nothing more but a fictional character.

All my life I knew him, I watched him, and I knew that he was the inspirational hero I always wanted to meet. He was my reason for being the person I am, and I always wanted to be him.

But all I knew was just nothing more but childish thoughts, and someday I had to grow up and be my own person. I had to accept the fact that he wasn't real and it was time for me to move on.

But what happens when we enter a world when we all thought to be nothing more but fiction? What is real and what isn't? That's something we all have to choose when we come face to face with a truth that's hard to believe.

But for me, when I saw this for myself, a part of my inner child accepted this because it knew that it was real. But for my heart, that was something else.

But in the beginning, when I first saw him face to face for real, my heart changed at that very instant…

But when he and I saw each other...it didn't start off easy.

June 20, 1897 7:00 p.m.

"Who?" Anna says.

"Wait here." Olivia says as she wanders off.

It took her only a minute to bring a newspaper in her hands, then tears off a piece of the page as she hands it to Anna who takes it from her. Looking at the torn page it read:

The well-known private consulting detective Basil of Baker Street solved the mysterious disappearance of Lord Upton Trupshaw yesterday morning…

Of course! Anna thought. Basil is the only one who could help Hiram, just like how he did in the movie.

With a determined look, she places the torn page into her pocket and says, "Get your coat on sweetie, we're leaving."

As Anna donned her borrowed cloak while pulling the hood down, concealing her head, Olivia wore her blue coat, blue tam-o'shanter hat with a black ribbon and red pom pom, and had a baby blue scarf with a red plaid pattern around her neck. But right before they left, Olivia asked, "Do you know where Baker Street is?"

Anna sighed and nodded, "No, but will find it together."

The two girls took each other by the hand and were about to step out the door when rain began to pour down.

"Ack! Where did the rain come from?" Anna quickly pulled Olivia back into the toyshop. Minutes later, they emerged outside again, this time under the shelter of Hiram's umbrella. Anna takes a deep breath, looks down at Olivia while taking their hands again and says, "C'mon, the sooner we find Baker Street the better."

It had already been about half an hour, and yet...neither of them were having any luck in finding Baker Street. No one was outside this late, especially with the icy cold rain pouring down. There was no one to ask for directions as Anna had hoped. Hell, she didn't even know where they were anymore, they were going at this blindly. Anna pulled her cloak tighter around her body, trying to keep out the chilling wind. She looked at Olivia, who had her body pressed against the young woman, trying to stay warm. Anna released Olivia's hand to wrap her arm around Olivia's shoulder in a sideways hug and began to rub, hoping to warm her up. They couldn't keep this up. At this rate, they would have no choice but to stop and seek shelter for the night. Anna couldn't risk Olivia's health for anything.

Olivia slightly tugged on Anna's cloak to get her attention as she pointed further down the street, "What's that?"

Anna squinted against the rain and fog. Keeping Olivia close, they made their way towards the big shadow. It was a giant black leather boot left by a bunch of other broken useless junk. Her eyes widened in recognition...This was where Dawson should find them and take them straight to Baker Street!

"Shelter," She told Olivia, and they quickly ran out of the rain and into the boot. It wasn't the best smelling place to be, but at least it was dry and kept the wind out. Anna sighed in relief and folded up the umbrella and set it aside while saying, "We should get some rest here."

Olivia frowned, "But...what about finding Basil of Baker Street?"

Anna pulled off her hood. "I don't even know where we are...Do you?"

Olivia's face fell, "But...my Daddy needs help."

"I know, Olivia. I know," Anna and Olivia sat down on a box of liver pills that happened to be inside the boot. "But we won't get anywhere if we become even more lost. It's cold and wet outside and I can't risk getting either of us sick. It wouldn't help your father."

Olivia was crestfallen as her eyes became doleful and her gaze slowly fell to the floor.

Anna watched Olivia carefully. "Are you angry with me?"

Olivia shook her head no as tears began to form in her eyes. She looked up at Anna, her bottom lip trembling, "What if...what if that bat is doing something horrible to my father? What if he's hurt? What if...I'll never see him again!"

Anna hugs Olivia as she buries her face in her dress. As she was sobbing, Anna gently stroked Olivia's head while rocking her back and forth. "Hey don't worry," She tried to calm Olivia down. "He's going to be okay. I promised you, remember? We will get him back."

Olivia nodded into Anna's dress, tears staining it.

"Oh! Oh, my!" A voice says.

Anna's head shot up in surprise, but then her body relaxed. Peering into the boot at them was the face of the kindly yet concerned doctor, David Q. Dawson. He wore a grey bowler hat with a black stripe, grey coat, grey trousers, maroon vest, a blue bow tie, and black shoes. His fur was tan while his mustache and eyebrows were blonde and his nose was dark brown. "Are you alright, my dears?" Dawson inquired worriedly in his warm grandfatherly voice.

Olivia peeked up from Anna's lap, her eyes red.

Anna didn't know what to say, she had expected him but was unprepared to actually meet him. So she shook her head no.

The chubby mouse set down his umbrella and suitcase next to Anna's umbrella and walked inside, pulling out a white handkerchief from his coat. "Come now, come, come, come," Dawson said as he kneels before them and offered Olivia his handkerchief. "Here, here, dry your eyes."

Anna had expected Olivia to accept the gesture like she had in the movie. But instead, the girl looked up at Anna. Confused for only a moment, Anna quickly realized that Olivia was asking permission. Well, at least Olivia had the right idea about taking something from a stranger without permission. So with that, she nods to Olivia, letting her know that it was okay.

Olivia took the handkerchief, brought it to her nose, then blew on it. She hands it back to Dawson as he puts it back inside his coat pocket and sits down. "Ah, yes," Dawson said. "Ah, that's better." His eyes widened as he saw the face of Anna then exclaims, "Great Scott!" His eyes were still gaping at Anna. "Are you a human?"

Anna gasps as she completely forgot that she took off her hood the moment she stepped inside. She hesitantly looked at Dawson and asked quietly, "Is...that bad?" She didn't want Dawson to hate her, she greatly respected the doctor, but the constant reminder of those cold judging eyes made her feel nervous around other mice.

Dawson caught onto her fear and held up his hands in reassurance while saying, "No, no, I-I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I've never seen anyone quite like you before."

"I guess it's understandable." Anna says while shrugging her shoulders.

As Dawson kept his eyes on Anna, he took in her appearance. She was a lovely young woman, that he couldn't deny. She clearly seemed to be kind, considering how the small girl clung to her for comfort. Her green eyes with a hint of grey were gentle and benevolent. He had met many different creatures on his exploits, ranging from lizards to birds. However, this was the first time that he had spoken to a human, much less a very small one at that. He clears his throat and says, "Well, now, tell me, what's troubling you my dears?"

Anna pulled out the torn piece of the newspaper from her pocket and handed it over to Dawson while saying, "We're trying to find Basil of Baker Street, but we don't know where Baker Street is." She watched as Dawson took the piece of paper and put on his glasses. "If you could point us in the right direction, that would be very helpful."

"Well, let me see here," Dawson examined the article. "'Famous detective solves baffling disappearance'..." He read the article. He furrowed his eyebrows in puzzlement. What on earth did a young human woman and a child need a detective for? "Mmm-hmm, uh, but, uh...Where are her mother and father?" He asked Anna about Olivia.

Anna opened her mouth to speak, but Olivia spoke first, "That's why we...m-must find Basil!"

She broke down into tears once more, crying into Anna's lap as she gently strokes her back.

"There, there, there, there. Now, now, now, now." Dawson frantically began to wave his hands, trying to soothe Olivia. He glanced back at the paper, trying to think of something. "Well, now, I don't know any Basil." He admitted.

Olivia looked up at him with those sad doe eyes while Anna stares at Dawson with those pleading eyes, trying to tell him that he has to do something for Olivia's sake. He gives them both an endearing smile as he takes off his glasses and puts them back inside his coat then says, "But I do remember where Baker Street is."

Smiles erupted on both the girls' faces as they turned to look at each other in delight.

"Now, come with me," The doctor stood up and opened his umbrella. He took his suitcase and tucked Anna's umbrella into his arm. Dawson offered to hold his umbrella over the girls like the kind gentlemouse that he was. "We'll find this Basil chap together."

Anna and Olivia gratefully stepped beneath his umbrella and they left the boot.

"Thank you so much for your help, D-..." Anna broke off before she made a slip, but quickly corrected herself. "Umm...Mister?"

"Dawson," The mouse offered his name. "Dr. David Q. Dawson, at your service, my dear lady."

"It's a pleasure," Anna smiled. "My name is Anna Johnson."

"And I'm Olivia Flaversham," Olivia added cheerfully.

"The pleasure is all mine," Dawson replied warmly.

Anna finally felt happy again. Things were going to be okay now. Even the gentle tapping of the rain on the umbrella became uplifting. But as they continue on their way to Baker Street, with Dawson leading them, Olivia says to Anna, "Maybe Basil will help you find that watch you were looking for, once he helps us find my father."

Now that Olivia mentioned it, maybe Basil can help her. I mean, he is a private detective. With a smile on her face, Anna nods, "Maybe your right."

"Um, what is she talking about?" Dawson asked as he heard Olivia say something to Anna.

"Well, it's…" Anna rubs her arm, "kind of a long story. But is it okay if I tell you while we're heading to Baker Street?"

"Of course. In fact, I am a little curious."

"About what?"

"How is it possible that a human like yourself has gotten this small."

Anna groans while pinching the bridge of her nose while nodding, "Oh, where do I even begin?"

As Anna told her story while Dawson continued to lead her and Olivia to Baker Street, he was immediately surprised at her story. She even showed him the watch, much to surprise him even further when he was intrigued by such a watch. But as he hands it back to Anna, he asks her why she has to find a golden watch? She shrugs her shoulders and tells him that it was his, by right to claim. Neither her nor Dawson knew what that meant, and finding a gold watch in a place such as London is like finding a needle in a haystack.

As Anna's story came to an end, her ears began to hear the familiar but beautiful sound of a violin, she knew that they had arrived at Baker Street. In the window high above them, she could see the silhouette of Sherlock Holmes, the famous fictional detective that she knew about in her world and time. On the door of his home, was the address marked 221. But they were heading towards a different entrance hidden beneath the shrubbery next to the staircase. The door was lit up by a lantern which also lit up the address below it...

221 ½

Anna grinned at this, it was just so cute. It reminded her of Platform 9 ¾ from the Harry Potter book series that she used to read.

Dawson knocked on the door and they heard it unlocking. The door opened to reveal an obese tan mouse maid who had spectacles on her eyes and wore a blue dress with a white apron and on top of her head she wore an aqua colored bonnet. In her arms, she was holding onto a pillow, a cover, a few books that were stacked, a rolled-up piece of paper, a small tea cup on top of the books, and a mace. Anna had always wondered why the mouse maid, who she knew was called Mrs. Judson, would carry a mace with her, especially like how she did in the movie? Maybe it was because Basil needed it for decorative purposes. At least that's what she hoped for.

Mrs. Judson looked at each of them curiously. Her eyes halted on Anna for a moment and she blinked at the human with a surprised look. Anna had to be polite, because this was Mrs. Judson, one of the characters of the movie. So with an awkward smile, she waved and greeted, "Uh...hi."

Dawson took off his bowler hat respectfully and gave Mrs. Judson a slight bow while he too greeted her politely, "Good evening, madam. Is this the residence of Basil of Baker Street?"

Mrs. Judson turned to Dawson and answered him, "I'm afraid it is." She wipes her brow. "He's not here at the moment," She smiles at them, then steps aside. "But you're welcome to come in and wait."

"Oh, I...I don't want to impose." Dawson said. "It's...it's just, the girls…" Dawson motioned towards Anna and Olivia...only for him to see that it was just Anna there standing next to him.

Anna shrugged at them and tilted her head towards the living room.

Dawson and Mrs. Judson looked inside the house to see Olivia sitting on Basil's chair, holding onto his magnifying glass with wide curious eyes.

Mrs. Judson looks at Anna with wide eyes while having that still surprised look. Anna took a small nervous step backwards, afraid that Mrs. Judson might scream in fright and slam the door in her face. "Oh, my!" She exclaimed, dumping all of Basil's stuff into Dawson's arms with a clatter. "You poor dears!" Anna squeaked as Mrs. Judson took her hand and pulled her inside the house, leading her to where the fireplace was as she stripped off Anna's cloak. Anna stood there with a stunned look on her face as Mrs. Judson rushed over to Olivia and plucked off her hat while saying, "You two must be chilled to the bone!" She twisted the water out of it and chuckled. "Oh, but I know just the thing," She unwound Olivia's scarf and draped it over her arm where Anna's cloak was being hung. Looking back to Anna, she eyed at her wet blue dress, "Let me fetch you some dry clothes, a pot of tea, and some of my fresh cheese crumpets." She gently pushed Anna towards the fireplace by Olivia. "Now don't be shy, warm yourself by the fire. I'll be back in a jiffy."

Mrs. Judson left the room and closed the door behind her as Anna said, "Umm, thanks...I guess." She sighed as she had a small smile on her face, knowing that she could put her mind at ease. Bending down a little, she raises her hands and rubs them while letting them get warm by the fire.

"Anna." Olivia says.

"What is it," She looks at her as Olivia points ahead.

"Look."

Anna looks to where Olivia was pointing as she and her were looking at a desk that had a teapot over a Bunsen burner where steam was blowing out towards a fan, making the fireplace blower that was attached to it puff up some cigarettes, cigar, and pipe. While Olivia was smiling at the sight, Anna left the comforting warmth of the fireplace as she and Olivia were looking at another desk. It had a pinwheel with shoes and boots, each of them getting painted black on the soles while it rotated and left a shoe print on a piece of paper which scattered them all over the place.

Anna cocked her eyebrow, crossed her arms, and nodded at this. What was the point in these inventions? She had no clue why, but she couldn't deny that Basil was a bit...eccentric, so maybe he was bored. Still, it was a bit of a waste from her perspective.

While Dawson was hanging his coat by the ear of an African mask, after he managed to leave the stuff that Mrs. Judson dumped on him, he and Anna turned to the door as they heard an excitable voice say, "A-ha! The villain's slipped this time! I shall have him!"

The front door swung open, revealing a rather disturbed looking grey Chinese mouse with mismatched eyes, red robes, and a long mustache. He held a gun in the air triumphantly while lightning flashed behind him dramatically.

Dawson was shaking as he had a frightened expression, Olivia who was still sitting on Basil's chair looked surprised, and as for Anna...well, let's just say she had a smirk on her face and nodded at Basil. He was always the one who had a flare for the dramatic. Her smile came to an end as he ran past Dawson while waving his gun around and shouting, "Out of my way! Out of my way!" He pushed past Anna as she yelped slightly while spinning around and almost fell if Dawson hadn't caught her. Her eyes glared while she grunted. This was the second time in a row that Basil nearly knocked her down, she was starting to get irritated with his rude behavior.

Basil flings his hat off while Dawson manages to bring Anna back on her feet. "I say...Oh!" Dawson was interrupted as the hat landed on top of his head, "That was rather rude, you almost knocked this girl down." He pulls off the hat with a pop, he points it at the mouse who almost knocked Anna down. "Who are you?"

Basil stopped in his tracks, "What? Oh," He turned around and pulled off his mask, revealing his face as it had light brown, tan on his muzzle, and brown nose as he greets with a smile on his face while bowing. "Basil of Baker Street, my good fellow."

Dawson stared wide eyed in astonishment, but for Anna, seeing Basil for real and in person was like a dream come true. She knew Basil since she was five, he was her personal hero ever since she was little, she also made him as her own imaginary friend just to keep her company. But ever since she got older, when she learned the difference between fantasy and reality, she knew it was time to grow up and move on. But seeing Basil for real was like reuniting her old childhood friend from long ago, she felt her inner child wanting to hug her best friend after being gone for so long. However, a part of her was still in denial that he along with this whole world wasn't real, it was nothing more than a fictional place that her kind created. But ever since she was sent here by Mr. Moriarty, and after being stuck here for five days, her senses of smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing were all real and not to mention she slept through this world and woke to see that the world she was in, was in fact real. But she could still feel that small seed of doubt lingering within her, telling her that it isn't real.

Her thoughts and conflict of self-doubt came to a halt as she was brought back to reality. She sees Basil deflate his costume by pulling on a cord, revealing his slender frame. He takes off the costume as he wore a white collar shirt, green necktie, brown vest, grey trousers, and black shoes with spats.

Olivia, who was delighted to see Basil, jumps off his chair and says, "Mr. Basil! I need your help and-"

"All in good time," Basil interrupted as he took his magenta and black robe off a dart board that was hung by a dart and put it on.

"But...But you don't understand, we're in terrible trouble." Olivia tried to explain to him, but Basil simply didn't listen as he tossed the dart that he had over his shoulder as it landed a perfect bullseye.

"If you'll excuse me," Basil said while brushing his hair back with his hand and keeping his head held high proudly.

"Basil," Anna says, "now wait just a minute!"

"In a moment, Miss," Basil brushed Anna off, much to her annoyance as she grunted while glaring and balling her right fist, trying to keep her temper in check.

While Basil was humming, Dawson wasn't having any of this rudeness. "Now, now, now, now...Now see here!" He waved a finger at Basil scoldingly, but he nearly tripped as Basil zoomed past him, carrying his revolver gun over to his dimly lit work table. Catching his balance, Dawson followed after him. "These young ladies are in need of assistance." He placed both fisted hands on his sides, like a stern father. "I think you ought to listen-"

"Would you hold this please, doctor." Basil says as he hands Dawson the gun, which the doctor took without much thought.

"Of course," Dawson looked down at the weapon and realized what he was holding. Much less, pointing at the barrel of the revolver right at himself. Dawson nearly lost his grip on the gun, and outstretched it as far away from himself as possible. To his relief, Basil snatched it back while humming again. Dawson's eyes widened as his brain finally caught up with him. "W-Wait just a moment. How the deuce did you know I was a doctor?" He asked suspiciously.

"A surgeon to be exact," Basil flipped the gun open and stuck a single bullet inside one of the revolver's holes. "Just returned from military duty in Afghanistan," He blew into the cartridge before snapping it shut and looked at Dawson with a sideways glance while smiling smugly. "Am I right?"

Dawson was impressed. "Why yes!" He chuckled as he introduced himself. "Major David Q. Dawson." His face changed to a surprised look as he asked, "Uh...But how could you possibly-"

"Quite simple, really," Basil pulled out Dawson's sleeve while elegantly holding his pinky out, showing the cuff of his sleeve that was sewn together. "You've sewn your torn cuff together with a Lembert stitch," The detective threw one arm around Dawson's shoulders while patting the doctor's cheek. "Which of course only a surgeon uses."

Anna frowned. Basil was purposely avoiding the subject matter by means of impressing the doctor, all the while feeding his enormous ego by it. She stepped out from behind the green chair and said, "Begging your pardon, but we have an emergency here. I think the talk about embroidery can wai-"

"And the thread is a unique form of catgut," Basil interrupted while stacking pillows from the two chairs onto his hand and continued his deduction, "easily distinguished by its…" He leaned over to Olivia's ear and whispered, "peculiar pungency."

Olivia's eyes widened, clearly having no idea what that meant.

"Found only in the Afghan provinces," Basil concluded his deduction with a slight bow to Dawson, then tossed the pillow's over to him, one by one.

Dawson stumbled back a bit while saying with his voice muffled by the pillows, "Amazing!"

"Actually, it's elementary, my dear Dawson." Basil says, rolling the revolver around before cocking the hammer and pointing it straight at the pillows...right where Dawson was holding them!

"Dawson!" Anna yelped in alarm as she picked up Olivia and carried her over behind the safety of the green chair while covering her ears.

Freaking out, Dawson dumped the pillows into the nearby chair and ran behind the green chair and covered Anna's ears. A deafening gunshot rang out and the pillows exploded into feathers, scattering them across the room. Anna, Olivia, and Dawson peaked out from behind the chair to see Basil nonchalantly blowing the smoke from his pistol. Automatically, Anna's eyes traveled to the door where she expected Mrs. Judson to burst through...

And burst through she did as she cried out in alarm, "What in heaven's name!" Her eyes widened as she saw the feathers fluttering about. "Oh! Oh! My...pfft, pfft!" She spat out some of the feathers that she accidentally inhaled, then gathered a few feathers from the air in her hands. "My good pillows!" She stared sadly at the feathers before turning her now peeved face towards Basil's chair. She could see him digging and tossing feathers away while trying to find the bullet that he shot. "Mr. Basil!" Mrs. Judson shouted as she spat out another feather that she inhaled again.

Basil's head popped up from behind the chair, looking like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar.

Mrs. Judson began scolding him while waving a finger, "How many times have I told you not to-"

"There, there, Mrs. Judson. It's quite alright," Basil says while he calmly placed his hands on her shoulders with a big smile, effectively extinguishing her inner fire with his charms. "Ah...mmm," He sniffed the air and hummed slyly. He turned the maid around and began to walk her back towards the door. "I believe I smell those delightful cheese crumpets of yours. Why don't fetch our guests some?"

"B-Bu-But-But-I-uh!" Mrs. Judson protested, but was shut off as Basil closed the door.

"Now," His face turned serious as he began to search the floor. "I know that bullet's here somewhere." He came face to face with a smiling Olivia, helpfully holding out the bullet to him. The detective swiped it out of her hand and said with an unamused look, "Thank you, Miss..."

"Flaversham," Olivia answered, placing her hands behind her back endearingly. "Olivia Flaversham."

"Yeah, whatever." Basil walks back to his work desk.

"Yes, but you don't understand!" Olivia says as she follows Basil, but is stopped by Anna.

She looks up to her as Anna mutters to her, "I got this."

Anna goes to Basil with her face glaring towards him and grabs him by the right side of his shoulder with a single hand as she said, "Alright Basil! I don't have time for this! You can stop what you're doing and listen to us! This is something important that you need to hear!"

"Miss," Basil sighed, "surely you humans must understand the meaning of the word 'importance'?"

"Oh yeah, like you know anything about…" Anna stops herself as she hears him say "human", she takes her hand off of his shoulder, then says with a surprised look, "Wait a second, how did you know I was human? You didn't even see me, much less, looked at me."

Basil smiled as he got her off guard. "Quite the contrary, Miss," He turned around, facing her with his bright green eyes while staring at her own with a hint of grey and kept that smile on his face, "We have met before."

"We have?" Anna says confusingly while cocking an eyebrow.

"You have?" Dawson says as he looks at them both. "You mean you know each other?"

"In a manner of speaking." Basil answers Dawson without taking his eyes off of Anna. He places both hands on her shoulders as he continued, "We have bumped into each other, and as I recall correctly, you said 'Watch where you're going, pal!', which I find that a bit rude for a lady to say." He takes his hands off her, then circles around. "However, I wasn't sure I was seeing right, but I did notice a small ear," He points to her right ear. "On the right side." He stands right in front of her again. "Since I was a little...curious, I had to wait until you left with another man so I could find out if what these rumors said was true."

Anna was surprised that he knew about the rumor. However, there was something that caught her mind and she hoped that he didn't do what she thought he did so she asked, "Did you...follow me and Hiram?"

Basil slightly smiled as she caught on quickly then he thought. "Well, more like observing, but yes."

"So then...that noise after I took off my hood when I thought that it was safe." She thought back when she and Hiram heard hard steps and when they turned around there was nobody. "That was you?"

"Well, I did use a small rock to make you turn around and face me. Still," Basil placed a finger under his chin, "I never imagined this would go against all logic and reasoning when I saw your face."

Anna's jaw dropped, but then was replaced with anger as both her hands formed into fists. She couldn't believe him. What was he, a stalker?! He nearly scared her to death! She almost thought that someone saw her and she would get the same treatment like before when she first arrived here. She was going to strangle his scrawny neck for this as she says with her teeth clenched, "Why you little…"

"But since we're on the subject," Basil calmly diffused Anna's anger, "of how I know about you and this rumor." He goes over to the work desk and pulls a drawer open, taking out a rolled up piece of a newspaper as he unrolls and gives it to Anna. "Here, read it on the front page and you'll see why."

Anna sighs and rolls her eyes as she sarcastically says, "Oh goodie, this should be something interesting to…" She trailed off as she looked at the newspaper carefully, noticing it was dated back June 15, and…

"Oh no!" Anna cried out as she slapped her forehead.

"What's wrong?" Dawson asked.

Anna sighs as she hands the newspaper to him and walks back towards the green chair while saying, "Here, read this. This is just too hard for me to look at this, much less have the gall to read it."

She sat down on the chair while burying her face with her hands. "First the rumor, now this."

Dawson takes out his glasses again and puts them on. Olivia went close to Dawson as he reads, "'Rumors of a mysterious human in the streets of London'..."

Basil cleared his throat as Dawson and Olivia looked as Basil shushed them and said, "I need to concentrate."

Basil pulls out another bullet from a small box as Dawson and Olivia went to watch him while Anna watched from where she sat, having a smile on her face knowing what's about to happen next.

Basil held each bullet while carefully observing them from each forefinger and thumb. He placed them under a microscope as he connected both bullets by the flat while also connecting the markings on each one. "Yes…" He muttered softly to himself and turned the bullets a bit more in his fingers. "Yes…" He seemed to grow excited until...the markings on each bullet didn't match.

"Nooooo!" Basil yelled, throwing his head back while clutching his head with his hands. "Drat!" He slumped over as his hair was messed up. Picking up the bullets, he stared at them and said with a depressing voice, "Another dead end." He tossed them over his shoulder, letting them fall to the floor with a clank.

They watched as Basil slowly walked while clutching his fists in his chest and saying, "He was within my grasp!" He slumped back into his chair and with trembling fingers reached for his violin.

Anna sighed and nodded while listening to the sad melodies being played by the violin. She looked at Olivia and whispered, "Pst, Olivia." Olivia looks at Anna as she motions her to come here. She goes over to her as Anna whispered, "If you wanna talk to him, now's your chance."

Olivia nodded while putting on a brave face and walked over to Basil. "Now will you please listen to us?" She begged. "My daddy's gone, and now we're all alone."

Basil paused in his playing and slowly turned his head towards the girl. "Young lady, this is a most inopportune time." He resumed playing the sad melodies of his violin.

Anna breathed through her nose, trying to keep her anger from rising any further while her hands were clutching her knees hard. She was starting to lose patience with him. Keep it together...keep it together. She thought.

Noticing Olivia's sad eyes, Basil raised an eyebrow before suggesting dryly, "Surely your mother knows where he is."

Anna's self-restraint shattered at that very instant, the built-up anger that she was trying to hold back couldn't be contained anymore. She didn't give a damn if he was her hero or not. So with an angry sardonic scowl on her face, she slammed both fists on the armchairs and stood up while yelling, "Her mother is dead, you narcissistical son of a half-wit!"

Basil hit a wrong note, making the violin screech as he looked at her with his jaw down. Just what did she call him again?

Anna sighed as she got it out of her system and said to Basil, "Look, I didn't come here to argue with you. We need you to help us find Olivia's father. So we'd appreciate it if you stop moping and doping about and help us for God's sake."

Who did she think she was? Insulting him and then ordering him about! Basil glared at Anna as he stood up straight and said, "Now see here, Miss…"

"Anna Johnson." She inserted flatly.

"Miss Johnson," Basil stressed out her name. "I am in the middle of a very crucial case here." He poked her chest with his bow, making Anna glare at him while dusting her chest as Basil continued, "I simply have no time to be dealing with small humans like yourself and lost fathers!"

"We didn't lose him!" Basil and Anna turned their heads to Olivia. She was glaring angrily at the detective while having her fist on her hips. "He was taken by a bat!"

Basil's eyes widened at the mention of the word "bat".

Ah, so now we're back to the plot. Anna thought.

"Did you say...bat?" The detective hovered over Olivia, his eyes bearing into hers with great interest.

"Y-Yes…" Olivia said while slowly nodding, confused by his sudden change in mood.

"Did he have a crippled wing?" Basil demanded, growing more and more excited.

"Yes," Anna answered from behind him while nodding.

"And he had a peg-leg!" Olivia added enthusiastically, seeing that they were finally getting somewhere!

"HA!" Basil leapt up to the top of his chair, raising his violin and bow into the air with triumph.

Dawson made his way next to Anna as he looked up at Basil. "I say, do you know him?"

"Know him?" Basil sat on the very top of his tall chair while pointing his bow at them. "That bat, one Fidget by name, is in the employ of the very fiend who was the target of my experiment! The horror of my every waking moment! The nefarious Professor Ratigan!" He slashed his bow through the air, pointing it at the picture frame sitting on top of the mantel shelf.

The flames in the fireplace flared at the mention of the name and lightning flashed, illuminating the room as it gave off a creepy atmosphere of Ratigan's toothy grin.

"Uh...Ratigan?" Dawson asked in confusion while looking at the picture and holding onto Olivia's shoulders.

"He's a genius, Dawson," Basil whispered theatrically from behind his chair while poking his head out. "A genius twisted for evil. The Napoleon of Crime!"

More lightning and thunder. Anna glanced out the window with an odd look on her face. She didn't think too much of this while watching the movie, it was all added to set up the heavy atmosphere. But now that she was in the middle of it all, it was rather...unnerving.

"As bad as all that, eh?" Dawson wondered.

"Worse!"

Anna gasped as she, Dawson, and Olivia turned to face Basil who spoke in that hoarse voice and had his head in between a banister, his eyes had a possessed look. "For years, I have tried to capture him, and I've come close, so very close. But each time, he's narrowly evaded my grasp." He shook his fist at the painting. "Not a corner of London is safe while Ratigan is at large." Basil turned to them, a shadow covering his face. "There's no evil scheme he wouldn't concoct! No depravity he wouldn't commit. Who knows what dastardly scheme that villain may be plotting, even as we speak."

Well, he might be plotting to replace the mouse queen with a robot built by Hiram in order to proclaim him as the next ruler. Anna thought, but wasn't about to admit what she knew.

"I will accept this case." Basil said. "Now, I want to know from both perspectives, starting from the beginning." He points at Anna. "I'll start with you."

"Me?"

"Yes, in fact before the kidnapping, I was a bit curious about this rumor and since we are now seeing each other face to face, I have a question for you."

"That is?" Anna said curiously.

"How is it possible that a human such as yourself has gotten this small and why are you even here?"

Anna looks at Dawson and Olivia, who nodded encouragingly at her to tell Basil exactly what she told them. She sighed as she looked Basil in the eye and said, "I know it's gonna sound crazy. But believe me, it's already crazy enough for me. So here are the two reasons why." She dug through the pocket of her dress and got the silver watch. "The first reason as to why I got small…" She dangled the silver watch by it's chain as Basil had an intriguing look on his face. "Is because of this, and the second reason as to why I'm here...is because I'm looking for a golden watch of the same value as this silver watch."

Basil stared at his reflection which still had an intriguing look on his face as light reflected from the fireplace and a single star was shining on the silver watch.

Man, this was the longest chapter I had to make for this story, and it took me weeks to complete, not to mention I had to go back and fix and change the last three chapters, which almost took me all day to finish. But at least it was worth it.

Join me next time as we dive into the criminal underworld and see what's become of poor Hiram and meeting Basil's arch-nemesis.

Well, I'll see y'all later for now.