"Boo!" someone cried out. Only Dr. Dawson jumped, except Basil of Baker Street. "Did I get you?"
It was a young brown furred mouse. A young girl that Basil noticed due to the young girlish voice, the hot pinked dress with dark pink lining and gray dress shoes. She's the only girl who didn't dress up and her name is Grace Meadows.
"You got me," Dawson chuckled to the young girl.
"We have no time for this Dawson," Basil told him. He ignored the child and kept walking while dragging Dawson.
"Basil."
"We must work now. There's no time for silliness."
"But it's Halloween. Children are having fun."
"We have no time for that."
"Did you two find my mommy?" said the girl, Grace. She came running to them before entering a house.
"Go home, Grace," Basil told her off. "Your father has hired us already and you must stay home with him."
"I want my Mommy home. Where would she be, sir?"
Before Basil reprimanded Grace, Dawson said to her, "We are working on it, Grace. Don't you worry."
"Why did she leave?"
"We don't know yet, but we'll find her soon enough."
"Can I come with you?"
"No, I don't think that'll be a good idea."
"I want Mommy home."
"It'll be safe for you to remain with your father. This job can be dangerous."
"But my Mommy."
"I know you're worried but it's okay."
"Let's go Dawson," said Basil annoyed. "We're wasting time."
Basil knew that Dawson would calm a child but they need to work. So far on the case, Basil already found out that Mrs. Katherine Meadows went on a walk to get away from her husband, which he found out from a pocket watch due to its cracked cover hinges.
"Just stay with your father, Grace," Dawson told the girl. "We need to work."
"Grace, get over here!" someone yelled. That was Albert Meadows. Basil saw him by a brick human house and recognized him in his brown fur and fine red tuxedo.
Grace shuddered at the shout and looked over to Albert. The sign of her shaking indicated that she could've been abused by Albert or is threatened of his yell. Only Dawson was concerned not Basil.
"Now, back to business," said Basil as Grace walked away. "We need to go in the forest. That's where she got the watch from the store that's close to the park. Katherine Meadows would've gone in there."
Basil saw that Dawson was a little nervous, after being spooked by Grace that he knew Dawson would have to man up. Plus, around them, were more kids dressed in costumes that were either ghosts, werewolves, vampires, or a lake monster. A part of Basil was proud that no one was dressed as a rat, remembering his encounter on Big Ben.
Why did that come to mind?!
The clock was behind him with the hour hand reaching up to 11:00 that Basil's last attempt was to ring the bell. He got the bell on time as he avoided the slashes.
SWISH! SWISH! There was the swipe of claws on his arm and back. Then his groan of pain. He fell to the ground of the hand.
"Stop!" he yelled; not to Dawson, to himself. Trying to clear his mind, Basil clenched a fist and rubbed his forehead.
"Are you okay, Basil?" Dawson asked kindly.
"I'm fine. I'm fine, Dawson. Take this thing."
It wasn't the sight of the kids' costumes'; it was the watch. He can't look at it anymore. That's what brought the memory back to life. He gave it to Dawson before he can throw it to the street. Dawson took it that Basil knew he's being watched by the good doctor. He just doesn't want to talk about it; He needs to work.
"Are you sure?" Dawson asked. "You seem miserable."
"I'm not talking about it right now," Basil replied instantly. "Never."
"Basil, I'm a little worried about you. You've been like this since the Flaversham case, which was a few months ago."
"I'll be fine Dawson. I'm a grown mouse. So, drop it and follow me to the forest. Katherine Meadows could be in there."
For sure, Dawson did stop talking but he had his eyes on Basil. Because of that, Basil tried to ignore Dawson's concerns and kept the case in mind. That turned out to be hopeless. With the thought of the clock and a rat, brought the memory back to mind.
The clock was in front of him such as the mad rat.
"Stop," Basil mumbled. "Stop."
Suddenly, there came the arid sound of an ambulance car. Not a human car, a mouse car. The automobile came to a corner of the street and stopped where a mouse laid on the street spread eagled. Basil and Dawson ran to the scene to see the sight but it also gave Basil goosebumps. There on the ground was indeed a mouse but with a horrible injury to his arm. His wife was next to him holding the mouse up from the floor crying, "Help! Help me!"
The sight of the injured mouse brought back more memories but Basil tried to ignore them and Dawson asked, "What happened here?"
The lady recognized Basil and Dawson that she said, "It was a bird! A huge bird! It came down and bit my husband!"
"It was a golden eagle," Basil deduced, judging by the size of the scratch. It was big enough to send a pool of blood on the street corner.
The doctors came from the car and went to the husband. They held the wound tightly as they wrapped a belt around his arm but also a few more. More blood was pouring out that the belts weren't enough. One doctor checked the mouse's pulse that he said aloud, "He's in shock and he won't make it to the hospital. Get the oxygen mask or we're going to lose him."
Another doctor went to the carriage and took out the mask along with their own package.
"This is a sign, Dawson," Basil said to him as Dawson stood up, letting the doctors work.
"What do you mean?" Dawson asked.
"A sign of the dangers Mrs. Meadows is facing. We need to go now."
This is just like the time on Big Ben. Basil also had to visit the hospital for his injuries; he also lost blood.
He passed out after landing next to Dawson and the clients that Basil woke up in a hospital room.
Stop!
The more Basil tried to control it, the scenes around him were making it hard. He walked away from the commotion with Dawson following him and he heard Big Ben chiming to the time, 9:00 p.m.
"I've won!" The rat didn't last long before he fell down to Basil, reaching for him.
Basil shuddered as he closed his eyes.
The rat held onto him and pulled Basil down.
More shudders came upon him.
Then he started to pedal the dirigible's broken motor he had in his hands.
"Stop!" he yelled again. "Stop!"
"Basil, it's okay," Dawson said to him reassuringly. "It's okay."
He opened his eyes and saw Dawson in front of him, holding Basil down by his arms.
"It's okay."
"Get off me!" Basil snapped, pushing Dawson away from him.
"Basil-"
"Don't scold me Dawson! Okay?! I have no patience for that right now! Get off me!"
"Okay, okay. Just calm down. Relax. Take a deep breath."
At least here Basil took his advice and breathed hard.
"Do you feel better?"
Basil nodded, not talking.
"Good, remember that you're on a case."
Glad to know he has Dawson with him, Basil continued walking. Remembering that he has to go inside a dangerous forest, Basil headed for the park, which is across the street. The trees are behind the park, usually a park for humans which there were quite a few. The benches were at the side of the park and some inside such as park lights, a pond full of ducks, and an open area where the people would play and talk.
"BOO!" This time Basil did jump. "Ha, I got you!"
It was Grace again. She came again but not just her, also Albert. This was the first time in his life that Basil was grateful that a father came so he could scold the daughter and he could keep his temper.
"Grace Meadows!" Albert roared. "Get over here, now!"
"But I-" said Grace nervously.
"Now!"
Grace went over to Albert but instead he came to her and took hold of her hand.
"I'm sorry she's been bothering you, sir," said Albert to Basil.
"She's worried about her mother, Mr. Meadows," Dawson said to him before Basil could talk.
"I want to join them!" said Grace, defending herself.
"No, we're going home now," Albert yelled to her.
"But what about Mommy?"
"No."
Something about Albert Meadows wasn't giving much signs he's a caring father nor a caring husband.
"Just bring her home, gentlemen."
"But you haven't-"
Basil interrupted Dawson before a fight would occur that he said, "The case is afoot."
"Good," said Albert plainly. He didn't even seem that concerned. "Let's go Grace."
He held her tightly onto the arm and started walking away from Basil and Dawson. The two headed for the park but they heard yelling from behind.
"I want to find Mommy!" Grace yelled.
"You're staying with me child!" Albert yelled.
"I want Mommy! I want Mommy!"
"No you won't! I'm keeping you!"
"I want Mommy!"
"Fine! Go! Go ahead and get killed! Go ahead!"
Basil looked from behind that he saw Albert throw Grace away from him, just by shoving her away. Then he walked away from her, leaving Grace behind.
"What a horrible father!" Dawson gasped. He ran over to Grace as she started crying. "Why don't you come with us, young lady? We'll protect you."
"Dawson, no," Basil reminded him. "We cannot have a distraction."
"But you saw how Mr. Meadows treated her."
Grace continued to cry but silently as she leaned against Dawson for comfort. One look at Grace made a lump in Basil's heart that it reminded him of the lonely Olivia Flaversham, an old client of theirs.
"Okay fine," he said. "She's coming."
"I am?" Grace asked.
"Yes, you may," Dawson kindly said to her. She wiped her tears and hugged Dawson.
Now that they had Grace Meadows with them, Basil and Dawson walked further into the park leading to the forest.
"Why are we going in there?" Grace asked. "Is Mommy here in the park?"
"No, Basil believes she's in the forest," Dawson told her. "So, stay with us."
Instead of listening, Grace headed straight for the trees.
"Grace, Grace! Not too close to the trees!"
Dawson knew that Basil wasn't having it since he yelled, "Get over here young lady!"
Being calm with her only helped Grace to stop talking but not for her to listen. The yelling made her listen that she stopped just as they came to a fir tree.
"I want to find my Mommy," Grace said to them.
"We will but you need to stay with us or you'll get hurt," Dawson told her. It was best that he takes care of Grace and he knew that Basil knew. She's now their responsibility. "Stay with us."
Basil pursued to the forest while Dawson took hold of Grace's hand and followed Basil. They walked into the forest walking pass the park border and straight for the dense trees. Walking through was like entering a dark, foreboding place. It was already nighttime and the many giant trees, large bushes, and the sound of wind rushing through was enough to send chills down Dawson's spine. An eagle has been spotted, Basil's mentality has been affecting him, and they have a child to watch. What else do they have in store?