Chapter 14 - On the Case of the Blue Carbuncle

About twenty minutes later, Becca, the animals, Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes arrived at a grand inn in downtown London. "Here we are," said Holmes, "The crime scene. I only hope the countess is still here to explain everything."
Me too, thought Becca, because the sooner we get done here, the sooner I can go home. After everyone got out of the carriage, Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson went through the main doors to speak with the innkeeper, while Becca and the animals waited outside, because pets and other animals were forbidden inside the building.
"How are we going to get in without being spotted?" Mystery asked Becca.
The girl shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know."
"Well, we have to think of something to help you succeed this quest!" insisted Sci Fi.
Mystery snapped his fingers and said, "Wait a minute!"

Meanwhile, Holmes and Watson had finished speaking with the innkeeper inside the inn. They learned that the countess was still in her room, and was getting ready to leave the next day. When the two detectives came outside to check on Becca, they were surprised to find the animals gone. The girl, however, was carrying her cloak over her shoulders. There was something unusual, though; the cloak had some kind of bundle inside it.
"Might I ask what you are carrying, my dear lady?" asked Dr. Watson.
Becca motioned the doctor to come close to her ear so she could whisper. "It's the animals," she whispered, "I doubt that the innkeepers will let pets in the inn, so Mystery and I came up with a plan to have everyone hide in my cloak and be still. You know, they could be my luggage or my laundry!"
"Excellent thinking, my dear!" said Dr. Watson, "And you're right – the innkeepers do not allow any kind of animals in this building."
"Elementary, my dear Becca," added Mr. Holmes, "Shall we?" He motioned for Becca to enter in the inn first, followed by Dr. Watson, with Holmes going inside last.

Inside the inn, people were staring at Becca; she wore her skirt at a rather low level for Victorian times, and her feet and ankles were showing. The girl looked around feeling rather sheepish. Meanwhile, inside the cloak, all the animals were feeling rather crowded, being in a dark, enclosed space. They didn't dare say anything, because they didn't want to add any more suspicion. After about ten minutes of walking through hallways and stairs, Sherlock Holmes and his party came to the duchess's room. When he knocked on the door, a middle-aged woman opened it. She had fair skin, dark brown hair, sapphire blue eyes, and wore a blue and indigo dress with a blue headdress on her head.
Holmes and Watson removed their hats and bowed to the woman. "Your excellency," they said. Becca did a curtsey.
"Are you Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?" asked the woman, who was, indeed the countess.
"Yes, your grace," said Holmes, "May I present a new friend of mine, Miss Becca Ridges?"
"Your grace – I mean, your excellency," said Becca, "The pleasure is mine."
"This friend of yours seems like an American girl, if you ask me," said the countess. Then she motioned for everyone to come in.

In the hotel suite, Becca put her heavy cloak gently onto the carpet. "Okay," she whispered to the animals, "Stay very close and act inconspicuous! The last thing I want is for the countess to see any suspicious behavior!"
"Why?" asked Horror.
Becca shushed him. "And be very quiet, too!" she added.
"Whomever are you talking to?" the countess asked the girl.
"Eh, no one," lied Becca, putting her hands onto her hips.
The countess just rolled her eyes and said, "Now, about my carbuncle. It is a very rare blue diamond shaped like an oval that I have usually worn as a brooch on my neck. The carbuncle was given to me by my husband on my last birthday, and I treasure it very much. I had it with me just last night, and I put it on that dresser over there. About two hours after I went to bed, I heard a sound like breaking glass! I woke up and saw that my window was broken into, and a strange, dark figure ran over to the dresser and stole my carbuncle! I tried to stop him, but he got away!" The countess then burst into tears and began crying.
Dr. Watson put his hand on the countess's shoulder and reassured her, "Tis all right, your excellency. Mr. Holmes and I will solve this case, I guarantee it!"
"Yeah," added Becca, "And besides, I think we, er, I saw the thief not too long ago!"

Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and the countess looked at Becca as if she had lobsters crawling out of her ears. "What do you mean?" asked Mr. Holmes.
"You see," explained Becca, "As I was walking through town this morning, some man wearing dark clothing was running on the streets and being chased by an officer. Maybe you two men could come with me to where I saw him?"
Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes thought for a moment. "I don't see why not," said Dr. Watson, "Besides, don't you have other business to do after helping us?"
"Yes!" Becca said with a smile on her face. She then went back to where her friends were staying to tell them the news. But when she looked closer, Becca saw that Sheila was missing!