Chapter 4

"Ahhh," a woman screamed. The sudden noise abruptly alarmed me as I jolted upright. The sun had yet risen, but the vibrant colours indicated that dawn had approached.

"Jonathan, what's wrong?" Paula questioned, as she too was woken by the cry.

"I'm not sure," I answered, not bothering to slip into my smoking jacket for at the moment, being shirtless was the least of my worries. I stumbled out of bed with the sudden feeling of light headedness as I attempted to keep myself balanced. Quickly shaking it off and regaining my focus, I bolted out from our bedroom. I soon realized that our daughter's door was wide open and on the ground, with a small pink blanket gripped around her shaky hands was Mrs. Judson. My heart sank as I rushed in, lowering myself to her level.

"What's wrong? What happened-?"

"S-she's gone! Sara is gone," she replied, tears streaming down her face. Jumping back to my own feet, I turned towards the bassinet where my daughter usually slept and to my horror, the woman was right. Where my daughter once was, was left empty. The sight of blood on the mattress startled me as I suddenly felt myself become weak. I could not move, could not breathe. I prayed that the blood I saw did not belong to her.

I was soon ripped out of my thoughts when Paula came in for she let out a scream of her own, she too horrified by the painful scene before her. Before she could collapse, I ran to her, holding her close as she wept. I knew she saw the same thing I did, our child gone and left in her place, evidence that perhaps she was gone for good.

"Mrs. Judson, find a bobby and tell him to bring Vole. Now!" I commanded a bit too harshly for my own good. Nodding, she rushed downstairs as I sank to the ground with my wife as we held each other close. Yes, I had an excuse for sending her out, but mostly because I did not want my landlady to witness the catastrophic scene unravel. Holding Paula close, I rested my head on hers as I finally allowed my own tears to fall.

Time seemed to drag as countless officers searched the flat thoroughly. In the state I was in, I kept quiet while I stared blankly into the roaring fire and the only remaining memory of my daughter clenched in my hands. From outside, I could hear the uproar of bystanders as they were being pushed back from the scene. I felt helpless. I let my wife down. I let my daughter down. I promised to keep her safe, to protect her from any possible danger and without any warning or realization she was taken from right under me, my own flesh and blood.

"Basil…" a voice called out to me, but I simply ignored it. I did not want to hear any more than I have already been told or witnessed. "Basil, are you with us?"

I sighed. "Vole, there really isn't anything else you can tell me that I do not already know. There was no forced entry, no evidence; with the exception of the blood stain in her crib. Other than that, you have nothing."

The inspector remained silent for a brief moment, standing above me uncomfortably. "You are correct…with the exception of the evidence."

"Whatever do you mean?" I questioned, alert and curious as to what else they had found. "What else have you found that I myself missed?"

"W-well..um-"

"Ah! This must be the famous Basil of Baker Street!" an unfamiliar mouse exclaimed from behind me. As I stood and turn towards him, I was baffled. Never have I met this mouse before, at least not face to face, but I have heard of him since Vole does more than praise the mouse. More importantly, I was not aware of his presence here. He was tall, a few inches above me, but still rather stout. His fur was a midnight black with a small patch of white around his right eye.

"I am he."

"Chief Inspector Cunningham," he introduced himself as he extended his hand. For the moment, I was a bit suspicious of him, never once did a mouse of the Yard approach me in such a way. Not even Vole when he and I first met. "My sincere apologies about your daughter, it is such a shame when it is our youth that become the victims."

"Indeed it is," I agreed, still feeling uneasy. "I can assume that you are here to speak to me?"

"Oh, yes, of course. It seems that we have discovered something else."

"Have you?"

"Mmm-hmm, but first, if you would kindly roll up your sleeves, Mr. Basil." I looked at him, puzzled; but I did as I was asked. Shocked, I found on my left arm a long cut. It looked to be new, almost a day old. "You seem surprised, sir. Or perhaps, you did not expect us to find out."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you would come with me, I will show you."

"Most certainly."

Upon ascending the stairs, I looked behind me, giving Vole a questionable glance; however his expression in return was still of sympathy. We stopped in front of my bedroom door; I became more curious until Cunningham, with a sly grin plastered across his face, opened it. They allowed me to step in first. Looking around for a few seconds, I turned back towards them.

"Unless this is some kind of joke, I cannot see what you are seeing-"

"Perhaps that is because you want to play the innocent bystander and deny what you have done," Cunningham answered, his confidence becoming rather irritating.

"Then please," I began rather harshly, becoming annoyed with this mouse more than I usually with any Yard official, "would you kindly tell me what the hell you are talking about because you are wasting my time and my patience."

"First thing first, were you aware of that nice cut of yours?"

"No, I was not. I am fully aware of any injury, no matter how small, I obtain."

"Okay. So please, from the beginning, could you tell us what all had happened up to the point of your daughter's disappearance?"

"Paula has already told you."

"She has, but I wish to hear it for you…your side of the story. Do you happen to recall the argument you both had last night?" Before I could reply, I paused suddenly. Instantly, I knew where this was going. "I see that you do. She said that you became rather…enraged towards her-"

"That is only because she refused to tell me what was wrong with her!"

"Detective, I would suggest you control your temper, for as I can see here, it has already put you in a rather interesting situation."

"What…?" This did it. "Are you saying that I am responsible for Sara's disappearance? You must be out of your bloody mind."

"There is a large stain of blood by your bedside, Mr. Basil. If you look very closely, it travels to where your daughter slept. No other evidence but that has been left."

"That still does not prove a damn thing."

"Oh, but it does, dear sir," he calmly stated , a grim smile shown as bright as day across his face. "It certainly does. Now, if you would kindly put your hands behind your back, Inspector Vole will cuff you."

"But sir," Vole interrupted as I was about to easily give in, "I have known Basil long enough to know that-"

"Inspector, unless you are so willing to stand up for him to the point of too being locked away and stripped of your rank, I would strongly suggest that you do as I command."

After a short pause in silence, Vole's ears lowered with exasperation before he nodded in defeat. "Y-yes, sir." As he approached me, I gave a low groan before doing as instructed. "I am terribly sorry, Basil," Vole apologized softly so that only I could hear as he locked the cuffs into place.

"Take him away. Ah, ah, not you Inspector," Cunningham interrupted before he could even take me out. "Daniels, put him in the carriage. Make sure he does not do anything funny."

"Right, sir." Daniels, a mouse that I have seen once more twice before came up rather cautiously as he took hold of my arm. As he pulled me out, noticed rather large cut on his right hand. It seemed rather new, just as fresh as my own wound.

"You may want to bandage that up, officer; do not want it to become infected," I told him casually.

"Much appreciated, detective," he relied, still a bit alert of me, almost to the point of having a guilty expression. Never have I seen a Yard official, new or old act in such a way of me. Any new lad would no doubt be warned of me to which then they would clearly know how to act or avoid me at all costs, but this chap did not seem like the others. In fact now that I really thought about it he did seem a bit familiar to me and in a way I found slightly odd. Those few times I saw him, it was never up close. He always seemed distant, but always kept his eye on me.

I was soon ripped away from my thoughts when I heard my wife calling out to me, trying to stop them from taking me away.

"One more word and I'll have you arrested along with him!" I hear Cunningham snap back. Then there is nothing but faint words, or silence for I was not sure which.

As I looked around me, mice from all over gathered around to see the commotion that was being held and when they all got a glimpse of me being pulled away, the look on their faces were mixed, some of shock and others of amusement. All I could do was keep hold of what ounce of dignity I had left in myself and keep my gaze forward as Daniels sat me in the police carriage. Looking through the bared window, Vole walked out distraught and winded, shaking his head in disbelief before the others followed in pursuit. He soon looked back towards the door as the loud roar of shouting commenced once again but soon winced harshly, towards what exactly I was not sure. However following that I heard the harsh words clear as day. I knew it was Paula that had just made some rude and more than likely amusing comment to Cunningham who walked out with a large grin on his face.

While Vole and the other mice gathered themselves into the carriage with me, I watched closely as Cunningham and Daniels remained behind. Though I could not make out what was being said, by the look on the Chief Inspector's face, he had suddenly turned cold. Had Daniels done something wrong? I wondered. Looking away, I was met with Vole's pitiful gaze.

"I have no idea why or how we were talked into accepting that nephew of his into the Yard. He has been nothing but a walking klutz and always with his head in the clouds," Vole said softly, almost fearing that Cunningham would be able to hear

"Yes, he did seem rather distracted," I agreed before sighing deeply.

"I strongly apologize for all this Basil," he told me, his voice tired.

"You were only doing as you were told and for that I cannot hold it against you," I assured him, my voice matching his. Looking back once more, I added, "If I may request though, I would like to speak to Cunningham. Though I doubt he may even listen, I want him to know my side."

Paula watched as the police carriage with her husband in tow pulled away while the large crowed of mice hastily moved aside. She could not move; could not breathe; could not fight back the painful tears as they fell. Inside, she felt empty. Basil was and has always been her rock. He gave her his strength, but without him, she felt lost, helpless even. She fought to get to her husband when she soon realized that he was nowhere in sight. Mrs. Judson, who kept her steady against her as she finally collapsed to the ground, was unaware of the large bruise now forming on her cheek when Cunningham backhanded her for she had arrived on the scene only a few short moments after. She did not care. With every last bit of breath she could gather from within her, Paula finally let out a heart breaking scream. At this point, her world had been turned upside down. If losing her daughter was bad enough, losing her husband was worse. At this point, she was lifeless.