Basil was climbing down the sewage drain pipe while following Doran and Fidget. But he lost his footing and he slid down the drain pipe. It was like going down a water slide. After that, Basil landed in a puddle of icky water.
Basil: Well, that was some ride. Now, where did those two fiends get to?
He saw Fidget and Doran disappear around a corner, where a glimmer of light shined. Basil crept towards a small door in the stone wall and opened it just slightly enough to look through. He was surprised to see that organization's hideout was at none other than Ratigan's secret lair.
Basil: Ratigan's lair? Why would Doran organize his crimes here? Could it be that Ratigan is alive? If he is, then he must be the one behind the thefts of the painting and the necklace and the mace, the kidnapping of Miss Flanghanger, the deaths of Relda and Rosa, and the ruin of my career. This is all part of a revenge scheme to get back at me for foiling his plot to take over the empire. Oh, don't you worry Ratigan. The sooner I expose you, the sooner I will clear my name.
He grinned like a sly fox as he tiptoed towards the large barrel with the big R. Basil peeked inside, but he saw no one. Suddenly, a large shadow and a hissing sound were heard behind him. Basil turned around and gasped at what stood before him.
There was a giant snake, with yellow skin and blackish speckles on his body. Basil stared up in horror as the snake's tail coiled up around Basil. The snake squeezed Basil tightly, as Basil tried desperately to free himself. The snake was just about to eat him when there was a low clear whistle. Out of the shadows stepped Mrs. Ratigan, blowing on the whistle which she used to control her pet.
Mrs. Ratigan: Release him, Slyder, my pet.
The snake reluctantly released Basil from his coils and Basil dropped to the ground, trying to catch his breath. Suddenly, the whole room lit up and the ANTI-BASIL LEAGUE unfolded with confetti falling from the ceiling and balloons went up to the ceiling. Thugs crowded around, clapping and jeering at the detective.
Mrs. Ratigan: So, you're Basil of Baker Street, eh? Welcome, welcome! We've been expecting you.
Basil: Who are you?
Mrs. Ratigan: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lady Claudina Groschili.
Basil: Y-Your Rosa's mother? What is the meaning of this?!
Mrs. Ratigan: What's the meaning of this? I'll tell you what's the meaning of this. (shouts) YOU MURDERED MY HUSBAND!
A large wedding portrait of Professor Ratigan and Mrs. Ratigan was brought before them. In the portrait, the Ratigan couple looked much younger. Ratigan wore a tuxedo and Mrs. Ratigan wore a white gown. Basil stared at the picture in shock and disbelief.
Basil: Ratigan was your husband?!
Mrs. Ratigan: (shows her wedding ring) Yes. I'm his wife, Lady Claudina Ratigan.
Basil: Wait a minute! If your Ratigan's widow, and if your Rosa's mother, then that means…
Mrs. Ratigan: That's right! Rosa's real name is Rosalina Ratigan! She's his daughter!
Basil: D-d-daughter?!
Mrs. Ratigan: That surname Spellcove was a fake. The name James she took after Professor Moriarty.
Doran bounded Basil's hands together while Mrs. Ratigan continued her backstory.
Mrs. Ratigan: I first met my husband at the opera house years ago. When we married, we had two beautiful daughters, Rosalina and Marabella. I'm sure you've seen them before when you were at the University years ago.
Basil could remember how he really first met Rosa. He remembered that during his classes he would see two little girls running about, playing and laughing. The youngest had black hair in braided pigtails, silver white fur with red eyes, and wore a pink and white pinafore. The eldest had black hair, half up with a blue ribbon, had silver gray fur with blue eyes, and wore a blue and white pinafore. The youngest must've been Mara, and the eldest must've been Rosa. He also remembered how Mara dropped her dolly and Rosa was going to pick it up for her. But Basil picked it up for them and handed it back to Rosa, who said thank you to him.
Basil: (to himself) Now I remember.
Mrs. Ratigan: My husband told me that he had high hopes that you would join his criminal empire, because he was impressed with your deductions. But then you had to refuse him instead of joining him. If it hadn't been for me, my husband would've been in jail already because of you.
Basil: If it hadn't been for you? (gasps) It was you who knocked me down with that wooden plank!
Mrs. Ratigan: Correct. We escaped to Switzerland where the police couldn't find us while my husband returned to London. We haven't heard from him in years, except for the money he gave us for our wants. But when I got a letter from Doran telling me about his death and the events that occurred, I knew then that it was your fault he died. Could you imagine all those devastating weeks of mourning I went through? I wanted to pay you back. I wanted to have you destroyed for what you have you brought upon our family. I traveled to London with my daughters to plan our revenge on you, but sadly, Mara passed on over the grief of her father's death.
Basil: That's not what I heard. Rosa told me she died of a sickness.
Mrs. Ratigan: Silence! I found Fidget washed up on the Thames harbor, and goaded him into freeing Doran from Dartmoor prison, and he in turn broke out the rest of my husband's gang and several other criminals. Together, we all wanted our revenge on you, so we created the Anti-Basil League!
Basil: Mrs. Ratigan, I must confess I have never met a woman who is cold, heartless, and despicable, like a slimy, contemptible sewer rat!
Everyone gasped and looked at Mrs. Ratigan, whose cruel smile remained where it was. She calmly approached him and smacked him across the face.
Mrs. Ratigan: A gentleman needs to watch what they're saying to a lady. Oh, I forgot to tell you. The body the police found at your crime scene was actually Mara. You and the police failed to notice her face was painted gray and her hair was shorter.
Basil: Then Rosa is….
Mrs. Ratigan: Still alive. She too was part of the League, she wanted payback on you as much as we all do. She was to be the bait to lure you into the trap of her supposed death at the Academy! But thanks to you, she would not do it! So I had to take matters into my own hands. There's an old saying that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
Basil: You left those footprints to the attic at the Art Academy, then knocked me out. Then place Mara's body at my side, with a dagger in my hand to look like I stabbed her.
Mrs. Ratigan: Very good. Still a detective to the last.
Basil: But somebody would see you when the alarm was raised.
Mrs. Ratigan: Oh, they saw me alright, but not like this.
The portrait of Lady Caroline was placed beside Mrs. Ratigan. Fidget's foot got caught under the painting, but he managed to free it. Basil stared at the lady in the picture. There was something about her eyes that looked familiar. He glanced back and forth to Mrs. Ratigan, then to Lady Caroline. That's when his mind clicked.
Basil: You're Lady Caroline?!
Mrs. Ratigan: You finally figured it out, how nice. In order to finish what my husband started, I disguised myself as a lady of royal nobility, and became friends with the Prime Minister and the Queen. Once I gained their trust and everyone else's, I had the Queen locked up and told the whole world that she died of a disease.
Basil: Then the will….
Mrs. Ratigan: It was a fake, announcing me to be the next Queen. I was going to make my daughters princesses, but now that Mara is dead and Rosa has betrayed me, then there will be no one to become the next heir when I retire.
Basil's temper was beginning to rise. His hatred for Ratigan's widow was growing.
Basil: Mrs. Ratigan, so help me, I'll see you and everyone in the League behind bars yet! You will pay for your crimes! I will make sure everyone will see you for what you truly are!
Mrs. Ratigan: (cruelly) Go ahead and try. If you tell someone, they won't believe you. You're a wanted criminal now, remember? You no longer have any friends at your side. There's no one to help you. And no one will want to come looking for you. But pretty soon, I'll make plans for your friends when I'm crowned Queen.
Enraged, Basil lunged for Mrs. Ratigan, but Doran stabbed the tip of his gun in Basil's chest, very roughly. Basil fell to the floor, clutching his stomach in pain.
Mrs. Ratigan: You know, this is the second time you walked in trap, Basil. Doran already recognized you at the tavern and lead you right to us. You really thought my husband was alive and was planning his revenge on you. What a fool you are, thinking you're so high and mighty when you're weak and clueless! I've beaten you, and I have won!
Soon, everyone started laughing at Basil, pointing at him, mocking him.
Basil: Stop mocking me!
He attempted to run off, but Doran whacked him over the head with the end of his air gun. Basil fell to the ground. The last thing he could remember were the thugs mocking him just before he blacked out.
000000
When Basil came to, he found himself tied to a pole in a dark and damp room. He tried to free himself, but he was bound so tightly. Then he saw Rosa, who was beside him so closely and also tied to the pole.
Rosa: (moans) Where am I? (sees Basil) Basil? Is that you? Oh, thank goodness you're alive!
Basil: (coldly) Hello, Miss Ratigan.
Rosa: You know who I am?
Basil: Your mother told me everything! I should've known there was a resemblance! The dark hair, the color of your fur, except for the eyes, but they show the same villainy and cruelty he had!
Rosa: Look, I wasn't aware of how evil my father was until you and Olivia told me the truth of what happened to him! I'm very sorry for what he did to you and everyone else, but he was still my father, and my mama, my sister, and I loved him very much until now!
Basil: Sorry?! You lied to me just as your mother lied to everyone! You got me into this! Thanks to you, I'm trapped in who knows where!
Rosa: You're not the only one who's trapped in here! So am I!
Basil: Then why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your mother, helping her take over the Empire?
Rosa: She wanted me to lure you into the trap! When I refused, she had me locked in an old dungeon, and as you can see how I was treated before that!
Basil could see the bruises on her face, arms, and legs, and parts of her dress torn. His eyes widened in surprise.
Rosa: You can see for yourself I was beaten and tortured for turning my back on her and the League.
Basil: Why?
Rosa: Because I love you too much to see you get hurt. I didn't want to be a part of mama's vendetta anymore. I'm very sorry for deceiving you. Please, forgive me.
But Basil seemed unmoved by Rosa's apology or her feelings for him. She was the child of his hated nemesis. She had lied to him and his allies. He coldly turned his face away to not look at her anymore. Rosa knew what he was feeling. Her eyes lowered a bit and tears were running down her face and into a small puddle below them.