Warning: mild intense scene but nothing graphic

At the same time Basil of Baker Street had fallen asleep, in another part of London, a skinny mouse with brown fur was waiting impatiently by an alleyway, having heard someone had a job for him, and they had arranged to meet him in the alleyway. He was shorter than Basil by about a head, the same height as Dawson. His face was unshaven, and he was wearing a dark, stained suit and had a missing finger on his left hand.

''Are you Butch Mitchell?''

Butch Mitchell jumped and looked around. ''Who's there?'' he asked, his voice wheezy.

''Behind you.''

Butch slowly turned around and saw a small, four-fingered hand wearing white gloves with gold cufflinks emerge from behind the corner in front of him. Butch swallowed before asking cautiously, ''Are you the one who is asking for my employment?''

''Indeed, I am,'' said the person calmly, and from the tone of the sinister voice Butch knew this man was not one to cross. His voice had an intimidating and hissy quality, like a deep snake, which Butch found unusual.

''Who are you?'' he asked slowly.

''Don't ask questions,'' the mystery man snapped. ''You've probably heard of me from back in the day as the Viper. I have a job for you and I want you to fulfil it.''

But Butch had stopped listening after that first part and blinked, looking as if he had seen a ghost. ''The Viper?'' he repeated, sounding both awed and scared. Now he definitely knew his new boss was not to be trifled with. From what he remembered those many years ago, the Viper was just as scary and menacing as Ratigan, perhaps even more so. ''But I thought –''

''The reasons for my return are none of your business,'' the Viper cut across sharply. ''It's for me to know and for you and the rest of Mousedom to find out. You are simply a thug who I am hiring to help accomplish my goal. Now here's the money.''

The Viper's hand disappeared and reappeared within seconds, holding a small, bulging bag. Butch took it with a large grin.

''And the address,'' the Viper added, handing Butch a small piece of paper.

Butch held the bag in one hand and grabbed the paper with the other. He opened it up and stared. ''Isn't this the home of – ?''

''Affirmative.''

Butch grinned and rubbed his hands together. ''So ... you want me to kill them?'' he asked eagerly.

''Oh no, my dear Butch, you misunderstand.''

Butch's face fell.

''I have very specific instructions and will only tell you once, so listen very carefully …''

Butch listened as the Viper gave him instructions.

''Do you understand, Butch?'' the Viper asked after he was finished.

Butch nodded. ''Yes, boss, but I thought you said I couldn't spill any blood.''

The Viper giggled. ''I was just kidding.''

''Oh.''

''And before I forget …'' The Viper's hand again disappeared and reappeared with a large black sack, dumping it at Butch's feet. ''For dramatic effect.''

''Of course, boss,'' Butch said, picking up the sack and looking at it in wonder.

''One more thing,'' the Viper said, ''I would like to have that paper back, if you don't mind.''

Butch obeyed and handed his boss back the address, though he was puzzled why.

''Just a precaution,'' the Viper said cheerfully, as if he had read Butch's thoughts. ''I am not taking any chances. If I let you have this and you left it behind for those fools to see, I would unfortunately have to eliminate you, and we can't have that, can we?''

Butch swallowed. ''Of course not, sir,'' he stuttered.

The Viper chuckled, delighted that his new henchman was frightened. ''Another one of my employees knows this only too well. You can ask him later if you wish. I'm sure he would be happy to tell you of his near-demise after his mistake.''

Butch stood still, fear flooding through him. ''Uh …''

''Now off with you!''

''Yes, boss, right away, boss,'' Butch gabbled, and scurried away into the night.

The Viper grinned to himself as he heard Butch's footsteps grow fainter. He reached into his robe pocket, pulled out a gold cigarette holder and lit up the attached cigarette while looking up at the moonlit sky. ''Twelve and nine years,'' he said to the sky happily, ''but it was worth the wait. Basil of Baker Street, you scrawny, insufferable pipsqueak, you nosy, interfering runt, I'm looking forward to this game.'' He inhaled, enjoying the smell of his cigarette smoke. ''It'll be just like old times. By the time I am done with you, you and your precious weakness will be no more ...''

Quite away from Baker Street, there was a little shop entitled ''Flaversham's Toys'' with the lights on downstairs. The shop had an enchanting quality to it, as if it was something magical. A kindly-faced male mouse with light-tan fur, reddish hair and moustache flickering with grey and large glasses was sitting at the desk, humming to himself as he worked on a toy. It was the toy maker Hiram Flaversham.

After the case nine years ago Hiram and his daughter, Olivia, had briefly travelled to Scotland to stay with relatives to recuperate from their ordeal, before returning to London and repaired the toy shop. Due to their hand in defeating the monster Ratigan, Hiram and Olivia had become quite well-known faces in Mousedom, and requests for Hiram's toys had never been higher. Hiram had always been more than happy to help his clients out with their orders. He always enjoyed making toys for children and seeing them happy.

As he worked on the toy, a beautiful young woman was watching him with a smile. It was his daughter Olivia, now 19. She was taking a break from her studying after her father had sternly ordered her to, stating that working too hard would wipe her of exhaustive.

''But, Father, I want to graduate from college with proof that women are just as smart as men and are eligible for the same education, as I did with school,'' she protested.

''I know, my wee bairn, and I am so proud of you, but you don't want to overload yourself. You did that enough when you persuaded the headteacher of the school to let you attend the boys' classes.''

''And I will never forget his reaction,'' Olivia said, grinning.

''Indeed,'' Hiram agreed, before sighing sadly while looking at the toy. ''Olivia, you are now a young lady who can think for herself, but sometimes I wish you were a little girl again. I miss spoiling you with my toys – but perhaps I can do so for grandchildren?'' he finished hopefully.

Olivia giggled. ''Don't worry, Daddy, I intend to have children someday.''

''I will be patient, but I do hope you will eventually settle down with a nice husband. You have turned down several eligible bachelors already.''

Olivia pulled a face. ''That's because they all wanted a housewife, and I don't want to be that. I want a man who will accept me for who I am, not for who they want me to be.''

''What about that Charlie? He makes it no secret he is keen on you.''

''He is a nice lad, but he's a bit too clingy.''

''That's the only issue I have with him,'' Hiram agreed. He then smiled and took his daughter's hand. ''I'm sure you will find someone who will accept your differentness.'' Hiram turned away from his daughter and murmured to himself, ''Perhaps him …''

Olivia looked up at her father curiously. ''What was that, Father?''

''Oh, nothing dear,'' Hiram replied, before coughing. ''Anyway, the point is that I'm not as young as I used to be, and while I understand it's important to you to want a proper working career, I just want to ensure you will also have someone who I can trust to care for and protect you before my time comes to pass.''

Olivia hugged her father. ''I know, it's a parent's job to worry about their children's future.''

''That's right, my dear. You will be the same when you have children of your own.'' Hiram kissed his daughter's forehead. ''Now go back to your studying, but don't wear yourself out.''

''I won't, Daddy. I will work hard and graduate with flying colours.''

''That's my girl,'' Hiram said proudly.

Olivia giggled and went upstairs.

Hiram looked back at the toy with a wistful smile. ''My bairn, you're just like your mother; she also had a mind of her own and was so ahead of her time …''

At that moment, the shop door opened and a short, skinny mouse wearing a hooded cloak stepped inside.

''Evening, sir,'' Hiram said politely, ''what can I do for you?''

The mouse gave the toy maker a toothy grin from under his hood and Hiram sensed something was amiss.

Upstairs, Olivia had gone to the bathroom to give her hands a quick wash. She smiled at her reflection. She really had come a long way from that innocent and naïve little girl who was held hostage by that monstrous rat Ratigan. She had been accepted into college two years ago and had now returned home for the summer holidays. Her room was now her study, filled with mostly books and papers, rather than dolls and toys her father had made when she was little. It was still a male-dominated world, but Olivia was determined to make her mark and perhaps change that just a bit.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she suddenly heard her father yelling from downstairs. ''Father!'' she called, and hurried downstairs and stopped at the sight she was now faced with. Toys had been scattered all over the floor, some broken. But more horrifying than anything, a hooded figure had pinned her father to the ground and had a long and sharp knife in his hand, pointed right at Hiram's chest. There was a large cut across Hiram's forehead, wet with blood.

''GET AWAY FROM MY FATHER, YOU FIEND!'' she screamed, but the mouse grinned at her, and Olivia noticed there was a missing finger on his left hand.

''Olivia!'' Hiram cried. ''Safe yourself! Don't worry about me!''

''You better do as your father says, my dear,'' the mouse said in a wheezy and menacing voice. ''One wrong move and you will be left an orphan.''

Olivia did not move.

''My, you sure are a stubborn one, aren't you?'' said the intruder.

''If you do anything to hurt my daughter – !'' Hiram shouted.

''Oh, don't worry, daddy,'' the mouse said lazily, ''I'm not going to hurt her – just you.''

Instead of going to pieces at the situation, Olivia's eyes darted around for something she could use. She spied a rounded toy that resembled a plate and, just as the mouse had raised the knife above his head, threw it at the mouse's hand, knocking the knife out of his grasp and sending it flying.

The intruder barely had time to react to the young woman's surprise attack when she had pulled him away from her father and put him in a headlock, the mouse spluttering and choking. And Olivia wasn't done there. She grabbed the mouse's wrists and flipped him over her shoulders. The mouse landed on the floor with a thump.

''Ouch,'' the cloaked mouse moaned, rubbing his nose.

Grabbing him by the collar of his cloak, Olivia shouted, ''If you touch my father again, I will do worse to you!'' and began shaking him. In the struggle, the mouse's hood was removed and Olivia stopped when she saw his face. ''Who are you?'' she demanded.

The mouse gave Olivia a toothy grin before pulling his hood back up and pushing Olivia off him. He retrieved the knife and sprinted out of the door. ''Get back here!'' Olivia yelled, standing up and giving chase. She stood outside the shop but the intruder had disappeared into the mist.

Questions flooded the young woman's mind. Who was that mouse? Why had he invaded her home? How any male mice had missing fingers?

But those questions would have to wait as her father needed medical attention. ''Father!'' she cried, hurrying back into the shop and helping him into a chair.

''I'm fine, dear,'' Hiram said, though he was wincing in pain.

Olivia wrapped her father's head in a bandage to stop the blood.

''That's better,'' Hiram said reassuringly, though Olivia looked like she was going to burst into tears.

''Oh, there, there dear, I'm alright,'' Hiram said gently, pulling his daughter into a hug.

''He could've killed you!''

''But he didn't, thanks to you,'' Hiram said, and wiped away his daughter's tears. ''All those private self-defence lessons paid off. I know I keep saying this, but I am so proud of you, Olivia.''

''Father …''

Hiram hugged his daughter tightly again for a moment, before father and daughter stared at the open shop door from where the intruder had fled.

''Who was that?'' Hiram wondered. ''I've never seen him before.''

Olivia gritted her teeth. ''I don't know, but we're going to find out,'' she said determinedly.

Bit early to introduce the villain, I know, but it was necessary for the story. I promise you will be learning more about the mysterious Viper and their motives soon. I also intend for the Viper to have a classic Disney Villain vibe and I hope I succeed.

What a powerhouse Olivia has become! How will a certain detective react to learn that the innocent little girl who changed him has become a strong and capable young woman?

Next chapter, we will see the reunion between several characters.

Take care and see you soon!