Author's Note: Here it is, the latest chapter.
Happy reading, one and all!
The Rescuers and The Great Mouse Detective all belong to Disney and Margery Sharp. Nothing is mine.
Chapter 6
Thunder flashed outside the Baker Street residence.
"This case is most intriguing but its multiplicity of elements, its many twists and turns." Basil remarked, going over the information given by Olivia.
He turns his attention to the Flaversham youngster.
"Now, you're certain you told me everything, the slightest detail maybe important?" Basil asked.
"It's just as I said and then my father was gone." Olivia answered honestly.
"What do you three make of it?" Dawson asks Basil, Bernard and Bianca.
"It sounds very strange, indeed. But I think there's something sinister going on behind that." Bernard replied.
Bianca nods in agreement.
"I got this feeling that Ratigan is forcing Olivia's father to create something diabolical." She adds.
"You two could be right. Ratigan's up to something," Basil mused, as he puffed on his pipe. He goes to a window and Olivia runs after him.
"A crime of the most sinister nature no doubt. The question is what would he want with a toy maker?" The detective walks off, deep in thought. Olivia watches him go.
Suddenly, Fidget drops down peeking through a window. Thunder flashes and Olivia catches Fidget looking. She screams, startling the bat; as well as Bernard, Bianca, Dawson and even Basil.
"That must be him, Fidget the bat!" Bianca exclaimed as Basil whirled around in time to see Fidget hanging from outside the window. The handicapped bat falls, screaming a bit.
"Quickly; Dawson, Bernard and Bianca! We haven't a moment to lose!" Basil cried, opening the door and running out.
"We're right behind you, Basil!" Dawson, Bernard and Bianca follow.
The group runs out in the street, only to find Ratigan's accomplice gone.
"No, no sign of the laggard anywhere." Dawson said, looking around.
"Oh, dear! We've lost him." Bianca sighed.
"Not quite, Dawson and Bianca." Basil pointed out. "He left some rather unusual footprints." Basil examines them on the ground.
"They obviously belong to the same fiend who abducted the girl's father." He added. "Ratigan's peg-legged lackey."
Suddenly, Dawson and Bernard find Fidget's hat on the ground. They pick it up.
"It appears Fidget left something of his, behind." Bernard remarked.
Basil looks up. Seeing it, he snatches the hat from Dawson and Bernard's hands.
"Aha! Excellent work, you two." Basil praised the two mice, examining it with a magnifying glass. He runs towards the house.
Back inside, Mrs. Judson is standing next to Olivia.
"Now, there's nothing to be afraid of, my dear." She assures Olivia.
Basil rushes past them, too eager over the clue. Mrs. Judson held Olivia back, glaring in Basil's direction.
Dawson, Bianca and Bernard join them.
"Scoundrel's quite gone." Dawson said to Olivia.
"So, you have nothing to worry about." Bianca adds.
"Ha, ha, ha. But not for long, Miss Flamhammer!" Basil interjects as he untied his dressing gown.
"Flaversham!" Olivia corrected, frowning.
"Whatever," said Basil. "Now, we simply pursue our peg-legged friend until he leads us to the girl's father." He puts on a light brown waistcoat over a high-collar button-up and vest.
"Then you'll get my daddy back?" Olivia asks, hopeful.
She rushed over and hugged the detective from behind.
"Yes," Basil answered stiffly. He wriggles Olivia off him. "And quite so, if I'm not mistaken."
"Now, hurry along you three." Basil advises the doctor and two New Yorkers.
"We must be off to Toby's." He puts on his overcoat.
"Toby's?" Dawson asked, confused.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Bernard questioned.
"Yes," Basil responds. "Oh, you three must meet him, he's just the chap for this." He puts on his hat.
"You want us to come?" Dawson asked, surprised.
"I should think a stout-hearted, alarming mouse and two intrepid adventurers like you three wouldn't leap at the chance for adventure." Basil commented.
"I don't see why not," said Bernard.
"We're already starting off on another adventure." Bianca piped up.
"Well, I-I am rather curious." Dawson admits, stammering.
"Wait for me, I'm coming too!" Olivia called, grabbing her hat, causing the violin to stumble and nearly fall over.
Seeing this, Bianca quickly catches it. Basil gives her a look of gratitude.
"What?" Basil questioned as he took the violin from Bianca, putting it back in the chair. "Certainly not. This is no business for children."
"Come now, Basil. This is Olivia's father we're talking about." Bianca pointed out. "You can't just have her waiting around at home."
"Are we going to take a cab?" Olivia inquired, ignoring Basil's comment. She takes some of the cheese crumpets.
Basil sighs.
"My dear," He began to say, turning Olivia around. "I don't think you understand, it will be quite dangerous…"
"Basil, your violin…" Bernard calls out, but it's too late, the detective sat on his violin crushing it.
"Oh, dear," said Bianca as Basil looked startled and so did Olivia.
Basil groans.
"Why you…look at…" He started to say. He growls, trying to restrain his anger.
"Young lady. You are most not accompanying us. And that is final!"
"Stop it, Basil! You did that to yourself, you sat on the violin, not Olivia." Bianca scolded. "And she should come with us, like it or not."
"Exactly," Bernard adds, glaring at Basil.
A/N: I hoped you all enjoyed it!
The last bit of dialogue with Bianca and Bernard scolding Basil, I made that up.
Up next, the gang go to Sherlock Holmes' flat and they meet Toby. The next two chapters should be a bit longer after this one.
Stay tuned, more to come!