Amanda Lester and the Black Shadow Terror

by Paula Berinstein

  “A dish served cold,” said Lestrade.

  “Indeed,” said Holmes.

  “And the shadows?” said Lestrade.

  “Again, Moriarty,” said Holmes. “Mr. Muffet, perhaps you would like to explain.”

  Nick stepped up and addressed Lestrade.

  “Professor Moriarty’s formulas allow him to manipulate people’s minds,” he said. “When his victims drew close he would hide and send them mental messages. These messages magnified their natural fears, causing them to grow so large that they burst forth into physical being. Hence the shadows.”

  “That’s quite a story,” said Lestrade.

  “I know it sounds improbable, but once you eliminate the impossible—”

  “Whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth,” said Lestrade. “I know.”

  “Yes,” said Nick. “At any rate, the shadows couldn’t get to me because I wasn’t afraid of them.”

  “And Miss Lester?” said Lestrade.

  “That first time I was afraid,” said Amanda. “I’ve been afraid for so long now. That’s why it was able to knock me down. But when I saw Moriarty threatening Clive I snapped. Then I was able to hurt it rather than vice versa.”

  “Clever,” said Lestrade.

  Amanda leaned forward to shake Lestrade’s hand. She wanted to say, “No hard feelings” but that wouldn’t be accurate. He was a twit and she did resent him.

  As she reached for Lestrade’s outstretched hand, Nick flung his arm around her. For some reason that caused Clive, who was standing next him, to lose his balance and fall forward into Nick just as Amanda’s and Lestrade’s hands met. The next thing Amanda knew, there came a rush of air and the space where Lestrade had been standing was empty. Then everything went black.

  It took a few hours, but between the two of them and Scapulus, Simon and Ivy produced a sound palette and decoded Ivy’s map.

  “If I’m right all we have to do is play these instructions backwards,” she said. It was a tricky business involving manipulating the electricity level, heat, and light in the room as well as the history machine, but by evening they were ready to give it a go.

  The process required help from all quarters. David, Gordon, Ramon, Amphora, Diamond and a couple of the teachers stood at the ready. Simon turned on his history machine.

  “What if we do this too slowly?” he told Ivy. “The first time it was at computing speed. With all this manual manipulation the result might be different.”

  She chin motioned in the direction of the history machine. “Just try it.”

  Heart in mouth, Simon pressed the first key. Little by little the team executed each instruction, some of them taking minutes because of the need to vary electricity levels and heat. Then, when David pressed the last control, there was a whooshing noise and a ferret-faced man in a trench coat appeared next to Simon.

  An expression of utter astonishment on his face, Inspector Lestrade said, “Where am I?”

  When Amanda opened her eyes again the four of them—she, Nick, Clive, and Lestrade—were standing in the Holmes House common room and Simon was sitting in front of them with his mouth hanging open.

  “Simon?” said Amanda. How did he get here?

  Ivy rushed forward and hugged her. “You’re back!”

  “Ivy, is it really you?” said Amanda. “Is this Legatum?”

  “Yes, and I’ve missed you so much.” Ivy began to cry, and that made Amanda cry.

  She turned to Nick and sobbed, “We’re home.”

  That was when she saw Lestrade. “What are you doing here?”

  Lestrade looked around in wonder. “Where am I? Who are all of you?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Simon.

  “What’s happening?” said Ivy.

  “Simon, quick, send him back,” said Amanda. Simon, who was frantically working the controls on his history machine, said, “I’m trying.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Owla. “Who is that?”

  “Who is who?” said Ivy.

  Nick came forward and sat her down. “It seems we’ve got a stowaway with us.”

  Clive rushed to Simon’s keyboard and shoved him aside. “Let me.”

  Simon pushed him away. “You don’t know what to do. Get out of my way.”

  “Who is the stowaway?” said Ivy.

  Nick leaned down to her and whispered in her ear. Ivy began to laugh hysterically. “You’re joking,” she said.

  “I repeat,” said Lestrade. “Who are you? Where am I?”

  “Simon! “Amanda cried.

  “I’m working as fast as I can!” said Simon. “Please be quiet.”

  “Why are you all dressed so oddly?” said Lestrade. “Am I dead?”

  That got Ivy going even more. She collapsed all over Nigel, laughing her head off. Nigel licked her face and grinned.

  “I can’t do it,” said Simon. “I don’t know what’s wrong but it won’t work.”

  “Are you reversing the process?” said Owla.

  “Yes,” said Simon. “Reversing the reversal. I’m getting nothing.”

  “This isn’t good,” said Clive.

  “Yes it is,” said Ivy. “I think it’s wonderful.”

  “Miss Lester,” said Lestrade looking at Amanda. “Would you please tell me what’s going on here?”

  “You really want to know?” said Amanda.

  “No!” said Clive. “Amanda, don’t say anything.”

  “Wouldn’t you want to know?” said Amanda. “Put yourself in his place.” Why was she defending Lestrade all of a sudden? Had something in her brain gone all funny during the time travel?

  “That isn’t the issue,” said Owla.

  “I know,” said Amanda. “But when you think about it, why not? No one will ever believe him.”

  “It’s too risky,” said Clive.

  “Not necessarily,” said Ramon. “This situation offers a unique opportunity to communicate with a living ghost.”

  “He isn’t a ghost, genius,” said Clive.

  “Not strictly speaking,” said Ramon. “However, he is dead.”

  “Will someone please tell me what the devil is going on!” Lestrade yelled.

  “You want to know?” said Amanda. “I’ll tell you. I am your great-great granddaughter. This is how the world looks a hundred and thirty years in the future. This is Lovelace Earful’s secret detective school and everyone in this room is a descendant of a famous detective. Nick, Clive, and I were accidentally transported back to your time where we fell prey to a man who is still notorious in our time: Professor James Moriarty. His descendants are also criminals and are still wreaking havoc all over the world today. That boy there”—she motioned to Simon— “is trying to send you back to 1890. So far he’s failing. Any more questions?”

  Clive was shaking his head. “You shouldn’t have done that, Amanda.”

  “You what?” said Lestrade.

  “Are you deaf, mate?” said Simon. “You’re in the future. And now I can’t send you back even if I could figure out how. Nice work, Amanda.”

  “Sure you can,” said Amanda. “He’s not going to say anything. Are you, Inspector?”

  “Say anything about what?” said Lestrade, who was still so confused he could barely stand up.

  “But he’s seeing things here,” said Clive. “Everything his brain takes in is bound to influence him even if no one believes him. There are always consequences.”

  “I think he should stay,” said Ivy.

  Simon stopped what he was doing and stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Of course I am,” said Ivy. “Think of what an asset he’d be.”

  “He doesn’t even know what a computer is,” said Simon.

  “He’ll learn,” said Ivy. “Look. He’s smart, he’s experienced, he understands the original Moriarty, and sending him back could be dangerous.”

  “Keep talking,” said Owla.

  “Just that,” said Ivy. �
�Think of what we could learn from him, and vice versa. It’s the chance of a lifetime.”

  Owla thought for a moment. “I like it.”

  “No!” said Clive. “It would be a disaster.”

  “Not necessarily,” said Amanda. “If he stays here he can’t bring knowledge of the future back and disrupt the timeline. And he has insights into the Moriarty mind that could help us. Plus you’re right: he is smart. He also knows Lovelace Earful and Micajah Splunk very well.” What was she saying? Two minutes ago she was hating Lestrade as usual. Now he was some kind of super detective. She really was addled.

  “Splunk?” said Lestrade. “Is he here? He’s supposed to be in my jail.”

  “He’s still safely in jail,” said Amanda. A little white lie wouldn’t hurt.

  “Now wait a minute,” said Ramon. “That’s my family member you’re talking about.”

  Lestrade stared at Ramon. He was a scary sight, even in this century, with his long black coat, silver shoulder-length hair, and piercing pale eyes. “You’re Splunk’s son?”

  Ramon grimed. “In a manner of speaking.”

  “My condolences,” said Lestrade.

  “Now you wait a minute,” said Ramon.

  “People, people,” said Nick. “Let’s take this slowly and logically.”

  He glanced at Amanda. She could hardly wait to hear what he was going to say. Whatever it was she was sure it would blow everyone away.

  “Let’s assume Simon’s machine is permanently broken and Mr. Lestrade is here to stay,” said Nick.

  “Inspector,” said the policeman. “It’s Inspector Lestrade, not Mister.”

  “My apologies,” said Nick. “Let’s assume Inspector Lestrade is here to stay. How would he fit in?”

  “He could teach here,” said Owla.

  “Imagine that,” said Nick. “Police procedure, criminals and their methods, history of detectives.”

  “Wow,” said Amanda. “Just WOW.”

  “He could work at New Scotland Yard,” said Ivy.

  “Double wow,” said Amanda, beginning to realize that even though the man had his faults, he had just been doing his job when he arrested her. She had been caught red-handed after all. Maybe he wasn’t so dumb.

  “I can kind of see it,” said Simon.

  “No!” said Clive.

  “Why not?” said Nick. “If he is stuck here.”

  “He can’t be stuck here,” said Clive

  “But what if he is?” said Nick.

  Clive looked from one of his friends to the other. “You don’t know what you’re saying. That would be a disaster.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” said Nick. “But I will say this. The three of us have already influenced the timeline.”

  Clive froze. “You’re right. Oh no! This is terrible.”

  “We’re all still here,” said Nick. “So is Legatum.”

  “But what about other things?” said Clive. “The formulas. Lestrade’s other cases.”

  “Inspector Lestrade,” said Lestrade.

  “Inspector Gregson can handle them,” said Nick. “Sherlock Holmes will still solve them.”

  “Holmes?” said Lestrade. “What about him? Is this really the future or am I dead?”

  “You’re not dead, Inspector,” said Ivy.

  Lestrade looked at her tenderly. “You look like my daughter.”

  “I do?” Ivy said. “How wonderful.”

  “I think he should stay,” said Owla. “Look how well he fits in.”

  Suddenly something hit Amanda. “Where are Dreidel and Binnie?”

  Ivy blushed and Simon coughed.

  “Out,” he said.

  Something felt off, but Amanda wasn’t sure what.

  “You haven’t argued the other possibility,” said Clive. “What if we can send him back?”

  “What about it?” said Nick.

  “He now knows a little of what the future holds. A slip of the tongue and someone else knows, then another person. Before long there’s an official investigation, or such potent rumors that hysteria breaks out.”

  “It’s too late, isn’t it?” said Clive. “He has to stay now.”

  “You youngsters seem quite bright,” said Lestrade. “You say this is a detective school?”

  “Yes,” said Ivy. “The best in the world.”

  “And you’re all descended from policemen like me. Even the lasses.”

  “Not all policemen, no,” said Ivy.” Some of our ancestors were private detectives like Sherlock Holmes.”

  “Like Holmes?” said Lestrade. “But there’s no one like Holmes.”

  “No, there isn’t,” said Ivy. She walked over to him and took his arm. “Come with me. I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Lestrade eyed Nigel suspiciously, then smiled ever so slightly. He looked toward Amanda. “You come too. I want to get to know my great-great granddaughter.”

  23

  Consequences

  As Amanda, Nick, and Clive sat around the common room waiting for the ceremony, David said, “I thought he’d be taller.”

  “Uh uh,” said Gordon. “Watson specifically states that he’s short.”

  “Whatever height he is, he sure looked surprised,” said Amphora.

  “Did you see the look on his face?” said Ramon, chuckling.

  “Is he sure he wants to stay?” said Simon. “It seems risky. You did explain the risks, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” said Amanda. “And as you saw when we re-ran that moment on your machine, Mr. Holmes figured out what happened and explained everything to him. He knew we’d all be watching. You saw how he impressed the need for secrecy on him. The man can be a pain but his heart’s in the right place. Not that I would have believed that a couple of days ago. But he’s excited about living in the twenty-first century, and he’s crazy about my dad.”

  “What does your dad think of him?” said Simon.

  “He loves the guy,” said Amanda. “He’s thrilled to have his image of his ancestor validated. He’s invited the inspector to stay with him as long as he wants.”

  “Your dad is weird,” said Simon.

  “Yes, but what a man,” said Nick, winking. “Can you stop all the action in a room with a look?”

  Simon looked over at Ivy as if she were Venus herself. “Not personally, no.”

  “I can’t believe you met my ancestor,” said Ramon, changing the subject.

  “He was a kick and a half,” said Amanda. “Although a bit weird. I love him to death.”

  Ramon beamed. “I’m going to tell him that when I speak to him.”

  Simon rolled his eyes, then turned to Ivy and kissed her.

  “When did this happen?” said Amanda, eyeing what she’d thought was impossible.

  “Couple of days ago,” said Simon.

  “It’s about time,” said Nick, grinning like a hyena.

  “You can hear again?” said David. “That’s wild.”

  “Yep,” said Nick. “It’s crazy, I know, but I’m not going to question it.”

  “And Blixus and Hugh are in jail. Yay!” said Amphora.

  “And my mom,” said Amanda. “I’m having trouble wrapping my head around that.”

  “We’re so sorry,” said Ivy.

  “Thanks,” said Amanda. “I’ll be okay. I still have the best dad in the world and all of you.”

  “Clive,” said Owla. “Tell us about Professor Moriarty.”

  Clive blushed. It was so obvious that he had the hots for Owla that everyone stifled smiles.

  “It was pretty terrible,” he said. “I must have got there right after you guys left. I didn’t even have my bearings when he grabbed me.”

  “How awful,” said Delara.

  “He’s much worse than Blixus,” said Clive. “Kind of like an old-fashioned Hugh.”

  “Ugh,” said Amphora. “I don’t know how you could have let that little weasel touch you, Ivy.”

  “I took a long, hot shower,” said Ivy, laughin
g.

  “Anyway, he figured out that you two were a threat to him,” said Clive. “You weren’t afraid of his monsters, and you were different somehow. I don’t think he ever figured out how, but when he saw me he knew we were connected. The clothes, I guess.”

  “You were very brave, Clive,” Owla said seriously. Clive blushed again.

  “I was just doing what I’ve been trained to do,” he said. Simon flashed him an odd look.

  “So now the Moriartys are in jail and everything is hunky dory,” said Amanda.

  “Except for Bubble,” said Nick. “Frankly I’m beginning to think she’s a bit of a wild card.”

  “She’s dangerous,” said Amanda. “I’m never letting her anywhere near Tealeaf.”

  “We’ll keep an eye on her,” said Nick, squeezing her hand.

  “So,” said Simon, clearing his throat. “Is everybody ready?” The kids all nodded. Simon made a great show of producing a sledgehammer. “Cover your ears,” he said.

  “Professor Also has Nigel?”

  “Yep,” said Ivy.

  “Then here we go,” said Simon. He raised the sledgehammer high in the air and brought it down on his history machine with a crash. Then he pounded the life out of it until it was just so much metal.

  The kids all clapped. Then Professor Also brought Nigel back into the common room and Ivy and Simon hugged him. Nigel licked one, then the other, and everyone had punch.

  “You lied to them,” Simon said when everyone but Clive had cleared out.

  “No I didn’t,” said Clive.

  “Misleading people is the same as lying,” said Simon.

  Clive faced him. His expression was a mixture of sadness and defiance. “What do you want me to do? You weren’t there. You would have cracked too.”

  “Maybe,” said Simon. “But if I did I’d admit it.”

  “I haven’t denied it,” said Clive.

  “Don’t play games. They need to know that Moriarty knows who we are.”

  “Why?” said Clive. “There’s nothing we can do about him.”

  “We don’t know that,” said Simon. “There are always ways.”