by F. C. Shaw
“GOOD MORNING!”
As always, the students jumped in their seats.
Clad in a brown suit and orange tie, Headmaster Sullivan P. Yardsly crossed the threshold, a glass of water in one hand, and a book in the other. He was very tall and lean with distinctive facial features and receding hairline. Rollie thought he resembled Holmes.
Ever since Rollie had exposed Professor Enches as Herr Zilch’s comrade, the headmaster had been teaching Enches’ Spy Etiquette and Interrogation class. While he did an admirable job as Sherlock Academy’s headmaster, he was not as good a teacher. However, the headmaster was too well liked for the students to say anything unkind about his teaching style.
“Page 56, topic of the day: when questioning a suspect, avoid yes-or-no questions.”
Rollie raised his hand.
“ROLLIN!”
“Headmaster, sir, we read page 56 yesterday.”
Yardsly raised his straggly eyebrows up his forehead. With his keen eyes, he squinted at the page, and twitched his hawk-like nose. “Ah, you are right, lad. Sharp as a tack! PAGE 59! Topic of the day: identifying non-verbal cues in a suspect. Follow along with me.”
He took a sip of water before reading. “While the detective may not get straight answers from the suspect, he may glean something useful from the suspect’s body language. For example, if a suspect glances up and tilts his head to the right, he most likely is being deceitful. If the suspect looks down, he most likely is trying to recall information. Clenched fists can signify dishonesty, while open hands usually signify . . . hmm . . .” Yardsly trailed off and read the rest of the paragraph silently, moving only his lips.
Just as his headmaster’s voice trailed off, so did Rollie’s thoughts to the newspaper from Auntie Ei. While he was thrilled to receive it, he was curious why Auntie Ei had mailed it and not waited to give it to him when she returned. He could not wait to read more—
“ETIQUETTE!”
Everyone’s attention snapped back to the headmaster.
“Well, sleuths, that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? Etiquette. A proper sleuth always displays the utmost etiquette, especially while interrogating a suspect. Is that easy, you ask? Not always, I say. Why, I remember one suspect I questioned. An old woman who was absolutely cantankerous. It took all my will power not to—” A sip of water. “Anyways, like I said . . . what was I saying? Oh, YES! It took all my will power not to beat her with her own cane.”
The children stifled giggles.
“Enough about that.” Yardsly snapped the book shut. “I have some sad and happy news. SAD! This is the last class I am teaching. I have enjoyed filling in, but my duties as your headmaster keep me from devoting my best to teaching. HAPPY! Starting Monday morning, you will have a new teacher. She is a paragon of good etiquette, and I have no doubt she will make a fine instructor upon the subject.”
The hour passed, bringing the anticipated relief of lunch recess. As the students herded upstairs to the recess area on the roof, Rollie stopped Cecily on the fourth floor of boys’ dormitories.
“Let me show you my newspaper real quick.” Rollie hurried into his room, but stopped short when he saw Rupert tacking more doodles above his bed. Without a word, he rejoined Cecily in the hall.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Rupert’s in the room. I don’t want him to know about my newspaper. I don’t trust him.”
“I’ve observed that he never attends classes,” said Cecily quietly. “And Tibby told me she saw him leave the Academy by himself yesterday afternoon.”
Rollie glanced behind his shoulder. His middle fluttered when he noticed Rupert leering at him.
Want more?
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Coming October 2016
Click here to be notified of the release of the third book in the series
Sherlock Academy: The Holmes Brigade
And check out F.C. Shaw’s other book
The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue
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About the Author
F.C. Shaw started writing stories when she was eight years old. She loves children’s stories, Sherlock Holmes, and mysteries, so had to write a book combining all three. She spends her afternoons writing for kids, and her nights dreaming of new stories. She lives with her husband and two sons in a home they have ambitiously dubbed The Manor in Santa Maria, California. When she’s not plotting stories, she teaches visual arts in local schools and enjoys a good game of Scrabble.
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Want F.C. Shaw to come to your school?
F.C. Shaw’s fun and interactive assembly encourages kids to explore their own imaginations. Using the great Sherlock Holmes and her own Sherlock Academy series as a base, she teaches kids how to write a mystery story by developing characters, creating a setting, placing clues, and devising a solution. F.C. Shaw’s assembly is a perfect educational experience for your school. For more information visit: http://www.futurehousepublishing.com/authors/fcshaw/
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