by F. C. Shaw
The Phantom Unveiled
“How dare you make such an accusation!” Enches huffed. “It’s very bad etiquette to—”
“I can prove it!” Rollie reached for the hand clutching his wrist and yanked on the glove. “Zilch’s hands are scarred. Look!”
Enches pulled his hand from Rollie, but Rollie held fast to the glove, and it ripped off. Both Rollie and Wesley gasped at Zilch’s bare hand, its skin discolored, shiny, and grotesquely scarred.
“Where’s Enches?” Wesley narrowed his eyes at Zilch. “Did you kill him?”
“Enough of this!” Herr Zilch roared. He shoved Rollie to the ground, and tried to pry Watson’s Case from Wesley.
“I’m not letting you have this!” Wesley grunted as he engaged in tug-of-war with Zilch. He kicked Zilch in the shins.
Zilch howled and let go.
“Run!” Rollie shouted as he scrambled to his feet.
Wesley took off down the path toward the open lawn. Rollie started after him, but felt a pull on his collar that nearly cut off his air. He spun around and found himself face to face with Herr Zilch.
“I warned you to back off!” Zilch hissed.
“I can’t—not while you’re still free,” Rollie shot back, feeling the color drain from his face.
“Very well. There is no going back then,” said Zilch. He started to drag Rollie with him through the shrubbery bordering the path.
“Frederick Zilch, unhand him!” a woman’s voice boomed.
Both Rollie and Herr Zilch looked down the path in shock at the trio of people there, and at the woman in particular. Headmaster Yardsly and Wesley stood behind Auntie Ei, who was dressed in a long black coat, black hat, and black gloves. She leaned on her umbrella like a cane, and in her other hand she held Watson’s Case.
“Good morning, Eileen,” Zilch greeted coolly, tightening his grip on Rollie’s collar. With his free hand he grabbed something in his coat pocket and pressed it to Rollie’s back. “I don’t have to tell you what this is, Rollie, nor do I need to warn you how I will use it if you so much as sneeze, do I?”
Rollie shook his head, trying very hard to control his breathing and keep from shaking.
“You look to be in fine health today,” continued Zilch in a louder voice.
“No thanks to you,” snorted Auntie Ei. “Poisoned chocolates? And with your signature poison of choice? Really, it is quite insulting.”
Zilch smirked. “You can’t blame a guy for trying, eh? I would love to catch up on old times with you, but I am on a rather tight schedule as it is.”
“Do not flatter yourself, Frederick. There is nothing to be said between us. Never again, I hope.”
Rollie noticed how solemn Auntie Ei looked. If he did not know her better, he would have ventured to guess she looked hurt, maybe sad. But he was reassured when her expression quickly hardened to one of stony resolve.
“Now see here, Frederick,” began Auntie Ei in her bossy tone. “I am not about to let you have my nephew for one more second than necessary.”
“Give me that case and he is yours again,” said Zilch.
“I cannot give you this. Besides, I am sure I know what you are seeking and you will not find it in here.” Auntie Ei held up the lock box. “So if you will let Rollin go free, we will allow you to leave this park unhindered and unfollowed.”
Zilch chuckled. “You have no idea what I am seeking. You may know everyone else’s secrets, Eileen, but you were never any good at knowing mine, and that remains unchanged all these years later.”
Auntie Ei’s face reddened with anger and she drew herself up. “Release Rollin immediately or you will be arrested. Scotland Yard is on route as we speak.”
“I’m willing to call your bluff and trade Rollin for Watson’s Case. Or else . . .” Zilch jammed his pocketed pistol harder into Rollie’s back.
Caught off guard, Rollie yelped. Zilch started to tow him backwards through the shrubbery.
“Wait!” called Auntie Ei, taking several steps forward. She held out Watson’s Case at arms’ length. “Very well.” She set the case down on the gravel and stepped back a few paces.
Slowly, Zilch dragged Rollie over to the case. As he snatched up Watson’s Case, he shoved Rollie onto the ground. He shot up the path and disappeared through the bushes. Rollie scrambled up as everyone rushed over to him.
“Rollin!” Auntie Ei gripped his shoulders and peered at him anxiously.
“I’m fine, I’m okay,” panted Rollie. He had never seen Auntie Ei look so worried, for her face was pale and her eyes watering. “How did you find me?”
“I had just arrived at the Academy when I saw you race past me to the park,” explained Auntie Ei, dabbing her forehead with her lace handkerchief. “When I inquired with Yardsly the reason one of his students may be running to the park, he and Cecily filled me in on the case and Wesley.”
“Wesley P. Livingston, I have questions for you,” said Yardsly as he clasped a hand on the tall boy’s shoulder.
“And I have questions for you, sir,” said Wesley, looking very puzzled. “I don’t understand—”
“He needs to know the truth,” said Rollie.
Everyone headed back to Sherlock Academy and into the headmaster’s office. Yardsly and Auntie Ei wanted to have a private word with Wesley, so Rollie stayed out in hall. Before going into the office, Wesley turned to him.
“I’m sorry for hurting you,” he told Rollie. “And for not believing you. Will you forgive me?” He held out his hand.
“Of course.” Rollie shook his hand. “You’re my friend.”
Wesley gave a grateful smile and went into the office, closing the door behind him.
“Rollie!” hailed Cecily as she stuck her head out the library door. “We’re in here!”
Rollie joined her in the library, and to his surprise found Rupert in there with her.
“Rupert and I have been having a long discussion while you were out.”
Cecily told Rollie how when she went to Yardsly’s office to report on Wesley, she overheard the headmaster chastising Rupert. She barged in to tell Yardsly he had the wrong culprit, assuming he was accusing Rupert of being the mole. It turned out that Rupert had been the one taking down all of Miss Gram’s decorations, and had been caught in the act of swiping pumpkin-spice candles from the classrooms. After clearing up that misunderstanding, Cecily told Yardsly about Wesley being the mole and how Rollie had gone to find the boy.
While Cecily was telling her story, Rollie noticed a slight change had come over Rupert. He was no longer wearing his usual scowl, and never took his eyes off Cecily.
Cecily put her hands on her hips and looked from one boy to the other. “Let’s get down to business. We all have a lot of catching up to do. You first, Rollie.”
Rollie recounted the ordeal he had just been through and how it had played out.
Cecily could not resist giving her best friend a hug before telling Rupert it was his turn for an explanation. “Why did you take down all of Miss Gram’s decorations? They’re lovely!”
Rupert fidgeted with his hands. In a small voice uncharacteristic of him, he muttered, “I don’t like how she’s changing everything around here.”
“She’s not changing everything,” argued Cecily. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“It is to me!” Rupert leaned against the wall and cross his arms.
“How come?” asked Rollie carefully, sensing Rupert growing defensive again.
“I’m an orphan,” Rupert stated plainly. “I grew up on the streets and never had a home or a family. Headmaster rescued me and gave me a home and a family here. I hate when someone else comes in and messes with that.”
“I can understand that,” said Cecily. “But it was just a few decorations.”
“One day decorations, the next who knows?” argued R
upert. “You saw how she totally changed her classroom and what she did with the room down the hall.”
“The teacher’s lounge,” said Cecily.
“You have a point,” muttered Rollie. “So back to your story, how did Headmaster know you’d be eligible for the Academy when he took you in?”
“He didn’t. Truth is, I’ve never read a single Sherlock Holmes book. I hardly read at all cuz . . .” Rupert swallowed and looked down at his feet.
Cecily placed a hand on his arm and coaxed, “You can trust us.”
Rupert looked at her, his face softening. With a sigh, he stammered, “I have really bad eyesight, and I’m supposed to wear glasses, but I hate them.”
“Why are you absent from classes a lot?” Rollie asked.
“I’m busy— I’m also a Baker Street Irregular—weird name, I know.”
“Not so weird,” Rollie commented with a smile. “Holmes hired orphans to be his spies and messengers. He called them Baker Street Irregulars. Is that what you do for Headmaster?”
“Yeah, but I also use my old connections with street gangs to find things out about MUS. Yardsly says I’m invaluable to him in that department.” Rupert drew himself up a little taller. “And I bring him information from other spies out there.”
“Like the man in the park?” Cecily asked. “Who is he?”
Rupert shook his head. “I can’t tell you his name, but he’s one of Headmaster’s contacts helping us find Herr Zilch.”
“Are there other Baker Street Irregulars here?” Cecily questioned.
“Just one more—your roommate Margot.”
“That explains why she’s never around.”
“Headmaster keeps us very busy.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about being a Baker Street Irregular?” Rollie asked. “It would have made life easier on all of us.”
“Headmaster doesn’t like people to know because it’s a very secret job. Sometimes it’s a little dangerous, too.”
Rollie grunted with a mixture of understanding and frustration. “I know Headmaster means well in wanting to protect everyone, but I think it’s caused more problems than it’s worth.”
“What do you mean?” Cecily asked.
“If he had been honest with the students about what happened to Enches, then Wesley would not have been deceived and would have been caught a lot sooner. If he had let me be honest with Wesley about it, I wouldn’t have had to lie to my friend. And if he had let Rupert be honest about his position, we would have understood each other, and he wouldn’t have made Rupert an outcast.”
Cecily nodded in agreement. “What do you think will happen to Wesley?”
Rollie shook his head sadly. “I don’t know. The crazy thing about Wesley is that he really believed he was working for the good guys to save the school. He had no idea Herr Zilch was using him.”
“How could Herr Zilch use a kid? It’s disgraceful!” Cecily chided.
“I’m starting to hate Herr Zilch,” muttered Rollie.
“Don’t worry,” Rupert interjected. “We’re getting closer to finding him.”
“Well, I’m glad we’ve cleared up some things between us,” Cecily said, looking very pleased with herself.
“Not everything,” said Rollie. “Rupert, what’s your beef with me? Why do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you,” sighed Rupert. “I guess I’m jealous of you. You’re really popular and smart and good at solving cases. You get to hang out with Wesley and the rugby team. Headmaster trusts you and assigned you on this mole case.” He dropped his eyes.
“Oh,” was all Rollie could say.
“You know what’s really eating me?” Cecily sighed. “We lost Watson’s Case.”
Rollie grinned mischievously. “Not really.”
Heirlooms and Promises
Later that afternoon, Rollie and Cecily stood in their headmaster’s office, expecting some honest answers. Yardsly sat behind his cumbersome desk and beamed at his students. Auntie Ei sat in Holmes’ armchair by the fire, subtle hints of a smile on her aging face. Wesley was nowhere to be found, nor had he been seen since his surrender.
“BRAVO!” Yardsly boomed with a smile. “Thanks to you, Herr Zilch’s mole has been apprehended. I still can’t believe Wesley was in league with them. Enches recruited him at the beginning of this school year to be the mole. When Enches was arrested, Wesley continued his work, not knowing of Enches’ true affiliation or his demise. MUS communicated with him through the Dancing Men code in the Daily Telegraph. That’s what you intercepted, Rollie. If you hadn’t stopped him, who knows what Zilch would have done.”
Rollie squirmed uncomfortably under the praise as he recalled his near failure in the secret passage. “What’s to become of him?”
“He’s at Scotland Yard right now being officially interrogated. After that we’ll know more and be able to better understand his involvement. He may be able to return to the Academy.” Yardsly shook his head in dismay as he continued, “It was a heavy blow to lose Watson’s Case today.”
“We did not lose it, Sullivan,” snapped Auntie Ei. “We gave it up, and it was worth the trade, if I say so myself. Would you not agree?”
“Of course, of course,” Yardsly said quickly. “Your safety came first today, Rollie. Still those secrets in the hands of MUS . . .” He trailed off and ran a hand wearily over his face.
“They’re not in the hands of MUS, sir,” Rollie spoke up. “The case is, but not the secrets.”
“What do you mean?” Auntie Ei sat up straighter. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, I switched out the contents of Watson’s Case this morning,” said Rollie with a grin. “The manuscripts are still safe up in the third floor passage. I had to take precautions.”
“I am so very glad you did!” Auntie Ei’s wrinkled face lit up with a smile.
Yardsly got up from behind his desk and went over to pat Rollie on the back.
“Clever, Holmes,” Cecily beamed at him. “What did you put in the case instead?”
“For weight I put in Miss Gram’s wire cutters,” said Rollie sheepishly. “Then I needed to put some padding in there so the wire cutters wouldn’t rattle around inside.”
“Which was?” asked Cecily.
Rollie blushed slightly. “Auntie Ei’s underwear.”
Auntie Ei gawked, Yardsly guffawed, and Cecily giggled.
Rollie explained how he had come by her underwear, and how not only did it serve a great purpose in the end, but it also added some satisfaction in playing a joke on Herr Zilch. He apologized to Auntie Ei for any inconvenience, for now she would need to go shopping to replenish her drawers.
When everyone had settled down from that amusing revelation, Rollie asked, “Where did those secret passages come from? I don’t remember them mentioned in any of Holmes’ cases.”
“You will remember there is a secret exit Holmes used in this room,” Yardsly said with a wave of his hand. “When we established the school here, we decided to expand that idea throughout the whole building. We use it to store secrets and have an alternate means of entry and escape if any danger threatens us. However, I’ve locked the exit door into the alley as a precaution against MUS.”
“Do you think Herr Zilch will try to close down our school again?” asked Cecily.
“UNDOUBTABLY! Thanks to Rupert and our contact Euston Hood in the park, we have a lead on MUS. A list of Herr Zilch’s undercover agents and their headquarters exists. We’re not sure where to find it, but its existence has been confirmed and we’re on the hunt for it. If we can find the list, we can expose and arrest his agents! All I have to say to Herr Zilch is the game’s afoot!” Yardsly grinned and his eyes twinkled. “You know, Rollie, you’re the hero again.”
Rollie gulped. While he soaked up compliments, he could own only those he fully earned.
“Headmaster, sir, I think Cecily is the real hero in this case.”
Both Yardsly and Cecily raised their eyebrows at him.
“If it wasn’t for her observation skills, we wouldn’t have discovered the mole so soon. I think she deserves a hat.”
“Rollie, it was your idea to set the footprint trap,” Cecily countered. “And you were brave enough to confront Wesley.”
“But I couldn’t have solved this case without you—at least as quickly.”
“SO BE IT! Cecily, you will be awarded a deerstalker hat for your assistance in the mole case.” Yardsly stood and squinted at his pocket watch. “You can catch Mr. Chad’s class if you hurry. OH! Please let Eliot know I have considered his request and the petitions, and I will allow the maids and janitors to return. Perhaps we should start a student government for his sake—he would do well in a position. DISMISSED!”
They headed to the door.
“Rollin,” Auntie Ei croaked as she stood to her feet, leaning on her umbrella for help. “Before I return home, I would like you to accompany me for a ride through the neighborhood. He’ll return shortly, Cecily.”
Rollie and his great-aunt went outside and climbed into a waiting hansom. The driver flicked the reigns and headed for Regent’s Park. Auntie Ei stared stoically out the window. Rollie sat beside her and crossed his arms to keep himself warm—he had forgotten his coat again. They could hear the bustle of London traffic and the steady clippety-clop of the horse.
“Tell me, Rollin,” she broke the silence, “was Herr Zilch’s mole who you hoped it would be?”
Rollie took a deep breath. “No, it turned out to be someone I was not expecting.”
“I trust you have learned a valuable lesson to not allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgment.” Auntie Ei held his eyes a moment. “I knew you would solve the case.”
“I nearly didn’t,” choked Rollie. “I almost refused to help.”
“In heaven’s name, why?” Auntie Ei looked appalled.
“To keep everyone safe from Zilch.” Rollie told her about the note from Zilch, and recited it to her from memory.
