by F. C. Shaw
The sleuths hurried around the snow forts they had built and over to the tall brick wall separating the Wilson’s back garden from Zilch’s. They mounted the bare mulberry tree learning against the wall. With the help of a sturdy limb, they climbed over the brick wall and landed in Zilch’s garden. They ran to the cellar window and dropped through.
Wasting no time, they rushed upstairs to the study. From a brown paper bag, Rollie dumped out a large paintbrush, small bowl, measuring cup, tablespoon, and the tin can of Magic Red solution. He took the bowl and measuring cup to a nearby bathroom. From the tap, he measured and poured four cups of cold water into the bowl. When he returned to the study, he found Cecily had opened the can of solution and was waiting with the first tablespoon.
“Four tablespoons, right?” she asked.
Rollie set the bowl of water on the floor next to her. She carefully scooped out and dropped four tablespoons of powdered solution into the water bowl. She stirred it around until the fuchsia powder dissolved.
“Start with this wall.” Wesley tapped an unpainted wall near the door.
“Get ready to copy down the list,” Rollie told his friends. “I’m sure this is it!”
He dipped the paintbrush into the bowl of fuchsia solution. He swept the paintbrush over the wall. Everyone waited breathlessly to see what would happen.
Nothing—at first.
Then, gradually, silvery letters appeared on the wall.
“Quick! Write it down!” Rollie yelled.
Cecily and Eliot both copied down the words in their pocket notepads.
“It’s an address!” Wesley gasped excitedly. “This is it! The MUS list!”
Rollie continued painting the wall, revealing a long list of names that reached to the floor.
“I can’t reach any higher,” Rollie said, stretching up on his tiptoes.
Wesley knelt and gave Rollie a boost. Rollie wiped clear up to the ceiling; nothing else appeared. He dipped the brush into the last of the solution and tackled the last unpainted wall. Right in the middle, at his eye level, another address with a long list of names below it appeared down to the floor. Cecily and Eliot scribbled the list down.
“Quick! The solution is drying—the names are fading!” Wesley urged.
“We’re writing as fast as we can!” snapped Eliot.
Rollie stood back from the wall. “That’s it. I wish these other two walls hadn’t been painted over.”
“You did it, Rollie!” Cecily hugged her friend.
Rollie did not mind her affection, though if his brothers got wind of their embrace, he would never hear the end of it. “We did it! We found the MUS list. I knew we were onto it.”
“Let’s get this to Headmaster right away,” Wesley said.
“Wait, I want to leave a message for Zilch.” Rollie fished out his pocket notepad from his back trouser pocket.
Eliot looked worried. “What message?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about this,” Rollie answered. “We should meet his challenge.”
“Are you bonkers, Rollie?” Cecily gaped at him. “He’s dangerous!”
“It’s too risky messing with him,” Wesley agreed.
“It’s worth the risk,” Rollie insisted.
Eliot eyed him. “What’s your plan? You need a plan before you just rush into this.”
“We’ll leave a note for the secretary to take to him. She’ll definitely return tonight. We’ll challenge Zilch to come. It’s the only way to catch him, don’t you see?”
Wesley looked puzzled. “Why do we need to catch him? We have the list. Headmaster and Scotland Yard can track him down.”
“We have two parts of the list, but there are four walls. The secretary has already covered the other two parts.” Rollie waved his hand at the painted walls. “This list will help track down his agents, but it may not lead us to him. This could be our chance to catch Zilch!”
“You plan to get Headmaster’s help, right?” Cecily asked. “And Scotland Yard’s help?”
“Absolutely! We also have Euston.” Rollie quickly scribbled down a message in his notepad. He ripped out the page and read the message aloud.
“Herr Zilch: We have your journal and we are willing to return it to you. We do not scare off easily, so don’t bother with any more threats. Let’s see if you mean what you say. Signed, The Holmes Brigade.”
“That will make him mad,” Wesley mumbled. “We had better make sure Headmaster and Scotland Yard can be here with us if he shows up.”
“Let’s wait and see if he responds to us.” Rollie folded the message and left it on the windowsill.
“We can’t give him back that journal!” squealed Cecily. “We haven’t read it all yet.”
“We have to offer the journal—it’s the only bait we’ve got,” Rollie reasoned. “We’ll get the journal back when we capture him.”
“What if we don’t capture him?”
Rollie’s jaw clenched. “We will this time. Let me see those addresses and names.”
Cecily handed her notepad to him.
“This first address is in Brighton. That’s where you live, right, Wesley? It’s 28 Old Shoreham Road. Do you know where that is?”
Wesley’s eyes widened. “I know where Old Shoreham Road is, but I’m not sure where number 28 is. It’s a long road with tons of little shops and flats.”
Rollie skimmed the list of five names below the address. “A.B. Torin, L.L. Wilsh, P.O. Carter—these must be agents at the Brighton headquarters.” He read the second address. “This one’s in Dublin. Number 28 Drury Street. I didn’t know MUS was active in Ireland also. There are eight agents listed here. We must get this list to Headmaster. In the meantime, we’ve got a lot to do.”
Once they were back at the Wilsons, they dispersed to do their pre-assigned errands. Cecily went to tell Uncle Ky he could stop chatting to Euston, who looked nearly blue in the face. She and Eliot caught Euston up on what they had discovered. Rollie and Wesley tried to phone Sherlock Academy.
“Their phones must still be down,” Rollie groaned. “I’m not getting through. Why’s it taking so long to get the phone service working again?”
“Must be all this freak snow. We should take the list to him then,” Wesley suggested. “Euston could take us.”
“Rollie!” Eliot hollered from the entry hall. “You’ll never guess who’s here!”
The boys raced to join Eliot and Cecily at the front door. They smiled at the tall woman standing stiffly before them. Her brown hair was pulled back tightly in a bun, and her crisp, tan coat was buttoned up to her chin.
Ms. Katherine Yardsly nodded in greeting. “Good afternoon, students. Headmaster sent me to check on you and get a report from Mr. Hood. Our phones are still disconnected.”
“We were just trying to get ahold of Headmaster.” Quickly, Rollie, with the help of his comrades, told Ms. Yardsly all about their investigations and new discovery.
Cecily and Eliot passed their notepads to their teacher.
Ms. Yardsly took them, read the list of addresses and names, and gave a tight smile. “Well done, sleuths! I will take this to Headmaster Yardsly immediately. We will keep you informed.” In her militant style, she spun on her heel and marched outside. After exchanging a few words with Euston, she climbed into a waiting hansom and departed down the street.
Euston poked his head through the front door. “I must commend you on your findings, but I must also warn you not to leave the premises again. Your safety is at stake. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” the four chimed.
As the front door closed, Rollie turned to Cecily. “Thank you for not mentioning my challenge to Zilch.”
“It wasn’t mine to mention. This is your plan, Rollie. But I would like you to know I’m not entirely comfortable with it. What if something happens to you?”
“Don’t worry. If Zilch writes back saying he’ll come, we’ll definitely tell Euston. We’ll need his help getting Scotland Yard and Headmaster.”
“Are you hoping Zilch will come?” asked Eliot.
“Yes, for everyone else’s sake. We need to catch him. But I have to be honest; I am afraid.”
Whistle Blowing
“I knew he’d write back.” Rollie fingered the envelope.
It was the next morning after breakfast. After another sneaky escapade while Euston used the bathroom, the sleuths managed to retrieve the letter left by Zilch’s secretary the night before. They gathered in Rollie’s room, waiting to read what Herr Zilch’s answer would be to their threat.
“Open it already!” urged Eliot.
Rollie tore open the envelope. He felt anxious to read Zilch’s response but also hesitant to face the future. He pulled out a single slip of paper. He read it to himself then passed it to Cecily.
She took it and read it aloud.
“Holmes Brigade,
You leave me no choice but to agree to a meeting. My conditions are simple but nonnegotiable. First, I will meet with Rollin only. I have no interest in Cecily Brighton and Eliot Tildon. Rollin, if you would feel safer having Wesley Livingston along as your lookout, I have no objections. He can watch outside if you like, but he must not partake in our meeting. Second, you must bring my journal that you stole. I will meet you in my old study at noon tomorrow.
Herr Zilch.”
“How does he know my name?” Eliot shrieked. “Who told?”
“Now he’s really scaring me,” Cecily said.
“I told you not to underestimate him.” Wesley shook his head. “Did he say noon? It’s ten-thirty now. Why noon? I’d expect he’d want to meet under cover by night.”
Rollie took a deep breath. “Wesley, will you be my lookout?”
“Absolutely! I’ll guard the cellar window and make sure none of Zilch’s cronies follow after you. We should have a signal in case something goes wrong.”
“That’s a good idea. We can use my bobby whistles Uncle Ky gave me. Cecily and Eliot, you’ll hitch a ride with my parents into town when they take Uncle Ky to the station. His train leaves at noon.” Rollie paused. “You don’t think Zilch wants to meet at noon because he knows my family will be gone, do you?”
Panic filled Cecily’s green eyes. “Now he’s really scaring me!”
“Just a coincidence,” Eliot murmured in a weak voice.
“There are no such things as coincidences when crimes are afoot,” Wesley said. “Holmes says so.”
Rollie continued with the plan. “The phones are still down at the Academy. So Cecily, Eliot, my parents will drop you off at school and you’ll get Headmaster.”
“Are we asking Euston for help?” Cecily asked.
Rollie nodded. “We need to tell him what’s going on. He needs to go fetch Scotland Yard.”
“If I know Euston, he won’t leave you to meet with Zilch alone,” Wesley warned.
“We can’t tell him we’re meeting with Zilch,” Rollie said. “We’ll just tell him we think Zilch will show up. We’ll offer to stay here and watch out for him. That’s not a total lie.”
Cecily gave him a motherly look. “It’s close.”
“It’s the only way to catch Zilch.” Rollie’s middle fluttered with the thought of skewing the truth. “The most important part of this whole plan is Headmaster and Scotland Yard must arrive here just in time. If they’re here before noon, they’ll scare off Zilch. If they wait too long . . . ” He trailed off, not wanting to think about all the possible dangerous things that could happen being left alone with Zilch for too long.
“We’ll be sure to tell Headmaster about the timing,” Eliot assured him.
“I would just like to remind everyone that I don’t like this plan.” Cecily crossed her arms. “I don’t like leaving Rollie alone to face Zilch, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to give him back his journal. Isn’t there another way?”
“Maybe, but I think this could be our best chance at catching Zilch,” said Rollie. “And we’ll get the journal back when we catch him. You guys go talk to Euston.”
The group split up. Rollie glanced out his bedroom window at the vacant house next door. He had known he would have to face Herr Zilch again. He just had not counted on it being this soon. He knew the risk was worthwhile to catch the villain. He was just not too thrilled about taking the risk. In the past, his skills and courage had aided him in solving mysteries and thwarting Zilch’s plans. But this time was different. This time he did not have Auntie Ei’s backing.
He fished out Auntie Ei’s letters from his hollow Shakespeare book. He unfolded one letter and read it.
By no means accept my great-nephew Rollin under the circumstances we discussed. I do not wish him to receive special privileges because of who I am and who he will be.
He knew no good would come of reading these letters again, especially now, on the brink of a face-off with his enemy. Still, he could not help himself. He read one more.
I would prefer he be expelled rather than accepted under the circumstances.
He was not sure how his courage would hold up, especially when meeting Zilch face-to-face. The last time Rollie had met Zilch, the villain had nearly kidnapped him.
He wondered if Holmes had felt this way right before he had faced Professor Moriarty and dueled to the death. He wondered if Holmes had been anxious about the outcome of their meeting or if he had been hesitant to face his nemesis once and for all. He wondered if Holmes had been afraid.
Suddenly, Rollie remembered his pledge to stop Herr Zilch no matter the cost.
Today the cost was his safety—perhaps even his life, but he was willing to pay the cost for the good of everyone else and for the good of Sherlock Academy. He had a feeling that was exactly what Holmes had considered as he hiked up Reichenbach Falls and waited for Moriarty to meet him. Holmes had considered the cost and was willing to pay it.
Rollie took heart from Holmes. He just hoped he would be strong enough.
****
Rollie poked his head into the guest room. Uncle Ky was all flustered as he gathered his belongings and crammed them into his suitcase. His visit had been cut short by a telegram announcing a hurriedly called staff meeting in Oxford that he was required to attend. He was not at all pleased with having to go so soon. Rollie thought this was suspicious.
“Perhaps this is my signal to retire from this position,” Uncle Ky muttered as he found his scarf underneath the bed. “I’ve been at it for nearly a year now, you know. That is a significant amount of time for someone like me.”
Rollie smiled. “I hope you have a safe journey home. My parents and Auntie Ei are taking you to Paddington station, right?”
“Yes. I always require Eileen to send me off. It’s the least she can do for a brother she sees but once a year. Good-bye, Rollin. I wish you the best in your studies and your cases. Remember, don’t let people define you. If anything’s going to define you, it should be your strong character and your moral convictions. And of course any little hobbies you care to indulge in.” With a wink, Uncle Ky picked up his bulging suitcase and departed downstairs.
Once they got to the entry hall, everyone pulled on their heavy coats. Auntie Ei seemed rather annoyed at having to go out into the snowy city to take her brother to Paddington Station. Mr. Wilson was already outside warming up the automobile. Cecily and Eliot gave Rollie reassuring squeezes and pats.
“Zilch’s journal is on your desk,” Cecily said on her way out the door.
“We’ll be gone just a few hours. We’re going to do a little shopping near Hyde Park after dropping off Uncle Ky,” Mrs. Wilson told her son. “Ed and Stew are working. Lucille and Daphne are at Noelle’s house down the street. I understand Euston has left on an errand, so you and
Wesley will be here alone. Don’t get into trouble.” She kissed the top of his sandy-blond head and closed the front door behind her.
“Wesley!” Rollie hurried up to his room where he found his friend spying through the binoculars. “We still have a half hour to go. Do you think we should go over there early so I’m there first?”
Wesley thought for a moment. “It would probably be the smartest thing to do. That way you can make sure Zilch doesn’t hide his agents in the house beforehand. I’ll guard the cellar window, of course. I can whistle when I spot him coming.” He slipped one of the silver policeman whistles into his front trouser pocket.
Rollie took the other one and snatched up Zilch’s journal. He and Wesley traipsed downstairs to the entry hall and dressed for the snow. Without a word, the two boys headed over to Zilch’s vacant house. Before Rollie hopped through the cellar window, Wesley stopped him.
“Be careful—you mean a lot to us,” he told Rollie. “Besides, if it wasn’t for you, I would still be working for Zilch without knowing it. And we wouldn’t be about to catch him now. Holmes has always been my hero, but you know what? I think you might be my new Holmes.”
Rollie smiled. “You’re a good friend and good comrade, Wesley Livingston. I’m glad you’ve got my back today.”
“And I’m glad you’ve got my back, Rollie Wilson.”
The boys shook hands solidly. Then Rollie hopped through the window, leaving Wesley outside to guard. He was relieved to find the upstairs study empty. With a little difficulty, he pried open the window, so he and Wesley could hear each other’s whistles more clearly. He paced the small room, stopping every so often to peer out the window.
He wondered what he and Zilch would discuss. He hoped that help would arrive on time. He did not have a watch, so he had no idea what time it was. It seemed like he had been there forever, but it probably had been only about ten minutes.
His middle fluttered, his heart pounded, and his palms sweated. He tore off his mittens. Of all the daring escapades he had done in the past, this was by far the most dangerous. He felt the most—
