by F. C. Shaw
“That was his plan all along.”
“How could he have planned that?” Auntie Ei spoke up.
“Zilch told me to bring Wesley as my lookout. He lured me onto the roof to be out of the way. This is all my fault!”
Ms. Yardsly gripped Rollie’s shoulder. “Rollin, this is not your fault! Scotland Yard will find them.”
“We will get Wesley back,” Headmaster Yardsly agreed. “Especially since we have half of the MUS list. If we move quickly enough, we can at least arrest half of his agents. That’s a victory we must not neglect. Let’s return to your house, Rollin. I told Euston to call there with a report.”
The group returned to the Wilson manor. Rollie’s parents were still in town, so he invited everyone into the parlor. He sat on the floor by the fire with Cecily and Eliot. Since he was so distracted with the turn of events, he had forgotten to take off his coat.
Cecily pulled if off his shoulders. “I guess you need a new coat,” she muttered, examining the frayed threads that had once held a sleeve together.
“ROLLIN!” Headmaster Yardsly said as he sat down on the sofa. “Tell me about your meeting with Herr Zilch.”
Rollie relayed the conversation and the struggle on the rooftop. He did not go into detail about Zilch’s opinions of Auntie Ei. He would talk to her about that in private. However, he was sure to tell every detail Zilch had said about the Final Problem.
“This worries me,” Headmaster Yardsly admitted. “Not only does the nature of it worry me , but it also worries me that Zilch intentionally wanted us to know about it. WHAT DOES HE MEAN?”
“We have a few months to decipher it,” Ms. Yardsly stated calmly. “We should utilize Euston.”
“EUSTON! Why hasn’t he called yet?” Headmaster leapt up and paced the carpet. “Why did Zilch kidnap Wesley? He doesn’t know anything about MUS.”
“Wesley thought it was for revenge,” said Rollie.
Headmaster shook his head. “That seems too petty. When it comes to Zilch, we must always think deeper and smarter. There is another reason, but I’m not sure what it is.”
Ring-ring!
Everyone jumped to his or her feet—even Auntie Ei. Headmaster Yardsly rushed to the telephone by the stairs.
“EUSTON?”
The group waited breathlessly with him.
“WHAT? I see. Very well. Yes, I think that’s best. Good-bye.” Yardsly hung up the phone and turned to them. “They lost Zilch.”
Moans and groans filled the room.
“Scotland Yard nearly caught up to them on Prince Albert Road but got separated by the traffic in Trafalgar Square. MUS boarded a train at Victoria station. Euston is returning so we can make a better plan. We’ve had one victory though. We got Zilch’s secretary!”
“Finally!” Auntie Ei breathed.
“She was caught trying to board the train at Victoria Station. They’re taking her to the Yard for questioning.”
“I almost forgot!” cried Rollie. “There’s more bad news. Zilch burned his journal.”
“WHAT? We needed that journal for clues!” Yardsly ran a hand over his face.
“I’m so sorry, sir! I shouldn’t have given it to him. I thought we’d get it back when we arrested him. I didn’t think he’d burn it and now—”
“He didn’t burn it,” Cecily interrupted.
“Yes, he did! He lit it with his lighter and threw it—”
Cecily shook her head. “He burned a journal, but not his journal.”
“What are you talking about?”
Cecily ran over to her coat hanging on the hall tree by the front door. Out of a pocket, she retrieved a cover-less journal. She handed it to Headmaster Yardsly. “I tore it from the leather cover. Rollie, remember that journal I bought from Mycroft’s Mercantile? I glued it inside the leather cover. That’s what Herr Zilch burned.”
Yardsly flipped through the pages and beamed. “WELL DONE!”
Rollie gaped at his comrade. “Why did you do that, and why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve learned not to underestimate Zilch. Holmes always said to stay in control of the clues. I thought it was too risky to lose a clue as important as that journal. And I didn’t tell you, Rollie, because if Zilch discovered it was a fake, I didn’t want you to get in trouble. If you were just as shocked as him to find it was a fake, maybe Zilch wouldn’t blame you and you’d be safe. You know I was worried about your safety all along.”
Rollie stared at her with admiration. “You’re quite brilliant, Watson.”
“Thank you, Holmes. Though I have to admit I got the idea to switch the covers from Eliot and his cover-switching.”
Eliot pointed a finger at her. “I told you it was a good idea!”
“Sir, we have to get Wesley back—we have to!” Rollie urged.
Yardsly nodded resolutely. “We will. Do not fear. Katherine, I think we had better go next door and search for clues.”
Ms. Yardsly followed her brother out of the house.
“Wesley will be okay, won’t he?” Cecily asked, her eyes misting over. “They won’t hurt him, will they?”
Auntie Ei frowned a deeper frown than usual. “Let us hope for the best. Rollin, I would like a word with you.” She led him into the library and closed the door. After seating herself in the armchair, she took a deep breath. “I am proud of you for standing up against Herr Zilch.”
Rollie frowned. “Even though you didn’t want me to be a detective . . . and you didn’t want me to go to the Academy.”
“Are you still brooding over that letter you found in my desk?”
“And the ones from you to Headmaster—I found them in my Sherlock Holmes volume in the secret library. I don’t understand!”
Auntie Ei sighed. “I have always wanted you to go to the Academy and be a great detective, but I wanted those things for you only if you wanted them for yourself. I did not want you to become a detective just because of me. I would rather you not attend the Academy and become exactly what you want to be. I believe this firmly, especially because of the danger of MUS, and more specifically Herr Zilch.”
“In one of your letters, you said you didn’t want me going to school just because of who you are—you’re on the school board,” said Rollie. “You also said something about who I will be. Does that have to do with our family lineage you mentioned a few months ago?”
Auntie Ei nodded. “Yes, but that discussion must keep for another day.”
“Auntie, just tell me—”
Auntie Ei held up a wrinkled hand. “I will tell you when it is the right time. Will you trust me on this?”
Rollie nodded reluctantly.
“Good. Do remember to believe in yourself regardless of what other people think of you—even me. You will need to be sure of yourself if you are going to stand up against Herr Zilch. You know how he hates the Academy and me and now you.”
“I know why he hates Sherlock Holmes—Holmes defeated Moriarty. Is that why he hates the Academy, or does it have something to do with your past history together? He was an associate of yours when you all worked at Scotland Yard together. Was he really a member of the Holmes Brigade just like you and the Yardslys?”
Auntie Ei pursed her lips. “Yes. The Holmes Brigade has been a classified division of the Yard for many years—long before Sherlock Academy. The Brigade was established to directly investigate, solve, and prevent MUS crime. When the Academy opened, the Yard established a student chapter of the Brigade to protect the school from MUS.
“The four of us—the Yardslys, Frederick Zilch, and myself—formed the first Holmes Brigade. Unknown to us, Zilch was working as a double agent for MUS. He betrayed not only the Brigade, but Scotland Yard as well. When we exposed him, he openly joined MUS and quickly became its leader.”
“I thought the reason he hated you was because you got him fired.�
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“No, he got himself fired.” Her voice grew soft and her eyes took on a faraway look as she remembered the past. “That was perhaps the darkest day of my life—the day Zilch betrayed us. He nearly killed us all, too . . . there was a fire . . . ” She shook her head and her voice strengthened again. “You have no doubt seen his hands.”
Rollie nodded. The past was making more sense. “Mr. Bartholomew Holmes told me you have to be invited to join the Holmes Brigade. Is there any chance of me getting invited?”
“That is not for me to decide. I am no longer an active Brigade member. After that incident in October with Watson’s Case, I have decided to officially retire from Brigade and Yard duties. I shall continue to serve on the school board, but I am too old to be gallivanting after MUS.” Auntie Ei closed her eyes. “I have a headache.”
Rollie cast his eyes to the ground. “I’m sorry, Auntie.”
“For what, may I ask? My headache?”
“For searching your room and for calling you an old woman.”
“How absurd! I am an old woman, and you are a young man. However, I accept your apology in regards to your ransacking my room. I trust you will never give me cause to distrust you again.”
“And I’m sorry for eavesdropping on you and Headmaster on Boxing Day,” Rollie continued with a swallow. “I overheard you mention a will. Can you tell me more about that?”
Auntie Ei looked as if she was going to scold him, then softened and said, “Not today, Rollin. Anything else you have to apologize for?”
“Yes, Auntie. I doubted you and thought horrible things about you. I was angry. I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you.” She nodded, tucking a loose wisp of gray hair back into her bun. “I apologize for not giving you more credit as a detective and for having to keep secrets from you. All I ask for is your trust. Do remember I am always on your side.”
Rollie turned to leave, then stopped. “I almost forgot. Zilch returned your underwear.”
“Did he! Well, the day was not a complete failure then,” she said with chuckle. “I do not suppose he returned Watson’s Case.”
“Yeah, he did. It’s up in his study.”
Auntie Ei brightened. “Thank heavens! Fetch it immediately.”
Rollie left her in the library. Cecily and Eliot had joined Headmaster and Ms. Yardsly next door to investigate for clues regarding Wesley’s abduction. He bundled up. His one sleeveless arm was a little cold beneath his sweater, but he did not notice. On the front porch, he paused, and collapsed on the steps. He would get the case for Auntie Ei, but first he needed a moment to catch his breath.
He was exhausted. While he was glad to have made amends with Auntie Ei and better understood her past, he was still confused. He wished she would tell him about his lineage—it would help him understand himself more.
He remembered Uncle Ky’s words: “Don’t let people define you. If anything’s going to define you, it should be your strong character and your moral convictions.”
Maybe Auntie Ei was right—maybe it was best he did not know about his lineage until he was absolutely sure of himself. He could not define himself out of obligation to others. Sherlock Holmes never did that. Holmes never cared what other people thought about him. As a result, he was a great detective.
As he pondered this, he spotted Euston Hood marching through the snow up the front walk. Euston carried Watson’s Case with him and handed it to Rollie.
“I found this in Zilch’s study. It was full of underwear,” Euston said, his face reddening slightly. “Any idea—”
“It belongs to my Auntie Ei,” Rollie said quickly. “All of it.” With a grin, he told Euston how he had tricked Zilch with the Case.
Euston responded with a smile, which led to a chuckle. “Nice job. I’m sure that made Zilch’s blood boil.”
“Any luck finding Wesley, Mr. Hood?”
Euston’s face clouded. “Not yet, but we will exhaust all resources to find him. We hope to gain information from the secretary. I better get back to helping Yardsly and Katherine.” He turned to head back down the front walk to the street.
Suddenly, an idea lit up Rollie’s face. “Mr. Hood! You’re Herr Zilch’s nephew, aren’t you!”
Euston returned to the porch and joined Rollie on the front steps. “I was.”
“That’s your connection to MUS and Zilch. That’s why Yardsly uses you as his spy. Zilch knew I knew you.”
“That is all correct.”
“We all think you are very brave, Mr. Hood, for turning on your uncle to help Sherlock Academy,” Rollie said.
“Thank you. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.” Euston stared off at the slushy street. “I no longer think of myself as Herr Zilch’s nephew, or as the once-potential heir to MUS. Instead I am an ally to Sherlock Academy and all its participants. I am Herr Zilch’s worst enemy.”
“Auntie Ei wants to be sure I am choosing to be a detective for myself, especially because of the danger of Herr Zilch. I know I want to stop him no matter the cost.”
“I think you proved that today.” Euston locked eyes with him. “Mr. Wilson, I would like to officially invite you to join the Holmes Brigade.”
Rollie’s eyes widened. “Really? You have the authority to do that?”
Euston cracked an amused smile. “Yes, I do. As a member of the last Holmes Brigade, I have the privilege of selecting and advising the next Brigade. Today you proved you were willing to fight MUS no matter the cost. That’s exactly who the Brigade needs.”
“Who else will be in the Brigade with me? Aren’t there always four members?”
“Yes, and the four members have specific jobs. There is always a master decoder, a master observer, a Baker Street Irregular, and an inspector. You’ll make a perfect inspector. You are well rounded in all sleuth skills and exhibit extraordinary amounts of courage and leadership for your age.”
Rollie beamed.
“I would like to invite Mr. Tildon as our decoder and Miss Brighton as our observer. You three work well together. Mr. Crisp has already been selected as the BSI.”
“Rupert! We’ll make a great team. Did you consider Wesley?”
Euston shook his head. “We need first-years for the new Brigade. This is Wesley’s last year.”
“So what’s your job in your Brigade?”
Euston smiled again. “I’m the Baker Street Irregular. Sullivan Yardsly took me in when I betrayed my uncle and he disowned me. As an orphan, I’ve been working closely with Yardsly ever since to stop MUS. So will you accept my invitation?”
“Yes, Mr. Hood, yes! I can’t wait to get to work against MUS.”
Euston clapped Rollie on the back. “You’ve already been doing that, Rollie. This just makes it more official.” He got up and headed next door.
Rollie watched him go but stayed put on the front step, growing colder as the brief daylight began to fade. He reflected on the past months since he had been attending Sherlock Academy. He remembered how he had exposed Zilch’s agent Professor Enches and kept Zilch from gaining important personal information on the students and the school’s alumni, many of whom had gone on to work with Scotland Yard. He remembered how he had intercepted Zilch’s mole, Wesley, and kept Watson’s manuscripts safe from MUS. He had done all this because he felt it was his duty to protect the school, not because anyone had pressured him to do it.
He wanted to be like Sherlock Holmes because he shared the great detective’s love for mysteries and responsibility for upholding justice. Yes, Auntie Ei had introduced him to Holmes, but he himself had formed the attachment.
Rollie stood up. He set Watson’s Case just inside the front door then headed next door. As he plowed through the snow toward Zilch’s vacant house, he was met by Cecily and Eliot on their way back.
“Did Euston talk to you?” he asked them excitedly.
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br /> “Yes! He wants us to join the Holmes Brigade,” Cecily squealed. “I’m so excited!”
“I need to think about it,” said Eliot. “It’s a dangerous position to be in.”
Rollie patted his shoulder. “It is, Eliot. Oh, did Euston tell you he’s Zilch’s nephew?”
Cecily and Eliot gasped.
“He’s the brave nephew?” Eliot shook his head in awe. “Crikey! And he thinks I’m brave enough to join his Holmes Brigade.”
At that moment, Euston came through Zilch’s garden gate and stopped next to the kids. “Listen, as the BSI of the last Brigade, I am the acting advisor for you. There are some formalities we need to follow for you to join the Holmes Brigade. There is an oath you’ll take and training you’ll need to start, but right now, Wesley’s kidnapping is more pressing. So in the meantime, you can have these.” Euston dug into his inner coat pocket and held out three leather wristbands etched with the Sign of the Four symbol.
Rollie and Cecily immediately grabbed them and snapped them around their wrists.
Eliot looked at the wristband, then up at Euston. “You’re incredible, Mr. Hood, and you want me to join the Brigade. That means you must think I’m worthy. That’s the way it works; brave people recognize other brave people.” Eliot snatched the wristband and put it on.
“For once, you’re making sense to me, Mr. Tildon.”
Eliot grinned. “Would it be alright if I created a secret handshake for our Brigade? I’m thinking something that—”
“Don’t get carried away.” Euston placed a gloved hand on Eliot’s shoulder. “I’m hopeful we’ll uncover Zilch’s Final Problem, I’m hopeful we’ll find Wesley, and I’m hopeful we’ll stop MUS once and for all.”
Rollie grinned and held out his hand.
Euston gripped it in a firm handshake. With a smile, he added, “Welcome to the Holmes Brigade!”
If you love
Sherlock Academy: The Holmes Brigade,
keep reading for a look at F.C. Shaw’s fantasy The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue
or click the cover to get the whole book now!
