Olivia told her story to Basil, who took the case, and was smoking his pipe. "This case is most intriguing with its multiplicity of elements... it's many twists and turns." He turned to Olivia. "Now, you're certain you've told me everything? The slightest detail may be important." He asked. "It's just as I said. And then my father was gone." Olivia answered. I turn to look at Basil. "W-what do you m-make of i-it?" I asked. He begins to pace while me and Olivia follow him. "Hmm. Ratigan's up to something. A crime of the most sinister nature no doubt. The question is... what would he want with a toy maker?" I was thinking the same thing. What would he want with a toy maker? I heard Olivia scream. Basil and I turned to her to see a bat at the window. Fidget. He fell to the ground. "Quickly Dawson, we've not a moment to lose!" Basil said. "Uh, uh I'm right behind you Basil." Dawson said and went after him.

I rushed over to Olivia and started comforting her. "I-it's all right, O-Olivia. T-there's nothing to be a-afraid of." Basil came running in with some sort of hate and I moved Olivia out of the way. Dawson came in right after Basil. "The scoundrel's quit gone." Dawson said to Olivia. "Aha! But not for long, Miss Flamhammer." Basil said while taking off his house robe. "Flaversham!" Olivia exasperated. "Whatever." Basil said dismissively. "Now, we simply pursue our peg-legged friend until he leads us to the girl's father." Basil explained. Olivia looked happy. "Then you'll get my daddy back?" Olivia asked while she ran over and hugged him tightly. I giggled a little. I saw Basil blushing. "Yes!" He pushed Olivia off him. "And quite soon, if I'm not mistaken. Now, hurry along, Dawson. We must be off to... Toby's." Basil said while he was putting on an inverse cape from a suit of armor. "Toby's?" Dawson asked. "Oh, you must meet him. He is just the chap for this." Basil said while putting on a deerstalker hat. "You-you want me to come?"

"Ha! I should think stouthearted army mouse like you would leap at the chance for adventure."

"Well, heh, heh, I am rather curious as well."

"Wait for me! I'm coming too!" Olivia said while she grabbed her hat and scarf, knocking over Basil's violin in the process. I leaped and grabbed the violin just in time before it fell to the ground. "What? Certainly not! This is no business for children." Basil came over to me and picked up his violin all while giving me a sincere smile. I smile back and feel my face heat up again. He put his violin back on his chair. "Are we going to take a cab?" Basil sighs annoyed. "Oh... my dear..." Basil grabs Olivia's hand. "I don't think you understand." I saw that he was about to sit on his violin. "It will be quite... dangerous." At the last second, I grab the violin before Basil can sit on it. Basil looked at me with an astonished look since I saved his violin in a flash but also a scared look since his violin was almost history. "Thank you, Ms. Storey."

"P-please. C-call me S-Shyla."

"Then, thank you, Shyla."

My heart skipped a beat when he said my name. What is this feeling I have? I've never felt this feeling before. "Shyla, you shall stay with miss Flanghanger."
"Flaversham!" Olivia corrected him. "B-but she is y-your client. S-she should c-come with y-you." I tried to reason. Basil shakes his head in disagreement. "It's too dangerous. Especially for a lady like you." D... did he just...? Now he really pushed my buttons. "Oh! Because I'm a lady I'm not allowed to go!? Because she's a little girl, and your client, she's not allowed to go!?" I walk closer to Basil. "Because I'm a LADY!? Well, I can do more than any other 'lady' you've come across! I'll look after Olivia as if she were my sister! So we are coming with you, weather you like it or not, and that is FINAL!" I was already close to his face. Basil looked bewildered by my outburst. I know I said that I am shy no matter who I'm with, but if you push my buttons I lose my timid trait. I realized how close I am to Basil's face. I feel my face heat up again but I keep my angry look on my face. What is happening to me!? I saw some pink on Basil's face. I backed away from Basil. "Well, then... come along everyone." Basil said, at a lost of words. And so we followed him.

Some of the chapters from here on out will be shorter than what I normally write. Sorry if that's a problem. See you in the next chapter!