Michael Holmes: Secret Son of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 16: Not ready for change

Michael arrived in the music room rather early- he wanted to practice the song a few more times first. The instruments were already placed on the stage, early preparations for the music band. He didn't want to admit that he was actually quite nervous. Ridiculous emotions.

He was disturbed by the sounds of footsteps. One by one, the entire group entered the room and picked up their instruments. "You're early." June told him. She could tell that his hands were slightly shivering. "Don't worry about it. It's just a rehearsal."

They stood at their positions on the stage. "Ready?" Noah's voice spread across the room. Quite frankly, Michael was not ready, but just as he was about to say something, June already started to play the intro song on the piano.

He had to start playing. It's too late to saw any 'but's now. He took a deep breathe, held the guitar and started pulling on the strings. All the instruments were all starting to fit together, all the different music fitting into one piece, crescendo and decrescendo, fortissimo (ff) and pianissimo (pp), legato and staccato.

The music filled the entire school, and finally, the ending note.

They set down their instruments and sighed in relief. "Great job, everybody!" Sally smiled. Michael was just relieved that he didn't screw anything up. "Mike, you're great as the guitarist! Especially since you just joined."

Oh, God. People staring and smiling at me again. "... Thanks." Michael said, a bit awkwardly. June bumped him slightly and smiled at him, and he could feel his face turning red. "See? I told you, you'll do fine!"

"Okay, let's rehearse this song one more time before we go home." Noah said as they pick up their instruments again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You still blocking it?" Lestrade asked Sally Donovan.

"Yeah, very efficiently hacked. They must be bloody pleased with themselves."

"They must be!"

They had been working on this case and tracking the Waters family (the robbers) for 18 months now, and after the millionth time on failing to capture them in the act, they made sure that this time everything went smoothly.

The Waters family continued to break into the bank, not knowing that both of them are hiding in a car outside, watching their every move. *HACKING DETECTED* is shown on the big screen of Sally's laptop, and Lestrade couldn't help but grin.

A group of polices run into the bank, Sally and Greg among them. "Right then?"

"Oh no! No, you've go to make the arrest. This one's yours, boss." She looked proudly at the police inspector.

"You've never called me 'boss' before." She smiled along with him.

"Look what happens when you're good!"

"You know how most days aren't good days? This is a good day." Greg is starting to feel pretty good about his accomplishment.

"Not for the Waters family."

Suddenly, a beep could be heard from Lestrade's pocket. "Okay, ten men on the roof, all exits covered, the bank's closed, so there are no hostages to worry about..."

Another beep. Sally turned to him. "Sorry, no, go on, go on." He looked a bit embarrassed. Today is a good day. Let's not ruin it, yeah? Greg reminded himself.

"Um, we've got the tunnel entrance covered, and Davies, Willard and Christie are heading up our Response on Mafeking Road." Beep. Beep. He took a look at the notifications. Of course it's him.