Soon Sherlock begins checking the post less frequently and to alleviate his boredom he begins reading the papers. Sherlock has just turned twelve when he decides to take on his first case. In the newspaper it said that a boy named Carl Powers drowned while at a swim meet. The story said that it was an unfortunate accident but Sherlock suspects darker motives were at play. That day he goes down to the pool to investigate unfortunately dogs are not allowed so I am left behind. I wait patiently for his return and the minute I hear the lock click on the door I bound downstairs to greet him. He absentmindedly ruffles my fur lost in thought. I follow him as he paces around the house talking to either himself or me, I am not quite certain. "Why would the killer take his trainers? What was so important about them? Those are the only way I'm going to catch the killer I need to find them." So the search begins Sherlock goes to the swimming pool every day he is free and checks the surrounding dumpsters and alleyways. He brings me to see if I could smell anything but our efforts are hopeless. Sherlock hit dead end. He still tried to solve the case, convinced that Carl was poisoned but without the evidence he can't know for certain. Finally one day he collapses on the bed and whispers to me, "I am delusional Redbeard I can't be a detective I can't even solve a simple case." I think a plan to help him feel better and the execution of it is simple. I have long since learned how to open the front door by batting the handle with my paws. I then trot over to John's house and stand on two legs using my nose to ring the bell. John pulls open the door and smiles at me. He is growing into a muscular young man, quite the opposite of Sherlock's lanky tall stature. "Hello Redbeard," he greets me. I wag my tail in response. "Where is Sherlock?" John questions looking around. I duck under his hand so it was resting on my head and he allows me to lead him to where Sherlock is moping. John sat beside him while Sherlock, rather grudgingly, explained the details of the unsolved case. John listened quietly and when Sherlock was finished he grabs his hand and pulls him up exclaiming, "Come on I know how to cheer you up."
