Waking Nightmares(Lined Bullets)- A GMD Fiction

Chapter 2: A New Case

       I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had since before the nightmares started up again. I sat up slowly and looked around only to find that Dawson had never gotten to bed, but instead dozed off in the chair. I smiled at myself. I don't know what I would do without my good doctor. I silently slipped out of my bed and grabbed an extra blanket from my closet, draping it lightly around Dawson. Then, wrapping my evening jacket around me, I left my room as quiet as... well as quiet as a mouse.
       When I reached the living area, I could already smell Ms. Judson cooking in the kitchen. I poked my head into the kitchen and smiled at my landlady as she hurried around and not paying any attention to me. I went back to the living area and decided to write a letter to Ms. Flabb... Fling... Flaversham! That's right. A few weeks after Dawson and I had cracked the case, she and her father left to live and recuperate in Scotland. I had been receiving letters from Olivia weekly ever since, but I had rarely replied. I quickly wrote down my thoughts, finished the letter, placed it in an envelope, and set it aside with several other letters that needed to be sent. I looked through other mail... letters of thanks... bills... hmm, that's peculiar. And among all these letters was one from my brother, Byron.
       "Mr. Basil," came the gentle voice of Ms. Judson. "Are you alright? I heard you screaming last night, but when I heard Dr. Dawson enter your room I left it to him."
       "I'm fine, Ms. Judson, thank you for your concern," I smiled. "The good doctor, however, is asleep in my room in the chair."
       "I guess I'll go and--"
       "No need, Ms. Judson, I will take care of it."
       I got up from my favorite chair, passing a rather shocked Ms. Judson and went back to my room to fetch the good doctor. When I entered, he was the same as I had left him, but breakfast was almost ready and if I remembered correctly from all the times I tried to skip the "most important meal of the day," it would not be a good day for either of us if I did not wake him. I walked all the way to the chair and nudged him, but he never stirred.
       "Dawson," I whispered. "Dawson, old boy, wake up! Dawson? DAWSON!"
       He woke up with a start and grabbed for his military issued pistol which, thankfully, was not at his side. He eased up a bit, but gave me a look of pure agitation.
       "Basil," he huffed. "If ever I am confronted with the question of whether or not I know what it's like to have children, I will simply gesture to you."
       "I'm not that bad am I?"
       I gave an embarrassed smile and offered my hand to him to help him up. We soon made it to the kitchen for breakfast. While Dawson and Ms. Judson cleaned the dishes (for some reason they never trust me with cleaning them), I set out to practice my violin. I played a piece I had written after solving my first case. It wasn't a particularly happy tune... in fact, many said it had a rather mysterious tone. I was soon interrupted by several knocks at the door. As I made my way to the door, the gears in my head began to turn, wondering what possible case I would get this time.
       I opened the door a crack, but slammed it closed again. Dawson peeked out from the kitchen with a questioning look on his face.
       "Basil," he asked. "Was that a new client? Why on Earth would you slam the door in their face?"
       I shook my head. "There are approximately ten couples waiting outside our door. They couldn't possibly all have the same problem could they?"
       Dawson shrugged, not sure what to say. I turned back to the door and opened it once more. All ten couples looked at me with hope in each of their eyes.
       "I'm assuming you all have the same problem?" They nodded. "Send in one of you to speak for you all."
       There was a bit of mumbling then a male Ginger mouse came up. I let him in and shut the door. Dawson offered him his usual seat as I sat down in my favorite red one.
       "What seems to be the issue Mr..."
       "D-Doyle. My name is Archy Doyle," he said in a mild Irish accent. I looked him intently, trying to deduce all that I could about him. His eyes were red and puffy with moist cheeks meaning he had been crying. He had bags under his eyes meaning he hadn't slept.
       "Alright then, Mr. Doyle, what is the situation? How come there are so many mice on my front door?"
       "It's my-- our children, Mr. Detective. They have vanished."
       At first I scoffed. Children don't vanish out of thin air... but something kept me from my usual rant about the supernatural and that they must have just wandered off, or something of the sort. He looked hurt and lost. I sighed and looked towards Dawson for advice. He motioned me to keep going.
       "Was there anything of importance? Did they... possibly run into someone? Someone a bit off, perhaps?"
       Mr. Doyle shook his head. I could tell that nothing was coming to mind.
       "Were the children of similar relation? Did they go to an academy together?"
        "No, I believe not, but from what I gathered from the other parents, our children were all the top of their classes."
       "Really? How very strange."
       I was deeply puzzled by this. No less than ten children have gone missing, most likely kidnapped, with no similarities or relations except all being the top in their classes. Suddenly, I realized that I was leaving Mr. Doyle with no answers or solutions. I walked over to the grandfather clock, opened the small door and pulled out my inverness coat and deer stalker hat, and then I took Mr. Doyle with me outside. I looked at all the solemn looking mice and sighed.
       "First of all," I said. "I'd liked to apologize for my original reaction. It was wrong of me. And now I need to confront another matter. I'm afraid that with the information that Mr. Doyle gave me, there is not much I can do."
       I looked around and for a second, all the mice seemed to be dead inside.
       "Fortunately, I'm not known for giving up quite that easily."
       They looked at in surprise at first, then relief, and then joy.
       "Thank you!"
       "Bless you detective, bless you!"
       "We are in your debt."
       "You are all very welcome," I said. "Now go back home and rest."
       Eventually, all the parents left and I was left with Dawson and Ms. Judson. I shut the door behind me and turned to find Dawson somewhat perplexed.
       "Basil, did you just take a case that has barely any evidence?"
       "Why... yes, I believe I just did."
       "But why?"
       "Their faces. I have never felt a greater need to solve a case like this after seeing how lost and hurt they were. I can't allow those parents feel such things without knowing that I didn't try to find there children. I think it is because your empathy for others is growing on me, Dawson. It is quite an odd... Feeling."
       Dawson smiled. "So, what's our first step?"
       "I'm so very glad you asked, old friend."
       I began to go through my things as I explained what our plan was to be.
       It was official.
       I had a new case.