The Adventures of the Holmes Club

Chapter 4: Halloween

***Louis***

"So you figured out what the clue means?" Nadia asked.

"Yeah, that's what I just said." I replied, and pulled a map from my backpack. I spread it out on the table. I had drawn some marks with a red Sharpie.

Penny leaned over to look, "A clothing store?" her eyes scanned the rest of the paper, "Why three clothing stores?"

"It said it was something we wear." I replied, defensively.

"Oh, okay. So, a clothing store, but one that isn't that big because that would attract attention."

I nodded, "Exactly, so I found all the possible locations and narrowed it down from there. It's kind of complicated." I pointed to a place on the map, "This is Lulu's, a clothing store across the street from a Carl's Jr."

Nadia looked bewildered, "And why does that matter?"

Alina looked up from her last burger, "Because they have food?"

Penny's eyes got wide, "In the South and Midwest, Carl's Jr. is called Hardee's! Something hard that you can wear!"

I nodded again, "Exactly. Singularly, it makes no sense, but when you put it all together, sort of."

Sophie shook her head, "No, Louis. It makes no sense. I think you're wrong."

"Do you have anything better?" I retorted.

Sophie shrank back in her seat, "Good point."

"At least it's somewhere to start. We all need to meet tomorrow at 5:15 outside Lulu's. Bring food and jackets, we could be outside for a while."

***Sophie***

Seriously, Louis' theory makes no sense.

I wonder if Max has anymore lollipops.

***Nadia***

I want another burger. Seriously, I really want another one. Will Alina buy me one if I ask? Oh, I wonder if Max will get me ice cream, but not that green barf stuff, that's gross.

***Alina***

I wonder if I could get more hamburgers.

***Max***

I don't want to go outside tomorrow. I want to stay home and eat ice cream while I watch horror movies.

***Penny***

I don't want to go out tomorrow night.

I really don't. It is Halloween, after all.

******

***Max***

I took my binder and cell phone with me. I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. I also grabbed more lollipops. I don't know exactly why.

***Nadia***

I skipped dance practice for this, I hope it's somewhat entertaining. Geez, I sound like Penny right now.

***Alina***

I debated taking my trumpet.

Yeah, I'm totally taking it. Who doesn't love a trumpet.

No! Don't be stupid, how moronic can you be?

And so on like that until I decided that I shouldn't take it because it was purely foolish.

***Penny***

I'm pretty good at packing for things, usually. In this case though, I just stuffed everything into a bag without checking it off my list. How could I be sure I had everything without a list?

***Louis***

I wonder if I should be dragging them into this. Last time something bad happened, the cause and effect was horrible.

I do need their help though.

***Sophie***

I took my cellphone and two sandwiches and a water bottle (filled of course), and put them in my backpack. I'd like to say it wasn't conspicuous, but the number of pins and stickers on it make that impossible.

***Penny***

I arrived at exactly 5:15, and looked around. I was pretty sure, along with everyone else, that Louis was wrong. It was just a matter of time until we figured everything out. Nadia, then Louis, then Sophie, then Max, then Alina arrived.

We sat outside the store quietly for a few minutes before anyone spoke.

"So, what's going to happen?" Max asked, "Do you guys want lollipops?"

Louis answered him, "Presumably, something will happen at half past five. If we keep watching, we might see someone."

We waited a few more minutes before I spoke again, "Max, do you have the letter?"

He took it out of his bag and handed it to me. I looked it over.

"Guys, we're in the wrong place."

Louis turned around and glared at me, "And where are we supposed to be?"

I looked at the letter again, "A jewelry store."

"How do you know that?" Louis asked.

"Half past five, five a half carats, hard, diamonds are the hardest known material, wear, you wear jewelry. A store about three blocks from here is having a sale on earrings, diamond earrings, five and a half carats total."

"Well then let's go."

We got up and started running, Max, who was in front of the group, turned and ran backward, "Hey guys, if we have time after, we should go trick-or-treating!"