~ Chapter One
~~~~ Lavender Mouse

     The clock tower in London chimed six as the twenty-eight year old reporter, Lavender Mouse, turned the corner and walked down Baker Street. She was going to interview the famous mouse detective, Basil of Baker Street about his latest problem, The Case of the Missing Accountant, for the London Times. Her grey skirt tapped at her ankles as Lavender found flat number 221B and knocked on the door. She nervously fiddled with her notebook as an older short woman answered her knock.

     “Hello. Is this the flat of Basil of Baker Street?” Lavender asked.

     “Indeed it is.” answered the woman with a Scottish accent.

     “My name is Lavender Mouse and I’m a reporter for the London Times. I was wondering if I could interview Mr. Basil about his latest case.”

     “He should be home soon.” the woman said kindly. “I’m Mrs. Judson, Mr. Basil’s housekeeper. You may come in and sit down to wait.”

     “Thank you.” Lavender walked into the small flat to find papers scattered everywhere. There were things all over the ground and a violin out of its case next to a high-backed, red armchair. Lavender sat down in a green chair opposite of the red one.

     She turned her head away from the blazing fire in the fireplace and looked upon the other side of the room. On a long table was a chemistry set. Fascinated, Lavender got up and walked closer. Smoke of many different colors floated up to the air. Lavender was so interested by the chemistry set that she did not hear the door of the flat open.

~ Chapter Two
~~~~ Enter Basil of Baker Street

     "Hello?”

     Lavender heard a voice from behind her. She quickly turned and saw a tall man in an Inverness cape looking back at her.

     “Oh, I’m sorry. This must be yours and you must be Basil of Baker Street. My name is Lavender Mouse from the...”

     “I know.” said Basil, lighting his pipe.

     “I...You do? How?” Lavender asked, confused.

     Basil grinned. “You have in your pocket, I see, a blue notebook. All reporters from the London Times, the paper you work for, have notebooks like yours. Also, the only person you could be here to interview me and interviewing me is your intention.”

     Lavender gaped. “Oh my...that’s amazing, Mr. Basil!”

     “It’s elementary, Miss Mouse. When would be a good time for your interview?”

     “Anytime would be fine, Mr. Basil. Is Sunday alright for you?”

     “Sunday’s fine. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a case to attend to.” He turned to leave as quickly as he came in.

     Basil began to walk to the door when Lavender said, “Mr. Basil? Could I come with you? You know, to get some ideas for my article.”

     “I’m not sure I should let you. It may be dangerous.” Basil thought and added, “But I suppose you can come since Dawson’s on that trip with his fiancée. Just as long as you stay out of the way.” Dr. Dawson was Basil’s associate and biographer. He wrote out the cases Basil solved.

     Lavender nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Basil.”

~ Chapter Three
~~~~ Barbara Flowers

     Basil led Lavender down Baker Street and turned at Victoria Street. Lavender turned to the detective and asked, “Mr. Basil, where are we going?”

     “To 742 Plum Street. There, lives a woman named Barbara Flowers. She came to my flat last night and I was busy so I told her I would come to her home.”

     The two made it to 742 Plum Street only to hear soft sobbing coming from inside. Basil knocked on the door and an younger maid with white and brown fur answered it.

     “Is Mrs. Barbara Flowers home at the moment?” Basil asked.

     “Yes, she is. Who may I tell her is calling?” asked the maid.

     “Basil of Baker Street.”

     The maid opened the door more and said, “Oh, yes. Right this way, Mr. Basil.”

     Basil and Lavender walked inside the dark house. The maid led them to a parlor where the windows were shut and a young woman in a blue dress and light brown hair was on the couch, crying.

     “Mrs. Flowers?” the maid called softly. “Mr. Basil is here.”

     “Thank you, Annabelle.” said Barbara looking up. “Mr. Basil, you may come in.”

     Basil suddenly remembered Lavender was with him and said, “Mrs. Flowers, this is Lavender Mouse, a reporter. She has come with me to get ideas for an article she is writing.”

     “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Mouse.”

     “You as well.” Lavender said.

     Basil looked at Barbara and began asking questions. “Mrs. Flowers, why did you come to my flat?”

     Barbara took a blue handkerchief away from her eye and began, “My husband, Arthur, and I were married two months ago. Just recently, he started the habit of staying out very late. He normally wouldn’t get home until one o’ clock in the morning. He wouldn’t tell me why he would go out, though. Two evenings ago, we got ourselves into a bit of a fight. Arthur still wouldn’t tell where he had been and I was getting worried.

     “In the end, he went up to our room and slammed the door. Some time later, I went up to see if he had calmed down any. When I opened the door, one of the windows was open and all of my jewelry was gone. I haven’t seen my husband since.”

     “Do you have a picture of your husband?” asked Basil.

     “Yes, there is a painting of Arthur and myself on the wall, above the fireplace.” Barbara pointed to a marble fireplace on the other side of the room.

     Basil looked at the picture. There with Barbara was a tall man in a top hat. He had a bent nose and a cape on. Basil grinned. He knew exactly who Arthur was.

~ Chapter Four
~~~~ Arthur Ratigan

     "How long have you known Arthur?” Basil asked, still looking at the picture.

     “About a year.” said Barbara.

     “You don’t know anything of his whereabouts before you met?”

     “No.”

     Basil quickly turned around and said, “Mrs. Flowers, you husband is not who you think he is!”

     “What?” breathed Barbara.

     “Arthur is the cousin of the notorious criminal, Professor Ratigan! He is acting like he is your husband to get your money.” Basil explained. Lavender looked up. She had heard the name before. She had help write the article for the London Times about when Basil finally beat the evil Professor Ratigan. After years of trying to track him down, the two fought at the top of Big Ben and Ratigan fell to his doom.

     “Oh my god... I...I can’t believe...” Barbara began to sob and Basil started pacing.

     Basil stopped and asked, “May we looked around in your room?”

     Barbara looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. “Of course. The steps are outside the room.”

     Basil opened the double doors and Lavender followed. The large bedroom had three windows. Basil took out his magnifying glass and began investigating. Lavender kept taking notes.

     Basil found the very corner of a jacket. “Do you see this?” he asked.

     Lavender looked up to find the piece of cloth right in front of her face. “Yes.” she answered.

     “This is the corner of a black, silk, jacket, size 14. The very jacket Arthur Ratigan is wearing in the picture downstairs.”

     Lavender nodded, promptly.

     Basil pointed at the window frame. “This is the window that Arthur went out with Mrs. Flowers jewelry.”

     Basil turned on his heel and left the room, silk cloth in hand. Lavender followed him downstairs where they found Annabelle comforting Barbara. “Mrs. Flowers?” he called out.

     Barbara looked up. “Yes?”

     “We found this in your room.” Basil held up the jacket corner. “I am taking back to my flat to do tests on it.” Barbara nodded. “I hope we will have good news for you soon.”

     “Thank you, Mr. Basil.” Barbara called as Basil led Lavender out the door.

     The two were a little way down Plum Street when Lavender said, “This case sounds very perplexing.”

     “Not as much as you may think. Once I do tests on this jacket corner. We will know where Arthur Ratigan has been going and where he is now.” Basil explained.

~ Chapter Five
~~~~ Back at Baker Street

     Lavender sat in a green chair back at Baker Street, revising what she had of her article. She looked up and saw Basil at his chemistry set, testing the jacket corner. He hadn’t spoken much since they had gotten back to the flat.

     “How very odd...” Basil muttered to himself.

     “What?” asked Lavender, getting up and walking over to the Detective.

     “These tests show that Arthur Ratigan has been in the sewers...”

     “Whatever’s so strange about that?” asked Lavender.

     “It means that he has taken over where his cousin, Professor Ratigan left off. He was killed nearly two months ago, around the time Arthur married Mrs. Flowers. He faked the name so he would not be recognized.” Basil explained.

     “Oh my... What are you to do about it?”

     “I’m going to the sewers disguised as Timothy Eliot, an agent of Ratigan’s.”

     “How do you know the real Timothy Eliot won’t be there?” asked Lavender.

     “Some time ago I heard that Eliot was out of town with his sister, Bella Ratigan, for purposes unknown. Inspector Vole of the Yard is looking into that.” Basil put the jacket corner in a small bag.

     “Was Bella related to Professor Ratigan?”

     Basil laughed. “She was his wife. They were married shortly before his death. He corrupted her. Bella was one of the kindest women in London but when she fell in love with the Professor she was doomed.”

     Lavender looked at the Detective hard. He had begun cleaning up his lab. Lavender felt a smile creep across her face. It was then that she realized it. She was falling in love with Basil of Baker Street.

     “Mr. Basil?” she called quietly.

     “Yes, Miss Mouse?”

     Lavender swallowed hard. “Can I come with you? To Ratigan’s place, I mean.”

     Basil looked back at Lavender. “Miss Mouse, this could be very dangerous. You could come if you were to promise me you would leave if I told you to. Arthur Ratigan will, without doubt, want revenge on me for...what happened to the Professor.”

     Lavender said, “Oh, Mr. Basil, I can leave now.”

     Basil pressed his fingertips together, as if he were thinking. Suddenly, he grinned. “No...You can go. I know exactly what you can do!”

     “What?” asked Lavender.

     “You can go in disguise as Eliot’s fiancée, Lucile Parker. She is currently in prison and won’t be there either. Can you do that for me?”

     Lavender smiled. “Of course, Mr. Basil.”

~ Chapter Six
~~~~ The Art of Disguise

     Colorful costumes flew across the room as Basil looked through the closet in his bedroom. Lavender stood behind him ducking flying clothes.

     “Here!” Basil threw a maroon sweater at her. Lavender caught it and inspected the sweater. Basil stood up and looked over her. “Can you wear the skirt you are wearing now?”

     Lavender nodded and said, “I suppose.”

     “Perfect!” said Basil. He gave Lavender a black hat and said, “There is a spare room at the end of the hallway. You may change there.”

     He lead Lavender out the door and shut it behind her. On her way down the hall, Lavender ran into Mrs. Judson.

     “Oh, hello, Ms. Mouse! Ye still here helping Mr. Basil?”

     “Yes.” Lavender looked at the door to Basil’s room and smiled. “He’s a very interesting mouse.”

     “Oh, yes! He’s up at strange hours in the night, playin’ that violin of his! Mr. Basil’s always got some strange experiment goin’ on in his lab. I’ve never seen anyone as ‘interesting’ as he is!” Mrs. Judson went on.

     Lavender was still gazing at his door and Mrs. Judson could tell she liked him. But the housekeeper knew how Basil was towards women and felt she should tell Lavender. “You know, Ms. Mouse, Mr. Basil’s never had many feelings for a woman.”

     Lavender turned to Mrs. Judson. “What do you mean?”

     Imitating Basil’s voice, Mrs. Judson put her hands on her hips and quoted from an earlier case. “‘Women are not entirely to be trusted. Not even the best of them.’ That’s a quote from one of the cases Dr. Dawson wrote up.” Mrs. Judson paused. “But he must like you a little, at least. He is letting you go with him to Ratigan’s place. Sometimes he doesn’t even let Dr. Dawson go with him!”

     Lavender smiled a bit and went back to the spare room as Mrs. Judson went back to cleaning. The room was dark so Lavender turned up the lamp. She quickly changed from her white blouse to the itchy maroon sweater Basil had given her. Looking in the mirror on the far wall, Lavender put on the back hat. She heard a door close in the hallway and figured it was Basil.

     Lavender opened the door and saw a man with brown hair standing in the hallway. He had on black pants and a red shirt. Over the shirt was a black jacket with the collar turned up. He had a notch out of both ears. His face had black smudges in some places and a few wiskers were on his nose.

     Lavender swallowed. “Excuse me.” she said.

     The man looked back and said, “Miss Mouse! I see you are nearly ready!” It was Basil!

     “Mr. Basil?” asked Lavender, in surprise. “I...I didn’t know it was you! You look so...different. How do you do it?”

     “Simply make-up and false wiskers. The notches in my ears are easy to produce as well.” Basil took the rubber notches off of his ears and explained that you roll up one part of your ear and put the notches on.

     “So, are we ready, Mr. Basil?” asked Lavender.

     “Not quite...” said Basil leading the reporter to a dresser and mirror in his bedroom. “You will need to wear make-up. You actually look a bit like Lucile Parker but not enough to fool the other mice.” Basil took a piece of white string and tied back Lavender’s auburn hair. He applied make-up to her face and put a notch in her left ear. The fake notches pinched a little but Lavender got used to it. Now they were ready for whatever Arthur Ratigan had planned.

~ Chapter Seven
~~~~ The Sewers

     Basil took Lavender outside the flat and waited for a cab that was going to the general area of the sewer entrance. The fourth cab to stop at Baker Street was going near the waterfront, which was very close to the sewer grate Ratigan used to get in and out of his hideout. On the way there, Basil told Lavender how to talk and act at Ratigan’s hideout.

     Lucile had a cockney voice and so it took Lavender a little while to get used to talking like her. Basil was very good at changing his voice and could easily sound like anyone.

     The sewers were dark and damp. Basil led Lavender down through the sewer grate and through what seemed like miles of pipes. When they finally reached the end of the piping, Basil and Lavender were at a small underground plaza. It smelled awful.

     Cheering and screaming were coming from a large barrel in the center of the plaza. Lavender straightened her hat and said, “That must be where everyone is.”

     Basil nodded and said, “Follow me. Don’t go anywhere, just stay behind me.” Lavender followed the detective to the barrel where all the excitement was. Inside there were many mice cheering and dancing, most of which were drunk. The walls of the barrel were white and there were stolen jewels everywhere. At the far end was a throne and stage where Ratigan himself used to sit.

     One of the mice walked up to Basil and Lavender. “Hey, Timothy! You back from Cambridge already? Did ya get that old woman’s fortune?”

     “I did ‘ave it.” answered Basil. “They caught me on t’e way out of town. I got away but they got t’e money back.”

     The mouse stumbled around and said, “Well...ya can’t win ‘em all!” He looked at Lavender and added, “Lucile! Ya got out of prison!”

     Lavender nodded. “Those bloody guards at t’e prison wouldn’t o’ seen me escape if I was roight in front of their noses. Bloomin’ idiots...” Basil grinned at Lavender for her acting.

     “Well, Roxxie’s waitin’! I’ll see ya, Timothy. You too, Lucile.” The mouse stumbled away to another woman in the room.

     Suddenly, everyone silenced. On the stage in the front a large rat in a navy suit and black cape was smiling. Everyone was looking at him. It was Arthur Ratigan. “Thank you all for coming. I am very happy to taking up my cousin, Professor Ratigan’s evil deeds where he left off!” The villain laughed. “Won’t this be a pleasant surprise to Basil of Baker Street?” Some mice laughed in the crowd. “Now, eat, drink, and be merry!” Everyone cheered as Arthur Ratigan went behind the curtains.

     “We need to follow him. Hopefully there is a phone here so we can call the Yard.” Basil and Lavender got up on the stage and looked in on Arthur. He was busy looking at Barbara’s jewelry. Suprised to see them, he looked up.

     “Ah! Timothy, Lucile, you are just the people I wanted to see!” Arthur Ratigan got up and walked over to the disguised Basil and Lavender. “Could you two pull of a robbery for me.”

     “It appears we are not who you think we are.” said Basil.

     Arthur seemed surprised by this. “What do you mean?”

     “Arthur Ratigan you are under arrest for the robbery of Barbara Flowers.” Basil pulled handcuffs out of his pocket and put them on the surprised villain. Basil directed Lavender to call Scotland Yard on a phone. The Inspectors knew how to get there for Basil told them after Professor Ratigan’s death.

     Soon, Arthur Ratigan was imprisoned and all of his agents who hadn’t ran away were imprisoned as well!

     “I’ll get you, Basil. I will escape and when I do I’ll get you!” Arthur screamed as he was taken away.

     As the last of the agents were handcuffed and carried up to the sewer grate, Inspector Stone thanked Basil on behalf of the entire force.

     “Mr. Basil, why don’t you join the force?” asked the Inspector.

     “My dear Stone, I enjoy what I do and the way I do it!” explained Basil.

~ Chapter Eight
~~~~ Good Bye For Now

     Back at the flat on Baker Street Lavender changed back into her white blouse and cleaned the make-up off her face. The reporter sadly picked up her notebook off the green chair. The case had been solved and Inspector Vole had taken the jewelry back to it’s owner. Barabara Flowers was now going by Barbara Jenkins, her maiden name. The only time left for Lavender to see the Detective was the short interview that was going to be done the next day.

     As she walked to the door where Basil was hanging the coat he had on earlier on a hat stand. He had changed into his smoking jacket and taken off his make-up. “I had a splendid time, Mr. Basil. Detective work is very interesting.” Basil smiled at the reporter and Lavender said, “Well, I should be on my way.”

     Lavender started to go out the door when Basil called, “Lavender?”

     Lavender looked up in surprise. Basil had called her by her first name! “Yes, Mr. Basil?”

     “You may help me on cases anytime you like.” Basil said.

     Lavender smiled from ear to ear. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Basil!” Lavender hugged the Detective. She quickly let go after a few seconds and said, “I’m sorry. It’s just, I’m excited. Well, I should be going. Good bye, Mr. Basil.”

     “So long, Lavender.” Neither one of them saw Mrs. Judson peeking through the kitchen door, smiling. The housekeeper was very excited to see that Basil of Baker Street could be falling in love.