"Hello...is Miss Wing, or her daughter in...?" Basil said politely. The woman looked us all over for a moment, and then looked back at Basil.

"Miss Wing and her daughter left a short time ago...don't know where they were headed..." Again the woman looked at us, pausing a moment.

"Most likely Miss Lillian was taking her mother to a better place to help her cold...this house is terribly dusty...Not at all good for taking care of someone. Don't know where they went though." The housekeeper nodded, matter-o-factly. Basil frowned...She had the look about her that what she said was all the information she gave, was all she was going to give. Basil finally sighed and thanked her, saying good day. Basil slowly walked back to Toby, standing by him awhile. I could tell Mr. Wing was very upset.

"Horrible cold...striking at this time..." he shook his head, looking down. Basil looked at him, and knowtisted a somewhat odd look upon on his face.

"Do you have something more to share, Mr. Wing..."

"Well...I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my family, Mr. Basil...But the moment I arrived here, and left your flat...I believe I've been being followed!"

"Followed? My goodness...by whom??" I exclaimed. Basil of course repeated almost the same thing, interested now.

"Well...A person of low class, I know that much...I can't see their face though, because it's covered by a very large...dirty brown cap, I believe the color is. Seems that the fellow dresses in all brown, very sooty clothes...but they don't fit quite right, from what I saw...I couldn't make out exactly what they were wearing...Oh, Mr. Basil! Do you think they mean to cause harm to my family and I??? Why would they be following me?" Mr. Wing boarded Toby, as did Basil and I. Basil had a thoughtful look about him, looking back at Mr. Wing.

"Well...it appears that I have another matter to look into then...Mr. Wing, we shall drop you off where you are staying, then call upon you in two days, at Three a clock. Keep wary of this new found problem."

"I shall, Mr. Basil...and I pray they mean no harm to my family."

"I am sure, Mr. Wing...We can solve this matter before worry of that presents itself."

"This is so very strange, Basil...I don't know quite what to make of it. I feel dreadfully sorry for Mr. Wing, and for his family...being apart so long must have been terribly hard. What do you suppose are the intents of the man that's been following Mr. Wing?" I asked Basil; walking him from that chair he loved so much to sit in. We were having a bit of a talk before we went to fetch Mr. Wing. Basil had an odd look in his eyes, like something wasn't quite right about all this.

"Well, Dawson...Perhaps this follower does not wish for Mr. Wing to find his family? Perhaps he's protecting the family against him? Does this follower even exist? We cannot theorise without proper data...But I am determined to get to the bottom of this matter...What ever is amiss, shall be solved. " Basil stood up in a huff, pacing back and forth. He looked at the time, then back to me.

"It is time we departed, Dawson...And I shall get to the bottom of this. Come, Toby!" Basil pointed, pulling on his deerstalker hat and coat, almost leaving me no time to pull on mine. We were gone in a jiffy, and Toby remembered the hotel where Mr. Wing was staying, from when we had dropped him off two days ago. The hotel wasn't as far away as Mrs. Lorna Wing's home had been, and it was a most pleasant day, the sun was out and warm, a lovely spring day.

Basil and I strolled to the front desk of the hotel, and Basil asked them to politely page Mr. Wing to tell him we were here.

"Well Basil...what shall we do now?" I asked as we waited. Basil placed a paw on his chin, looking about with thought.

"First Dawson...I'd like to know if there were anymore encounters with that follower...perhaps they might have left a bit of evidence being...if they had been in a hurry to keep Mr. Wing from following them...ah, there is Mr. Wing now." Basil pointed, as the young page boy returned with Mr. Wing. Upon seeing us, Mr. Wing smiled, expecting that Basil had some wonderful news for him. He joined us and looked at Basil hopefully, waiting. Basil sighed, shaking his head.

"Mr. Wing... We are to return later to your wife's home, to ask the housekeeper about Mrs. Lorna's doctor...Perhaps he knows where they have gone...But first, have you had any encounters with your follower again, where they might have left evidence??" Basil asked. Mr. Wing immediately brought something to light.

"Why yes, Mr. Basil! The other day I had realized that I lost one of my very good pawkerchifs...I thought that perhaps it might have been left on the boat, and I went back to the area to see if I could find any of the crew...When I was looking about there, I discovered my follower! I tried to catch up with him...but he left in such a hurry... There were many things his coat could have got caught on, and perhaps ripped and left a piece...is that of any help, Mr. Basil?" Mr. Wing asked, hoping that it was. I smiled as Basil got that knowing look in his eyes.

"Why yes, Mr. Wing! That shall help a great deal...Tell us the location of this incident, and we shall all go together and see what we can find, if anything." Basil nodded, smiling. Right away Mr. Wing told us, a place near a docking area. Not much time later, we were again on Toby's back, heading to another destination. Toby led us, with Mr. Wing's directions, to a large area for docking and boarding ships, dotted with many large crates.

When Toby had let us all down, Basil went right to work where Mr. Wing had told him where the event had taken place, and area's near it. Basil searched them thorally, picking up this and that and looking it over with his magnified glass. Mr. Wing and I talked alittle bit, about simple things...but his mind seem very preoccupied, and he tried to be polite...though he didn't show must interest, till Basil found something.

"AHHA! Eureka!" Basil hurried back to us, producing a piece of cloth.

"Poor material...and the strong smell of soot! A chimney sweeps clothing, no doubt." Basil grinned at my, letting me look it over.

"Perhaps Miss Angel knows the fellow...or something about him..." I exclaimed, looking at it, then handing it to Basil. He was about to go on, but he knowtisted Mr. Wing looking at something. He questioned what, and Mr. Wing pointed to a spectacle...in plain vision, but quite a ways down from us. Why...it was Inspector Vole, and two constables with him, looking as though they were questioning crewmembers of a ship.

"What's all that about, Mr. Basil?"

"Well well...Seems like the Inspector is at work again...Hm? Oh...well, most likely they're questioning those crew members about something I just read today in the morning paper...A criminal escaped from America on a boat that docked in England...They believe he might have been following someone of the boat. A dangerous criminal, a man of low sorts and evil intents. I believe in the papers they addressed him as one Angus Niles..." Basil shook his head, watching them longer. Mr. Wing tapped his chin, blinking.

"Angus Niles...That names sound so very familiar...where have I heard it before.... Mr. Basil! I think that was the name of a man of very rude manners I saw in a bar once in awhile back in America...do you think they could be one in the same???" Mr. Wing commented, his eyes wide. Basil said it very well could be, and that perhaps they should go address the Inspector about the matter....but we were stopped by a small sound... We all turned to see what it was...And there was the Very chap that Mr. Wing had described as his follower, standing away in the shadows watching us! We saw him...and he saw us..standing still. They stepped back, and stepped again. They then turn and ran, leaving Mr. Wing wide eyed.

"That's him, Mr. Basil!!!! That's him!!" No sooner had he said that, him and Basil started running after the villain, in close pursuit. Not knowing quite what to do...I pondered if I should go and fetch the Inspector for his help...

Basil and Mr. Wing rushed after the echoing footsteps in front of them, turning sharp corners to follow. In no time at all they were very close behind him, and suddenly a smile sparked upon Basil's mouth. He called back to Mr. Wing, keeping his pace.

"There is a dead end up ahead, they can't get away there!" Basil continued on, but Mr. Wing turned, calling that he would go and fetch the Inspector and Dawson. Basil nodded and continued on till he reached the dead end, where the villain was trying to scramble up a wall to escape.

"Oh no you don't!" Basil pulled them back...expecting a fight...but much to his amazement they put up no fight at all! In fact they sank into a corner, their body language quite guilty, the huge hat they wore that covered most of their face slipping off.

Basil's eyes widened in disbelieve at what he saw.

"Miss...Miss Wing!?!?" He exclaimed.

The Inspector and I were running, following the last of Basil's voice we had heard. At last we came to a dead end...where Basil had the villain cornered...but they weren't giving up a fight! They were sitting calmly, Basil standing near them...looking quite surprised. As we drew near, both the Inspector and I saw who it was...Miss Wing! I stood back, not knowing what in the world was going on...yet the Inspector stepped up to Basil, raising a Brow.

"Misteur Basul, what the devul is goin' on 'ere?!"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out myself, Inspector!" Basil raised a paw, motioning for us to be quite.

"Dawson, where's Mr. Wing?" He said, looking about. I glanced about, blinking.

"I don't know, he disappeared like the devil." I blinked again. That wasn't the important thing at paw, however. Basil finally kneeled next to Miss Wing, who looked quite upset.

"Miss Wing...why on earth have you been following your father around, trying to scare him? He just wants to find you, your mother, and sister..." Basil tried to make sense of all this. Miss Wing looked to the ground...an emmense look of hate coming to her eyes.

"I'm trying to stop him from doing just that....My family disowned that man years ago...I'm sorry if I have caused any trouble Mr. Basil...But I knew he wouldn't bother my mother or sister if I was in the way...I had to protect them..." Miss Wing shook her head, looking like she had no idea what to do next. Basil helped her up, suddenly getting a horrified look in his features...like he had been tricked.

"Miss Wing...Will you please explain this matter..."

"Last time I saw my father, Mister Basil, I had to stop him from harming my mother...He swore he'd be back again and I would have more to worry about then that...He's an evil man, Basil...He lies, he steals...he's probably killed...He probably lied to you! What did he saw his name was?? He probably used a fake one."

Basil took the card Mr. Wing had given him and handed it to Miss Wing, frowning. She gasped and narrowed her eyes to it, looking back up to us.

"Jonathan Wing is my grandfathers name...my father's name Is Angus Niles..." Lillian shook her head, her eyes misting up. Both Basil and I looked at one another, our eyes wide as plates, but The Inspector was the one who spoke, stepping forward to Miss Wing, a suddenly determined look on his face.

"Miss Wing..Are you certain that is his name? Absolutely sure????" The Inspector said solemnly, looking about. Miss Wing nodded, saying she could never forget the name of the man who meant harm to her family. The Inspector turned to Basil and I, an even more determined look on his face then before.

"The Inspector turned to Basil and I, an even more determined look on his face then before."

"Misteur Basul! Angus Mules is the name of the Criminal escaped from America!!! He's charged with killing his family...we were sent a wire from the police forces in America stating that he was most likely armed and very dangerous..." Basil and Vole continued to discuss this matter for more time then I thought necessary. I sighed and looked back to Miss Wing...

"Basil...umm...Basil...Basil!!!!" I called loudly, finally getting his attention. I pointed to the Spot where Miss Wing had been standing...yet she was gone. Both Basil and the Inspector suddenly looked at each other with horror, remembering what happened last time with Miss Wing and a criminal...

Thankfully the soot from Miss Wing's boots had left tiny imprints of her pawsteps. Basil rushed off after them, yelling for both of us to follow.

About half way into our journey, Toby had joined us to increase our speed. Thankfully Basil hadn't let go of the piece of clothe he had found, and with one sniff of that, Toby had a perfect sent of Miss Wing to track, and in now time at all we were close to helping her. Basil told Toby to slow as we saw two Mouse women, An elder and one who looked about 5 or 6 years older then Miss Wing...They looked in shock, and the older one was bleeding at the paw. Both resembled Miss Wing...Basil quickly hopped of Toby's ear and hurried over to them. They must have been Miss Wing's Relatives, because the elder mouse woman quickly addressed Basil, knowing him from what Miss Wing had told her about him.

"Mister Basil?? Are you Mister Basil???" She asked hopefully, stepping forward.

"Yes, Miss Lorna Wing...I presume?" Basil said as the woman nodded, Basil telling me to attend to her wound. I looked it over and took out a small pawkerchif, cleaning it up as best I could.

"Miss Wing, Are you and your Daughter alright??? And where is your younger daughter--"

"--Don't worry about us Mr. Basil! Worry about My daughter, Lillian! She's the one that went running after her father to settle a dispute!" She said frantically, pointing in the direction they must have gone. Her daughter stepped up, her eyes misty.

"He had a knife, Mr. Basil! But...Lillian got it away from him..."

"Well...that's one good thing.." I rang out.

"But then he took out another!!! And my poor Lillian doesn't even know how to use a knife!!!!"

"Oh dear...which way did they go?!!?" Basil demanded, looking around. A sharp cry was then heard by all of us, and Again Basil and The Inspector took off in that direction, telling me to make sure everything was fine with Miss Wing's family.

Basil and the Inspector turned a sharp corner to a long corner, where they could make out two dark shapes in the shadows, one looking like it was doing a great deal of damage to the other. As Basil and The Inspector neared them, Basil yelled out, seeing that Angus was about to slash at Lillian, and he needed to distract him. Angus turned sharply, and seeing them as more of a threat...he advanced towards them. Lillian quickly took to her feet, taking this moment. With one quick movement she latched her tail around Anguses Legs, and pulled, making him fall face down on the ground, the needle that he held slipping out of his grasp. He tried to scramble up but Lillian tripped him again, Basil was about to step forward to assist...but before he could do so, The Inspector jumped forward, getting Angus' arms and twisting them back behind his back, pulling him up roughly and placing cuffs on the evil man! Basil coughed as though he never planned to do what Vole had just done, and instead glared at Angus.

"Mr. Niles is it.... I knew something wasn't quite right with you...Running from the law, trying to attempt another crime, hmmm?" Basil kept and the Inspector both kept there angered eyes on Angus, but Lillian turned as the two constables Vole had been with, Dawson, and Lillian's family hurried into the ally. Vole handed Angus over to the Constables, telling them to keep a good hold on him. Lillian's family flocked to her, hugging her like there was no tomorrow.

"OH! Lillian! Your alright, my little darling...don't you ever go and do that again! Shame on you, trying to fight someone with a knife!!!"

"And taking it away when you don't know how to use it! You could have been killed!" Lillian's sister continued to scold Lillian...yet praise her for saving them. Lorna walked to Dawson, Vole, and Basil as Angus yelled in the background of all this.

"Thank you, Mister Basil, Doctor, and you Inspector. Lillian is a strong minded girl...but I don't think she could have dealt with that man all on her own...She talks a great deal about you all, and I see what she means about all you being great men." Lorna nodded and smiled, then looked back to Lillian.

"Hope she's not hurt or nothing...she might be hiding any wounds she got, dang foolish brave girl..." Lorna shook her head, walking back to her. The Inspector knowtist she was holding her arm oddly, and he walked over, asking if she was wounded. The wound was a small slash on her arm as she removed her hand. Dawson peered over, and said it was nothing to worry about; he just needed something to stop the bleeding with. The Inspector produced a pawcherchif, tying it around the wound. Lillian smiled and thanked him...but cringed at the look Basil was giving her.

"No more fighting criminals, is that clear Miss Wing!! None! No more jumping on them to stop them, no more taking their weapons...!"

"Misteur Basul is right, Miss Wing. You could have been hurt...but it was good that you were there to protect your mother and sister, Miss Wing." He helped her up and looked to the Constables, stating that they must be getting that criminal away. Lorna and Meg moved to Lillian, helping her up. They all thanked everyone and said that they needed alittle rest from this ordeal. Lillian lagged behind a bit, saying goodbye and thank you one last time.

As they walked along, Lillian looked back sadly, sighing.

"Lillian, my poor dear. What is it? Does your arm hurt...It's nothing, don't worry. The Inspector mended it nicely."

"I know...I...Just most have lost something...while that man and I...were fighting..." Lillian placed a hand by her neck sadly, looking down as she walked along.

"Oh, that bonny little necklace you wore? You can make another one...don't worry." Lorna smiled, patting her back. Lillian looked down, saying nothing more as a small tear floated down her cheek.

Basil and Dawson watched as everyone left, starting to leave themselves. Dawson knowtisted that Basil was being quite silent.

"Quite a case, Dawson...A lot of mystery...that all came together in the end...I'm just glad that it has all worked out for the better...and that Miss Wing and her family weren't harmed."

"As am I, Basil, as am I...Now...I say we go and relax from the whole ordeal!"

"I second that notion, Dawson."

Lillian looked about, stepping out of one of the offices of Scotland Yard. They had called her in to write a testimony about everything that had happened with her father, because they needed the paperwork before Angus was shipped back to America for his trail, which Lillian was quite glad about, because she didn't even want him to remain anywhere near her family, nor her.

The time was a bit late, and Lillian knew she should be getting home, but she paused for a few moments to rub her paw, to try and get rid of a cramp that had developed from all the writing she had done for the testimony.

"Hmmm?" Lillian stopped a moment, looking towards the sound of footsteps coming towards her. She froze, seeing who it was. It was Inspector Vole, carrying a folder. He stopped, looking up and seeing Lillian.

"Oh, Miss Wing, this is a surprise. Are you here writing a testimony?" He paused a moment to talk. Lillian smiled, pointing at the office she had walked out of earlier.

"Actually, I just finished writing it. Got a bit of writing cramp...I was so glad when I learned my father was being taken back to America."

"Of course. I'll say the man has been quite disagreeable," Vole shook his head, frowning. He looked back at Miss Wing, clearing his throat.

"Is there anything else that you need, Miss Wing? It is rather late, and I fear I am in some need of some rest...it's been quite a long week, what with everything that happened and all that.."

"Oh...well...hem If it's not any bother, I was curious. Did you ever receive a letter I sent to you, a while back ago?"

"Yes, I received your letter. And um..." He paused nervously, smiling slightly.

"I thank you for it. I was very touched, thank you...." He trained off for a few seconds as he gathered up the papers he was holding into a folder. After a minute, he spoke again, "Now...do you need an escort home, Miss Wing? The streets can be hazardous of a lady at this late hour."

"Oh? An escort...Thank you very much for the offer, Inspector...but only if it's on your way. If not, I'll be fine on my own." Lillian smiled, shifting about nervously.

"It's along the way, or at least, I can escort you till about Drury Lane. Will that satisfy?"

"I would like that very much, thank you."

"Just let me drop this off at the superintendent's office, lock up, and I'll be right with you, Miss Wing." Vole smiled, holding up the folder he held. Lillian nodded and waited as her hurried of to complete his tasks. He returned with his coat and hat, removing a small white envelope from his coat pocket.

"I just remembered, Miss Wing...I had found this the day we caught Mr. Niles...However you were already gone when I retrieved it. I suppose it broke during the quarrel your father and you were having...a few beads are missing from it." Vole held out his hand and placed the small envelope in Lillian's hand. She opened it and looked in...and there was the necklace Lillian had lost into her hand. She looked at it in amazement and smiled, looking up at the Inspector.

"Oh! Thank you so much, Inspector...I thought I'd never be able to find it again...I'll have to find something stronger to string the shell and beads with. Thank you so much for finding it." Lillian quickly pocketed it away safely. Vole nodded.

"Well Miss Wing, shall we go now?" Vole stated, motioning for her to walk first. She smiled, nodding and walking on ahead as Vole followed her out.

THE END