The Case of the Missing Mascot (A Sherlock Shakespeare Mystery Book 1)

by Sydney Katt

  "Where's your car?"

  "At home. Get in."

  I climbed in and my arm muscles sang with relief when I set Champers down between us. "You know you're not supposed to take these from the country club, right?"

  "Yeah. This is mine. I take it out whenever I don't feel like stopping for gas."

  "You're a weird guy, Card."

  "And you're looking especially good this afternoon. What are you supposed to be? Pedophile catnip?"

  "There was no one interviewing when I got there, so I had to improvise."

  "Okay." He looked me over before returning his attention to the road he was currently driving in the center of. "Guess it's a good thing I got there when I did. I guess I didn't make myself clear enough at lunch. LePort's not really the kind of guy you want to play dress-up for."

  I shuddered at the implication. "I thought you were on an errand for your father."

  "Hardly. Someone was going to have to be there to save your ass. And since it's barely covered at the moment..."

  Embarrassed, I tugged at the hem of the skirt to see if I could get a little more coverage. "Hey, I found the pig on my own."

  "And then you got yourself trapped in the house with a drunk. Good job."

  I sighed. "I guess I should thank you."

  "Save it. But you owe me."

  "Can we go back so I can get my clothes and stuff?"

  "Nope." He glanced over at me. "He was in a bad mood when I left and he didn't realize you and the pig were gone yet."

  "But my stuff is just in the bathroom by the back door."

  "Forget it, Shakes. I'm not letting you set foot in that house again."

  Since his golf cart was much faster than any I'd ever been in up at the country club, we made great time getting back to the school. The parking lot was packed because the school was the staging area for the parade and people had already started to arrive. Oblivious to the law, Ricardo drove up onto the sidewalk and cut across the practice field. At first, I wasn't sure what he was doing, but then I realized Officer Blake was just ahead.

  She glared at us the moment the golf cart stopped moving and came over to us. "You realize that's not street legal, Richie?"

  He shrugged. "Thought you'd make an exception this time."

  I took that as my cue. I carefully stepped out of the golf cart so that I didn't flash any of the few people close enough to us to see anything and picked up the pig. Before I could say a word, Officer Blake asked, "Champers? Where did you find him?"

  "Locked up in Francois LePort's house." I stepped closer and put Champers in her outstretched arms. "He was going to serve him to the governor for dinner."

  She looked at me in disbelief and then shook her head. "I want to say that even he wouldn't do something like that, but it sounds about right." She tilted her head as though this was the first time she was really seeing me. "Are you in a play or something?"

  I pulled my shirt closed at the collar. "It's a really long story, but when you go to pick up LePort, I'd love to get my clothes and backpack out of his guest bathroom."

  Her eyes narrowed, but Ricardo broke in before she could say anything. "Sherlock's okay. Nothing happened."

  She nodded slowly. "Okay, I need to get a statement from you." She looked around, frowning. "They're going to want Champers in the parade, but I don't want Francois to get spooked and leave town before I can have a little chat with him." She handed the pig back to me. "You get Champers to someone with the school and I'll get your full statement later."

  She left before I could let her know that I didn't want anyone at school to see me this way. I started to ask Ricardo if he would do it, but he was getting screamed at over the phone. Must be Kiki.

  Luckily, I didn't have to walk very far before I found the cheerleading sponsor. "Mrs. Anderson!" She turned around and did a double-take, so I cut off anything she might say with a preemptive, "I found Champers."

  She was stunned enough—by the found mascot or my appearance—that she let me dump the pig in her arms and head back the way I came without saying anything else to me. I was approaching the sidewalk when I noticed Drew and Watson walking toward me with their arms full of pom-poms. Watson just tilted his head to the side as though my appearance would make more sense that way, but Drew's mouth fell open.

  "Sherlock!"

  Since I didn't feel like explaining my appearance or arguing again, I hopped into the golf cart and interrupted Ricardo's call. "Can you please take me home?"

  "You're really racking up those favors this week, huh?" He put his foot to the gas and added, "One day, they're all gonna come due, you know."

  I'm not sure I liked the sound of that.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Friday was a better day. People were still staring at me and whispering about me, but at least this time it was over something good. Since I wasn't a huge fan of being in the spotlight, I snuck my sandwich into the library and ate in the solitude provided by the reference section. Since no one was around, I tried to call Jamie again a few times. Still no answer.

  Maybe she really was sick when I'd seen her on Tuesday and that was why she'd acted so weird.

  Officer Blake pulled me out of class to get my statement just before the pep rally started that afternoon. It didn't take long to give my statement and get my stuff back, but I still missed the pep rally because of the way she kept re-asking questions I'd already answered. That was just as well. I'd always felt awkward standing around by myself trying to pretend I cared if we won or lost whatever big game we had going.

  My phone was dead when I got it back, so I didn't realize Drew had called several times last night until I got home and charged it. I deleted all the messages without listening to them. He'd also blown up my phone with texts. I deleted the entire conversation so that I wouldn't have to read any of the messages. It wasn't like I'd be able to concentrate on fighting with Drew right now when I still had Tom to deal with anyway.

  I didn't want to meet up with Tom before the game, but he'd just come to my house if I didn't meet him. Since both my parents were at the hotel decorating for the dance they'd later help chaperone and Watson was at the game, I really didn't want him coming to the house. It wasn't like he'd ever hit me before or anything, but... I'd never stood my ground with him before. When I finally talked to him in person, I wanted it to be in a public place with plenty of people around me.

  As we'd agreed before he lost it on me over the phone Wednesday, Tom was waiting for me near the concession stand. Even though it was a warm evening, he was wearing his old football jacket. Apparently, he wanted everyone to know the quarterback was back in town and on the prowl.

  "I didn't think you were still coming," he said as I approached.

  "I almost didn't." I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. "After the way you were screaming at me on the phone, I'm not sure there's a point to this."

  "Come on, Sherlock. You were accusing me of cheating on you and I lost my temper. How many times do I have to tell you nothing happened?"

  "Just the one time when it's actually believable." When he just stood there glaring at me, I asked, "Did nothing happen with Blondie because nothing was going to happen or because I walked in before it could happen?" He looked away. "That's what I thought."

  He whipped his head back around. "You're such a hypocrite, you know that? How many times have I walked in on you and cheerleader boy in bed watching something on his laptop?"

  "That's totally different. Drew's my best friend, not some barely-dressed college bimbo I met at a party and invited back to my room so I could pour alcohol down her throat until her clothes fell off."

  Tom took a few steps and got in my face. "That's bullshit and you know it. You're always with Drew, but I invite a girl to hang out in my room one time and I'm the asshole."

  All my instincts told me to back down, but I stood firm. "No, Tom, you're the asshole in this situation because you're an asshole. We're done. I'm not wasting any more time on you."r />
  "You wasted time? I could've had anyone I wanted if I hadn't been with you."

  "Who are you kidding? You probably did have everyone you wanted, whether you had a girlfriend or not."

  I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist. "Stop being such a bitch about everything. Let's just go to the dance together the way everyone expects and see how we feel at the end of the night."

  That was code for let's see whether I'd be stupid enough at the end of the night to forgive him and put out.

  "I already know how I'll feel." I broke free of his hold on me. "Go by yourself. I'm sure there will be some sophomores there who still worship you."

  "What makes you think you have the right to break up with me?" He tossed a look of disgust my way. "You're making such a mistake. I can ruin you here."

  "Go for it. I'd rather be a total nobody outcast than pretend I'm getting anything out of our relationship for the next year."

  I was halfway to the car I'd borrowed from my parents for the night when I got a text message. I really didn't want to know what vile things Tom had to say to me now that it was over, but I didn't want to fixate on it all night either. I removed my phone from my pocket and checked.

  Drew.

  Can you hang around until after halftime? I really need to talk to you third quarter.

  Great.

  It was just as well. Dealing with Tom had already ruined my night. Might as well get an unpleasant conversation with Drew over with before I went home. For all I knew, I was about to get yelled at for not answering his calls.

  The bleachers were packed, so I spent most of the night hanging out near the concession stand after I was sure Tom was off with his friends. At some point during second quarter, Watson started blowing up my phone, begging me to come help him with something on the sidelines. I probably should've ignored him since he'd blown me off when I'd needed him yesterday, but I'm a better sister than he was a brother.

  I got to him just as halftime started. "What do you need, Wats?"

  "Hang on. I want to see who gets crowned queen first."

  "Everyone knows it's going to be Tanya. Let's just—"

  "Shh. It's starting."

  The principal walked out onto the 50-yard line with a microphone and the Homecoming court. He welcomed all the returning alumni and recognized each member of the court by name. When he was done, all the cheerleaders who weren't part of the court started doing some kind of a pom-pom routine behind them. Except Drew.

  I had no idea where he was.

  "As you all know, our beloved Champers was stolen from us earlier this week. We have him back thanks to the extraordinary efforts of one of our very own Devils Reach High students." All the cheerleaders went to one knee with their poms fluttering out in front of them as though they were presenting something. "It gives me great pleasure to announce that this year's Homecoming queen is Sherlock Shakespeare."

  I'm pretty sure I just had a stroke. It sounded like he said my name.

  The principal looked over in my direction. "Miss Shakespeare, please join us."

  I was still trying to make sense of what was happening when I realized that Watson was no longer next to me. Instead, Drew was there, taking my arm and leading me out onto the field. Once I was on the fifty with the principal, Watson broke through the crowd at the sidelines. Champers was walking out in front of him, wearing a little pillow on his back holding a tiara.

  "I don't understand what's happening."

  Drew reached down to untie the tiara from the pillow. "You're getting crowned. Look happy," he whispered as he placed the tiara on my head.

  The crowd went insane with cheers. After what could've been a few seconds or ten lifetimes, Drew led me off the field and to a quiet spot near the gate to the parking lot. "Congratulations."

  "Congratulations? How did this even happen? I wasn't on the ballot."

  "We did a recount by cheers and applause during the pep rally and you won. You really didn't know anything was up when you were kept out of the pep rally?"

  "No. I just thought Officer Blake was thorough." I reached up and fiddled with the tiara. "I'm sure this is just one more reason for Tanya to hate me now."

  "Naw. She was on board with it." He grinned. "Besides, she thinks prom queen is a bigger deal."

  "Okay." Something Irene had said earlier in the week flitted through my mind. "Was that really the stunt y'all have been training Champers to do?"

  Drew sighed. "The vet said that was all he could do until he gets better. We had to use him somehow or the whole school would've been upset."

  Before I could respond, Tom walked over with a few of his buddies. "Bet you wish you'd been nicer to me now that you have to go to the dance, huh?" He reached up to touch the tiara and I slapped his hand away. "Now the whole school is going to know that you couldn't get a date after I dumped you."

  He dumped me? Jerk.

  "Sherlock's going with me."

  "Oh, that's good. That's really good." His buddies started laughing. "You couldn't get a real date so you had to go with a gay cheerleader boy. Pathetic."

  "Says the guy trying to relive his high school glory days." Drew shouldered Tom out of the way and led me through the gate. "Go home and get ready. I'll pick you up once the game's over."

  "You really don't have to do that. Until a few minutes ago, you weren't even speaking to me."

  "Well, I was trying to last night, but you ran off with Ricardo. That was weird." His gaze locked on mine for a beat longer than was comfortable before he added, "I was worried."

  "I'll tell you about it later." I let out a breath and asked the one question I cared about. "So, does this mean we're friends again?"

  "I'm still mad that you went rifling through my stuff, but of course we're friends."

  "And you're sure you want to go to the dance with me? I'll be like chick repellant if we go together. You'll be stuck with me all night."

  "It's cool. How many guys get to say they took the Homecoming queen to the dance?" He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the scoreboard. "Third quarter's nearly over. I've got to get back."

  I nodded and watched him walk away. When I noticed Tom glaring at me from just inside the gate, I grinned at him and then headed off to the parking lot. I wasn't completely sure whether getting crowned Homecoming queen would make it easier or harder for Tom and his pals to attempt to ruin my last year of high school.

  What I did know was that I hadn't hallucinated or heard voices in my head once today.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The whole Homecoming queen thing didn't fully hit me until I was looking at my dress for the first time. It was a deep shade of green, had a flowing skirt that hit me just above the knees and clung to the curves I always kept hidden under my hoodie. At least it wasn't as low-cut as the shirt I'd put on at LePort's house. Sure, there was a little cleavage, but it didn't make me feel like Streetwalker Barbie or anything.

  Why was it so cold in my bedroom tonight? Watson must've kicked up the AC before he left for the game and forgotten about it. I hadn't noticed it in the rest of the house, but I was still in a daze from everything that had happened at the game when I got home. At least my mother wasn't home to buzz around me with a camera while I tried to get ready. The gazillion pictures of me in the tiara would come when she saw me at the dance, but I was free to fumble with makeup in peace.

  Drew called as I was finishing curling my hair to let me know he just had to change and then he'd be on the way to get me. I pulled back some of my hair into a clip before I placed the tiara on my head. I had to admit it; my mother had done a good job with the dress. It was the exact same shade of green as the tiara's accent stones.

  Seeing my face without my glasses and with makeup on was always a strange experience for me. I knew I looked better this way, but I'd never particularly liked to be the center of attention. No getting around that tonight after getting crowned in front of the entire school. All eyes would definitely be on me.

 
Ugh. My picture from the dance was probably going to end up in the yearbook.

  I was checking in the mirror one final time to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything when my lipstick fell over on the uneven desk. Slowly, it began to roll to the edge and clatter to the floor. Our house was a little old and creaky, so it's wasn't unheard of for movement elsewhere in the house to knock things over.

  What was strange was that the lipstick rolled uphill to fall off the desk.

  Trying to ignore the chills chasing up and down my arms, I knelt to retrieve the lipstick. As I was closing my trembling fingers around it, a swirl of brown skirts stopped right in front of my face. I looked up, expecting for the figment of my imagination to be gone when I did.

  It wasn't.

  I fell back onto my butt and crab-walked away, the lipstick falling forgotten from my fingers. Where I'd expected to see nothing but my wall, an exotic woman in an old-fashioned brown dress stood staring at me. She stretched out her hand to me. "Apologies. Let me help you up."

  Her voice was eerily similar to the one I'd been hearing in my head all week.

  While there was no logical reason for this woman to be in my bedroom, or for me to accept her help, I reached for her hand. My fingers went right through her, nearly freezing as they did.

  "Seriously? I'm not weird enough as it is without this?"

  The woman regarded me with a curious expression on her face. "I do not know what this means, Sherlock Shakespeare, but I need your help."

  I heard my front door close and someone taking the stairs two at a time. The woman in front of me flickered once like a light bulb’s last hurrah and vanished completely before Drew entered the room.

  "You okay?" He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I was never so grateful for how solid he was as I was in this very instant. "You know you don't have to wear heels if you're having trouble with them. I'm used to you being shorter than me."

  "I'm fine. Just thought I saw... a mouse."