Spring-Heeled Jack Read Online Free

sounds just like a lot of
assumptions. Is there any concrete evidence?”
    McCloud turned to Brock, his
expression a strange mixture between sour and flattery. “This is
still a very early investigation, my boy. As of now, assumption is
all we have to go on. But, once I get some fats under my belt, ya
bet I’ll be on it.”
    Brock still didn’t seem so
sure.
    As the two bickered, Atticus peered
past and stared at Mike. He wasn’t sure if his mind recognized that
Mike was gone or if this was all just a bad dream. He was so out of
it that he didn’t notice when an officer confronted him and asked
him to leave. McCloud tried to vouch for them, but it didn’t
matter. Students and staff were to evacuate the area as they
cleaned up.
    Atticus just continued to stare. As
Brock yanked him back, he caught a glimpse of something dangling
from Mike’s belt loop. It was small, hanging from a tiny metal
chain. It was a brass pendant. As he stared, what he saw nearly
made his heart stop. Engraved on the pendant were two entwined
gears, just like Atticus’ locket.
    His heart began to beat violently and
his breath began to stagger. That symbol was his parents’. One gear
his father, the other his mother, and where they entwined was
Atticus. When his parents gave him the locket, they said he’d never
be alone. It couldn’t just be a coincidence that Mike would have
the same locket as him. But, if Atticus wanted to be a detective,
he had to abolish the idea of coincidence.
    Atticus snapped himself out of his
trance. “Pardon me detective, but could I see that
note?”
    Everyone looked at Atticus.
    McCloud shrugged and looked at the
tattered pieces of paper in his hand. “It seems a bit torn beyond
repair, but I think we could still use it in some way.” Atticus
felt his heart sink, but McCloud gave him a confident smile.
“However, I trust ya lad. If you think you can get somethin’ from
this, I believe ya.”
    McCloud carefully held out the note.
Atticus anxiously grabbed it, making sure not to drop a single
shred.
    “ T-Thank you very much,
detective.”
    Atticus shook McCloud’s hand and
gestured at Brock to follow. He didn’t say anything, but Brock
recognized the look. It was a look that said “I need to show you
something important.” It was also the same look Atticus gave before
he went into his detective mode. Whenever Brock saw it, he knew
Atticus meant business.
    *****
    As the two burst into their dorm room,
Atticus scattered the confetti onto the ground. Brock gently closed
the door behind them before turning to his roommate.
    “ Alright, Atticus, what’s
going on,” he asked.
    “ I can help McCloud solve
this case.”
    “ Case? What case? This isn’t
a murder.”
    “ How can you say that,”
Atticus shouted. “Detective McCloud is right, and I can help prove
it!” Atticus lowered his head and began to assemble the shredded
note into a neat little pile. “Brock, I’m gonna show you something
I’ve never showed anyone before and I want you to promise that you
won’t freak out.”
    “ Of course.” Brock knelt
down in front of the note. “What’s up?”
    Atticus closed his eyes and
took a deep breath. He placed his right hand on top of the pile of
shredded paper. Nothing happened at first, but that changed rather
quickly. A fain chill came into the room and sent a shiver down
Brock’s spine. As Atticus opened his eyes, an image began to appear
on the back of his hand. At first it looked like a blue and gold
mess, but as the image came more and more into focus, Brock
realized it was the Queen of Spades out of a traditional deck of playing
cards.
    Before Brock even had a chance to ask
any questions, the note slowly began to piece itself together. Each
of the shredded pieces lined up perfectly like a puzzle. In
seconds, the note had completely reassembled itself.
    Brock was completely in awe. “Whoa!
What was that?”
    Atticus shrugged. “I’m not
honestly sure. I don’t know where it came from or