Watson's Case Read Online Free Page A

brother in the shoulder.
    â€œDon’t make it too scary,” Lucille said.
    â€œNo ghosts!” Daphne whimpered. Both girls still got spooked by Halloween.
    â€œQuiet down,” Mrs. Wilson ordered. “Rollie wants to say something.”
    All eyes honed in on Rollie.
    â€œDon’t forget my birthday.”
    â€œWe never forget your birthday,” Mrs. Wilson replied, a little unsure. “We just get sidetracked because it’s the day after Halloween.”
    Edward jumped in. “I already know what I’m getting you—a big bag of candy!”
    Stewart laughed, snorting up his soup and choking.
    â€œEdward, enough.” Mrs. Wilson stopped him with a firm glance. “What would you like to do for your birthday this year?”
    Rollie shrugged. “Just a small party with a few friends from school.”
    â€œThat sounds manageable. Eat a few more bites.” Mrs. Wilson nudged the bowl closer to him.
    â€œAre all your friends spies?” Edward grinned his lopsided smile.
    â€œFact: I’d like to meet your friends from school,” Mr. Wilson stated, “as long as they don’t uncover my secrets.” He winked at his youngest son.
    â€œEd, that new spy film is supposed to be really good,” Stewart exclaimed.
    Just like that, the conversation shifted away from Rollie. As always, he did not mind. He liked being with his large, loud family, especially now that he was home only on the weekends. With a smile, he took another spoonful of soup and listened to the familiar banter.
    Saturday used to be Rollie’s favorite day of the week back when he attended regular school. He loved having a free day to snoop around for mysteries with Cecily. Now Sunday was one of his favorites because he spent the day packing and anticipating another exciting week at Sherlock Academy of Fine Sleuths. On Sunday, his family was the quietest. His father read in the library. His mother indulged in one of her hobbies like sketching or quilting. His brothers spent the afternoon at their girlfriends’ houses—Stewart with Alice and Edward with his new girlfriend Beth. His sisters contented themselves with cutting out paper dolls. And Rollie anticipated Monday morning.
    First he packed his suitcase with warmer clothes for the week. His mother had done the laundry and left his pile on his bed, but had accidentally mixed in a long pair of trousers belonging to Edward and a floral nightgown belonging to Daphne. With having to keep up on laundry for the household of eight it was no small wonder Mrs. Wilson was able to keep any of the clothes straight. After throwing the trousers and nightgown into their proper bedrooms, Rollie spent the afternoon in his small room at the top of the large house. He did not mind it since he shared it with no one, being the only sibling without a twin. He tidied the binoculars, telescope, and spyglass on his desk against the one window. He sorted through case notes tacked to the cork-covered wall. Most of them concerned Herr Zilch when he had been known as Rollie’s elderly neighbor Mr. Crenshaw.
    Rollie glanced out his window overlooking the neighboring yard. The house still remained locked and vacant, and the garden still wild. A sign posted in front warned trespassers that the house was under Scotland Yard surveillance. Rollie wondered where Herr Zilch had escaped to and when he would reappear to threaten Sherlock Academy. Rollie felt an unsettling connection to the villain ever since Herr Zilch had attempted to steal the school’s records of him. He did not fully understand Herr Zilch’s interest in him, or how Zilch could feel so threatened by him. Absentmindedly, he reached into his pocket and clenched Zilch’s note.
    Rollie flopped onto his bed and stared at the walls. A smile lifted when his brown eyes rested on the pennant of his favorite rugby team, the London Wasps. He knew he need not put Wesley Livingston on a pedestal,