I met Joey on the street corner, where he was selling newspapers. I waved him over to me and he jogged over.

“Hey Darcy,” he said as he ran around the corner. We were standing in an alley between a flower shop and a tailors. “What’s going on?”
“I need your help.” I said.

“Help? Help for what?” Joey was genuinely perplexed.

“I saw a man yesterday, one of the ones that the police are looking for. Then, last evening I was threatened in my shop.” I looked at Joey, who still looked confused.

“Shouldn’t we go tell Mr. Holmes and Doctor Watson?”

“I tried that, but Mrs. Hudson said they were out of town. Mr. Lynch said that he was the one who sent them out.” I was a little annoyed with Joey. He could either help me or he couldn’t.

“Mr. Lynch?” Joey still looked confused.

“The one who threatened me yesterday.” I felt like I was done explaining, but with Joey you could never tell. Joey nodded and looked over his shoulder. A few minutes later, I was on my way with the promise of Joey meeting me later at my shop, along with the other Irregulars. That evening, I was sitting on the counter in my shop, Euphoria, surrounded by Joey, Matt, Fred, and Roy. After retelling the story that I had told them earlier that day, I waited for their questions. Roy spoke up first.

“So, tell me again why we can’t talk to Mr. Holmes and Doctor Watson?” Roy sounded annoyed.

“I already told you a million times! They’re out of town because of something Mr. Lynch did!” no matter how annoyed Roy sounded, I sounded much more so.

“Well, if the Doctor and the Mister aren’t here, then I don’t see how we are supposed to help.” Fred said next. The little kid was the youngest of us 5, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t keep up with us older children.

“We help every other time don’t we?” I asked, exasperated.

Matt sighed, “Darcy, I wish I could help you. I really do, but without the Mister and the Doctor I think we should just bring this matter to the police.” Matt looked down at his watch, “I have to be going. I’m sorry again Darcy.” With that, he turned around and left the store. After Matt left, Fred looked very uncomfortable.

“Is there something you want to say?” I peered into Fred’s face, as he turned away.

“I have to go too,” Fred muttered. “I’m so sorry Darcy, I just don’t want to get in trouble with the police. I can’t let them take me back, and Mr. Holmes isn’t here to help me this time.” With his head hanging low, the little boy walked out of the shop and raced to catch up with Matt.

“Well, what about you two?” I asked incredulously.

Roy looked up into my eyes, and I stared down into his deep blue eyes, he spoke softly. “Darcy,” as he continued to speak his voice got louder and more excited, “there is absolutely no possible way that you can ever talk me out of this! I mean, it’s cool enough to work on cases with Mr. Holmes, but all by ourselves? This is the best!” Roy looked practically giddy with excitement by the time he was done speaking.

I turned to Joey, “Joey? What about you? Are you in this with us?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure. Definitely! What are we talking about again?” Joey said, looking confused and out of it. Laughing, Roy and I caught him up on everything that had happened in the past ten minutes, because he seemed to have blanked out. By the time everyone had to go home, we had already made plans to meet up the next day.