Epilogue: When One Door Closes

Basil and I returned to London the following day. The case was won, the curse of the voodoo doll was lifted and safe in a child's possession, and yet, I did not feel much like celebrating. Natalie died, the Flavershams left for Scotland, and Basil lost a dear friend, someone I was hardly acquainted with. He was fighting back the pain of sorrow. I could see a glaze in his eyes as he stood in front of his fireplace mantel, but it did not last for long.

"We certainly live in an unusual world, Dawson, and I am one to believe it will become more unusual once we reach the twentieth century."

I nodded in agreement. "And we are only a few years away from it."

Before my tale comes to a close, there was one minor detail I must include. The two of us sat quietly with reading material well into the eleven o'clock hour. A light tap alerted us to a presence at the door. Through the window we saw a young woman waiting impatiently to enter. Basil lowered his book and walked over to open the door for her.

"Good evening, miss, may I..." Basil's voice trailed as he stared at the young woman before him. I rose and walked over, almost dropping my jaw at the sight of her. She was wearing different clothes, but I instantly recognized her face and sweet smile. It was the same girl who thought Basil and I were lovers and whom lead us straight to Ms Wicks herself.

"It's you, the one who thought we were, um..." I too drifted off on my words, not wanting to finish what I intended to say. The girl blushed and lowered her head.

"Forgive me for coming so late-"

"Nonsense!" Basil snapped with a polite, welcoming voice. "No hour is ever too late for the business you have to share with us." My friend took her dainty hand and guided her inside. The girl noticed my stare and turned to Basil instead as he addressed her. "Now, tell us what brings you all the way out here to London and pray, be precise about it." He quietly offered her to take a seat in his red armchair.

"Thank you. My name is Beatrice McBreen," she softly began after sitting down in Basil's chair. "As you can see, I traveled quite far with important news, and it was not so easy to obtain. Right after you and...your friend...left, I was terribly lost and confused. My head swam with too many thoughts to gather what exactly happened. And then I saw a dagger lying on the ground with a trail of blood stains leading down a dark cavern."

Basil lowered his brows and tried not to growl too loudly. "That horrible witch... she survived after all..."

"Err, maybe not! We have not seen her since! I believe we are all free of her evil bond, sir." Ms McBreen attempted a friendly smile at her pause. Basil still did not look convinced, but made a gesture for her to continue. "Anyway, I went to find more friends in other parts of the cavern, lower levels of the rooms we used as private quarters. As I made my way through these rooms, I found myself walking down a path that led to one of many open areas of our lava pit. I walked until I could walk no further, when the heat was too unbearable to continue. As I walked, I looked down to see fresh footprints on the ground. They were very faint, but it was definitely a set of feet from someone walking away from the pit.

"Those who saw this mouse said she was a female holding a small child, both badly burned from the heat and smoke but very much alive. She handed a note to one of my good friends before disappearing from sight. I have not returned to that cavern since I reached the surface; there was nothing left for me but bad memories. I hope you do not mind, but I read the note before I realized it was not intended for my eyes. The letter was addressed to you, Mr. Basil of Baker Street. At first I thought it was a Baker Street of Manchester, but the only Basil of such a street is the famous one of London. I wanted to bring it to you as soon as possible."

"The note..." Basil's eyes darted around her. "Do you have it?"

"Of course." She dipped her fingers into her dress pocket and pulled out a folded white piece of paper. Basil took the note and stepped away from our view.

Several minutes passed. I hoped he would not keep its contents to himself for much longer; the silence alone was pushing me to the brink of insanity. Refolding the note, he nodded and placed it in his robe pocket.

"This is very important news, and I thank you for the trouble of bringing it to me at a moment's notice. Is there any more news you have to share with us?"

Ms McBreen was too busy focusing her attention around the sitting room to answer. It has been that way with several clients who start to notice a vast number of the detective's inventions, many of which they have never seen before.

Basil cleared his throat. "Ms McBreen?"

"Hm?"

"I said is there any more news you have to share with us?"

"Just this, Mr. Basil," she replied, dropping her voice, "We never spoke, I was never here, you and your assistant never saw me and I never handed you any note." Ms McBreen approached my friend and took one of his hands into hers. "My life depends on it. Please, do as I request."

Basil nodded as I continued to quietly observe all of her actions. Ever since she entered our flat, she looked and spoke with agitation. Her hands never stopped holding and releasing themselves. Her eyes also kept looking to the entrance as if she felt someone was watching her.

"You have not only brought me important news, but positive news as well. With that, I will therefore do as you request." Basil slowly raised her hand, not to kiss it (no, I could not see that happening), but to guide her to the exit. "Thank you for all of your valid information." Basil closed the door and pulled the note from his pocket. Sighing, he rolled his eyes as he made his way back to his chair. I could not wait much longer; I simply had to know what had been in the note.

"Well? Was it Ms Laveaux and Natalie? Did they survive the lava pit?"

"They did..." Basil said in a distant tone. "As did Ms Wicks from the stab wound."

"Oh, that is wonderful! Er, that is, for the young ladies, but then that witch-"

"Is on the prowl again. Maybe not for me, or little Natalie, or even the Flavershams, but she is definitely alive and seeking revenge on whomever she can find." Basil unfolded the note again, looking it over once more with a shake to the head. The curiosity finally burst within me.

"Pardon my intrusion, Basil, but what does the note say, or am I not permitted to know?"

"No, no, it's quite all right, old chap. It says..." Basil cleared his throat and read the note without looking at it:

To Mr. Basil of Baker Street,

The little girl and I are considered dead to our enemies; therefore, I cannot provide much information in written form. My current whereabouts cannot be documented upon this paper as well. I have no doubt in my mind that more cases will reach your door, cases that are just as harmful as the one we faced together. When one door closes, another one opens. Take my warning and be alert when opening that new door. Life is but a path to many discoveries, many adventures, and yes, many dangers. Protect yourself and your loved ones, my dear friend. If I do not see you in this life again, I will await for your arrival on the other side. Take care and Godspeed.

Sincerely,

ML

I could only nod in silence. Ms Laveaux and Natalie were alive, but we could not get to them, not when they were considered dead to others. Wherever they were, I hoped they were all right and did not need our further assistance. I was not prepared for a new adventure just yet, not prepared to face dangers that could cost me my life. Basil could see all that in my expression.

"Well, it seems to be getting late. I think we should retire for the night so that we can be alert and vibrant for any new cases to arrive." Basil winked once and I lifted a small smile.

"Right, Basil." I folded the newspaper I had been reading and placed it on top of a small stack of others.

"Goodnight, Dawson," Basil nodded and gestured to his chemistry table. "Oh, by the way, I left something for you on here. Keep it or discard it, it makes no difference to me. Goodnight." As he slowly disappeared down the hall, I walked over to search around the table, finding nothing that seemed new or different. Making one last sweep, my eyes went over a small, round piece of gold hidden beneath some papers and envelopes. Lifting the piece, I discovered it was a simple metal with some writing upon it. I squinted to the words barely scratched into the surface:

This metal is officially awarded to

Dr. David Q. Dawson

A brave mouse and a loyal friend

"Oh, Basil!" I grinned with tears in my eyes. "You really should not have done this for me-"

"I didn't," Basil popped up from out of nowhere. "It was enclosed in the Flaversham's last letter. I also received one, placed it somewhere in one of my pockets...seems as though we have a little admirer." I did a second glance at the metal and found the initials O.F. "Now, had it been me, I would have just said, 'Well done, old chap.' Brevity is the soul of wit, yes?"

"Too true, Basil," I headed for my bedroom and said to myself, "but it is the thought that counts!"

THE END

A/N: And cut! That's it! The Mysterious Toymaker is officially over! Yes, I kept the OC's of mine alive for possible new adventures if I ever decide to make more. I started this story in April of 2007, thinking I would never finish it. I spent three years of my life putting this story together and coming up with a decent beginning, middle and end. I'd personally like to thank all of the readers who enjoyed it along with a very huge thank you to my two beta readers, Julibee Darling and Megana. Without them, the story would be nowhere near as successful as it is. Seeing how much fun it can be writing for these characters, I'd like to continue writing more stories, and hopefully they will be just as good as this story was!