Chapter Ten

December 1908

Basil was now forty years old. Ten years went by after Professor Ratigan’s death and he and Dr. Dawson had solved lots of cases together.
Basil looked pretty much the same person he was 10 years ago, physically and psychologically. With the age, he looked younger and more beautiful than never.
But in that day Basil was sadder than never.
He was playing his violin with his eyes closed, but sometimes he stopped and looked at a certain photograph…
“Basil, why do you still look at Ratigan’s photograph? I don’t even know why you still have it here. After all, he’s gone.” Dawson said.
Basil became even sadder when he heard this.
“Yes, I know, Dawson. But he was a part of me…” he said.
Dawson was shocked when he heard this.
“What?”
“Nothing, nothing. I’m not alright today. I’m going to bed now.”
“But Basil, it’s too early, don’t you think?”
“Yes, but I’m quite tired today… Good night, Dawson.”
“Good night…”
I appeared in the room with clothes in my hands, as always. I’ve been like a second mother to Basil. I kept calling him Mr. Basil, but he was the son I never had. I was mousekeeper of his house and Basil cried on my shoulder after his parents’ death and his brother disappearance.  
He hired me and we moved to Baker Street. He sold his house and became the best detective of all the Mousedom.
He kept Ratigan’s photograph with him, not only because he still loved him but because he wanted to find and arrest him.
“Are you alright, Mr. Basil?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” He answered.
He went to bed without saying a word to anyone.
I knew why he was acting like that. That would not be an easy day for him.
“I say, why is he so depressed tonight?” Dawson asked.
“Not to worry, Doctor. Haven’t you noticed that he’s always like that on 23rd December?”
“No, I haven’t… He never talks about his feelings with me. But I think he should, I’m like a brother to him.”
“No, Doctor, you’re like a second father to him, not a brother.”
“A father? Then, I think my ‘son’ is the one who gives me orders.”
“Yes, you’re probably right about that. But your relationship is quite different from a brothers’.”
“Well, but I do hate to see him this way. And it is true that Basil has no friends or love interests… And where is his family, after all? He never said a word about them.”
I’ve became sad after hearing this.
“They don’t exist anymore, Doctor. His family, his love interests, his friends… all gone, poor thing. Mr. Basil had a hard childhood, with cruelty in his way.”
“You know him for a long time, don’t you?”
“Since I know myself. Actually, I’ve spent more time with him than he spent with his own mother. I’m his second mother, you know? I was his employee since he was a little boy and I saw him growing up…”
“Then, you know why he’s always like that in 23rd December?”
“Of course. It’s because of him.”
I pointed to Ratigan’s picture.
“HIM??? But why??” Dawson asked, surprised.
“I know it sounds hard to believe that he’s sad because of that evil man, but it has a logical explanation.”
“Has it?”
“Today it was Ratigan’s birthday.”
“So what? He’s dead and he tried to kill us, for goodness’s sake!”
I explained to Doctor Dawson that Basil and Ratigan were adoptive brothers and that Ratigan had such an obsession for Basil that killed all his girlfriends or potential girlfriends.
“Brothers? Is that true? Oh my God, that is so hard to believe… They hated each other so much! What’s even harder to believe is that Ratigan was obsessed for him… And poor girls… Now I understand why Basil hated him so much!”
“Well, it’s not hate. Basil still likes Ratigan. They’ve grown up together. I saw that monster growing up with him. They were so close… Ratigan destroyed his life when Basil loved him more than any of his girlfriends. “
“I can imagine…”
“No, you can’t.”
“Well, looks like I don’t really know Basil. Never thought he could have been with a girl or being Ratigan’s best friend…”
“He changed his vision of the world after his parents’ death and after he discovered the awful truth.”
“Poor Basil… He never fell in love with anybody else, did he?”
“He refused to fall in love again. The only feeling close to love he ever felt was with Olivia Flaversham, after he saved her. He was never the same man anymore, so I’m glad the little girl came in his way, to bring him some peace.”
“Indeed, she was such a cute girl…”
“But deep down, I still recognize in him the same little boy I used to know: Pure hearted, full of love, dreaming of romance and justice… and very sensitive.”
“Poor boy… He must be sensitive because he is sad with Ratigan, after all he done to him… But if Ratigan loved him so much, then why did he try to kill him?”
“Who knows why? He was insane.”
“Do you think Basil’s really sleeping?”
“If I know him well, he’s crying silently.”
“Jesus… I really like that detective. He always seemed to me such a good hearted person.”
“Yes, he tries to pretend that he’s strong, but the truth is that he’s sensitive and cries lots of times. He prefers to hide his feelings from the world but he speaks with me.”
“I’m shocked with this story, I really am.”
“Who wouldn’t be? But I pray every night that Mr. Basil one day finds true happiness. You know, he always wanted to put Ratigan behind bars, you’ve seen how much he seemed to hate him. But he never wanted Ratigan to be dead. When he saw his brother dead, he pretended to be happy, but when he came to bed, he cried. He cried on my shoulder that night. Then, he slept and recovered.”
“All of his girlfriends killed… What a shock! I’d be traumatized for a living!”
“Who wouldn’t, Doctor? But I dream that one day he will find true happiness again. He’s not free from James Ratigan. Never was, not even after his death.”
“James?”
“His first name. When Basil found out the truth, the name ‘James’ was buried.”
Dawson was almost crying. He was also a very sensitive man.
In fact, he liked Basil so much that he couldn’t see his friend in pain.
Dawson was engaged with a widow named Ophelia, so sometimes he was away from home and left Basil alone in his deep thoughts.
“So young and with such a hard life… I didn’t know he was orphan.” He lamented.
“Ratigan’s family adopted him. Basil became the rising star of the family. The only mouse in a family of rats, the proud for his adoptive parents, an extremely intelligent and popular child, who smiled to everyone and loved his family more than anything.”
We kept talking until midnight. Then, I and the doctor went to bed.
…
The next day seemed normal. Basil was happier than last night and we had just finished eating the breakfast.
“So, old chap, how are you today?” Dawson asked.
“I’m fine, Dawson, thank you. I was just a bit tired last night, that’s all.” He answered.
“I’m glad you’re okay now, Mr. Basil” I said.
Basil smiled to me.
“You’ve been a good mother to me all these years, Mrs. Judson. You know how I feel all the time and only you can cheer me up now.”
“What about me, Basil? Your partner, your best friend? Don’t I make you feel better?”
After hearing the words “best friend”, Basil remained in silence for a few seconds.
Dawson realized that he should have chosen his words more carefully. I didn’t move or said anything.
“Oh, dear, I’m sorry… Of course you make me feel better, Dawson! How silly of me, you really do, you make me laugh sometimes and you’re a precious help to me! If you weren’t, I’d never have invited you to work with me, my… my best friend. ”
Dawson smiled happily after hearing that he was Basil’s best friend.
And indeed, he was his best friend. Basil had nobody else to trust in.
Suddenly, somebody knocked the door.
“I’ll answer it.” I said.
I don’t even know why I always say ‘I’ll answer it’. After all, I’m the mousekeeper, it’s my obligation.
What wasn’t my surprise when I opened the door and saw a beautiful angel’s face dressed in blue.
“Good morning, Miss. How can I help you?” I asked nicely, with a big smile.
“Mrs. Judson?” she asked.
She had a lovable voice, with a certain melody.
I was surprised.
“Yes, I am. How do you know?”
“Don’t you recognize me?”
“Well, I-I’m sorry, but… no, Miss…”
She smiled.
“Flaversham. Olivia Flaversham.”
I couldn’t believe in my eyes! Olivia Flaversham, the sweet young girl that I met with 8 years old, in the year of Ratigan’s death, was now a woman! I hadn’t seen her for 10 years. She was now 18 years old. I didn’t remember that with the years, she had grown up.
“Oh, my Goodness! Olivia!!”
I hugged her with happiness.
“Come in and eat some of my delicious crumpets and tea. How gorgeous you are!! They will love to see you.”
“Are Dr. Dawson and Basil in here?”
“Of course they are! Why wouldn’t they?”
I looked at Olivia more carefully. She was a stunning woman: Medium height, with the same red accessory she used to have 10 years ago in her brown furred head, shinning blue eyes, small nose, her lips painted in red, a long and beautiful blue dress with long sleeves, her hands beautifully cared, with red nails, and small earrings in her small ears.
“Look who I have got here!” I said.
The two mice turned to our direction.
Dawson smiled and seemed to recognize in that woman the little Olivia, but Basil didn’t seem to recognize her.
Basil smiled and I could see his eyes shinning of surprise when he saw the girl.
“Oh, my God, it can’t be…” Dawson said, surprised.
“How can I help you, Miss? As I can deduce…” Basil began.
But I interrupted him.
“Mr. Basil, no time for that!”
“But she wants my help, certainly.”
“Well, that too, but... Oh, dear Basil, you haven’t changed a bit!” she said, smiling happily.
“What do you mean?”
Basil was confused.
“Basil, can’t you see who see is?” Dawson asked. “I could never forget that sweet face, even after 10 years!”
Dawson hugged Olivia.
“Oh, my dear, I can’t believe you’re not a child anymore! You look splendid! A Goddess!”
“Thank you, Doctor. I never forgot you, neither Basil. You all are a part of me, you know it. I missed you so much!”
“But who are you, Miss?” Basil insisted.
“I’m Olivia Flaversham!”
Basil almost fell after hearing her name.
“MISS FLASHASTER??? IS THAT YOU?”
“Flaversham!” the three of us corrected.
“Whatever.”
“Basil, I’m so happy to see you!!” she said, hugging him tight.
Now she could reach Basil’s shoulders.
“It’s so good to see you too… I can’t believe it’s you! You look outstanding!! Gorgeous, lovely… A lady!”
Basil was charmed by Olivia, I could tell.
“Thank you, Basil. You look the same: Handsome and tall and smart… My hero hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Your hero?”
“Yes, my hero. Are you surprised to see me, Basil?”
“Yes, you know I am, Miss. Flagershamer…”
“It’s Flaversham. But you can call me Olivia.”
“Olivia?”
“Just Olivia.”
“Olivia…”
“Yes, Basil?”
“I’m glad you came. I really am.”
Basil and Olivia hugged once more. Both of them were totally happy to meet each other again.