Chapter 13

Standing in the yard right outside the shed door, John, Terry, and Aaron were engaged in a heated debate.

Before the debate could be deciphered, Sasha emerged with Sherlock on her shoulder.

Rushing to her, "Sasha, where have you been? Oh man, I thought I lost you forever! I can't do that again! Why are your shoes covered in sand?"

Sherlock kept his beak shut as to not alarm Terry or Aaron, "Dad, I went upstairs for five minutes. It couldn't have been that worrying."

John rebutted, "You see our clothes? Not the same as when you entered the shed right?"

Sherlock looked around at the stoic backyard, a pool and soccer goal filled it but that was all. The house stood tall, hovering over the shed and shadowing the area.

With an inquisitive look, "How long have I been away?"

Terry stepped into the conversation, "It's been nine days honey. We called the police and everything."

Pinching her shoulder ever so gently, "Well, Ehhh, that's the thing. Time is different, Ehhh, up there. Things will all be, Ehhh, different now that she, Ehhh, has the stone."

Before anyone could comprehend the fact that a parrot was speaking English to them, a detective's car pulled up in front of the house. A female and male detective approached the backyard with their badges clipped to their belts.

With a calm, monotone voice the female detective said, "Good afternoon folks. Is this the missing Sasha?"

Detective Garrett, the female, seemed very nice and caring. Her eyes gave off a sense of genuine calm and concern.

Detective Jones, the male detective, seemed out of place. New. He gave off a sense of elusiveness and hostility.

He barked to Sasha, "Little girl, you are in a heap of trouble. Where have you been for nine days!? What have you been up to? Where did you get that parrot?"

Sherlock could tell something was off and whispered to Sasha, "He's a bad guy, Ehhh. Black suits, beach, remember, Ehhh?"

Without flinching, "Detectives, I was playing hide and seek. It looks like I am pretty good at it, huh?"

Detective Garrett giggled as Jones grew red in the face, "So we have wasted all of our resources looking for you, time and money, and you were just playing a game without telling anyone? Interesting."

John stepped forward in front of his daughter, "Well detectives, it seems we won't need your services anymore. I really appreciate the help here."

Sasha and the family headed for the house, "Mind if I check out that shed Mr. Roberts?"

Knowing what would happen if Jones looked in the shed, "As a matter of fact, I do mind detective. If you want to look so bad you're going to need a search warrant."

Defeated and embarrassed, "Well then, we have a backyard lawyer on our hands. I'll see you soon Mr. Roberts. Real soon."

The detectives left but not without Garrett slipping Sasha her business card without anyone seeing. It read, "Call me if you need anything."

Once inside the house Sherlock decided to debrief the family and let them know what was going on and fully explaining what the course of events coming could possibly entail.