1 Modern Thief I.

Modern Thief: The Notebook disappearance.

Shenanigan: 4.3.2018

"The notebook just disappeared? Some case you've got into, shenanigan!"

My hand shot to muffle the phone's speaker. I looked back through the glass door. The victim Ina Akira staring at me helplessly. I sighed, as always talking with Holmes Amelia was tiring.

I spoke on the phone, "yes, yes. Can you come over here now? Or else she'd be sure that it's me who stole it. Also, she'd find you more believable than me. "

She avoided my question, I could hear a distant explosive and driving sounds from her background. "But had she not check you?"

"No, she had. Flipped me over with great martial skill, I almost die. But still, she's suspecting me hiding the notebook."

Ame laughed, "that luck of yours. I mean, a notebook just disappeared and only two of you were in the library--the owner and her stalker. The case is solved for a second!"

"Damn it, Ame. You know that if the school believes I'm guilty of any charge then they'd instantly kick me out from White Book."

"You can find girls at other school." she said innocently. But I knew better she was no pure and dumb girl. The girl solved homicides for god's sake.

I cussed and she returned my annoyance with a laugh, "kidding, shenanigan. I have a need of your assistance in White Book anyway."

"Then will you come?"

"No."

"Why no?"

"I can't. I'm onto a case."

"Why was there explosion?"

"A thrilling case!"

I grunted, "you're at the hall then, participating the movie club's activity." These past couple days, the movie club had hanged their plan to host a movie on every part of school. The posters were about anywhere. Every 'ordinary' White Book's students were hyped. But Amelia Holmes was never been ordinary.

She laughed, "see, see? You're skilled enough, I think, to solve this your own. Why want my help? You're not 19th century John Watson. Call me when you solved it, ciao!"

Beep. She hanged up.

It must be hard for Dr. John H. Watson to hold up with the Sherlock Holmes. In my case, the Holmes descendant did hang up before I could response.

I sighed…and did it again. 'Solve it my own, I think I should do just that,'

Pressing the phone back into my pocket, I walked in and pushed the glass door. The square room, smelled of papers, and a buzzing fan greeted me. But the princess figure of White Book Pigeon, Ina knocked all other sense then.

Upon meeting with her eyes, I blurted. "It's rather hot here today turning off the air-conditioner."

"W--we are very sorry but after four p.m. we only use the standing fan…" she pointed at the spinning wind blower.

"Right…"

"So?" she asked. Ah yes, I promised her I'd call my president here, and judging by her reaction then, Ina was one of Holmes fan.

Ina Akira. Also known as the princess of White Book's Pigeon, was a librarian. With her long dark hair as slick as a shampoo girl, planted over her timid and white face with two diamonds. And last but not least, a B cup. Ample for a man.

I shruggdd, "my president, sadly, will not come."

"B, but--ah…" her shoulder slumped, her whole posture pictured that an octopus. "If not her, who could find my notebook? It's a big mystery! I thought it was you but then not…but I couldn't think anyone but you who did it."

I took a part of her last sentence romantically, "that's okay. I just have to proof it to you again."

She looked at me, her eyes must have hold a thousand of dreams and hopes inside.

I began my short overview:

"We were in the library. It started when you caught me staring at you again. You left your post. As always, before leaving your receptionist desk, you would put your treasured notebook on desk. It's hard to miss this if you always hold the notebook everywhere.

"Then you came to me in reason that you have to confront with me. We talk for a couple minutes, and when you mentioned the student council, I accepted my defeat and promise not to stalk you. Nodding three times, you went back to the desk."

Ina blushed slightly and muttered, "three times…"

"Something happened," I continued, "I noticed your worry gesture, and honestly I thought you were feeling guilty for me. I packed my homework up. Just before I can grab the handle, you grab my arm and spun me. Then checked me faster than a scanner."

Ina helped me for a breath, "I called you a thief for stealing my notebook. I'm sorry."

"It's all okay, that's a normal reaction within this circumstance. Anyway, I replied that I did not steal it. You suspected me for hiding it."

The scene played back in my mind.

Huffed and puffed, Ina had declared to me. "There's no one else in the library. It could only be you!"

That time I was lying on my back, looking up to her eyes. I sat up and shook my dizziness.

"Still, it couldn't be me." I said.

"H, how come?"

"Do remember…when was the last time you see your notebook and realize the notebook disappear."

She put a finger on her lip and gasped. "The last time I saw before I confront you…and I realized it was missing after I'm done."

I had said, "it means I should be within your watch. But you never saw me walking to the desk, did you."

Then I noticed her look doubtful so I decided to ask for Ame's help. After all, she was the great detective. I thought she could stand up for me. Well, I was wronged.

I finished my overview, "Am I correct?"

"Yes," she nodded her head and shook after, "but then if not you, did it just disappeared in thin air."

Ame would laugh if she heard it, but I only pushed a smile. "That is impossible, princess. But you did confirm that your notebook is not around the desk. And you have not misplaced it somewhere else."

She nodded twice.

I shrugged, "then someone or something else must have make it disappear, not in thin air, but by removing it."

"But no one else was in the library."

"Indeed, then we have to find who could've slipped our sight."

She gasped, "you think it's the hobbit?"

"What?"

"Oh, um, ah…" her face went red, "never mind that. It could be my stalker…other than you." the last part she almost whisper.

"We have to see if that's possible."

I looked around the ancient-like library, hoping maybe the thief was hiding. Hide where? All the gold-wooden bookshelves planted on the wall with it's neat colourful books. And in our position, we almost could see all the wooden desks and chairs, the two-panel windows, and fresh boxes. With these setting, I don't think the greatest player of hide n' seek could even play here.

"Did the thief ran out?" Ina gave her thought.

I shook my head, pointing the desk I sat, "my desk was the nearest from the door. And the glass door is the only obvious door someone could use. I never saw someone past me when we were having the discussion."

"Y--you're right. Maybe...they use the not so obvious door…like the rumoured secret door, ahaha....ha..."

I didn't know well enough of the library for a secret door to be build somewhere. Also I thought it sounded silly.

For now, I knew I just have to gather clues.