The Speckled Band
or
Ripping Off Mr. Doyle

Herr Mullen looked at Jyou, one eyebrow raised above the other, perspiration reflecting his desk lamp.
          "Another parody?"
          "Yes, Wisemon gave the Scrooge one a 9/10."
          "Yes, but Sonimon only gave it 8.3"
          "Sonimon uses decimals in a fraction. He was reviewing it as a lemon. Do you really want to take him seriously on this?"
          Herr Mullen's eyebrow lowered, as the effort of lifting that much fat and hair up his face had tired his muscle out. "Well, all right. I rather fancy a murder mystery."
          "Onto the disclaimer?"
          "Indeed." Herr Mullen sat at his typewriter, and began hacking at the keys, slowly, as he tried to locate each letter. "It should be noted, that Digimon belongs to Toei and Fox Kids," he paused, "Apparently. The Speckled Band is a Conan Doyle creation, and as such the storyline can be credited to him. Silly jokes are property of Herr Mullen. Contains scenes a minor shouldn't read, in keeping with the entire "lemon" thing. If you are a minor, then leave. Onto the story."

I was roused from my slumber by Koushiro, who pulled and tugged at my shoulder.
          "Jyou," he said, "Jyou."
          "Hmm? What's that?"
          "Sorry to knock you up, but there's a client downstairs. I know you'll want to be there to take down the meeting into your ledgers you dedicate more time than is healthy to."
          "You can knock me up anytime, Koushiro."
          "Behave."
          I pulled myself out of bed and dressed myself decently, before going downstairs to see to the client. She was a young girl, with a red hat, brown hair, and a nervous demeanor; she kept checking the windows and doors, as if she expecting someone to come in. Our house maid, Hikari, had made her a cup of tea. Koushiro lent on the edge of the table at the end of the room, his back to the big window at the front of the house. Hikari had lit the fireplace, and as such I chose to sit on the settee next to it, Koushiro behind me, the client in the armchair in front of me.
          "This is my associate," Koushiro told her, "Jyou. He's a doctor, and insistent on writing about our investigations. Jyou, this is Mimi."
          Mimi fidgeted in her seat. "How do you do?" She asked me.
          "I am fine, thank you, miss."
          She was excessively pretty. Her brown locks hung down from under her hat, and her jumper, though distorting, emphasised the size of her breasts. Kuoshiro seemed to sense me growing a tad happy toward her, and gave a cough.
          "What is it that has brought you to us, Miss Mimi?"
          "I knew of you from my friend, Ms. Yolei, whom you helped recover a lost pendant from a dastardly villain."
          "Ms Yolei?" I asked.
          "Before you're time, Jyou. However, I recall the case well. Prey, my dear, continue."
          "Well," she fidgeted, and then crossed her legs over the other way. The long skirt didn't allow my eyes access to her bloomers. "My mother met my step father in the Digital World. He began to court her, and eventually she married him. Everything was fine, as, like Mr. Jyou here, he is a doctor, and earns a considerable sum. He gave my mother half of his earnings, which she put into a savings account for myself and my sister, Sora. In her will, as, sadly, she passed away five years ago, she said we were to be granted this money once we married. However, three years ago, my sister became engaged to an ambassador called Taichi. My stepfather moved her into the room next to his study. She did not like that room. The night before she died, she confided in me that she had heard whistling the past few nights, coupled with a slight breeze. She was quite disturbed by them. However, I managed to lay her fears to rest, and she departed from my room. I heard her scream, and dashed out onto the landing, to find her crawling out of her room. I asked her what was wrong, but all she would say was "The Speckled Band, it was The Speckled Band"."
          "The Speckled Band?" I asked. I had not heard of such a group.
          "Please, Miss, continue."
          Miss Mimi plunged on, her chest heaving slightly, lifting her breasts, which were quite perfectly proportioned under her jumper, and then lowering them again. "The autopsy on her body was inconclusive. Taichi was quite distraught by his fiance's death. The last I heard of him, was that he had turned quite bald with grief."
          "A terrible shame. However, if this occurred three years ago, why are you telling up this now?"
          "Because I fear, Doctor Jyou, that my life is in grave danger. For, I have recently been moved into the very same room in which my sister had died, just after I announced my engagement to a wealthy culinary entrepreneur called Daisuke."
          My heart fell to the deepest pits of my stomach, where it dissolved in the more potent acids of my being.
          Koushiro suddenly became much more warm toward the girl. "Well, my dear, we shall start with the man who is most likely to be the one who has the most to gain. Your step father; may I have a name?"
          "His name is Ken, Doctor Ken."
          "And he would stand to inherit the money your mother has left you should you pass away before you can stake your claim?"
          "Yes, Mr. Koushiro, yes! This is why I came to you. No one else would take my case; he is a most violent and eccentric man. He has the shortest tempers I have encountered, and even has a Renamon and Growlmon running free on the grounds, to which he has rented out to Gypsies."
          "The Speckled Band?" I asked.
          She shook her head. "No, there is nothing speckled about the Gypsies. In fact, we were quite friendly with them. We used to go down to the bottom of the garden to visit them when they came, in our early youths."
          "That is very interesting, my dear," said Koushiro. "But I must ask, where you followed here?"
          "Oh, no sir! I took utmost precautions not to be seen leaving the estate."
          "Where is this estate?"
          "Only a short train ride away from here. I have some directions, here."
          She reached over and gave me a piece of paper with directions to her home.
          "I should like to visit this place," said Koushiro. "In fact, it is imperitive. Is there a time we could visit without encountering your step father?"
          "He travels out of town tomorrow, on business, around three o'clock. He returns at seven. Would that be a good time?"
          "Yes, my dear, it would be perfect."
          "Thank you, Mr. Koushiro, Dr. Jyou." She nodded, and stood up. "I shall expect you, but for now I must go, lest someone realise I've absconded."
          "Good-bye, Miss Mimi." I said after her, as she stepped out, pausing briefly to nod farewell to me, and to retrieve a jacket from Hikari, which she wrapped about her person.
          Koushiro waited until she had defiantly left, and then said; "Pretty girl, a bit nice, but good breasts."
          I blushed quite heavily. Koushiro had a way ofd knowing exactly what to say to embarrass me.
          "Any ideas?"
          "A few, Jyou, a few."
          "The Gypsies?"
          "No. Not the Gypsies. The real suspect here is the Doctor. All we have to find out is the murder weapon. How about you? Any ideas on how to entice the dear girl into your chamber?"
          "Koushiro!" I said, quite unsettled, "Please! You know that I would never do such a thing!"
          Upon that moment, the door exploded forth, swinging wildly open on its hinges, denting the wall with the handle's impact.
          "Which one of you is Mr. Koushiro?" The apparition at the door growled.
          "I am Koushiro. And you are Doctor Ken."
          "Yes." The Doctor stomped into the room. "And I want to know exactly what my step daughter has been saying."
          "I'm afraid that no-one here is at liberty to discuss anything a client has confided."
          "Ah-ha!" He shouted, "So, she is a client?" The Doctor moved far too close to Koushiro, I could see the breath from his nose rippling Koushiro's hair.
          Koushiro stood in front of Ken, and said quite calmly, "I am not able to say."
          Doctor Ken's eyes narrowed themselves at my companion. "I am not a man to be tangled with, Mr. Koushiro. Watch out for yourself."
          He took the poker from its stand next to the fireplace, and bent it easily into a curve, and threw it down to the floor. He swept out of the room like some brash and uncaring monsoon. Koushiro looked down at the stricken poker, sighed and picked it up.
          "What an unfortunate temperament." He said, and, with a sudden effort, bent to poker back into shape.
          "I say," muttered Jyou.

Koushiro and I took a train into the country. We marveled briefly at the fact that it levitated, until Koushiro came up with a sound theory on why and how it levitated, which took all of two seconds. We got on the train, and received a few stares at our caps and pipes. Later, we disembarked from the engine, making note that it did not seem to run on steam, which struck me as very queer, but Koushiro seemed nonplussed.
          We hailed a local taxi from the station, and proceeded on our way, until Koushiro said "My good fellow, please stop this horseless carriage! We have arrived at our destination!" The driver, who seemed to me to be a very strange fellow indeed, perhaps a little retardant in nature, gave us a look of ill -meaning. Koushiro paid our shilling fair, then discussed terms with the driver until he finally bothered to pay in legal currency. The discerningly horse-absent cart pulled away, with a growl from what I can only assume to be invisible beasts.
          Looking at up the ill-maintained mansion, it seemed that only a fraction of the house was actually habitable. The rest had fallen into disrepair.
         Miss Mimi dashed out, insofar as a lady can dash, to greet us. "Mr Koushiro! Doctor Jyou! I am so glad you have come! Please, have some crumpets, muffins, or teacake!"
         "My dear lady," said Koushiro, "We could not possibly partake in tea practices. There is far too much to investigate here. Indeed, if your life is at stake, then we have not a moment to loose! Please, take us to your room, Ms. Mimi, so that we may see where this foul play could occur!"
         "Mr. Koushiro, I find it quite forward that you demand to be shown my bedroom, having been here for not two minutes. It is just up this staircase, next to my step-father's office."
         She led us into the hall, which was dusty and uncleaned. We climbed the stairs, and took a right on the balcony. We entered her bedroom. It was plain, unusually so for a well-dressed girl such as Miss Mimi. There was a bed, a desk, a mirror and a chair, in addition to the standard clothe-care furniture. A grey and grimy window overlooked the Gypsy camp. There was a typical diamond grill in the window, which could be swung open should the room become too hot in the summer. Outside, there was a trellis wrapped with wall crawling plants, which branched underneath the still. I turned to Miss Mimi. "Might I check your wardrobe, miss? There may be some clue to this mystery in there."
         "If you deem it necessary Doctor, then you may check whatever you will."
         "Thank you, miss." I swung open the doors. There were a collection of summer and winter dresses, some shawls, and a good deal of shoes and hats, for outdoor wear. In the corner of the armoire was a set of drawers, which I began to check. Gloves, corsets, and finally, the underwear drawer...
         Koushiro coughed just before I opened my prize. I looked up.
         "Jyou," he said to me, "There is nothing in there. The plain points of this case lie in that ventilator, and in that bell pull."
         He directed our attentions to a ventilator in the wall, above the bed, and a bell pull hanging next to it.
         "It doesn't lead outside. It leads into the next room." I realised.
         "That's right," said Koushiro, "Doesn't that strike you as curious? A ventilator leading into the next room? Miss, I believe you said the next room was your step-father's study?"
         "That's right, Mr. Koushiro."
         Koushiro nodded. "A major factor. And this bell pull. Give it a good tug, Jyou."
         I grasped the velvet rope, as Mimi said "I remember when that was first installed. My sister and I never used it. We don't like to disturb Snoggins- he's our butler- as he is in the evening of his years." I gave the rope a pull. It did not give. in fact, it was perfectly steadfast.
         Koushiro climbed onto the bed, after removing his shoes, and examined to top of the bell pull. "It leads to a hook." he announced "As I suspected!" He climbed down. "Now, Jyou, what could a person do with a fake bell pull and a ventilator leading into the next room?"
         I looked at the ventilator. "It's too small to do anything with!" I said, "How can you do something with a ventilator that tiny?"
        "Indeed. And what was that whistling sound? I believe your sister mentioned a whistling noise?"
        "Yes, indeed. I'm afraid I cannot think of anything likely to cause such a disturbance."
        "Let us follow the shaft. I wish to see the study."
        I did not believe anything would lie in wait for us that could possibly relate. I knew that in the manor of Sir Takeru, a valued and esteemed member of the House of Lords, there were fake bell pulls in every room to give an impression of considerable importance and of wealth. Upon entrance to the study, I immediately summarised that the Master's well-being was a greater priority than that of Miss Mimi's, as the size, cleanliness and style of the room were all much greater than that of Miss Mimi's boudoir. The desk was of a greater quality of wood and of superior size, the chair was more ergonomic, and the window, though identical, had been washed.
        "What's this?" asked Koushiro, picking up a leach.
        I examined it. "It appears to be a leach. I've seen these in the zoo's reptile house a few times."
        "Interesting" murmured Koushiro. "and what would be in that safe?"
        "Accounts, I think." said Miss Mimi. "My stepfather often works on his accounts late into the night."
        "We must act tonight," announced Koushiro. "Miss Mimi, when does your stepfather return?"
        "He returns at seven, and retires at eleven."
        "And when do you retire?"
        "Usually, I retire at a quarter to."
        "Then, at eleven, place a candle in your window to let us know you're safe. We shall come and settle in your room. You shall escape to our inn. Where would be the best place to stay, locally?"
        "Mimi went to the window, and pointed. "The Writer's Arms is a good inn. You will be able to see my candle, there."
        "Then that is where we shall stay. Come, Jyou. Let us book in, and I shall send a telegram to Hikari to send down some things from the city."
        "Don't you want to check out Snoggings?"
        "What?"
        "The butler. Don't you want to see the butler?"
        "No. I am certain the butler is not involved."
        "Then the Gypsies?"
        "Jyou, I have everything I need. Let us not intrude any further on Miss Mimi's time or property. Thank you, Miss. You have been most helpful."

We sat in the inn's room. Half past ten, according to my timepiece.
        Koushiro did not look preoccupied.
        "Do you think you've solved it, Koushiro?"
        "Yes."
        "What is the significance of the ventilator? It is far too small for anyone to do anything with."
        "Did you see her bed?"
        "Why, of course. It is one of the main features of a bedroom."
        "Did you examine it's legs?"
        "No. Why?"
        "They were bolted to the floor with iron bolts. The doctor does not want to bed to be moved from under the bell pull. That's why I don't think the butler or the Gypsies did it. Also, I knew there'd be a ventilator before we got there."
        "Koushiro!"
        "I did. Miss Mimi's sister mentioned a draft. Where else could it have come from, than an open ventilator?" We lapsed into silence, which we sat in until Koushiro finally said "I think we should partake in intercourse."
        "Me too," I said, "But we haven't much to say."
        "Well, that Mimi is a darling."
        "Koushiro, you aren't jealous are you? Are you battling for my affections?"
        "I never admit to jealousy. Why would I have to battle her? She is going to be married to a wealthy chef. There is no chance of you two being united."
        "Exactly, my dear. So do not battle for them."
        "I am not battling for them!" said Koushiro, "My affections are yours entirely, and I'd say the feelings are perfectly mutual!"
        "And they are!"
        Then he proved it for me. We tussled in oral engagement, dragging me out of affection limbo. He had an awesome mouth, like a strong brandy; powerful, and all-consuming my tastes. His powerful arms gripped my body. He pulled me onto the bed.
        "We've got to make it quick, Koushiro, we'll be needed very shortly."
        We eased each other out of our encasement's, discarding my tweed suit and waistcoat, and his dark traveling suit, sending them to the floor. He pushed me back on the bed, a white, springy double, as requested. He stood on all fours over me, and turned about to face my erection. In the meantime, I was faced with his appendage. To begin with, I utilised my tongue, pushing it past my lips, and licking. Koushiro shuddered, and put my equivalent on top of his tongue, then moving quickly, darting about to have touched every area of my baton. I squirmed, and groaned, but kept up my slow licks, until Koushiro told me to hurry the devil up. So, I opened my mouth and encased him. I began to raise and lower my head, following my movement with my tongue. I focused on the underbelly of the whale. I say whale, and it's perfectly suited, but only when you use one of the smaller species. Koushiro began to thrust, catching me off guard, almost gagging me, however I won the award for inopportune maneuvers after banging my companion on the nose.
        "Blast, Jyou! You've hit my nose," he exclaimed.
        From there, we sat up, and used our hands instead. Koushiro did not want to loose an eye. He wrapped his digits around me, and started a steady rhythm. Already slickened, he could move very fast indeed. I fell back, supporting myself on the covers with both hands, I writhed, and groaned, my eyes half-closed. I fought the desire to climax, which rose through me. My hair was getting in my eyes, now, from the amount of movement my head was experiencing. I couldn't raise the effort to toss it back, as I was preoccupied with being tossed off. I shiver and a spasm, then an ejaculation. Koushiro wiped it off of me, and himself, and then sucked it off of his fingers. "Come, on, Jyou. Now it's my turn, right?"
        I caught my breath, which had been running away fro me very quickly, and grinned. I crawled back onto my feet, and leaped onto Koushiro. I balled him over, almost sending us off of the bed, and began to play with his nipples. Running my fingers lightly up and down them, occasionally being adventurous and going around them. Koushiro let his head hang over the side of the mattress, his hair falling back. I lent in and kissed him deeply. I spread my hands wide, laid them on his chest, and gave two squeezes. Then, I began to leave a trail of kisses, down from his mouth, over his chin, pausing and going for something powerful at his neck, to which my companion moaned. I continued my trail, over the shoulder, and over the chest. Then, I began to suck and play on his nipples. My hands moved southward, from his chest to his underarms, moving down the sides of his body, slowly. Then, they reached the hips, and pinned them down. I continued my rings on his upper body, and my right hand crawled over and grasped his cock. I opted for something quick; Koushiro writhed. My tongue started to become less sofisticated in its movements. It became streight out up and down licking, as my hand became quicker. Koushiro's head was in serious danger of paralising the rest of his body, as his neck was entirely off of the bed by now, and not being too quiet about it. Then, I felt some wet slaps at my testicles, as Koushiro climaxed, pelting them. II hoisted Koushiro back onto the covers, and held my stroctum over his mouth. He cleaned them to my statisfaction, and then I laid down next to him.
        "How could you doubt me, Koushiro?" I grinned.
         "I don't know, Jyou." We lay there, for a while, naked, cuddling, until Koushrio reminded me of our objective. We got up, pulled our clothes back on, but not before I gave Koushiro's backside a little pinch, and then we resumed our stations at the window.
         "Put your revolver in it's holster, Jyou. We may need it." I took the gun and slipped into the depths beneath my blazer. I looked at my pocket watch.
         "It's nearly eleven. Is the candle alight, yet?"
         "...There it is!" Koushiro exclaimed. "Come, Jyou, we haven't a moment to spare..."
         We left the room, hurriedly, and left the inn. We left instructions at the checkout to hand the key to our room to Miss Mimi when she turned up.

We had made our way up to the manor. It was dark, and beginning to drizzle. I vaguely wished for a hat. We scaled the wrought iron gates, Koushiro clearing them easily, myself getting my jacket caught on a spike and fiddling to get it off, before overbalancing and falling to the floor.
         "Are you all right, old boy?"
         "I'm fine," I grumbled, getting up and brushing down my trousers. I wiped the blood away from my lip, and began heading, crouched, lest anyone in the manor see us, through the bushes, toward Miss Mimi's room. A feminine howl sounded across the grounds. I froze, and looked behind me. I turned back round quickly when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
         "Don't worry about that. That would be the Renamon in the middle of a sexual encounter. They seem to have so many, that species, according to what I've read."
         I sighed with relief. I'd read about them, too. In the distance an owl hooted.
         It hooted twice more, and then gave up.
         "Up here!" hissed Miss Mimi, uncurling her hands.
         In our distractedness about just what it was Renamon's do best, we had almost passed Miss Mimi's window. We looked up and waved.
         "How are you going to get up here?" she whispered. My companion darted from the bushes, and began to scale the trellis.I followed.
         "Miss Mimi," I said, once we'd past through the tight squeeze which was the window, "Plans have changed, slightly."
         "Oh, Doctor?"
         I coughed, and pulled at my collar. She still had nice breasts.
         "We are not staying at the Writer's Arms. We're in the inn next to it."
         Miss Mimi frowned. "Why, Doctor Jyou, the only thing I can think of which could qualify as boarding next to the Arms, would be a love motel. Is that what you are referring to?"
         Koushiro and I looked down, and started pawing the floor with our shoes, muttering something about the Arm's prices, and extortion. We heard the Renamon again.

It was dark. We were silent. My revolver was drawn. Miss Mimi had vacated via the window we'd entered by. Koushiro was leaning on a cane the opposite side of the room. Neither of us occupied the bed. We were waiting for something, but what I did not know. Koushiro had a knack for keeping me in the dark. I'm certain he was doing it to build dramatic tension. I do not know how long we sat for. I wanted to check my pocket watch, but couldn't in the absent light. The curtains were drawn. I checked my revolver. It seemed to be in order. My eyes were heavy behind my glasses. They wanted to droop, and I wanted to slumber. Koushiro, across the room, remained alert. As I was dreaming of my bed, my tongue pawing at my cut lip, tasting blood, we heard a whistle. We felt a breeze. We were instantly alert. Further whistling.
         "There, Jyou!"
         Koushiro sprang up and trashed at the bell pull with his cane, attacking relentlessly with furor. I stood up and tried to aim the gun in the darkness. "Don't shoot Jyou!" He trashed at the floor, until I heard a painful "crack".
         Koushiro turned up the light. "Behold, Jyou." he said, "The Speckled Band." On the floor lay a Wormon, dead. "Miss Mimi's unfortunate sister was referring to the pattern on it's head. And look, next to it." Next to the stricken creature was a small syringe. "Anything in there would be deadly. Quickly, Jyou! We have no time to spare!" We dashed out of the room, down the landing, into the study. I pointed the revolver at Doctor Ken.
         "Not a move," I trembled. I am not actually that good with firearms, "Else I will shoot!" Koushiro tripped Ken over, and placed his cane at his neck.
         "Any attempts to resist could be fatal." he stated.

We stood, holding the bands hanging from the bars overhead. The train rushed along. I still wanted to know how it floated, and how the thing ran without steam. But other questions nagged me.
         "Koushiro?"
         "Hmm?"
         "Did you know it was going to be a Wormon?"
         "Yes, actually."
         "How?"
         "It's simple, my dear Jyou. The ventilator was too small for a man to pass through. The Doctor wanted the bed to be underneath the bell pull, which was next to the ventilator. Why? Well, I knew he had a supply of creatures from the Digital World, such as the Renamon. Easy. He trained the Wormon, known as a Speckled Band in some regions, to respond to a whistle."
         And that was it of the Speckled Band Case. Several weeks later, however, we were sent a fruit basket as thanks, as well as a sheet of coupons from the inn, in a promotion campaign. Other than that, that was the end of The Speakled Band.


Author's Notes.

Not nearly as good as Mr. Doyle himself. If you get the chance, read the real speakled band to see how a real writer does it. The dialect was easy enough to write, although the plot was a little hard to carry over. Speakled Band doesn't work quite as well for Wormon as I had hoped. Oh well. Also, the sex scene isn't that great, even if the jokes are a little better than usual. It'll be my tenth story, next. I'm thinking of something special for that. Well, chaps, catch you later.