A Study in Gray · Chapter 7

Rachel's Doll

Gwen and Lily returned proudly with stacks of case files nearly their height.

Professor M

It seems your investigation was fruitful.

Gwen

Lily and I worked hard, you know.

Professor M

Impressive. This much material...

Did you perhaps resort to your feminine charms, Miss Lily?

Lily

I did no such thing!

The Professor and Lily were still bickering as they returned to the Baskerville mansion, where an unexpected person was waiting.

Henry

You've returned at just the right time. Dinner is being prepared.

Realizing her snooping had been exposed, Gwen awkwardly hid the stack of documents behind her back.

Henry

Please don't decline this time like you did this morning.

Gwen

Ah, sorry. We already ate somewhere else...

Henry

It looks as though you barely ate lunch either, after skipping breakfast.

I'd be in quite a predicament if word got out that Baskerville hospitality means starving guests and having them attacked.

Gwen and Lily looked at Henry warily.

Henry waved his hands.

Henry

Please don't misunderstand. I wasn't having you watched.

But when you cause that much commotion, reports tend to reach me as well.

Gwen

We were just asking questions. They're the ones who attacked us...

Lily

Boss. That's basically admitting we were snooping around.

Gwen

Tch.

Lily

But Mr. Henry, we couldn't help it. We were worried about Rachel.

She looked like she was in so much pain. How could you expect us not to care?

Henry

I have no excuse for that.

Lily

Before coming here, we met a girl named Pauline from the Baskerville Orphanage.

She said she grew up with Rachel.

Pauline said you're a kind and wonderful person.

Henry

...

Lily

If she's right about you, then you wouldn't turn a blind eye to an abused child.

Please answer us. Is Rachel really all right?

Henry

Must you know?

Gwen

Sorry, Mr. Henry, but we've decided that girl comes before your request.

There are signs she was subjected to suspicious experiments and abuse.

And yet no one's willing to help her.

That's even more unacceptable than the mysterious death of a magical family head.

Lily

If she's being abused in any way at all, we're saving her first.

Henry

I suppose there's no helping it.

This may take some time... Shall we talk over dinner?

In the dining room, the three were served drinks and desserts tailored to their tastes.

Henry

Ask whatever you wish.

Professor M

I'm still organizing my thoughts... so I'll leave this to you two, Miss Gwen, Miss Lily.

Gwen

We went to the Baskerville Orphanage to ask about Rachel.

They kicked us out, saying the director ordered them not to tell us anything.

That director is Jack Stapleton, isn't it?

Henry

There is hardly anywhere in House Baskerville beyond Director Stapleton's reach.

He's the director of the Baskerville Clinic, the managing director of the orphanage, and the director of the Research Institute.

Gwen

Wow. Then what exactly do you do?

Henry

It seems I'm merely the owner of this mansion. Haha.

Gwen

That's not something to laugh off...

Lily

I heard residents even reported to the Town Guard that the Hound of the Baskervilles had returned.

It's the worst chimera ever, created through human experimentation at the Baskerville Research Institute.

Is there really no connection between Rachel, Director Stapleton, and the Hound of the Baskervilles?

Henry

...As the family head, I simply wish to believe there's no connection.

Lily

Or do you just not want to imagine what might be happening to that child?

Henry

I too was raised by my late father as a tool for restoring House Baskerville.

That's why seeing Rachel's suffering pains me so much.

But there is nothing I can do.

I can't even enter the mansion's basement without his permission.

Lily

Mr. Henry, this is serious. You need to use your authority as family head and investigate.

Henry

I'm sorry. I cannot stop him.

Gwen

We'll help!

If you're that afraid of the director, we'll help you! Then problem solved, right?!

Henry

How?

You three plan to fight your way past the Research Institute's automatons and guards?

Will the three of you take on all of Baskerville?

After saying that, Henry gave them a bitter look and apologized.

Henry

...Forgive me. That was unbecoming of me.

Lily

Mr. Henry... It's child abuse. Couldn't you ask Public Security for help?

Henry

...I'm sorry. As the family head, that's not a choice I can make.

Henry's voice was polite but firm.

Lily could no longer press him.

Henry

I seem to have taken too much of your time. Let's leave it at that for now.

As Henry rose, Gwen stopped him.

Gwen

Wait! Mr. Henry! Just one last thing!

Henry

Yes? What is it?

Gwen

At least let us see Rachel! We have something to give her!

Henry

Something for Rachel? What is it?

Gwen told him about Pauline's request.

Gwen

So we really want to give it to Rachel ourselves.

Professor M

What a touching story.

Lily

I never thought you could be moved, Professor.

Professor M

You really do think I'm terribly cold-blooded, Miss Lily.

Henry

I would like to help, but it won't be possible.

Even I can't freely enter his workshop.

Gwen

You snuck us in last time. Can't you do it again?

Henry

Th-that alone was a tremendous adventure for me.

I kept watch outside in case Director Stapleton came back and found you!

Professor M

I'll keep him occupied.

Lily

Professor?

Professor M

It's up to adults to protect children's friendships.

Lily

Do you have a plan?

Professor M

I know a few papers that should interest any magical scholar.

Henry

That alone won't be enough to sway him.

Professor M

Just arrange for me to speak with him alone.

I'll find some way to keep him occupied.

Henry

Now that you put it that way, I'm even more curious.

Just what do you intend to do?

Professor M

When someone refuses to agree, but you have to convince them no matter what...

Civilized people resort to bribery and buying people off.

Henry

...How do you bribe a man who already owns everything in Baskerville?

Professor M

Surely there must be something you possess that he wants, Mr. Henry.

Henry

I don't know. How do you know what Director Stapleton wants?

Professor M

Fufu. If the head of Baskerville doesn't know, how could I?

Since bribery is out, we'll have to try something a little more barbaric.

Henry

Barbaric? What exactly are you planning?

Professor M

...Fufu. You shouldn't pry into a lady's secret. Just wait and see.

Henry

Now I'm too worried about what you might do to sit back and leave this to you.

I still have a few powers left as the family head.

If I offer to relinquish one of them, Director Stapleton may take an interest.

Gwen

Huh? Didn't you say the mansion was basically all you had left? Are you sure?

Henry

If it can help poor Rachel, then I'll gladly give it up.

Lily whispered to the Professor.

Lily

You knew Mr. Henry would react like this from the beginning, didn't you?

Professor M

Of course. How else would I possibly keep Jack occupied?

Lily

And what if Mr. Henry hadn't been a gentleman?

Professor M

I had one last trick up my sleeve for just such an occasion.

Lily

That method worries me. Please, don't use it... ever.

Professor M

...Fufu.

A short while later, Jack arrived with Rachel after being summoned by Henry.

Jack

What is it? You said you had something to discuss about our agreement.

Henry

Rest assured, that remains a secret between the two of us.

Jack

Then make it quick. It's hardly something outsiders should hear, is it?

Henry

Of course. Everyone, please excuse us for a moment.

Jack

Wait here, Rachel.

Rachel

Okay.

Once Henry and Jack left, Gwen approached Rachel.

Gwen

Hi.

Rachel

Hello.

Gwen

Remember my promise? That meeting us would be a good thing?

Rachel

I'm still not sure about that.

Gwen

Hehe. Let's see if you can still say that after you see this.

Gwen held out the doll to Rachel.

Rachel's eyelashes trembled.

For a moment, a flicker of emotion stirred in her once-empty eyes.

Rachel

Ah...!

Her small, trembling hands took the cloth doll.

Rachel

Thank you so much. My friends and I... We made this doll together.

Gwen

That's wonderful.

Rachel

...It's even more special when you hear why we made it.

Gwen

Okay. Can I ask why?

Rachel

Pauline used to have a beautiful doll.

It wasn't just pretty. It was the last doll her mother ever made for her.

So when she lost it, Pauline was sad every single day.

She said that because she was a bad girl who even lost the doll her mother gave her, God took her father away too.

Gwen and Lily could only let out a quiet sigh.

Rachel

That day, Tim spent the whole day gathering pieces in the prettiest colors from fallen curtains.

Anne searched through the sewing kit and gathered scraps of stuffing...

Marco gave us one of his favorite beads... and I did the sewing.

Lily

So that's how you made it. You're right. The story does make it even more special.

Rachel

Yes. But once we finished it, we all got worried.

Rachel held up the cloth doll.

Rachel

Honestly, it's pretty ugly.

Gwen and Lily, who'd just praised the doll, were left speechless.

Rachel

But Pauline loved it anyway.

She said bad children wouldn't have any friends...

But she had so many friends willing to go this far to help her, so she must be a good girl, and her mother would be happy.

So she said she'd give the doll to the next person who needed it.

Rachel wiped away the tears beginning to well in her eyes.

Rachel

You were right, Miss Gwen. Not everything that happened to me was bad.

I guess you really do need time before you realize something was good.

Thank you, Miss Gwen.

At Rachel's smile, Gwen sniffled loudly.

Gwen

*Sniffle!* Ah, my allergies are acting up... *Sniff!*

Lily

Boss, are you crying?

Gwen

It's just my allergies, okay?

As Gwen desperately tried to hold back her tears, Jack walked out.

Jack

The agreement hasn't changed. Don't waste my time with such nonsense.

Henry

My apologies.

Jack

Come, Rachel.

Rachel

Yes, sir.

Jack strode off, and Rachel hurried after him. Her legs suddenly gave out, and she fell with a loud crash.

Gwen & Lily

Rachel!

Rachel quickly got back to her feet and smiled.

Rachel

I-I'm okay. Thank you for the doll!

Despite her bright expression, she seemed to struggle as she staggered away.

Once Rachel was gone, Gwen's expression turned serious.

Lily

The doll... She held onto it tight even when she fell.

Gwen

She looks even worse than before. What happened to her?

Professor M

That's something we'll have to solve by doing our real job.

The Professor eyed the mountain of documents Gwen and Lily had piled up and spoke.

Professor M

Now then. Time to work, everyone.