Title: Holly Holmes and the Mystery of the Missing Necklace
by Holly from Derbyshire | in writing, fiction, short stories
Holly Holmes, 16 year old girl sleuth was in her bedroom doing her homework.
芒聙聵Maths芒聙聶 mumbled Holly to herself, 芒聙聵it really confuses me sometimes.芒聙聶 However, Holly was more than aware of how important school was.
Next moment her door swung open and in walked Beth Marshall, Holly芒聙聶s best friend and homework was the last thing on her mind.
芒聙聵You know it芒聙聶s the school Christmas party next week芒聙聶 said Beth 芒聙聵and I have not got a thing to wear芒聙聶
Holly芒聙聶s eyes widened, 芒聙聵What about the dress you wore last year, that looked nice芒聙聶 said Holly. Beth did not have to say anything, the scowl she gave Holly was better than words. 芒聙聵As I was saying I need a new dress, what are you wearing, Holly芒聙聶
Holly replied 芒聙聹I was just going to wear my tight blue jeggings and a t-shirt芒聙聶 said Holly.
Beth tutted 芒聙聵get your coat you obviously need a new dress to芒聙聶. Dresses did not form a part of Holly芒聙聶s wardrobe but before she could protest, Beth dragged her out of the room.
At the mall, Beth led Holly to a clothes shop, however just as they were going in, Holly noticed Alice Jones, the school caretakers daughter. 芒聙聵Hi, guys芒聙聶, said Alice.
芒聙聵Are you getting your dresses for the party芒聙聶芒聙聶 Yes, replied Beth. 芒聙聵Wish I could afford one芒聙聶 said Alice.
Holly felt sorry for Alice, who lived with her dad.
芒聙聵I feel guilty芒聙聶 said Holly, but Beth dragged her into the shop and moments later thrust a black dress into Holly芒聙聶s hands.
芒聙聺That芒聙聶s a dress!芒聙聺 said Holly, I have sweaters with more material in芒聙聺
芒聙聹You will look great芒聙聶 said Beth trust me芒聙聶
On the night of the party, Holly and Beth walked into the school hall with Holly tugging uncomfortably at the hem of her black mini-dress.
芒聙聵It芒聙聶s too short芒聙聶 said Holly. Beth shook her head. Then Darren Carter, Holly芒聙聶s other good friend approached the two girls. 芒聙聵Hol, you look sensational芒聙聶 said Darren. 'I feel stupid', said Holly.
Later, the dance music came on and Darren and Holly took the first dance. As they did Holly noticed Alice looking at her.
A few moments later the hall was plunged into darkness.
芒聙聵My necklace it芒聙聶s gone芒聙聶. It was Ann Ratcliff, a girl in Holly芒聙聶s class, whose parents lavished gifts on her.
Her necklace had gone and so had Alice Jones.
芒聙聹You芒聙聶re the sleuth芒聙聶 she turned on Holly 芒聙聵do something芒聙聶
芒聙聵I will look for Alice芒聙聶 said Holly to Beth you see if you can calm things down here芒聙聶.
Holly walked down the corridor; she was sure quiet, unassuming Alice could not be a thief.
芒聙聵Alice芒聙聶 shouted Holly, 芒聙聵Al芒聙聶
Before she could complete the name, a figure appeared from the shadows and grabbed Holly from behind. One arm snaked around her waist while a large hand was clamped over Holly芒聙聶s nose and mouth. The teen sleuth struggled to free herself but within seconds the room started to spin and Holly began to feel light-headed.
There was no escape. Second later, Holly Holmes fainted and fell to the floor, unconscious!
Holly Holmes eyes began to flutter open. The first thing she saw was Beth芒聙聶s worried face looking down at her.
芒聙聵Holly, what on Earth happened芒聙聶 Holly芒聙聶s thoughts were a jumble but as her mind cleared she replied 芒聙聵Oh yes, I was walking down the corridor calling Alice芒聙聶s name and someone grabbed me and held their hand over my nose and mouth. I must have fainted芒聙聶 said Holly.
Beth helped Holly to her feet. The teen sleuth leaned on her friend, still weak from her experience. 芒聙聵I am going to get you straight home芒聙聶 insisted Beth.
Holly did not argue and half an hour later was fast asleep in bed.
Next day at school, Beth found Holly as soon as she arrived.
芒聙聵Holly, hurry up, Ann is screaming at Alice芒聙聶.
Holly entered the room 芒聙聵Calm down, Ann芒聙聶 said Holly 芒聙聵you do not know Alice stole your necklace芒聙聶
Ann sneered at Holly
芒聙聶Some use you are Holly, you are supposed to resolve this sort of thing and all you have done so far is let someone grab you and make you faint芒聙聶!
芒聙聵Alice do you mind if I come and see you and your dad after school芒聙聶 said Holly.
芒聙聵Of course, I just want to get this sorted芒聙聶 said Alice
Later that night, Holly knocked on the caretaker芒聙聶s door. It opened and Alice asked Holly to come in.
芒聙聵This is Holly, dad, she is trying to sort out the necklace mystery芒聙聶
芒聙聵Hello Holly, Alice has told me all about you, I am sorry to here you were hurt the last night芒聙聶
He seemed genuine.
芒聙聵I was not hurt芒聙聶 said Holly 'I just fainted for a while芒聙聶.
芒聙聵You do have access to the lights and could have switched them off and you could have been the one who grabbed me before I fainted芒聙聶 said Holly.
芒聙聵You are right, of course, but it was not me芒聙聶 said Alan.
芒聙聵Who else has access to the lights芒聙聶 said Holly
芒聙聵The head and deputy, oh and a couple of prefects芒聙聶
芒聙聵Really芒聙聶 said Holly, Ann Ratcliff is a prefect, isn芒聙聶t she?芒聙聶
Alice agreed 芒聙聵Thanks for your time芒聙聶 said Holly I will be in touch芒聙聶
Holly left the caretakers house with more questions in her head than answers. She opened the gate and walked through when suddenly a figure leapt from the shadows and aimed a blow at Holly.
Next moment the teen sleuth felt a short, sharp pain in her neck.
Black fingers seemed to grab hold of Holly and dragged her towards unconsciousness, the world began to spin and Holly felt herself falling, falling芒聙娄芒聙娄芒聙娄
Next moment Holly Holmes fainted and slumped to the ground, unconscious!
Holly芒聙聶s eyes finally began to open. The first thing she felt was a throbbing pain in her neck and head. Then, she vaguely remembered being hit by a knock-out chop after leaving Alice芒聙聶s. I must have fainted, thought Holly. Next moment, as if from a long way off, Alice芒聙聶s voice 芒聙聵She芒聙聶s regaining consciousness, thank goodness芒聙聶
Gradually, Holly芒聙聶s vision cleared. 芒聙聵How long have I been out芒聙聶 said Holly.
Dad went to look round about an hour after you left and found you unconscious at the bottom of our drive, you must have been out for a couple of hours in total芒聙聶.
芒聙聵At least this rules you and your dad out芒聙聶 said Holly, sitting up.
As she sat up the teen sleuth felt something against her stomach. A piece of paper had been slipped into the waistband of her jeggings while she had been unconscious.
Holly opened it up 芒聙聯 HOLLY HOLMES IF YOU KNOW WHATS GOOD FOR YOU, FORGET ABOUT THE NECKLACE.
芒聙聵Oh Holly, what are you going to do芒聙聶 said Alice.
芒聙聵Keep on with the case, I have got a pretty good idea what芒聙聶s going on now芒聙聶 said Holly.
At the end of school next day, Holly spoke to her friend Beth.
芒聙聵Go and tell the Head I am going to speak to Ann about her necklace and I am not sure what her reaction will be芒聙聶
芒聙聵What on Earth are you on about芒聙聶 said Beth
芒聙聵I know what I am doing芒聙聶 said Holly.
As Beth left the room, Holly approached Ann.
芒聙聵So Miss super sleuth have you got anywhere yet or have you been too busy fainting芒聙聶 said Ann mockingly
芒聙聵I am not going to get anywhere because your necklace was never stolen was it芒聙聶 said Holly.
芒聙聵I presume you are trying to pull off some sort of insurance scam and then pin the blame on poor Alice芒聙聶
芒聙聵You never give it up do you, Holly, first I arrange to have you knocked out in the corridor and then I knocked you out myself last night as you left Alice芒聙聶s芒聙聶 said Ann
芒聙聵Even the message it tucked into your jeggings after you fainted, you should have left things as they were芒聙聶.
Then Ann lashed out at the teen sleuth, fully intending to render Holly unconscious.
However, this time Holly was prepared. She grabbed Ann by the wrist and with a neat hip flick sent Ann sprawling to the floor. Ann lay still and Holly approached her. However, Ann suddenly swung her leg, catching Holly in the stomach. Holly reeled backwards, winded by the blow. By now Ann was back on her feet, she grabbed Holly by the shoulders and bought her knee firmly up into Holly芒聙聶s midriff. Holly moaned with pain then fell to her hands and knees, clutching her stomach.
芒聙聵You are no match for me sweety, but I will make it quick, just a sharp pain, then everything will go black.芒聙聶 Ann the clenched her fist and drew back her arm, preparing to knock Holly Holmes unconscious!
However, the blow never made contact. Just at that moment, Beth rushed in with two teachers and after a brief struggle, Ann was restrained.
芒聙聵I see you had everything under control芒聙聶 Beth said in a sarcastic tone.
芒聙聵Just lulling her into a false sense of security芒聙聶 said Holly, I think I may need to brush up on my judo skills芒聙聶
Later that day, Ann was handed over to the police.
The next day at school, Alice came up to Holly.
芒聙聵Holly, I can not thank you enough for helping to clear my name芒聙聶 said Alice.
芒聙聵Only to happy to芒聙聶, said Holly, smiling.
So Holly Holmes, schoolgirl sleuth, solved another mystery, but she new it would not be too long before she would be plunged into another!
Holly Holmes is an intelligent, pretty 16 year old with a knack for solving mysteries. Her best friends are Beth Marshall and Darren Carter. This is the third of the Holly Holmes mysteries where one of her classmates has her necklace stolen at the school dance. Holly encounters the usual dangers, she never solves a mystery without being knocked unconscious at least once, but in the end Holly always comes out on top.
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