38: Missing in Action

Summary: The teen detectives long-term Police ally, DCI Nikki Heath, goes missing and they naturally attempt to find her.

Warning: Adult bondage but only on an adult. Also implied nudity on an adult.

“It’s the end of our GCSEs!” One Croonford student yelled.

“We’ve finished Year 11! Woo!” Another student shouted.

Many Year 11 students were also chanting those lines. Only a minority still had GCSE exams to complete and still joined in. After class photographs were taken by an irritating photographer, students gathered in their classrooms for an end-of-year tradition. They were allowed to write messages and draw pictures on each other’s’ shirts and blouses. Student councillors and seniors were present to ensure there were no racist and obscene messages and art and maintain order.

At Chelle’s and Lin’s class, everyone was engrossed with drawing and writing on each other. Heather Smiths, tall, blonde and well endowed, got many ‘pretty gal’, beautiful babe’ and allowed boys to write and sign ‘be my girlfriend’ on her front torso. Julia Humes,  the only black girl in that class got words of praise how she tackled her ethnicity through the years. Art Morton, a former school bully, accepted  words like ‘don’t play tricks on me ever again’. Hattie Coy, the talented art student, received words and basic sketches praising her. In return, she drew realistic pictures on her fellow students.

Chelle received several pictures on her blouse that looked like her and others with her looking down on others. Caption wrote: Girl Detective 1, Criminal 0! After she drew another picture with the caption: ‘Best Girl Detective in Town!’  “What about me?” Lin teased. She received ‘Another great girl detective and best scientist!’ under her picture. At Jenn’s class, most pictures and words stated she was a star student or the best school debater and drama queen. Richard received ‘Guy with unforgettable memory’.  There was no difference over at Reinhard’s and Mark’s class. Mark received dozens ‘Star Rugby Player’ messages. The shorter classmate got ‘Great Science Guy’ and ‘Computer Genius’.

Another rule was finishing Year 11 students could leave wearing their own clothes. That pleased Jenn as she walked out wearing jeans T-Shirt. Chelle wore a jeans skirt while Lin was in a dress with flowery patterns. As the teen detectives walked towards an eatery, they spotted several police officers dragging handcuffed people towards police cars. DS Bluebell Ransom was amongst the police officers and Chelle Lin waved at her. During their meal, while discussing their summer plans and future grammar school life, Richard spoke up.

“Did see DS Ransom’s facial expression? She looked quite stressed out.”

“Police and military personnel are usually like that,” Chelle remarked but the image stayed in Richard’s mind. Several days later, himself, Jenn and Chelle were walking out of school after confirming their subject choices for Sixth Form, they again spotted DS Ransom with another gaggle of police officers. The expression on the police detective’s was initially the same as previously. However, as Chelle waved to her, she only acknowledged with a slight nod and her facial expression changed to a worried look.

“Alright, she’s either stressed and worried out over work or personal problems. I say it’s personal,” Chelle remarked as they quenched their thirst from a roadside stall. “I guess it’s personal.”

“Could also be her workload. We haven’t seen DCI Heath lately,” Richard thought.

“Well, DS Ransom was assigned the last case by Nikki,” Jenn pointed out,

Two days ago, Nikki Heath was cuddling with her latest boyfriend, Max. Nikki, having spent most of her time buried with investigations, hardly had steady dates. Max was unlike the others; he appeared to be funny, muscular and helpful. Their cuddling soon turned to an extremely intimate act where each other’s clothes were removed. Nikki was the first to undress: She yanked of her T-shirt fast, then swiftly unclipped her black bra, exposing her D-cup breasts. Quickly, she reached down and expertly removed her jeans. Max on the other hand, had undressed down flimsy boxers. They resumed kissing now hugging each other then suddenly, Max reached down and yanked at Nikki’s skimpy knickers. Nikki protested she didn’t want to be totally naked or have sex.

The evening  after seeing, DS Random’s worried look, Chelle was shopping at a local, small Tesco for missing items in her toilet. As she headed to the toiletries section, she nearly collided another shopper.

“I’m sorry…oh hi DS Ransom,” Chelle greeted.

“Yes, hi.” The police detective’s short response wasn’t as joyful as usual, so Chelle quickly asked, “Is something bothering you, Detective?”

Ransom looked at her then suggested they finish their shopping then go to a nearby cafe. Their groceries were stored in Ransom’s car then over juice for Chelle and coffee for Ransom, the truth was revealed.

“Nikki didn’t turn up to work  three days ago. We called her work and personal phone many times and there was no answer. After a rushed warrant from a judge, we searched her flat but everything was pristine, even her blanket was folded nicely. Forensics found no traces of a struggle or break in. She can’t have intentionally gone rogue or undercover. Initially, she was declared as a missing person but now a kidnapped individual.”

“We’d like to help, Detective,” Chelle quickly responded.

“You can call me Bell after knowing each other so long. No, I suspect it could be a dangerous case and I don’t want have teens in any trouble.” She saw Chelle’s facial reaction. “Alright, since you helped Nikki and myself fight crime here all this time, I’ll try to provide you updates when I can.” With that, they shook hands.

The next day was a Saturday and Chelle called a meeting of all the teen detectives at her home as their caravan was stifling in the summer heat. She quickly summarised what was told, adding Ransom’s advice to stay away.

“So, that explains her facial expressions. We’re not sitting on the sidelines, are we?” Richard asked.

“Most definitely not! We owe it to Nikki – she’d  helped us all the time and vice versa,” Lin declared.

“Where do we start? The police found no evidence at Nikki’s place,” Mark noted.

Chelle opened her laptop and accessed her Facebook account and within in seconds, showed Nikki Heath’s account. They crowded around and initially saw nothing unusual so Jenn suggested looking at her pictures. The first few were just of scenery while the fifth was of her hugging a muscular and taller guy. This person was not tagged thus Chelle returned to Nikki’s friend’s list.

“Max Smiith, what a generic name,” Jenn read out loud.

Evenings earlier, just as Nikki protested she didn’t want sex, Max moved his arm and jabbed a minute needle into her side. Instantaneously, the senior police detective drooled, then fell unconscious. “Oh, you’ll get an alternative to a screw,” Max growled and turned the unconscious, topless lady face down and wrench her arms behind her back. Her wrist were criss-crossed and her wrists were tightly secured by two sets of cable ties. Her elbows were also bound then  he flung her back face front. Her knees and ankles received similar treatment. Max then retrieved long-length industrial cable ties and used them to bind her arms to her side, pushing her huge boobs further out.

He stepped backed to admire the set of restraints then wiped clean the drool around her lips. Pieces of black duct tape were smeared across her lower jaw then breathable hood was secured over her head. He then sent a text message and minutes later, a dark-skinned and black-haired man entered. Both men wrapped her in a large canvas bag, then placed her in a large box with air holes. They expertly cleaned the whole room, made the bed, checked the coast was clear, then carried the box out.

The teen detectives couldn’t find anything regarding Max Smith; his Facebook profile was incomplete with no pictures. They planned to show it to DS Ransom but phone calls indicated the Detective Sergeant was not in her office. They all went their different ways with Lin and Reinhard heading to the detectives’ headquarters. They repaired and many gadgets then paused to decide what to create.

“What about that social media programme you created long ago?” Reinhard asked.

“Oh, it stopped working after a while,” was her reply. “Don’t think it can be repaired.”

“Well, that person’s profile may be so, we should focus on that single picture, using the good old photoshop.”

While, the science kids were focused on gadgets and the photo, Richard was over at Jenn’s house and he spotted pamphlets for a grammar school. “Well, my parents wish me to transfer to Raddleborn Grammar. It offers a scholar for students taking humanities subjects. Has a range of high-quality teachers…”

“So, are you leaving Croonford School? The detective gang?”

“No, it’s just their view. I haven’t made a final decision, after all, my schoolmates, teachers my life is at Croonford. I’ll miss the drama club, the debate club and..”

“Me,” Richard concluded.

She laughed, then he asked if she’ll like to try an online music quiz before they focus on the new case.

Chelle finally arranged a meeting with DS Ransom and awaited being told off. “Well, boss previously said she never had a steady lover but this is certainly new evidence.” In reply, Bell said the neighbours heard slight footsteps past midnight but no one saw anyone exiting Nikki’s flat. “I’ve also ordered the forensics team to sweep her flat and exterior again.”

“Either she’s lying or that’s all she’s looked into her missing superior,” Mark remarked. “That’s information is very thin.”

“We need to find where Nikki lives. I know it’s searching for a needle in a haystack. Let’s reexamine the picture.”

As the couple focused on the picture, a girl cursed for the first time in many years. “Bloody Hell, how could I forget the Beatles number one single?”

“It happens. I’ll…” Richard began.

“I’m always first in everything! I’m going to be top of the Year 11 cohort!”

The new couple started arguing who I am score the highest in their GCSEs. Meanwhile, in a darkened room, Nikki Heath’s eyes fluttered open. A rush of cold air told her she was still topless. A tug at her wrists and ankles indicated she was restrained in a V-shaped position, with thick leather cuffs. A tough, plastic spherical object held with leather straps told her what she was gagged with.

“Ah, the great Detective Chief Inspector awakes,” Max voice broke the silence. “Or the one who incorrectly got my stepbrother locked up. Bitch!” He spat, the saliva running down her cleavage.” Nikki cried through the gag and struggled – what was his surname? Hastings? No Hamilton? Who is his…

Max stepped into view and a light shown, Nikki quickly shut her eyes. “Now, to punish you.” A camera clicked and he announced that he has a new sub and any followers will suggest what ‘punishment’ she will receive. “Ah, first suggestion.”

Chelle and Mark after much brainstorming, examined the surroundings of that picture. There was some vegetation behind the two individuals and a lane to their left. They started naming lanes in Croonford. Finally, Chelle checked Google Maps’ street view, she found two lanes that closely matched the picture. The first area was quickly dismissed as a park dominated the place. Their eyes raised as they saw a block of flats along Paterson Lane.

“Excuse me, do you know if a Nicola Smith lives here?” Chelle asked an elderly lady exit the block.

“Of course, she’s my neighbour   though haven’t for several days. Then the coppers came, told them that but they placed tape across her door.”

“Could you let us n? We’re friends of hers and want to leave a gift,” Mark half lied. The lady unlocked the gate though warned them the guard would chase them away if found. The couple quickly entered and after checking the letterbox, headed up to the third floor. Nikki’s door was definitely secured with police barrier tape. There were several yellow evidence markers on the floor as well.

“There’s a depression on the floor, as if something or someone very heavy was moved here,” Mark pointed. It took Chelle two minutes before she spotted the small depression then took a picture. They followed its direction which led to the back stairwell and out to the back garden. All of a sudden, the security guard appeared but they managed to exit via a nearby gate.

They found them on a pedestrian path but not far away was a lane for vehicles.

“So,” Chelle panted. “Nikki may have been carried out with no neighbour hearing or noticing, down the back stairwell, out and…”

“…carried to that lane and driven off in a vehicle. Still murky,” Mark completed.

:”OmW” Nikki screamed through the gag as she was spanked by Max. Bound spreadeagled, Max had a clear view of her thinly-covered buttocks. He gave her another spank then saw the new message. “Ah, bare bottom,” he proceeded to cut off the detective’s knickers despite struggling then switched to use a table tennis racket. Minutes later, another message came. Max approached her front and she screamed as he clipped her nipples with clothes pegs.

Reinhard was in a trance like previously and all Lin could give him his favourite Jasmine tea and snacks. Finally, just after an hour, he shifted back and cleaned his spectacles. “Finally got something after downloading half a dozen image enhancing programmes, I found this on his upper arm.” He showed her a minute tattoo in the form dagger on Max’s right ear.

“Ok, so he has a tattoo,” Lin said.

“One I’ve seen before on someone else. He’s a bit of a ruffian so I need support.”

“Well, you have me,” she kissed his head. “Let me get my special coat.” He saw her wearing an unusual coat but she simply said she’ll explain later.

Reinhard brought her to a dilapidated building in Coventry and immediately she smelt cigar and cigarette smoke. Inside, beside a whole range of laptops and LCD screens, were three men, one bearded with tattoos on his arms, the other pair dark-skinned.

“Ah shorty, what a surprise. I already paid my dues when I lost that C&C game. Oh, you brought me a hot chick.”

“She’s out of bounds, Harv and we need to discuss a mater,” Reinhard saw the burly men. “Privately.”

“Boy, this isn’t an online game. You don’t make demands. Teach him!”

The other men attempted to tackle Reinhard but Lin pulled off her coat and threw it on the nearest men. It formed itself around his whole upper body, preventing him from seeing, thus causing him to fall down. The second guy tried to strike Lin, but she easily caught his hands and pressed him against the nearby wall.

“Alright, let them go lass,” Lin glared but. “Step outside Karim, Josh,” The two other men gave Lin a dirty look and left.

“What’s so important to interrupt my poker game?” Reinhard pressed his phone against Harv, who narrowed his eyes.

“Look, I may have that ink,” he rolled up his sleeve, showing them a similar tattoo. “But I’m no longer a criminal., a clean man.”

“Do you know this person?” Lin tapped on the picture of Max but he shook his head. She then asked if he knew anyone who is a kidnapper.

“Yeah,” Harv stubbed his cigar and tapped his phone several times. “He’s Bart, don’t know what’s he’s up to but boy he was in the business taking women to film them in positions I don’t want to describe. I left the criminal world as he threatened to film my girlfriend naked to blackmail me.” Taking a long puff, he pulled up a known location. “Wait, you’re that famous teen detective right?” He jabbed his cigar at Reinhard. “Ya don’t want go near him, especially a pretty gal like ya.” He pointed at Lin.

“You actually played an online game against this ex-criminal?” Lin asked after thanking Harv.

“Once. The prize was a good range of electronic software. I only discovered his history when I claimed the prize at his shop. You turned your coat into a gadget like that in The World Is Not Enough?”

“Close, better than that net device, eh?”

He quickly asked if they were head to that criminal’s possible location, “I don’t want you to end up like Harv mentioned.”

“We’ll be careful.”

Lin’s message nearly made Chelle drop her ice cream. She checked the street map and the location was directly along that lane behind Nikki’s flat. Jenn and Richard who were arguing over GCSEs and music, grabbed their coats with Jenn checking she had gadgets with her. Reinhard and Lin were the first to arrive at the storage facility with only one entrance available.

“Should we wait for the others?” The short boy wondered. Lin just knocked on the entrance and after no reply just pushed and entered the main office. It was a darkened room and they soon enter another larger, very dark but barren room. Just as they were going to draw out their phones, Reinhard was struck on the back of his neck and Lin just fell on the ground.

Jenn was the next to arrive but found the entrance locked but easily opened it after a turn. She immediately found herself facing a dark-skinned man. She apologised, saying she found the wrong location but before she turned, a dart struck her.

Reinhard groaned as he recovered and quickly rubbed his sore neck. Despite the entrance lack of light, he immediately found himself in some small shed surrounded by workman tools and cleaning liquids. As he started looking for a way out, he heard a familiar soft moan. “I’m coming!” he shouted and threw away all the items blocking him. Finally, he found the exit but had to use the skeleton key his girlfriend made. Thankfully, he found all his belongings on him although his phone was dented. The moan came again and after unlocking a storage shed, he found her. Lin, was stripped down to her purple knickers and black bra which was unclipped , strapped to a metal table and tightly tape gagged.

“How many times must I find you restrained like this?” He shook his head as he peeled off her gag. Her reply interrupted as Chelle and Mark appeared.

“Ooops.  What happened? Did you find Nikki yet?”

Reinhard recounted what occurred and suggested they stay together as the guy was armed at least with a dart. Thankfully, Lin’s clothes were found and during the first minute of the search they found Jenn, unconscious but lightly bound and gagged with duct tape, her jeans slightly pulled down.

“I thought Richard was with you?” Lin asked as they freed Jenn.

“We got into an argument so made separate ways here,” she coughed. Resuming their search, they opened the largest storage shed and spotted the police detective and the two thugs, Max splashing water over Nikki while the dark-skinned man  aiming a video camera.

“No shit, now five,” that captor growled, dart gun in his right hand. Lin was faster, throwing her special coat which wrapped all itself over that thug, causing him to misfire and thankfully missing the teen detectives. Mark simultaneously tackled Max but even with Reinhard joining, Max struggled. The three girls pinned the other thug down but he soon managed to get out of the cocoon. A hidden Glock 26 appeared in his hand. “Ha! Now you lot give in!”

“Armed Police! Drop that firearm now!” DS Ransom appeared with her Glock 17 raised along with other authorised firearms officers (AFOs) and Richard behind. “I have to admit, you lot performed much better detective work than myself.”

One and a half weeks later, the six detectives received letters of commendation from Detective Chief Superintendent (DSU) Robert Gates, Nikki’s and Blubell’s superior. Jenn briefly glanced at Richard whom she thought was unworthy of this award. Max’s real name was Roger, whose stepbrother Jeff was imprisoned for paedophilia. Their live filming of Nikki was to an adult site run by an organised crime group which Ransom and National Crime Agency (NCA) officials took down.

“Well, that’s our post-GCSE case completed Chelle remarked.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘Prom Wrecker’.

 

19: Going to the Dentist

Summary:

The local and well-loved dentist dies and another takes her place. Jenn feels there’s nothing wrong with him, unlike the others, especially after a series of hospitalisations by the locals. Does this new member of the community care for just teeth?

Author’s note: There may be medical inaccuracies in this story by my choice.

Croonford School grounds
2022

“Happy belated New Year!” The students across the various years greeted each other with handshakes and hugs. There were more greetings and congratulations for Michelle Summers who nearly got blown up during the Christmas period.

“I forgot to thank you for calling the police,” Chelle thanked her classmate, Heather Smiths.

“No problem, at first I thought it was even having you bound to the flagpole and gagged, ” the taller girl joked. “No Chelle, I couldn’t leave you freezing or getting blown to pieces.” She hugged her with Heather’s 34C pressing against Chelle’s smaller breasts. “Just don’t jump on me and truss and gag me again?”

Chelle agreed although she wasn’t certain if that would be true. After thanking Heather again, she drifted over to Lin Ling who was chatting with others, including Reinhard. Chelle heard them finishing a discussion regarding the school’s science club.

“Planning on creating any new gadgets?” She asked the two ‘science experts’.

“Perhaps, depending on what cases we face,” came the obvious answer from Lin.

“It’s takes time to construct them,” the newest member of the team added.

“I can make them quickly…”

“Hey where’s Jennifer?” Reinhard suddenly asked.

Both Chelle and Lin turned their heads and saw the shortest girl detective was nowhere in sight. Chelle immediately questions Jenn’s classmates but all assumed she was late this day. “Maybe she’s found another case and didn’t warn you two. Typical for her?”

Chelle ignored that remark from Jenn’s male classmate but gave it a thought and send her friend a WhatsApp message. Just then, Jenn rushed pasted the school gates and nearly collided with Chelle and Lin.

“Sorry, the usual and lovely town dentist passed away and his replacement is fully booked out…” Jenn’s explanation was cut short as the morning bell rang. Just as Lin reached her classroom doorway a male foot shot out and she was about to strike back until the foot quickly moved away.

“Trying to make me trip Art? That’s trick I’ll never fall for,” Lin glared at Art Morton, one of the class and school bullies.

“No, I didn’t see you…ladies first,” the ginger-haired boy stammered. Lin decided not to pursuit the issue and Chelle was glad with her friend’s glare in response. All students were kept extremely busy with the subjects they chose for their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Thus, the three girl detectives only met back during lunchtime.

“So, you dentist passed away and…” Chelle began to summarise.

“That doesn’t why you were so frantic or late today; you’re usually as early as both of us,” Lin finished of the sentence. Jenn picked out a piece of bread with a toothpick before answering.

“Yes, well, Doc Wilkins was not just a wonderful dentist but also a grandfather-like figure to the town folk – you two never visited his practice?” Her friends shook their heads.

“Well now his office has been now taken over by some newbie dentist…” Jenn flipped through her phone then showed her fellow girl detectives a profile that showed a picture of a lean middle-aged man with mostly black hair with streaks of white hair in his fringe.

“Dr. Callum Shatford,” Lin read. “BD, KCL, and DMD, UWA.” That translated to Bachelor of Dental Surgery from King’s College London and a PhD in Dental Medicine from Western Australia.

“So, what’s your worry?” Both Chelle and Lin asked simultaneously.

“Well, nothing first but there’s a growing feeling that he might not be as friendly as Doc Wilkins.”

The others two paused once again and initially thought to dismiss it, then all three agreed to gather all the teen detectives at their headquarters later.

Teen Detectives Headquarters
Afternoon

The first two teen detectives in their headquarters were Lin and Reinhard, the science experts. As they were creating it, the short boy was trying hard not to look at how his fellow science club member was dressed. Lin out of her coat was, despite the averagely warm interior provided by a portable heater, she was in sleeveless light maroon top and dark blue mini skirt that reached just two centimetres above her purple tights-covered legs. It wasn’t the 50 denier tights or the shiny mini skirt that he was interested in. Her top was quite tight fitting therefore revealing the full outline of her bra, pushing her boobs larger. As he turned his eyes towards her, Lin remarked, “sorry, keep working,” and dashed out of the converted caravan. Did she centimetres notice me glancing at her boobs and legs? I’m a dead guy. I thought she’s a great student and science club member and beautiful girl and now I messed it up, shaking his head. Lin returned minutes later, throwing something into the waste bin.

“Sorry for that, let’s continue,” Lin remarked and Reinhard heaved a sigh of relief internally but still wondered why she dashed out. Toilet…no..’female issues’, that was ho his mother would call it and end it. He had to look up the issues of puberty himself….

The door clicked open, interrupting their constructions and his thoughts. Mark Cadvish was hugging his girlfriend until they sat down. “Hi you two love birds, is Jenn behind?” Lin teased and received a negative reply. Chelle thought back to Caddish the last few cases and quickly sent Jenn a WhatsApp message. Instead of a reply, the third girl detective rushed in.

“Something frantic again?”

“No…” Jenn took a large drink of water. “I just came from giving further statements to DCI Heath regarding those kidnapped girls locked in a chamber.” Jenn started. “And I’ve also too travel down to give another statement regarding the so-called plane crash my cousin made.” DCI Heath was of course Detective Chief Inspector Nikki Heath, the teen closest ally in the local police force. She was also referring to the last two cases she was deeply involved in.

“So..this Dr. Shatford requires or rather demands that all patients and would-be patients get a full medical examination before he sees them,” Jenn continued. “Yes, that is normal for most dental practices, however, hr requires a detailed medical examination, which Doc Wilkins never asked for. Now it’s creating a huge queue of would-be patients and current patients steered away.”

“Demanding dentist,” Chelle observed. “Ok, that may be something to look at.” The whole team search but a general web search found nothing incorrect with that requirement. Part of the way in their searching, Jenn received a text message. “Darn, the MOD police want me down in an hour,” Jenn complained.

“Wait, here’s the latest gadget,” Lin remarked as Reinhard passed out three old purses to the girls and two wallets to the boys. Just as Chelle was going to open hers Lin yelled stop. “That’s the incorrect way. If you do that a latch will clamp down on your fingers and cut through them. Like a mouse or animal trap. You must push the small button on the ‘south west’ side,” Lin explained.

“Amazing!” Jenn exclaimed. “Sorry gang, have to go. Meet up some time again?” They did again during the weekend with Jenn only managing to book her medical appointment. “The local clinic now is filing up due to the new dentist’s requirements,” Jenn explained to the others.

“What do the usual patients say about him?” Chelle asked.

“Good idea I know a few, will ask them.”

The others didn’t have any serious questions and still promised to search details regarding this particular dentist. Lin suddenly handed bottles of facial moisturiser to Chelle and Jenn. “Spread this around your lips, your lower jaw and your cheeks near sides of your lips.” The two others raised their eyes but complied.

“Ok, tape our lips,” she passed a roll of grey duct tape.

“What?!” Mark exclaimed.

“Do it; I’ll explain shortly.” Mark complied but hesitated as he taped his girlfriend’s lips. Lin set a timer then shortly the adhesive on the tape weared off and the girls easily peeled them off.

“Two and a half minutes, may make shorter,” the science whizz read from her electronic stop watch. “Yes, it’s a cream that reduces the strength of adhesive tape.”

“Does it work on all sort of tape?” Jenn wondered.

“I haven’t tested on all kinds but it should apply to most.”

“What about us?” Mark and Reinhard chimed simultaneously.

“Well, boys don’t usually use moisturiser on their face…and neither of you have been bound and gagged.”

The boys just grimaced and before either could respond, Chelle remarked, “I guess we’re just girl detectives always bound and gagged.”

Most of the team were kept busy with their school work and activities. Chelle was kept busy by her senior Louisa in the Literature and Media club, Lin and Reinhard were focused on improving the school’ science club and Mark with his rugby practice. Only Jenn had managed to finish her drama club and debate practice fast and she took her free time looking up this suspicious dentist. Nothing on the Internet so she focused on the idea of other patients at the dentist. She knew a certain Mr Nathan Tugendhat whom they chatted with at the old office and she knew him as one of the local librarians.

“Hi Jennifer,” Mrs Paige Tugendhat greeted her. Jenn was comfortable enough to let the couple call her by her full name. “Won’t you come for a cup of tea?’

“I’d love to but is Nathan at home?”

Mrs. Tugendhat’s eyes narrowed. “He suddenly shivered, not because of the cold and headed to the hospital. I’ll be visiting him shortly.”

Jenn responded with her sorrows then rushed to the local hospital noting that she had some visiting spare time. Naturally, without any appointment or relationship with Mr. Tugendhat she was immediately rebuffed by the receptionist. Trying to plead, she suddenly heard a grunt.

“Hi, Jenn haven’t seen you visiting in a while,” Jenn smiled, recognising the familiar face of Dr. Gordon Holdon who treated her for common childhood illness such as chickenpox and now and A&E doctor. “Questions about Nathan Tugendhat? Follow me?” She did with the receptionist bewildered.

Jenn shortly saw the elderly gentleman lying with an oxygen mask, an IV drip running into his right arm and wires connected to a heart monitor. “He was a very healthy and active person then entered A&E shivering constantly. I got the shivering stopped with normal antibiotics but his heart rate is irregular and dropped occasionally. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Jenn asked what he ate or drank recently or who he visited. “Normal foodstuffs and a dental visit to reset one of his dentures.” That sparked a thought in her mind and further questioned. “Of course, I asked him about the visit when he was stable. It was a normal procedure with normal aesthetic, Novocaine. That’s an older aesthetic that takes time unlike like Lidocaine hydrochloride but it still works.”

Jenn wasn’t sure of those names and the doctor concluded that he examined the patient for other marks and sent blood and saliva samples to be further examined. “It will take…” The doctor’s sentence was cut off as a staffer knocked and passed him a folder.

“That’s a fast examination completed,” Dr. Holdon thanked the laboratory assistant. He ran through each line carefully with Jenn trying to comprehend the medical names. “Novocaine dosage. That’s very high, and he mixed it with…oh an experimental antidepressant added?!”

Jenn also gave a yelp and quickly learn the name, Wyomintic, how it was not formally approved by the General Dental Council and most likely contributed to Mr. Tugendhat’s illness.

“Are you going to report it?”

“Jenn, there’s not much medical information on this drug. My duty is to my patient,” was the reply and she asked for a copy of the specific page that covered the controversial antidepressant. “Why…oh you’re part of that girl detective group?”

Jenn nodded, not bothering to correct him and the doctor made a photocopy, reminding her to be careful. Back outside, Jenn quickly her fellow teen detectives and DCI Heath, sending them all soft copies of that page from the lab examination. She waited but no one replied, she still had time so wildly made her to where the town dental practice was.

“Miss Thompson? Your appointment is not due to Friday,” the new nurse with name tag reading ‘J. Watkins.’

“I would like to wildly see Dr. Shatford,” Jenn announced and repeated herself. The nurse tried to bar Jenn but the teen managed to charge through. Shatford was slouching at his desk as Jenn announced what she learnt. He calmly rebutted her, stating Wyomintic was perfectly safe and he knew what to do when fixing Nathan Tugendhat. The argument started to heat up then Jenn felt something bite her right arm and she collapsed, the photocopy falling near the desk.

“I never like arguments,” the dentist stood up, towering over the unconscious teen. “She’ll be a good test subject,” he nodded to the nurse.

Jenn awoke with the familiar feeling of tape sealing her lips. She knew she was also bound but with…she tried to lift herself up but felt her wrists and ankles held her down. She wasn’t on the floor but restrained to the dental chair with leather restraints. She quickly noted her ankle restraints spread her leg out. That’s so out of place for a dental chair, she thought grimly. Jenn had spread the special facial moisturiser around her lips and the sides of her cheeks and already felt the adhesive wearing off. Suddenly…

A bright light shone directly above, nearly blinding her. “Welcome, any high dosage, any you be out for a full day,” the dentist, now in full gear including facial mask and googles. “Trying to talk me down over what I use on my patients? Well, best you stay at school girl.” The evil dentist shifted down and Jenn felt him dig into her jeans pockets then scream as the metal clamps of Lin’s newest device bite into his fingers.

“Twit!” He swore and she naturally heard him wash and bandage his hand. Returning, he growled and torn off her gag, not noticing how loose it was. Before Jenn could utter word, something rubbery was wedged into the back of the set of her teeth, keeping her mouth open.

“Now you’ll get what you mention to me,” he growled again as Jenn screamed ‘ah!’ both from her mouth forced open and the threat of being injected. Just before she saw the syringe full of liquid the door slammed open and Dr. Shatford’s figure was literally pulled away.

“Mark, the net’s not holding him! Tackle him!” Jenn heard the familiar voice of Lin and shortly the mouth prop was quickly removed and Lin used her pen laser to cut away the leather restraints.

“The nurse! The nurse! She’s also involved!” Jenn cried as she got up.

“We have her. Thanks to you junior detectives,” DCI Heath entered and announced that the dentist was under arrest for using unlicensed drugs.

The next day in their headquarters

“Once again, the girl detectives in Croonford have solve a case, finding that Croonford new dentist use controversial drugs and highly unusual methods to treat his patients. Police are also investigating whether Dr. Callum Shatford indirectly caused the death of the town’s former dentist Dr. Jon Wilkins…”

“They never mention us boys,” Mark turned down the video on his phone.

“Patience, you two just join us,” Lin

“Murder?” Mark asked then learnt that Nikki Heath and her team found match evidence that Shatford poisoned Wilkins’ drink.

“Really evil guy. Thanks for rescuing me,” Jenn rubbed her cheek although there wasn’t any more pain. “Those gadgets really worked well.”

As the team exited, Lin stopped Reinhard. “You were staring at me the other day as we were finalising the fake wallet.” He trembled and admitted so.

“Did you like what I wore?”

“Ye..s.”

She smiled and moved away.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark and Reinhard will return in ‘The Truth Is Out There.’

The End.