Month: June 2022

“I…er…” Katie was struggling to find the words.

“Ms. Barker, we’re waiting,” warned the Fat Controller. Katie sighed.

“…I lied so Edward would be sent away,” she finally revealed. Vulgar noises from the engines and their crews greeted this.

“SILENCE!” boomed the Fat Controller. “Ms. Barker, I demand an explanation! Why would you have me send away one of my engines?!”

“Because the railways on this island are operated by dated forms of locomotive power! Sodor Electric doesn’t use coal to fuel its plant! The average person’s car is tilting towards electric power! Why do you still have coal-burning and diesel-powered engines?!”

“Because the railways here are the most active and productive heritage railways in the whole of the entire United Kingdom, if not the world! I thought working here would help you understand that! You’re too obsessed with what’s new!”

“And YOU’RE too obsessed with the past! We can’t crowd the rails with dated machinery!”

“Ms. Barker, you have caused considerable confusion! We’re lucky this incident hasn’t caused any delays! You have clearly proven that you care only for mere aesthetics instead of the emotions that come with the past, present, and future! Your employment is hereby terminated!”

“You’re seriously firing me over this?” asked Katie.

“That’s right. I’m seriously firing you over this. Now collect your things and leave my railway at once!”

“I’ll leave the railway, but Auriella and I will be back! So, sleep lightly, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt!” She stormed off and left the railway. The Fat Controller then turned to Edward.

“Edward, I owe you an apology for this mess,” he said. “I should have done more to investigate this. When the fog clears tomorrow, you will return to your branch line to resume your duties. Until then, the painters will give you a fresh coat of paint.”

“Thank you, Sir!” beamed Edward. “It will be lovely to stretch my wheels tomorrow and look my best!”

“James, you and your team have done splendidly today! You shall return to passenger duties when the weather gets better.”

“Yes, Sir!” cheered James.

“Percy, Boco, I know you were eager for some minor maintenance. I believe a full overhaul is needed. Report to the Works at your earliest convenience today.”

“Yes, Sir!” replied Percy and Boco happily.

“As for you, Mr. Saunders.”

“Yes, Sir?” asked Richard. The Fat Controller was beaming.

“I’m not sure I can fully forget the party in my office, but I CAN forgive it! You and your team proved to be a credit to my railway! Once Percy and Boco are dropped off at the Works, you all can take the week off to assist your Transformer friends in keeping a lookout for your enemies. Perhaps you should add Ms. Barker to your list.”

“Don’t worry, Sir, we won’t let her get anywhere near the railways on this island. I’m glad we were able to prove ourselves to you. Now, we better drop Boco and Percy off at the Works. Crovan’s Gate, yes?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hold on, Sir,” interjected James. “Amy and Teletraan are my crew, so who’s going to be at my controls when they’re taking a holiday?”

“Your old crew’s coming back,” replied the Fat Controller. “They had taken their much-needed paid holiday while Amy and Teletraan were your crew. Speaking of which, Amy, Teletraan, do you mind collecting you and your team’s paychecks on their behalf?”

“Paychecks?” asked Teletraan.

“Hold on, we’re getting paid?” quizzed Richard.

“Well, you DID work for me, yes?” replied the Fat Controller.

“…Okay, fair enough. In the meantime, Kaitlyn, Percy, time to go.”

“You too, Boco,” said Azuliterii as she climbed into Boco’s cab. The Fat Controller invited Amy and Teletraan into his car and the three groups headed off to their respective destinations. Edward then grinned at James.

“…What?” asked James.

“I think I’ve figured out why you didn’t parade around about being the greatest detective on Sodor,” replied Edward. “You wanted your passenger duties back and figured that your boasting would land you into trouble, and to be fair, you would have been right.”

“I admit nothing!” hissed James. His scowl then vanished as he got his usual smug look. “Still, it WAS rather dashing of me to clear your name, wasn’t it?”

“…Need I remind you of the incident that took your passenger duties in the first place?” James scowled again, but said nothing.

---

On the way to Crovan’s Gate, Richard tried to puzzle James’ unusually quiet behavior. “…Percy,” he called, “could you help me solve a mystery?”

“What’s on your mind?” asked Percy.

“It’s about James. He wasn’t parading around when we were clearing Edward’s name.”

“Oh, I know why he was quiet,” chuckled Percy. “Have you heard about the Bootlace Incident?”

“Practically every fan of your island heard about that.”

“Well, it happened to him again! He woke up in a foul mood one morning and banged the coaches about when he was getting ready for his morning passenger run. You see, there wasn’t a shunter at the time.”

“He didn’t!” said Kaitlyn

“Another broken brake-pipe that had to be patched up with newspapers and bootlaces! The woman who surrendered them was a lot more pleasant to deal with than Jeremiah Jobling was. But the Fat Controller still had a few words for James and had him do goods work only until he could be trusted.” Richard and Kaitlyn howled with laughter.

---

While she was getting Boco to the Works, Azuliterii pondered about what was said at the sheds. “…Did she say…but she didn’t…did she?”

“Something on your mind?” asked Boco.

“Just thinking about a name Katie mentioned. Nothing you need concern yourself with…I hope.”

---

The NWR Team returned to the Ark and Glanthelantir once Percy and Boco were at the Works. Azuliterii still looked lost in thought when she arrived. “…Something up?” asked Richard.

“Richard, did Katie mention an ‘Auriella’?” quizzed Azuliterii.

“…I think so. Why, does that name mean anything to you?”

“That’s the name of an Adrexian that’s not the most…Adrexian in terms of attitude.”

“I see.” Richard then got a call from Thundercracker. “What is it?” he asked once he answered his phone.

“I did a little aerial patrol,” explained Thundercracker. “I found two people lying on the island’s southern shores. They’re Lords, one elderly male, one female with pointy ears, they’re badly hurt.”

“…Were you spotted?”

“No.”

“Then bring them here. We’ll fix them up in the Glanthelantir’s medical ward near its brig.”

“Understood.” He ended the call.

“Bring who here?” asked Kaitlyn.

“We have a pair of Lord prisoners that need medical attention.”

“Daddy, are you sure that’s a good idea?!”

“They might be friends that were kidnapped,” remarked Amy.

“That’s a pretty big unknown!”

“Batman said that other friends were assimilated,” replied Richard. “We need to take that chance.

---

Katie stormed into a house in a foul mood. “Oh dear,” sighed a woman’s voice, “someone’s not happy.”

“Fat Hat just fired me!” snarled Katie.

“What?!” A tall woman in a green dress then came up to her. “Why would he do that?!”

“My cousin, Richard, turned him against me!”

“Oh, poor baby!” The woman brought Katie’s head to her chest and cradled her. “My poor, upset, glamourous girl!” Katie wrapped her arms around the woman and sighed.

“I’m not in the best of moods,” admitted Katie.

“Well, I know what can help cheer you up. Shall we get some new outfits?” Katie smiled.

“…Yeah, I could do with some new dresses.”

“There’s my darling!” The woman bent down and kissed Katie on the lips.

“Auriella, what would I do without you?”

“Probably spin your wheels,” said the woman, Auriella.

“Katie, you will go nowhere,” called a third woman’s voice. The woman stepped into the room to reveal that she was of Japanese origin, had one brown eye and one black one, and had a right arm made of solid space. “Remain here for further orders. Auriella, you are to go to Culdee Fell’s summit.”

“Hold on, who died and left you in charge?!” demanded Auriella.

“Khan made me team leader, remember?”

“You forget your place, Igura!” snarled Auriella. She grabbed the woman’s left arm. “Don’t forget that Adrexians have powers beyond your imagination!”

“…You grabbed the wrong arm!” The woman, Adachi Igura, then grabbed Auriella’s face as her right hand glowed bright. That glow was accompanied by burning flesh. Auriella screamed in pain as she was shoved into Katie. “Don’t forget that your organization was built on the foundations of Shocker Rift! Also, I have Vortech’s powers. He made your universe bow to him for a while, did he not?” She left the room as Katie used her new powers to help Auriella heal.

“She’s a dead woman when this is over!” she hissed.

“In time,” said Auriella as the handprint slowly vanished. “For now, we need to suffer her. Besides, Khan can discipline her when he gets wind of this.”

Diesel was a black BR Class 08 Diesel Shunter, the Diesel Engine equivalent to a Tank Engine. He sat in the shunting yards alone, enjoying some rest after arranging the few trains for the day. “A pity this day is so foggy,” he muttered to himself. “Otherwise, it would be perfect to bask in the sun and-” his thoughts were interrupted by James’ whistle. He then heard Percy’s whistle and Boco’s horn. “…That’s funny,” he remarked. “They’re not scheduled to come here today.” The three engines then bustled into the yard and parked themselves on the points which would have given Diesel a way out. “Wh-What is this?!” spluttered Diesel.

“All right, Diesel, you’re sprung!” replied James.

“Pardon me?”

“We know what you did! Don’t even try to deny it!”

“And what deed of mine are you talking about? I’ve caused quite a few stirs here and there.”

“Teletraan, the sugar! Right in his fuel tank!”

“Right!” replied Teletraan as he pulled out a bag of sugar and looked to either side of Diesel.

“S-S-Sugar?!” gulped Diesel. “You don’t have the gall!”

“You think I’m bluffing?!” snarled Teletraan as Amy held him back.

“I can’t hold him back for much longer,” she warned. “You’re gonna have to tell us something.” Diesel looked at the a.i. Lynx, then at the bag of sugar, then he growled.

“Fine! You got me! I was the one who told Emily that the tree was keeping all of Sodor’s plant life alive! I was the one who sent Donald and Douglas on a wild goose chase when they were looking for their trucks! I was the one who told Spencer that Boco was getting too weak to pull trains!”

“That was you?!” yelped Boco.

“Diesel, hold on!” called Percy. “We’re trying to figure out if you were behind the Special Coach’s vanishing act!”

“Oh, that?” asked Diesel, calming down quickly. “That, I wasn’t responsible for. Though, believe me, I WAS tempted to, after what Spencer said. He made his usual ‘unimportant shunter’ comment to Edward and named me as someone lower than him. I wanted to get back at him that day, but I had too much work. I was called away to collect some trucks from Knapford so Duck could take them. Ever since Rosie and Stanley were reassigned to their pilot duties, we’ve been overworked and understaffed here!”

“So, Duck came here?” asked Richard.

“Was he pulling anything unusual?” asked James. Diesel then got a faraway look.

“Now that you mention it,” he said, “he DID have what looked like an extra-long van with him. He coupled his train behind it to take back to the Little Western. I thought his dome finally cracked if he was carrying something like that with him.”

“You’re sure it wasn’t a coach?” asked Percy.

“It was too foggy that day to see clearly.”

“It WAS really foggy,” recalled James. “We’ll ask him, then.”

“Hey, don’t tell the Fat Controller about what I said earlier!” barked Diesel. “I don’t need to get in any hot water with him!”

“Oh, he won’t know,” promised Boco, “but you WILL be punished for that.”

“Oh, really? And how?” Richard then whispered something to Boco, then went back into Percy’s cab. Boco giggled, then looked to the trucks.

“Boys,” he said, “I believe there’s a song you all made about Diesel. May we hear it?” Diesel goggled in horror!

“You wouldn’t!” he spluttered.

“One! Two!” counted one of the trucks to his friends. “One, two, three, four!” They then launched into a song Diesel hated!

“Trucks are waiting in the yard, tackling them with ease’ll!

‘Show the world what I can do!’ gaily boasts the Diesel!

In and out he creeps about, like a big black weasel!

When he pulls the wrong trucks out, POP goes the Diesel!”

“GRRRRRR!” growled Diesel as the three engines and their crews left the yards. “I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS, BOCO! YOU MARK MY WORDS!”

---

The three detective engines arrived at Arlesdale to speak with Duck, a green GWR 5700 Class Pannier Tank Engine with wide side tanks. They were led to the ballast chute the Arlesdale Miniature Railway ran. Duck had put the ballast hoppers under the chute and waited for the ballast to be dropped into them. He was surprised to see James, Percy, and Boco arrive. “What’s this then?” he asked. “A deputation?”

“Hello, Duck,” greeted James. “Gray day, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it is. Beg pardon, James, but what are you all doing here?”

“We’re doing some investigating,” explained James.

“Diesel said,” recalled Richard, “that you had an extra-long van when you picked up a train from the shunting yards last Friday. He also admitted that it was foggy that day, so he could have been mistaken.”

“He was,” replied Duck. “That wasn’t a van. That was one of my new coaches. I picked it up from Knapford Station that day.”

“You did?” asked Amy. “What siding?”

“…Siding 3, where the Stationmaster told me it would be. Why, is that important?”

“Duck, it sounds like you were unwittingly used in theft,” explained Boco. “That wasn’t a new coach for you. That was the new Special Coach.

“You mean the new one for Thomas’ branch line?! But the Stationmaster said-!”

“Either the Stationmaster is absentminded,” remarked James, “or-”

“Or, more likely, she did this on purpose!” interrupted Richard. “She’s obsessed with the newer things and probably thinks you guys are out-of-date, even the Diesels that work here!”

“In any event, we figured out where the Special Coach went,” said James.

“I suppose you’ll be wanting it back,” sighed Duck.

“We’ll get your new coaches once this mess is sorted,” promised Boco. “I know the Fat Controller doesn’t want the Little Western to fall.”

“It’s over in the carriage shed on the other end of the line,” explained Duck. The ballast train then shook as the chute loaded Duck’s hoppers. “I can point it out to you when I get this train going.”

“That would be nice,” replied Azuliterii. Once the ballast hoppers were full, Duck led everyone to the carriage shed.

“There it is,” announced Duck as his driver pointed to the coach.

“I’ll take it,” offered Percy. He buffered up to the coach and was coupled on. “Nicely done, Richard,” he praised.

“Thank you!” replied Richard. The three engines then headed back to Knapford.

---

The engines gathered at the sheds and were parked near Edward. “How did it go?” he asked.

“We figured out who really took the coach,” replied Boco. “It’s back in Siding 3.”

“You found it?!” asked Edward. “Who took it?!”

“It was Duck,” explained Percy. “And it sounds like he was a victim of some form of miscommunication.”

“Whether or not it was deliberate is still a mystery,” finished James. “The Fat Controller and Katie Barker should be coming any minute now.” A blue car then approached the sheds. The Fat Controller stepped out of the right-hand side (where the steering wheel would be since Sodor’s a UK country) and Katie stepping out of the left. She wore a dress and had her hair adorned with a floral arrangement this time.

“So, the mystery of the missing Special Coach is solved, is it?” asked the Fat Controller.

“That’s right, Sir,” replied Richard. “It turns out Duck was the one who took it. He was led to believe it was an extra coach for his branch line’s passenger service.”

“I can see where he would make that mistake.”

“But there’s something that’s not meshing well,” continued Amy. “Duck told us that Ms. Barker over there told him to collect that coach.”

“And, this morning, she told us,” continued Kaitlyn, “that the coach never got there.”

“Hold on,” said Edward, “when she accused me of stealing, she said that the coach was there, then it wasn’t!” The Fat Controller turned to Katie with a frown on his face.

“Ms. Barker, would you care to explain what’s going on?” he asked. Katie felt very scared indeed.

The morning arrived and it was as foggy as predicted. Richard and his team prepared their engines as he, Kaitlyn, Teletraan, and Amy cleaned Percy and James before lighting their fires while Azuliterii looked over Boco. The three engines stirred as their crews finished their work. “Good morning,” greeted Boco.

“Morning,” replied everyone. James then recalled what the day was going to consist of.

“And there’s the falsely accused suspect,” mused James as he looked over to Edward, still stuck in his berth.

“Right, how do we begin?” asked Boco. Percy dreaded what James’ potential answer would be.

“Well, isn’t it obvious?” asked James. “We have to get the suspect’s side of the story.”

“I suppose you want me to ask the questions?” muttered Percy.

“No, you and Boco just make sure you get Edward’s story memorized in case I somehow forget. I’ll do the asking.” Teletraan and Amy then entered James’ caba and he puffed onto the turntable. Once he was turned around, he rolled into the berth next to Edward’s. The old engine was confused.

“James?” he asked. “Are you here to keep me company?”

“For the moment, yes,” replied James. “But I need to leave to start my investigation of the Missing Special Coach.”

“Investigation? You mean you’re-?”

“Going to clear your name. Edward, I know we have our differences, but I know you. You’re not a thief.”

“Tell that to the Stationmaster at Knapford.” By then, Boco and Percy had backed into the berths near James and Edward.

“I assure you, we will,” promised Boco.

“We’ll solve this case!” assured Percy.

“Right!” declared James. Richard then pulled out his phone and began recording. “So, Mr…the Blue Engine, what can you tell us about the night of the Coach’s disappearance.

“…Mr. the Blue Engine?” Kaitlyn asked Richard and Percy.

“Just go with it,” advised Percy. Edward then began his story.

“It was Nine O’clock in the morning last Friday,” he said. “Spencer had just arrived carrying the Special Coach at the request of his owners, the Duke and Duchess of Boxford. They were downsizing the amount of coaches Spencer needed since they only sat in one while he always pulled two. He told me to shunt the Special Coach away. I told him I was too busy to shunt it away, but he snapped at me, then left the coach at the platform. I needed that platform to arrange an empty train meant for the Anopha Quarry, so I put the Special Coach in a siding out of the way. Siding 3, I believe. I then went on with my shunting duties. Once I had finished, the Fat Controller and new Stationmaster asked where the Coach was. I found it odd at the time, so I told them which siding it was in. But it wasn’t there. I swore up and down that I put it there, but the Stationmaster said that I stole it. That was when the Fat Controller said that, until the case was solved, I was to remain here at Tidmouth Sheds.”

“Was there anyone else at the station?” asked James. “Anyone that came later?”

“Let’s see, after I shunted the coach away, there was Diesel, then there was Thomas with his afternoon passenger run, then Gordon returned after his return express, and then there was Duck looking for some form of new rolling stock on the Little Western.”

“That’s four suspects,” remarked Percy.

“Six, actually,” corrected James. “Spencer and the new Stationmaster could have hidden it away to embarrass Edward.”

“Perhaps we should start with the Stationmaster,” suggested Boco. “Is she in today?”

“Let’s find out,” replied James.

“Thank you so much,” said Edward. “I’d love to get back to work and be Really Useful again.”

“You will, Edward,” promised James, “This, Sherlock James, promises! Come along, you two! The game is afoot!” He then puffed onto the turntable and was turned onto the line for Knapford Station.

“…Sherlock James?” asked Azuliterii.

“This is going to be one of those days, isn’t it?” sighed Percy as he puffed onto the turntable.

---

The three engines and their crews made it to Knapford Station and asked to speak with the Stationmaster. The porter they asked then dashed to the Stationmaster’s office. “What’s the new Stationmaster like?” Richard asked Percy.

“A little…unusual.”

“Why is it that they want to talk to me?” called a woman’s voice. “I’m a very busy lady and…Rickie?!”

“Wait a minute,” gulped Richard. “Rickie?! I haven’t heard that since…!” He stuck his head out of the cab and saw a brunette woman with her hair in a bun and wearing lipstick. She smiled wide when she saw him. Richard, on the other hand, groaned. “Oh no,” he said as he put his head against the interior wall of the cab. “Katie Barker! Percy, you were right, it IS going to be one of those days!”

“Rickie Boy!” cheered the woman, Katie.

“You know the new Stationmaster, Richard?” asked Boco.

“She’s my cousin on my mom’s side,” explained Richard. He then stepped out of Percy’s cab with Kaitlyn in tow. “Katie, how did you even get here?! Did something happen?!”

“Yes, the best thing happened!” cheered Katie. “I’m married to an Adrexian!”

“Did I hear that right?” asked Azuliterii as she stepped out of Boco. “You’re an Adrexian’s wife?”

“Azuliterii, yes?” quizzed Katie. “Not only an Adrexian’s wife, she turned me into one! I was feeling low and jaded, then the most glamorous woman descended from the heavens and showed me the multiverse! She then cured me of aging and death and now, here I am, living the life I deserve and working on this little railroad!”

“It’s ‘railway’ here,” grunted Richard. “So, you’re the Stationmaster here?”

“Katie Barker, Stationmaster of Knapford, at your service!”

“Well, my engine and his friends want to ask you some questions.”

“Oh, you’re working here too?! Awesome! And who’s the girl?”

“My daughter and current Firewoman. I didn’t think to tell you, but Megumi and I married and are blessed with twin girls.”

“I’m Kaitlyn,” greeted Kaitlyn.

“Lovely to see you! Now, what’s this about your engine’s questions?” Richard led Katie to the ramp where she faced James, Percy, and Boco.

“Stationmaster, was there a coach in siding 3 last Friday?” asked James.

“I didn’t see any there. I see, this is about Edward’s theft of the Special Coach.”

“Edward is no thief!” hissed Percy.

“Percy, please,” urged James. He then resumed his questioning. “Did you see Spencer, Diesel, Thomas, Gordon, or Duck with a coach at all?”

“I only saw Spencer that day, as he was leaving after his argument with Edward. The other guys you mentioned, I didn’t see them at all.”

“Rather odd for a Stationmaster not to see them,” remarked Richard.

“Rickie, I promise you, I got word that they picked up their respective trains. A Stationmaster can’t spend all day on the platform. Sometimes they need to go over paperwork in their office.”

“Maybe Edward misremembered where the Coach was,” mused Boco.

“I DID account for that and had the other sidings searched, but there was no Special Coach in them, and no one picked it up by accident. The only logical conclusion for me is that Edward stole it. …Or, if we can be fair for a minute, may have absentmindedly left it somewhere else on the island.”

“That’s not likely, given that he was shunting here all day on Friday,” remarked James. “Right, we’ll be in touch. Do you happen to know if the Fat Controller’s in his office?”

“As a matter of fact, I was talking to him before the Porter called me up here.”

“Perfect, he should have a better lead on where the other engines are. Thank you for your time, Ma’am.”

“My pleasure. I’ll get Sir Topham Hatt here so you can talk to him. Oh, Rickie, when you finish up here, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do! And your daughter’s so CUTE!” Katie then pinched Kaitlyn’s cheek before setting off to get the Fat Controller.

“…Maybe she should help us,” mused Teletraan.

“She’s doing enough as is!” hissed Richard. “I want as much distance as possible between us and her!”

“Daddy, why are you so uptight about your own cousin?” asked Kaitlyn.

“Because I’ve known her longer than anyone here! Katie Barker is the typical Barker woman, a gold-digging opportunist! I doubt there’s an honest bone in her entire body! …Come to think of it, I think my mom’s the only Barker woman with at least one honest bone. Heck, she’s got a whole honest skeleton.”

“Well, she IS a policewoman people look up to,” mused Kaitlyn. Just then, the Fat Controller arrived.

“I understand you have suspects outside of Edward?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir,” confirmed James. “We need to talk to Spencer, Diesel, Thomas, Gordon, and Duck.”

“Spencer is at the Works, going through routine maintenance. Diesel’s at the shunting yards here. Thomas is in the sheds on his branch line due to there not being enough passengers for both him and Daisy. Gordon is due to arrive in Vicarstown for a rest. Duck is at Arlesdale to help Oliver arrange the ballast trains.”

“Great!” cheered James. “We’ll start with Diesel!” The engines and their crews then left for the shunting yards nearby.

After everyone was given their jobs and praised for their punctuality that day, they got their uniforms and set to work at once. Richard and Kaitlyn were Percy’s Driver and Firewoman, Amy and Teletraan were James’ Driver and Fireman, and Azuliterii was Boco’s Driver. Percy was a green Avonside Saddle Tank Engine with four wheels and a number 6 on his bunker. James was a red L&YR Class 28 Tender engine with two small wheels just under his buffers and six driving wheels behind them and sported the number 5 on his tender. Boco was a BR Class 28 Diesel Electric locomotive in green and sported the number D5702. One morning, Percy and his new crew had to arrange the trains at Knapford Station. With Percy’s guidance, Richard learned which coaches were what and went where and how many of each truck type was needed. The freight train they arranged was for James. “Nicely done,” Percy said to Richard and Kaitlyn. “Although, I must admit, you’re a little…heavy-handed with the brakes.”

“Sorry,” replied Richard.

“It’s all right. Every driver has to go through that at some point.” Just then, they heard James’ whistle. “Three, two, one.”

“Dirty trucks from dirty sidings!” grumbled James as he backed down onto his train. “Arranged by small engines!”

“I’m doing fine, James,” snarked Percy. “Thanks for asking.”

“I wasn’t!” snapped James. “For heaven’s sake, why not Edward?! At least he’d be useful and you’d be on Thomas’ branch line, out of the way of important engines like me!” The workmen were still loading the trucks with the various goods needed.

“You know he’s stuck in the shed!”

“When’s he supposed to get out anyway?! At least HE can-!”

“I actually spoke with Edward when Teletraan and I were getting you ready,” interrupted Amy.

“You have?” asked James, puzzled at this bit of news.

“You had already started grumbling about this train, so you didn’t overhear anything we said. Edward took the Special Coach to put it for later use on the Express, to see if it was up to snuff. It never arrived and Edward’s the prime suspect for stealing it.”

“Stealing?!” scoffed James. “Edward may be an old fusspot, but he’s not a thief!”

“And, if he DID steal it, I would congratulate him,” boomed a voice. A blue GNR Class A1 Pacific Tender Engine with the number 4 on his tender then rolled up to the platform with the express coaches. This was Gordon the Big Engine, the main Express Engine for the North Western Railway. “If you want my opinion,” continued Gordon, “that coach stuck out like a sore thumb and rattled too much, spoiling the sound of the wind rushing past me. The Wild Nor’ Wester is better off without it.”

“But the summer holiday season is coming up,” reminded Percy. “Wouldn’t the extra coach help?”

“If it blended in with the other coaches, I would say yes,” huffed Gordon. “Besides, it proved to be too much trouble for both myself AND Thomas.” Speaking of which, Thomas’ whistle announced his approach.

“What’s all this then?” he asked.

“We’re talking about your Special Coach,” explained Richard.

“Ah, that old thing. It’s one of those things Gordon and I can agree was too much trouble. I’m surprised they’re bringing it back for the summer holiday season.”

“You liked it well enough to fuss at Douglas about it,” reminded Kaitlyn.

“That debacle proved that we didn’t need it.” Gordon’s Guard then blew his whistle and waved his flag.

“Sorry, must dash!” called Gordon. “We’ll talk about it later!” He blew his whistle twice and left the station, picking up speed as he went further down the line. “Hurry, hurry, hurry!”

“…If only we can help Edward,” sighed Teletraan. “But none of us are Sherlock Holmes.”

“Yeah, he’d be able to solve that case in a flash,” replied Percy. James got quiet all of a sudden.

“…Sherlock Holmes,” he mused. His face then formed a grin. “That settles it! Detective James is on the case!”

“James, we’ve got a train to pull!” reminded Amy.

“But we won’t have so much work tomorrow. We can definitely solve the case of the missing coach then! It should be easy! With Percy and his crew at our side-!”

“Oh no, you don’t!” snapped Percy. “I am NOT getting involved in that!”

“Oh, come on, Percy! You won’t have so much work tomorrow either!”

“Look, I want Edward’s named cleared as much as any other engine, but any adventure with you is nothing more than disaster!”

“When have I ever caused disaster?!”

“Do you want the list alphabetically or in descending order of damage done?!”

“Percy, I think we’ve got other goods trains to arrange,” called Kaitlyn.

“You’re right, we do,” replied Percy. “Come on!” Percy set off to continue his shunting.

“But Percy-!”

“No, James!” Once Percy was in a siding, James’ guard blew his whistle.

“Oh, for pity’s sake!” sighed James. “I can’t be Sherlock without a Watson!”

“There’s nothing for it,” soothed Amy. “We’ll just have to find someone else.”

---

Everyone finished with their work and settled into their sheds. The Fat Controller spoke with everyone before they went to sleep. “As you all know, there won’t be as much work on the railway tomorrow, due to the incoming fog. We’re keeping all trains to essential traffic only, meaning fewer trains. We still don’t know where the Special Coach is and we’re going to need it when the fog clears up. Until then, Boco is staying here until work resumes on the Brendam branch line.” Edward, a blue FR21/K2 Class Tender Engine with four small wheels at the front and four drive wheels and the number 2 on his tender, sighed sadly. “I know it’s been a while, but until your name is cleared, you need to stay here,” said the Fat Controller.

“Yes, Sir,” sighed Edward. Richard, Kaitlyn, and Percy looked at the poor engine.

“…Maybe we SHOULD help,” remarked Richard.

“It might prove we can be trusted,” mused Kaitlyn.

“But it’s James’ idea,” whispered Percy.

“Does it really matter?” asked Richard. Just then, Boco rolled into the sheds.

“What’s all this?” he asked Percy.

“Edward’s still stuck in the shed,” explained Percy as Richard and Kaitlyn filled Azuliterii in on what was going on with the Special Coach.

“Well, if he needs help, I’ll solve this case!” declared Boco.

“I think James already decided he would take the case.”

“What’s this now?” asked the Fat Controller. The two engines and their crews jumped.

“How do you do that?!” asked Richard.

“Do what?”

“Pop up whenever people least expect it?!”

“It’s a Hatt trick.”

“…Cute pun.”

“In any event, what are you all talking about?”

“Sir, James wants to clear Edward’s name,” explained Azuliterii, “and he’s asked Percy and his crew to help.”

“Boco’s willing to take my place,” continued Percy. “I’m not so sure my place is solving mysteries with James.” The Fat Controller pondered.

“…Two heads ARE better than one,” he said, “…so imagine what three will do. Percy, you are to assist James and Boco in clearing Edward’s name in the morning.”

“ME?!” squeaked Percy. “I can’t!”

“Rubbish, Percy!” replied Richard. “It’s easy!”

“That’s settled, then,” declared the Fat Controller. Poor Percy wished it wasn’t. The Fat Controller approached James and told him and his crew the news. “I trust you’ll clear his name, James?” he asked once he finished. James was beaming from buffer to buffer.

“You can count on me, Sir!” he said confidently.

“Very good! Good luck tomorrow!” The Fat Controller returned to his car as James looked smugly at Percy.

“Well, Little Percy,” he said, “it looks like you and I will be working together after all!”

“If you call me Watson,” hissed Percy, “I’m leaving. I don’t care what the Fat Controller would have in store for me.”

“Cranky, are we? Well, a little rest shouldn’t hurt. Great Detectives, such as I, need their beauty sleep, as do their sidekicks. Good night.” James went happily to sleep.

“I think James has the right idea,” remarked Teletraan. “We all need to hit the sack. Night.”

“Good night,” bid Amy.

“Pleasant dreams,” wished Azuliterii.

“Night night,” said Kaitlyn.

“Sleep well,” bid Richard. The crews then headed off.

“Night,” mumbled Percy.

“Good night,” called Boco. He then went to sleep. Percy looked at James first, then at Boco, then he glanced upwards.

“This will all end in tears, I just know it,” he muttered to himself before he went to sleep.