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Holly Holmes, 16 year old girl sleuth was in her bedroom doing her homework.
‘Maths’ mumbled Holly to herself, ‘it really confuses me sometimes.’ However, Holly was more than aware of how important school was.
Next moment her door swung open and in walked Beth Marshall, Holly’s best friend and homework was the last thing on her mind.
‘You know it’s the school Christmas party next week’ said Beth ‘and I have not got a thing to wear’
Holly’s eyes widened, ‘What about the dress you wore last year, that looked nice’ said Holly. Beth did not have to say anything, the scowl she gave Holly was better than words. ‘As I was saying I need a new dress, what are you wearing, Holly’
Holly replied “I was just going to wear my tight blue jeggings and a t-shirt’ said Holly.
Beth tutted ‘get your coat you obviously need a new dress to’. Dresses did not form a part of Holly’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. ‘Hi, guys’, said Alice.
‘Are you getting your dresses for the party’’ Yes, replied Beth. ‘Wish I could afford one’ said Alice.
Holly felt sorry for Alice, who lived with her dad.
‘I feel guilty’ said Holly, but Beth dragged her into the shop and moments later thrust a black dress into Holly’s hands.
”That’s a dress!” said Holly, I have sweaters with more material in”
“You will look great’ said Beth trust me’

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.
‘It’s too short’ said Holly. Beth shook her head. Then Darren Carter, Holly’s other good friend approached the two girls. ‘Hol, you look sensational’ 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.
‘My necklace it’s gone’. It was Ann Ratcliff, a girl in Holly’s class, whose parents lavished gifts on her.
Her necklace had gone and so had Alice Jones.
“You’re the sleuth’ she turned on Holly ‘do something’
‘I will look for Alice’ said Holly to Beth you see if you can calm things down here’.
Holly walked down the corridor; she was sure quiet, unassuming Alice could not be a thief.
‘Alice’ shouted Holly, ‘Al’
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’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’s worried face looking down at her.
‘Holly, what on Earth happened’ Holly’s thoughts were a jumble but as her mind cleared she replied ‘Oh yes, I was walking down the corridor calling Alice’s name and someone grabbed me and held their hand over my nose and mouth. I must have fainted’ said Holly.
Beth helped Holly to her feet. The teen sleuth leaned on her friend, still weak from her experience. ‘I am going to get you straight home’ 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.
‘Holly, hurry up, Ann is screaming at Alice’.
Holly entered the room ‘Calm down, Ann’ said Holly ‘you do not know Alice stole your necklace’
Ann sneered at Holly
’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’!
‘Alice do you mind if I come and see you and your dad after school’ said Holly.
‘Of course, I just want to get this sorted’ said Alice
Later that night, Holly knocked on the caretaker’s door. It opened and Alice asked Holly to come in.
‘This is Holly, dad, she is trying to sort out the necklace mystery’
‘Hello Holly, Alice has told me all about you, I am sorry to here you were hurt the last night’
He seemed genuine.
‘I was not hurt’ said Holly 'I just fainted for a while’.
‘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’ said Holly.
‘You are right, of course, but it was not me’ said Alan.
‘Who else has access to the lights’ said Holly
‘The head and deputy, oh and a couple of prefects’
‘Really’ said Holly, Ann Ratcliff is a prefect, isn’t she?’
Alice agreed ‘Thanks for your time’ said Holly I will be in touch’

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………
Next moment Holly Holmes fainted and slumped to the ground, unconscious!

Holly’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’s. I must have fainted, thought Holly. Next moment, as if from a long way off, Alice’s voice ‘She’s regaining consciousness, thank goodness’
Gradually, Holly’s vision cleared. ‘How long have I been out’ 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’.
‘At least this rules you and your dad out’ 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 – HOLLY HOLMES IF YOU KNOW WHATS GOOD FOR YOU, FORGET ABOUT THE NECKLACE.
‘Oh Holly, what are you going to do’ said Alice.
‘Keep on with the case, I have got a pretty good idea what’s going on now’ said Holly.

At the end of school next day, Holly spoke to her friend Beth.
‘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’
‘What on Earth are you on about’ said Beth
‘I know what I am doing’ said Holly.
As Beth left the room, Holly approached Ann.
‘So Miss super sleuth have you got anywhere yet or have you been too busy fainting’ said Ann mockingly
‘I am not going to get anywhere because your necklace was never stolen was it’ said Holly.
‘I presume you are trying to pull off some sort of insurance scam and then pin the blame on poor Alice’
‘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’s’ said Ann
‘Even the message it tucked into your jeggings after you fainted, you should have left things as they were’.
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’s midriff. Holly moaned with pain then fell to her hands and knees, clutching her stomach.
‘You are no match for me sweety, but I will make it quick, just a sharp pain, then everything will go black.’ 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.
‘I see you had everything under control’ Beth said in a sarcastic tone.
‘Just lulling her into a false sense of security’ said Holly, I think I may need to brush up on my judo skills’
Later that day, Ann was handed over to the police.
The next day at school, Alice came up to Holly.
‘Holly, I can not thank you enough for helping to clear my name’ said Alice.
‘Only to happy to’, 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!