There! exclaimed Jake as he carefully placed gold coated wooden board on a mahogany door.

Jake and Louis, The Story Begins Here (Detectives Agency) was etched on that board. If you opened the door, you will see a simple little room with a tiny desk and a kitchen on the right. There would also be a door leading to an even smaller bedroom with Louis and Jake slept. This was where the detective and book writing agency was based. The story on how this all began actually began when Jake was ten. He read a book entitled, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes. From then on, Jake set his mind on becoming the best detective in the world. He read and read all of the mystery books, factual books, and everything that relates to being a detective. There was just one little tiny problem. Jake could not detect a thing even if it was in his face. Louis, his twin brother, unlike Jake wanted to be the best freelance writer in the world. Sadly, Louis couldn t write even if God came down to help. Tonight, Jake was playing solitaire by himself at his desk while Louis was enjoying Poe s deep dark poems on the soft green couch. Why can t I win this game? asked Jake to no one in particular. Hmmm! Jake, listen to this, said Louis. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. " 'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door; Only this, and nothing more." Then, there was a knock. It was gentle. At first, no one noticed it. Jake continued playing his card game and Louis continued reading aloud. Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow, sorrow for the lost Lenore,. For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore, Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me---filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, " 'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door, Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door. This it is, and nothing more." Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you." Here I opened wide the door; Darkness there, and nothing more. At that moment, Louis finished his words, the door creaked open. A very absurdly skinny and tall man came in dressed in a dark trench coat, sunglasses, a pink scarf, black dress pant, and a plain sneaker. The face was difficult to distinguish. The eyes were dark, but if one looked carefully they looked more like dark holes. The skin was as white as bones with a slight trace of grayness like dust. Good evening, gentlemen. I take it you are reading Poe. The stranger said not as a question but like a statement as he walked into the room. Yes! replied Louis from the couch reading the Raven. Would you like to take off your coat? It must be really warm in there. No! I will not take up much of your time. Who is in charge of your detective branch? commanded the stranger. Jake. I mean me! Louis is my partner. Mr. . exclaimed Jake still solving his card game. Mr. Skelly Ton. Don t tell me a skeleton joke cuz I ve heard them all, answered dryly Mr. Skelly Ton as he walked up to Jake s desk. Very well! What brings you to my place, Skittles? asked Jake looking at his cards. It s Skelly! Anyways, I need you to watch over something for me. Please look at me for a moment, replied Mr. Skelly. Jake looked up and frozen like he saw a ghost. Mr. Skelly dug into his trench coat pocket and pulled out a black colored sealed folder and $1,000 cash extended it to Jake. Jake took it without a glance still staring at Mr. Skelly s face. He was staring

at all that green. Here is a deal. I will give you $1,000 now as down payment. You will keep the folder for a week. If I do not come back in a week, burn it. I will give you another $1,000 when I return. There is only one rule in this deal. No one is to look, touch, see or even know about this folder. Guard it with your life! Mr. Skelly looked quite ominously and more like a skeleton with even second as he said it. Anything else, sir? asked Jake politely. No, answered Mr. Skelly Ton as he put his hand into his pocket and a little book dropped onto the ground quietly as he left. Louis picked up the fallen book. It was entitled How to Cheat Death, by Mr. Skelly Ton. Hmm. I guess you really do live twice. Who do you think of our first client? asked Louis. I think he s a skeleton, whispered Jake and he got up and put the folder on his desk. Aren t we supposed to hide it? asked Louis. What do you think I m doing? asked Jake. Leaving it on your desk, replied Louis. You know, a famous man once said, the best spot to hide something is in plain sight, said Jake wisely as he tripped over his shoelace and fell. You know, a public school teacher will often say, try your shoelace before you fall, said Louis in an imitation of Jake. I was planning to fall, replied Jake. Yeah! On the bed, not on the floor, retorted Louis and went to sleep. The next morning, Jake woke up quite late in the afternoon. With a big yawn, he got up and realized something of great importance. He was very hungry and a bit sleepy. He got up towards the refrigerator to find it bare and in need of a good polish and clean. So, he got up went towards his desk and got a paper from a folder and wrote down a shopping list.

Shopping List
y y y y Bananas Milk Cereals Food

Jake shouted, Louis!

Louis shouted back still a little foggy, What? There s no food. Come on let s go shopping, said Jake. Second. Let me go dress, said Louis.