Sleeping Beauties: The Case of the Worn-Out Dancing Shoes

By Sarah Wallace

In this retelling of "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes," Agatha Christie meets the Brothers Grimm when young detective Daniel Carmichael and his wife Lorelei investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding a college for young ladies. Everyone knows that a handful of the students have been disappearing each night to go dancing, but nobody knows where the students are going or how they're getting there without leaving their room. Daniel Carmichael takes on the case, determined to prove on his first case that extensive experience does not a good detective make. When his wife Lorelei decides to join the investigation by going undercover as a student, the two are swept into a complicated puzzle full of dancing, secret notes, enchanted music, and a considerable dose of dark magic. The Carmichaels soon discover the dangerous nature of their investigation. But will they solve the mystery before they too are locked in a powerful spell?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Wallace
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301815159

Sarah Wallace

Sarah Wallace lives in Orlando, Florida with her cat. When she is not writing, she likes to watch classic movies, read books (preferably ones with happy endings), and eat chocolate chip pancakes.

Book preview

Sleeping Beauties:

The Case of the Worn-Out Dancing Shoes

Sarah Wallace

Copyright 2013 Sarah Wallace

Cover Illustration by Miriam Garcia

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Author's Notes

Chapter One

To Chief Inspector Sir Reginald Graham, Office of Investigations, Department of Magical Affairs, c/o Shelly and Lynch Inc., Private Investigators

Inspector Graham:

I am writing to request that you send one of your agents to investigate some strange circumstances in Dugal College for Young Ladies. Mysterious happenings seem to be taking place here, as evidenced by soiled evening gowns, worn out dancing shoes, and general fatigue of the inhabitants of one room in the dormitory. The inhabitants of one room in question, eleven first year girls (with one spare bed), alone show these symptoms. Evidence seems strange due to the fact that the college has not sponsored any dance, nor have the eleven students attended any evening affairs. Their room has been under constant surveillance and they have not been seen to leave it at any point in the night. We suspect the situation might involve magic but cannot yet ascertain whether or not the students are in danger. Please send one of your agents directly to investigate the situation.

Regards,

Headmistress Havitch

Dugal College for Young Ladies

Reggie Graham read through the letter once again. He sighed, rubbed his eyes, and looked out the window. It had been two months since he had received the report about Dugal College for Young Ladies. In that time, he had sent three of his best detectives and all of them had disappeared. Reggie, himself, had led a team of experts to analyze the report, in the hopes that something in the wording would give them the barest clue as to what could be happening. He was beginning to feel the case was beyond him. The eleven girls had been questioned, analyzed, and medically examined to no avail. They could not or would not explain the phenomenon. Their performances in class had shown a significant decline since the symptoms had emerged. No one knew what to make of it, least of all Reggie. He lit his pipe, hooked his heels on an open desk drawer, and puzzled over the situation.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Upon his permission, the door was opened and a young man in his mid-twenties poked his head into the office.

Inspector Graham?

Chief Inspector, if you please.

Ah, yes, of course. My apologies, sir.

Reggie frowned at the young man. Who are you?

The man, taking it as a sort of invitation, stepped all the way in. Daniel Carmichael. I believe Professor Winters wrote to you about me. I am here to--

Ah yes, the star pupil who wants to work for Shelly and Lynch, Reggie said, looking Mr. Carmichael over. Well, I’m not sure I have anything for you just now."

Professor Winters said that might be the case, Mr. Carmichael replied. But, I was wondering, at the very least, if you had any advice for how I could get into business – timing, contacts, that sort of--.

I’m not a ruddy professional advisor, young man, Reggie retorted, sitting up in his chair. Listen, I have enough on my mind without some academic chap running around, messing things up.

’Academic chap?’ Mr. Carmichael said, his eyes narrowing. Were you not a graduate of the London University’s College of Magic, yourself?

Well, yes, but--

Then, I should hardly think you would need to take such a tone with me. Or, perhaps you’ve forgotten the plight of a recent graduate without a job. I’ve done some research on you, Chief Inspector, and I thought you, of all people, would help me because you are the most like me. Most gentlemen in the upper branches seem to arrive there through connections, money, and titles. You didn’t inherit this job or get it by having influential parents; you started off as an errand boy and worked your way up. Last year you were knighted for your achievements.

True, but you have to work at these things. It takes time, you see.

Mr. Carmichael rubbed his hand over his eyes. Everyone has said that to me since I started looking for a job. You’d think they’d give me the chance to work at these things, as you put it. All I have to offer are my education and my references by the likes of Professor Winters. But, I have worked hard and studied hard for my degree. I intend to work hard at whatever job I happen to get. Now, why would you wish to deny me that privilege?

Reggie squinted at the young man. Perhaps he had underestimated him a bit. Well, lad, perhaps I was a bit hasty – my apologies for that. I am working on a particularly complicated case at the moment. As I said before, we have no openings at the current time, but if you leave your name and address with my secretary I shall contact you when we have a position available. Winters does after all, speak very highly of you.

Carmichael nodded. Thank you for your time, sir. He started to go, but paused, his hand on the doorknob. The complicated case you are referring to – would it happen to be the situation at Dugal College, sir?

Why do you ask? Reggie leaned forward. Do you know anything?

He shrugged. No more than the general public, sir.

Reggie grumbled and returned to staring at the letter.

But I do have some theories.

You and everybody else, Reggie said, without looking up.

The girls are clearly leaving their rooms every night…

Spells have been cast at all of the exits of the room without any indication that they are leaving it.

Then, they are leaving from the inside.

Reggie looked up. Mr. Carmichael, he said. I have sent three of my best men to investigate the situation. Before each of them disappeared, they sent reports saying that they believed the young ladies were exiting through some unknown method within their rooms. The last report I got from any of them was that they would, individually, spend the night inside the room to discover the secret.

I’ve heard as much but I’m surprised you haven’t used that lead to investigate--

How can I use the lead when every man who comes to the conclusion disappears? Reggie shouted. He held his head. This case is running me ragged, I can hardly tell you.

When Carmichael didn’t respond, he assumed the young man had left. He looked up to see that the lad was still there with a strange mixture of resolution and uncertainty on his face.

Send me, Carmichael said.

What? Reggie sputtered.

Send me to Dugal College. If I disappear, you’ve lost nothing; if I uncover the mystery, then you’ve gained considerably.

I can’t send some recent graduate without any training to a dangerous case…

Then, send me unofficially.

What? Reggie said, standing up. The young man was clearly out of his mind.

Simply give me the clearance and contacts I need to investigate and I’ll go. You needn’t even hire me first.

That desperate for a job, are you? Reggie said, sitting down again.

Carmichael smiled. Not exactly. But, this case certainly intrigues me. I had no idea Shelly and Lynch, Inc. was at such a standstill on the matter. I would relish the opportunity to do what I can to help.

Reggie tapped his chin. I can’t send you unofficially. That wouldn’t do. You have to be held accountable to someone. However, he said, holding up a hand when Carmichael began to argue. I like your determination and, as you say, I have little to lose in terms of my own department if I send you and, as you say, I have found myself at a standstill on this whole matter. When can you leave?

~~~

Daniel Carmichael left the Chief Inspector’s office overwhelmed by the surprising turn of events. He hesitated, briefly, when he stepped outside. Then, with sudden resolution, he headed towards the London University’s College of Magic. With permission from the university librarian, he perused the shelves, pulling out books on the colleges of England, on dancing, and etiquette. Grateful as ever that the library had such a varied selection, he left and returned home.

~~~

Lorelei Carmichael added a bit of extra salt to the soup before spooning it into bowls for herself and her husband. She checked the clock. He was late, but she hoped that meant the interview at Shelly and Lynch had gone well. She wiped her hands on her apron, debating whether or not to pour the soup back into the pot. She could never guess when Daniel would come home; he was pretty unpredictable and had a terrible sense of time. She considered a little while longer before pouring one bowl back and taking the other bowl to the table and eating alone. She picked up the evening paper and started to read the front-page story about Dugal College when her husband walked in.

Danny! she said, as he dumped a small of pile of books onto a chair. How did it go?

He put his arm around her and kissed her. I got the job, he said.

Oh, Danny! she said, hugging him. I knew you could do it! What sort of a job did you get?

He walked into the kitchen and stirred the soup a bit. As a matter of fact, I got a job as a detective.

Goodness! she said. That reference from Professor Winters must have carried a lot of weight.

He smiled. Not exactly. He spooned some soup into the bowl on the counter. The chief inspector is really desperate, that’s all.

Really?

They sat down at the dinner table.

Well, when do you start?

As soon as I can leave. He sipped some soup.

Leave? Leave to where?

Dugal College.

Dugal College? No. They can’t possibly be sending you there. It’s far too complicated a case. It has everyone completely baffled-- She broke off. Why would they send a new hire there?

He shrugged. Like I said, the chief inspector is that desperate.

No one else will take the job?

He looked down at his soup. Well, people have taken the job. They’ve all, er… that is to say… they’ve disappeared rather unexpectedly.

She stood up slowly. Daniel Carmichael, was all she could manage to say.

Don’t be angry, Lorelei, he said pleadingly.

What in heaven’s name possessed you to take a case like that?

It’s a great opportunity for me!

What? To disappear?

To prove myself!

What? You think you can do what other, more experienced, highly trained professionals couldn’t do?

Well, yes.

She snapped his soup bowl away from him, ignoring the soup sloshing onto her hands. I’ll be feeding no dinner to a man who’s lost his senses, that’s for sure. You can get your own dinner, Mr. Carmichael.

Lorelei, please! Darling! You don’t understand the advantage I have.

You’re right about that, she said, striding back to the kitchen. What advantage would that be, mister graduate?

My lack of experience.

She dumped his soup back into the pot.

Listen. All of those other detectives--

And just how many predecessors do you have, may I ask?

Three, he answered, reddening. "All