By Jonah Petruic
Introduction
Jacob Moon is an extraordinary individual; an I.Q of 142, fluently speaks 5 languages (English, French, German, Japanese and Russian), recently named the worlds greatest detective and is responsible for the apprehension of over a hundred infamous criminals around the world (from petty criminals to Murderers). There's just one catch: Jacob is only 16. He works for the well renowned Society of Eyes, an international detective society based in London. Jacob doesn't work alone though; he lives with his guardian Kennedy, who took Jacob in after Jacob's parents were murdered when he was 5. In order to save him from the post traumatic stress and possible psychopathy, Kennedy taught Jacob the ways of being a great detective in order to keep the good Jacob had and that all criminals should be dealt with accordingly, as opposed to seeking out revenge. Jacob is also joined by his best friend, Laura Fry, Kennedy's adopted daughter, also 16. Jacob is constantly rivalled by his fellow peer, Lisa Gerwin, Austrian born and the second greatest detective in the world. Jacob and Laura work closely together and share a close relationship with one another, whereas Jacob and Lisa have a form of love/hate relationship and sibling style rivalry. This is supposed to be the third instalment in the series and this is my trial.
Part One
If there was one thing Maria hated about Christmas, it would have to be the shopping. First of all, the malls and shops are crowded with the mad shoppers attempting to make up for last year-having dilly dawdled until Christmas Eve and then had to frantically rush to the nearest big box mart to fight off the hoard attempting to snag the last Tickle-Me-Elmo doll, only to be trampled in a stampede and forced to buy one of the many fruit cakes that remained in stock. The second reason she detested Christmas shopping is that all those she needed to buy for had no idea what they wanted, thus contributing to the “I’ll buy something random with the chance that they will hate what I have bought and run into them returning it,” scenario. All, except one person on Maria’s list: Jacob Moon. Maria Had moved in with Kennedy, her guardian when Jacob and she were five. Since the day she settled into the Mansion, her and Jacob have been the best of friends and have spent a lot of time together, thus giving each other plenty of time to get to know one another. If there was anyone Maria didn’t need to ask what they wanted for Christmas, it is Jacob, and Maria knew better than to tell Jacob what she wanted; after all, he is the world’s greatest detective
Maria walked home with four shopping bags full of an assortment of gifts, all unwrapped. She dropped the bags and fought her keys into the door, jiggling it around in the keyhole, but it wouldn’t turn.
“Damn,” she said. She used the last bit of patience she had attempting to twist her hand counter-clockwise, but nothing happened. Fed up, she began pounding on the door of the Mansion, loud enough so that someone had to hear it eventually. She heard the locks opening up and quickly collected the bags. Jacob opened the door with a blank look on his face. He gave a sigh of relief and opened the door wider, allowing Maria to pass. “Were you expecting someone else?” she asked.
“No, something else,” Jacob grumbled as he slid down the wall and onto the floor. Maria dropped the bags again and removed her boots.
“Oh no,” she said, “what happened?” she asked. Jacob shook his head and ran his hand over his head.
“Just the one thing that annoys me every Christmas,” he said, “Prepare yourself for what I am to tell you,” Maria nodded.
“I’m ready,” she said.
“No, I mean physically and mentally prepare yourself for what I am about to tell you,” Jacob urged, “For what I am about to tell you could…”
“Jacob, get to the point!” Maria demanded.
“Oh my, don’t fight now,” said voice with a German accent from atop the stairs. Maria froze, unsure if she should turn around.
“Oh no,” she whispered. Jacob slapped his palm over his face.
“I told you,” he moaned. Lisa made her way down the steps and sat next to Maria.
“Guten Tag, Frau Maria.” Lisa said. Maria turned and faced Lisa, smirking.
“Welcome back, Lisa,” she greeted.
“Danke,” Lisa responded. She got up and walked over to Jacob, who still had his hands over his face. “Come on, baby brother. Is that a way to treat your older sister?” Jacob scowled.
“Oh yeah? Well you being juvenile with your sense of humour proves that I am in fact the more mature individual who…ugh, I can’t do this.” He said, sliding onto his side. Lisa patronizingly patted Jacobs shoulder.
“There, there,” she said, “It’s not your fault that you’re losing your touch at being a detective. Maybe you should just let me take up to task at being the Greatest Detective the world has seen.” Jacob shuffled to his feet and walked away from Lisa, refusing to glance in her direction.
“Now look who’s being childish,” Lisa snickered, “Tschüß (bye).” Lisa left the room; Jacob sighed and rubbed his eyes. Maria stood up and placed her hands on Jacob’s shoulders.
“Okay, come on,” she said, “We’re having tea.”
“Kennedy, why is she here?” Jacob complained over his tea, “You know how she deliberately attempts to make my life miserable!” Kennedy snickered as the pour himself a cup.
“I’m not playing your little game, Jacob,” he joked. Jacob sighed and hung his head back.
“She does it on purpose; she’s trying to demoralize me into giving up on this so she can take my place.”
“Now, Jacob,” Kennedy said, “I realize that you two never got along and I admit she wasn’t the easiest person to raise, but I still think of her as my daughter, the exact same way I feel towards Maria and just how I think of you as my son.” Jacob scratched his head as Maria sipped her tea.
“Ok, I understand that,” Jacob said, “I didn’t mean to sound selfish.” Kennedy patted Jacob’s head.
“Don’t worry about it,” he assured, “I understand your point of view.”
“I don’t really understand why you act this way, what’s wrong with her?” Maria giggled. Jacob stood up and grabbed a bag of chips from Maria’s hands.
“She’s trouble, is what she is.” He said, cautiously looking into the living room. “It also doesn’t help the fact that we didn’t have the healthiest breakup in the world.” Maria covered the side of her face self-consciously.
“I forgot about that,” she said. Jacob sat back down and stuffed his face with chips.
“Haven’t we all,” he agreed. Kennedy snickered as he snatched the chips away from Jacob.
“There, there,” he said, “This year we’re doing something different.” Jacob’s head shot up and looked at Kennedy. Maria and Jacob patiently stared, waiting for Kennedy to finish, but he just sat and smiled.
“That seriously can’t be the end of it,” Maria said. Jacob looked back and forth at Maria and Kennedy like an impatient child.
“Come on, Kennedy,” he said, bouncing in his chair, “I want to know.” Kennedy stared at Jacob, puzzled.
“It’s not my place to tell, it’s Lisa’s present to us,” he explained, “And Jacob, why are you bouncing? Is that your excitement or nervousness?”
“Now that it’s from Lisa, nervous.”
“Well stop that, it’s making me nervous.” Kennedy ordered. Lisa skipped into the room with an innocent smile on her face; she stopped in the front centre of the kitchen and positioned herself so she could clearly see everyone.
“I overheard what you were talking about,” she began, “And decided – since Jacob cannot stand the anticipation of what I have to say…”
“Just get to the point!” Jacob snapped. Lisa glared at Jacob with a stare that would cause fire to turn to ice. Jacob hated when she gave this stare, it made him feel Lisa staring deep into his soul, so he shut up and gestured for her to continue.
“I had some left over money from shopping for your presents this year, and I decided that it would be fun to spend Christmas at the Lodge in Kananaskis.” She finished. Jacob’s face lightened up suddenly. Maria smiled and applauded.
“That’s certainly a wonderful idea,” she complimented. Lisa curtsied and swayed her arms.
“That should be nice,” Kennedy said, “We haven’t been on a vacation in a long while. It’ll be nice to get out of the city for a while.” Jacob still said nothing; his face still showed awe.
“Jacob,” Lisa said, causing Jacob to snap out of his trance, “Let me know when you want to thank me.” And then she skipped off. Jacob stood and extended his arms.
“A week,” he stuttered, “In the mountains.” Maria shook her head.
“And you thought it was going to be bad,” she teased. Maria stood and began to walk away, but Jacob stopped her.
“You’ll protect me from her, will you?” He urged. Maria smiled half-heartedly.
“Of course, hun,” she said, then walked off. Jacob looked at Kennedy, who smirked and shrugged.
“You’ll be fine,” he promised, “I won’t tolerate her jealousy towards you.” Jacob’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped, then he made a scowl.
“No, I hope you won’t,” he said. Kennedy laughed.
“That was a great face you made,” he joked. Jacob began to walk out of the room. “Jacob,” Kennedy called; Jacob poked his head back into the kitchen, “I know I don’t have to ask you this, but please try to get along with her.” Kennedy asked.
“You know I will,” Jacob said, then pointed his finger at Kennedy, “But I swear, if I hear a giggling Austrian girl outside my hotel room, I’m calling the police.” Then Jacob walked away, leaving Kennedy laughing in the kitchen
