Operation Red Book

The figures in front of her were Sherlock Holmes and the little girl with long braids. Holmes's short black hair made him run like a bat, which led to Ivy's misjudgment.

"It's you. I was wondering how someone could openly steal children from an orphanage."

Ivy frowned and pursed her lips, then squatted down in front of the girl with long braids.

"Her name is Haley. I saw her waving at me in the distance. When I went over, she said Ms. Maggie was coming and asked me to take her to the prayer room quickly." Holmes said breathlessly.

The little girl with long braids was held in Holmes' arms, and was looking at Ivy anxiously.

"You're so smart!" Ivy rubbed Hailey's head. "Do you want to tell me something?"

"Yes!" Haley nodded heavily, "Please Miss Ivy save us, we are going to be killed."

Ivy was startled, exchanged glances with Holmes, and continued to ask in a gentle voice:

"How did things get so serious? Tell me everything you know so that I can help you, okay?"

Hayley looked Ivy straight in the eyes, took a deep breath, and pointed to the huge cross on the wall.

"We all pray here before going to bed, and we can go to sleep only after praying... Last Saturday, I was so hungry that I sneaked to the kitchen without praying for a few minutes."

"After the prayers were over, I joined the crowd returning to the bedroom. But when it was late at night, my companions were all fast asleep, but I couldn't fall asleep because there were always noises."

There was fear and terror in Haley's eyes, and Ivy gently rubbed her hands to soothe her emotions.

"I heard crying, I heard footsteps, I heard the sound of wooden boards being dragged on the ground, and I heard the sound of devil-like incantations."

"I was so scared that I pushed Emily next to me, but no matter how I pushed her or hit her, she wouldn't wake up."

Holmes took a deep breath, let go of Haley, and stood up to walk around the small prayer room.

"The next day I told Henry, Luke and Emily about it and they all reported hearing these horrible noises after they had skipped their bedtime prayers like I had."

Hailey's voice gradually began to sob. She grabbed Ivy's hands and her tone became more and more urgent:

"Ms. Ivy, there are more and more children being adopted! It used to be one a week, but now it's two or three a week. They all disappear. I'm so scared. I'm afraid I'll be the next one to be adopted! Please save me!"

Haley started sobbing in front of Ivy. She didn't dare to cry out loud, so she could only cover her mouth desperately.

Haley's suppressed crying was like a piece of iron wrapped in cotton, hitting Ivy's back of the head heavily.

Ivy's heart felt like it was being grabbed by someone, and the pain quickly spread throughout her body.

"Okay, okay! Look, Uncle Sherlock is looking for clues. We will definitely help you, okay?"

"My sweetheart, you are such a smart girl. I can guarantee that you will not be taken away by the god of death at such a young age. I will definitely not allow it, okay?"

A sour and swollen pain was stuck in her neck. Ivy's eyes turned red. The familiar sore and swollen feeling lingered around her eyes. The corners of Ivy's eyes twitched uncontrollably.

"Bang bang bang-"

There was a sudden knock on the door. The nerves of the three people quickly tensed up. They held their breath and turned to the door of the prayer room.

"Is anyone in there?"

Ivy recognized it as Grace's voice, gentle and clear, like the spring breeze blowing through the mountains.