Lilian the Intelligent School Prefect (Chapter 3: The Case of the Missing Mascot)

The crisp autumn air swirled fallen leaves around Lilian's polished shoes as she surveyed the scene. The school mascot, a fluffy, rather portly badger named Barnaby, was missing. His usual spot, nestled in a wicker basket by the oak tree in the quad, was empty. Panic, subtly disguised as efficient concern, rippled through the student body. Barnaby's disappearance was more than just an inconvenience; he was a beloved symbol of St. Jude's Academy.

"Right," Lilian announced, her voice cutting through the murmuring students. Her dark braid swung rhythmically as she addressed her fellow prefects, Rajesh, the towering rugby captain, and Chloe, the ever-organized head girl. "Rajesh, you and your team will canvas the grounds. Chloe, you'll interview the teachers and check the staff rooms. I'll focus on the students. We need to establish a timeline and potential witnesses."

Rajesh, already flexing his biceps, grunted his agreement. Chloe, notepad in hand, nodded briskly, her expression a picture of determined competence. Lilian, however, noticed the faint tremor in Chloe's hand. Something was bothering her.

Lilian began her questioning with the younger students, her calm demeanor putting them at ease. Most hadn't seen Barnaby since lunchtime, but one shy girl, Emily, mentioned seeing a large, shadowy figure near the oak tree around that time. "It was…tall, and it was carrying something fluffy," Emily whispered, clutching her worn copy of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

This was promising. Lilian next interviewed the older students, focusing on those known for their pranks. Surprisingly, they all claimed innocence, though a few exchanged nervous glances. One boy, Mark, a notorious joker, even offered to help with the search, his overly enthusiastic demeanor raising Lilian's suspicion.

Meanwhile, Rajesh reported nothing unusual, except for a slightly disturbed patch of earth near the old gymnasium. Chloe, however, had discovered something far more intriguing. A single, dark brown badger hair was found clutched in the handle of a discarded gardening trowel near the headmaster's rose bushes.

Lilian pieced together the clues. The shadowy figure, the disturbed earth, the gardening trowel… It all pointed to a deliberate act, not a simple accident. And the nervous reactions from some of the older students, coupled with Chloe's subtly agitated behaviour, suggested an insider was involved.

As dusk settled, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Lilian gathered her prefects once more. She shared her findings, her gaze settling on Chloe.

"Chloe," Lilian said gently, "I noticed you were quite shaken up earlier. Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

Chloe hesitated, then, with a sigh, confessed. She'd accidentally let Barnaby out of his basket during lunch, panicking when she couldn't find him. Fear of punishment had led her to try and cover it up. The disturbed earth near the gymnasium was where she'd unsuccessfully attempted to bury him – only to realize he'd escaped again. The hair on the trowel was a testament to her frantic attempts.

Barnaby, safe and sound, was eventually discovered hiding in the headmaster's prize-winning pumpkin patch. He emerged, looking slightly embarrassed but otherwise unharmed, to the collective relief of the entire school. The incident, while initially alarming, solidified Lilian's reputation as a brilliant, empathetic leader, proving that intelligence and compassion were equally valuable attributes of a truly exceptional prefect.