Mysterious Surprises at the Local Art Show
by
Elaine
Chapter One
“Hey Trixie,” a voice shouted from
somewhere in the crowd of kids that were hurrying to catch the bus right after
school.
“What?” Trixie turned to look and see
who called for her but found it impossible due to all of the students packed
into a small space under the archway at the school's entrance. It was raining
outside, and few people were willing to stand in the bone chilling rain, which
made the wait for the school bus very cramped.
She stifled the urge to be annoyed at
her brother Mart who piled a bunch of friends in his car and raced off out of
the school parking lot without her. That meant she would be stuck riding
the bus or walking the two miles home.
She saw a hand raised up, but the face
attached to it was hidden by a guy carrying a huge science project in a box
over his shoulder. She thought she recognized the voice, but it definitely
didn’t belong to any of her closest friends either. The faces around her were
all familiar because she grew up with most of these kids.
Trixie Belden, sixteen and a half,
attended public school in the affluent area of upstate New York known as
Sleepyside. Her older Mart, only eleven months older, was also a student
at Sleepyside Junior-Senior High. Trixie called Mart her almost twin because
the resemblance was so strong that many people believed them to be true twins.
Fortunately, as they grew older the resemblance was less pronounced.
She tried to find an opening in the
crowd of students trying to avoid the downpour. What a day for busses to
run late!
In typical Trixie Belden fashion she
tossed her book bag over her shoulder and tried to protect her sandy blond
curls from whipping around in the frizz-inducing wind; she hated that frizz.
“Jesse, could you move, please?” Trixie
asked a young man holding a large box of pottery. “I can slip through under
your arm, if you brace for it,” she added.
“I’ve got it. You can go, but take it
easy. This is a lot of work up here.”
“I will be careful,” Trixie promised as
she ducked down, and slipped through the tight crowd of students and out to
the area where she could actually breathe better. The chilling rain hit her
face and caused her to blink as she shielded her eyes from the falling water.
“Hi.” The voice belonged to the
Nick Roberts she realized as she finally made it through the crowd of kids.
Trixie and her friends befriended Nick,
the only son of a previously struggling artist, during a dark and difficult
time in the Roberts family life. Things were looking up for the Roberts
family; business was booming, and things seemed to finally be going their way.
Although Trixie didn’t speak to Nick on
a daily basis, they often exchanged hellos in the halls. She knew she wouldn’t
have much time to chat because her bus had arrived. The students huddled under
the arch began a mad dash toward the loading zone.
Trixie smiled at the handsome,
dark-haired boy. Nick Roberts, in Trixie’s opinion, was one of the most
handsome boys in the senior class, but he was also the shyest. She figured
that was because he spent most of his time working in the family business,
which left him little time to socialize or join in extracurricular and
sporting activities. Right now, Nick was trying to look cool, but, to Trixie,
he seemed nervous.
“We were wondering… I mean they were
wondering,” he pointed at three guys standing by a blue convertible in the
parking lot.
“Go on?” Trixie had never seen someone
too nervous to speak.
“Okay.” Nick drew a deep breath, he
grinned, and tried his best to act charming. “I know you probably won’t want
to, but I was curious if you might want to go to the art exhibit with me
tonight?”
Trixie heard one of the guys by the car
start to laugh. They called Nick a loser and told him his pick up lines were
garbage, and slapped each other thinking it was funny. But the look on Nick’s
face was,of such agony that Trixie took one look at the boys by the car, the
next look at Nick, and then said, “Do you mean the one in New York City, or
the one here in town?”
“Um…just here in town. I don’t have
tickets for the one in the city.” Nick’s brown eyes lit up some with sudden
burst of hope. “I have a couple paintings that are going to be on exhibit. I
am kind of nervous about the reviews though. I was planning to sell them at
auction after the show, but I doubt they will bring much. I noticed that you
are taking the art class this year; how do you like it?”
“I am finding that landscape painting is
pretty interesting. Moms went to Art College.”
“That is pretty cool. Why did she quit
painting?”
“She is too busy raising four kids, plus
keeping the farm running smoothly takes most of her time.”
“Yes, but most of you are raised up
now,” Nick said as he noticed that most of the out of town students had
already climbed on to the bus.
“Do you want to go?” he asked. “Please,
it would be doing me an enormous favor. Those jerks over there don’t think I
am capable of finding a date,” he whispered as he moved so his back was facing
them.
“I have to ask my parents first-- they
are particular that way, but I’ll call you and let you know as soon as I get
home. If they say it is okay, I’ll go.” Trixie looked at the obnoxious boys,
and whispered, “You don’t need friends like that. Kick them to the curb.”
“Okay, call me as soon as you get
confirmation,” Nick said as he watched her climb onto the bus.
Chapter Two
“What was that about?” Honey asked as
sat down next to her.
“Nick is nervous about the art exhibit
because he has a couple paintings on display. He didn’t want to go to the show
by himself, so he asked if I wanted to tag along.”
“Oh, you mean he asked you out on a
date?” Diana looked shocked.
“No, he didn’t, he just said do you want
to come along.”
“So then, can we tag along with you?”
Honey teased.
“Would you stop it?” Trixie hated that
type of teasing. “I didn’t even say yes anyway, so stop.” She turned to look
out of the bus’s window noticing a train rolling down the tracks that the bus
driver of course had to stop and wait on.
Honey prompted her to explain.
“You know my parents. I have to get
permission first.” Trixie rolled her eyes.
“Oh, they mean well.” Diana smiled for
she knew Trixie’s parents were very over protective, but Trixie had been in
one scrape too many over the years. It was a real cause of worry for them and
they loved her.
“Yeah right, I’ll be sixty before I am
allowed to date,” Trixie sulked. “Their over-protectiveness lost me my chance
too.”
“You lost your chance to what?” Honey
stopped teasing becoming serious.
“Never mind.” Trixie’s voice turned to
mimic mode, “I am just some little girl, I couldn’t possibly have feelings like
those yet, I am not old enough to have feelings like that.” Her voice returned
to normal. “How old is old enough to have those feelings I wonder?”
“Oh Trix, Jim didn’t mean that,” Honey
gasped.
“He didn’t? Then why did he say it in
the first place? Maybe I’ll call Nick and go out with him tonight after all,”
she said defiantly.
“That a girl! Don’t let Jim and his
stupidity ruin your teen life,” Diana said helpfully.
Diana Lynch and Honey Wheeler were two
of Trixie’s very best friends in the entire world. Honey Wheeler moved to
Sleepyside three years earlier to the beautiful new country home that her
parents had purchased. Soon after she met Trixie, and they were launched into
instant adventure when they met runaway James Frayne. Jim was running from a
cruel-hearted stepfather, who only wanted to keep him around for the promise
of a nice inheritance should Jim’s uncle James ever die. Instantly the girls
set out to help their new friend find the will that did state that he would
inherit all his uncle’s worldly goods.
During Honey's first summer in
Sleepyside, the timid, poor little rich girl, as Trixie sometimes described
her, learned about how much fun life in the country would be. She discovered a
better more rewarding type of a life with her new friends. Bonding first with
Trixie and Jim, and then Brian and Mart Belden, the five friends created semi
secret club called the Bob-Whites of Glen. Soon after that, Diana Lynch had
joined the club, followed a few months later by their seventh member, Daniel
Mangan.
This club focused on constructive things
in the neighborhood, like fundraising and solving mysteries that often led to
exciting discoveries. Sometimes it was all about their fun times and their
happy parties.
Trixie looked over at her best friends
and smiled. Honey and Diana had both grown up a whole lot in the past three
years. Diana still had long, thick black hair that she always brushed until it
looked like spun black silk, Trixie often thought of her as the prettiest girl
in the entire school. Diana's interest had become acting in the drama classes.
She wasn’t always as adventurous as Trixie and Honey were. Diana was a timid
type of girl often prone to sensitive tears and mood swings, but her two
friends were normally quick to assure her that everything was going to be
okay.
Diana had plans to be a stewardess for a
major airline, but Trixie’s and Honey’s plans had never changed. They still
had plans to be detectives and solve mysteries and investigate famous crimes
when they finally grew up.
“I suppose I should hurry out of here,”
Honey sighed when the bus stopped out front of her house. “Mom and Dad are
taking me up to Albany to visit Jim at college tonight. Do you want to come
along?” Honey asked, as Trixie followed her off the bus.
“I can’t because I have to go to that
doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon. Moms won’t let me get out of it because
it’s a dental appointment.”
“Ugh, I cringe at those exams,” Honey
sympathized.
“I’ll tell him you couldn’t make it
then.” Honey smiled. “Go on and go to that art exhibit with Nick. It will be
good for you to get out for a change. If Jim really does think of you as a
little girl, then maybe it is time to prove to him that you are growing up.
Show a bit of an interest elsewhere, Trixie, you deserve to be happy, go be
happy.”
“But--”
“Trix, trust me, if Jim is thinking that
you are always going to stand here waiting on him, he will never worry over
losing you to someone else.”
“But it is just a meet you there type
thing, it isn’t a date.”
“So, go anyway.” Honey flashed her a big
smile and she brushed her honey-colored hair out of her eyes as she spoke.
Honey Wheeler was a tall, thin sort of girl who looked more like her mother
the older she got.
Trixie often compared herself
unfavorably to her two best friends. They had a lot more time to devote
to their appearance than she did, she noted to herself, as she looked down and
noticed how grungy her outfit had been that day. She should get out more, and
socialize with others. She should get up earlier and take the time to pick out
better clothing as well. Inwardly, she groaned. No wonder James Frayne is
finding a college girlfriend. You aren’t worthy of holding a man long distance
style. She was going to have to do something about her appearance and
fast, before it was actually too late, something deep with in her inner child
stirred up a determination to make some changes. Trixie Belden was going to
show the world how grown up she could be.
“Oh, I don’t know. Listen, I’ll talk to
you later.” Trixie gave Honey a quick hug and turned to hurry toward her
house.
“If you would have been by the parking
lot an hour ago, I could have given you girls a ride home,” Mart’s baritone
voice said from beside his secondhand car.
“Sure, you probably had seven guys in
that car when you left.”
“Nope, just four of us.” Mart laughed.
“It sucks to be you.”
“I’ll have my own car soon enough,”
Trixie said firmly.
“Yes, like Dad will let you get your
license.”
Trixie walked away from Mart, annoyed.
Why was it that she didn’t have her license yet in the fist place? She was
nearly seventeen already. Oh yeah, last semester's Driver's Ed was full up,
Trixie thought to herself. So was the semester before that.
“Well, maybe I’ll just get a job and
hire a private Driver's Ed company to teach me.”
She was sure she already knew all the
rules of the road; and for as much as she drove around Honey’s four-wheeler,
and her father’s golf cart for him when he wanted a quick caddy, she was sure
she could do it on the road with a real car already.
“What is the matter, dear?” Helen asked
her troubled daughter as she entered the kitchen.
“Moms, why are all the Driver's Ed
classes always filled up? My name starts with a B; isn’t that close enough to
the beginning of the alphabet to put me first in line?”
“Your father had a talk with the
guidance counselor about that oversight already, he is very sorry, but he
thought you had your Driver's Ed already. It is down on the computer that you
passed that course.”
“Say what? I didn’t take that class.”
“Someone thinks you did,” Helen
answered.
“Then why don’t I remember it, and where
is my permit?” Trixie asked.
“Go talk to Mr. Stanton about it on
Monday,” Helen answered.
“Oh Moms, may I go to the art exhibit
tonight?”
“The one here in town?” Helen asked her
daughter curiously.
“Yes, Nick Roberts invited me to go with
him. He is nervous because he actually has some paintings in the exhibit and
he didn’t want to go alone.”
“Oh.” Helen thought about it a minute.
“What about James?”
“What about him? To him I am just a
little girl, besides this isn’t a date it is just a last- minute- I -can’t-
find-anyone- else- would -you -please –be- a- dear,” Trixie said.
“Oh, okay, I don’t suppose it would be a
big deal. Is he going to pick you up?” Helen asked as she pulled a piping hot
apple pie out of the oven and placed it on the cooling rack. Tonight’s
dessert smelled delicious. Trixie could smell dinner cooking; it must have
been in the slow cooker because the range was clean as a whistle. As her eyes
glanced around the sparkling clean kitchen to the large white electronic
roaster she smiled. “Is that roast beef I smell?”
“It is actually beef stew. I am making a
lot so I can freeze individual bags for lunches for later on.”
“Yummy yum…,” Trixie breathed as she
peeked in at it, and taking in the steamy aroma of the bubbling stew, already
thickening nicely in the pot. Dinners at Crabapple Farm always were the
highlights of the entire day, due to the fact that Moms concentrated on
spectacular meals for her family nearly every day. It had been that way in the
Belden household all their lives. Moms was lucky enough to be able to be a
stay at home mother; homemaking became her full time job, tending her large
garden and her children and husband’s needs. With all the canning in the fall,
that had to be done and the preparation for the next planting in the spring,
the circle of activities was never ending.
“Go ahead, dear. Find out if he will
pick you up or do you need dropped off somewhere,” Helen reminded her.
“I’ll have to call and find out.” Trixie
hurried to the phone, found Nick’s number in the student directory, and
quickly pushed the buttons.
“Hello?” an anxious voice asked from the
other end of the line.
“Is this Nick?” Trixie asked.
“Yes. Who is this?” Nick stood there
with the phone up to his ear, anxiously waiting to find out if he had a date
or not, his stomach churning with anticipation. Trixie Belden was the one
considered the prettiest in the entire school by his group of friends. Nick
didn’t think that she would be completely unobtainable, because he knew she
was nice enough. But he also knew that she normally only dated James Frayne.
If she did choose to go out with him, it would likely only be for a friendly
outing.
“It's Trixie. Mom said I could go,” she
said quickly. “But I am not sure, what does one wear to an art exhibit?”
“Just wear a nice dress. It doesn’t have
to be formal or anything. I’ll come by and pick you up in two hours. Is that
okay?”
“Yes…. Oh, Moms asks do you have vehicle
insurance.”
“Of course, I am insured. It's
illegal to drive uninsured. I am also a professional driver, so I have had
plenty of experience,” Nick laughed.
“Oh yes,” Trixie smiled. “I’ll let her
know that.”
Chapter 3
After a quick dinner with her parents
and brothers, she hurried off to shower and change into the best choice in her
closet. Once she found the perfect fall dress that would do for this occasion,
she slipped it on and surveyed the outfit in her full length mirror.
Nick rang the formal doorbell standing
nervously while Trixie’s father opened the front door.
“I am here to pick Trixie up!” Nick said
nervously.
“And you are?” Peter asked as he made
eye contact with this young man. He wasn’t so sure about allowing his daughter
out with a boy that he didn’t know very well, but his wife assured him that
Nick Roberts was a fine young man. Still, he wanted to see for himself what he
thought of him.
“I am Nick Roberts,” Nick answered as he
shook his hand politely.
“Trixie, your date is here,” Mart
shouted to the top of his lungs. “Hi Nick, what is up?” Mart asked.
“Not much, my dad is just showing this
exhibit that I have to attend.” Nick looked nervous.
“Do you have to shout?” Trixie asked as
she came to the top of the steps.
“Well, I wasn’t sure if you could hear
with all that hairspray on your head or not?” Mart laughed.
“I don’t have hairspray, it is styling
gel,” Trixie said with a frown as she headed down the steps.
“Wow!” Nick took one look at that dress
of hers and his eyes lit up; she was beautiful.
“This dress is the result of having
friends that are better off than we are.” Trixie nervously looked down at
herself.
“I wish I had friends better off than
me,” Nick laughed. “I guess they would have to be taller and heavier or
something though if I were to snag onto an expensive hand me down.”
“True, that is, like, impossible. There
aren’t that many guys that are bigger, then you are,” Trixie giggled. Nick
Roberts was 6 foot 4 inches tall, and was muscular due to all his work in the
family business. “I doubt even Jim could give you very many hand me downs, he
is probably not much taller.”
“I am sure he could,” Mart laughed
loudly. “It depends on what you refer to as his hand me down?”
“Shut up, Martin,” Peter said firmly in
warning as he sat his book down and pushed his recliner into the sit up
position. Peter knew from experience that something, mean was about to be said
about Jim’s potential hand me downs.
Peter walked them to the door. “Don’t
pay attention to your brother, he is just being stupid!” Peter told Trixie as
he pulled out his wallet and handed her some cash. “That is emergency money in
case you have to call a cab or something. Take my cell phone and check in to
your mother’s phone or here at home, so we know you are safe. We’ll worry so
you make sure you call if you discover it is getting late and you have a
question or something. Have fun.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Trixie answered.
“Boy, that brother of yours,” Nick said
as he opened up the car door to his car.
“I know, sometimes I wish I was born an
only child. Mart’s a big tease all the time,” Trixie said soberly as she put
her seatbelt on.
Nick was a friend and she
genuinely liked him, but then again not knowing him very well seemed a bit
scary. He was one of the boys in school that she didn’t grow up with. His
family moved to Sleepyside only a few years before.
“Are you and Jim not seeing each other
anymore?” Nick asked once he got in behind the wheel and turned on the
ignition.
“He found a college girlfriend,” Trixie
answered.
“Does this mean that you would have gone
out with me without my begging you for the favor?” Nick suddenly asked.
“I don’t know.” Trixie’s stomach
churned. “I don’t normally accept actual dates unless I really know the guy.”
Then she flashed her dimples in a big smile.
“You know me.” Nick looked at her
through worried eyes.
“I know you enough to recognize your
face. I know you, because of all that happened with those counterfeiters that
tried to force your dad into making that plate for counterfeit money, but you
weren’t all that nice to me then,” she said bluntly.
“I know and I am sorry, but you were in
danger and I wanted you to back off so no one would hurt you. It would have
been a catastrophe to lose the prettiest girl in the entire high school.”
“I only wanted to help the art
department,” Trixie gasped at what he said about her being the prettiest.
“I know, so did I at first,” Nick said
quietly. “I don’t guess I apologized properly for the rude behavior then.”
“No, you apologized for it; you don’t
have to apologize again. I was teasing actually,” Trixie answered.
“Oh!” Nick just looked over at her and
smiled, this night might actually go better then he expected.
“Ugh, there are those noisy Tyler twins
again,” Trixie said as he pulled into the parking lot of the exhibitions
building downtown.
“Ignore them, they think they are better
then anyone in a younger class.”
“Hey loser!” Toby said loudly as Nick
got out of the car. Toby and his brother enjoyed the richer side of life.
Their father was a newscaster for the local television station's six
o-clock news.
“The real loser is the guy standing here
tonight without a date,” Nick said before they had the chance to speak. He
rushed to Trixie’s side of the car as he spoke so he could open the door for
her.
Trixie didn’t say anything to any of
those gawking teenaged boys as they walked past them. She wasn’t going to let
any of them make her angry.
“I heard that you were going to be
neighbors soon,” Joey Vanderhoef interrupted as he stepped in behind them.
“We could be if that deal goes through
with Lytell,” Nick answered.
“Deal with Lytell?” Trixie pressed Nick
for more information.
“I am impressed, you did get a date.
Belden must be hard up now,” Toby said loudly.
Trixie turned around to face them.
“I am not hard up. I like
strong guys and good hard workers, they make me swoon,” She cleared her throat
and swooned in animation. She smiled a big dimpled grin and turned around
trying not to giggle.
She was tired of those guys picking on
Nick. He probably had no self confidence at all because of those guys
always picking on him, it disgusted her.
“Trixie,” Nick started laughing. “Thanks
for the help. They are speechless back there,” He ushered her along the
sidewalk and up to the entry of the Art Show Building.
“You are welcome. Friends should
encourage you, they shouldn’t call you a loser all the time, what is up with
that?”
“I really don’t have time to socialize.
It really isn’t that easy being the new guy in town either,” Nick answered.
Chapter 4
The group of people was gathering in the
entrance of the huge town exhibit hall that was temporarily rented for this
show. Trixie pointed at the long line already trailing down the concrete steps
of the entry. “It looks like a good turn out of people.”
“That is because this year’s theme is
about local people. Tthe art is made by local artists and created through the
use of Roberts Art Supplies. I am glad you came with me, you are going to love
this show.”
Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were at the front of
the line. Trixie waved at Mrs. Vanderpoel and then turned to see Mr. Lytell
standing behind them.
“Hello, Trixie, will your parents be
arriving soon?” Mr. Lytell asked her nicely.
“They said they might show up later. I
believe my mother was interested in the auction.”
“So am I,” Mr. Lytell answered. “I
understand that there are some local paintings on display from around here.”
“There are.” Nick smiled.
Soon, the halls of this magnificent
building were opened and the guests were welcomed inside. Nick’s father rented
the old brownstone opera house temporarily but he was considering purchasing
the building and making a permanent gallery. He would decide that possibility
after the show was complete.
“Oh, look at those,” Trixie gasped as she
saw one fancy sculpture after another.
“How do you make lace porcelain?” Trixie asked Nick as she looked at a couple very delicate figurines draped in
the most exquisite looking lace clothing.
“I believe you actually dip lace into
porcelain slip and wait until it is nearly set and then you gently fold it
around the porcelain figurine. Once it is fired, the slip becomes that
hardened lace. It is a very delicate procedure and requires a lot of patience
because it can break very easy.”
“What is slip and what is fired?” Trixie
asked.
“Slip is a type of liquid clay
that you can pour into plaster molds that create greenware. Once dried, you
prep it for firing by cleaning the rough edges with special tools and fine
sandpapers. Fired
simply means to place in a kiln oven and heat up the greenware until it
hardens,” Nick explained.
“I want to learn to do that.” Trixie
stepped away from the glass display. She stared as the color of the dress
seemed to change right before her eyes. “How does the dress change colors?”
“That is a small colored light just
inside the figurine that is set to rotate every two minutes, the porcelain is
luminous which means that light glows through it.”
“Oh, that is awesome.” Trixie looked back
at Nick with a big smile. “Nick, you must be an art genius.”
“Oh, I am not an art genius. I have just
worked in the porcelain shop. Artistic possibilities are only limited to one’s
own imagination.”
Featured in the next display was a group
of porcelain dolls each one a toddling toddler that was arranged in a playful
setting with various toys sitting around them to create the illusion of
children at play.
“Oh goodness, they are handmade by Tara,” Trixie gasped. “Who is Tara? I want to learn to make dolls like that they are
so cute. How do you craft something so beautiful? Does she need an assistant?
I could use a good after school job.”
“I thought you would like this section.
I am sure she could use an assistant that could help her out more then I have
the time to help out,” Nick laughed.
It did seem a bit odd for that tomboy
like those dolls, but then again they were a step above play toys these dolls
were clearly a work of art and worthy of appreciation.
“Oh, look at the tomboy dressed in the
blue jeans and holding the fishing pole and sitting on her river dock,” Trixie
giggled. “Now that looks like me. You could find me down at the lake trout
fishing in a cool evening.”
“You are right. That is because
you were the model,” a voice from behind her said.
“I was?” Trixie turned to see Nick’s
mother behind her.
“Yes, you were, I took some snapshots of
you down at the lake fishing a year ago. I am Tara, by the way. I am not sure
if you ever knew my first name.”
“Oh, I remember when you stopped by and
you asked for the pictures, but I had no idea it was for something like this.” Trixie
hugged her quickly. “I would like to buy that doll.”
“Just hold your horses. We have
surprises tonight. You might find something else that you like better,”
Nick's mother laughed.
Mrs. Roberts
directed them to the next display. It was so amazing that Trixie nearly
shrieked in excitement. There was an actual model of the gatehouse in the
middle of the room. It was like a huge dollhouse. A single shingle on
the top of the building said Clubhouse Bob-White. The dolls looked older in
this section; they stood nearly three feet tall. Each one had a distinctly
different pose on the display depicting how they would have been on a typical
day. They were so lifelike that Trixie just stared; it felt as if a portrait
had come to life in that display. Nick snapped a picture of her shocked look
as she looked at all the intricate details that made up this elaborate
recreation of the Bob-White clubhouse and its club members.
“You kids once did so much for our
family that we thought it would be nice to do something for you it is why we
featured your club in our display,” Tara said nicely.
“I am going to cry, everyone else should
have come to see this. I wish I would have brought my camera,” Trixie teared
up. “Something tells me that our club will never be a secret again.” She wiped
away happy tears as she spoke.
“This exhibit is on show all week. They
will have more opportunity to get to see everything, and your club hasn’t been
a secret for a long time.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Trixie looked
relieved that her friends would be able to see it as well.
“Nick Roberts!” Trixie gasped when she
saw a portrait of herself, his name was on the display card beside the
picture.
“The theme was local people and you were
the first person that came to mind.” Nick put his arm around her gently as he
spoke. “I have another painting of Crabapple Farm just around the corner.
This time it is done better than only with ink.”
“I wish I could paint as well as that,”
Trixie said.
“Those are for sale tonight at the
auction,” Nick explained.
“I’ll be bidding on some of it if I have
enough money. I am sure they will sell,” Trixie said confidently as she
mentally calculated how much money was in her savings fund.
“You don’t have to buy something just
tell me what you like and I’ll paint you something for free,” he whispered in
her ear.
“Oh, look, there is Mr. Lytell out by his
ancient old kerosene pump,” Trixie pointed at another painting that someone
drew. “Wow, he looks a whole lot younger then he does now. Hey, did you
have pumps like that?” Trixie nudged Mr. Lytell.
“At one time we did, I haven’t had those
pumps in use for nearly twenty years though. They are all in storage in my
barn out back. Who is that artist?”
“It says Helen Johnson,” Mr. Lytell said
as he took off his reading glasses and let them drop to his chest.
“What?” Trixie looked closer at the
painting and then turned to look at Nick. “I didn’t know my mother painted for
this show.”
“I didn’t either, that is part of the
local collections on display. It will be auctioned off tonight after the show
is over. It doesn’t necessarily mean a local artist. It means that the owner
is a local person.”
“Who owns it?”
“It is a part of the Ruberg Estate.
These paintings are done by unknown artists. Those paintings usually never
bring any money at the big shows.” Nick shrugged his shoulders.
“That is my mother’s signature,” Trixie
told Mr. Lytell a couple minutes later.
“Maybe she sold the painting, dear?”
Nicks mother suggested.
Trixie was granted special permission to
cross over the velvet rope to have a closer look at the beautiful painting.
Chapter 5
Trixie called her mother using her dad’s
cell phone.
“Dad, is Moms there?” Trixie asked.
“Yes, we are leaving now, why?” Peter
asked.
“Are you coming here?”
“Yes, your brother just got home and so
we are coming together as a family, why?”
“Um, did Moms sell a painting of Mr.
Lytell’s general store?” Trixie explained the intricate details of the
painting.
“What?” Peter gasped.
“Dad, there is this awesome painting up
here and the detail is so amazing it is unbelievable.”
“Did you check the signature?” Peter
asked.
“Yes, it is Moms' signature. I would
recognize it anywhere, it is distinctive.”
“We are on our way, just enjoy the
evening. I want a look at this painting myself.”
“Okay,” Trixie turned to look at Nick.
“I wasn’t supposed to find a mystery at this Art show.”
“Baby, when do you not find a mystery?”
Nick winked at her as he spoke.
“What the heck?” Trixie heard Diana
suddenly shriek loudly.
“There is Diana now,” Trixie
hurried back to Diana who was gasping at those dolls.
“Oh,” Diana gasped.
“It is cool, huh?” Trixie said as she
approached Diana.
“I love these dolls. I want to make
them,” she cooed. “That sign up there says Tara is going to teach doll making
classes.”
“I know, I thought the same thing when I
saw them,” Trixie giggled.
“We do have to keep the line flowing,”
Nick said as he motioned for them to follow him out of the crowd of people.
“We’ll meet in the end somewhere to
compare notes,” Diana said nicely.
“The auction is going to begin soon,”
Nick commented as he looked at his watch.
“Oh, I don’t see my mother yet,” Trixie
craned her stretched up to her tip toes and craned her neck to see if she
could catch a glimpse of her tall father in the crowd of people. She didn’t
see him.
“Don’t worry, we won't let it sell to
strangers,” Diana’s mother promised. The old painting interested her because
of its Rockwellian quality. Mrs. Lynch often collected paintings of that style
and this one would be a nice addition to her collection.
Trixie and Nick finally found a place to
sit next to Diana and her parents.
“Since the auctioneer expected them not
to sell for much, the unknown artists' paintings would sell first,” Nick
explained as he handed Trixie a small plate filled with complimentary cookies
and chocolates from the reception table. He took a cookie off the plate and
started munching on it.
Nick’s first painting began its low bid
at two thousand dollars. Trixie was going to bid on it because it was the
portrait of herself, but she didn’t have that kind of money.
“I don’t have that much in my savings.” Trixie put down the paddle and sat there.
“Will this be the next Mona Lisa?” The
auctioneer said loudly. “I personally think she is prettier, but I know next
to nothing about future works of art, so you do the judging.”
“Oh man, he didn’t actually compare my
painting to a portrait of that kind of quality?” Nick smiled, it felt good
seeing that man lifting his paddle as he bid. “That is Matthew Wheeler.” He
nudged Trixie and pointed behind him.
“Oh wow! That isn’t Matt Wheeler.
It is Regan--why would he spend that much money on a painting?” Trixie said
quickly.
“Apparently, he is bidding for the
caller on the cell phone,” Mr. Lynch laughed. “I bet I know who he is
bidding for. I won’t even bother to enter that bid.”
“You’ll never buy that cheaply, Daddy.”
Diana nudged Trixie and giggled.
Trixie just blushed.
“Nick, did you have to make that
portrait so seductive?”
“That is part of its charm. And it
is not seductive, I captured your alluring innocence,” Nick put his arm around
her and grinned. “It is that teasing grin you always have that I was trying to
capture on canvas.”
Trixie started to take a drink of the
soda that Diana handed her, but she spat it out and started choking. The
bidding wasn’t finished yet, the price increased to twelve thousand in an
instant.
“Nick, what are you going to do with
that much money?” Trixie whispered.
“College money would be cool. I just
figured they would bring ten or twenty bucks a piece. I could use money for
college I still don’t know if I’ll secure a decent enough scholarship yet.”
Nick started to laugh.
The auctioneer started to announce a
little bit about the artist.
“Local artist is a high school senior in
the Sleepyside Junior Senior High school. He is enrolled in the Art Institutes
of White Plains next semester. Mr. Nick Roberts is the son of local business
owner Nicolas Roberts Senior. Our aspiring young Nick promises to be very
successful. Those of you who wish to pick up some of his work now while you
still can at affordable prices will have opportunity to do so, for there are
several more pieces of his works up for bidding tonight. Let’s put this boy
through art school, shall we?”
“What did it sell for?” Trixie asked
Miss Trask.
“It went just shy of nineteen thousand
dollars,”
Trixie headed for Regan. “Who were you
bidding for?” she asked.
“I took a couple camera pictures for
Jim, and he showed them to Mr. Wheeler. I think the two of them were bidding
together or arguing over who got to actually be the one to buy it. I don’t
know at this point, they will work the argument out amongst themselves.”
Trixie noticed the man walking toward
them looking angry that he couldn’t buy that painting. He stopped and turned
to Regan.
“I’ll give you twenty grand to take that
painting off your hands.”
“I don’t think so,” Regan answered. “I
am just a broker at the moment, I don’t own the painting, my boss does.”
“Well, you tell him to get in touch with
me immediately. He isn’t going to like it much if he refuses to sell.”
“Nick could paint another one,” Trixie
said suddenly.
“I want the original,” He turned to look
at Trixie as he spoke then he grinned from ear to ear. “It looks exactly like
my old girlfriend,” he added. “So do you.”
Trixie stepped back quickly finding Nick
for support. Nick was about to tell the angry man to back off, but Regan beat
him to it.
“Hey, she is sixteen years old, buddy,”
Regan stepped in front of her protectively. He gave that man a stern look as
he squared his shoulders; he would defend this girl if he had to.
“Don’t be silly. I don’t want the model,
I want the painting,” The eccentric man turned and hurried out of the auction
building.
“Oh, he was scary,” Trixie gasped.
“Just ignore it,” Nick said nicely as he
gave her a hug. “You get all kinds of eccentric collectors at places like
these. There is normally always a personal reason why this stuff is bought,
too.”
“I know but..” Trixie shivered.
“Let’s go back into the auction house.”
Diana tugged on her arm.
Several other paintings were sold off
bring several hundred dollars a piece until all of Nick's paintings were sold.
Mr. Lynch even purchased two of them for his study.
Trixie nervously looked around trying to
see a glimpse of her parents in the crowd. The suspense was mounting. “Oh
Nick, where are they?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mr. Lynch
whispered.
This part [following] was edited by Kari many thanks for all
your assistance.
Chapter 6
“Let us
continue with the next lot up for bid,” was announced from the auctioneer.
“This painting next up is from the Ruberg estates. The artist is unknown at
this time. The name on the painting says Helen Johnson. It is a nice painting,
sort of reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell type style. We expect it to have some
good bids on it tonight,” the auctioneer added through his microphone to the
interested buyers. As he looked over the crowd of anxious buyers, he smiled
because he knew that many of the people present would be high spenders. This
was good news for the sellers.
“Who will start the bidding at one hundred dollars?”
Trixie breathed in deeply. At the moment, she was the only member of the
Belden family who was present and that meant she was the only one who could
get her mother’s picture back.
Trixie raised her paddle to bid, but four others already jumped on it.
“Oh,” She lowered her head in a gesture of disappointment and glanced at the
other bidders. She knew all the adults around her owned much more money than
she or even her parents had.
“Don’t give up,” Mr. Lynch whispered, and nodded encouragingly.
The bid quickly hit five hundred and Trixie slouched down in defeat, unable to
continue. “Dad would never let me spend more.”
Mr. Lynch, lifted his paddle to continue bidding, with a nod at the auctioneer
catching his eye, to show that he indeed wanted to bid now as the bidding
steadily went higher.
Trixie
watched that bidding rise, so amazed, she was shocked speechless with her
mouth open gasping. The whole bidding war seemed surrealistic.
“That thing is almost fifty thousand dollars,” Trixie whispered to Nick, in
disbelief a picture that her mother had drawn could reach such a high value.
Mr. Lynch still wasn’t finished bidding, but the man that was trying to buy
it finally backed off. Mr. Lynch was the buyer at 51 thousand dollars.
“You bought that?” Trixie gasped in amazement. A sense of relief flooded
through her as she realized her mother could still examine this painting since
she was a friend of the Lynches.
“I like Rockwell paintings.” Mrs. Lynch smiled. “This one isn’t the same old
stuff you always see. I’ll bet people will mistake it for a Rockwell. That is
a source of amusement for Mr. Lynch.” Mr. and Mrs. Lynch hurried together
after the painting being carried off the stage by assistants.
Trixie
sat back in her chair; dazed some, taking a moment to absorb all that happened
in the past few moments.
“Trixie, where was this painting?” Trixie turned in surprise. Her father had
finally found her. He slipped into Mrs. Lynch's vacated seat as he spoke. He
appeared anxious to discover where his wife's work was now.
“They just sold it at auction,” Trixie explained to him. Her father raised an
eyebrow as a concerned expression instantly replaced his shocked look.
“Who bought it? Helen is sure it is hers, she said that painting was stolen
from her even before she had the chance to exhibit it at an art fair, nearly
twenty-one years ago,” Peter said calmly.
“Mr. Lynch bought it; we had no idea it was stolen, let’s hurry before they
write out the check or something,” Trixie urged him excitedly.
“Calm down, just because it was stolen that doesn’t mean that the dealer that
owns it now stole it,” Nick said soberly. “He could have bought it from
someone else that stole it. What we need to do is locate the seller. We have a
form to fill out in the event of possible stolen property issues. We don’t
rush around accusing people, that would get us sued or something.”
“He is correct. This isn’t high school, where someone stole your school
report. Accusations have to be made with finesse. After your mother gets a
good look at what she thinks is hers, she needs to make a positive
identification first,” Peter explained.
“That makes sense,” Trixie answered as she watched her father excuse himself
and hurry off through the crowd of people. Trixie walked over to the table
where the refreshments were sitting for a drink of iced tea and a sugar
cookie. She and Nick made polite small talk about her mother’s artistic
abilities, as she nibbled on her sweet treat. While eagerly anticipating her
mother’s arrival so she could explain more about what happened.
It seemed like an hour before Helen showed up, walking behind Mr. Lynch.
“Well?” Trixie asked.
“It does match the photo of me standing by it while I was painting the details
into the little Lytell sign,” Helen held up the snapshot photo that she had.
“Oh my goodness,” Trixie’s eyes grew round with surprise, “You have proof.”
“I dug that out of my old photo album,” Helen explained.
“That
is what took us so long to get here; I had to locate the right album. Your
father took that picture of me.”
“She is right, I did,” her father laughed. “That shocked look on her face was
because she didn’t want anyone to see the picture until it was completed. I
showed up about ten minutes early for our date that night.”
Peter held up an old shirt that looked paint stained. “I believe that the
paints on this shirt also would match the paints on that painting if the
proper tests are completed,”
Helen smiled as she calmly put the painter's smock on and pulled the old
paintbrush out of the large pocket to look at her old brush with the fraying
bristles.
Nick Roberts took a snapshot of Helen standing there, testing the bristles of
her old brush. He had a big grin on his face. Trixie suspected instantly that
he had in idea for his own new creation. That picture would come in handy for
a future painting of his.
“You have to tell me what happened! How was it stolen?” Trixie cast an
inquisitive look in her mother’s direction.
“That is simple,” her mother began to remember this day twenty-one years ago.
“It was at the Art fair with a cover over it until the time of the show. But
when it came time to display it, a giant poster of Kermit the Frog sat in its
place. I was so upset, if I had that painting in the fair, I might have won
that scholarship that would have allowed me to finish art school. But without
it, I didn’t have the chance to win anything. I couldn’t complete my schooling
because I would have to get a job first and save up more money. By the time
the next semester passed, my priorities changed, I married your father. He was
struggling with college, too, and on his last year before graduation. It just
made more sense to pay his way on through college and mine could wait until
later. I was pregnant with Brian. Then, after he was born, I couldn’t trust a
babysitter to take care of my baby. Soon after Mart came, then Trixie, my life
was too full to think of college.”
“Maybe you could go back to art school now?” Mr. Roberts said nicely as he
walked up to listen in. “I am impressed with that painting. The Rockwell look
is a hard design to follow. I must admit, I suck at painting portraits, and
they call me a master duplicator.” He laughed.
Helen blushed with embarrassment due to his compliment.
“I spoke to Mr. Ruberg on the phone just a little bit ago,” Mr. Roberts
continued, “he told me that he would call you to discuss this issue of the
possible stolen painting. He said that it came from an estate that he bought
it from, nearly fifteen years ago. He is going to look up the old information
and he will send it your way as soon as possible,.”
“Okay, thank you, sir,” Helen acknowledged politely.
“I wondered if you might like to join an art club that my wife and I are
opening across town, it isn’t exactly college but I am licensed to teach art
now. So it will be an extracurricular study program that upon completion will
come with a diploma. You could teach a class once you get certified.”
"I'll
think about it. This sounds like a nice idea thanks for offering." Helen
smiled.
“Oh Moms, did you see those dolls out there,” Trixie asked her mother. “I
know, I never once in my life said that I wanted a doll before, but I changed
my mind I want one of
those.”
“No kidding?” Helen smiled at her tomboyish daughter.
“You should go have a look. They are quite a surprise,” Mrs. Lynch laughed. “I
just actually purchased one of them in particular that I will pick up after
the show. You might want to go purchase those other ones out there before
someone else does.”
“Well, Peter, let’s go have a look, shall we?” Helen asked her husband.
“Oh, how adorable,” Helen cooed as she got a good look at the quality of the
doll Trixie liked. “Are you planning to mass produce these?” She turned to
look at Nick’s mother curiously. She was standing next to her displays while
handing out business cards to interested guests.
“I am offering classes to teach people how to make them,” Mrs. Roberts
answered.
“You know, I think a mother daughter class sounds fun,” Trixie beseeched her
mom with a pleading little pout.
“You do?” Helen laughed at her comical daughter while she spontaneously hugged
her.
“Yes, I do. Maybe I have enough money to pay for our first class myself.” Trixie hugged her back.
“Mom, can we join the mother daughter class and make porcelain dolls like
those, too?” Diana asked her mother.
“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to make something that
pretty,” Mrs. Lynch answered.
“That is why we get a good teacher to show us how.” Diana smiled.
“I wish I had a daughter to take to a class like this,” Miss Trask teared up.
“Oh, you can take Honey; I’ll bet she goes design crazy for those dolls
clothes,” Trixie laughed.
“I’ll bet she does, too.” Miss Trask dried her eyes. “I’ll have to ask her to
join me soon.”
“Even if she can’t join with you, you can still join us.” Trixie gave her a
big hug.
“Yes.
you can, we love you Miss Trask.” Diana hugged her next.
“You
girls are so sweet.”
Chapter 7
“Would you like
to go someplace else?” Nick asked Trixie personally a few moments later.
“Yes, sure, I
don’t see anymore people our age out here now,” Trixie took his hand as she
spoke.
“Hey, I forgot
to ask what land deal did your parents make with Mr. Lytell?” Trixie asked
curiously.
“He is selling
his grazing pastures. Since he doesn’t own his horse anymore, he doesn’t need
the extra land.” Nick looked over at his pretty date with a happy smile.
“Oh, didn’t he
put up a sign?” she wondered.
“No, he didn’t
exactly want Mr. Wheeler to find out about it because he says he owns too much
of Glen Road as it is.” Nick smiled. “Dad and Mr. Lytell are planning to soon
be business partners. Mr. Lytell is looking into a substitute product to sell
other than just the groceries that appeals to the people nearby that don’t
want to waist a trip into the larger supermarkets in town. Dad actually has a
product -- his art. That will sell like hot cakes, and Mr. Lytell knows
it.”
They walked through the parking lot towards Nick’s car as they
spoke. The brisk air sent a shiver through Trixie.
Nick just took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders
kindly. Trixie returned his gesture of kindness with a sweet smile. Then she
took his hand, walking closer to him.
“Old Mr. Lytell
can be a cantankerous old goat when he wants to," she warned him, "I hope your
father is aware of that before he gets into to deep of a partnership with that
man.”
“Dad knows Mr.
Lytell’s temper very well,” Nick agreed.
“My father
might have bought that land," Trixie threw in. "It does border on our east
side of the property Dad got a couple of cows from the livestock auction last
spring. Mr. Wheeler lets us use a lot of his game preserve land on that side
of our property to graze them in, but Mr. Lytell’s pasture is fenced in
already and there are plenty of acres there for good farmland use.”
“Come on,” Nick
said as he noticed some more teenaged rowdy kids headed that direction. They
both got into the car, and he started it and hurried up the street before
those guys got close enough to be bothersome.
“Nick, do you
always have those guys picking on you?” Trixie asked.
“Yes, I am to
busy working all the time to devote my time to making real friends,” Nick
answered soberly as he looked through the rearview mirror Floyd Lester gave
him the up yours sign as he drove up the street.
“Well, maybe the
Bob-Whites can help you out with this a little?” Trixie asked, feeling the
urge to be helpful. She thought enough of Nick to feel it upsetting to see him
having problems with guys like that.
“Oh, that is
sweet, baby,” Nick laughed. “I’ll be okay. I work nearly round the clock all
the time anyway. I normally don’t have time to notice those guys behaving so
badly from school.”
Half
an hour later, Trixie and Nick met up with Dan Mangan and his latest
girlfriend at Wimpy’s. They were hanging out with Tad Webster and his
girlfriend. Dan quickly motioned them both to join them.
The guys
quickly made plans to hang out together down by the Hudson shore park.
“Where are we
going?” Trixie asked as she piled into the back of Tad’s station wagon,
practically sitting on Nick’s lap because it was so crowded inside the car.
“It’s not that
far.” Dan explained, “It is about halfway between here and Croton near the
aqueducts.”
“Okay, cool, but
I am not sure how long I was allowed to stay out tonight.” Trixie hoped Dan
would understand why she might not be allowed to take this trip out of town.
“Are you still
on a curfew?” Lisa laughed at her.
“Now don’t
tease,” Dan stuck up for Trixie instantly. “Her parents are some of the
greatest people alive, but they worry about her for good reason. She’s been
kidnapped before literally. Give them a call, Trixie, and let them know you
hooked up with me. That way they won’t worry,” Dan said seriously.
“They won’t
worry about Trixie when you are with her?” Lisa asked Dan as she nudged his
shoulder curiously.
“Danny is a big
white knight in shining armour for girls in distress and a trustworthy kind of
guy. Moms and Daddy love Danny,” Trixie leaned over and planted a kiss quickly
on the side of Dan’s cheek. Dan looked over at her and grinned, not resisting
the urge to wink at her.
“Turn off the
radio and everyone hush,” Trixie demanded. It didn’t take long for Trixie to
get permission, but her father spoke to Dan personally before he approved the
later curfew.
“Goodbye sir,”
Dan said at the end.
“He is calling
to touch base with your grandparents,” Dan said to Lisa.
“Oh, he’s one of
those dads that checks on every detail?” Lisa grimaced.
“Very much so,”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “My dad works with your grandfather. Dad is the
president of the, Bank, and Trust. He works upstairs in the brokerage
department. I believe your grandfather is the vice president. Isn't he in
charge of the loan department?”
“Yes, Grandpa
stepped down last year. After his heart attack he didn’t want a full time job
anymore, so he gave the hard stuff to your dad.”
“True,” Trixie
agreed, “all those quarterly audits would drive me into a heart attack, too.
My dad loves his new position, though - he thinks it gives him a nice
challenge.”
Chapter 8
Tad turned his stereo back up
and the kids ended up singing to the radio as they rode up the highway.
They were talking about
different events in each others lives as they joked and laughed with each
other. They were drinking soft drinks and munching on chips. Nick soon found
himself enjoying this ride enough to start feeling as if he was actually on a
real date. He relaxed enough to put his arm around Trixie and snuggle her
close up next to him comfortably.
Trixie didn’t really find a
reason to object. It felt nice visiting with friends without her chaperone
brothers in the car. She found herself enjoying Nick’s company during their
ride into the country.
Once they arrived at that
park nestled along the river the girls wanted to get out of the car and go for
a walk along the trail that led into the woods.
Trixie suddenly felt shy when
she watched Dan take off one direction with Lisa tugging on his arm as she
made him follow her. Claudia hooked Tad's arm with hers and tugged gently the
direction she wanted to take for personal privacy. Something seemed
a frightening about the thought of entering the woods. Trixie didn’t want to
go in the woods at all. She wasn’t ready for a quiet intimate walk and Nick
seemed to sense this.
“Well,” Nick said nervously
“A nice walk by the river sounds cool. You can still see the car from here and
there are plenty of other people in cars nearby," he said slowly as he looked
around at the cars parked in the lot that they drove into. He could still see
the fright in her eyes, and he remembered Dan mentioning that she had been
kidnapped before. Nick preferred showing her proper respect. He didn’t even
try to pressure her into going into the woods with him.
“Sure,” Trixie took his hand
as he offered it and they walked in a slow stroll down to the edge of the
water.
She tossed a flat rock across
the water and watched it skip across the water. She and Nick ended up playing
skipping rock contests with Trixie laughing when hers would skip more
times than his would. The game was fun because he wasn’t getting angry because
of her competitive behavior.
She could see Dan and his
date sitting on a large rock about a hundred yards away. For a split second
she wondered what it would be like if Dan liked her enough to ask her on a
date. She didn’t figure that would ever happen so she let the thought pass
quickly enough.
Dan and Lisa came back and
Dan started skipping stones along with them.
“Where did you disappear to?”
Trixie whispered to Lisa.
“Just up the way there to
talk. You are right he is a trustworthy type. He had his eyes on you every
since we got here. Have you dated him before?”
“Oh no, we have only just
been friends. I was his best friend’s girl for a little while,” Trixie said
sadly.
“What happened?” Lisa asked
as she grabbed her long blond hair whipping around in the wind to stop it from
getting tangled. Trixie pulled a hair tie out of her purse and handed it to
her. “I carry these for my friend Diana. She normally forgets hers because she
loves to let her hair dangle. It is brand new out of the package.” She showed
her the package.
“You’re a life saver.
Thanks.” Lisa quickly pulled her hair up into a ponytail and tied it with the
offered fashion accessory.
“So what about this best
friend of his?” Lisa asked.
“That is a long story. I’ll
explain the details later,” Trixie whispered back.
“Well, girl, I think Dan
isn't interested in me. I think he likes you.”
“You are mistaken. I am just
the tomboy grunge queen. No one has ever actually liked me before. I have just
been his friend for a long time. You are mistaken," Trixie, answered while
trying to laugh at the thought disbelieving that it might be true.
“But - Nick likes you,
doesn’t he?” Lisa frowned some in confusion not understanding why she would
feel like no one actually liked her before.
“Here comes Tad and Claudia,”
Nick interrupted their secret conversation as he pointed at them. Lisa was
correct. He did really like Trixie.
“Hi guys,” Tad said nicely.
“I suppose we should be getting back.”
“Yeah, please.” Trixie looked
at her watch and cringed at the late hour. She hoped her father wouldn’t be
angry with her once she returned.
The
ride back was a bit quieter. Trixie rode with her head resting on Nicks arm,
but for some reason Lisa’s comment made her feel a bit uncomfortable about the
situation. Dan’s brown eyes would catch hers every now and then with the look
of questions unsaid that needed answers. Dan was just too close of a friend
to, not tell her troubles to, but he was so busy with his classes at school.
He was about to graduate half a year earlier than the rest of his class. He
owed that accomplishment to Jim’s method of planning the scheduling well
enough to do that.
“That
was fun,” Nick said as they were finally in his car alone, driving back to the
farm.
“Yes, it was,”
Trixie agreed.
“I'd better let
you go,” Nick said nicely.
“Okay, see you
later.” Trixie smiled as he got out and opened her car door and walked with
her up to the door and then stood there nervously for a minute before he got
up the nerve to lean over for a kiss good night.
“I’ll see you
later, Nick..” She waved goodbye as she closed the door and entered the house
grinning. He actually kissed her.
This made her
feel excited.
“Boy,
that was a late trip,” Brian Belden, her eldest brother, said when Trixie came
inside.
She guessed that
Brian must have had the weekend
off work so he could come home for a visit.
“Weren’t you out with Dan
Mangan and his friends?” he asked curiously.
“Yes, but Nick had to get his
car at Wimpy’s. So we transferred over there so I could get home early,"
Trixie explained to him, "Dan’s date lives on the other side of town. He will
be an hour or more getting back home.”
“I see,” Brian frowned.
“What is your problem?”
Trixie wondered.
“Weren’t you seeing Jim?”
Brian asked.
“I was…. It could have fooled
me. He called me just some little girl - I couldn’t possibly have feelings
anyway right now for anyone because I am just some baby.”
“When did he say that?” Brian
looked astonished.
“I overheard him saying that
to Regan three weeks ago. I gave up. It is time to move on,” Trixie answered
firmly. “Do you honestly think I’ll allow someone to two time me?”
“I’ll bet you misunderstood
what he was actually talking about when he said that,” Brian said firmly back
to her.
“Whatever, I am tired. I am
going to bed," Trixie answered as she turned and headed for the steps.
As soon as she had
disappeared, Brian rushed to the guestroom door and stopped Jim from coming
out of there.
“Wait, she’s mad at you,”
Brian continued, as he grabbed his best friend’s arm and held him back.
“I know. I overheard,” Jim
said soberly. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, not the way she took it.
Well, I didn’t mean for her to overhear,” Jim tried to clarify his babbling.
“I’ll go speak to her.”
“Not at one in the morning
- you won’t!” Brian continued, holding him back. “Call Dan and ask him, I am
sure it wasn’t what you are thinking. That was just an evening out with a
friend.”
Jim’s face twisted with
emotion. “Oh man...”
“Well you should calm that
redheaded temper down a bit before speaking to her. You will just make matters
worse. Do you like my sister enough to care about this? If you actually do,
then I suggest that you handle this one with finesse before you walk in there,
shouting, and end up losing that chance forever.”
“You are probably right,” Jim
said. “I am going home.”
“No, you aren’t, you can stay
in my room tonight,” Brian wouldn’t let him leave so Jim followed him up the
stairs remorsefully.
Brian and Jim had a one thin
wall separation between Trixie’s bedroom and Brian’s.
“Tell me again why did I let
Mart take the bigger bedroom when I left for college?” Brian groaned. They
could hear Trixie’s soft tears from the other side of that wall.
“Just let me go over there.”
Jim wasn’t so angry now. What had her so upset? He really wanted to
know, his anger turned to concern for his friend.
“What happened tonight? Did
someone upset her?” Jim kept whispering, as he worried.
“From the looks of it, she
had a great night. She even has the mystery about that painting to solve,”
Brian whispered back. “Maybe girls her age do have feelings one way or another
already.” Brian nudged Jim hard enough to knock him off the bed.
“Ow, you goon, watch who you
are shoving…,” Jim sat up and slapped Brian. Jim and Brian were far beyond the
worry over what would happen if they had an actual fight, as far as Brian was
concerned. James Frayne could call him an adopted brother if he chose, because
that was how they treated each other - like brothers.
Trixie
sat up in her bed when something thumped loudly from the other room.
“Brian, are you okay, or did
you break your neck?” she asked as she heard those muffled voices.
“I am fine, sis, are
you okay?”
Brian asked back as he held Jim in a wrestlers pin with his hand over his
mouth keeping him from speaking. He was hoping Trixie would explain what had
her upset.
“Yes, I am fine," she
answered as she blew her nose on a tissue.
“Are you sure?” Brian asked.
“Some people call me a good listener, you know.”
“No, I’ll deal on my own,”
she sniffed.
“Go over there,” Jim motioned
for him to go once Brian let him loose enough to whisper.
Brian nodded and got up,
heading towards his sister's bedroom. After a short soft knock, he opened the
door and entered. He stood still for a moment and finally turned on the light,
standing in his pajamas, barefooted. His curly brown hair was standing on
end and his pajamas appeared disheveled due to his wrestling match with Jim
just a moment before. “What is really the matter? Did someone do something to
upset you tonight?” he asked in a whisper.
“Not really, I mean, it is
hard to explain.” Trixie sat up from where she was lying to look at her eldest
brother.
“Give it a try?”
Brian suggested soberly as he sat next to her on the edge of her bed.
“Why am I too young for
everything?" Trixie finally blurted, "Why do I have to always call home for
special permission to go anywhere or do anything?”
“Oh come on, you are growing
up fast,” Brian said soothingly.
“Not fast enough. Why
couldn’t I have been born as the oldest?” She held her slightly worn out teddy
bear tightly as she spoke.
“Because I wanted that spot,
and I beat you to it. Sorry, kiddo.” Brian grinned and gave her a big hug.
“What were, Dan and Lisa
doing when they took off into the woods at the park to be alone tonight, and
why did it take Tad and Claudia so long to come back?” Trixie asked.
“You could have followed.”
“No, I couldn’t, because Nick
said that I wouldn’t want to know what they planned next. At least he didn’t
want to know anyway. I could see Dan and Lisa the entire time. They didn’t do
anything but talk, so what did that even mean?”
Jim could hear the
conversation from Brian's room. He grinned from ear to ear as he
stifled his urge to laugh for all it was worth. She was still innocent. That
was not really, funny to him, it was just adorable. The exact type of girl he
really wanted for a girlfriend as well.
“I am quite sure they just
wanted a minute or two to talk things over about their next date. Guys usually
like to keep this secret, so no one really knows where they are taking their
girl so if they don’t want someone crashing the party. You see because
normally a guy takes a date out to be alone so they can talk things over to be
sure they have enough in common to want to stay dating that girl and stuff.”
“I have a feeling a lot of
people go up there to talk,” Trixie said. “There were loads of cars out there,
but hardly anyone got out of their cars. What a waste of a good river view in
the light of the full moon,”
“Yes, it was a very good
waste of the river view,” Brian laughed. “What did you and Nick do while you
were up there?”
“Oh, we walked down to the
beach, and skipped rocks over the water until Dan and Lisa came back to talk
to us for a while,” she explained with a nod.
“Nick didn’t try anything,
did he?” Brian asked slowly.
“Try what?” she asked. “No,
he is just the same old Nick. He’s a nice enough guy, he begged me to help him
out tonight because he had to find an escort for that art show, and his
friends were teasing him about his inability to get a girl. It annoyed me when
his friends started calling him a loser. I hate stuff like that. I told him I
would go, and the rest is history.”
“Okay,” Brian just grinned
from ear to ear. “Do you feel better now?”
“I suppose so. Sorry for
keeping you awake,” she apologized.
“Just try to get some sleep.
Dawn is arriving quickly and you have a mystery to solve.”
“You mean about Moms'
painting?”
“Yes,” Brian nodded briefly.
“I am not sure how much of
that mystery is still left to solve? We might never know who stole the
painting.”
“True, but I’ll bet you have
fun trying to figure it out,” Brian smiled as he reached out and pinched her
cheek playfully. “Don’t worry about growing up so fast. Just relax and have
fun the age you are right now. Mother was excited because you are so
enthusiastic about having that project to work on with you. She already signed
the two of you up for porcelain doll creating lessons.”
“I can’t wait for that
myself!” Trixie smiled.
“See, there I just saw your
dimples,” Brian laughed. “See you tomorrow, little sis,” he said as he gave
her a fast hug and hurried out of the room.
Trixie
got up early the next morning and headed out to feed the chickens and gather
the eggs if there were any. After her chores were complete she thought to
herself, I am going to the clubhouse to use the computer to do some research
on the Ruberg’s and their art collection history. Maybe it is listed online
somewhere.
She logged on to
any information she could hack into about the Rubergs. Within a few minutes
she knew where Raymond Ruberg and his wife Cynthia were born and raised and
where they went to college and how many children they had.
Where is art
work? she thought impatiently.
She kept
looking at the website, hoping to find hidden files someplace to link onto.
Finally she gasped when a log opened that said for a title “personal
journal”. I would have passworded that file.
Wow, what is all
this?
Trixie took a look at those random numbers and letters and strange looking
symbols and clicked on the save to Microsoft word file at the top of the tool
bar, and quickly closed out of that website and hurried to that file in her
documents. She knew this was an invasion of Mr. Ruberg's privacy, but those
symbols made her curious. If it turned out to be nothing, then she would
delete it.
“Now, let’s see
what I located in there,” she said out loud.
The sound of
someone’s footsteps on the new deck outside the door distracted her.
“There you are.
I wondered if you were up this early.” Honey Wheeler rushed into the
clubhouse.
“What is up?”
Trixie asked her.
“Oh, we just
got back. We didn’t go to see Jim because he left a message saying that he was
coming home this weekend. I got Diana’s message about the art show on my
machine last night. What happened?”
“I have a brand
new mystery!” Trixie’s blue eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement as she
quickly explained all the details.
“What is this
about, porcelain dolls?” Honey asked after the long explanation was complete.
“You have to
come with me to see that display. They are adorable,” Trixie said quickly.
“Hey, Nick has
boasting rights, he made over twenty three thousand dollars in less than an
hour,” Honey giggled.
“I’ll bet it
took him more than an hour to paint those paintings,” Trixie flashed a big
dimpled grin.
“True, but I am
talking about selling something, not making it,” Honey argued. “My dad bought
that painting but he and Jim are still arguing over who gets to actually own
it,”
“Why is your
dad arguing over that painting?” Trixie’s sky blue eyes went so round you
could see the whites all around them.
“Um, I think it
is to see Jim get frustrated. Daddy’s a big tease really. It’s a riot between
him and Jim. Dad said that Jim’s father was exactly like that. It was partly
why he was such a good friend. Jim is just like his father, so Dad teases him
the same way. It is harmless. Daddy wanted to help Nick to go to college and
buy Jim a present at the same time.”
“I was going to
say doesn’t your mother hate that?”
“No, Mom just
laughs; she knows it was about unofficial scholarships for Nick and a gift for
Jim too,” Honey giggled at Trixie's shocked expression.
“Dad said that
other bidder was pretty creepy according to Regan. What did you make of that?”
Honey wondered curiously.
“He is creepy
and mysterious, and I doubt we have seen the last of him,” Trixie said.
“We are picking
up that painting with an armoured guard this afternoon, do you want to come?”
“It depends. I
have that doctor appointment. I hope that idiot dentist doesn’t say that I
have a cavity. Maybe I can meet you there?”
“That would be
cool. Meet me up there around five, okay?”
Trixie nodded
okay.
“I will be
finished with my appointment by then for sure.”
More footsteps
thumped across the deck as Mart hurried to the front door.
“There you are!
Moms got worried enough to send me on a search for you.”
“What is the
matter?” Trixie asked.
“She said that
Mr. Ruberg called a little bit ago about that painting - oh just come on, she
wants to tell you about it,” Mart said firmly.
“Okay.” Trixie
turned off the monitor of the computer and hurried for the front door on
Honey’s heels.
Chapter
9
“Moms?” Trixie rushed into the kitchen
anxious to discover what was wrong.
“There you are! Where were you?
It's early; you scared me.” Helen was upset.
“I was at the clubhouse using the
computer, what happened?” She stared at the intense worry lines creasing her
mother’s pretty forehead.
“He was just dreadful.” Helen, poured out
her heart as tears flowed down her cheeks. “He said there was no way I painted
that painting and just because that was my maiden name didn’t give me the right to
claim that picture.”
“What?” Trixie gasped as her eyes caught
sight of Jim sitting at the kitchen table, she wondered instantly when did he
get there. She realized that he probably stayed the night with Brian-- she did
hear muffled voices coming from that room the night before. Anger surged
through her; did that insensitive jerk know she cried the night before? She
didn’t want him to know about that because it would be embarrassing.
“He called me a gold digger looking to
get rich, quickly.” Helen teared up.
“You are not a gold digger! You did paint
that painting.” Trixie hugged her upset mother instantly.
“I am not looking to get rich. I was just
trying to establish that I painted that painting.”
“Well, I am going to march right up to
his front door and give him a piece of my mind,” Trixie said high spiritedly.
“Calm down.” Jim grabbed her arm to stop
her from leaving that instant. He gently tugged her away from the kitchen
exit. “It just means that we will be forced to deal with this in court. He
will have to disclose where he purchased the painting once the judge orders
it. I was just on the phone talking to Mr. Lynch. He is satisfied enough with
Mrs. Belden’s evidence to represent Helen free of charge. That means that the
smock that she wore and those old paintbrushes of hers and that photo that
your dad snapped of her will be taken for evidence. Tests can be run proving
that she painted that painting. We really aren’t worried about this because
Helen knows what she painted they will match that paint with the painting, but
your mother didn’t need an upset like this.”
“Oh, I’ll prove who stole that painting,” Trixie said through determination.
“We plan to help you,” Jim offered his
assistance.
“Are you going to be okay, Mom?” Trixie
gave her mother a big hug. She never saw her upset enough to cry before.
Moms was always the picture of happiness so loving and nurturing. Trixie
always felt that she had the best mother in the entire world. Moms was not
just her mother, she was her friend, supportive and loving unconditionally.
“I don’t have to be a gold digger. I have
all I’ll ever need right here at home. I have my loving kids, my husband, my
garden and my garden club. I don’t worry about bills because Peter handles
them. This is the most comfortable place on earth as far as I am concerned.”
“Oh Moms, I know you still wonder what if
that painting hadn’t been stolen,” Mart said sympathetically.
“Maybe so, but what if I would have had
that painting, what if it would have won. Would I have married your father and
had my precious babies? I am glad someone took it. If I could go back in time
I wouldn’t change a thing.” She teared up more.
“Oh Moms…” Trixie teared up too. She
understood how upsetting that would have been for her mother.
“I love you, Moms,” Mart grabbed his
mother up for a bear hug.
“We love you, too, Mrs. Belden,” Honey
dried her eyes as she spoke. Even Jim wiped a tear that tried to roll down his
cheek. He wished his mother was still alive. During moments like these it
really made him miss her. Mrs. Belden was so much like his dearly departed
mother.
“I sometimes feel like you’re my kids,
too.” Helen gave both Honey and Jim a big hug.
“See there, I have everything in the
world. I am richer then my wildest dreams.” Helen grinned from ear to ear.
“We all are, Mommy,” Trixie giggled.
“Oh goodness I have shopping to do in
town.” Helen looked at the time. “I have to run by the grocery store. Your
father invited the Witherspoons and their granddaughter over for dinner
tonight. I must go shopping.” She thought a moment before she turned to Trixie
to say, “Trixie, you have that doctor appointment. You can come along with me
now, just in case I run out of time. Bobby is visiting the Lynch boys today so
I don’t have to worry over him, thank goodness.”
“Oh Moms, did you know that we might be
getting a new neighbor?” Trixie asked spontaneously changing the subject.
Trixie really didn’t want her mother to remember that dentist appointment.
Perhaps a new topic would help her forget about it?
“No way when did this happen?” Jim gasped
as he looked over at Trixie curiously.
“Maybe I am not supposed to talk about it
yet,” Trixie cringed when she remembered that Nick said they wanted to
finalize the deal before announcing it. “I think it is a hushed deal, done by
private owners. They don’t wish to he harassed over just yet.”
“Harassed?” Jim looked shocked.
“Maybe not harassed... that word might be
too harsh. I mean picked on for not offering to sell it to him, but this
elusive land owner actually is only willing to sell it his family,”
“In other words my dad would want this
real estate?” Jim’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he smiled.
Trixie just grinned. “Mom and Dad would
even want this real estate,” Trixie let out a tiny hint with a giggle.
“Mr. Lytell is selling the east pasture?”
Helen interrupted in astonishment.
“What?” Mart gasped. “No way! Dad does
want the east pasture.”
“No kidding?” Jim raised one eyebrow with
interest.
“I didn’t say.” Trixie looked shocked.
“You didn’t have too you couldn’t lie if
your life depended on it,” Jim laughed.
“So.” She made eye contact with his
emerald green eyes and an angry look crossed her face. “I’ll bet you could,”
she said simply.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Jim hated
that, no one could ever call him a liar it would provoke his anger in an
instant.
“Yep, I thought so.” Trixie turned and
left the house without another word.
“What is up with that?” Mart looked
bewildered as he stared at Jim. Trixie it was rare to see the two of them
squabble.
“I would kick the two timing skank to the
curb myself,” Honey said soberly as she followed Trixie. Her loyalty would lie
with her best friend on this subject.
“Two timing what,” Jim followed Honey. “I
am not the one that had the date with someone else last night. Who is calling
who a two timer? I didn’t even bring that subject up.”
“Kiss this, James Frayne,” Trixie turned
to glare at him high spiritedly as she climbed into her mother’s car and
slammed the front door and locked it. Sitting in the passenger side with her
arms crossed an angry stubborn look crossed her face.
“Jim, think twice. You were doing it
first,” Honey shouted.
“Oh man, I can explain,” Jim thought
better of being angry over it now. He just knocked on the window. “Come on, it
wasn’t like that, I am sorry.”
“I’ll help you choose, which girl you
would rather be with. Go back to college, you pig,” Trixie said loudly as she
burst into tears.
The sincere look on Jim’s face stirred a
compassionate feeling in Helen’s heart as she stared at James still trying to
decide how angry she should be at him.
“Now isn’t the time, I know her temper
trust me. Get some flowers and try back later, maybe this evening or
something,” Helen said to Jim.
“But I need to explain,” Jim said as his
green eyes brimmed with tears.
“Explain tonight over dinner.” Honey
grabbed his arm and pulled him her direction. “She is not a baby, James Frayne Wheeler,”
Honey said soberly. “You had her so upset she has been beside herself
practically for the last two weeks. She doesn’t deserve that kind of
treatment. If you want to move on then leave her alone.”
“She’s a Bobwhite,” Mart interrupted. “It
is against the sacred vows of the brotherhood to hurt another Bobwhite, we are
to remain friends. What pray tell, is this? Our presidents are fighting? That
is simply unacceptable.”
“I get the point okay. She isn’t too
young to have feelings that strong,” Jim answered. “How was I supposed to know
that for positive without seeing that reaction for myself?” he asked Mart. “I
am sorry, I’ll fix it, don’t you think for one minute that I won’t fix that. I
know it is unacceptable.” He turned and sulked off walking towards the
clubhouse.
“I know the fact that he is an orphan has
him traumatized, and that we adopted him unofficially as family, Honey,” Mart
appealed to her sense of reason, “but she’s my sister, blood is thicker than
cheating boyfriends. I have to be on her side. I have heard her crying at night
over this more then once. He should have never led her on like this. I don’t
want to break up the club. We need to figure away to get them back together
diplomatically.”
“I know, why do you think I was on her
side?” Honey nodded. “We’ll fix this. I agree with you, Mart. I hope we don’t
have to deal with stubborn bullheaded pride before it is over. Let’s you and I
just commit to being the glue that holds this club together right now.” She
held out her hand and waited for him to grab it and pull her close to his
chest as they made their club pact together.
“Okay, I’ll deal with my sister, you deal
with, Jim,” Mart agreed.
Chapter 10
“Oh Moms!” Trixie burst into tears.
“You should try to calm down now, dear,”
Helen said nicely. Her eyes were on the highway as she drove towards town but
her right hand was on her daughter’s left hand giving her a comforting
squeeze. “I know he upset you, sweetheart, but there comes a time in everyone’s
life when they sit at a crossroads trying to decide which path is the right
one. I am sure he misses you. He probably even dismissed the idea of finding a
girlfriend in college the day you overheard that conversation.
“Regan gives good advice. I am sure that
Regan explained that you are old enough to care about him like that. Do you
think that young man would buy that painting of you, if his mind was on a girl
in college?”
Trixie turned to look at her mother as
she thought about what she said. Then she slowly answered. “That would be an
odd thing to spend your money on. Your other girl might get jealous.”
“I agree.” Helen smiled at her as she
took her eyes off the heavy traffic during the wait on a stop light. “Now give
him enough space to make his own choices and love him enough to set him free
without angry shouting matches. If he is the guy for you, he will come back to
you if you set him free to make his own choices. If he doesn’t then you are
better off without him, do you understand me?”
“I think so. Should I call him?” Trixie
teared up again. “Mom, why does my stomach hurt so badly?”
“I think we can do that later. A call
this soon wouldn’t give you a position in this issue to work with at all. He
would gain the upper hand. You will be okay.”
“Still I have to say something. I can’t
lose him oh it hurts,” Trixie groaned. “I’ll just text message him,”
“That is heartbreak, it sucks,” Helen
sympathized.
Trixie took her mother's phone out of her
purse and quickly left a simple message.
Jim, For-Your-Information: it matters! Trixie!
Then she clicked send.
“See there do you feel better now?” Helen
asked.
“I think so,” Trixie smiled.
Jim went into the clubhouse, so upset,
that he paced the floor until the screen saver on the computer caught his
attention. He sat down at the desk and moved the computer's mouse. A screen
appeared that was odd enough for him to stop and stare at it.
What was she into? Oh I never should
have taught her the art of computer hacking, Jim thought to himself, but
he kept looking at this file a couple pages worth of those letters and random
symbols. It appeared as if someone hit silly symbols or Greek symbols on their
font and started typing.
This was puzzling, he was about to click
on edit select all then click on New Times Roman to see what those symbols
would transform into, but his buzzing phone distracted him.
He turned it on to see the text message
icon flashing so he clicked onto it and gasped when he read those simple words
FYI: it matters!
His stomach churned instantly. What
does it mean what matters? He had to know so he clicked off the computer
and searched for the last phone number on his phone and he dialed it back.
He groaned when the operator said this
party’s phone didn’t have an active signal and to try again later. So, he did the
only other thing that he could possibly think of-- he text messaged her back.
Trixie, FYI: I love you, we need to
talk. Meet me at the art show around 4 pm if you can please.
Helen’s phone buzzed a little
ding dong
sound.
Trixie grabbed the phone and clicked it
on.
“Well?” Helen asked when she saw her
daughter's eyes light up and that big grin flash on her face.
“It is nothing,” Trixie said as she
blushed badly.
“What do you mean, it is nothing?” Helen
grabbed the phone back from her. She just stopped at a stoplight and had to
wait a minute, anyway.
“Mother,” Trixie didn’t want her to have
it until she deleted the message, but her mother skillfully retrieved it. She
was a seasoned mom, and used to handling her kids. She had that phone in her
hand effortlessly.
“FYI: I love you?” Helen spoke in a
teasing voice.
“Don’t tease,” Trixie blushed.
“I didn’t intend to tease. James Frayne
Wheeler is a decent young man, I like him,” Helen said nicely. “He’s a bit spendthrifty. You might watch that a bit though. A spendthrifty man would be
a risky choice for your future life as an adult.”
“I know, but it was his dad that bought
that painting,” Trixie explained. “He wanted to assist Nick through college.
Jim wanted that painting in particular according to Honey. It was a gift for
Jim and a donation to Nick’s college funds. Jim normally isn’t spendthrifty
at all.”
“Oh that makes more sense then.” Helen
smiled. It was time to tell her daughter a little something about what she
observed with Jim lately. She took a deep breath and dove into the point she
wanted to make.
“What happens in our family really
matters to Jim. When I was upset earlier, it made him tear up as badly as it
did you. He doesn’t take fights with you too well either.” Helen was calm and
to the point. “Remember when you first met and he that night where you
found him down by the lake grieving over his parents, and how you promised him
that you would never leave him alone to deal with this cruel world by himself?”
“Yes, why?” Trixie turned her troubled
blue eyes toward her mother in the driver’s seat of the family car.
“Sweetheart, even if it doesn’t work out
with the two of you personally, please remember your best friend will always
need you like an adopted sister, if nothing else.”
“Oh Mom,” Trixie started to cry again. “I
am sorry, I guess I just wanted to be so much more than adopted sister.”
“I know you do, but you are still so
young, dear. Thoughts like those are better off reserved until you are older.
You are growing up so quickly. Sixteen and a half already you only need
another year and a half to be eighteen and a legal adult. I am sure Jim will
wait a year and a half dear.”
She grabbed the phone back and started to
dial the number.
“Text message a note, don’t make yourself sound needy,” Helen warned.
“But Mother,” Trixie whined.
“Trust me, dear, I know a little bit more
about the relationship business. I have been around longer,” Helen laughed.
“Stick with me I’ll show you the ropes.”
“Thanks,” Trixie smiled. Her
mother’s rules were old-fashioned by today’s standards but something deep within told her
that the man she wanted was an old- fashioned type. Her mother likely
did know best in this case.
I have Dr Appt. will try for Art Show,
not sure if can make it, Trixie text messaged back.
“Very good.” Helen grinned from ear to
ear. “Now if you don’t make it you had an excuse.”
The rest of the day would be hectic.
First, they stopped at the bank. Helen wanted to tell Peter what happened and
get some money for that dinner she had to prepare.
Trixie checked the phone when she got
back into the car and smiled there was another text from Jim.
Are
you sick? Don’t be sick! What is wrong?
“Oh, he’s worried.” Trixie smiled.
It’s a dentist appt. Mom wont let me out
of it. I am not sick, Trixie messaged back.
The phone rang at that second.
“Hello?” Trixie said into the phone.
“Is this Helen Belden?”
“What can I do for you?” Trixie said
politely.
“You gold-digging thief, you didn’t paint
that painting, you are a loser, a nobody housewife. I’ll ruin you if you don’t
back off now.” The line went dead.
“Oh.” Trixie hurried and clicked record
save. Then she called the police.
“What is going on, Trixie?” Helen asked.
“I am reporting this threatening
message,” Trixie said soberly. “Hello Sergeant Molinson, please,” She waited a
minute for the sergeant to answer.
“Hi Sarge, this is Trixie. I have an
issue developing with my mother. She filed a claim on a stolen painting last
night.” She elaborated, “The one that was stolen from her twenty- one years
ago. Mother just got a threatening phone call that I recorded and saved. She
has one of these new phones with that capability.”
“Okay.” Sergeant Molinson grabbed an ink
pin from his desk as he rolled over to it while sitting in an office chair on
wheels. He began the report.
“I can play it back for you if you want
to hear it,” Trixie suggested.
“Okay, bring in the phone. We can log the
phone call as evidence once we determine which phone it was sent from.”
“We are two blocks from the police
station. ETA 5 minutes,” Trixie answered.
“Threatening what?” Helen started to cry.
“Mother, get a grip. We don’t get
intimidated, we fight back,” Trixie assured her.
“I don’t know if I have the strength for
this, maybe I’ll drop the charges,” Helen cried.
“No, you won’t. You would be the laughingstock of town,” Trixie
said. “Besides you know that is your painting. This
is like someone telling you that child couldn’t possibly be yours when you
know it is and all you have to do is wait for the DNA testing to prove it.
Mothe,r we are waiting for the DNA testing to prove it.”
“I can paint another painting, dear.
It isn’t like a child that you can absolutely never replace. I haven’t given
that painting another thought in years. It is just paint and canvas. Thirty
dollars worth of canvas and oil paints.”
“So what? I am still not letting you walk
away passively. You are going to get that painting back. I don’t care what you
do with it after that. Sell it to Mr. Lynch, donate it to the museum. Put it in
the living room next to the other painting of yours. Just don’t go through
life afraid to stand up for what is yours.”
“Oh, I suppose I taught you that.” Helen
nodded; she was proud of her daughter and her spirited attitude.
The phone rang again so Trixie answered
it a second time. The same man was on the phone. This time he threatened her
children. A minute later he called again.
The sergeant listened to the calls
carefully. “I heard threats, and that is a
crime in this county. Once we find out who is the owner of that phone number,
we will deal with it. However it could take a bit of time discovering who the
person actually is making the calls, because it isn’t always the owner of the
phone that made the call. If it continues, I want you to save the calls. We
want a record of what is going on. Most callers don’t use the same phone. They
borrow a friend’s phone because it is harder to trace. I assure you that I can
make it stop today, but if it does continue, let me know.”
“Was that call made by Stanley Ruberg?”
Trixie asked.
“No,” the sergeant answered as he got off
the phone. “This account belongs to Joel Wilson, Do either of you know a Joel
Wilson?”
“I don’t think I know a Joel Wilson,”
Trixie said soberly.
“The name sounds familiar, but I can’t
remember anyone in this area by that name,” Helen said.
“This party lives in Atlanta, Georgia. His
account is billed to an address in Atlanta,” he added as he looked
away from his computer over at Trixie and her mother.
“Gleeps, that is a long way from here,
isn’t it?” Trixie remembered the distance to Georgia from that location when
her family took a vacation trip to Disney in Florida one year.
“This person might have gone to the
airport acting as if he lost his phone and bummed a phone off a tourist. It
only takes a minute to say some really cruel things and then hang up, you.”
“Oh brother,” Trixie groaned.
“Mr. Ruberg did call me personally this
morning to give me a very bad tongue lashing about lying about painting that
painting.” Helen explained the details.
“You did paint it?” Molinson asked.
“I am positive that is my painting,”
Helen answered. “I didn’t want to accuse the current owner. I don’t understand
why he is so angry.”
“It probably disrupted his plans. It is
also reputation damaging to be the owner of something stolen.”
“True, but that could happen to any of
us,” Trixie said. “I love to buy things at swap meets. There's no
guarantee that they weren’t stolen. That is the risk I take for buying
something used.”
“True,” Molinson answered. “I think if
you explained to Mr. Ruberg that you had no intention of accusing him maybe
he would accept your explanation. Keep me informed. I helped escort that
painting to the museum; that was one fine painting. Mrs. Belden, you should
take up painting again.”
“Thank you. I have been busy lately, but
maybe priorities will change soon. My kids are older now and I do find I have time on my
hands.”
“Well, count me in for buying something
once you start painting again.” He winked her way good-naturedly.
Shopping would take all day. Helen was
stopped by everyone she knew because her friends wanted to hear her side. Her
news spread like wildfire in town.
Helen hurried the groceries home. “I need to get dinner started. Why couldn’t your father have chosen a
quieter day for a dinner party?” Helen groaned. “It’s been a long day.”
“I can cancel the dentist appointment,” Trixie
said hopefully.
“No, you can’t. You don’t need cavities,”
her mother said sternly.
“I'm fine, Moms. Maybe I could get a ride
from someone. Let me call around,” Trixie said. “I could return to help
with the dinner.”
“No, I made up my mind. I am ordering
catered food tonight from the gourmet house. I’ll take you myself,” Helen
answered. “You are going to this appointment.” Helen was a seasoned enough
parent to know the tricks kids used too avoid the dentist. She wasn’t going to
allow that with her daughter.
“Catered food?” Trixie looked shocked.
That was not a usual choice of her mother's. She hated ordering take out food.
“Yes.” Helen grabbed the phone and called
the local catering company then she ordered everything she wanted to serve.
“I’ll pay extra for the dish rental. Don’t deliver it in paper trays.”
“Wow.” Trixie looked shocked.
“Don’t tell your father,” Helen said.
“Oh, who cares what he thinks,” Trixie
giggled.
Chapter 11
The dental exam seemed like it would take
forever. She had only one small cavity to be fixed. An appointment was made to
take care of it later.
“You can leave me at the art show. I’ll
be fine. You hurry home for that party,” Trixie said as they left the dentist
office.
“Okay, but if you need anything call me,”
Helen warned.
“See you later!” Trixie hurried off
toward the expo center.
“Hi Trixie,” Nick said instantly when
he noticed her walking through the parking lot. She crossed through the back
lot where the trucks were removing things because it was the closest route to
the center from the doctor’s office.
“Hi, are you hard at work already?” she
asked politely as she stopped. The operation seemed extensive.
“It seems like it,” Nick wiped the sweat
off his brow as he spoke. “We have the shipment of more auction items for
after tonight’s show to deal with now. Then we have some of the buyers coming
in after this to pick up their items from the security area. How are you
doing?”
“Not too badly.” Trixie flashed a bright
smile.
“Nick, give us a hand,” his father
shouted.
“I am coming! Sorry, sweetheart, we’ll talk
later,” Nick said in a whispering voice then he gave her a flirting wink
before he hurried to assist the struggling men loading a crated box onto a
van.
Trixie stood there a moment watching how
strong Nick looked picking up that crate those bulging muscles were. Dare she
think he was attractive?
“Oh boy.” She smiled a she realized
that she might have a choice of boyfriends. She turned away from that thought
shaking it off as too foreign for consideration. That didn’t interest her.
She
turned toward the front door.
There were a few men milling around in
the front. One of them opened the door and entered so Trixie thought the
door was unlocked. I’ll just wait inside where it is warmer.
She entered cautiously, and discovered
that the next set of doors was locked. She couldn’t get in to see the exhibits
but she heard the man speaking to the woman at the ticket counter.
“Just goes to show you how bad those gold-digging tramps can behave once they see something interesting. I’ll bet she’s
never held a paintbrush for more than painting the walls of her kitchen.”
Trixie felt a surge of anger flood
through her as she walked directly to the counter with an angry expression on
her face.
“Are you Mr. Ruberg?” Trixie asked the
man there bluntly.
“Yes, I am, who are you? How do you know my
name?”
“I think I know who you are talking
about,” Trixie said coldly.
“What are you talking about?” he asked as
he put on his glasses so he could get a better look at her.
“My name is Trixie Belden,” she
introduced herself as she sized up his appearance in one fast scan. He was very
tall, and oddly thin with a shining baldhead and a long nose. His blue suit
seemed large on him. Those glasses of his magnified his eyes tenfold.
Trixie explained the details about why her mother filed that claim, and why
she wanted to figure out who stole that painting once and for all. Then she
explained that her mother wasn’t a gold digger. She was a happy homemaker and
wife of a respected local banker.
“Could she have really painted that?” he
asked.
“Yes, sir,” Trixie nodded, and then she
explained that her mother really was only interested in who stole the
painting, since she could repaint a new one even better then the old any time
she pleased.
“I had no idea,” he gasped. “When I
looked up her name, it showed that she hasn’t even had a job in 18 years.”
“Being a homemaker and a social leader is
a job, it just doesn’t pay anything. Have you ever had a thief steal something
from you that you labored over for weeks?”
“Yes, I have had that happen before,” he
softened nearly instantly.
“Then I ask you please stop being so
angry and try to remember where you found that painting, please.”
“It was in
Atlanta. I
bought it from a gallery there. I can’t remember the name exactly but I can
look it up when I get home.”
“Sir, did you call us leaving threatening
messages on her cell phone?” Trixie asked as she suddenly felt a presence
behind her. She turned to notice that Jim had just entered along with his
father.
“Of
course not, why would I do that?”
“You didn’t?” Trixie blinked.
“No, I am not that stupid. My
lawyer will be handling this issue. Why? Did someone threaten you?”
She explained.
“I suppose that would be a way to keep
one's self from getting caught, but I assure you I am smart enough to never do
something like that. I am a family man myself. Truthfully, I didn’t expect
that painting to sell for more then a few hundred dollars. It is not going to
affect me if I don’t earn that pay.” He changed his attitude
especially when he noticed Mr. Wheeler standing behind the young girl.
“No, one would want to mess with any of
those Belden kids,” Matt Wheeler laughed. “With as many self defense classes
they had in the past three years, ouch.” He smiled. “Plus, I would defend that
one just like she was my own daughter. “Trixie is a good
girl--she’s going places in her future as well.”
Trixie grabbed a quick hug
from Mr. Wheeler.
Matthew laughed as he hugged her tightly.
“We want to get a look at this painting that we bought sight unseen last
night.”
“Oh brother,” Trixie giggled.
“Mr. Wheeler, you wasted your money.”
“I don’t think so, Nick Roberts has
potential. It’s a great investment. I am expecting to see
great things out of Nicholas. Supporting him is money in the bank. My
grandfather-in-law once supported Picasso when he was an unknown. His investments really paid off.”
“All a starving artist really needs is a
wealthy investor to make his career,” the lady at the ticket counter pointed
out. “You can go back, sir.” She buzzed the door to allow him through the
security hall.
“Come with us,” Jim grabbed Trixie's hand
and tugged so she would follow him.
Chapter 12
“I am sorry about this morning,” Jim said
simply as they walked down the hall toward the heavily secured room in the
back of the building where all the auctioned items were being stored for pick
up.
“This isn’t fair, James. You need to make
up your mind,” Trixie whispered loudly.
“I already made my choice,” Jim answered.
“Maybe I am standing at my own
crossroads, James Frayne Wheeler.” Her mother’s advice ran through her mind as
she fought the urge to tear up. (Stand your ground; don’t let him have the
upper hand.) At that moment she wasn’t sure what that meant exactly
because issues like those were so new to her.
“I am not a little baby,” she finally
said. “I am capable of finding someone else. Would a little baby be capable of
that?”
“I wouldn’t think so,” Nick chuckled.
“Okay, you made your point,” Jim answered
as he gave Nick a dirty look. “You are at your own crossroads now! Come on,
choose me, and be done with it.”
“What?” Trixie gasped at his rudeness.
“James,” Matthew warned.
“Ha! Make me want to choose you and be
done with it, hotshot,” Trixie said loudly, anger surfacing. “I don’t see you
trying to convince me you are the better man! Put a little effort into it! I
am not a painting that you can just buy on a whim. I am a human being, and I
can make choices too.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Jim said as
he realized he just made her angry.
“Then what did you mean?” Nick couldn’t
help but ask.
“I mean you can go away,” Jim said
through frustration as he pointed at Nick.
“Excuse me, who is in charge of this
exhibition?” Nick gasped.
Nick’s father stopped what he was doing
in an instant to turn his attention that direction. It was very rare to
witness his son in an altercation with a customer.
“James?” Trixie gasped.
“Oh, come on, she’s been my girl for
three years,” Jim said.
“Is something wrong?” Mr. Roberts asked
as he approached.
“It’s a case of the old boyfriend trying
to speak with his girl who is almost gone right in front of the new
boyfriend,” Matthew explained with an amused grin. “We have all been there
before and it is not an easy task.”
“Oh.” Mr. Roberts grinned, a half smile
as he looked over at his workaholic son. “I know the feeling well. Come on,
Nick, I have some work that needs done over here. Give them some space. They
are going to both have to work through that before she is free to move on
anyway, you know that,”
“Trix,” Jim nearly teared up, “Don’t do
this.”
“Come on.
This isn't the place to discuss this.” Trixie grabbed his arm and led
him out the back door past the armored cars and past three men sitting at the
side of the building in guard's uniforms smoking cigarettes.
“I don’t want a guy that would rather have the college
girlfriend. I am not okay with that, it does matter to me that you are doing
this. Either we resolve to stay adopted brother and sister or--”
“No,” Jim answered. “I am not okay with
that.”
“Why not? Because I am a little
girl too young for feelings like those?” She teared up.
“I am sorry for hurting your feelings. I
went to Regan for advice because I hoped he would know how you felt. I was
unsure how you felt. ”
“Why didn’t you ask me? I didn’t ask to
be so young. It’s not my fault,” she added tearfully.
“I know you didn’t, I don’t care how long
I have to wait. I am still trying to concentrate on getting through college,”
Jim answered sincerely. “There is no one else. You are special.
You’re the one I dream about. You are the most precious, thing in my life. I
know two years is a long time to wait, but we can get through it. I love those
emails that you used to send me every night, please don’t stop emailing me.”
“Oh Jim.” Trixie started to cry.
“You can’t be just my adopted sister. I
am not okay with that,” he added sincerely.
Trixie couldn’t stand it anymore and she
jumped into his arms for a hug.
“I love you,” Jim promised.
“Oh, you big goon, I love you too,” she
said into his ear. “I guess I can wait around another year and a half. Ugh!
Why did you have to pick a college so far away?”
“Slow down,” Jim laughed some. “It isn’t
that far away, I can call you every night and I can come home on the weekends
to visit.”
Suddenly a gunshot rang out. Jim gasped
at the sound it was so loud.
“I said hand over that painting!” a loud
voice shouted.
Jim made Trixie duck behind the trash
cart that they were standing nearby and they peeked out at what was
transpiring. Three men dressed as guards were hijacking the armored truck. The
real guards were dressed in a darker blue uniform. They protested and refused to
open the door. It was locked and only the man with the combination could open the
door.
The garage loading doors instantly swung
shut as Nick’s father shut down the access into the art center.
“What the heck?” Matt Wheeler gasped.
“We have an armed robbery in progress,”
Mr Roberts announced.
“My son is out there,” Matt shouted. Fear
shot through him.
“I know that, I hope he knows how to take
cover,” Mr. Roberts said loudly.
“No way.” Nick started running for the
front door. Matt followed Nick. He wasn’t going to just stand there and wait.
“Jim, we should do something!” Trixie
gasped.
“Like what? I'm not armed.”
“Let’s push this trash cart at them,
maybe we can distract them.”
“That might work. Get ready to run for
the corner of the building. We have to head for the hills fast, or risk being
shot too,” Jim warned.
“Running is not a problem,” Trixie
promised with a nod.
Jim grabbed her hand and kissed it. The
next second they both heaved that steel cart on wheels towards the armed
robbers, catching the robbers off guard. This allowed the guards under siege
to get the upper hand. Trixie and Jim ran for the safety of the front of the
building sprinting through the parking lot sloshing through the deep mud
puddles and past the rusty old car that pulled in front of them blocking their
retreat.
Trixie waved the squad cars pulling in
with sirens blaring to the back of the building. Quickly enough the exits were
surrounded by officers. Trixie and Jim met Nick and Mr. Wheeler at the front
door where they were looking for them.
“There is a robbery in progress at the
back of the building,” Nick said excitedly.
“We know,” Trixie panted badly. “We tried
to help the guards.” She explained the details.
They hurried into the building where they
could watch the action in safety.
Sergeant Molinson headed for the front
door. “Does anyone know who it was that moved that trash cart?” he asked.
“Was anyone hurt?” Trixie cringed.
She and Jim didn’t consider injuring someone when they acted.
“The man that was holding the gun on the
guards has a nasty bump, but he’ll live.”
“The cart idea sounded like a plan at the
time,” Trixie said.
“Hm, a reckless plan, you could have
been shot,” Molinson warned.
“Did they get away?” Jim asked.
“No, they are going downtown. I’ll need
statements from the witnesses. Come to my office in the morning. I’ll have
enough to do questioning those men tonight.”
“Okay thanks,” Trixie agreed.
“Did I miss
something?” Honey Wheeler said as she hurried up to the building.
“Yes, you missed seeing all the action,”
Trixie answered eagerly. “What was in that truck?”
“It was my truck,” Matt Wheeler
interrupted as he and Mr. Roberts entered the front lobby. “It had my painting
and those porcelain originals that your mother wanted.”
“Oh gosh, someone nearly robbed us?”
Honey put her hands over her mouth she looked shocked.
“Yes, please excuse me, but I am not
going to rest easy until that stuff is safe.”
“Neither am I,” Jim agreed.
“I wanted to see the exhibit now,” Honey
groaned.
“The two of you can stay I am sure you
are safe here. We are going with the truck,” Matthew said.
“Stay here where it is safe. I’ll be back
to pick you up in an hour,” Jim said to Trixie directly. “You were a
witness to a robbery. That in itself is dangerous.”
“I am aware,” Trixie answered.
Jim grabbed a big hug and a spontaneous
kiss. “I love you, Trixie, never forget that,” Jim said as he pulled back and
headed for the door after his father.
“Huh?” Honey gasped in complete shock
that was unlike her brother.
“Trix, what is going on?” Honey had a big
teasing smile on her face.
“Nothing, he’s apologized. I hope it’s
sincere.”
“I am sure it is,” Honey said soberly.
“Come on, show me these awesome displays. I am dying to see this.”
After they toured
the show, they headed back for the clubhouse to their weekly meeting.
A pizza party was planned for the
evening.
After the usual business reports from the
minutes read off from the last meetings was completed, Trixie asked Jim if the
painting was secured.
“Yes, it is in the highest secured area
of Dad’s personal art collection as we speak.”
“You know, I think I saw that creepy man
from the night before that tried so hard to buy that painting,” Trixie said
suddenly.
“You did?” Honey blinked.
“Yes, I was trying not to make a big deal
of it, because he has a right to be at the exhibit too, but I think he left
when we did and I think he followed us at least some of the way home. It is
kind of creep. Has he approached your dad about selling that painting yet?”
“I don’t know,” Jim answered. “We aren’t
selling it, that painting is mine and that is final.”
“I
don’t get it. Nick is a high school senior. Why would he want that painting?”
“Hum, do you suppose he is from
Atlanta,
Georgia?” Trixie thought a minute. “I mean we were getting threatening phone calls from
a guy from
Atlanta.”
“Oh so, you are thinking what if it is
this guy threatening you and not exactly the guy that thinks your mom is lying
about the painting?”
“Maybe.
He was pretty angry,” Trixie answered
“That is mysterious,” Honey agreed.
“Hopefully we won’t have any more problems
with this painting,” Mart interrupted suddenly. “Hey, after our pizza gets
here, do you guys want to go do something tonight as a group? I was thinking
horseback rides into the trails, or a ride into
White Plains to check out the new
drive-in movie theater that reopened a couple months ago.” Mart looked over at
Diana as he spoke.
“I think the horseback ride is out of the
question; it is raining out there.” Honey pointed out the drops sprinkling on
the deck outside the front door.
“I think that might make the drive-in
movie a bit soggy too.” Trixie shivered a little with the chilly night air
blowing through the clubhouse.
“We could visit the theater at the mall,”
Jim said.
Since the weather station predicted an
ice storm for the entire listening area the decision was made to rent some
DVDS and stay in that evening in the Manor’s family room.
Trixie and Jim were elected to rent the
movies. The others promised to save the pizza until they returned and their friends
headed for the Manor House to the family room with the big screen television
to wait for their return.
Chapter 13
“What should we rent tonight?” Trixie asked.
“It doesn’t really matter to me.” Jim
wasn’t in the mood to be picky about the movie. “I am sure we will find
something once we get into the video store.”
Trixie noticed something out of
place. “Jim, that black Mercedes is behind us,” Trixie said quickly.
“What black Mercedes?” Jim’s eyes shifted
upward so he could look into his rearview mirror at the traffic behind him.
“It is the one that man was driving that
followed Honey and me back home.”
“Just don’t panic, there are lots of
black Mercedes in New York State. It might be coincidence.”
“I know.” Trixie fished around in her
purse and found her bottle of pepper spray. “That man scares me,” she said
nervously.
“I am here, Trix. No one is messing with
you when I am around.” Jim reached over, took her hand in his and squeezed
gently. He hoped that she would feel a little safer in his presence.
The black car didn’t pull into the
parking lot with them; it passed by slowly. Jim could see the man in the car
looking back at them as he watched through his rearview mirror.
“Okay, the guy is definitely looking this
way,” Jim told Trixie. “I am going to set my vehicle security alarm and click
the debugging system that Dad had installed in case he needed it one day. That
means if an electronic device designed to hear what we say is directed at this
car, the car it zaps it. We should hurry; this spitting snow is just a prelude
for a deluge.” Jim looked up at the grey clouds as he spoke.
Trixie didn’t take long to pick out a few
new releases and hurry across the store to where Jim was examining the
previously viewed for sale selections available for purchase. He chose a few
selections that he liked but didn’t have in his collection yet and carried
them to the counter to pay for them along with Trixie.
When they got to the car, a beeping sound
was heard. The car itself loudly said, “Warning-- explosive device detected.
For your safety step away from the vehicle. On Star has already called the
police. Wait for assistance.”
“Was that the car?” Trixie blinked.
“Maybe it was the alarm system. I am not
sure what Dad programmed in there the last time he used it,” Jim said as they
stepped back quickly.
He looked at the remote device and
gasped. “No, this is a real warning not a test of the system.”
“Something is malfunctioning maybe,”
Trixie gasped as the police quickly pulled into the drive. She and Jim hurried
to Spider's car to explain.
“We don’t know if it is a real explosive
device or a malfunction. Dad had the top of the line security system placed on
this car when he bought it.”
“I had my eye on the car practically the
entire time we were in the store,” Trixie explained.
“The bomb squad will check it thoroughly
before you leave here,” Spider answered.
They waited inside the video store
shivering as they watched the bomb squad checking on the car.
Spider ran into the building after a few
minutes.
“We found an actual explosive devise
attached to your brake lines. It must have dispensed already because your
break lines are leaking fluid badly. That wasn’t a false alarm. If you would
have left here with that device in place you would have been in a runaway car
in heavy traffic in the middle of an ice storm. They are going to tow the car
to police impound to inspect it completely before they pass it as safe. You
will need to take it to your mechanic for repairs after that. I’ll give you
both a ride home and you can report anything suspicious happening to you guys
lately.”
“Oh brother,” Jim groaned.
Trixie explained about the suspicious
black Mercedes and how the creepy guy seemed to be following them.
“Okay, I have a note of all this,” Spider
said soberly. “Since you can’t drive the car until the bomb squad is sure it
is completely safe, I’ll give you kids a ride home.”
“Thanks,” Jim said gratefully they
hurried for the car.
A little while later, after the front
gates swung open, Spider turned into the Manor House drive.
“Hey, Jim, someone left the clubhouse
door standing wide open.” Trixie pointed at the clubhouse.
“I am sure I locked it before we left,”
Jim answered.
“Should I stop?” Spider slowed down.
“Yes, we can’t leave the door open during
a snowstorm. The snow would blow inside and ruin our décor not to mention
waste all our heat,” Jim answered as Spider stopped.
Jim headed for the clubhouse but stopped
in the entry way to turn around and motion for them to follow.
“What the heck?” Trixie looked shocked
when she stared at the clubhouse through the open door. “Where is the
computer and all our disks?”
“I have no idea,” Jim replied.
“Hold on, are you saying the clubhouse
was robbed?” Spider asked.
“It is just for club functions to record
the minutes of our meetings. Everyone was going up to Manor House to watch
DVDS. We have a computer in the family room. There is no need to lug that desk
top system up there.”
“You should take fingerprints,” Trixie
told Spider.
“How would this burglar get past the main
gate and for what reason?” Spider asked.
“How would this burglar get a bomb
planted on a car that I was watching the entire time, Spider? I don’t know. Maybe they were looking for Jim’s new painting.”
“Why did you bid so much on a painting
like that?” Spider asked Jim after Trixie finished explaining about it.
Jim shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t
want a perfect stranger staring at my girlfriend’s portrait,” Jim answered.
“Hey, someone tried pretty hard to rob
that painting out of the armored car,” Trixie said soberly.
“Maybe someone stashed something with
it?” Jim wondered.
“But why steal your computer down here?”
Spider asked.
“Um, give me a day or so. I have to figure
this out. Maybe they thought that he would keep the painting down here and
they just took the computer to hide what they were really after?” Trixie
suggested.
“Okay,” Spider nodded. “ Call me if your
friends didn’t take the computer off somewhere. Just lock the door and I’ll
see what you find out from there. Make a list of what
is missing out of here so we can have an accurate report of what all was
stolen too.”
“I remember the rules,” Trixie
smiled as she answered.
Chapter
14
Jim explained to the others later about
their missing computer and quickly discovered that none of them had touched
the computer.
“We think we should have a closer look at
the painting,” Trixie said. “Maybe someone stashed something behind the back
of the painting or in the picture frame or in the painting itself.”
“I think Nick would be able to tell you
if he painted something in his painting,” Matthew suggested. “He probably
framed it and packaged it. Maybe you should ask him if someone tampered with
the painting before touching it.”
“I wasn’t planning on ripping it to
shreds to find some treasure map or something,” Trixie chuckled. “I’ll call
Nick and ask him about it.”
Trixie dialed Nick’s number and waited as
the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi Nick, it’s me.”
“Oh, hi, Trixie, how is everything?” Nick
smiled to himself when he recognized her voice.
“I have a bit of a dilemma and I need to
ask you something.”
“Okay, sure.” Nick started walking away
from the guys he had been chatting with before Trixie called. “I wasn’t sure
if you would want to go out with me sometimes soon or not?” Nick said . He
hoped those guys would get the hint and leave him to his phone call.
“I have a bit of a problem that is going
to keep me grounded for a while. It seems I have been targeted by some crazy
person.” Trixie explained the attempted bombing and the robbery at the
clubhouse under investigation.
“Do you have any idea who would do that?”
Nick gasped.
“I am sure the guards will pick up an
image of the culprit soon enough.” She told Nick what she was beginning to
suspect.
“Are you sure it was that guy?”
She explained further and then
asked if he would be willing to help her.
“Oh, I see where you are going with
this,” Nick laughed some. “I tell you what, I’ll drop by your house and we’ll
check it out. I can tell you if something was included easily enough.”
“Thanks!” Trixie smiled. “I am at Manor
House. We’re having a video party here tonight-- you can join us if you
like.”
“Cool,” Nick answered. “May I bring Jim a
girlfriend?” he asked.
“Oh,” Trixie giggled at that comment.
“You can bring someone if you like, sure, but I can’t guarantee you that Jim
will appreciate you lining him up with a date for the night though.”
“What?” Jim gasped.
Nick just laughed loudly. “I’ll see you
guys later.”
“What was that about?” Jim looked
shocked.
“He just asked if he could bring you a
girlfriend,” Trixie answered with a big dimpled smile.
“Ugh...” Jim groaned.
“Look, he was teasing, it was just a
joke,” Trixie said. “I think he might be planning to bring his own girl
though,” she added. Jim’s reaction worried her a little perhaps the tease was
inappropriate.
“So you have the
second date with Blondie, huh?” Floyd asked as he fell in step with Nick.
“It's not a date. I'm helping her out
with something,” Nick told the rich troublemaker.
“Out with.” Joey Vanderhoef laughed as he
nudged his friend known to them as Wilson.
“You guys are disgusting,” Nick said as
he headed for his car. “Leave her alone, she’s good people.”
“Then prove she is good people. I’ll bet
she isn’t as goody two shoes as you think she is. I’ll bet we could get her to
do something wrong. I’ll bet you could convince her too.” His dark eyes
shifted from Nick to his friends quickly as he spoke he grinned a menacing
smile.
“I am not convincing her of anything.”
Nick was beginning to get angry. Why did these uptown spoiled rich guys
suddenly start trying to hang out with him? He wondered why they had an
interest in getting Trixie to do something wrong. That was mysterious to him.
“I am not falling for your tricks to pick
on Trixie so get over it. Don’t push me,” Nick warned Wilson. “You have no
idea what I am capable of you don’t even want to know.”
“You don’t have to get testy.” Wilson
laughed some as he stuck out his tongue and laughed crazily as he shook his
head. Nick felt the urge to slug him but he restrained himself as he climbed
into his car and slammed the door starting it and gunning up the road away
from them.
He wasn’t going to put up with more of
this behavior. If something didn’t give soon he was going to fight
back. It was time to figure out what game they were playing. Nick wasn’t about
to allow them to hurt Trixie.
Jim opened the
front door standing there trying not to grind his teeth as he made eye contact
with Nick Roberts. He would rather make him leave in an instant but that
wasn’t be an option-- it would just anger Trixie.
“Trixie said that she wanted me to check
on that painting,” Nick said.
“There you are finally, come on in.”
Trixie rushed up behind Jim to greet Nick. “Is the snow getting really bad?”
she asked.
“Yes, I had to help the Witherspoons get
out of the ditch a little bit ago,” Nick answered as he handed the maid his
coat and boots.
“All of this portrait stuff is becoming a
real mystery,” Nick said. “I would be more apt to believe the real mystery
lies around your mother's painting rather than mine though.”
“I don’t know,” replied Trixie. “I
thought that myself until the clubhouse was robbed and then there was the bomb
in Jim’s car.”
“True, but they still could be targeting
you as a means to punish your mother for messing up their plans too,” Jim
pointed out. “You did get the threatening phone calls this morning.”
“I know that,” Trixie agreed. “But we
have to check every angle.”
“Wouldn’t the likely target be Mr. Lynch?”
Honey wondered. “He's the one that
bought that painting and had it stored inside a museum until the
investigations are over.”
“Maybe they will do something to my dad,”
Diana said suddenly.
“What?” Trixie turned to look at Diana
who hadn’t spoken much since she arrived.
“I don’t know if this links to that
painting or not but he got a threatening phone call today,” Diana said told
them.
“What happened?” Mart asked.
“They warned him about a corporate
takeover in the plans implying his business empire is about to fall.” Diana
teared up.
“No kidding?” Mr. Wheeler walked into the
front room just in time to overhear.
“Yes, Daddy isn’t worried, but that phone
call scared me,” Diana said.
“I’ll call him and see if there is
anything I can do,” Mr. Wheeler offered. “Corporate takeover is not something
to ignore.”
“Thanks, Mr. Wheeler.” Diana smiled
warmly as he headed for his office.
“Let’s see this painting,” Trixie said to
Jim.
“It's in the gallery,” Honey said.
Dan's cell phone rang.
“Hello?” Dan answered as the others
spoke to each other. “Oh, hi, Lisa, yes I do have a snowmobile, why?” Dan
grinned instantly as he walked away from the commotion to hear what she wanted
to say. “Say no more, I don’t blame you for being bored, if the blizzard isn’t
too bad, I’ll zip down there and pick you up.”
“Who was that?” Jim asked.
“Lisa Witherspoon. She is at
Crabapple Farm and bored.”
“I didn’t know they were taking her with
them to that party. Go get her, Dan,” Trixie encouraged.
“I told her that I could bring her with
me, but her grandmother wanted her to stay with them because of the snow,”
Nick said.
“It’s not a problem, I’ll go get her,”
Dan said with a big grin.
“Danny’s got a girlfriend,” Honey teased.
“We all know where he’s been a huggin’ and a kissin’.
“She’s new in town, and she is just a
friend. Don’t be reading more into it.”
Dan was used to Honey’s teasing song.
She always played around when he got a new girlfriend because the old song
that she liked so well fit the moment. It didn’t make him angry for it, but it
did make him worry how the girl might take it if she teased him in front of
her. Honey never teased like that in front of the new friend though so he was
happy for that.
“I met her a couple nights ago, she’s
really nice,” Trixie said to Honey. “She will be attending college here in
town so she is staying with her grandparents.”
“Okay, then we’ll give her a nice big
welcome,” Diana said enthusiastically.
“I think I know Lisa Witherspoon,” Jim
explained. “I saw her in town the other day and stopped to say hello. She is
from Albany originally.
Her father was once my father’s business partner.”
“I believe she is from Albany.
According to my father, he said that Mr. Witherspoon’s granddaughter was from
that area. We heard some about the new girl moving to town already,” Mart said
as Honey punched in the keyed code to enter the gallery. The secured doors
unlocked and the lights turned up so they could see where they were going.
Nick got a good look around. “Hey, that’s
a Monet and look that’s a Matisse. I am amazed.”
“Keep looking there are a whole lot of
successful artists on these walls,” Jim laughed.
“There is your painting next to a
Picasso,” Jim pointed.
“I am flattered such a place of honor,”
Nick gasped his brown eyes lit up and a big grin spread across his face.
“Father always did believe in helping
aspiring artists become well known. My mother’s father did the same thing when
he was younger too,” Honey said as Jim disconnected the alarm system to that
painting so he could get it off the wall and hold it while Nick inspected the
frame carefully with a magnifying glass.
“I don’t see any alterations,” Nick said
as he looked at the frame and the painting itself.
“What about the back? I was thinking the
back of the painting,” Trixie said.
“No, I don’t see anything different back
here either.” Nick took off the layers of packing in the frame before he
finally said, “I don’t think it is because someone smuggled something. I'm
sorry, Trixie.”
“No, that is fine,” Trixie assured him.
“I was hoping this mystery would be easy. Maybe it is the other painting.”
Chapter 15
Nothing would be resolved for a while.
Jim and Brian headed back for college the next evening.
Nick stopped Trixie by the school bus
stop after school the next day with a frown as he rolled his car window down.
“Did you miss the bus?” he asked her curiously.
“I had to stay after school. I had an
appointment with the counselor about my driver's education mix up.”
“What did you discover?”
“They claim that I actually did take that
course and the instructor says that he distinctly remembers teaching me. So
the counselor and Mr. Stanton went with me to his office to see if he could
recognize me. This is the most mysterious thing ever, because he doesn’t
remember me but he remembers the student using my name in order to get that
grade. They apologized to me. Mr. Oakland promised to tutor me after classes
to make up for it. Provided the school board would approve. Mr. Stanton said
that was not possible because it was against school board policy.”
“Is there anyway that I can help?” Nick
asked.
“If I want to get my driver's license
soon, I’ll have to find a private teaching agency. Mr. Oakland said that he
works nights at the Wyman Drivers' School across town
but the costs are kind of expensive. I guess if I want this and those art
classes with your mom then I’ll need a job.” She sighed.
“Oh, speaking of classes with my mom. She
needs an assistant to help her load the kilns and clean the molds. If you want
that job you could speak with her about it.”
“I do want that job.” Trixie’s sad blue
eyes lit up.
“I’ll give you a ride over to her shop,”
Nick said eagerly.
“Thanks.” Trixie hurried to the passenger
side of his car and tossed her bag of books in the backseat before getting
into the front to sit.
“I usually head off to work right after
class so if you take that job I could give you a ride to work right after,”
Nick promised.
“Really thanks,” she said with a happy
smile.
“I wonder if what is going on has
something to do with Floyd and Joey Vanderhoef and Wilson, and the rest of
their gang of troublemakers,” Nick said.
“Why? Do you know something that I
don’t?” she asked as she pulled the seatbelt across her lap.
“I know that they are trying to get one
of your friends to convince you to do something illegal for some reason.” Nick
explained how they tried to convince him to get her to do something illegal.
“Well, that is just stupid. Why
would I do something illegal? I don’t care if they think I passed that exam, I
am not going to risk my life out there on a busy highway without knowing how
to drive, so that is a lot of premeditated planning for nothing.”
“I don’t blame you,” Nick chuckled some.
“I would still look to their circle of friends for the culprit in that stupid
plan though. Joel Wilson has an older sister with blond curly hair. She
is in college now, but she wasn’t a year ago. She took the year off in between
her high school graduation and college.”
“Oh, that is just mean,” Trixie answered.
“If I find out it is true I am not going to take it lying down. Wait, Joel
Wilson? Why is that name familiar? I know why! That is the name of the
cell phone caller that left threatening calls to my mother. He lives in
Atlanta, Georgia.”
“Joel's father Joel Wilson Sr. lives in
Atlanta,” Nick said soberly. “Mr. Wilson was at the art show. He
was the bidder that didn’t keep bidding on that painting that I painted of
you.”
“That was Joel Wilson?” Trixie blinked.
“The plot thickens.”
“Yes, it is funny how things fall
together once you know a little more detail on the subject. I started my own
little investigation after the other night when I had an altercation with
Wilson and Vanderhoef. ”
“Is Joel Wilson Sr. still in town?”
“I don’t think so,” Nick answered. “He is
an art broker in Georgia. A reputable dealer as well, I doubt he is involved
with anything malicious, but I wouldn’t put it past his son or daughter.”
“I’ll have to call Spider and find out
what he thinks.”
Trixie was hired on the spot after they
arrived at the doll shop. For the next few days after school let out, Nick
drove her to work as he promised. She was busy learning about porcelain shops
and the many details of doll making. She helped Mrs. Roberts do some of
the dirtier work of the job like pouring the liquid chalky-colored slip into
each individual mold’s pouring holes. She quickly learned that the simple
process was more complicated than she thought, and judging the thickness of
the dry line well enough before pouring the excess out took a little while to
learn, but she quickly caught on to the secret of mold release and started
having fun with her job. Each fragile piece of greenware was an individual
work of art in the raw. After it dried the dirty part of the work began.
Sanding the seam way from the delicate features of the mold had to be
carefully mastered with a series of sanding tools and a thin piece of nylon.
One day, Nick entered pushing a hand cart filled with
boxes. She turned the radio that she
had running loudly down so they could speak.
“Have there been anymore threats about
the mysterious painting lately?” Nick asked her when he stopped the cart
beside her.
“Not really, and it is mysterious. Spider
got Joel Wilson and his sister to confess to the practical joke on me with the
drivers' ed prank. They just got a misdemeanor for it though. Joel is
suspended from school the rest of this year. His father was very angry over
it. From what I hear he was sent directly to military school for it. His
father was already angry over the fact that his son made those threatening
phone calls to my mother as it was when he used his cell phone without
permission. Mr. Wilson admitted that he did follow Honey and me because
he was worried that his son and his friends were up to something and he didn’t
want either of us to get hurt. He left for the airport shortly after that
because he had return to work. Those records prove he isn’t lying about it so
he’s off the hook.”
“Great,” Nick smiled. “Maybe it’s over
now?”
“I hope it is.” Trixie flashed him a big
smile.
“Do you like your new job? It’s pretty
dirty back here.”
“I know the dust is murder sometimes, but
it is cool. I am having fun learning how to craft molds. Your mother promised
to let me create my own doll with some of that modeling clay that you brought
in.”
“Will it be a doll to remember?” Nick
teased.
“I can do it. Don’t underestimate
my artistic ability, it runs in the family.”
Nick just gave her a big hug as he
laughed. “I am just teasing you.”
Trixie pouted with her bottom lip out.
Nick laughed louder; her expression was
so cute. “I have to run see you later.”
“Not if I see you first,” she giggled.
“You’re a brat.” Nick pretended to look
shocked at what she said but he left with a happy smile.
Later
the next day
Trixie discovered the clubhouse computer
smashed into smithereens in the woods when she and Jim decided to take the
horses out for a ride. The snow started to melt revealing where it was hidden
beneath the snow. It was a puzzling mystery to Trixie. She wanted to
know who did this and for what reason. Later when she and Jim finally put all
the pieces together, Jim frowned and said, “The hard drive is missing.”
“What does that mean?” Trixie asked.
“That is where the computer stores its
memory. The culprit probably didn’t want to carry the entire PC tower because
it was too conspicuous. Everything they needed to know about us and our club
functions is on that hard drive and it can be put into another PC easily
enough.”
“Do you suppose that is why the guards
didn’t find a suspect? Suppose this person walked right out the front gate
with this memory thing? Even one of the employees of the Manor could have done
that. Maybe they thought it would have our charity drive bank account numbers
stored in there and they planned to rob them blind.”
“Well, there were no strangers to visit
the Manor between the time we left and then returned, and unfortunately there
was no surveillance camera trained on the entrance of the clubhouse. The rest
of the Bob-Whites went to Manor House with Honey. That would just leave the
household staff and my parents. I hate suspecting a maid or gardener but that
is a possibility I suppose.” Jim sighed.
“True, but if Stanley Smithe was on main
gate duty he might have been sleeping on the job down there. I always
wake him up when I am buzzing to get his attention so I can enter the gate,”
Trixie pointed out. “I wonder why someone would want our hard drive.”
“I was just about to say let's focus on
what might have been contained in the computer that might have been of
someone’s interests. Did you save anything of interest lately?”
“No, we just have the club notes on there
and I do my school research on the internet since I don’t get to use our
family’s only computer very often due to everyone else needing to use it as
well. What did you have stored in your files?” she asked Jim.
“I am like you, I do some research down
here because the clubhouse is often quieter then the house is, but I never
record my bank account numbers on the computer. It didn’t feel safe
enough down here. I have that information highly secured.”
“I did have some of my personal journal
stored in my file,” Trixie interrupted. “It isn’t of any use to anyone unless
they are planning to embarrass me to death by reading my innermost thoughts to
the entire high school or something. If that happens, we will find our culprit
immediately.”
Jim saw Trixie’s eyes light up like
a light bulb went off suddenly in her head. “What?”
“I might have an idea,” she said quickly.
“What idea?” Jim looked at her curiously.
“The computer might have been stolen
because I downloaded something strange that I found in the Ruberg Website on
the internet. I was going to eventually check that out but then I got
sidetracked that day because we had that argument and then Moms had her upset.
That was the day that we had the harassing phone calls and then the bomb in
the car. Anyway, this file was filled with what I thought might have been a
code or maybe a file disguised quickly by selecting all in the edit box and
then font and onto Greek or something. Have you ever messed with that? It
changes your words to something not readable but once you select all again and
with a quick mouse click you can have it go back to English quickly enough. I
never got to see what that was. What if Ruberg hired someone to get in there
to the computer and that is all they wanted?”
“I don’t know. I guess I am curious about
what that file has to say myself.”
“Oh, I wish I had that hard drive,”
Trixie groaned
“I saw what you were working on, but then
I was upset because you were angry with me. W hen you text messaged me, I
forgot about the silly computer and turned my attention to text messaging you
back. Hey, I did make a copy of that file. It is on my USB drive in my coat
pocket. I planned to have a look at it in my room later on.”
“You did what?” Trixie gasped.
“Don’t expect me not to keep an eye on
you,” Jim answered. “You have been kidnapped before, Trixie Belden. I care
about you enough to make sure you stay safe.”
“Oh.” Trixie smiled. “Which coat were you
wearing?”
“Um, I might have left it in my apartment
in Albany.” Jim cringed.
“Ah! You didn’t?”
“We can drive up there and find it,” Jim
said with a grin. “Do you have to work tonight?”
“No, it is Saturday. I work only days on
Saturday. We can leave a note telling Moms where we headed and I’ll see if
Honey can tag along.”
“I’ll call Honey and you get the note for
your mom,” Jim said.
“I’ll be back in five minutes.” Trixie
gave him a fast hug and then hurried out of the clubhouse and over to her
parents' house. The long black limousine in the drive made her frown.
Inside the house Helen sat speaking to
Mr. Ruberg in the flesh. She had her easel set up and a canvas leaning against
it. Her palate board was loaded with fresh paints. But she wasn’t painting him
a portrait. It appeared that she was discussing the ownership of that
painting. Mr. Ruberg was discussing allowing this to settle out of court and
giving the entire check of its sale directly to her so they wouldn’t have to
deal with this case.
“What about who you bought the painting
from?” Trixie interrupted. “Moms, don’t forget you really just wanted to know
who stole that from you.”
“I know that, but he can’t remember whom
he purchased it from Trixie. The bill of sale is from an auction house in
Georgia. We’ll have to contact them to see who the seller was. He really is
out of this case,” Helen explained.
Trixie nodded. “Does this mean Mr. Lynch
can take his painting home?”
“Yes, that is what it means.” Mr. Ruberg
smiled nicely as he made eye contact with Trixie.
“Good, I am anxious to have a good look
at that painting,” Trixie said eagerly as she watched his face for any signs
of reaction.
“Well, you can do that all day long at
the museum right now.” Mr. Ruberg's voice was calm. Trixie sensed that it was
forced calm.
“Mommy, do you think this painting will
be as neat as that one when you are finished?” Trixie said in a sickeningly
sweet voice.
“Well, now I don’t know,” Helen answered
as she stared at her normally tomboyish daughter suspiciously. “I’ll give it
my best shot.”
“I would be interested in purchasing that
painting.” Mr. Ruberg looked over at the half-finished motorcycle cop reaching
down as he drove past a little girl playing in a mud puddle on a busy street.
Then he looked at the enlarged photo that she was duplicating the detail with
careful precision.
“That was Wendell Molinson on that
motorcycle and the little girl there was Trixie when she broke away from my
mother-in-law and headed for that mud puddle to play in. She was just
five years old at the time,” Helen explained.
“You are kidding me?” Trixie’s jaw
dropped as she grabbed that photo up to look at it closer.
“He just barely saved you from that city
bus barreling toward you. Look at that.” Mr. Ruberg pointed at the
painting.
“I’ll have to thank Sergeant Molinson for
saving my life again.” Trixie smiled sweetly. “Mother, Jim, Honey and I were
going to drive up to Albany this afternoon. He left an assignment that is due
Monday in his apartment. Will this be okay?”
“Well, it would be pretty late before you
would return. Why doesn’t he just go back alone instead of spending the whole
weekend driving? He would have more time to study.”
“Because that is not what he wants to
do,” Trixie answered.
“Now Trixie,” Helen frowned suspiciously.
“Moms, don’t think the worst. Mart can
tag along too,” she said in a half plea.
Mr. Ruberg started to laugh some. “Now
she sounds like my teenaged son.”
“You will have to call your father and
ask him first,” Helen said firmly.
“Mom,” she whined.
“That is my final word,” Helen answered.
“Oh you never let me do anything.” She
stomped off into the other room.
“Not that anyway,” Helen said.
“Will she listen?” Mr. Ruberg asked.
“We are strict I know. But she’s been
into a lot of scrapes before including being kidnapped, so we worry about her
safety and that is the bottom line.”
“Kidnapped, that is awful. How did
she get away?”
Helen explained the details.
Trixie returned. “Dad says I can go if
Mart or Brian wants to tag along. Brian said he would go along with us.”
“Okay, then Brian will keep you safe.”
Helen was happy with this plan she trusted her oldest son to be responsible.
Chapter 16
It was a two, hour drive to Albany on the
expressway. They got lucky because traffic was flowing nicely. Jim found the
memory chip and quickly loaded it into his computer.
“Wow. That is nuts,” Honey said as she
looked over Jim’s shoulder. He quickly changed the format to read what the
document actually said.
“This is a schedule. It looks like a
shipping schedule,” Brian said.
“Shipping what though?” Trixie looked at
Jim as he scrolled down the screen. “It appears as if there is a missing link
here or something. Look at this, it says payment for shipment will come see,
Art show Estate auction 12 45 894000. What do you make of that?”
“Each painting had a stock number
assigned to it,” Trixie said quickly. “Maybe that is the stock number?”
“It might be.” Jim shrugged his
shoulders. “I can’t figure anything else out from what I see here.”
He ejected the disk and put it into a plastic case.
“I could call Nick and ask him to look it
up?” Trixie said.
“I don’t think that is a wise idea,” Jim
said as he grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Why not I think it is a great idea?”
Trixie asked.
“Hello, someone stole our computer and
demolished it,” Jim pointed out.
“And someone put a bomb in the car's
brake system,” Honey added.
“What if his phone is bugged or the
clubhouse is bugged with electronic devices?” Brian said.
“Oh, then we might not be safe now?”
Trixie understood what they were getting at finally.
“Let’s get out of here,” Jim said
quickly. “I am getting a bad feeling.”
As they started for the car, Trixie
stopped short. A Black Mercedes was parked beside it and two men in suits were
messing with it.
“Oh, I’ll bet we have another bomb on the
car or something!” Honey grabbed Brian’s arm.
“Well, we won’t take that car back then.
I should have thought to set the alarm.” Jim motioned for them to follow him
down the apartment hallway to another apartment.
A pretty, young blond-haired girl
answered the door.
“Didn’t you go to Sleepyside this
weekend?” the young girl asked Jim curiously.
“Yes, but I left something here. This is
my sister Honey and my girlfriend Trixie Belden, Brian’s little sister,” Jim
introduced the girls to his friend Shelley.
“Is something wrong, why do you look
upset?” Shelley hurried them into her apartment and shut the door behind them.
“Someone is messing with my car and I
need a clean phone to call 911,” Jim whispered.
“Okay, no problem then.” J
im called the police using her house
phone.
“We need a fast car to get out of here,”
Brian said as Trixie walked to the window, and pulled a camera out of her
purse and started clicking pictures at the men by the car. They looked like
they were done and ready to search the apartment now she could see them headed
for the building.
“My car is on the street. Someone
hogged my parking space.” Shelley handed Jim the keys. “Aren’t you staying to
speak to the police?”
“No, those guys are headed this way.”
Trixie grabbed them all and motioned for them to hurry out of the fire escape
and down the ladder. Even Shelley followed them as she showed them where her
car was. Gunfire rang out in the apartment.
“Oh gosh, move over,” Shelley told Trixie
as she rushed for the front seat.
Trixie scooted up next to Jim and Shelley
climbed in and shut the door. Jim drove off quickly. Brian and Honey were in
the back seat staring anxiously through the rear view mirror at the cars
behind them.
“Quickly check your purse and shoes and
everyplace you can think of for electronic tags,” Jim told Trixie.
“Huh?” she gasped.
“Who are those guys?” Honey gasped as
they rushed through their things looking for a bug of some sort. Soon Trixie
picked up a lipstick and stared at it. “This isn’t my shade.”
Brian grabbed it from her, opened it, and
found the bug. He quickly threw it into a passing garbage truck. Jim sped up
considerably weaving in and out of traffic as he raced up the highway.
“Where should we go to now?” Honey asked
as she stared behind them nervously.
“I suppose we should call the police and
go to the museum,” Jim said.
“No, try Mr. Lynche's house now,” she
argued.
“Why there?”
“Because Mr. Ruberg just settled out of
court with Moms. He handed her that check without argument and said to
release the painting to Mr. Lynch. It is probably already at his house.”
“I doubt that, it would take a couple
days to get it though transfer,” Honey said reasonably.
“No, Mr. Ruberg said that he arranged for
the armored car at his expense so it could be at the Lynches’ by evening
because it was Mrs. Lynch’s birthday. It could be a surprise for her.”
“What?” Brian gasped in frustration.
“Use my phone, call them and tell them
not to move it,” Shelley said reasonably.
“Do you see a tail?” Jim asked his
sister.
“No, so far traffic appears normal.”
Jim called Mr. Lynch personally and
explained the problem as quickly as possible.
“Oh, I didn’t authorize it to be moved.
I’ll call over there and check,” Mr. Lynch answered.
Five minutes later Mr. Lynch called back
and said it left in the armored car five minutes before his call.
“Should we get over to the Ruberg
estate?” Trixie said eagerly.
“No, that is always where you get into
trouble,” Jim answered. “We should call the FBI.”
“I hate to admit it but you are right,”
Trixie agreed without getting angry. “That brake bomb in the car scared me,
and I heard gunshots in the apartment before we left.”
“That is my point,” Jim said. “It is
obvious he stole the painting by using Helen’s signature on that out of court
settlement. That gave him the edge in there at the museum to convince them
that he was returning the painting to Mr. Lynch for a surprise for his wife’s
birthday.”
“Just the same, the new owner should have
had to authorize its move, not the old owner,” Brian pointed out.
“It wasn’t a wise move that is for sure,”
Shelley agreed. “Maybe the curator is involved.”
Trixie called the FBI and quickly
explained what was going on with the painting and about the evidence they had
against Mr. Ruberg as fast as she could. They told her to meet them at the
police station as soon as she could get there with the evidence.
Thirty minutes later Jim pulled into the
parking lot of the police station. The armored car was in the parking lot and
Mr. Ruberg was sitting in the police station telling them loudly that he was
innocent. He was transporting the painting to the Lynches’.
Trixie, Jim, Brian, Honey, and Shelley
hurried along with Mr. Stone, the FBI Agent in charge. He directed them to a
private room with a computer at their disposal. Nick arrived with his father
shortly after to explain that those were the serial tracking numbers used at
the art show.
Agent Stone said they had probable cause
to get a warrant issued to inspect the painting. “We’ll let Mr. Roberts
inspect it so no one damages it,” he promised Mr. Lynch who was standing with
them now waiting to see what was going on.
Helen was called in to oversee this
inspection as well since Mr. Roberts was quick to point out that she would
remember any changed details in the painting much better than he would.
Trixie watched as they began a quick
inspection first of the painting itself and then of the back after the brown
paper was quickly removed.
Out of boredom Trixie picked up a small
office magnet from the table and started playing with it, first attaching it
to ink pens with metal castings and then to the huge desk that had metal legs
and over to a brass light fixture.
“Stop that.” Her brother nudged her as he
frowned.
Trixie looked down at the ring that Jim
gave her that she wore as a regular item on her right hand. The magnet didn’t
connect and hold.
“Hey, is gold a metal that magnets
attract to?” Trixie asked suddenly.
“What?” Nick turned to look at her. He
frowned slightly as he tried to understand why she would ask that.
“Why do you want to know that?” Spider
asked.
“Well, you placed that painting on the
desk first right. Then you moved it to the huge table over there when the guys
moved the table into the room to use for the painting's exam, right. It was
lying on a bunch of magnets. I was curious as to why they didn’t stick to the
frame. They stick to that brass light.” She laid the magnet on it to
demonstrate her point.
“So they do.” Mr. Stone started to laugh
some.
“They aren’t sticking to my gold ring.
This ring is real 24 k gold.” She showed them how it fell away from her ring.
“Oh,” Helen gasped. “You are right.
It doesn’t stick to my wedding ring either.” She tried the magnet herself on
her wedding band.
“I’ll get some acid and do a test,” Mr.
Roberts said quickly. “Hold on I have some in my car.”
“Are you thinking they were smuggling
gold?” Jim asked.
“Well, what better way to smuggle
something then to make it appear as if it were something less expensive? A
little bit of watered down black paint brushed on to the creases of this
design and wiped off with a rag can appear as antique bronzing if you know
what you are doing with it. You can disguise pure gold as antique brass that
way, and you boys did say it was enormously heavy so it made me wonder about
that.”
“Wow,” Spider gasped. “I would have never
thought of that.”
“We did have a shipment of gold bars
stolen from Fort Knox about six months ago,” Agent Stone said soberly. “We
will be tracing the origins of all computers linking into that website real
soon. I’ll bet we find a few more people are involved here.”
“There has to be. Those men were
shooting up my apartment when we left,” Jim pointed out.
“We already have them in custody,” Agent
Stone said a few minutes later. “Thanks to some eyewitnesses at the apartment
complex in Albany that helped the police on that end, they were located and
arrested. Your car has been impounded and will be used as evidence. It
was filled with drugs. We believe that they planned to pretend that you were
drug dealers and a deal went south and that was why you were killed in your
apartment.”
“Oh I am glad we got out of there,” Jim
groaned.
A few tests later,
they discovered that the frame was indeed part of the gold stolen from Fort
Knox months before it had been melted down and made into this expensive frame.
Mr. Ruberg finally confessed that they were smuggling gold a little at a time
in his art collection because it was least likely to be noticed in a transfer
due to its artistic qualities. This time the painting in question was Helen's.
Mr. Lynch would have to relinquish the
frame to the FBI but they handed him the painting, saying it didn’t
necessarily have to be there along with the frame when the case came to court.
Although the mystery seemed to clear up
quickly, all answers were definitely not answered. Trixie didn’t plan to stop
her investigation. She still wanted to know who stole her mother's
painting and hoped she would get those answers soon.
Chapter 17
After they were finished at the police department, the
girls spent the evening getting to know Shelley Snow. She had become a friend
and study partner to Brian and Jim since she was in most of their classes.
Trixie suspected this girl might have been the girl that Jim considered
seeing, but she didn’t ask embarrassing questions. For all she knew her
suspicion was off mark. Shelley eventually told them about her boyfriend in
her hometown. Relief swept over Trixie after realizing this girl wouldn't be
competition after all. After that the girls had a grand time welcoming this
new girl into their circle of friends.
The next morning they said goodbye to the guys and
thanked Shelley for the safe ride home before seeing them off. It was time for
them to return to college
After a few hours of cleaning her bedroom up from the
sleep over party, Trixie heard a car pull up in the drive. She peered
out the window..
Trixie’s pulse raced when she saw who was approaching
the front door. She raced out of her bedroom and down the stairs to the living
room, nearly colliding with Bobby riding his skateboard through the house in
her haste to open the door first. She flung open the door curiously staring at
the handsome man who was poised ready to ring the doorbell.
He nervously explained that he wanted to speak with
her mother.
“Moms, someone is at the door for you!” Bobby dropped
his skateboard back to the hardwood floor as he spoke.
“Robert Belden you know better then to use that board
in the house,” Helen said sternly as she entered the living room from the
kitchen untying her apron as she walked.
The aroma of roast turkey filled the air.
“Oh Moms, it doesn’t scuff the floor,” Bobby whined.
“I said no,” she warned as she shook her finger at
him.
“Yes, ma`am.” He picked the skateboard back up and
hurried out the front door past the guest.
“Hello?” Helen said curiously.
“Hi,” the richly dressed man said with a friendly
smile. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your Thanksgiving day.”
“JoJo?” Helen gasped when she recognized this man.
He flashed a white toothed grin. “I haven’t seen you
since college,” he said awkwardly.
“I know it’s been a long time. How are you?” Helen
didn’t comment about the fact that his son and daughter did something awful to
hers.
“I just thought that an apology for my kids’ behavior
was in order.” He took off his hat as he spoke.
“It's their responsibility to apologize not yours,”
Peter said as he got off his recliner to follow his wife to the door.
“Hello, Joel.” Peter held out his hand for a shake
“I wanted to also explain to Helen about something
else. You see, I wasn’t aware of what her painting that was stolen back in
college looked like so I didn’t recognize it when it came through my gallery
in Georgia. But since it was sold here in Sleepyside and I remembered a bit
about that painting from when it was in my auction lots several years ago., I
went back through some old records searching for the name of the seller back
then.”
“And?” Trixie interrupted getting excited.
“It took a while. You see, fifteen years ago the
gallery was still keeping hand printed records. It was before we computerized
the system. Some of our records were destroyed in the hurricane but I thought,
with any luck, the records I needed were still on the second floor above the
flood line.”
“And?” Trixie’s blue eyes were round as saucers as she
impatiently prompted him to hurry.
“Trixie, relax,” Peter warned as he gently stopped her
from jumping up and down. “Come in the house and have a cup of coffee with
us,” he invited Joel inside and led him to the kitchen.
Trixie quickly poured everyone a cup of coffee as Joel
continued explaining how much work it took to discover that the original
seller was from the estate of Mickey Silverstone. “I checked further and she
was indeed the winner of the scholarship that year in college.”
“What?” Helen gasped.
“She would stop at nothing to get that scholarship
including stealing your painting,” Joel answered.
“Who was she?”
Trixie gasped. “You should have her arrested.”
“I can’t.” Helen reached out her hand to soothe her
daughter. “I can’t have her arrested because her plane crashed on her way back
from studying in Italy to America. She graduated that year. She died in that
crash.”
“Wasn’t she your college roommate?” Brian asked.
“Yes,” Peter confirmed he remembered his wife’s
roommate vividly.
“I am sorry about this, but I thought you would want
to know about this.” Joel placed the records on the table as he spoke. “Also,
I spoke to my kids about why they were party to such a mean prank on Trixie.
They claim it was a club initiation and ordered by Joey Vanderhoef.
Apparently, he was angry with Trixie because Ben Riker liked her and Ben beat
him up once when he wanted to make Trixie the object of a bet that he did not
approve of. Ben said that Trixie was an angel. She wasn’t capable of doing
something wrong much less illegal and he wouldn’t have her reputation
tarnished by the likes of him. Joey Vanderhoef got it into his head to prove
to Ben Riker just how wrong he was after this. Do you know who this Ben Riker
is?” the handsome gentleman asked Trixie.
Trixie rolled her eyes. Then she smiled; this was good
news for her. She nearly couldn’t believe her ears. “Yes, I do, he’s in
military school,” Trixie explained. “His father sent him there after a big
fight with Joey Vanderhoef.” She began to giggle. “He is my best friend’s
cousin. I didn’t know he cared.”
“Oh, you just gave her fuel for teasing Ben.” Peter
laughed at his giggling daughter.
“No, Dad, he didn’t play that practical joke on me and
for that he deserves my respect,” Trixie answered with a huge smile. “NOT!”
She hurried out of the room laughing. “Wait until I see Ben Riker next time.”
“Don’t worry about that she will have a giggle and
forget about it soon enough.” Brian laughed. “She is more relieved that he
would fight with his friends to spare her honor then anything. Plus with this
mystery, finally at an end she will be more interested in celebrating.”
“We are all ready to celebrate this mystery’s end.”
Helen gave her son a big hug as she spoke.
“You have been a great help. Thanks, JoJo.”
“You are welcome,” Joel took her hug with a smile.
“I’ll just let you guys go so you can celebrate and have your Thanksgiving
dinner in peace.”
“We plan to have a neighborhood party here tonight.
You are welcome to return to enjoy thanksgiving dinner with our friends,”
Peter invited him.
“That is nice, Peter, thank you.” Joel shook their
hands before turning to Trixie and adding, “I feel awful that you were
deprived of your driver’s education. This is so you can make up the class
through a private center for driver's education.” He handed her a check for
the expenses.”
“Oh, I have a job that is paying for my driver’s
education.” Trixie blushed, taking money like that felt awkward.
“Now, don’t return that. It is the least I can
do.” He refused to take the check back. “You shouldn’t have to work for your
driver’s education. I won’t see you being punished for something my children
did to you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Peter took the check from Trixie and looked down at
it. “I would feel exactly the same way if I were in your shoes.”
Joel nodded at Peter as he left. Joel felt much
better for being able to help Helen find closure in that chapter of her life.
He had a feeling about her work though. He noticed the painting on her easel
when he walked through her beautiful solarium filled with gorgeously displayed
houseplants. It was work worthy to display. Perhaps he would keep
in touch. Much money could be made assisting a new comer with talent of that
magnitude. He could use some new artists to display in his gallery.
“Dad, I don’t normally accept money for helping
people.” Trixie wasn’t sure how to feel about that check.
“I know that, but in this case it is different. In
high school, a driver’s education course is 75 dollars. That includes the
license expense., the permit and the classroom study. In a private school, you
pay eight hundred dollars. That is a huge difference and it was his daughter’s
fault. Making you take an alternative class. His making the expense less of a
burden on you is acceptable. You can place that money as a down payment on a
used car. Or place it in your college account.”
“Or--” Trixie’s eyes lit up. “--I could donate it to
the arts department at school.”
The End