Chapter 9
The following day, after putting Jim on the plane for Holland, Matt Wheeler stepped out of his apartment to retrieve his daily newspaper. He was aghast as he unfolded the paper and the headlines read "Millionaire's adopted son delves into suspected murder from several years ago". Angrily, Matt picked up the phone to call the private investigator he had dealt with yesterday.
"I don't know who leaked this information to the press, Matt," Norm Harrell replied, when Matt berated him. "You've known me too long, you know I would never do that."
"You're right," Matt said, finally calming down. "But, this puts Jim and possibly the remainder of my family and friends at risk, I just hate that this has happened."
The private detective agreed with him. "Oh, before we hang up," said Norm. "Let me just inform you that I traced Jones and his brother to a farm in upstate New York."
"Well, that's great!" Matt said, feeling relieved. "You can at least have them picked up on suspicion of murder."
"Well, we might have," said Norm. "But, they've disappeared and no one seems to know where they've gone. So, just make sure your family is careful, especially since this news has leaked out."
Later, Norm discovered that it was his new secretary who leaked the information to the press. She was promptly fired.
Meanwhile back in Sleepyside
Trixie hurriedly finished the daily dusting and then climbed the stairs to make her bed. She so wanted to work on the latest mystery that had been inadvertently dropped in her lap, but there was dusting and all the other chores to do. I can't wait till I graduate high school and college and become a detective full time, she thought as she stripped the sheets off her bed. "I'll hire a maid." After finishing up and going downstairs for a lunch of garden vegetable soup along with Mom's homemade bread and fresh strawberries with whipped cream for desert, she finished up her chores and climbed the stairs to her room. She had made up her mind to read Jim's Mother's diary this afternoon, to determine if there were any clues that would help put Jones and his brother away for good. She settled comfortably on the cushioned window seat in her room and opened up the faded pink book.
The diary began several months after Jim's father had died.
It's been eight long months since Winn died, Jim's mother wrote in a pretty feminine handwriting. I guess I'll never stop missing him. Jones has been so good to me, I wish I felt an attraction for him, but I just don't. And, he is so in love with me. I know if Betje were still alive, she would try to talk me out of this, but, I'm tired of being alone. I have to work this dead end waitress job and I am away from Jim all the time and when I am home, I'm so tired. Jones wants to marry me and he wants a wife that can be a homemaker. The only problem is, my little Jim hates him, but he'll come around, he would hate anyone who tried to take his father's place. I wish Betje were still alive to give me advice and support me.. I have made up my mind to marry Jones. Carl drove all the way down here from Connecticut yesterday to beg me not to marry Jonesy, but he doesn't know how good he is to me and he doesn't know how lonely I am or how tired and worried and frustrated I get. I believe I can learn to love Jones. I'll never love him like I loved Winn, but that doesn't mean I can't learn to love him in some form or fashion. He bought me a lovely pink lace dress to get married in, I haven't had anything new in so long....Today's my wedding day! I am so excited. Yesterday was my last day at work and I can be home with Jim every day now. Jones and I are going camping in the Adirondacks on our honeymoon and Jim is going to stay with my neighbors.
The next few entries spoke of her honeymoon and their life together immediately. Trixie skipped over most of that.
These were the entries after about six months or so:
I never thought I could be so miserable. Jones and I started out wonderfully. He was the most attentive husband in the world. He was even patient with Jim, even though Jim hated him. But, now, he has begun to act strangely. Sometimes, I will awaken and he will be standing over my bed staring at me, he looks like he's possessed with some kind of evil. I have to dress in either red, black or purple and I have to dress up for him when he comes home. He will go into a rage, if I'm not dressed up or not dressed in these colors. He has become very controlling. Several time lately, I've feared he would physically abuse me and I try very hard to keep that from happening or him going into one of his frightening rages. Even if it is midnight,when he arrives home, I have to have his dinner hot and waiting and I have to wait up for him. I am not allowed to have friends, nor does he want me to have any contact with my brother Carl. He makes all the decisions, I am not allowed to have any money of my own, nor am I allowed to leave the house unless he takes me. I told him the other day that I wanted out of the marriage and he told me he would see me dead before I'd leave him. Then, he accused me of being with other men. I don't know how he thinks I manage that, when I am a prisoner in this house.
Wow, Trixie thought. So, that is how Jim's mother had to live with him. Even though she died some years later, she must have lived a miserable existence.
Trixie read on: Jones brother Earl is so creepy. I have known many women that found him attractive, but when I look at him, all I see is evil. I wish he would just go somewhere and I would never have to see him.
I don't think there is any thing here that would convict Jones of murder. But, this does explain why someone like Jim's mom would've married a man like Jonesy, Trixie concluded to herself as she closed the diary.
Chapter 10
Several days later, Trixie had a dental appointment and she and Honey decided to bike into Sleepyside. The day was already showing signs of being swelteringly hot, even though it was early in the morning. After her time at the dentist, Honey wanted to go into Crimper's to look at a dress she had previously seen in the window.
"I don't think I want to go in," Trixie said, as they parked their bikes in the bike rack outside. "I'm just going to wait for you on this bench out here."
"Suit yourself," Honey said. "You could go in and get cooled off."
Trixie sat down on the bench in the shade of a big old tree beside Crimper's. As usual, her mind wondered to Jim, his family and this old mystery. She was sitting there daydreaming, when she heard a car pull up. She looked up and it was the big, black sedan from the night she and the girls went to the movies.
She looked around frantically. "Surely, he's not going to try to do anything in broad daylight." She thought. As she looked around, she realized there were people milling about, so she knew if she screamed as only she could scream, she would be heard.
"How do you do?" the very handsome man said as he stepped out of the car.
"So, are you going to try to force me into your car again?" Trixie asked sarcastically, standing and looking around for an escape route.
"Of course not, " he answered innocently, smiling that dashing smile. "You young ladies misunderstood my motives."
"Yeah right." As she studied him, she realized, that there was something very familiar about him. And then, all of a sudden, it dawned on her. "You're Jonesy's brother Earl, aren't you?" she asked.
"You say that like you're uttering a curse," he said continuing to smile as he stepped toward her and she stepped away from him.
"Why are you here in Sleepyside?"
"Oh, just to squelch some ugly rumors that have gotten started," he replied thoughtfully as if they were two people making small talk.
Several people came around the corner and Trixie chose that moment to take her leave.
"It's better to let sleeping dogs lie," He told her as he headed back to his car and she headed toward Crimper's. "Otherwise, people can get hurt."
Trixie looked at him and he had a cold, evil look in his eyes.
When Honey come out, Trixie told her what had happened.
"I don't think we should ride our bikes home," Honey told Trixie.
Trixie quickly agreed. They called Mart and told him it was too hot to ride their bikes home and asked him to come and get them. Of course, he complained, but he came.
Chapter 11
Trixie was dreaming about the summer she and Honey had discovered Jim. She remembered that night when the mansion had burned, she remembered vividly the smell of Jonesy's awful tobacco and she imagined she could smell it.
"Trixie, it's time to get up," she heard a voice say. "Come on, you all have work to do." Moms was waking her up, because today was the day they would harvest the raspberries.
She got out of bed, still feeling like she could smell that terrible tobacco smell. Trixie pulled on her oldest, most raggedy cutoffs and an old t-shirt and scrambled downstairs to breakfast. No one should have to get up this early in the summertime, she thought grumpily as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
"Come on, sunshine. Up and at them," Mart told her. She looked at him with rage in her eyes. "Oh!" he said, pretending to be scared. "Let me get away from her."
Trixie quickly fixed her plate of bacon and cheese omelets and a slice of homebaked bread with Moms apple butter and real butter slathered on it as she sat down to read the paper. Honey, Mart and Brian were almost finished eating and quickly gathered up containers to put the raspberries in as they wondered out of the kitchen. Trixie finished more slowly and reluctantly followed them out to the raspberry patch. They worked through the morning hours and only went inside to grab a glass of cold water.
Bobby was having his breakfast when Trixie came in. "Good morning, sport," Trixie said cheerfully, kissing him on the cheek.
"I want to go play with Larry and Terry and Moms won't let me," Bobby said pouting.
"That's because you've already been over there three times this week," Moms said, looking at him pointedly. "I don't want you to wear out your welcome."
"I'm bored!" he said, crossing his arms in front of him. Trixie and her mother had to hold back smiles.
"I'll tell you what, sport," Trixie said. "Maybe, when I get through helping Moms, I can get Diana to bring Larry and Terry over here. I'll be able to watch you guys then."
"I want them to come now!" Bobby said.
After explaining to Bobby why they couldn't come over now, Trixie headed back outside.
Later, while picking berries, Trixie saw Bobby headed toward his tree house. "I guess he's feeling better now," she mused for a moment.
"Hey get back to work, squaw," Mart told her.
"Worry about your own self," Trixie told him irritated as she wiped sweat off her forehead.
"Children, let's not get testy," Brian said jokingly as he and Honey continued to fill up their containers.
After working quite awhile and the day growing hotter and hotter, they finally went inside to cool off and have lunch. "Where's Bobby?" Trixie asked as she came and sat at the table.
"Oh, he was going to the tree house," Moms explained. "He wanted to take a sandwich and some lemonade and have his own little picnic, so I let him. He's really bored since school has been out."
Moms and the Bob-Whites had a delicious lunch of tuna salad sandwiches, garden salad with Moms special homemade ranch dressing, potato salad and iced tea with lemon. For dessert, there was Moms' special lemon cheesecake with raspberry topping.
"Oh Mrs. Belden, this desert is divine," Honey exclaimed as she swallowed her first bite.
They continued to make small talk around the table and after eating everything at the table, finally decided to get back to work.
Chapter 12
Honey, Brian, Trixie and Mart worked through the sweltering afternoon, filling up buckets with the ripe, sweet raspberries.
"Man!" Mart said as they finished picking the last of the berries. "I'm ready for a swim." He quickly took out a red bandanna handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
"I've been ready for the past two hours," said Brian, wiping his own forehead.
"Let's get these buckets into Moms and get our swimsuits on," Trixie suggested as they all began to grab up buckets and head toward the back of the house. They sat the raspberries on the porch and went inside to change.
"Mom," said Brian, "if it's okay, we're going swimming."
"Sure," said Mrs. Belden, stirring the raspberry jam she was making. "But first, could you go to the treehouse and check on Bobby? I haven't had time and it's past time for his nap. If he doesn't get some rest, you know how cranky he gets around dinnertime."
"Sure thing," said Mart, kissing his mom on the forehead. "We'll find the little scamp and bring him home for you."
They quickly put on their swimsuits, Honey and Trixie wore a cover over theirs and Trixie grabbed a couple of beach towels out of the hall closet. Then, they ran down the stairs and followed Brian into the woods to see if Bobby had fallen asleep in the treehouse. Bobby's half-eaten sandwich lay on a napkin and his half thermos of lemonade was open.
"I bet Bobby went home without Moms knowing it and probably went to his room to play and fell asleep," Trixie said.
"That's probably what happened," said Mart. "Should we just go ahead and go swimming?"
"I'd feel better if we made sure," Brian said.
So, the four went back toward Crabapple Farm. As they were walking a loud clap of thunder sounded and lightening blazed across the sky.
"We may not be going swimming after all," Mart said, looking up as a blast of cooler air wafted across them. "It looks like a storm's coming."
When they got to the farm, Trixie said. "You three wait here, I'll run up to make sure Bobby's in his room." She quickly went inside, ran up the stairs, threw open the door to Bobby's room, but his nicely made bed was untouched. The stuffed teddy bear and bunny rabbit were in their usual places on the pillow. She lifted the hem of the cheery red and blue plaid coverlet to see if he was under the bed. Well, he's not in here. She quickly checked all the upstairs rooms, but didn't see Bobby. She didn't feel any sense of panic and neither would the others, because Bobby had done things like this before.
As she ran down stairs, she heard the unmistakable sound of rain hitting the roof. "So much for going swimming today." She said to herself. The others had gathered in the living room. "Bobby wasn't up there." She told the others and Moms who had come into the living room when she heard the others. "Where do you think he's gone?" Moms asked worriedly. "Well, there's a million places." Brian said, putting his arm around his mother. "But don't worry, we'll find him."
"Bobby could've gone to Manor House to see Regan or Ms. Trask, you know how they spoil him," Honey suggested.
"Or to Diana's to see Larry and Terry," Mart said. "Even though he knows he's not allowed to walk up there without one of us."
"He could've gone to Mrs. Vanderpoel's to get some cookies or to see Old Brom," Trixie said.
"I'll call Diana and ask if they've seen him," Mart said, walking toward the phone. Once again, a loud clap of thunder sounded. Mart quickly picked up the phone. "The phone lines must've just been hit," he said, "The lines are dead."
"Moms," said Brian, "let us take your car. We'll go to all those places we just talked about, Bobby's bound to be at one of them."
The boys quickly changed back into their blue jeans and all four Bob-Whites raced for Moms station wagon. Moms stood on the porch watching them worriedly as they drove off in the midst of the downpour.
Chapter 13
After going to all the places they suggested, with an additional trip to see Dan and Mr. Maypenny to see if they had seen Bobby, they dejectedly and worriedly headed back to the farm. Dan decided to come with them.
"Don't worry," he told Trixie, putting his arm around her. "Bobby's probably already back by now."
"Yeah, he probably is," she said.
In addition to all the other places, they quickly checked the lake and the boathouse, with no sign of Bobby.
"Moms, is he back?" Trixie asked as she jumped out of the car and ran up the steps, oblivious to the rain and the fact she was getting soaked.
Moms was standing on the porch. "No!" she exclaimed. "You didn't find him?"
"Are the phones still out?" Mart asked.
"Yes," she told him. "Brian, I think you need to go get your father."
Honey, Brian and Mart stayed behind with Moms as Dan and Brian went to get Mr. Belden. In the meantime, Diana showed up along with Mrs. Vanderpoel and then Ms. Trask. Dan and Brian drove up after a while and Mr. Belden right behind them. Then, Spider Webster came and even though it was too early to officially declare him missing, Spider was planning to ride around Glen Road and try to find him.
Everyone was in a near state of panic, by this time and trying to figure out what to do next. "At least it's stopped raining," Trixie exclaimed, jumping up out of her chair. "I think we should go down some of the trails in the game preserve and see if he headed down one of them and got lost. Honey, let's go up and change clothes." She and Honey still had on their bathing suits and cover ups.
They quickly changed into jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes and headed downstairs.
"I think I'm going to go into Sleepyside and check at some of his playmates houses," Mr. Belden said.
"Dad, I'll come with you," Brian said.
"I want to go, too," said Mrs. Belden, her voice tremulous.
"No, honey," her husband told her. "You stay here in case he shows up."
Mr. Belden and Brian prepared to leave as Honey and Trixie came down the stairs. Everyone was gathered in the living room and no one saw the small figure standing in front of the screen door.
"Bobby!" Trixie exclaimed hugging him.
"Oh, thank God!" Mr. Belden said, rushing over and taking bobby out of her arms. All the BWG's and friends were ecstatic and so very relieved.
"Well," said Ms. Trask. "I guess all of us non-family members should maybe clear out?"
"Nonsense," said Mr. Belden. "Nobody's eaten in awhile. and we'd enjoy your company for dinner."
"Oh, we certainly would," agreed Mrs. Belden. "I was planning on cooking a roast and--"
"Well, you're not cooking this evening after the day you've had. Brian, find out how much everyone can eat and it's hamburgers, fries and shakes from Wimpy's for all, it's on me to celebrate Bobby's safe return."
"That sounds great," Diana said.
"Don't it though?" Mart said, his stomach growling.
Bobby was too tired to explain where he'd been or to receive the reprimands he would surely get, so he went right up to bed. The remainder of the people ate and enjoyed themselves for awhile.
Chapter 14
Bobby wouldn't talk much about where he'd gone the next day, but Trixie, Brian and Mart watched him closely and he was kept in the house. When it was time for Trixie to put him to bed for his afternoon nap and read Peter Rabbit to him, he began to tell her bits and pieces of where he'd gone and what he'd done.
"I was with my grown up friend," he said.
"Is he a real grown up friend or a pretend grown up?" Trixie asked.
"Oh, he's real and he's really tall," Bobby told her.
"Does he have a name?" she coaxed him, mindful of the fact that you couldn't rush Bobby.
"Yeah," said Bobby concentrating on the Peter Rabbit book in front of him.
"What is it?" she asked.
"His name's Earl," Bobby told her.
Trixie felt like her heart had hit the bottom of her stomach. She kept her tone light as she asked. "where did you and Earl go? " She asked him gently. "We went to his house. His house is just one room and it don't have a kitchen or nothing. It has a bathroom though. He lives on Thorn Street." "Thorn Street?" Trixie asked herself. "What did you do while you were there?" She asked him, but Bobby was tired of talking.
"Read to me!" he shouted excitedly and threw the Peter Rabbit book at her.
"Okay! okay!" Trixie said impatiently. Bobby could be so infuriating sometimes.
After Bobby finally fell asleep, Trixie tiptoed out of his room, softly closing the door behind her.
The End