Chapter Sixteen by Karen
Chapter 16
Trixie was still shaking when Sergeant Molinson arrived with the bomb squad. He sent the squad over to the package as he asked her what had happened.
Trixie said, "It was actually quite strange if you think about it. That they would know the name of our friend in Iowa. This is getting scarier than any other case I’ve ever been involved in and tonight was supposed to be so much fun and this weekend I’ve been looking forward to for so long and it’s all been ruined!"
Honey put her arm on her shoulder and said, "Well, I think if you don’t go to the dance tonight it will be letting the criminals win. So go tonight and have the best time you possibly can."
Trixie smiled at her best friend and said, "You’re right. I’m going to go. In fact, it should be starting. Let’s be on our way!"
Jim said, "We’ll all work on making this night as special as possible for you, Trixie, especially me."
Trixie blushed and they answered a few more questions from Molinson and were off.
Meanwhile, the small band of criminals was finishing dropping off their little packages in and around Sleepyside.
Larry Jones said, "Now we can get our revenge on this little town. Just a few years ago I had it made. I had a nice inheritance coming to someone I had control of and then that snoopy blonde and her friend ruined it for me!"
Stubby said, "And what happened to our money laundering scheme that her father helped uncover at the Sleepyside Bank when we first tried revenge. Oh, how sweet revenge is going to be for both of us, for our whole group of Sleepyside misfits!"
Larry said, "And then finding out that Peter Belden is Trixie’s father and then watching Trixie spending time with who I once thought of as my little gold mine--this is going to be so much fun! Revenge on everyone who has ever messed up my life!"
Stubby and the others gathered around him and Stubby said, "Tell us the story once again. I don’t think the others have heard everything yet."
Jones said, "About seven years ago I married a beautiful woman named Katie Frayne who had a son named Jim. I found out that he was set to inherit half a million dollars from his great uncle after whom he was named. After Katie died I became his legal guardian and everything was going fine until he ran away and Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler found him and I lost guardianship and access to all that money. After spending some time in the pen, where Stubby and I met, we came back to Sleepyside and tried to make money out of a quote unquote stock venture at Olyfant’s hotel but we were caught. Luckily no jail time this time but we want revenge!"
The others all laughed and Stubby said, "And we will all get our revenge tonight. Sleepyside, New York is never going to be the same!"
The dance had started and, despite her worries, Trixie found herself having a wonderful time.
She danced with Jim, Dan and, her brothers and then she and Jim headed over to the punch bowl.
Jim poured her a glass of punch and said, "I’m so happy to see you having a good tme. I was so worried that what happened would completely ruin your night!"
Mr. Belden walked over to them and said, "Trixie, I was just talking to one of the police officers and found out what happened. Thank goodness you figured out it was a bomb before it was too late. Are you sure you’re okay?"
Trixie said, "I’m doing well now but want those crooks to be found." She paused, crooking her head. "Do you hear something funny, Dad or Jim?"
Jones saw the three people he wanted to get most in the world standing together and decided that it was a perfect time. He snuck behind the bushes to over where the punch was, carrying the one extra package in his hands.
End of Chapter Sixteen written by Karen.