Part III

Trixie was too stunned to speak. This man had to be kidding. Married? She could feel her face turning beet red with embarrassment.

"I’m sorry, Sir," Jim finally spoke up. "You’ve made a mistake. We’re not married. We’re here with her brothers, my sister, and some friends for a summer trip." Even Jim had a hard time getting through that explanation. She could see the corners of his mouth twitching.

Suddenly, the clerk’s face turned white as he loosened his tie. "I…Oh dear, I thought you were one of the honeymooning couples." His eyes grew big and apologetic, "P..please forgive me! I am new at this. Yesterday was my first day, and my manager told me that when the newlyweds arrived that we are to congratulate them!"

Trixie started to giggle as Jim’s grin grew bigger. "Don’t sweat it," Jim said good naturedly, "we won’t tell anyone, will we Trix?" Trixie couldn’t answer because she had her hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter but her curls were already bouncing.

The man finally regained his composure and Trixie and Jim stepped into the elevator and when the door shut, they started laughing uncontrollably. Finally Trixie was able stop laughing long enough to speak.

"Did I hear him right? He thought we were married?" Trixie said wiping her tears away.

"I’m glad you heard the same thing too," Jim said as he was finally able to calm down too.

"I didn’t know what to say at first," she said as she fixed her curls a bit. "I thought he was trying to flatter us or something. But really, married? I don’t even look old enough to convince anyone that I’m going to be driving next year!"

"Now Trix," he smiled at her, "have you looked in a mirror lately? You could pass for…oh, probably twenty."

Trixie shifted her weight to one leg and put her hands on her hips. "Oh knock it off, Jim Frayne. The way you said that, it sounds as if you really meant it."

"What if I do? You’re not fourteen anymore. You’re sweet sixteen."

"As if two years makes a big difference." Trixie turned to watch the "third floor" button light up.

Jim gazed at her. "You don’t know how much difference," was all he said and left it at that. The elevator door opened and they headed into their rooms. Honey was busy in the bathroom getting her swim things ready. She rounded the corner and nearly ran right into Trixie.

"Gosh, Trix, I didn’t hear you come in," Honey said. She was already in her bathing suit and had her swim cap in her hands. "Were there any messages?"

"Yes, there are five. Jim has them." Suddenly she remembered the clerk’s mistake and began laughing again, clutching her sides.

"What?" Honey asked looking at her best friend in disgust. Trixie sat down on the bed, reached into her suitcase and pulled out her bathing suit and towel. "Trixie Belden, you tell me what’s so funny!"

"Oh Honey," Trixie finally said, "you’ll never, ever guess what just happened down in the lobby!"

"You met the kidnapper and he confessed?" Trixie shook her head no. "You met a movie star!"

"Nope! Guess again!"

Honey put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. "I don’t know Trix, what if you just tell me?"

"Gleeps, Honey, you’re no fun." Trixie told Honey about how the clerk had mistakenly thought that she and Jim were honeymooners. Honey’s eyes grew big and she too, started laughing. "Imagine! I’m only sixteen, and he thinks I’m old enough to be married!"

"Give him the benefit of the doubt, Trixie. He didn’t know," Honey said as she picked up her towel. "You look old enough to be a ‘grown-up’. What did Jim think of it?"

"He was the only one with enough wits about him to explain that we weren’t married," she said. "I was too stunned to talk, I guess!"

"How perfectly funny!" Honey said leaning against the wall. "We’d better hurry. Everyone’s down at the beach already. They’ll think we got lost."

"No, we’re just fashionably late." Trixie grinned at her friend. Honey knew all about social graces and probably would have had enough tact to ease her and Jim out of that situation in the lobby. Trixie didn’t have much practice at that sort of thing. Soon the two girls, arm in arm, headed down the stairs and out the door into the bright sunshine and strolled over to where the other Bob-Whites were sitting. Di and Hallie were attempting a sand castle while Dan and Mart laid on their beach towels talking. Brian and Jim weren’t anywhere to be seen.

"About time you two squaws showed you’re pretty little faces!" Mart said to Trixie and Honey. "Where, pray tell, are the elder members of the club Bob-White?"

"We thought they were down here with you," Trixie said.

"Here they come now," Dan said as he spotted Brian and Jim trudging across the sandy beach. Both men had big grins on their faces as they approached the others.

"What’s with you, Brian?" Trixie asked hastily noticing his smirk.

"It’s nothing, Trix, just a funny story." Brian winked at her as he took his shirt off and flung it at Mart.

"Last one in is a monkey’s uncle!" Mart yelled as he ducked the shirt and swiftly ran out into the ocean and dove in. Brian and Dan followed quickly. Jim slowly slipped his shirt off and handed it to Trixie.

"I guess I’m the monkey’s uncle, then," he said and followed the other men. Clutching his shirt tightly, Trixie stood there looking after him as he deftly ran out to the shore, skillfully dove in and swam around in the cobalt blue water with Brian, Mart, and Dan.

"Yoo-hoo, Trixie?" Trixie jumped back into reality at the sound of Honey’s voice. Honey laughed at her blank expression. Trixie’s face was rarely expressionless. "Let’s help Di and Hallie with this castle." The four girls molded the sand while they chatted.

"I wish we knew more about Kalani and her cousin," Trixie said. "It just seems weird that they don’t even want to get the police involved."

"It could be that because they’re secret and all," Hallie said.

"But Hallie," Trixie quickly broke in, "Kalani said that they weren’t secret. They just don’t want the police involved."

"I know it sounds odd," Di said as she cupped some sand into a little heap to sculpt into a tower for the castle, "but Daddy says that sometimes those organizations that like to remain out of the limelight will often times not notify any authorities if something has happened."

"You have a point there, Di," Trixie agreed with her. "I’d like to talk with her about this some more. Do you think we can convince the guys to maybe drop us off at the Capitol building again?"

"I don’t see why not," Honey added, "We’ll just tell them we’re interested in the room that Kalani took us through."

"But Honey, wouldn’t that be lying?" Hallie frowned at her friend with wide brown eyes. "You’re really going there to, well, snoop and ask Kalani questions."

Trixie laughed at Hallie’s expression. "Yes, Hallie, we’re going to snoop. But, you see, we have a way of not really lying to them." Honey simply grinned and nodded her head slightly. "Honey and I’ll tell them that we really want to go back and look around in that room, and while we’re there we’ll check up on Kalani. It’s true because we really do want to look around that room some more, but we’ll do more talking to Kalani than we will tell them."

Di stopped working on the castle and said to Trixie, "Now I know how you get yourself into these situations. First you tell the boys that you are going to do this but you end up doing that." She shook her head. "Personally, I’d rather let the police handle this. Kidnapping is a federal offense and I don’t want to end up kidnapped myself either. I think I’d rather see volcanoes tomorrow."

"Fine," Trixie said hastily, but with a grin, "You don’t have to come. Hallie?"

"I think I’d rather go with Di. It’s not every day I get to see a volcano."

"What do you mean?" Honey challenged Hallie, "you live in Idaho and there are volcanoes all over Washington."

"Only a few along the west coast of Washington," Hallie rebutted, "and they’re dormant ones too."

Trixie looked a little annoyed. "Well, you guys can go look at volcanoes all you want. Honey and I are going to the Capitol tomorrow even if we have to walk. We have all the rest of this week and next week to look at volcanoes. Right, Honey?"

"You know I’ll come with you, Trix," Honey said loyally. Many times she was hesitant to jump into anything with Trixie, but she was always loyal to her best friend. Trixie wanted to discuss the kidnapping further but the boys came back from their swim. They all talked and chatted and after a while went back into swimming again. Even though the sun was setting, the ocean front was still quite warm.

The Bob-Whites perched themselves on a boulder that stood three feet above the water. Off in the distance, Trixie heard the light beating of drums.

"Does anyone else hear that?" she asked as she craned her neck to listen.

"I’ve heard drums been beating like that for a while now," Di said quietly as the rest of the Bob-Whites craned their necks too. The beat was getting steadier and louder. Suddenly Di perked her head up and said, "I know what it is! It’s a Luau!"

"Neat!" Mart yelled. "Hey let’s swim back to shore, get our things, and go see what the luau is all about. Look!" Mart pointed at a glowing light in the distance. "That must be the shindig over there."

"Swell!" Dan said and stood up. "Let’s hurry!" Honey and Di quickly put their swim caps back on and slid into the water along with Hallie, Dan, Brian, and Mart. "Hey! You two coming?" Dan called back to Trixie and Jim who remained on the rock.

"We’ll catch up with you later," Trixie yelled. She wanted to go to the luau, too, but she felt the need to talk with Jim for a while. She looked over at the redhead sitting next to her on the rock. The moonlight glistened off his shiny hair and broad shoulders. He, likewise was staring at her too. "Jim, I still have a promise to keep with you. You wanted to hear about my dream. I’m still having troubled nights because of it."

"Okay, Trix. Was it really that disturbing to you?"

"Well, the dream itself was not really that disturbing, it’s just who was in it. I haven’t seen nor thought of him in two years. I can’t figure out why he’d be haunting me like this now?" Trixie stared out at the six other Bob-Whites’ bobbing heads as they swam back up to shore.

"I’ve never known anything to bother you so much." Jim scooted over next to her and folded his hands. "Come on, old girl, out with it."

Trixie still kept staring out at the six Bob-Whites as she told Jim about her dream Friday morning before leaving on the plane. Jim remained silent. He hated that man for everything he ever did to him, but now he was haunting Trixie. "Why do you think you saw him?" Jim knew she had an extra sense that usually helped her solve some of her cases.

"Honestly, I don’t know. I know my heart and brain are telling me something here. It’s like that dream I had about Regan that one time. It came true."

Jim looked startled. "What dream about Regan?"

"Oh! I thought I told you about that," Trixie said as she began to flush. It did sound weird for her to be telling Jim of dreams about another guy, especially someone they were all close to. "Remember when Honey and I went to Saratoga to find Regan? Well, one night before even arriving in Saratoga, I had a dream that I saw him at the racetrack and I was calling out his name and he didn’t hear me. Then later on, I saw him there. I even tried calling out at him, but he kept right on walking. That kind of scares me, because if that dream came true, what’s to stop Jonesy?"

"Well, the difference is, is that you associated Regan with the race track. You knew he’d be there. I think this dream about Jonesy was just a fluke." Jim smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. "I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you, kid. Don’t let him get you down."

 

Kid? So I really do look fourteen…I guess I’ll never grow up! She decided to change the subject. "Honey and I’d like to go back to the Capitol building tomorrow. We would like to look through that room some more and check up on Kalani. Di and Hallie don’t want to go. Do you think you could live with out Honey and I tomorrow morning?"

Jim simply grinned at her. "Sure. Go talk to Kalani and see what you can find out."

Trixie looked at him with her mouth gaping open. "I…we were only going to…"

"I know full well what you and Honey are going to do, and there’s no way I can stop you so I’m not even going to try." His face sobered as he said, "you were so passionate about finding the kidnapper today that I found myself agreeing with you." He laughed at his own words. "I also know what it’s like to be held against your own will. There were some nights that Jonesy’d just sit there and scowl at me. I wouldn’t be doing anything to hurt him and he’d get real mad. But the thing is, is he wouldn’t hit me. That was the worst part. He played on your emotions. Head games, you know. He used to haunt my dreams too, and I’m sorry he’s haunting yours."

"He’s not really haunting my dreams. It’s just that it was him, because I knew it was him. It looked like him, but at the same time, it didn’t look like him at all." Trixie stopped and grabbed a hold of her curls. "Oh woe, Jim! This is supposed to be a present for you and Brian and by telling you this, I’m just downright ruining it. You shouldn’t be thinking of that old beast."

"Aw Trix," Jim wrapped his fingers firmly around her shoulder, "he’s in the past. I think of him all the time, but I never let him drag me down." Trixie simply smiled up at him. "What do you say we get off this rock and get over to that luau?"

"Okay," she said, not really wanting to talk about Jonesy anymore than she had to. Jim stood up and helped her to her feet. Carefully, they slid down from the rock and into the nice warm ocean water. As soon as they gathered their things, Trixie told him she would rather change into some dryer things before going to the luau. He agreed to meet her there. Instead of heading up the staircase that was closer to them, she went around the wing to use the staircase on that side. Since so much had happened at the Capitol, she had forgotten all about the conversation she and Honey had heard and hoped that maybe there might be more clues. As she rounded the corner, she stopped short as she saw light shining through the very window that interested her. The window was shut tight but she could still hear voices.

"Well, tomorrow noon is it, Sam," the second voice from before said. "If you foul this one up, you’ll be sorry. Lou will see to that!"

"Listen, shorty…" Sam began but was cut off by the second man.

"Don’t call me that!" I know how you feel, Trixie thought.

Sam went on as if he wasn’t interrupted. "I know tomorrow is it. Her family wants her back, and they’re willing to pay. It’ll be quiet and done. Over with and no one has to know."

"Yeah, it is going to be over and done with." Trixie let a shiver run through her spine as he spoke. There was an uneasy silence as Trixie crouched low in the shadows. Suddenly she heard a loud thump come through the wall she hid against. It was so sudden it made her jump. "That’ll learn ya!" she heard Sam say loudly.

"Sam! What are you doing!" the second man pounced on him. "Do you want everyone in this hotel to know?" Suddenly Trixie felt a sick feeling in her stomach as she heard a soft little moan come from right next to her. "You shut up!" the second man hissed fiercely. "What the king wants, the king gets, and what Lou wants, Lou gets." He had someone held hostage right on the other side of the wall from her! "Sam, she makes a peep, you know what to do!" She heard a door slam. She peered up at the dark window and saw a dark figure standing there smoking a cigarette. A few minutes later the light went out.

She let her breath out and quietly scooted away from the window, back around the other side of the wing and through the door. Quickly she scrambled up the stairs and raced into her room and slammed the door. What the king wants, the king gets…this was too much. She hastily got dressed and hurried down the stairs and ran out the door. Unconsciously, she chose the door on the side of the hallway that was close to the very window she had been listening by and made her way across the lawn and found her friends enjoying themselves to the fullest. Many of the guests were in an arc around a huge bon fire clapping and cheering at the dancers.

"Hey Trix!" Honey greeted her, "You missed it! They already danced quite a bit and they are just now finishing so we can eat. They roasted a pig and everything! Isn’t this great?" Honey’s words were falling out all over as she spoke. Trixie could tell she was excited, but she needed to tell her about the conversation she just heard.

"Everything looks great, Honey." Trixie answered her friend quickly as she grabbed her by the hand and dragged her to a table. "I have something to tell you. You know that window where we heard that conversation?" Slowly Honey nodded. "Well, I passed by it again. They have someone in there. And he said something peculiar too. ‘What the king wants, the king gets. What Lou wants, Lou gets.’ The King! Get it? They have Kalani’s cousin!"

Honey gasped. "Are you sure that’s what he said?"

Trixie nodded her head so hard that her curls bounced. "Sure as sure. The window was shut tight but I could hear them plain as day. They must not be too worried about other people hearing them."

"What else did they say?" Honey asked, her eyes wide with a little excitement.

"Gosh, Honey, they said that the exchange is going to be made tomorrow at noon!" Trixie stopped for a minute and looked out at the raging bonfire. "And I know where too."

"Where?"

"They said that the exchange was supposed to have taken place there before, but Sam, that’s his name, tipped the waiter over and caused a scene." Trixie turned her eyes back to meet Honey’s hazel ones. "I’m sure of it. The exchange will happen at the Hamakua Restaurant."

"Trix, I don’t know about this," Honey said tracing the pattern in the tablecloth with her fingernail. "It’s just that, these people don’t want the police involved, so there’s no chance of a rescue if we do get into trouble. Second, if this man is the same one who they were describing on the radio…Trixie, he is an ex-convict! He’s probably raped and murdered!" Honey shivered slightly. "I know we’ve been up against some of the worst, but never rapists and murderers!"

"Honey, we don’t know what he was wanted for. We just know that he’s wanted and now have a chance to turn him in." She looked at her friend squarely in the face as she said, "I don’t want to do this alone and I want someone with me. I’m not talking about just my partner. I think that there are safety in numbers in cases like this."

"I can’t believe what I’m hearing!" Honey forced a laugh. "The Trixie Belden we all know and love would never suggest that the Bob-Whites accompany her on anything!"

Trixie blushed a little. "I know I know, but Honey, I don’t feel right about this. They spoke like they have no qualms about shooting anyone on sight. Then the other one said it’ll be quiet and done. ‘Over with and no one has to know.’ I just have one of my feelings about this."

"Are you saying that you want the Bob-Whites to be there with you?" Honey asked her friend.

"Well, yes. There’s just something not right and I…I don’t know what I’d do if they turned out to be another Blinky, Pedro, and Big Tony." Trixie shivered at the memory of her meeting with those three criminals. At the time, she didn’t realize what kind of danger she was putting herself in, and was thankful she hadn’t brought Honey with her. She thought a little harder about this, though, and decided that it would be better if she had the others with her.

"So then we need to go to the restaurant tomorrow instead of the Capitol building, right?" Honey asked.

"No, I think we should still go to the Capitol. Kalani should be there, maybe Kiu and Kawan too. I’m sure they’d like to help."

"I’m sure they would," Honey agreed, "but I’m not so sure they want our help." She looked into her friend’s big blue eyes. "Remember what Kiu did after I said that Kalani had received some bad news? He quickly ushered her away, sort of like he’s shutting us out. I don’t blame him either. We are complete strangers and they want to keep this secret."

"I guess you’re right, Honey. Maybe Kuhio will be there too. If we can convince him to get the police involved I can tell them where they’re keeping his daughter." Trixie sat silent for a while watching as people were mingling around and helping themselves to the variety of meats and vegetables. "Maybe if you and I went to talk with Kalani, without the rest, she might be more convinced to call the police. Kuhio will be the one to take more convincing. Maybe if we convince her, she can convince him." Trixie stopped as she saw Honey start to giggle. "What’s so funny?"

"You’ve ‘convinced’ me that you are allowing the police to intervene." Honey’s smile grew bigger as she squinted her eyes at Trixie. "Are you willing to work with the police because it’s not Captain Molinson?"

Trixie halfway smiled at her friend’s comment. "I don’t know. I guess I’m glad the Captain isn’t here to remind me that I promised to stay out of mysteries."

"Well, at least paper will digest," Honey said quickly. The two girls laughed at Trixie’s note to Captain Molinson earlier. "Shh, here come the boys." Brian and Jim pulled chairs up to the table and sat down next to the girls.

"Go get something to eat, girls," Brian said as soon as he noticed they didn’t have plates in front of them. "The food is real good."

"No, that’s alright," Trixie said looking at Brian’s plate heaped with ham, pineapple, and vegetables. "Where is everyone else?"

"Here come Dan, Hallie, and Di. Mart must still be at the buffet." Jim said as he and Brian pulled another table over to make one long table. Dan and Hallie sat down next to Jim and Di sat next to Brian. Then to Trixie he said, "Did you see the show? I didn’t notice you come in."

"I came in as it was ending." Trixie said as her eyes twinkled. "It looked wonderful!"

"I’ll say it was!" Hallie beamed. "The hula dancers swayed and jumped around the bonfire as four men played those drum things!"

"Those are bongos," Dan added smiling at Hallie.

"Anyway, then five men seemed to jump in from no where twirling batons of fire!" Hallie went on saying.

"Trix, you know the best part? They’re going to do this again on Friday so you won’t miss any of it!" Di was dripping with excitement. Mart came up to the table and sat down with his heaping plate. Di nibbled off of his plate as he ate. They laughed at talked and soon decided to head back to their hotel room.

"Well, good night, Trix," Di called as she and Hallie opened their door.

"No wait," Trixie called, "Honey and I need for all of you to come to our room for a few minutes. I have something to say." Honey stood behind her loyally nodding her head up and down. Within a few minutes all the Bob-Whites were settled in Trixie and Honey’s room. Trixie stood while the others sat on the beds and at the little dinette table.

"Honey and I did some talking when I finally arrived at the luau," she glanced at Honey, "I need all of your help in what’s going to happen tomorrow."

"Whoa, Trix," Mart cried out, "maybe before volunteering the fellow Bob-Whites on your little escapades, perhaps you ought to not be so secretive. What’s going on?"

"Hast thine patience completely eluded your cranial cavity in its entirety?" Trixie stared at him. "I was just getting to that." Trixie was getting better at proving to Mart that he wasn’t the only one who could say big words.

"Anyway," she began again and told them about the conversation she and Honey over heard last night and the one again tonight. "Those two men have someone in there with them who is being held against their will. We need to convince Kalani that the police need to be involved because that man is clearly the man from the restaurant. We all heard from the news broadcast that the man they were looking for was last seen at that restaurant that evening."

"Preposterous!" Mart laughed. "Your intentions are failing on me, dear shamus." He stood up and put his hands on his hips, "Might I inquire as to why you are so sure that prison escapees would take refuge at a resort in Hawaii?"

"I know it sounds silly, but here’s my theory," Trixie cleared her throat, "That man, who’s name is Sam, and the other one, Shorty, escaped from the prison in Texas. We know that Sam was riding the airplane with us because he nearly knocked Di off the railing. He was keeping himself concealed the whole time. I don’t know if Shorty was on the plane or not, but they tried making the exchange at the restaurant, but couldn’t because Sam knocked the waiter over and caused a scene. Next, Kalani tells us that her cousin has been kidnapped. Honestly, I have no idea why they are staying at an expensive resort, but they just are. Unless," she said thoughtfully, twisting a curl around her finger, "Lou has enough money to pay for their stay here, if police are checking out the cheaper hotels."

"So this all leads to two men whose conversation you overheard downstairs." Brian shook his head, "Trixie, I believe you when you say that you heard the men talking about ‘making an exchange,’ but why do you think these guys are the ones that escaped from the prison in Texas?"

"Because Shorty scolded Sam for knocking over the waiter at the Hamakua. He also commented on the fact that he saw some kids come out after him." Trixie said impatiently.

Jim spoke up. "So what do you need from us, Trix?"

"I need for us to be at the restaurant nonchalantly, be casual." She smiled at the others. "And it’s perfect too, because there are four girls, four boys. We can show up as couples."

Di shook her head as her eyes widened. "Trix, you know I have faith in this, but I’m not going. Those men mean business and I don’t think I, or any of us, should be there."

"Di’s right, Trixie," Hallie spoke up. "Why don’t we just let the boys handle this, or better yet, the police?"

Trixie rubbed her eyes and sighed. "Because the police, as far as Kuhio is concerned, won’t be there. He wants this whole matter unpublicized." Trixie looked at Honey for support, "That’s why we need to convince Kalani that the police really do need to be there. That man is wanted in another state, for one thing, and kidnapping is a federal offense."

"You know, Trixie’s right," Honey said quickly. "What makes the Royal Family easy targets is the fact that it’s known, around here at least, that they won’t call the police." She turned to Di, who still looked doubtful. "Di, remember that play our parents went to in New York with us, ‘The Pirates of Penzance?’ Remember what the Pirate King said? ‘We’re orphans ourselves. We would never hurt an orphan.’ Because of this, other pirates would just come aboard, declare themselves as orphans, and then attack."

Di nodded. "I remember him saying that, but never really applied it to real life situations. I guess if you openly declare that you won’t call the police, you’re going to be taken advantage of."

"That’s right," Trixie said impatiently, "that’s why we need to get the police involved."

Mart and Dan started laughing. "I never thought I’d see the day when our dare-devil Trixie actually wants the police involved!" Dan said, "Good thing Captain Molinson isn’t here to hear this."

Trixie just shrugged and grinned. "A good detective always works with the police, I guess. Are you all with us on this?" Jim and Dan’s hands went up instantly and Hallie’s followed soon after. Mart and Brian raised their hands. Di still looked unsure, but raised hers too. "Great! All for one and one for all."

While the Bob-Whites were discussing the activities for tomorrow, Trixie was quiet for a bit and then her eyes brightened. "How are Sam and Shorty going to get their hostage out of here without making a scene?" The other Bob-Whites shrugged and looked around at each other. "Someone needs to keep an eye on their door or the window. They could sneak out the window easily without being noticed." Suddenly the clock on her dresser chimed midnight and she had realized that they had all been yawning. "Gaa! We’ve been up this late? Why don’t we all meet tomorrow morning in our room and we can discuss this more." Everyone agreed and all returned to their rooms.

Trixie laid there wide awake thinking things through. She ran theories through her head, some worked, some didn’t. Soon she was waking up with a start. After a nice warm shower had cleared the cobwebs out of her head, she was thinking clearly. It was eight-thirty and the Bob-Whites gathered into Trixie and Honey’s room to hear about the day’s events.

"First thing we’re going to do is to take stations," Trixie stated flatly. "Mart, you and Di will look the least suspicious, so you two need to stay here at the hotel to follow Sam and Kaiu. You’ll need the station wagon." Trixie scribbled out a map on a scratch piece of paper as she spoke.

"But Trix," Brian interrupted, "how are we going to get anywhere if we don’t have a car? If we have the car, how are Mart and Di going to get anywhere?" Brian slumped down on Trixie’s bed. "I don’t know about this. I’m all for getting this man back where he’s supposed to be, but I think we should just call the police and stay out of it."

"Brian," Trixie ran her fingers through her curls, "calling the police will only make matters worse. Kuhio won’t cooperate if there’s police involved, and if Kuhio won’t cooperate, neither will Sam, Shorty, and Lou. It will probably result in Kaiu getting killed or something." This was really more complicated than she had thought. She knew that there was only one car among their assets, but there were eight Bob-Whites. "We need teamwork. Don’t think for one minute that I don’t want the police involved, because I do. We just need to talk Kuhio into it." Quickly, she told the Bob-Whites her plan. Little by little they all left the hotel except Mart and Di, who stayed behind. Honey and Trixie caught a taxi to the Capitol building, while Dan and Hallie took another taxi with Jim and Brian to the restaurant.

The taxi cab pulled up in front of the Capitol building and Honey promptly paid him. "How are we going to get to the restaurant again?" Honey asked.

"Let’s not worry about it," Trixie said confidently. "We need to convince Kalani first." They walked casually through the entrance of the capital and spotted Kalani right away.

"You girls are early!" Kalani said with a grin and wide eyes. "Tours don’t start until ten o’clock."

"Kalani," Trixie started with a deep breath, "We’re not here for a tour. We need to talk to you." Quickly, she looked around. "Is Kiu around?"

"No, he won’t be in today. He has a…he’s not feeling well," Kalani stammered out to the girls.

"Good, then we get to talk, er I mean, I’m sorry he’s sick and all, but we need to talk to you." Trixie could feel herself practically falling. If I’m not careful, I won’t convince Kalani of anything. Quickly, she led Kalani over to a corner of the large room. "I’ve been thinking quite a bit about your cousin, Kaiu."

Kalani’s face fell. "I told you kids not to be concerned with this. This is not your business!" Kalani’s eyes blazed at Trixie. "You don’t know anything about my family, nor do you know anything about the kidnappers. As I said before, just enjoy your stay."

"But there’s one slight problem," Trixie said before Kalani could walk away. "I do know who the kidnappers are." Kalani’s eyes stared daggers into Trixie as she turned on her heel and stomped away. Trixie saw one last chance and took it. "Great, then we’ll meet you at the Hamakua at noon?" Kalani stopped in mid stride and turned to face Trixie and Honey.

"Meet me in the courtyard," Kalani commanded the two girls.

Honey shook her head as they slowly walked out to the courtyard. "You know, Trixie, I’ve got to hand it to you. Most of the time your not-so-tactful way doesn’t work, but it sure got her attention this time."

"Well, she was all set to not believe me, but I had to make her see it somehow." Once again, Trixie and Honey found themselves in the courtyard of the Capital building. Kalani came through the doors a few minutes later and joined them.

"I want you girls to tell me exactly everything you know right now," she demanded. Trixie felt a little put off by her tone, but didn’t let it bother her. Quickly, Trixie and Honey told what they had overheard and experienced.

"So you see, Kalani, Sam is wanted in another state, possibly for the same crime," Trixie said as the fire in Kalani’s eyes seemed to dwindle away. "If the police didn’t get involved and it was found out later on, why, your family would be spread all over newspapers as people who aided and abetted an escaped convict. Imagine what kind of bad publicity you’d get then?"

Kalani thought for a little bit as her tension seemed to ease a little more. "But my uncle wouldn’t hear of it."

"He will as soon as he hears about these men." Honey said quietly.

"I suppose you’re right," Kalani said. "My uncle will be here in half an hour to pick me up. I’m supposed to get sick and call him in a few minutes. We had this planned." She stopped short and put her hands on each of the girls’ shoulders. "But I can’t have you come with me. He won’t have it."

"Don’t worry about us, we’ll be there alright," Trixie said as a big smile appeared across her face and her eyes twinkled. With that, Kalani ran back inside. Honey turned to her best friend and smiled. Casually, the girls strode back into the building and up to a pay phone.

"Honey, I’m out of change. Can you lend me some to call the hotel?" Honey handed her a few coins and soon Trixie was dialing the hotel’s phone number.

"Yes, if I describe someone to you, would you be able to tell me if they are there in your lobby?" Trixie asked hopefully.

"Well, ma’am, I can try."

"I’m looking for a young man and woman," Trixie started. "The man is about five-foot-nine with short blond hair in a crew cut. His name is Mart. The woman is about five-foot-six and has shoulder-length black hair. Her name is Diana."

"Would they be in the lobby or the restaurant?"

"The lobby, you see, we’re their friends and we’re supposed to meet them and just need to talk to them briefly."

"Well, I can try. Can you hold the line while I go look? The names were Mart and Diana, right?"

"Right and I can hold." She put her hand over the mouth piece and told Honey that the clerk is going to look for them. Suddenly the man came back on the line.

"No, ma’am, I’m sorry. There are no couples here, or anyone here for that matter, that fit those descriptions, nor are there anyone named Mart and Diana. Sorry. Anything else I can do for you?"

"Yes there is. Have you greeted any newlyweds this morning?"

"Excuse me? Newlyweds?"

"Yes, newlyweds," Trixie said impatiently into the phone.

"Well, there was one couple this morning, why?"

"Just curious, good-bye." She quickly hung up before the clerk could respond. "Come on Honey," Trixie took a hold of her hand, "the restaurant is only half a mile from here."

"Trixie Belden," Honey said as she looked at her smiling friend with confused eyes. "Newlyweds?"

"Oh Honey, don’t you see?" Trixie drew in a deep breath. "Remember when Jim and I came into the lobby to pick up any messages yesterday? The clerk thought we were newlyweds and congratulated us. He explained that it is mandatory that they congratulate any honeymooners who are staying there, and he got us confused with someone else."

"So what does that have to do with Mart and Di?" Honey asked with a twinkle in her eye as she giggled inwardly at her own comment.

Trixie giggled along with her. "Nothing, Honey. But it has everything to do with how Sam and Kaiu were able to leave the hotel unnoticed."

Honey gasped at Trixie’s revelation. "You’re right! What a perfect idea!"

"It was just a hunch," Trixie grinned. "I just hope that Mart and Di followed the right couple."

Soon the two girls were walking up the block to the restaurant. "Look," Honey said, "there’s the station wagon." She pointed to their rental car parked along the curb. "That must mean that Mart did follow them here."

"At least he knew enough to park it down the block a ways," Trixie caught site of the black sedan in the restaurant parking lot. "I don’t see the others, maybe they’re around back." Quickly, the two girls ducked behind one of the buildings and ran down the ally to the back of the Hamakua Restaurant. The overhangs and eaves blocked out any possible sunlight, and the ally was dark. They stopped short as they saw the silhouette of a husky man walking up the back steps to the restaurant, quietly opening the back door. Trixie felt Honey’s cold hand on her arm.

"It’s one of them," Honey whispered.

Trixie didn’t answer, but kept moving. She knew that if it was, he’d have to answer to four very tough men. As she moved closer, she let out a sigh of relief. "Jim!" she whispered hoarsely. The figure jumped and looked at them. Honey breathed a sigh as she saw it was Jim.

He quietly came down the stairs and rushed over to them. "Where have you two been? Are the police on their way?"

"We were talking to Kalani at the Capitol. Where’s Mart and Di? Did they get here?" Trixie whispered back to him.

"Mart and Di are in there! Did you call the police?"

"No." Trixie forced herself to answer. She didn’t want to admit to him that she hadn’t called the police.

Jim’s eyes blazed fire at her as he set his jaw. "Then go next door and call them!"

"But Jim…"

"Trix! Now!" He watched as she meekly turned around and headed back down the ally. He reached out for Honey’s arm and held her back. "Honey, I’ll go with her. I…" His face was pure white. "The others are over behind the meat locker." He took off and ran back down the ally after Trixie.

"Hey, Trix…" Jim said quietly as he caught up to her. Her strides became longer and she didn’t answer. He walked along side her in silence until they reached a pay phone. Trixie reached for the phone and dialed nine-one-one and waited.

"Yes. My name is Trixie Belden and I want to report a kidnapping. The Hamakua Restaurant. My brother and two of our friends." Jim could see that she was close to tears as she spoke. "Please don’t come and make a bunch of noise. The Hawaiian Royal Family is involved and they…they didn’t want me to call, you see." She waited for a bit as she listened to the operator. "Yes. Sam, Shorty, and Lou. That’s all I know. I don’t know any last names, other than I know for a fact that Sam is the escaped convict from the Texas prison." Trixie’s lip started to quiver a little as she spoke into the phone. "I don’t want anything to happen to my brother and friends….Thank you, I’ll be waiting in the dining room with my other brother and friends. Please hurry…" She hung up the phone and looked up at Jim who was leaning with his back against the phone booth.

"I’m sorry, Jim," Trixie said quietly.

"No, Trix, I’m sorry." Jim said as he looked down at his shoes. "I was fierce at you and I shouldn’t have been." He turned to face her, "I’m sorry. You mean everything in the world to me, and I would never want to lose you. I’m just as upset as you are. Mart is your brother, but he’s like a brother to me too."

"I love him, Jim," Trixie started walking back down the ally as she let a few tears escape. She hated to cry in front of him. "I’m sorry I ever got anyone involved in this case. That should be me in there instead of Mart! I’m the one who gets into these things! Not Mart! Not Di!" She started to get a little hysterical as Jim pulled her into a hug.

"Shhh, Trix. We’ll get through this." He held her close for a few seconds as she let the tears come. "Trix, you’re a tough girl. I’d feel bad for those criminals if they had you in there, but because you’re not the one tied up this time, you’re stronger. What do you say we get back there and show them that no one, no one messes with Trixie Belden, Sleepyside’s famous Shamus!"

"You made a rhyme," Trixie said with a half-hearted grin. She knew it wasn’t any time for jokes, but she needed to get her thoughts in order, and bawling on Jim’s shoulder wasn’t going to get Mart and Di out of the restaurant. Feeling better, she and Jim ran back down the ally and around the meat locker.

"The police are on their way," Trixie reported seeing Brian’s look. She knew she was in trouble now for not calling them, but he looked more at ease now that the police were coming.

"Trix," Hallie said as she wiped her tear stained, swollen eyes, "I’m scared…"

"I know, Hallie," Trixie said quietly, "I am too, but Mart and Di won’t benefit from that. We need to act, and act fast. The police will be here any minute and when they show up, it will only make things harder. I wish that Kuhio would see that the police can help."

Her statement made Brian glare at his sister. "So by you wanting the police involved, you don’t call them. That makes perfect sense, Trixie!"

"Knock it off, Brian!" Jim hissed at his best friend. "She’s just as scared as the rest of us. Let’s not worry about that now because the police are on their way and they’re being quiet about it too. We need to act fast. The restaurant opens at eleven-thirty and we need to be in there as soon as we can."

Jim stood up and helped the girls to their feet. "Dan, you still have that knife that you always carried?" For an answer, Dan pulled his jack-knife out of his pocket. "Dan, I know that as Bob-Whites, we would never do this. But we can’t let them get away."

Dan simply smiled at Jim. "I wish I could be as honorable as you, Jim. I slashed the tires on the sedan while you and Trixie were calling the police."

Jim’s jaw tightened as he looked across the parking lot and saw the flat tires on the black sedan. "Good thinking, Dan. Look," he said pointing to a basement window of the restaurant. The Bob-Whites quietly stepped close to the window and peeked in.

There in the far corner of the room Trixie saw Mart tied and gagged laying on the floor, and Di was gagged and strapped to a chair. "I don’t see anyone else in there," Trixie whispered to Jim but he didn’t respond. "They must be holding them until the exchange is made," Trixie said as she stood up. "Let’s get in there somehow."

"I heard the chef yelling like anything about the morning help never showing up," Dan said. "He’s livid. If we could sneak into the basement without him noticing, we can untie Mart and Di.

"We all can’t go down at once, though," Trixie said. "We’d sound like a herd of buffalo." She could hear the chef yell as they heard a crash in the kitchen. "Now’s our chance, Jim, come on." Trixie opened the back door and Jim followed. Quickly, she looked around and spotted a staircase that descended to the basement.

As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Jim and Trixie tip toed to a doorway to their left. Trixie tried the doorknob but it was locked. "Jim, give me your credit card," she whispered to him. "This just has to work." She slid the credit card between the door and the frame and shimmied it back and forth until she heard a click. Jim let his breath out and they rushed into the room. There in the corner still laid Mart, all tied up and gagged. Di woke at the sound of the click and relief was in her eyes as she saw her rescuers.

"Ssh, Di," Trixie said as she removed her gag. "Don’t say anything."

"But Mart," Di hoarsely whispered back to Trixie, "Is he alright?"

"Mart’s fine," Jim said as he helped his friend to his feet. Mart smiled at the sight of his sister and friend.

"Gosh, I’m so glad you’re here," Mart said as he rubbed the side of his head. "I remember following them here, and then got out of the car. After that, it’s all a blur." Mart’s love of big words seemed to escape him for the moment. "What all has happened yet? Did I miss any action?"

"No, nothing’s happened yet," Trixie said. "Come on, we need to get you out of here." They slipped out the door and quietly crept up the stairs. They could hear the chef grumbling over the fact that a whole group of people just walked into the dining room, and they’ll probably order everything on the menu as well. Trixie poked her head around the doorway and saw the chef busy at the grill, preparing lunch orders. Silently, each of the Bob-Whites made their way out the back door. Once outside, the Bob-Whites greeted Mart and Di with hugs.

"Wasn’t there anyone down in there?" Hallie asked, "I mean, didn’t you have any trouble?"

"There wasn’t a soul down there," Trixie said, slowly shaking her head.

"That’s what gets me, Trix," Jim said suspiciously. "Why wasn’t anyone watching over them?"

"Because they are more interested in Kaiu and what she’s worth. She’s royalty. Mart and Di are just some kids they caught following them." Trixie winced as she realized how that sounded.

"Oh sure, Trix," Mart glared at her, but his blue eyes twinkled, "we’re not worth anything?"

"Mart," Trixie said flashing him a grin, "I didn’t mean how that sounded and you know that. You’re my brother and Di is my friend, you two mean a lot to me."

"Alright," Jim said hastily, "cut the mush. There’s a kidnapping going on here in case anyone forgot."

"Yup," Trixie said smiling, "and if we just go into the restaurant like we had planned, we’ll catch them. The police should be here any minute, if they aren’t already." Trixie linked her arm around Jim’s. "We’re going in as couples. If we barge in all at once, we’ll make a scene and might make King Kuhio not want to cooperate."

One at a time, the couples walked around the restaurant and up the steps and greeted the host, who in turn showed them to their tables. Sitting at a long table in the back of the dining room were Kalani, Kawan, Kiu, and the same middle-aged man they had seen the day before, whom Trixie guessed was Kuhio. With their backs to everyone else were two men. One was tall and husky in build and the other was short and stocky.

"That must be Sam and Shorty," Trixie whispered to Jim, who carefully studied the situation. "I wish we were closer so we could hear what’s being said." She looked at Jim and grinned. "Like old times, huh? Wish I’d worn your sweater and heavy make-up."

He grinned back at her. "Maybe I could wear Mart’s jeans and Dan’s jacket and it’ll be a date." Then he leaned forward and whispered to her. "Maybe later."

The host walked up to their table and handed a note to Trixie. "Miss Trixie?" She nodded. "For you." She took the note and opened it up.

"Gosh, I can’t read this," Trixie said handing the note to the host, "Its in another language. Can you translate?"

The waiter took the note from her and looked at it. "It says, ‘the king is agreeable.’" He handed the note back to her.

"Thank you," she turned back to Jim and the host walked away. "This means that Kuhio is alright with the police being here." There seemed to be more said at the table right now and Trixie was more interested in what was happening there than anything else. "Shh, I think they’re going to make the exchange. They’ve been in negotiations for a while."

"Wait!" Trixie whispered, "I think this is it." As soon as Trixie said this, the group stood up from their table and headed through the dining room and out the door. Kalani didn’t seem to notice Trixie at all.

"Quick!" Trixie said to Jim, "through the kitchen!"

Jim was already up and through the kitchen door and the other Bob-Whites followed suit. Yells came from the chef came booming through the walls as the Bob-Whites bounded through the kitchen. He stood there watching as Di, the last one through the kitchen, turned around and apologized quickly. He ripped his apron off and threw it down in disgust.

Jim and Dan were in the lead with Trixie racing close behind them. "Where are the police, Trixie?" Di squealed from the rear of the group. "Are they here yet?"

"I don’t know," Trixie called over her shoulder. Brian and Mart gained a lead over Trixie but still remained behind Dan and Jim. They stopped as they spotted the kidnappers hurrying towards the black sedan. The Royal Family was nowhere to be seen. "Let’s sneak up behind them," she said quietly. "There are two kidnappers and we can take them!"

"Lets go men!" Jim said. Turning to Trixie he added, "And women."

Feeling over exerted with power at Jim’s compliment, she tore after the boys as they took off after the kidnappers.

"Lou!" Sam shouted, "Someone slashed our tires!"

"Don’t you think I saw that?" the shorter man screamed at Sam with exasperation. "You know sometimes you just make me so furious! I should have left you in Texas! I would have had this thing done earlier if it weren’t for you!" Lou was rampaging at Sam so furiously he failed to see the Bob-Whites creep up behind him. Instantly, he stopped as he realized what was happening, but it was too late. Jim landed Sam a blow to the jaw before he could do anything to defend himself and he landed up against the car. Dan took Lou down quickly. However, Lou was able to defend himself due to his quickness.

Honey stood back with Hallie and Di, watching the rest fight. "Di, why don’t you and Hallie go inside and call the police again. I don’t know what’s happened to them and they should have been here by now!" Di quickly nodded at Honey’s suggestion, and took off for the restaurant.

Brian helped take care of Sam, as he was the bigger of the two. Sam took all of his strength and shoved Jim away into a nearby car. He winced in pain as the car’s door handle dug into his back, but recovered quickly. Sam charged at him, but Jim dodged and swung around his back. Brian jumped in to help as they hefted the large man back into his own car, knocking him to the ground. Lou pulled a gun out on Dan and threatened to shoot, but Mart, who was behind him reached his long arm around and knocked the gun out of his hands. Lou left himself wide open for a one-two from Dan, which knocked him over.

Brian held Sam’s legs while Jim held Sam face down on the pavement, with his arms locked around Sam’s. "Trix…umph…get the gun!" Jim struggled with Sam while Mart and Dan easily held down Lou. She ran over and stooped to get the gun, but a second hand reached for it.

"Not so fast, Trixie," said the voice. Trixie looked up to see Kawan staring at her with a small grin spreading across his face.

"Kawan!" Trixie exclaimed. "Or should I say Shorty." He looked a little startled at her revelation, but kept the gun in his hand aimed at her.

"If you all know what’s best for you, you’ll get off my partners and just forget this little incident ever happened." His menacing smile broadened as he looked directly into Trixie’s angry blue eyes.

"How could you do this to your family?" Mart asked furiously.

"They aren’t his family," Trixie answered for him. "Remember he didn’t identify Kiu as his brother until after he walked away?"

"Trix!" Jim yelped, "I’m slipping here!" Sam flailed his arms violently as Jim kept a strong grip on him. Lou was regaining his strength too.

"You’re the clever one so I think I’ll take you." Kawan sneered at her. "Now let them up!" He demanded the boys as he grabbed a hold of Trixie.

Honey, finding courage from deep down, stepped up from behind and kicked him in the back of the knee, sending him to the ground. Trixie grabbed the gun and hastily handed it to Jim, who smacked Sam up against the head with it, knocking him out cold. He tossed the gun to Dan and immediately jumped on Kawan who had been able to regain himself. Instantly, Jim slammed Kawan into the black sedan, hitting his head and knocking him out. Lou was out cold too.

"Here, Jim," Dan threw a set of keys at him, "These fell out of Lou’s pocket." Jim caught them and opened the trunk to reveal a small dark haired woman, tied and gagged.

"Brian," Jim called, "help me with her, please." Brian rushed over to help untie the poor small woman and lifted her out of the trunk, and immediately began checking her for shock or any injuries. Jim grabbed the rope Brian took off the girl and handed it to Dan, who in turn skillfully tied up Lou. He dug around in the trunk and found more rope. With Dan’s knife, he cut proper lengths and soon, they had all three men tied up. Brian left the girl in Trixie and Honey’s care as he helped load the men into the sedan. Jim used the extra rope to tie the doors shut by looping the rope tightly around the handles and over the roof to loop around the door handles on the other side.

"Kaiu?" Trixie asked the young woman. "Are you okay?" She nodded and took a deep breath.

"It was getting stuffy in there…" the woman said faintly.

"It’s best if you try not to talk." Brian said finally. "We don’t know how long you’ve been in there." Just then Hallie and Di came running across the parking lot and joined up with the rest. "Are they on their way?"

"Yes," Hallie said. "They failed to show up the first time because of a misunderstanding. They wouldn’t explain, but just said they were on their way.

Dan looked furious. "One of us might have been killed!"

Jim’s face grew white at the Dan’s words. He was right. Trixie, or any one of them could have been killed. Trixie left Kaiu with the other three girls as she noticed Jim wiping a small amount of blood from his lip and resting against the car.

Trixie stood there laughing. "We look like we’ve been run over!"

"Well, Trix," Jim said grinning, "we don’t normally take on three full grown men at one time."

"Oh, look at you," Trixie crooned handing Jim her handkerchief. Lightly, he accepted it and smiled at her. She leaned against the car next to him and looked down into the backseat to reassure herself that the men had been caught. Instead, she saw Sam staring at her with piercing, icy blue eyes and his dark slick hair. It had occurred to her that she never really did get a good look at him. A shiver went up her spine as she saw him smile at her, with menacing yellow teeth. Quickly, she squirmed next to Jim and forced herself to turn away from him. She could still feel his eyes, stabbing her like daggers in her back. He might have been the clumsy one, but he sure looked fierce.

Within minutes they heard the sound of police sirens and squad cars screeched into the parking lot. Instantly, the police officers took the men into custody and checked over the Bob-Whites to make sure they were okay. The Captain strode over to the Bob-Whites and apologized sincerely for the mishap.

"My name is Captain Liu. There was a misunderstanding with the dispatcher," the Captain explained, "she gave us the wrong address. Please accept my apologies, and please let the Honolulu Police Department make it up to you."

"I thought that maybe Captain Molinson got in touch with you to warn you about me," Trixie laughed slightly. Captain Liu looked confused. "He’s the Captain of Police in the Sleepyside precinct, just outside New York City. He and I know each other all too well." The other Bob-Whites laughed.

"Miss, are you in trouble with the law?" he asked cautiously.

Jim stepped forward. "Maybe I can explain. You see, she solves crimes and mysteries in Sleepyside, and usually finds the answer long before Captain Molinson does. She’s a tough girl, and someday she’ll make a fine detective." Trixie blushed at his compliment.

"That’s right," Honey chimed in. "We’re going to be partners someday."

"I’d like to thank you for calling the police, but I wish you hadn’t gone after them yourselves." the Captain said with concern in his voice. "These are dangerous men, you know."

"I know," Trixie said looking down at a pebble near her foot. "These guys all told me that already, but you think I listen?"

"Nooooo!" all the Bob-Whites sang to her.

A local reporter showed up to get the scoop on the events and to interview the Bob-Whites. King Kuhio, seeing that Kaiu was standing with the group, raced over to her and lifted her up in his arms and cried with joy. "I feel so bad," he said shamefacedly to Trixie. "You are a nice group of teen-agers who act on what you believe. I don’t know if I can ever apologize enough for insisting that there would be no police." He slowly pulled a key out of his pocket and presented it to Captain Liu. "I paid the ransom for this key which was supposed to lead me to Kaiu." He looked at his daughter at his side. "This little flower means everything to me, and she was with those crooks the whole time. I would have arrived to an empty hotel room, and they would be long gone."

Trixie stood there not really knowing what to say. She had reunited families before, and each time she felt overcome with emotion. Each experience was like new. Suddenly, the reporter snapped a shot of Kuhio holding Kaiu tightly in his arms, but Kuhio didn’t seem to notice. Everything’s so perfect! Trixie thought as she stole a glance at Honey, who was beaming rays of joy.

The Bob-Whites gave their statements to the Captain and Trixie explained the incident at the airport with Di, at the Hamakua Restaurant, and the conversations she and Honey overheard.

"We didn’t mean to eavesdrop the first time, Sir," Trixie explained, "it’s just that they were talking so loud that we really couldn’t help it."

"I know you didn’t so I will end it there." Captain Liu looked squarely at Trixie. "Your statements will help with the prosecution and we will deport him back to the Texas State Prison. We have been after these hoodlums for a while now." Captain Liu clicked his heels together and bowed slightly toward Trixie, who in turn, thrust out her hand for a handshake.

"Hurrah for Trix!" Mart shouted and patted his sister on the back. "She always gets her man!"

After the reporter took pictures and captured a story, the Bob-Whites headed back to the hotel to clean up. "Wasn’t that simply marvelous of King Kuhio to invite us for dinner tonight?" Honey asked smiling.

"I’ll say it was! Imagine! And as a special thanks, the King is going to send us something as well!" Trixie’s blue eyes sparkled at the thought. It’s a good thing he doesn’t want us there until late because we’re dirty as pigs, you know."

"I felt especially bad for the boys," Honey added as she sat down on her bed. "They looked horrible! But did you notice, they didn’t really seem to mind?"

"I’ve noticed since the first time they ever fought anyone, that they never seem to mind." Trixie said.

"Any ideas on what Kuhio’s sending us?" Di asked the other girls.

"No, I don’t." Hallie said. "I did see him conversing quietly with Kalani, but didn’t think anything of it until he told us we had gifts of thanks being sent to us, and we should receive them before we are to be at his place."

"Oh well," Trixie said at last, "I’m filthy, so I’m going to shower." When she was done showering she heard the girls squealing over something. Quickly, she dried off and burst into the room to see Honey and Di holding floral print Hawaiian dresses up to themselves and gazing in the mirror.

"Will you just look at these?" Honey spun around to show Trixie. "Divine!"

"Wow!" was all Trixie could say.

Di handed a dress to Trixie and she held it up to herself too. "Gosh, I don’t know about this, Honey," Trixie said as her face fell. "Looking at these dresses, I don’t really have the figure for these. I’d be better off in one of my outfits.

"Don’t be silly, Trix," Honey said pulling Trixie’s dress out of the plastic garment protector. "Here, slip this on and we’ll be the judges of what looks good on you." Trixie obeyed and put the dress on. After clasping dress over her right shoulder, she studied the freckle-faced blond in the mirror wearing an ankle length, blue and white swirl pattern wrap gown. "Here," Honey draped a sheer blue waist length scarf over Trixie’s right shoulder and attached it to the clasp with a silver hummingbird. "This came with it." Trixie’s final appearance was met with smiles from Hallie and Di, and a gasp from Honey.

"Good grief, look at me," Trixe said gawking at herself in the mirror, "Moms would hate this dress, you know." She pointed to her left shoulder, which remained bare.

"I know," Hallie said. "My mom wouldn’t like these dresses very well either, but I think because they were given to us, and its for a Hawaiian celebration, we should wear them anyway. It’s not as if they are really all that revealing." Hallie picked up a small ruffled, flowered band and studied it. "What do you think these are? They came with the dresses too."

Trixie shrugged as she took hers. "I don’t know, maybe a bracelet?" She slipped it over her hand and around her wrist. The other girls followed suit, as they didn’t know what they were either.

"Well, Trix," Honey said laying her dark burgundy colored dress on her bed, "I’ll leave you here to primp yourself while I take a shower."

After Hallie and Di left with their dresses, Trixie stared at herself for a while thinking back to Valentines Day, three years ago. She was nearly fourteen at the time, and wore a simple white cotton dress with green shoes. She turned to see her profile in the mirror and saw a beautiful, shapely woman looking back. As she turned to face her front again, she saw a handsome redhead sneak up behind her and slip a dainty diamond necklace around her neck.

"You look beautiful," Jim said in her ear. She touched the necklace gently and moved her hand up to gracefully touch Jim’s cheek, but all of the sudden he disappeared and so did the necklace. She spun around to where Jim was standing and didn’t see anybody. Embarrassed, she giggled at herself in the mirror and busied herself in straightening the room. As soon as Honey was finished, she slipped her dress on and neatly styled her hair.

"Are you girls ready?" Di’s voice came through the common door.

"As we’re ever going to get," Trixie announced, "Come on in."

"Oh Trix," Di exclaimed, "You simply can’t be ready, not like that!" She rushed into her room and came back with her make-up bag.

"No way. Nope!" Trixie protested. "Don’t even try, Di. I will never look like you guys. I was silly in leaving my make up home, so it’ll be my fault. I’ll just have to go without."

"Don’t be silly, Trixie," Hallie said putting her arm around her cousin. "I left mine home too. Didn’t think I’d need it so Honey let me have some of hers."

"Well, that’s different," Trixie said wiggling away from Hallie, "You and Honey have the same colors. Di and I look as different as night and day."

"How?" Di demanded.

"One," Trixie ticked on her fingers, "you have violet eyes. Mine are blue. Two, You have black hair. Mine is blond. Three…"

"Listen Trixie," Di said putting one hand on her hip. "You and I might have different features, but we still have light colored skin, so sit down and keep quiet while I make you look like a woman for a change." Trixie laughed, sat down, and let Di apply the make up. "There," Di said finally, "A work of art." The other girls gave her approving glances. After making final preparations on themselves, they hurried down to meet the men in the lobby.

The elevator dinged and the door slid open to unveil four attractive looking women. Brian, Mart, Jim, and Dan were standing just beyond the fountain, dressed in light colored suit coats and slacks to match. Jim took a hold of Trixie’s hand as the others escorted their ‘dates’ out the door to the rental car.

Jim’s green eyes twinkled merrily as he held the passenger door open for her. As she slid past him and into the car, she noticed his new cuff links and tie tack.

"Say, those are pretty nice, Jim, where’d you get them?" Trixie asked when he let himself in on the driver’s side.

"Gee, I don’t know if I should tell you, Trix," Jim smiled at her. "Some cute blonde woman gave them to me." Then he leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "You look lovely, Trixie." She blushed and tried to hide her grin, but she wasn’t that strong.

"Ahem," Brian broke in. "The party?" This time it was Jim’s turn to blush. His face grew as red as his hair.

Soon, all the Bob-Whites were on their way to Kuhio’s place. Jim drove with Brian giving him directions from a map that Kuhio had given them. As they pulled up to a large estate, Kalani burst through the large French doors and greeted each of them. She was dressed in a floral wrap skirt, a traditional cloth draped around her, and there was a beautiful red flower pinned in her hair. She led them through the gate into the vast yard and the family members stopped what they were doing to welcome the Bob-Whites. Kaiu rushed up to Trixie and took a hold of her hands.

"I apologize for not thanking you earlier, but I was in shock." Her eyes danced from one Bob-White to the other. "I am so happy to see everybody. I didn’t think I would again."

"But, aren’t you injured at all?" Trixie looked at the young woman, who seemed to be as fit as ever. "I heard someone throw you against the wall back at the hotel?"

"No, I was already against the wall," Kaiu explained. "Kawan kicked the wall just above me, to scare me. That’s all." She smiled again. "Please come and sit with us!" Kalani and the young woman led them to a long table.

Honey nudged Trixie in the ribs. "Look," she pointed at the ankles of the other women. "Looks like these bracelet things go on your ankles." After they seated themselves at the table, Trixie and Honey discretely switched the bracelet from their wrists to their left ankles. Di and Hallie copied them. Jim and Trixie found themselves sitting next to each other at one end, Honey and Brian, Hallie and Dan, and Di and Mart.

In the middle of the room was a large banquet table set up and young men preparing a bon fire. Soon dinner was underway and the Bob-Whites were stuffed. King Kuhio announced the return of his daughter, Princess Kaiu and gestured to the group of eight young people who were able to track her down. He also explained how wrong he had been to not call the police. A young man stood next to Kuhio that the Bob-Whites had not yet seen.

"Trixie," King Kuhio said as he turned to face her, "Kawika would especially like to say a few words to you."

The smiling young man stepped up and took her hands. "Trixie, you must realize that you are a hero to Hawaiian Royalty. If you, and your friends hadn’t caught the kidnappers, the dynasty would be without a Princess, a future monarch, and my future wife." Trixie gasped at his words. "It is true. Kaiu and I are to be wed in three months. We would like to express our thanks." Kaiu and three other women walked up to the Bob-Whites and hung bright colored flowered leis around their necks. Kaiu stood next to Kawika while the others stepped back.

All of this left Trixie speechless. She had never received such treatment before. Usually, the thanks she gets from Captain Molinson is a simple thanks and a smile. Then, the rest of the time, she gets a frown and a ‘beat it, kid.’ The couple hugged and kissed each Bob-White and stepped back next to King Kuhio.

All through dinner, the Bob-Whites were entertained with dancers, singers, and fire-juggling acts. Di brought her camera to the dinner to take pictures of everything and she was sure to have their pictures taken with the Royal Family.

It was late into the night when the Bob-Whites thanked the Royal Family for the gifts and dinner, and finally arrived back at their hotel. None of them were the least bit sleepy, so they decided to meet down in the outdoor restaurant just to chat.

"You know, this will be one more feather in your cap, Trix," Honey said proudly to her best friend. "Captain Molinson won’t be able to say that you’re just a nosy kid."

"I think it’s funny that he still calls me ‘nosy’ when he’s called on our help before. Remember the Dodge kids, and he sure wouldn’t have had a case with Mrs. Elliot if it weren’t for us Bob-Whites."

"In light of what I said earlier about our younger sibling, I still think we should give the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a run for their money and send our favorite shamuses to the moon," Mart said with a grin.

"Yeah," Di agreed, "NASA too!" The Bob-Whites started laughing at Di’s innocent comment, but all she could do is sit there and wonder what they were laughing at.

"Don’t worry about it, Di," Mart said lifting his black-haired, violet-eyed beauty onto his lap. "They’re just agreeing with you."

They chatted for a while and finally decided it was time for bed. They were going to take the day off tomorrow from site seeing and just relax. Trixie and Jim stayed back at the table while the rest headed through the door and up the stairs. Brian held the door open for Honey, but she turned and gestured to Trixie to come on in with them.

"No, you go ahead. We’ll be up in a while." Trixie said. Honey threw her a knowing grin and started up the stairs. Trixie leaned forward and rested her chin on the palm of her hand and sighed.

"What’s the sigh about, Trix," Jim asked sliding his arm around her waist. She felt a little shiver as he did.

"I guess its inevitable," she said, "that everywhere I go, a mystery pops up." She folded her arms on the table and looked at him squarely in the face. "But there’s one mystery I haven’t been able to figure out on this trip. It’s really baffling me too."

Jim raised his eyebrows at her. "Well, what?"

"Why didn’t any of you men, especially you, Jim Frayne, ever, ever try to stop me? I didn’t get one lecture from any of you." She glanced at the corner of his mouth, which had been bleeding before. "You four sure put up a fight, and you didn’t even object to my fighting with you. Maybe the answer is right in front of me, and I just can’t see it."

"Elementary, my dear Trixie. Don’t you know that besides Honey, I’m your biggest supporter?" He tore his eyes from hers and looked down at the table. "I have a confession to make, though." Trixie’s eyes rounded at his words. "For the last three years, I haven’t always been there to support you. There were times that I said some pretty nasty stuff to you, and frankly, I don’t know why you continue to stick with me. Other girls would have said ‘sayonara’ a long time ago."

"Things like what?" Trixie acted as if she didn’t know. It was true, there were times when she felt frustrated at Jim’s lectures, but there was never a time when she was too angry at him to never forgive him.

"To start it all, is the incident with Dot, back in Iowa," he pulled his hand back from around her waist. Folding his arms, he leaned on the table, but didn’t look in Trixie’s eyes. "And I hate to bring her up after two years, but then there was Laura. I could see the hurt in your eyes, and well, I just didn’t know how to tell them that I appreciated their kindness, but there is someone else in my life." Jim’s face flushed a little. "I guess I’m just no good at telling people, who are being nice to me, where to get off. The times I made fun of your instincts, are times I regret too. I should have learned from the day I met you, that your instincts are usually right."

Hearing Dot and Laura’s names brought back those memories. I don’t even care if I never talk to Jim again. What a horrible thing to think of, but he’s right, it did hurt her to see him at the side of another girl, one who was undoubtedly prettier than she was. But that was in the past. "Jim, let’s not even think about dumb things we did as kids," she said standing up and kicking her sandals off. "Lets go for a walk out on the beach."

Realizing that it was no longer necessary for him to bring up those two incidents ever again, he looked up and smiled as he untied his shoes, stuffed his socks in them and rolled up his pant legs. Soon they were walking down the sandy beach to the ocean front.

"Come with me," he said leading her by the hand up on a rocky ledge and around the bend. There, looking beautiful as ever, was a shimmering waterfall. He kept walking toward it, but Trixie protested.

"Jim, we’re going to get all wet!"

"Just wait and see. The yesterday while swimming, you girls were too busy with sand castles to go ‘sploring, so I found this little beauty." The waterfall flowed over the ledge above them and crashed to a ledge below them. Jim let go of her hand and stepped behind the waterfall into a cave. Trixie took a hold of the freckled hand that extended around to help her.

From inside the cave they looked through the water pouring down in front of them and could see a sparkling ocean and a giant moon. The waterfall let in just enough moonlight so they could see blue outlines of each other. "Jim this is…." Trixie started to whisper then stopped. She didn’t know how to describe it.

"Breathtaking?" Jim whispered back to her. He could see her nod. The blue light gleamed off her blond curls. "I knew you’d like it."

"Oh Jim, could this be our special place?" Trixie asked excitedly. "You know, like how Dan and Hallie have one? I’m sure Mart and Di have one too."

"If you like, we can have as many special places as you want," Jim gazed at the pretty woman next to him. "The kitchen sink could be one, or better yet, the chicken coup?"

Trixie chuckled. "I’m sure, seeing that I spend most of my time there, it may as well be our place." She caught a glimpse of the man standing next to her. The moonlight glistened off his red hair. He looked all around different in this blue moonlight.

"Trix, you look amazing, you know that?" Jim said brushing his hand lightly over her bare shoulder. "I’ll always love that thirteen year old girl that I met all those years ago, but the woman in front of me has me forever stunned."

Trixie felt a slight zing go up her back as she felt his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, the moonlight made his eyes twinkle differently. This was a different Jim Frayne that she had seen slide down the roof of the gatehouse and skillfully swing his supple body around the rain gutter. This man was different from the Jim that expertly kept Trixie and Honey from drowning in the flood in Iowa, who looked into her eyes right after saving her from drowning at Bob-White Cave, who was overcome by joy when he found out, that because of Trixie, he had a cousin, who gave her approving looks and showered her with compliments. Instantly, she forgot the frustrating times that they had discussed earlier.

Lightly, he slid his other hand around her waist and faced her. She moved her hands from his shoulders to his waist, and they stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like eternity. As she moved closer to him, she could feel his heart beat faster and faster. He bent his head low to touch noses with her, who returned it with a wrinkled nose and a giggle. Slowly, Jim smiled, slid his hand from her shoulder to around her back, closed his eyes, and touched his lips carefully, tenderly to hers. She felt a very unfamiliar thrilled sensation well up from deep within and slightly moved her hands around his back. She had never been kissed before, not passionately. It was a whole new experience for her. She let a soft moan surface as Jim pulled her closer yet. As Jim’s lips let go of hers, he let his breath out and grinned. They gazed at each other for a while and lightly let out a small laugh. Both sets of lips were too numb to talk, so they stood there in each other’s arms, with her head against his chest and his chin resting upon her head of curls, staring out at the moonlight.

Captain Molinson set the Sleepyside Sun down on his desk, and sat there watching the sun set out his office window. The golden rays of sunlight filtered in and warmed the cold linoleum floor. It had been a slow, but rather boring day. Not much excitement happened around the police station when Trixie and her friends were out of town. Again, he glanced down at the headline:

Sleepyside Teens Uncover Kidnappers in Hawaii

Just below it was a group picture of the eight Bob-Whites, Captain Liu, and Kuhio with his daughter. The article had explained how Trixie had been able to track down three wanted men, including Texas prison escapee, Ian Storm, a.k.a. Steve Burgess a.k.a. Phil Rogers. As he read this, Molinson’s eyes moved from the newspaper to a WANTED poster hanging crookedly on his corkboard, amidst various other wanted posters, missing children posters, and ‘what to do in case of emergencies’ posters.

"What a day," he sighed to himself as he stood up from his desk and strolled over across the room. After a brief hesitation, he pulled the thumbtack out of the corkboard and removed the poster. "I suppose I’d better enjoy this solace, peace and quiet, as much as I can before next Monday." He scuffed his way back to the desk and picked up the front page and Trixie’s penned note. After stapling the three items together, he pulled open his desk drawer, and dropped them in the file folder marked ‘TRIXIE’.

The End