Disclaimer: GOLDEN, GOLDEN PRESS, and TRIXIE BELDEN are registered trademarks of Random House. Please don't sue me, you won't get very much
This story is dedicated to my "Moms", who always wanted to be a Bob-White.
Trixie Belden and The Mystery on the Beach
By Mandy Floyd
Chapter One : V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
Trixie Belden’s blue eyes danced as she looked out the RV’s tented window. It had been hours since she had watched the quite little town of Sleepyside disappear behind her. She turned to around her best friend Honey Wheeler.
"Isn’t this wonderful?", Trixie said to Honey. "Just think, a three-week vacation with all the Bob-Whites !!! And to a place none of us has ever been to before."
Honey giggled, "I’ll never forget the look on Mr. Maypenny’s face when you where pleading and begging with him to let Dan come with us!"
"Well," Trixie pouted, "he did earn it."
Honey laughed. "Of course he did," she agreed with her best friend," With all the hard work he does for Daddy and Mr. Maypenny. Not to mention all the times he has helped us with fund raisers"
"Besides," Trixie continued, "it wouldn’t have been fair for Dan to miss out on another Bob-White trip."
Dan Mangan, was the nephew of Bill Regan (AKA just Regan) the Wheelers' groom and friend to the Bob-Whites. Dan lived with and worked for the Wheelers' gamekeeper Mr. Maypenny.
Because of his almost full time job helping Mr. Maypenny and school, he often missed out on a lot of the Bob-Whites' adventures.
Dan had been the member of a tough New York City gang when the Bob-Whites of the Glen had met him. But with the help of the B.W.G’s , his uncle Regan, and Mr. Maypenny he was able to change and start a new life.
The Bob-Whites of the Glen (or B.W.G’s for short) was a club consisting of Trixie Belden, age 14, and one of the two co- presidents. Jim Frayne, who is 17 and the other co-president, is also Honey Wheeler’s adopted brother. Next is Trixie’s oldest brother and club secretary Brian Belden, also 17 years young. Mart Belden is 15, and is often called Trixie’s "all most" twin with only 11 months between them. He is also club treasurer. Honey Wheeler, is 14, and the club’s vice-president. Di Lynch, also age 14, was the next to the last member to join. She lives near both Trixie and Honey's homes.
The Bob-Whites lived on Glen Road, which, was a few miles from the village of Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson. Honey and Jim lived in a mansion known as Manor House. The Beldens lived at Crabapple Farm; a white-framed house where their family had lived for many generations. Crabapple Farm was not only a first home to the Beldens but a warm and inviting second home to ; Honey, Jim, Dan and Diana ( known to her friends simply as Di) . Di lived in another mansion up the road and Dan lived in the gamekeeper’s cottage on the edge of the Wheeler's land. The only other house on Glen Road is the sad remains of Ten Acers, the mansion left to Jim by his great-uncle whom, Jim was named after.
The Bob-Whites were always finding new ways of helping people in need. Everything from an antique show to raise money for UNICEF to helping buy a van for the handicapped. They all loved horse back riding and competed as offten as they could in the local turf shows.
Honey looked at Trixie and said, " I just know this will be the best vacation ever."
Trixie nodded and thought back to all that had happened to lead up to this point. It all started when Dan found out the Sleepyside Day Camp and Ranch for mentally and physically handicapped was going to have to be closed for several months due to repairs. He then called a meeting of the Bob-Whites where, Jim got an idea on how they could help.
"If we can raise the money," he said," And if we could get the land around Ten Acres cleaned up and the barns cleared out. We could give the camp a tempary home there. We could raise money to rent trailers for the arts and crafts rooms. Their horses of corse could stay in our stables. And the counselors could stay at Manor House. "
"IF!!!," said Di, in disbelieve," IF!! We Bob-Whites don't know the meaning of the word 'IF"."
As it turned out she was more them right. All the Bob-Whites went right to work with things like; finding odd jobs, holding fund raisers, taking up donations. Di, Brian and Mart were babysitting, Jim and Dan did lawn work, and Honey did all the sewing and mending she could find. Regan gave horse back riding lessons and donated ever penny he got to the Bob-Whites. Even Mr. Lytell, who has never been known to be a huge fan of Trixie's , put a donation jar in his store. And, even helped with selling the homemade donuts Mr. Maypenny had baked and donated.
In no time at all, Ten Acres was alive again.
But the Bob-Whites didn't stop there. They helped with the moving and the setting up. Jim
and Brian took over the moving of the horses. Di, Dan and Mart, helped move furniture.
Honey made curtains, table cloths, play clothes etc, for the campers. They were also there
for the opening day where, they meet all of the campers and their families.
That night, Di’s Uncle Monty, after hearing about all the Bob-Whites had done to save the camp, called Di’s mother and invited Di and her friends to fly with him to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for three weeks. He had business to take care of there and thought Di and the Bob-Whites would enjoy the trip as well. He would be staying at an ocean front resort, which, was part of a chain owned by an old college friend of his and her husband. The one they would be staying at was the one were his friend, her niece and nephew lived. Trixie, her brothers, Honey and Jim had no problem getting their parents to say yes to the trip.
Dan however had been another story. The Bob-Whites were determined that this would be one trip that Dan was not going to miss. Jim, Mart and Brian did their part by helping Dan get ahead with his chores. Trixie, Di and Honey however had a different approach in mind. The three of them stayed up all night working on the speech they would give Mr. Maypenny explaining why Dan should go too. The next day they walked down to the gamekeeper’s cottage armed not only with their speech but also, a plate of Trixie’s Mom’s famous hamburgers. Mr. Maypenny nodded and smiled as; Trixie, Di and Honey each went though the reasons they believed Dan should be allowed to go one by one. When they were finished Mr. Maypenny laughed. "All right", he howled, "you’ve twisted my arm, and Dan can go". Trixie couldn’t wait for Dan to know. She jumped up and ran out to where Mr. Maypenny told the girls he was riding his horse and told him all about the trip.
Trixie still could not believe their luck. But there was Dan . Sitting beside Di and, across from Jim. In one of the bunk beds, snoring loudly, was Mart. Mart had been awake all night, too excited to sleep. Brain, was up front driving.
"I wonder what Myrtle Beach will be like ?" said Trixie.
Honey shruged. "I almost don't care what it's like. I'm just so happy that all of us are going."
Trixie nodded. "Just think, all of us, together, relaxing and having fun at the beach."
Trixie stood up, starched and said, "Speaking of everyone else, I think I'll go see how the rest of us BWGs are doing".
"Ok," said Honey from behind the copy of Time magazine, which Trixie noticed was last months dated, May 1974.
Trixie turned around and carefully made her way up to the drivers seat. She put her arms around Brian’s neck. "You’re not getting tired are you?" she asked.
Brian shook his head," I’ll hold up," he said," I feel like I’m driving a small house though."
"Just let Jim know if you need a break," said Honey who, was now standing behind Trixie.
Out of the corner of her eye Trixie could see Brian smile as he and Honey winked at each other. Trixie then walked up the aisle sat beside Jim who, was across from Dan.
"Isn’t this exciting?" exclaimed Di. "I can’t remember the last time all of us got to do something, anything, together."
Dan nodded. "Trixie really is a swell gal talking Mr. Maypenny into letting me go with you guys. I'm really looking forward to this next three weeks," he said," Our first real Bob-White vacation. My first trip to the beach. "
"Oh Dan," exclaimed Trixie, "If anyone one of us has earned a vacation it’s you. "
Dan blushed.
"It's ture,"added Di," Your the hardest working member of the B.G.W. "
"In fact," said Jim," your one of the hardest working people I know period."
If Dan's face turns any redder, thought Trixie, it'll be the same color as Jim's hair.
Di turned to Trixie and Jim," I almost forgot to tell you two, and Honey, I talked to Uncle Monty right before we left, he will meet us in the parking lot of a store called Wings. He’ll take a cab there then, drive the RV and us, back to the resort."
Just then, Brain looked up in his mirror announced that they were turning into the parking lot now.
As soon as Brain had found a place to park the Bob-Whites made a bee line for the near by Dairy Queen. Mart, much to the surprise of everyone, brought round milk shakes for his fellow B.W.G while they waited. They had just finished eating, and were all talking excitedly about the things they hope to see and do. When, Di looked up and saw her uncle coming over to their table.
He hugged Di, then Trixie and Honey. He shook hands with Jim, Brian and Mart. Trixie then introduced Uncle Monty to Dan. As they got back in the RV, Uncle Monty got the wheel and, Brain sat in one set by the window with Honey in his lap. Next to them was Dan with Di setting in his lap. And on the end were Trixie and Jim. Mart sat up front with Uncle Monty. On the way Uncle Monty started telling them about the place they where going.
"Cindy Brannock-Zohn and Ethan Zohn, are the owners of The Stratford Inn", said Uncle Monty," it was built in 1774. Ethan said his niece, Sunny will show you around once you get settled in. Cindy said she is 14, like you girls, and that she is a big help there at the resort. She gives tours around the area with her older brother Jeff. She also teaches swimming, sailing and surfing."
The Bob-Whites nodded.
"Well, here we are," said Uncle Monty cheerfully.
Chapter Two: One Little, Two Little, Three Mysteries
Trixie and Jim looked out their window and saw the largest resort they had ever seen. It had five floors, three swimming pools, a game room, a restaurant, a community center and a playhouse, joined to its side by a glass hallway.
As soon as they stepped out of the RV, they where greeted by a young girl about five feet tall with strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a braid that went down just passed her shoulders. She was dressed in denim shorts and a light blue shirt with a zipper that went all the way up the front.
"Salutations!" She smiled. "I’m Sunny Casstevens. I’m Ethan Zohn’s and Cindy Brannock-Zohn’s niece."
Before any one else could speak Mart stepped forward and held out his right hand. "Salutations," he repeated.
"Huh?" said Trixie.
"In more facile terms," replied Mart," we’re saying hello."
Trixie blushed.
Sunny gave Trixie a sympathetic smile then turned to Uncle Monty. "Welcome to The Stratford Inn, Mr. Williams. My Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ethan are waiting for you in their den."
"Thank you," said Uncle Monty. "I haven’t seen Cindy in years." He turned to face the Bob-Whites. "I’ll go now if that’s ok with you guys?"
"We’ll be fine Uncle Monty," replied Di, "you go ahead." As soon as Uncle Monty had left Di began to introduce Sunny to the Bob-Whites. "Well, let's see," said Di.
"You met me over the phone yesterday. This is Trixie Belden." Di started as she went around the circle.
"This is Honey Wheeler and her brother Jim Frayne," she said pointing to Honey and Jim," This is Brian and Trixie Belden. And this is Dan Mangan."
"And this," said Brian, " is by brother Mart Belden who, you’ve already meet already."
Mart blushed as he gave both Brian and Sunny a sheepish grin.
"If you’ll follow me," said Sunny, "I’ll show you to your rooms."
Dan, Sunny and Di, took over the task of unloading the RV. In no time everyone had his or her suitcases and were following Sunny though the lobby. As they went through the main lobby Sunny stopped at the front desk.
"This," she said nodding toward a tall blonde guy," is my brother Jeff."
While they rode up in what Trixie was sure was the world’s slowest elevator, Mart began to tell Sunny about The Bob-Whites of The Glen.
When the elevator stopped all the Bob-Whites filed out behind Sunny. They didn’t have far to go however. Trixie, Honey and Di’s rooms where right in front of the elevator doors. While Mart, Jim, Brian and Dan’s rooms where beside of it and across the girls. Trixie’s room was in the middle, Di’s was on the right and Honey’s on the left. There were two doors in Trixie’s room. One opened to Di’s room and the other to Honey’s. The boys rooms where the same. Jim was right next to the elevator (across from Trixie) . Brian was next to him then there was Dan’s room and Mart was on the end of that row. All seven rooms looked alike. All had kinged sized beds, TVs, and the same Morris Island Lighthouse paintings on the same walls.
As Trixie went about putting her clothes in the dresser she started to daydream about how wonderful, it would be if her whole family could be there.
"I just know Moms would love it here," she thought.
Trixie was so deep in thought she almost didn’t hear Jim’s knock. "Come in," Trixie called from the closet where, she was storing her suitcases.
"Found a mystery already, Trixie? Looking for clues?" Jim teased.
"No!" Trixie blushed. "I was putting my luggage away."
"You? You're actually keeping your room clean? You doing "house work"? And here I thought I'd have to hire an army of full time maids if we ever got married." Jim said in mock astonishment.
That did it. In one fast motion, Trixie yanked a pillow off her bed and hit him. He reached over, took the other pillow, and gently hit her back. She got him again and at that he started tickling her. They laughed and screamed so loud that Honey came running in to see.
As soon as the Bob-whites had unpacked, showered and changed they went to meet Sunny in the hall in front of their rooms. She was going to give them a tour of the resort. When Trixie, Jim and Honey walked in the room they couldn’t help but noticed, Mart had been the first one there. Next to show up was Brain followed by Di and Dan.
"This floor, the 6th floor, that you’re on now is the one we have reserved for our guest," said Sunny. "Behind that door," she said, pointing to one end of the hall," is our private screening room where. My Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ethan rent a lot of movies and show their friends. Sometimes they get movies for Jeff and me too. That room," she said pointing to a door two rooms down from Honey’s," is my room where, I stay when we have guest on this floor. The rest of the time I have a room in my Aunt and Uncle apartment one floor above this one."
At that, the Bob-Whites followed her back down to the front lobby.
"Ok, that is the way you came in this morning," said Sunny, pointing to the front door. She turned around with her back to the door.
"To your right you have the front desk. To your left and threw those doors is the dinning room." She started walking towards the desk then turned right down a long hall. She stopped at two big double doors on the left, opened them up, revealing an indoor swimming pool.
"This pool is normally only opened between 10 am and 6 pm." She added with a mischievous grin, "But I have a copy of the keys. The other two that are out side are open 9am to 7pm."
She continued on down the hall showing the Bob-Whites a few of the other rooms. On the left side of the hall across from the pool was the kitchen. Once inside Sunny introduced the Bob-whites to the resort's head chef.
"This is our resident gourmet chef, Keith Famie. He makes the best rice dishes in the world," said Sunny loyally," despite what our waitress Jerri, may think."
As she introduced her newfound friends to Keith, she also told him about the Bob-Whites of the Glen.
"It sounds to me," said Keith, turning to Trixie and Honey," like you seven have managed to outwit, outplay and outlast a lot better then some other people I know."
Trixie blushed. "They're a couple of real survivors," said Dan.
Next Sunny showed the Bob-Whites to suit number 4077, which, is the resort's infirmary. Inside she introduced them to the resident physician Dr. Benjamin Pierce.
"It's nice to meet you," smiled Dr. Pierce," you sound like a great group of kids."
"If there is any thing the Bob-Whites are good at," said Dan," it’s making friends and helping people who are going threw a tough time." He continued, " They sure were there for me when I first moved to Sleepyside."
"Oh Dan," Di said, and then turned to Dr. Pierce. "Dan really is a wonderful person! He does more hard work then any of the rest of us. And if any one ever needs a friend, he’s there."
The Bob-Whites all nodded. Dan blushed.
"The Bob-Whites sound like a great group to me," said Dr. Pierce "I hope to get to know all of you better before you go home." He smiled and added, "As long as it’s not in here."
Trixie, Brian, Jim, Di and Dan said good-bye to Dr. Pierce and stepped out into the hall to wait for Sunny and Mart.
At the end of the hall was the door that led to the Community Center. Once inside the center the Bob-Whites split up. Trixie, Honey, Mart and Sunny walked around looking at the different groups and clubs that had ads posted around the walls. Dan and Di went off in one direction while Jim and Brian went in another.
As Trixie and Jim were looking over a wanted poster, they heard Honey call to them excitedly.
"Look at this," she said, "This next Saturday marks the resort’s 200th anniversary!"
"We’ve been looking forward to it for some time now," said Sunny. "It’s going to be a week long party." Sunny continued, "Every day we’ll do a different theme. And on the last night we’ll have a talent contest. Each person or group does something like, dance, do magic tricks, sing, and act out parts of plays and so on. At the end of the night they’ll give prizes for the most romantic, the wittiest, the most creative and so on."
On their second trip past the front desk, Trixie noticed, a strange man talking to Sunny’s brother. He looked to Trixie to be in his mid to late 30’s.
"I won’t be here for more then a couple of weeks," Trixie heard him say. "But if that U-Haul gets in your way, let me know and I’ll move it. And I appreciate your Aunt and Uncle giving those girls jobs," he said.
Jeff nodded as he walked back toward the door.
Sunny turned to her brother and asked," Who was that?"
Jeff turned to face his sister," He’s name’s Bart Aremid. He says he owns a business that helps find work for people. He said he just recently opened up an office in Charlotte. Cindy and Ethan hired a couple of his clients as maids. Susan and Ellicul I think are what he said their names are. Here’s the business card he left."
"Did I hear something about a u-haul ?", asked Sunny as she picked up the card.
Jeff nodded," He said he uses it for storing paper work and office stuff when he travels."
"Who would need to have that much paper work and stuff with them at all times?," said Honey.
Sunny looked at the card looking confused but didn’t say anything. As Trixie watched she noticed when Sunny held the card a certain way, a small image could be seen on the back of the card in the top corner. After a minute or so Sunny introduced her brother to Trixie and the gang.
"So you're Honey Wheeler," said Jeff as he reached under the counter. "This box came yesterday. It’s addressed to you and a Jim Frayne." He handed the shoebox-sized box across to Honey.
"Thank you," she said, "Jim is my brother. He’s still next door", she turned to Trixie,"I think I’ll wait until Jim gets back to open this," said Honey.
"Why don’t you take it up to my aunt and uncle’s apartment. We’ll should be having lunch soon," said Sunny.
Jeff nodded, "Uncle Ethan and Aunt Cindy just pulled up in the parking lot," he said.
"I’ll go and get our apartment ready for guest," Sunny said to Jeff.
"Honey, Mart and I’ll go with you and help," Trixie said to Sunny. But as soon as Sunny, Mart and Honey had started toward the elevator, Trixie turned back and got the business card off the counter and stuck it in her back pocket.
"Maybe it’s my imagination," she thought, but then again…"
Chapter Three: New Friends
Once they were on their way up Trixie turned to Honey and asked," What do you think about that strange man at the front desk? Don’t ask me why, but I’ve got a funny feeling about him."
"If I had a nickel for every time I heard you say that Trix, I’d be a millionaire five times over.", said Mart. "On the other hand," he added quickly after getting an almost lethal "Look" from Honey,"I must admit, you’ve been right more times then not."
"I’m with Trixie," said Sunny, "There was just something, I don’t know, odd about him. Why is he getting those girls jobs here? We’re miles from Charlotte. And that’s where, he at least said his nearest office is."
"I don’t know," answered Trixie, more to herself then to anyone else.
"I think I smell another job for the Belden-Wheeler Detective agency," said Mart as he received a playful jab in the arm from Honey.
But Trixie wasn’t listening. She pulled the card out of her back pocket to study it closer. On the back in the top right hand corner was a small hologram of a bird setting on what looked like a nest of fire. When moved up and down the bird’s wings "moved".
"It’s a phoenix," said Sunny, startling Trixie out of her thoughts.
"A what?", said Trixie.
"A phoenix is a mythological bird," answered Mart.
"If it’s supposed to be the company logo," said Honey," I wonder why it’s on the back and not the front where it can be seen."
"And don’t you think that’s just a bit much for a simply company that finds jobs for people," added Mart.
"Maybe that’s not all they do," said Trixie absentmindedly. "That logo reminds me of someone or something. If I could just remember."
Sunny showed Trixie, Honey and Mart now joined by Brian, Jim, Di and Dan to her Aunt and Uncle penthouse apartment.
Located on and occupying all of the 5th floor, it had; four bedrooms, three and half baths, a dinning room, kitchen, a study, a living room and a screened in porch looking out over the ocean. The living room which, was the first room you walked in to was large and cozy. The coffee table and end tables had been lovingly arranged with; family pictures, school pictures, a Menorah, and countless lighthouse and dolphin figures. The couch, the two love seats and the three recliners were covered with throws crocheted by Sunny.
While they waited for her Aunt and Uncle Sunny showed the Bob-Whites her room. As they walked around Trixie couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of Sunny for having her own bathroom.
Sunny’s room was fairly large. It was decorated mainly in blues, greens and yellows. The walls were a pale yellow and covered with posters. Most had something to do with surfing. A few were of famous cities at night like, New York, London, Rome and Paris.
"Who’s that," asked Mart pointing to one of Sunny’s posters of a man next to a surf board.
"That’s Duke," said Sunny, "He more or less invited surfing as we know it."
Just then they heard Jeff call out, "Sunny, we’re home".
While Jeff took down everyone’s lunch order and called it in, Sunny introduced the Bob-Whites to her Aunt and Uncle.
"It’s nice to meet you all finally," said Cindy," Monty has talked about nothing but the Bob-Whites of the Glen all morning."
"The more Monty bragged about you all," said Ethan," the more I wish I had you with me in Africa last year instead of that two faced group of 15 I was with."
"What was Africa like?", asked Mart.
"Hot and dry," answered Ethan. "And to make matters worse, for me any way, I was there with a survival group."
While they ate, they Bob-Whites listened to Ethan and Cindy talk about the resorts 200th anniversary.
"My Grate-Grate-Grate-Grate-Grate Grandparents started on this resort in 1773." , said Cindy. "It started out as a simply two story bed and breakfast. But as you can see," she laughed," it’s changed quite a bit. It’s been in the family ever since."
"It only became a chain ten years ago," said Ethan.
"It’s a great place and we really appreciate you letting us stay here Mr. Zohn," said Brian
Ethan blinked and looked around," Is my father here?", he laughed. "I’m Ethan," he said with a smile, "Mr. Zohn is my dad’s name."
"The same goes for me too," said Cindy," sort of," she smiled.
After all the plates were cleared away, everyone reached for their fortune cookies.
"A new and exciting friendship is just around the corner," read Sunny. "And it says my lucky numbers are 1,2,16 and 30."
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts," said Mart. "And my lucky numbers are 2,14,19 and 80."
"You will have great luck in love," Jim said," and my lucky numbers are 1,2,9 and 11."
Trixie looked at hers and froze. "By the pricking of your thumbs something wicked this way comes," she read out loud.
"That’s an odd fortune," said Cindy.
"I’ve eat a lot of those fortune cookies," said Sunny, "And I don’t think I’ve ever seen that one before."
Trixie didn’t answer but instead pulled the card out of her pocket to look at it again. "I wonder if that’s an omen,"she thought, looking from her fortune to the business card. "I’ve seen that logo some where, I can’t remember where. But, I know it’s not a good sign."
Chapter Four: Spy vs. Spy
After lunch Sunny and the Bob-Whites decided to take a walk along the beach. Sunny told them all about; living in Myrtle Beach, being home schooled, her and her brother’s boat called, The Sloop John B. and getting her driver's license the next year. Mart told her about; Crabapple Farm, his parents and their younger brother, Bobby and the Jr. Senior high school that the Bob-whites go to.
"What I’d really like to do," said Sunny, "Is write and act. I want to write books. Mysteries, biographies, important historical events. I want to write plays and act in them."
"I’m sure you’ll be great at it," said Jim, "Maybe I can use some of your history books at my school. My goal is to build and run a wilderness school for homeless boys and girls."
Sunny smiled. "That sounds wonderful."
Mart nodded. "I’m going to teach agricultural and Brian is going to be his resident doctor."
Mart looked around them, "By the way," he asked, "where are Dan and Di?"
"They're up in Di’s room getting stuff together to send to the twins," said Brian. "Di promised to send them something as soon as she could. They should be back soon."
"You know," said Sunny taking in a deep breath of salty air, "I’ve always loved the beach. I don’t care many times I see the ocean I never tier of it. It’s so relaxing to me. Is there any place that special to you," she asked Trixie
"Our home," said Trixie, "Crabapple Farm."
"My grandparent’s have a wonderful old farmhouse," said Sunny absentmindedly. "I use to love to visit. I’d go and stay for days until….", she stopped, "Never mind," she said quickly with a fake smile," It’s such a nice day I wish I’d brought my sun tan lotion," she said changing the subject.
"You can use mine," said Honey reaching in the shoulder bag she had brought with her.
As they sat and watched the waves come and go Brian told Sunny about life on Glen Road. Mart told her Wimpy’s. He was right in the middle of telling her about their milk shakes when she let out a cry.
Within minutes Sunny’s arms had began to break out in angry red spots the size of soft balls.
Brain took a closer look, "Looks like a reaction to me," he said.
Sunny closed her eyes, "There wasn’t menthol in that lotion by any chance was there?", she asked.
Honey got the bottle back out, looked it over and nodded.
"I was afraid of that," said Sunny threw tears. "Would one of mind walking back to Dr. Pierce’s office?"
Mart was the first on his feet followed by Honey. "I’ll go to," said Honey," Since it was my lotion."
As soon as Honey, Mart, Brian and Sunny had gone, Jim turned to Trixie.
"I hate that it happened this way," he said," but I’m glad I got you alone a minute."
"Dad sent this me," he started," I was, er, hoping you’d like to wear it."
At that, he reached in his pocket, pulled out a small gray box and handed it to Trixie.
When Trixie opened the lid she saw a boy’s gold class ring. Trixie carefully lifted it out of the box and held it between her thumb and index fingers. On the inside of the band was the name James Frayne II. She slipped it on her middle finger because it was too big for her ring finger.
"Oh Jim, I love it!" said Trixie.
Just then Dan and Di came running up to join them.
"Where have you two been," asked Jim.
"We can’t wait to tell you what we found out but, " said Di, stopping out of breath and looking around her, "where is every one else?"
"They went with Sunny to Dr. Pierce’s office. She had a bad reaction to some lotion Honey had."
"Oh no", said Di.
Everyone was quite as they waited for the rest to get back.
Finally after what seemed to Trixie to be the longest ten minutes in history the rest of the Bob-Whites and Sunny returned.
"This morning," began Dan, "Di and I were walking around the halls when we saw that new maid, Susan."
"I thought she was acting kind of strange," continued Di.
"How strange?", asked Trixie.
"Looking over her shoulder every few minutes," said Di, "Jumping at the sound of any and every little noise. So, Dan and I thought we would follow her on a few of her rounds. I went in the laundry room and borrowed a couple of maid’s uniforms."
"So that’s what happened to them," said Sunny.
Di nodded," We took them back before we came up here," she said. "After we changed in to the uniforms, we borrowed a supply cart and walked around pretending we were cleaning while we watched Susan. As we walked by room 315 on the second floor, she stopped, looked around and went in. Once inside we saw her take a drawer out of a dresser and turn it over."
Dan continued," When she did, we saw there was a brown envelope taped to the bottom. She removed it very slowly, opened it up, and carefully removed several one hounded dollar bills. After counting it, she stuffed it in her pocket."
"Then she reached under the cart she had with her," said Di, "and removed a very old looking Faberge egg. She gently wrapped it in a white towel."
"She then replaced the drawer," said Dan, "and carefully hid the wrapped egg inside. Next she pushed the cart outside the room. Reached back under it and came up with a long black coat. She then ran for the nearest fire exit. Di and I waited a minute then ran down to the window over looking the back door. We soon saw her again as she jumped in a red Jeep and drove away."
The Bob-Whites were speechless. Then Jim let out a low whistle.
"The question is," said Honey, "did the guest who is staying in that room put that money there or did someone else?"
"But who else would have access to their rooms?" asked Brian.
" Maintenance," replied Trixie.
Sunny nodded. "The same guy that got Susan and Ellicul jobs in housekeeping, Bart, he also applied for a job in maintenance."
"Wait a minute," said Dan, "I thought he owned his own business. Why does he need a job here too?"
"Good question," said Honey," I thought about that too. Maybe this is he’s way of keeping an eye on Susan and Ellicul. But I think he has other motives too. If I just I knew what."
"How can he even find the time for a part time job he owns his own business ?", said Brian.
"What if no one is staying in that room," said Trixie thinking out loud.
"What do you mean, Trix?," asked Brian.
"What if the person or persons who left that money there have already checked out? Or what if they just broke in long enough to leave it there?"
"Stranger things have happened," said Di.
"Good question," said Trixie, as she looked the card over again. Maybe Mart was right," she thought, " Maybe I have found another job for the Belden- Wheeler Detective agency. Just maybe.
Chapter Five: Sun, Sailing and Suspicion
The next day Sunny invited all the Bob-Whites to spend, the day with her on her boat, the Sloop John B. As soon as Trixie had dressed in a bathing suit, shorts and a tee shirt, she ran to her dresser and got Jim’s ring. Just then she heard a knock at her door.
"Trixie?" said Honey. "Brian, Dan, Di and I are going to go down stairs and check the mail. Jim is waiting for you when you’re ready."
"I’m ready," answered Trixie, "but what about Mart?"
"We haven’t seen him this morning," said Brian.
"Maybe he’s already there," said Honey.
As Trixie waited for the elevator, she noticed the new maid Susan, out of the corner of her eye. She looked like she was sneaking around.
"What is she up to?," thought Trixie, remembering what Dan and Di had said they saw the night before.
"Trixie?" asked Honey as she stopped and turned toward Trixie line of sight.
"I wonder what she’s up to," thought Honey out loud.
On their way out Trixie and Jim stopped at the front desk to see if they had any mail.
"If you don’t mind," said Jeff, "would you tell Sunny I’ll be there as soon as I can."
"We don’t mind," said Trixie.
"This came in yesterday’s mail for Di," said Jeff handing Trixie a package. By the time the four Bob-Whites arrived at the dock Mart and Sunny were already there.
"Welcome aboard The Sloop John B," said Sunny.
Trixie looked around. The Sloop John B was a small house boat. "That," she said, pointing to a large motorboat next to The Sloop John B, "is The Austin Martin. It’s mine and Jeff’s, too."
Jeff, as promised, showed up a few minutes later with two large picnic baskets and a small record player. As soon as Sunny had the record player plugged in; Mart started looking threw her and Jeff’s records. In no time he had found one he thought he knew.
"What song is that?" asked Dan.
"Behind Blue Eyes by The Who, " replied Mart.
"I try to keep a lot of different kinds of music around," Sunny said.
Honey told Brain and Jim about the 200th anniversary of the hotel and the talent contest.
"They’ll set up boxes with each of the contestant’s names. They’ll have envelopes in front of each box with, most romantic, funniest, most creative and so on, written on them," explained Jeff. "People will vote by putting money in one or more of the envelopes. Then the person or group that has the most money in one certain kind of envelope in their box wins whatever title the envelope says. And all the money raised goes to UNICEF."
Just then Trixie heard the sound of a motor in the distance. When she looked over the side of The Sloop John B. she saw, two speedboats circling around one another for several minutes before finally pulling up beside each other. As the Bob-Whites watched, the new maid Susan wearing a long black trench coat climbed out of her boat and into the second.
As she did Trixie noticed something fall out of her pocket just as Dan whispered," That is the same maid Di and I saw this morning."
Trixie watched as Susan shook hands with the man in the second boat. Then she reached inside her coat, pulled out an envelope and handed it to the man. He then turned, sat down, started the boat, and took off in another direction.
The Bob-Whites were silent until Sunny looked at Trixie and Honey and said," Do you two want ride out there and see what she dropped in that boat?" She didn’t have to wait long for an answer.
"Please be careful," said Di as Sunny, Trixie and Honey climbed over the side of The Sloop John B. into the awaiting Austin Martin. Sunny wasted no time in started up the motor and racing out to the abandoned boat. As they got closer Trixie could see a small brown paper bag lying on the bottom of the boat. Trixie carefully reached over the side of The Austin Martin and pulled the smaller boat over to her. In one quick motion Honey reached over Trixie and grabbed the small package. As soon as they were settled, Sunny turned around and speed back to the Sloop John B. Once back on board, Honey laid the small mysterious bag on a table.
Dan slowly walked over to the table, picked up the package, and carefully started to open it up. He looked at it for several minutes, then said," I think it could be cocaine or heroin," he said. "And if it is either, whoever she is, she is going to be mad when she finds it gone."
"What do we do with it?" asked Di.
"We’ll turn it in to the police and tell them we found it," said Sunny. "Which is true. We did find it. I know a couple of detectives we can go to. They have always been very nice to me and Jeff."
"I’ll turn us around and go back to the dock. When we get there you can call them from the resort," said Jeff.
"The rest of us will stay on the boat and wait for you," added Jim.
On their way back to the dock, Brian turned to Di and said, "I almost forgot. Your mom sent you a package yesterday."
"When I called mom last night she said the twins had "written" letters to me and painted pictures to go with them." said Di.
"That’s sweet," said Honey.
"I bet we’ll be hearing from Bobby soon too," added Brian.
The next thing Trixie knew, she, Honey and Sunny were running through the back doors at the resort. Sunny showed them in to a small office next to the front desk.
Once inside she picked up the phone and dialed 978-0671. She listened for a minute,"Shoot,"she said,"bussy." She hung up and dialed, 894-4125, listened again then, pressed the intercom button. Trixie heard one short ring and then," Sheriff’s office, Detective Woodward how may I help you?"
"Hi. It’s Sunny," she said," I need to talk to you." Trixie, Sunny and Honey then told the detective how they had found what they thought might be a drug of some kind.
-Whites sat and eat, Trixie’s thoughts keep returning to everything that had happened that day and found a growing determination to find out why."I’m on my way," he said.
The three girls were silent as they waited out in the front lobby. After a few short minutes Trixie heard, "Hi Sunny," and looked up to see two men walking threw the front door.
Sunny jumped up and ran over to greet both of them. She then introduced them to Honey and Trixie.
"Trixie, Honey, this is Detective Woodward," she said pointing to one. "And this is Detective Bernstein," she said pointing to the other one. Trixie then handed the small paper bag over to Detective Bernstein.
"The only way to know for sure what this is," he said," would be to have it tested."
Trixie told the two detectives what Di and Dan had seen that morning. Then about the strange man and woman in the boats earlier.
"They seem to be taking me seriously," Trixie thought to herself. "Not at all like Sergeant Molinson."
"What room did your friends say they saw this woman in?", asked Detective Bernstein.
"Room 318 on the second floor," replied Honey. He nodded and walked over to the front desk, picked up a set of keys, then turned toward the stairwell.
"Detective Woodward?" asked Honey," How long will it take to find out what that stuff is?"
"We’ll take it by a local lab," he replied, "and we should know some time tomorrow." He turned to Sunny. "How are your aunt and uncle?" he asked.
"They're fine," replied Sunny. "They're showing an old college friend around town."
A few minutes later, Detective Bernstein returned. "Whatever it was that was left in that room is gone now," he said.
After the girls had thanked and said good-bye to the detectives, they turned and headed back to the Sloop John B. On their way back Honey and Trixie told Sunny about their friend Spider, and Trixie’s "archenemy", Sergeant Molinson. As soon as they had re-boarded Sunny and Jeff’s boat, Trixie told the other B.W.G’s what the detectives had said.
"I guess all we can do now is wait and see," said Brain.
"I guess whoever was supposed to get that egg got it already," said Honey.
They all nodded.
"Something wicked this way comes," Trixie said under her breath.
"Did you say something, Trix?" asked Jim.
"My fortune cookie, remember?" she replied with a shiver. Jim put his arm around her.
"Who’s ready for a late lunch?" asked Jeff. While the other Bob
" Drugs and stolen antics!" Jim shuddered. "Trixie, you know I have great faith in your detective skills but this is really dangerous stuff. Please promise me you will leave this one to the pros," pleaded Jim.
," said Trixie."I promise, Jim
"I won’t go looking for clues," thought Trixie, "but if one happens my way. Well… "
To Be Continued