rated *

The Mystery of Trixie

by Jo

Chapter 1

Trixie’s head felt like a ton of bricks had landed on it. She moved her hand to her forehead and found she couldn’t move her arm very well because of an Intravenous line. "What…" She couldn’t speak, her mouth was to dry.

"Ssshhh." Came the soothing reply of her mother’s voice. "Everything is going to be all right." Mrs Belden stroked the curls back from her daughter’s face.

Trixie looked up into the blue eyes that were so like her own. "You look older, Moms." Trixie was able to manage after taking a sip of water.

"All those gray hairs you’ve given me."

"Where am I?"

"Hospital," Mrs Belden simply replied. "Do you remember how you got here?"

"No." Trixie tried to shake her head but it hurt too much. She winced as the tubing in her arm pulled against her movements. "Last thing I remember is slamming the door to the clubhouse because they wouldn’t understand why I didn’t want Kelly to be a part of our group." Tears started down her cheeks as she remembered her outburst.

"It’s O.K. sweetheart."

"No it’s not, I didn’t want Kelly because I was feeling left out. I just felt like everyone else was special but me and...." Trixie held onto her mother’s hand she swallowed her further reason and asked, "Do you think they’ll understand if I apologize?" Trixie’s eyes searched for the answer in the eyes staring back. Trixie saw confusion and something else, she felt scared.

"Moms? What is it? Don’t they want to see me ever again, did I really ruin it for good?"

"No it’s not that sweetheart." Mrs Belden tried to reassure her with a gentle brush of her cheek. "Do you remember how you got here?" She asked again.

"No, Is something wrong with me?" Trixie asked, terrified suddenly that something was drastically wrong that she would be in hospital. With a strength that surprised her she managed to pull herself upright. The pain as the IV was pulled from her arm ignored as Trixie tried to find her feet.

"Trixie please get back into bed, you’ve been in an accident, you should be resting." Mrs Belden pressed the buzzer and soon heard the nurse coming down the hall.

"What accident?" Trixie stood holding herself against the bed. Her legs felt weak. The nurse entering the room ran to give her a hand. As Trixie turned around she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She brought up her hand and touched her cheek; the reflection copied her movement. "Is that me?" She whispered. She looked at her mother then at the nurse and the doctor who looked oddly familiar before looking back at her reflection. "What happened?" She asked. When no one would give her an answer, she started to panic. "What’s happened to me? Why do I look so different? That is not my face." Trixie started to fight of the arms that were trying to support her. "Get away from me, what is happening?" The doctor managed to wrestle her back into the bed. She felt the prick of a needle as it went into her leg. Her eyes glazed over as sleep took hold of her body. "What is going on?"

 

Mrs Belden watched as the nurse dressed her arm where the IV had been pulled out, the doctor put his arm around the tired woman and led her to the waiting room where Mr Belden would meet her in few minutes. "Are you going to be all right?"

"I’ll be fine." Mrs Belden sank to the chair as Mr Belden came into the room.

"She has amnesia," the doctor’s gentle voice began. "The last thing she remembers is the fight at the clubhouse."

"Then we are no closer to finding out what happened to her?" Mr Belden was weary; he had been at the hospital ever since they had gotten the phone call two days ago. Trixie had been unconscious for what seemed like forever, and now when she was starting to come around no one could figure out what happened, how she came to be lying in the park, bashed by some sick person. How could anyone do that to my little girl? There were so many questions and no answers, and now that Trixie was awake there were still no answers. Mr Belden wrapped his arms around his wife. "She’ll remember and then we will have all the answers we need." His soothing comment was also directed to the doctor as a question. A question the doctor wasn’t sure could be answered. The human mind could be fickle.

 

 

Chapter 2

Trixie woke to semi darkness, disorientated at first then noticing the bedrails around the bed remembered where she was. She sat up and took a moment to get her bearings. She managed to swing her legs over the rails and stumble to the floor, the friction causing her abdomen to hurt. She pulled up the hospital gown noticing large ugly bruising on her abdomen and legs. "Where did they come from?" She whispered to herself. She looked up to the mirror and could see a face that was only a shadow of the face she knew. Fear gripped her, this is not real, she repeated in her head over and over again. She looked around the small room for some clothes. She found a pair of sneakers but was unable to locate any clothes. She went to the door of the room and peaked out. There was not a soul in sight so she slipped down the hall taking another hospital gown to cover her back. Trixie managed to escape the hospital without being seen. She stood on the street, it was a mild night, but she still shivered, more from fear than cold. A car of youths cruising yelled out to her as she began a lonely walk into her nightmare.

"Hey babe!" a voice yelled out towards Trixie. She turned to see a slimy man in an outdated blue suit with a purple paisley shirt. "You look cold, let Uncle Lenny warm you up." Scared beyond her wits she started to run. "Uncle" Lenny gave chase for about two blocks, before giving up. Trixie continued to run. She noticed landmarks that pointed her in the direction of home and kept going. Her sides were aching, and her breaths were labored, Trixie knew she would have to rest. She slowed to a walk and looked about her for a suitable place, deciding to keep walking until she found one.

It was close to dawn when Trixie noticed the street sign that said Glen Road. Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. Exhausted beyond belief she sat down on the side of the road. She was almost home she felt safe. She closed her eyes for a moment until she heard a speeding car coming towards her. The car sped past and then screeched to a halt ahead of her before backing up. Trixie was rooted to the spot. Her legs seemed to be made of lead as a memory tried to invade her thoughts, but it was banished as two dark-haired men jumped out of the car. "There she is!" One of them yelled.

Trixie found her feet and ran into the woods. The sound of running footsteps and shouting voices could be heard behind her. She felt her strength giving way, she couldn’t run anymore, she would have to hide or stand and fight. Hiding sounded pretty good. She noticed a low hanging branch, and with agility she didn’t realize she possessed swung herself into the tree. She climbed a few branches before resting in a fork hidden by branches and predawn darkness. Her hands hurt from splinters, her ribs hurt from breathing, Trixie just wanted to go home and curl up in bed. Is that too much to ask? She thought as the men stopped running.

"Where did she go?" One of them puffed.

"I don’t know." Replied the second one. Trixie couldn’t get a good look at them, though they both sounded familiar.

"She’s probably headed home."

"How could she get so far? The beating she took was…" the man paused for a moment searching for an appropriate word. "Well it was unbelievable."

"Well I’ll ring the house and let them know we spotted her and to be on the lookout for her." He started to head back towards the car. The other man followed as they headed back out to the road.

Trixie waited where she was, her mind doing battle. Who are those men? What are they doing chasing me? Are they the ones who beat me? Will they wait at home for me to return? Will they hurt my family and friends to get to me? Should I stay and rest? Should I leave to warn Moms and Dad? Trixie decided on the latter. She waited a few more moments and climbed down. Being careful to make as little noise as possible since she hadn’t heard the car drive away. Walking slowly and circling around so she could find the road and get home without getting lost she heard another car pull up and a dog barking. Is this nightmare ever going to end? She thought. She started to run. The dog must have heard because she could hear it coming through the trees. She knew it was only a moment before it would catch up, her strength spent she placed her back to a tree and turned to face it. She could hear voices and see torches shining through the woods. The next thing she saw was a big black dog. Fear descended as it leaped into the air straight for her face. A scream caught in her throat as she saw the last few moments of her life spent fighting the pure white fangs coming towards her. She raised her arm to protect herself as adrenaline pumped through her veins.

Trixie’s first instinct was fear, next came resolve. A resolve to not go without a fight. In a split second her whole demeanor changed. She could not fall to the ground as the tree was holding her up so as the dog’s teeth closed in on her left arm she put her right arm behind the dogs neck and pulled down, while at the same time pushing up and forward with her left. The look in the dog’s eyes changed from life to death as the neck snapped under Trixie’s arms. The dog fell at Trixie’s feet. Her arm was bleeding, her body exhausted as she fell to the ground beside the lifeless form.

 

 

Chapter 3

Trixie’s breath came in ragged gasps as she ran from the dog. The occasional bark and guttural growls indicated the beast’s enormous size as it rapidly advanced on her. Fear gripped her heart as she turned in mid pace to the yellow eyes, bloodshot with the excitement of the hunt. Trixie’s legs, unable to carry to her any further, collapsed under her weight. She threw up her hands to cover her face as a frenzied cry preceded the beasts lunge at her throat. She gagged from the pressure as claws turned to human hands and she found herself looking into spiteful eyes, "You will never remember who you are!" A voice screamed as the hands increased their pressure on her throat. She scratched at the hands, fighting against their restriction.

"Trixie!" A male voice called from behind her.

She tried to call for help but the choking feeling stopped any sound from being formed.

"She’s choking!" A female voice screamed.

"Get me some scissors!" Came the command.

Trixie’s head spun. Why would they want scissors? They need a gun at least, she thought.

Soon rational thought conquered the haze in her brain as she felt herself breathe again. She opened her mouth to speak when she felt something cool on her forehead and a gentle hand caress her cheek.

"Is she all right?" A concerned voice asked.

Trixie felt herself drift into consciousness and looked at the blond head near the foot of her bed. "Mart…" she tried to manage but her throat was to dry. Tears invaded her eyes as she looked at the face of her brother. "Mart?" She again barely whispered.

Her eyes closed, to tired to face the invading sleep creeping again to claim her weary body. The last thing she managed to hear was "how did she manage to get that tubing around her neck."

"I’m not sure but that is the fourth time she has had to have that cannula put in."

*     *     *

When Trixie woke the sun was streaming in through the window. Blue eyes squinted against the morning's invading brightness. The pristine walls of the hospital room gave her an uneasy feeling and she tried to get out of bed. But try as she might she was not able to move her arms. She looked down do see her arms strapped to the bed. The rails were up and she noticed the nurses’ station was located just outside her room so she could be kept in close observation. Trixie had to smile at the old policeman chatting up the matronly nurse who she supposed was ‘observing’ her. Turning her attention back to the straps that restrained her, she tried to think of a way to get out of her bed without attracting the attention of those outside the room. A nervous female laugh invaded her thoughts, Trixie knew then that they were engrossed enough in the conversation to leave her to her own devices.

Wriggling her hands she noticed that she had enough room to allow for considerable movement. She could not pull her hands all the way through but she could move her arms around. With a little flexibility and a shift of her body weight, she managed to loosen the straps and pull one arm free. She reached over with her free hand and untied the other strap. Remembering the pain of the last time she had climbed over the bed rails she crawled to the foot of the bed before stepping gingerly onto her feet. She went over to the small closet hoping that this time there would be clothes, the only items to be found were a pair of slippers and a fluffy white robe. Putting them on she went to the door; the nurses’ station was now deserted. The policeman and nurse were down the hall next to the snack machine. She went in the opposite direction.

"So is Trixie going to be fine?" Trixie paused outside a room set aside for doctors to meet with patients and families.

"Well if she doesn’t kill herself with those nightmares she’ll be fine." Trixie risked a look in the door at the man who replied. He must have been her doctor as he had on the lab coat and behind him sitting together were her mom and dad.

"Trixie you’re awake." Her mother smiled worriedly as her eyes met Trixie’s.

Trixie moved into the small room. Tears filled her eyes when she noticed the occupants in the room. She took a step back from the strange yet familiar faces of her family. "Trixie?" Mr Belden got up to tend to her. "It’s O.K. Sweetheart." He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

"What’s going on Daddy?" She managed to whisper into the security of his arms.

"You have amnesia, the last you thing you remember is the argument you had at the clubhouse." Trixie nodded. "Trixie?" Mr Belden paused for a moment and pulled back to look into her face. "That was twelve years ago."

Trixie’s knees buckled her voice quiet as she confirmed "twelve years?" Mr Belden nodded, leading her to a chair.

"Trixie are you all right?" She looked towards the doctor who had spoken to her.

"Brian?" He nodded in answer to her question. "Bobby?" She looked at the grown man with his short curly brown hair sitting across from her. "Since when do you have brown hair?"

"Went that color when I turned about nine." His statement was brief and he seemed to be unsure of himself as he looked at his sister.

Mart eyed her with a worried expression on his face. He placed his arm around the back of her chair. "How are you feeling?"

"Better I guess," Trixie murmured. She looked around at the faces of her family all mature and older than she remembered. "Well you can start telling me what has happened in the past twelve years? Because as you know I have forgotten." She tried to make light of the situation. "Who did you boys marry? Who did I marry? Where is everyone else?" She watched her family expectantly waiting for an answer.

"Trixie sweetheart," It was her mother her answered. "The last thing you know is the last thing we know."

"I’m confused." Trixie wasn’t sure whether she liked what was being implied.

"Trixie when you turned up in the hospital it was the first time we had seen you in twelve years. We don’t know anything about you either. You disappeared when you left the clubhouse."

"Did I run away?" Trixie gulped.

"We don’t know. We were hoping you would have all the answers." Her father spoke softly.

Trixie could feel the eyes of her family on her as the news slowly sunk in. She noticed the wedding bands both her older brothers wore but didn’t even bother asking. She wondered about the rest of the old gang. What has happened in twelve years? Tears tugged at the corner of her eyes. She found it difficult to hold in the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. She heard the sound of footsteps come towards the small room and watched as a girl, correction young woman with blue-black hair and one with honey-colored hair walk into the room. "Diana? Honey?" She murmured as she stared into their grown-up faces. "Honey, you look like you are going to make me an Aunt." She half laughed as she murmured, "I’ve entered the twilight zone." She bit her lip to stop the hysterics that were threatening. "Excuse me." She muttered before pushing past her ‘family’ and returning to the cold pristine walls of the only thing that was familiar to her, the hospital room.

 

Chapter 4

It had only been the day before that she had discovered the truth about what she didn’t know. "So this is how Juliana must have felt." She mused remembering the event that was to her only last year but in reality was thirteen years ago.

Trixie slowly crawled out of the bed. She was in a private room now. A policeman still guarded her door, but there were no more restraints or bed rails. Brian had told her that she would be allowed to go home today. She was just waiting for someone to pick her up, as Brian, the doctor, had to work for the rest of the day. She decided to shower now to save herself some time for when Mr and Mrs Belden came. She went into the small but adequate ensuite and showered, enjoying the warmth as it streamed over her body, relaxing her fatigued muscles and ignoring the tingling in her arm as the memories of a large dog flooded through her mind. She pulled of the bandage noting the neat rows of stitches.

Drying herself Trixie walked over to the full-length mirror and critically analyzed her naked body. Her body, apart form the bruises looked quite good. She had none of the baby fat she used to carry around. Her breasts were fuller, and her waist was thinner than she remembered and her legs seemed to be longer. Her body looked athletic, so she must have worked out at some point. She didn’t think there was any evidence of childbearing. She thought that it also appeared thinner. Her hair fell in wet ringlets to the middle of her back. "How on earth am I going to look after this?"

"I’ll give you a few pointers." Di offered as she poked her head into the ensuite. She put her hand in and offered Trixie a small overnight bag. She took in Trixie’s naked form gasping at the bruises. "Does that hurt?"

"Only when I move."

"I hope I bought the right size," Di said as Trixie started to pull various items out of the bag including underwear. "I bought them this morning and washed them for you. I didn’t even bother about bra size I just got you a vest with a built in bra that should keep everything in place until we can go shopping for some. I pulled out this shirt and these jeans I hope they fit and Honey scrounged around for these pajamas…"

"Thanks Di, I really appreciate it." Trixie stopped Di’s nervous talking, and proceeded to put on the clothes offered her. When she finished she asked, "O.K. Di how do I manage this mop."

"It is not a mop," Di lightly scolded. "You have beautiful hair." She began to brush it then placed it into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. "It’s so thick." Di commented. "You are very lucky to have hair like this, I bet all the guys love it."

"Which guys?" Trixie tried to joke but found it hard. "What was I wearing when they found me?"

"A pair of Levi’s- 501’s, sneakers - Nike’s, white socks - Hanes, black sports bra with matching undies – Elle, and a simple fitting black tee shirt, no tag." Came Honey’s voice from the doorway. Trixie and Di moved back into the room, where Honey sat in the chair, her swollen belly making her look uncomfortable.

"No jewelry? No hair clips?" Trixie asked as Honey shook her head. Trixie sat on the bed, Di next to her. The silence that followed became drawn out; there was much to talk about but not much at all. It had been uncomfortable up till now and still was. Trixie could not wait till this was all over.

"So did you become a detective?" Trixie asked.

"I’m a research assistant for Baxter’s Law firm in town."

"And you Di?" Trixie asked.

"I used to model but I have seen the light so to speak and am now studying art at NYU." Di explained.

"What about everyone else?" Trixie asked curious to know what everyone had become.

"Well Brian is a doctor," Honey explained, "but I think you already guessed that. Mart is an English teacher at Sleepyside High and does freelance journalism, Bobby is studying architecture, Jim is currently teaching part-time at Sleepyside High while completing a masters in psychology, and Dan is a detective with the NYPD." Honey took a breath. "Hallie is also here and she works with Dad, she also takes care of the house just like Miss Trask used to do."

"Where is Miss Trask now?"

"Miss Trask married Mr Lytell and they both moved up state when her brother was killed in a automobile accident. They decided to manage Pirates Inn." Di answered. "The store is now owned by a retiree by the name of Mr Wellington."

"Mr Wellington? The man from the dude ranch?" Trixie was amazed so much had changed. "So Honey how is married life with a doctor?"

"I don’t know, I didn’t marry one." Honey blushed. "I married an English teacher."

Trixie opened her mouth to say something when the truth hit her. "You married Mart?" Honey nodded as Trixie tried to regain composure. "So who is Brian married to?" She looked at Di who shook her head.

"He married Sally Wellington." Honey answered.

Trixie managed a small "Oh" before continuing. "What about Jim and Dan?"

"Well Dan’s fiancée was a detective as well and was killed in the line of duty almost a year ago now and Jim married…" Honey paused wondering how Trixie would take the news.

It was Di who finished the sentence, " Kelly, Jim married Kelly."

Trixie swallowed and put a smile on her face. "So Di are you married? Engaged? Have a boyfriend?"

Di reddened, "Yes I have a boyfriend, but it’s early days yet."

"So who is it?" Trixie asked seeing how embarrassed Di was becoming.

"Oh come on Di, she’ll find out eventually." Honey rolled her eyes when Di was unable to answer. "She’s dating Bobby."

"Bobby?" Trixie gaped, stunned by the revelation. "My baby brother Bobby." Di nodded her face a rich red.

"Yeah all six foot five inches of him." Honey laughed. "He’s a very mature person. He’s more mature than Mart."

"Wow." Trixie exclaimed "Wow." She stared at her friend in disbelief. "So Mart never really grew up?"

"No" Di confirmed.

"Definitely not." Honey laughed.

"Bobby?" Trixie asked still in shock at the news.

"He helped me through a drug addiction, helped me pull my life around, showed me how to become a person not just a face." Di finally managed blushing as she confessed a very private part of her life.

"How would Bobby know about drugs and addiction." Trixie wondered.

"He’s been through some tough times, himself. He understood me, he listened." Di explained as some of the redness left her face.

"Is he happy?"

"Yes, well I hope so, if he wasn’t I wouldn’t be with him." Di’s self-consciousness was slowly leaving.

"Di he is deliriously happy and we are all happy about it" Honey assured her friend. "How many times do we all have to tell you this."

"Gleeps Di." Trixie’s face showed no sign of emotion until she collapsed onto the bed laughing. The two women looked at Trixie as if she had lost her mind until they joined her contagious laughter.

Trixie held her hands across her ribs, "Do you know how good it feels to laugh and how painful?"

"Oh, Trixie," Honey leaned forward and grasped her hand. "I’m so glad you are back."

"So am I." Di agreed as the laughter turned to tears and they hugged and brushed away the pain of separation. Their tears returned to laughter as Honey and Di started talking about the past, stories of college, friendships, and romances. It was a short time later when a knock came at the door.

"It was getting kind of quiet I have been sent to check for casualties." Mart sauntered into the room with a look of curiosity on his face.

"We are fine Mart." Honey pecked him on the cheek. "Why did you come in here?"

"Well I’m the chauffeur." He looked at Honey with a mischievous glare. "I’m taking my sister home, remember."

"Wish I could." Trixie murmured as she stood and walked out the door.

The others followed quietly; any joviality that remained was gone with that single comment.

*     *     *

"Where is everyone?" She asked as they walked out towards Mart’s car.

"Bobby and Mom are at home, Brian’s working as is Dad. Dan said he would pop in after tea, as will Kelly and Jim." Mart answered, "Unless of course you are not up to seeing them."

"I’ll just see how I go." Trixie managed, wondering how on earth she was going to face the remaining BobWhites.

"Oh and be nice to Jim, it was his dog you killed." Mart warned.

Trixie stared at him in shock, "I didn’t?"

"Don’t you remember?" Trixie shook her head as Mart continued. "Brian and Dan saw you on the side of the road. They rang the house, Mart Jim and Bobby all went out to help find you, they took Jim’s dog to help and…" Mart shrugged his shoulders as his voice tapered of.

"Why did the dog attack me in the first place?" Trixie asked.

"I’m not sure Trixie." Honey answered. "Jim was very upset that it tried and although is upset the dog is dead doesn’t hold it against you."

Trixie managed a smile before turning to Mart, "So, umm… Sally Wellington?"

"Sally Belden." Honey corrected. "She’ll come with Dan later on. We didn’t want to overwhelm you straight away."

"You O.K. Trix?" Mart put his arm around his sister. She nodded affirmative but her actions were contrary. "You are not going to cry on me are you?"

"Would you mind?"

Mart wrapped his arms around her. "Not in the least." He held her close as great sobs shook her body. He smoothed her hair and spoke softly to her. "It’s going to work out in the end. You’ll see." Mart comforted her as they stood in the middle of the hospital’s parking lot.

"Thanks Mart."

"Anytime." He assured her as he helped her into the car and drove towards that familiar word home, the place she would not know, with people she would have to meet all over again.

 

Chapter 5

It seemed that all too soon Mart was pulling into the driveway at Crabapple Farm. The drive from town had introduced Trixie to changes that she was not really ready for. Crimper’s had expanded, the police station had moved to a newer building and the bank had downsized. Dr Ferris now retired had been replaced by Dr Walton, and Sergeant Molinson was now Captain. Now that was a scary thought Trixie decided. He had been the policeman at the hospital, chatting up Mrs Norris, who used to be Trixie’s boss when she had been a candy striper. Mr Norris had passed away four years ago and apparently only a year ago Captain Molinson had started to court the said lady. Trixie after trying to stifle a giggle at the thought of old Molinson ‘wooing’ sobered when she caught sight of the letter box at the foot of her home. It was so strange coming home to a place that you could remember yesterday but would be so different to today.

Trixie closed her eyes as Mart pulled up in the driveway. She could feel the eyes of her friends on her face and felt Di’s hand move to reassure her own. Shaking hands were stilled as she opened her eyes to the same farm. The house looked similar, but may have undergone a new coat of paint; Crabapples still lined the driveway, the old barn had had a minor facelift and her mother was waiting on the porch, still wearing her trademark apron. The comfort of that apron was more soothing to Trixie than anything else could have been. Catching the emotion that threatened to surface again, she leaped from the car and ran to her mother’s warm embrace, thanking all that was good in the world for her continuing and unchanging love. Thankfully some things would never change.

*****

The restaurant was located in one of the seedier parts of the city. The street was full of unsavory looking characters whose lifestyle was questionable to say the least. A man who looked out of place, simply because of his expensive looking leather jacket and knee high leather boots strode towards the red neon sign which read Rina’s. Straitening his jacket and pushing his sunglasses onto his smooth head he opened the door.

The dimly lit restaurant was almost empty. A group of well-dressed men sat in a booth towards the back trying to attract little attention but not succeeding. They were rather conspicuous due to the quality of their clothes and their mode of arrival, a limousine. The man in black moved towards the booth ignoring the stare of the man behind the bar. He pulled a chair from a nearby table and placed it so he could lean on the back of it while conversing with the men already seated.

"Has she remembered yet?" Came a heavily accented voice.

"Not yet." The man in black replied as he tried to glimpse the man who had addressed him but the lack of light created to many shadows to allow an accurate description.

"You understand what to do if she does?" The voice inquired.

"Yes." Came the curt reply.

"It would be a pity to kill her if she remembers. Real pity. That is only a last resort. Bring her to me first if she remembers." The man struck a match that caused shadows to dance over his face. Shoulder length dark hair hung loosely, a carefully trimmed mustache and goatee graced handsome features and eyes that seemed darker than coal stared back. "After all she may remember to keep her mouth shut until the deal is closed. Understand?"

The last word was almost spoken as a threat. The man in black nodded as an envelope was passed to him. He opened it to reveal a wad of bills that would pay for expenses and a bit more, before acknowledging his host once more and leaving the now stifling restaurant.

"I don’t think he can be trusted boss."

The boss puffed on his cigar, "I know, but I cannot be implicated if anything happens." He paused looking at the smoke wafting above the table. "Tony, make sure he is followed and does his job properly. I will not have any mistakes, you know what is on the line." Tony nodded and stepped out of the restaurant. The boss took another puff, "I do not want Jones to die." His voice was heavy with emotion. "This incident could not have happened at a worse time." He grabbed the coat of his chair and headed towards the door. "We have much to do before the deal goes through. Come."

 

Chapter 6

Trixie leaned back in the recliner. Her hunger had been satisfied with every dish that was her favorite. "Moms must have been cooking for days to make everything that I like."

"Mmmm hmmm" Mart agreed as he sat on the floor in front of the other recliner where Honey rested. He leant onto her legs as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Trixie had been spared the intrusion of Jim and Kelly over dinner and was not looking forward to them visiting, and Regan had popped in to let them know that Dan wouldn’t be able to make it tonight but would see her in the morning. She was curious to see how much Dan had changed and was looking forward to the morning. Everyone had changed so much. Brian looked so mature, and Sally was as beautiful as ever. And their little boy Mark was absolutely adorable, he looked just like Bobby did at that age but had the same hazel eyes and golden brown hair of his mother. He was also quite spoilt being the only ‘BobWhite’ child and had everyone wrapped around his little three-year-old finger.

Bobby and Di were another story. Everyone was quite comfortable with their relationship, but they themselves seemed to be uncomfortable showing their feelings, especially in front of the ‘prodigal’ sister. Trixie looked over at them. They were sitting side by side, not to close and just holding hands. "Could you be more affectionate?" She asked dryly.

"Huh?" Mart queried. Still unable to make a coherent sound after the enormous amount of food he had eaten.

Trixie groaned as she saw the confusion on everyone’s faces. She got up and squeezed herself in between Bobby and Di. "I don’t mind that you are together, honestly," she assured them. She snuggled in between them and closed her eyes thankful for the closeness.

Bobby moved slightly so that his arm was around both his sister and Di. "Thanks Trixie."

Trixie managed an "ugh", too comfortable to move or say something intelligible. Di looked at Bobby and smiled and gave his hand a quick squeeze.

The sound of tires could be heard. Trixie inwardly groaned. She was not sure she was ready to see Jim and Kelly. She snuggled deeper into the couch and kept her eyes closed hoping that she could hide from the inevitable.

But luck was not on her side. A voice she knew only too well called her name, "Trixie?"

Trixie opened her eyes and moved so she could see more clearly the now young man who was even more ‘special’ than he had been. "Jim." She said quietly, hoping that her voice did not give away her emotions. She stood so he could embrace her. "Sorry about the dog."

"Don’t worry about it, it should never have attacked you in the first place." He assured her.

"I took him to the obedience school myself, he was trained so well." A small apologetic voice managed.

Trixie looked towards Kelly. "I’m still sorry, I just wasn’t in my right mind, I’m still not." Trixie brushed her hands over her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Maybe I never was."

"Well its good to have you back." Kelly managed.

"It is good to be back." Trixie smiled and leaned towards the girl, managing a small hug even though it seemed to kill her on the inside. Kelly still managed to exude a confidence Trixie felt she would never have. But then of course Kelly was sophisticated. Her straight black hair fell to just above her shoulders in a bob style. Her dark eyes were framed with even darker lashes and her eyebrows were sculptured to perfection. The clothes she wore were the latest fashion and the best brand names. She obviously used Jim’s fortune to her advantage.

"We have something for you." Kelly murmured as she passed Trixie a brown paper package.

"Thank you." Trixie said as she nervously took the package. She felt like she was undergoing some sort of test and it was unsettling to say the least. She took of the wrapping to reveal a red jacket with BWG stitched across the back.

"No-one could ever take your place." Jim explained as he watched tears fill her eyes.

"It was never the same without you." Kelly further explained, emotion clouding her voice.

Trixie knew she needed to say something. Maybe Kelly wasn’t so bad now, she obviously felt some sort of guilt, whether it was because she had been the reason the Bob-Whites had argued that day or because she felt responsible for Trixie’s disappearance. "I’m…" Trixie paused "sorry I made such a big fuss over nothing."

"That’s all right, as long as everything is O.K. now?" Kelly asked.

Trixie could only nod. "Could you excuse me please?" She asked as she made her way upstairs to the solace of her bedroom.

*****

It had been almost heart wrenching to see all her things gone from her old room. The twin beds had been replaced by a double bed. Her dresser still stood against the wall but no knick-knack’s littered the surface, as they once did. Her bookcase had been removed and her Lucy Radcliffe books were in the attic, a memory that her family hadn’t been able to throw away. Her clothes had been given to charity years ago, a new quilt covered the bed and new curtains fluttered in the breeze. The only consolation had been the horse on the wall, a painting that had been a gift from Uncle Andrew on her fifteenth birthday. Trixie sighed. The moon looked bright tonight, and she wandered over to the window seat making herself comfortable.

 

It had been a difficult when Jim and Kelly had arrived. Jim had given her the package which held her old Bob-White jacket. His words had seemed so ambiguous and any animosity that Trixie had suppressed towards Kelly returned in force as Jim had spoken the words "no-one could ever take your place". Apparently the Bob-Whites had fizzed out as it was "never the same without you", as Kelly had so ‘nicely’ put it. Why did Jim have to go and marry the girl? If this just happens to be all a dream, I’m going to tell that hormonal college ‘boy’ a thing or too.

She walked over to the small bag that Honey and Di had given her in the hospital and pulled out a pair of pajamas. She quickly dressed trying not to pay heed to who they once belonged and hopped into bed. Tears started to fall down her cheeks; "everything’s changed so much." She whispered to the moon.

"No they haven’t." Trixie turned to see Bobby standing in the doorway. He smiled at her shyly. He looked over the room then let his eyes rest on Trixie’s face. "Some things never change."

Trixie noticed a small twinkle in his eye and then the hand hiding something behind his back. "What are you talking about?"

He sat on the edge of the bed, turned on the bedside lamp then made himself comfortable next to Trixie. He winked at Trixie before passing her a small book. "Read!" He demanded.

"Oh Bobby," Trixie murmured as she took the battered copy of Peter Rabbit in her hands.

Tears coursed down her checks but were forgotten when Bobby demanded again, "Read!"

Trixie pulled herself up to made herself comfortable next to Bobby and put her arms around him, just as she used to, and began to read the familiar words.

It was sometime later when Mrs Belden found them. Trixie and Bobby together in the quiet of sleep offering each other the comfort and reprieve from pain that twelve years of separation had deemed necessary. Mrs Belden picked up the book that had fallen to the floor. "Peter Rabbit?" She quietly questioned. A small smile danced on her lips as she placed the precious copy on the dresser then turned out the light. "Goodnight and sweet dreams," she whispered as she closed the door.

Jim stared at his reflection. It had been almost a week since Honey had rung about Trixie’s return. He shook his head trying to clear thoughts and feelings. As much as he felt and still did that Trixie was his special girl, he could not act on those feelings. Now he would always be left wondering what could have been. After she had disappeared Kelly had been his strength.

Jim lathered his chin and started the process of shaving. Kelly had helped him cope with the loss, she had understood the friendship Jim had with Trixie and following counseling sessions they had decided Jim felt that way about her as Trixie had helped in a time of intense need. Eighteen months later Kelly and Jim had started dating seriously, two years later they were married. History seemed to repeat itself. Kelly, Jim thought, had been everything I wanted. She was still a little reserved – or maybe that wasn’t the right word for it- just like me. Maybe it was due to our similar backgrounds, both of us were abused and neglected by the ones who were supposed to take care of us.

He rinsed his face, holding a hot wash cloth to his eyes as tears threatened to spill. He had changed, Kelly had changed everyone had changed and Trixie had to come storming into his life as fresh and innocent as the day she had gone. He would not be free to chase any if or could’ve been. He was a married man. Jim stared into his eyes ‘he was a married man’ rang through his head.

"What a joke he whispered." Here he was a married man and he was preparing to meet another woman. It was an affair that gave him everything that his marriage didn’t. Even for Trixie he wasn’t prepared to give up this woman. This woman was the only one to have seen him cry apart from his mother. She never expected more from him than what he could give. She was smart, funny, and beautiful in her own right. He turned from the mirror ignoring the guilt that momentarily crossed his face.

Walking into the master suite he noticed Kelly’s form in the bed. He moved quietly so as not to wake her. But his efforts were not required.

"What are you doing?" She asked turning to face him as she watched him dress.

"I’m going through to New York. It’s my research day at the university. You know that. I have study to do." He replied donning a deep green shirt to match his cream colored trousers. "I’ll be home after dinner," he continued.

She watched as he grabbed his jacket from the walk in closet. "We are having dinner at the Belden’s tonight." She scrutinized his outfit knowing he never dressed like that for her. "We did promise."

Jim paused his hand on the doorknob "I may be a little late." Without a backward glance he left the room.

Kelly fell back into the pillows. "Damn!" Angry and frustrated that she had no more control over him she moved towards the ensuite were she ran a bath and dreamt of ways to get him back, after all she thought he does belong to me. She closed her eyes as she heard him leave the grounds of Ten Acres.

*****

The sun streamed in the window. Bobby rolled over and grimaced at the brightness. He then realized someone was in the bed with him. He looked over to see the peaceful face of his sister. She looked calm and content and seemed to be talking in her sleep. Bobby couldn’t make out what she was saying. She seemed to be talking in a different language. He smiled and hopped out of the bed careful not to wake her.

After showering he made his way downstairs to the kitchen where Mrs Belden was making waffles. "Good Morning Moms."

"Good Morning to you as well." She turned her face in invitation for a kiss, he complied. "How did you sleep?"

Bobby smiled, "I slept well."

"Trixie wasn’t restless?"

"Well if she was I never noticed." Bobby took a seat then poured himself an orange juice. "I know it is difficult for her since everything has changed so much but…" He paused to sort his words.

"But?" His mother prompted.

Bobby shrugged his shoulders; "She has changed also. There is still that familiarity about her but she is different."

"I guess she grew up." Mrs Belden squeezed her sons shoulder. "You all have. I know it is going to be difficult for all of you, but we have to get through this and when we do we will have a family again. The way it is supposed to be."

*****

Beep beep beep. An arm emerged from under a gaudy maroon coverlet to knock the alarm clock onto the floor. The body under the covers remained to evade the early morning sun. But a lie in was not allowed. A rough hand removed the coverlet revealing a disgruntled lean bodied man. His shoulder length black hair covered his face. He blew to remove the few strands that had been in his mouth and he rolled onto his back with a groan.

"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty." The man who disturbed the early morning slumber ripped open the curtains and grinned evilly at the near murderous glare of his friend.

"Tony, you have a death wish don’t you?"

"Yep."

"Sadistic…"

"Tsk tsk tsk" Tony reprimanded. "Since when does Danny Boy swear?"

"Since he lost his woman." Dan swore under his breath for good measure. Tony chose to ignore the comment and just watched as Dan proceeded to lock himself in the small ensuite.

Dan re-entered the room clothed and ready for another day on stakeout. He was tired, worried, and lonely. It had been too long since he last held a woman, his woman. His friends had expected him to start something with Hallie, but not only did Dan not want to but Hallie had not wanted to either. She had been seeing Ben for some time so that alleviated any pressure from that angle. But then Trixie had to come home. Because everyone else was partnered up, Dan felt he was expected to do something in that corner and as far as he was concerned that was not going to happen. He was still not ready to give up on Maree. Shaking his head from memories that threatened to tear him apart he walked over to the telescope. Adjusting the camera and fiddling with a few knobs on the recording equipment.

"Bad night?" Tony asked.

"Bad wake up call." Dan corrected.

"Well it’s your shift, I’m going out for a coffee, maybe a donut and a couple of waffles." Tony walked out the door.

Dan sat heavily in a chair to watch and wait while he prayed that the assignment would be over soon. He wasn’t sure for how much longer he could keep up the masquerade.

 

Chapter 8

Jim pulled into the university parking lot. He saw the black cherokee in the normal spot and smiled to himself. The library could wait. Soon he was standing outside her office. Dr. Jane Smith-Parker – Historian.

Jim opened the door and saw the secretary typing at her desk. "Jim, how are you?"

"I’m fine thanks Maggie." The greeting was familiar for Jim was a regular visitor to the office. Maggie was almost as discreet as her boss and therefore refused to give voice to what was going on between the two.

"Jane will be here shortly she had some business to attend to this morning you can wait in her office if you like." She explained.

"Thanks Maggie." She smiled and continued with her task. Jim walked through to the office.

This office always felt like home. Books, papers, maps and other various items littered each and every surface. It reminded Jim of his father’s study. His mother was the neat and organized one, his father was almost absent-minded when it came to his work, and Jane was the same. They both had this uncanny ability to keep everything in reasonable order while looking like a bomb had just been detonated. If you moved anything they would know what and when and where.

Jim turned to the computer where a saying was slowly making its way across the screen - Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your own way. He smiled and sat in her comfortable chair moved the mouse and set up a simple game of solitaire to pass the time till Jane arrived.

"Hey stranger," came the voice of his paramour.

"Jane." Jim exclaimed. Noting how the simple cut of her skirt and jacket emphasized her slight figure. Shoulder length brown hair was pulled of her face and a small amount of lipstick highlighted her smile. A series of cruel scars scattered her right cheek and crept along to her chin. Only Jim knew that those scars were only a fraction of what littered her right arm, shoulder and back. Jane had had numerous surgeries to correct the damage and still needed more.

He smiled at her, she returned his smile "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Jim forced a laugh and shrugged his shoulders; "Do I need a reason to see you?"

"No" Jane returned, "but it wouldn’t have to do with the return of a certain blond friend hmm?"

Jim’s face went a pretty shade of red confirming that her suspicion was correct. "How did you know?" He turned the chair to look out the window.

"I can read the papers." She sat on the desk placing the papers beside her then swiveled Jim to face her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Jim shook his head "No. But can I hold you?" He looked at her with those puppy dog eyes daring her to refuse him.

"And that is going to solve all of your problems?"

"No but at least I could escape for a while."

"You are just running away."

"I know."

Jane smiled her blue eyes sparkling. She liked Jim, wouldn’t dare to say or admit she felt more for him. With him came trouble, in the form of a married man, who would now suffer the added problem of a special friend ‘back from the dead’. Jane knew that her affair could not last much longer so resolved to give Jim all that she had. He was the only man she had ever felt comfortable with. The only man who treated her like a human being, a woman. She had been in a car accident as a teen and because of that her face had been left scarred. When Jim had first met her he had looked beyond her face to who she really was. He had taken time to get to know her as a friend and subsequently they had started an affair. Not one to think that she would she still did. She knew there was something about Jim. She just hadn’t been able to pinpoint what it was.

Jim stood and wrapping her legs around his waist he kissed her. Jane smiled at his actions "I thought you wanted me to hold you?"

"I changed my mind" Jim purred into ear. "Are you complaining?"

She shivered as his breath caressed her ear "No" He traced gentle kisses over her cheek and claimed her mouth. She sighed as she accepted his kiss and leaned into his embrace.

 

*****

"Trixie!" Mrs Belden called "The girls are here!"

"Thank you, Moms," Honey laughed, "even in my condition you make me feel as if I’m thirteen again."

"Well, to me you will always be my girls," Mrs Belden stated.

"Did Kelly call you?" Di asked

"Yes, she did and she will come with us today." Honey replied hoping against hope that Trixie and her sister-in-law could find a common ground after all the animosity that supposedly existed between them.

"As long as she behaves herself I don’t mind." Trixie commented.

Honey turned to her friend who was dressed in the same clothes she was wearing when they brought her home from the hospital yesterday. "Well even I have to admit that when it comes to shopping Kelly is one of the best."

"Doesn’t quite get to the level Di is at though." Bobby interrupted.

Di swatted at him as he tried to sneak past her into the kitchen. "And that is quite enough cheek from you." Di returned.

"I meant that as a compliment" Bobby defended.

"A compliment? How is that a compliment?" Di questioned. "Oh never mind." She sighed as she saw the smirk cross his face.

Bobby put his arm around Di "can I talk to you privately for a moment."

"Talk?" Di asked as Bobby led her into the den.

"Yeah and I bet I know just what they are going to ‘talk’ about." Honey giggled. Trixie had to smile which was soon dispelled as Kelly’s car could be heard in the driveway.

After an uncomfortable ‘hello’ and prying Di from her ‘talk’, the girls left.

They headed towards White Plains where they were going to purchase clothes for Trixie. They were all pitching in and Trixie not all too pleased with the company was even less pleased with the prospect of shopping. What is worse than losing your life? Shopping with three females who have had a lifetime of practice and the income to support it. Trixie just knew she was in for a nightmare.

 

Chapter 9

It was getting close to two thirty in the afternoon and Honey, enthusiastic at the start of the day was now tiring. She lagged behind her friends and started wishing with all her might that this shopping trip would end soon.

Trixie noticed her lagging behind and slowed her steps so Honey could catch up. "How are you holding up?" She asked.

"I’m fine and I’m really proud of you" Honey commented.

"What for?" Trixie returned.

"Because you have been nothing but civil this morning in spite of shopping which I know you hate, and having to spend time with Kelly which I know is difficult for you."

"Well it wasn’t that difficult since Kelly has been acting rather strange and withdrawn today." Trixie paused. "Well different to what she normally is." Trixie mused.

"And how am I different?" Trixie looked up to see that Kelly had stopped and addressed her. "What am I normally and if you where having the same problems that I was having, then you wouldn’t be exactly happy either." Kelly turned on her heel and walked away.

"Kelly!" Honey called out "What is going on?"

Kelly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. "I think Jim is having an affair," she whispered almost quietly to herself.

"What?" The girls exclaimed. Honey and Trixie both dropped their parcels in shock.

"Are you sure?" Di queried.

Kelly kept her eyes on the pavement. "He comes home smelling of perfume and its not mine and he dresses up every time he has to go to the university and we never make love anymore and…" Kelly broke into sobs. Di wrapped her arms around the distraught woman and Honey looked on in disbelief.

Trixie sat on a nearby bench, her hands clutching her knees, her knuckles white with tension. "It can’t be true."

"What’s it matter to you?" Kelly demanded

"He was…" Trixie began but could not finish.

What on earth are you talking about?" Kelly asked.

"Jim was supposed to be the knight in shining armor. He was honorable and loyal and courageous and smart and everything that a girl could want. He was supposed to be all that even if it wasn’t for me. My dream of the perfect man has just been destroyed. Apparently there are no exceptions, men are all the same and Gray was definitely no exception…"

"Who’s Gray?" Honey asked.

"Pardon?" Trixie looked at her friend confused.

Honey repeated herself, "Who’s Gray?"

"I don’t know." Trixie replied.

"You just mentioned a man by the name of Gray –Who is he?" Di reminded her.

"No I didn’t, I don’t know anyone by that name, well not that I remember anyway." Trixie looked at the faces watching her with interest. "Are you sure? I thought we were talking about Jim."

Di groaned, Honey growled in frustration and Kelly’s face was unreadable.

"Maybe we should call it a day." Trixie suggested.

"I think that that may be a good idea." Honey agreed.

Kelly watched them all in frustration as they headed towards the car. "Excuse me!" she shouted, "I am going through a personal crisis here and all I get is ‘but Jim is supposed to be perfect’. Well what about me, my husband doesn’t love me. I worked bloody hard to get Jim to like me, date me and marry me and now I know where I stand with the lot of you!" She spat. "The only thing I ever did right was reconcile with my uncle over the entire impostor episode." Kelly quickly closed her mouth realizing what she was about to say.

"What impostor episode?" Di asked.

"But I thought you said you didn’t have any family?" Honey queried.

"Do you know who you remind me of, who you have always reminded me of?" Trixie smiled.

"I don’t know what you are talking about," Kelly sniffed. "My husband is having an affair and that is all you have to say, something to make me feel even worse than I already am?"

Anger flashed through Kelly’s eyes then tears started to slowly leave trails down her cheeks. Honey apologized and wrapped her arms around her sister-in-law offering her the comfort she wanted. Anger returned to Kelly’s eyes as she tried to stare down Trixie. Di offered to go get the car and Honey said she would go with her telling Kelly and Trixie to behave and stop acting like children.

When Honey and Di had gone Trixie spoke "Now I have a memory returning that is very disturbing, something about a dog and a chase and something else." She turned to Kelly who had gone quite pale. "Maybe you could enlighten me?"

"You have no proof of anything" Kelly hissed. "I have been here for twelve years, I have known almost all your family and friends for longer than what you have. You will not be able to get rid of me, and your hunch is not worth anything."

"Maybe," Trixie murmured, "Maybe not."

 

Chapter 10

Jim buttoned his shirt. Jane admired him as he finished getting his clothes on. "Do you have to go?" She pouted.

Jim nodded "I need to get at least a little bit of work done before I head home." He kissed her pouting lips. "Thankyou for a wonderful morning."

"My pleasure." Jane purred.

"Well I should hope so." Jim smiled. He headed towards the door "and by the way" he turned to face her again, "It was mine to."

Jane gazed at the door until Maggie entering interrupted her train of thought. "Have a good morning?" She asked.

"I can’t keep doing this Maggie." Jane turned to look out the window.

"Can’t do what?" Maggie asked.

"The sex bit, the pretense of caring for him. How stupid is he anyway?" Jane fumed.

"You said yourself that he was pretty good, and that he does seem to open up to you."

"He’s not that bad but this has been going on for about a month and I am not happy about it. Things should be moving much quicker than what they are."

"Is Jim so important to our plan?" Maggie asked.

"I know that there is something important regarding Jim, but what I still can’t gather, I need to understand what his relationship with Trixie is. I understand the one with his wife. She manipulates him and we know she is having an affair if not more of her own, but it is the blond that worries me. I need you to dig up everything you can on who she is where she’s been and her relationship with Jones."

"She has no memory." Maggie reminded her.

"I know that." Jane spat. "It is after all our fault."

"We shouldn’t have been so harsh on her." Maggie agreed.

"Well no use crying over spilt milk." Jane turned to Maggie. "We never got the information out of her that we needed to, but as long as Jones is out of the country we should be safe. If not we can always get Devlin."

"Devlin?"

"He could just be the card we need to get out of this mess and our ticket out of this dump."

"I thought this was where you wanted to be. After all you did steal the position."

"This position is just a stepping stone Maggie." Jane walked towards her. "We are going to easy street and we will knock down anything or anyone who gets in our way." Jane placed a kiss Maggie's cheek. "Find out where Devlin is and get him, I’m sure we will need him before this is over."

*****

Dan whistled softly to himself as the conversation finished. "Jim what have you gotten yourself into this time."

"Looks like trouble" Dan looked at his partner Tony as he slopped over a pizza. "What?" Tony demanded as he used the back of his hand to wipe the cheese of his chin.

"You are as bad as Mart used to be and even he has grown up." Dan shook his head in disbelief.

"Hey I work hard, I am allowed the occasional slop over the old pizza."

"Well I hope that pizza is not that old, how can you go undercover if you end up with food poisoning."

"My constitution is stronger than any bug I have ever met."

"You are going to get sick. Mark my words." Dan laughed as the topping fell of the fourth slice that Tony was busy trying to shove into his mouth. "How is everything going anyway?"

"Zandros wants this and wants that and I think your friend is involved somehow." Tony stated.

"Which friend?" Dan’s interest was immediate.

"The one who just returned."

"Trixie?"

Tony nodded his head. "She was mentioned in the same sentence as Jones and well the only Jones I know of that could be connected with Trixie is Jim’s stepfather and he is currently in prison, but he does have a regular entourage of visitors and well add our dear Dr Jane into the equation and seriously nothing adds up."

"What are you saying?"

"The story so far." Tony counted on his hand, "One - I am placed on an undercover assignment to infiltrate a South American Drug Lord. Two - Within one week of starting I hear nothing but Jones this and Jones that but nothing that makes sense. Three – two weeks later a very battered and bruised friend of yours is discovered and no clue as to why, we know now who but still no why. Four – my new ‘boss’ gets me to tail the man he has tailing your friend to make sure he doesn’t get overzealous in his assignment. And number five very important, we discover that your friend Jim has recently acquired himself a lover who has just admitted with her own mouth that she was the one to batter and bruise Trixie. And when you add all these things up we end up with diddly squat."

"You forgot number six,"

"What?"

"Who is Devlin and what does he have to do with Trixie?" Dan reminded Tony.

"I’m not sure but why were we given the assignment to look into Dr Jane anyway?"

"All I know is that it comes from higher up the food chain."

"FBI?"

"Possibly higher."

"CIA?"

"Maybe."

"Oh man when you told me your friend could find a mystery you weren’t kidding."

"And when she becomes the mystery…"

Only she will be able to solve it." Tony mused.

Dan nodded then remembered something Tony had said. "Diddly squat?" Dan couldn’t help but be amused even in the seriousness of the situation.

"What?" Tony glared at his partner, "It used to be one of my moms favorite sayings."

"Nothing it’s cute really." Dan held back a chuckle.

"Cute? Think I am going to have to kill you when this assignment is over," Tony murmured.

 

Chapter 11

Jim left the building and headed towards his car when he noticed Dan’s car in the parking lot in front of the old residence building. Jim curious as to why his friend would be at the university thought he would see if he could find him.

The receptionist recognized the description of Dan and told him that the ‘student’ was in room no 312. Jim knowing that Dan was not really a student was not sure that it would be prudent to visit him but then if he didn’t visit and the receptionist asked then it could blow Dan’s cover so proceeding with some caution Jim climbed the stairs knowing that Dan would most likely be annoyed with him. "Well some things just can’t be helped." He mused as he stopped outside the door and knocked.

"Coming!" A voice yelled.

Dan was surprised to say the least, "Jim what on earth are you doing here?" Dan pulled him in the door.

Jim looked around the room, it looked like things had been put away hurriedly. "Well I noticed…"

Dan went white and interrupted his friend, "Damn it! You saw the bug under the computer didn’t you?" He ran his hands through his hair; "I saw you playing on it and was sure you noticed something. I’m in big trouble."

"That you are?" Jim’s face was red. Not sure from anger or embarrassment that his ‘exploits’ were being watched. "Why were you spying on me?!" Jim tried hard not to yell, but his temper was almost beyond control.

"I wasn’t spying on you…" Dan tried to explain.

Jim cut him of "Kelly hired you to spy on me didn’t she?" He pointed an accusing finger at Dan. "You probably think I’m an idiot and hate me for cheating on Kelly but if you were to follow her you would find that she has had more than her fare share of affairs…!"

Dan held up his hands "Whoa there boy! Kelly did not hire me to spy on you, this is my assignment from the NYPD. Jane is under surveillance."

"What?" Jim looked at his friend in disbelief. "There is nothing wrong with Jane."

"Why don’t you show him?" Tony suggested. Jim whirled around to see the man sitting on the desk looking at him with amusement. "You never know he may be able to supply us with some…" he cleared his throat, "inside information."

"I’m not sure I understand." Jim looked at them.

Dan sighed in resignation "we do need a bit more help in figuring this all out." He walked over to Tony who handed him a file. "This is what we know about her so far."

Jim took the folder still unsure about the way events had turned out. He just wanted to stop and say hello now he wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He opened the folder, saw some rudimentary facts about the woman he was having an affair with. "What am I looking for?"

"Look at medical history." Dan suggested.

Jim read the notes. "Oh my goodness." He looked up at Dan "What on earth have I gotten myself into?"

"That’s a good question?" Dan walked over to Jim "Now look at her criminal record."

"Her Criminal Record?"

"Just here." Dan pointed at the space provided.

"Why me?" Jim groaned as he sat on the bed and put his head in his hands.

"You need to take time to make your own decisions, I get the feeling that every relationship you have ever had you have been talked into rather than just deciding for yourself." Dan put his hand on Jim’s shoulder.

"Yeah and that amounts to not very many at all." Jim rubbed his eyes. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Well…" Tony began but Dan glared at him to keep his mouth shut.

"I just want to go back over there and tell her it’s all over." Jim stood and walked over to the window, and looked towards the building where Jane’s office was. "How am I going to do that?"

"Well you could help us?" Dan suggested.

"Why should I?"

"Listen to this." Dan pulled out the taping equipment and played the conversation Jane had with Maggie.

Jim listened with regret and shame. "What do you want me to do?" He sighed in resignation.

 

*****

Jim drove into the driveway of his home. It was late after he had finished talking with Dan and his partner Tony. But rather than waste time wallowing in something akin to self-pity Jim had gone to library and buried himself in his thesis.

Jim could see the light in the bedroom and just knew that Kelly was awake and ready to give him an earful. He didn’t really want to go inside; in fact he felt more like running away. For once in his life Jim thought that he would almost rather be back living with Jonesy rather than having to suffer this emotional torture.

Kelly was waiting in their bedroom. "You were supposed to make it for dinner." She accused

"I know" Jim retorted. "I got held up with my thesis. Then I ran into Dan and we got talking."

"Sure you didn’t meet up with anyone else?"

Jim chose to ignore the statement, his stomach churned at the thought of Jane and what she was capable of. "How was dinner?"

"You should’ve been there"

"I’ll send my apologies tomorrow."

"I did it for you." Kelly spat.

"Thank you." Jim grabbed his pillow from the bed and headed down the hall to the guestroom. He didn’t want to spend the night sharing the bed with this woman. In fact he didn’t really want to share the bed with any woman ever again. "Females, all of them are over bearing, psychotic, interfering pains in the proverbial rear end." He muttered to himself as he settled into bed. "If I never have to see one again I will be more than happy!"

 

Chapter 12

"Trixie!" Mrs Belden called. "Time to get up."

Trixie rolled over and put her head under the pillow. She could hear the sound of footsteps coming up the hall and the squeak the door made as someone pushed it open. "I’m supposed to be sick, I only got out of hospital a couple of days ago."

"Yes but its time for lunch." A deep voice responded while its owner stole her pillow.

Trixie looked up to see her father grinning at her. "Lunch time?"

He nodded "You slept for quite some time, you must have worn yourself out yesterday."

"Shopping is not my favorite past time." Trixie commented. "What are you doing home today?"

"I get one of these a month."

"A day of?"

"Yes and I thought I could spend it with my daughter, but alas she has chosen to sleep it away."

"Dad, I’m sorry." She reached up and gave him a hug. "We can spend the afternoon together."

"That would be nice. So do want to have a shower and lunch first?"

"I must be a sight for sore eyes." Trixie laughed. "I’ll be down in ten minutes."

Twenty minutes later Trixie sat with her parents, eating and planning a pleasant afternoon together.

"Well I always wanted to go to that Mountaintop Café near Croton. Maybe we could go there for a coffee after we spend some time at those craft markets?" Mrs Belden suggested.

"Since when do they have craft markets?" Trixie asked.

"They have had them for about five years now." Mrs Belden informed her. "You know where Old Revolutionary road is, up near the dam?" Trixie nodded vaguely remembering where Julie Sunderland lived. "Well they put a ‘new’ Revolutionary road in that bypasses a lot of the old windy road. They built a bridge that crosses the dam and about twenty minutes further up, is a lovely little tourist spot that has lovely views of the Hudson,

"And on a clear day like today you can see the mountains to the north and if you’re lucky maybe even New York." Mr Belden added.

"I didn’t realize the mountains up there were that big."

"They aren’t really, well not compared to many others that are in the state but there are unobstructed views. There are also a lot of outdoor activities conducted up there. The boys used to go up there rock climbing and such, I think Mart and Bobby even went hand gliding at one time."

"Of course they only ever got the girls to go on some of the day hikes but there is a lot of camping sites and trails and all sorts of things to keep every one happy." Mrs Belden added.

"So what are we going to do?" Trixie grinned.

"Well I’m going to look at the markets. Your father actually wanted to go on one of the trails. We will just have to see how much time we have."

"So that’s why you woke me up for an early lunch."

"Its just gone twelve so we should have plenty of time to do a few things." Mr Belden bantered. "If not I’m sure it will be a nice drive."

*   *   *

A bald man watched as the Belden’s left their home. He had been hiding in the woods, watching every move and was pleased that they had a least given him a few hours respite since the disastrous shopping expedition the day before. Thankfully nothing had happened relating to his task, but his head still hurt from when that mother had hit him with her purse when he had accidentally knocked her kids ice cream to the ground. He just knew he was in the wrong job. "I need to get myself a night job ‘cause my day job is driving me banana’s." He told himself as he started his motorbike and pulled out of his hiding place. "Hopefully it can’t get any worse."

Chapter 13

"So can you tell me exactly what happened?" Molinson asked again for what Trixie thought was the thousandth time "Maybe there is something that you forgot to mention."

"I am not a child captain?" Trixie’s face was red with indignation, "I was just watching the abseilling when I saw some bald creep pull out a gun" she took a deep breath, "that is all nothing ‘mysterious’ happened, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Like most of the other times when you were growing up." Molinson murmured.

Mr Belden watched the scene with trepidation. Trixie had the habit of coming up with the most amazing things since her return, her moods were melancholy and reflective and they only rarely disappeared to let a glimpse of the young woman Trixie had obviously became, like today. "Hang on a minute," he mused. "Trixie was telling me all about abseilling and rock climbing like she had done it before numerous times in fact and then she started mentioning Devlin, she was just about to tell me who he was when she saw the man with the gun."

"You don’t think that just because she started to remember that someone tried to kill her." Mrs Belden looked worried and held onto her daughter’s hand.

"Now let’s not jump to conclusions " Molinson began. "We can not be sure of that but it may help to give us a lead into what is going on."

"Mr Bald man hasn’t spoken yet?" Trixie queried.

"No he doesn’t even have a file, either he is very good and having a bad day or a first time hit man who couldn’t get the job done." Molinson said.

"Can we go now?" Trixie asked. She was tired and hoping the questioning was going to be over. They had been there all afternoon they had not eaten since lunchtime, she was tired and after a good sleep she was going to do some questioning of her own. Some bald guy does not try to kill her without finding out why.

*****

Trixie sat in the backseat the ride in the car had been almost unbearably quiet, her parents obviously traumatized from the afternoon, and now a congregation of BobWhites were waiting on the porch. "I am never going to have a moments rest am I?" She asked herself.

"Trixie?" The sentenced was left unanswered as her mother totally bereft of words exited the car.

The Bobwhites started asking more questions than Trixie thought she had ever heard in her entire life, Kelly looked intrigued and Dan looked guilty, she was going to have to pull him aside later and ask him what he knew. After answering all the questions thrown at her in much the same manner she had answered Molinson except this time she was allowed to eat a little at the same time Trixie was finally allowed to go to bed.

Trixie turned of the lights and opened the curtains. The moon was full and clouds lazily floated across the sky. Trixie sighed and watched as the shadows danced on the edge of the preserve where she noticed a figure staring at her window. Thinking that maybe this could be an answer to all her unanswered questions, not to mention not thinking about her own safety, she jumped out of the window on to the eaves climbed down the drain pipe and took of at a run to catch who ever was foolish enough to watch her.

The figure obviously saw her wild exit from the house yet did nothing to move from the shadows until Trixie was almost upon him, then panicking the figure turned and ran. Trixie was only a few feet from him but could not make out his features because the clouds drifted over the moon leaving them in darkness. Finally her brain kicked into gear and she wondered at her stupidity to carry out such a plan as to run after a potential attacker. The moon came out from behind a cloud as the man ran through a clearing. Recognizing him she slowed and went in another direction to cut him of, still not knowing what her plan-of-attack would be but knowing that he may be able to answer at least some questions.

Trixie hid behind the garden shed as the figure still panting some from his exertion came from the woods. He crept quietly as he passed by not realizing she was there, then without warning she moved from her hiding place and tackled him to the ground. He let out a grunt as the wind was knocked out of him. Trixie took advantage of his momentary confusion to pin his arms to the ground. She straddled his chest and before he could fight back she leant down and whispered hoarsely in his ear "You have some explaining to do James Winthrop Frayne the second."

 

Chapter 14

Jim waited nervously for Trixie to arrive. He had managed the night before to arrange to talk to her at a reasonable hour and explain to her everything. Trixie had reluctantly agreed to meet him in the preserve under the pretense of an early morning jog. He had not wanted Kelly to be aware of what was going on, it was bad enough that Kelly knew of his affair and somehow seemed to encourage it. His musings were interrupted when he heard the steady pace of Trixie’s footfalls.

He watched as she came along the trail and wondered what on earth he was going to tell her, where he was going to start. "You made it." He said quietly

"What? You honestly thought I wouldn’t?" Trixie asked.

"More hoping you wouldn’t." Jim confessed.

"Why?"

"Where do I start?" He fidgeted with the zipper on his jacket.

"Why don’t you start at the beginning." Trixie prompted.

"Where is that?" He almost spat.

Trixie was surprised at the vehemence in his voice. "Well why did you marry Kelly?"

"Because you weren’t here.’ He looked away he couldn’t say anything after that. His throat seemed to be choking him and his mouth was too dry.

"What?" Trixie was stunned to think that Jim felt that way. "That is not an excuse for an affair, do you honestly think you are to good for Kelly, or that because you are Jim that you can get away with this abysmal behavior?"

"That’s not true" He yelled his anger replacing his nervousness. "She didn’t tell you about Jeffery did she, but feel sorry for her if you like but know this I never cheated until a month ago but she was cheating me before she even said I do, so tell me does that make me the villain?"

Trixie gaped at him "Then why on earth did you marry her?"

"I thought we understood each other, we were so similar and we could relate our pasts to each other and well I didn’t know until after we were married did I? I didn’t know until Valentines Day – three months ago" He was yelling by the time he finished the sentence.

"Why don’t you get a divorce then?" Trixie yelled back.

"She would take me to the cleaners, I would have nothing for my school, my dreams…" Jim’s anger left him as he pondered everything he had lost or would lose.

"Didn’t you sign a prenuptial agreement?" Trixie asked trying to calm herself and deal with the flood of emotions assailing her sanity.

"Yes and she signed the papers in front of me but when I came back from the honeymoon dad told me I had seen her sign a bank application form not the document I had thought. She screwed me."

"Apparently"

"And since I don’t really care I just live in this loveless, domineering marriage because I have nothing better."

"Until you met this woman at the university?"

Jim sat heavily on the ground and put his head in his hands. "Now that is even more of a disaster."

"Why is that?" Trixie moved nervously from one foot to the other.

"Well for starters she is not who I thought she was…"

"What does that mean" Trixie interrupted, more intrigued than ever before about Jim’s mess.

"She’s psychotic"

Trixie couldn’t help but laugh, "she can’t be that bad Jim"

"No its written on her medical file" he insisted "She suffers from psychosis, caused by a car accident as a teen, she is delusional and I didn’t even pick it up, I studied this why didn’t I see it."

Trixie stared at him "Well then obviously it can’t be that bad."

Jim looked at his feet, "It gets worse, she has apparently fixated on you and she… well we have reason to believe she was the one to cause your memory loss in the first place."

"What? Who’s we?" Trixie demanded.

"Dan seems to think that when our affair first started she may have seen you and thought of you as some type of threat so that she attacked you."

"So she would know who I am?"

"Well no, umm the guy who tried to shoot you yesterday is working for some South American drug lord, and as far as Dan and his partner can figure has no relation to either you or Jane."

Trixie sunk to the ground "I have a headache" she placed her head in her hands and concentrated on taking deep breaths.

"I wish that things had turned out differently." Jim almost whispered "if I had never brought Kelly home that summer none of this would have happened."

"That’s it!" Trixie jumped to her feet.

Jim followed suit, "What’s it?"

"Before I say anything else Jim I must tell you that if you ever tell me I get into the worst possible situations you will stop and look at yourself first before you say anything." With that Trixie kissed him on the lips then took of back along the trail leaving a very stunned but hopeful Jim in the clearing.

 

Chapter 15

Trixie ordered the taxi driver to stop a safe distance from Kelly’s car. After talking to Jim this morning a memory of Kelly had resurfaced. Something that had occurred before the event in the clubhouse, the reason Trixie was so suspicious of her in the first place. Now it all seemed to fit like a big jigsaw puzzle, if her suspicions were correct Jim would be able to file for divorce under the grounds of deception or some such thing. Honey would know, in fact maybe she should have told her what was going on, in fact maybe it would save her a lot of money if Honey could drive her around, but then Honey’s car was known to Kelly who might guess that she was being followed.

Trixie smiled in triumph as Kelly pulled up beside a large gray building that was heavily guarded. "I knew it, I knew it." Trixie paid the cab driver before finding a telephone and calling a friend.

An hour later Dan arrived "So what was so urgent that you called me to visit the state penitentiary with you?"

Trixie just smiled, "Notice anything in the car park?"

"Only Kelly’s car." Dan looked at Trixie "Why is Kelly’s car here?"

"I need you to pull rank or do whatever that badge of yours will allow you to do." Trixie said grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the entrance to the states government ‘hotel’.

Fifteen Minutes later Dan was watching a conversation behind a one way mirror. Louisa Sparder nee Kelly Frayne was talking or rather conspiring with her uncle. "I never would have guessed." Dan looked at Trixie "How did you know?" He looked back through to the visiting room; "We are getting this on tape aren’t we?"

"I thought he would have been high security," Dan said speaking to the prison officer.

"He was but he was deemed less risk, some psych test and he’s down to minimum and has basically been a model prisoner, he’s due for release in five years, of course with this information and a new psych review that decision will be revised."

"What will this mean for Kelly?" Trixie asked.

"We could possible get an annulment for the marriage to Jim, he was obviously deceived into marrying her the exact charges laid against her will rely on what the state decides and what Jim and obviously his father want." The officer replied.

"So are you going to arrest her?" Dan asked.

"We can if you like," The officer replied.

"I think you maybe need to leave it for now." Trixie said.

"Why?" Dan asked.

"I’d still like to know why I disappeared, and I have a vague recollection that Kelly had something to do with it."

"What recollection."

"Well…" Trixie paused. The prison guard was about to say something when Dan silenced him with a look. "I’ve seen them talking together before, I think. The dog chased me, the dog knew… and they must have had something that smelled like me so the dog would attack, remember. I killed Jim’s dog." Trixie looked at Dan a scared look in her face.

"That’s why Jim’s dog went to attack you?" Dan asked to confirm his own growing suspicions and Trixie’s accusation. "How do we prove that?"

"She probably wouldn’t keep any evidence in the house or an area we all frequent." Trixie mused.

"I guess maybe we could find a relative or something to that effect that may have something." Dan said.

"Jeffery!" Trixie exclaimed.

"Who is he?" Dan asked.

"Apparently Kelly had an affair with him." Trixie looked at Dan with amusement. "You did know didn’t you. Jim does."

"No I didn’t, he never said a thing."

"He has terrible luck with women." Trixie smirked.

"Or then again maybe he has the best luck." Dan smiled a knowing smile back at Trixie that caused a deep blush to spread across her checks.

"Do you or do you not know who Jeffery is." Trixie asked fighting the urge to blush deeper.

"If it is the Jeffery I think it is he runs a dog obedience school in White Plains." Dan smiled conspiratorially.

"I guess we get a confession from him first then." Trixie smiled back.

"I take it you are one terrific detective." Dan laughed.

"I’m not a detective, I’m not even an international spy like Lucy Radcliffe, try another fictional character and you may have it. I’ll give you a clue, I have been able to travel extensively and get into all amounts of marvelous trouble." Trixie returned.

"You’re remembering?" Dan asked hopeful that she might be getting her memory back.

"What do you mean?" Trixie looked at him confused.

"You said that you weren’t a detective but something else." Dan prompted.

"No I didn’t." Trixie stated.

"Yes you did." Dan insisted

"I don’t remember, when did I say that?"

Dan groaned being able to sympathize with the girls’ frustration over Trixie’s comments about her past but not being able to recall them. He led her from the room and out to his car leaving before Kelly did and calling Tony to plan their next move to find out what happened to Trixie. Jeffery would be receiving a visit sometime within the next couple of days.

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