Chapter 7

Trixie hurried around to the drivers side and looked in. The car was empty. She grabbed the door and pulled it open. She quickly looked for something that would tell her where her brother was. Looking at the steering wheel, she saw the keys were still in the ignition. As she pulled the keys out, she took a closer look at the steering wheel. Blood.

Backing out of the car, she looked around trying to figure out what happened. She stepped onto the road looking for tire tracks that could give her a clue as to what happened. She saw black marks that led to where the car was now parked. There were no others.

Trixie had a bad feeling and knew she needed to call someone. But her partner was not happy with her. She had only one choice.

* * * * *

Trixie continued looking around for some sign of her brother. She knew Brian wouldn’t leave the car behind with the keys in the ignition. He was more responsible. She heard an engine coming down the road and stood on the shoulder. A black jeep pulled up beside her.

"Thanks for coming," Trixie said as Jim got out from behind the wheel.

"No problem," Jim said moving to the shoulder beside her. "Any sign of Brian?"

Trixie shook her head. "I’ve gone into the woods a little ways, but he’s not there."

"Was there anything in the car?"

"The keys were still in the ignition and there was blood on the steering wheel."

"Someone may have picked him up and taken him to Dr. Ferris."

"Even if a good samaritan did that, a tow truck would have picked up the car and Brian would still have his keys." Trixie looked at the car.

"Maybe it’s nothing," Jim said. "Let’s call Honey. She may know where he is."

"What if we call her and she doesn’t? We may worry her for nothing."

"But he may have called her. We should at least check."

Trixie handed Jim her phone. "Give it a try then. But I have a feeling she won’t talk to us."

As Jim dialed the phone, Trixie looked around. She had a feeling her brother’s disappearance was real.

"Celia, it’s Jim. Can I speak to Honey?" Trixie looked at Jim as he waited. "Give her the phone, Celia. This is important." Jim ran his hand through his hair. "Honey, don’t hang up. I know you are angry at me, but I need to know if you’ve talked with Brian today."

Jim was quiet again. "Why? I need to talk to him. If you hear from him, ask him to give me a call." He paused. "Bye."

He shut the phone off and handed it back to her.

"Jim, I hate to say this, but I think we need to call Chief Molinson."

"It’s your move, Trixie."

Trixie started pressing numbers on her phone.

* * * * *

An hour later, Trixie stood watching Sleepyside Police Detectives search her brother’s car. She couldn’t understand what they were hoping to find. There was nothing in the car. She thought about the officers checking the area for some sign of Brian. Chief Molinson had immediately called in more officers to search once he heard who was missing.

Chief Molinson came over to her. "Trixie, I think you need to let your family know what’s going on."

"Chief," Trixie began but the ringing of her phone interrupted her. She put it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Oh, Trixie." It was Honey and she was crying.

"What is it, Honey?" Trixie looked at Jim as he came toward her.

"Oh, Trixie," Honey cried. "Brian’s been kidnapped."

"What?"

"I just received a message."

Trixie closed her eyes and took a breath. "What did the message say?"

"It said ‘Are you missing your fiance’? You’ll be missing him for all eternity.’ Why did this happen to Brian?"

"Honey, calm down. Tell me where you are."

"I’m at Manor House."

"Stay put. I’ll be there soon."

"Okay."

Trixie opened her eyes as she ended the call. She looked at Jim and the Chief. "Brian’s been kidnapped. Honey received a note."

"Where is she?" Jim asked.

"Manor House."

"Let’s go. I’ll drive you."

"I’ll have a couple officers come along," Chief Molinson said.

"Fine." Trixie looked at Jim. "Let’s go."

 

Chapter 8

Five minutes later, Jim pulled into the driveway at Manor House. As soon s he shut off the engine, they were out of the jeep hurrying to the house, unaware that the police were right behind them. As they stepped inside, Celia said, "Honey is in her room."

Trixie took the stairs two at a time heading for Honey’s room. She could hear Jim right behind her. They reached the room and Trixie pushed the door open.

Honey looked up as they entered the room. Jumping to her feet, she climbed off her bed and ran to Jim. He pulled her close as she started crying.

"It’ll be all right," Jim said. "He’ll be all right."

"Honey, I know you are upset, but I need to see the note."

Honey turned away from Jim, but he kept his arm around her shoulder. "Everything is on the bed," she said. "All the previous notes and...and the latest one."

Trixie moved to the bed and scanned the papers. She quickly saw the one that was new. She picked it up with a tissue and read the words to herself. She thought, I can’t believe this is happening.

"What are we going to do?" Honey asked getting her attention.

"We’re going to find Brian so you two can get married," Trixie said turning to face Honey and Jim.

"Is there any clue as to who did this?" Jim asked.

Trixie shook her head. "None. But it’s possible some fingerprints can be lifted off the note. We’ll have the police do it. It may be a match if there are any prints in Brian’s car."

"Why would there be prints in Brian’s car?"

Trixie looked at Jim and nodded his head. She knew she had to tell Honey. "I found his car stuck in a ditch a little while ago. The keys were still in the ignition." She took a breath. "I also found blood on the steering wheel."

"No," Honey said putting her hand to her mouth.

"Honey, we don’t know if that blood was Brian’s or from the person who took him," Trixie said.

"We will find him, Honey," Jim said pulling her close. "We will."

At that moment, Honey’s phone rang. She walked to the phone and picked it up with a shaking hand. "Hello?"

Trixie moved to Honey and leaned in close as Honey tipped the phone for her to listen.

"I have a feeling you received the note I sent by now," a male voice said.

"Where is my fiance’? What did you do to him?"

"So many questions," the male voice said.

Trixie focused on the background hoping to hear something that would give her a clue as to where the caller was coming from.

"Why did you take Brian?"

"Because I knew he wouldn’t be missed"

"Where is he?" Honey yelled.

"That’s not very becoming for a lady with your social standing," the male voice said. "You should be engaged to someone with the same standing. Not some do-gooder from a small town."

"No one can tell me who I should be with," Honey said getting angry. "Now, where is he?"

"Well, it seems like someone is willing to do anything to get the doctor-to-be back," the male voice said. "I’ll think about telling you." Click.

Trixie looked at Honey, whose face was white. She took Honey by the arm and sat her on the bed. She looked at Jim and quickly filled him in on the conversation. When she finished, she turned to the officers standing in the doorway of Honey’s room. She moved to them and handed them the latest letter.

"Take this and have the prints lifted off it," she said. "I want to know who touched this note."

"But..." the one officer began.

"There’s no ‘buts’," Trixie said. "You can either take this to the station or I’ll call the FBI to do it for you. Instead of dealing with Molinson, you’d be dealing with the federal government." She stared the officer in the eye. "Who would you rather deal with?"

"How soon do you want the results?" the officer asked taking the note.

"Yesterday." She pulled a piece of paper out of a notebook she always carried in her back pocket. She quickly wrote down a number. "As soon as the results are in, call me."

"Yes, ma’am," the officer said taking the number. The two of them left the room.

Trixie quickly dialed her phone and put it to her ear. "Agent Williams please." She looked at Honey and Jim. "Tell him it’s Trixie Belden."

"Who is this agent?" Jim asked sitting down beside Honey.

"Agent Williams, it’s Trixie." She paused. "Yes, it’s good to hear you too. But there is a reason I called. I need your help."

She quickly explained to the agent what was going on and he said he would be there in a few hours to help. As she set her phone down, she looked at Jim ready to answer his question.

Agent Stan Williams was one of the agents I trained with while at the FBI. He owed me a favor and I think Brian’s life is worth it."

"What can we do?"

"We need to get the whole family together," Trixie said. "We should only have to explain this once."

Trixie looked at Honey and saw her best friend was in shock. She looked at Jim and he said, "I’ll make the calls. How about we meeting downstairs in an hour?"

"Great," Trixie said.

Jim looked at Honey. "If you need me, just whistle."

Jim left the room as Trixie sat on the bed beside Honey. "Honey, I know you’re worried about Brian, but you have to be positive. We will get him back."

"What if we don’t? What will I do without him? I need him in my life, Trixie. I can’t go on without him."

Trixie gave Honey a hug as she broke into tears. She rubbed Honey’s back hoping she was right. She hoped they would get Brian back, unharmed.

To be continued

TBH Fan Fiction