Disclaimer: First of all, I'm not making any money off these characters, they don't belong to me.
Secondly: I have changed the Bobwhite station wagon to a mini van.
Third: I wanted this story to be like the old T.B. mysteries. This takes place, I guess a year after Mystery off Glenn Road.
* everybody
Things Are Not What They Seem
By Kay Lynn
Chapter 1
"I'm so glad it's Thursday," Trixie told Diana and Honey as they stepped off the bus at Sleepyside Junior/Senior High.
"That makes two of us," said Honey, as she looked down and straightened her short black skirt and emerald green sweater.
"No," said Diana, intently watching Mart talking to some friends. "That makes three of us, only one more day of school and then we get a break."
Trixie and Honey smiled as the bell rang and all the students slowly began to move toward the front doors of the school.
"Who is that?" asked Honey intrigued, noticing a new guy with his gray backpack slung over one shoulder slowly moving with the other students toward the front doors.
"I guess he's new, I've never seen him before," said Trixie, studying him intently as she often did when she saw someone for the first time.
Mentally, Trixie noted: Tall, but not too thin, muscular like he may be into sports, black hair, even though she couldn't see his eyes, she thought they were probably black too. He wasn't dressed in expensive designer clothes like some of the guys wore, but he wasn't dressed shabbily either. Very neat appearance. Trixie continued to mentally note, And even nice looking, I wonder who he is?
"A dime for your thoughts" said Honey, staring intently at Trixie, as they finally were able to get inside the school.
"Oh, I was just noticing the new guy that you pointed out to me, I haven't heard anything about a new student, have you?"
"I'm sure we'll probably know before the day is over!" Honey shouted to be heard over the noise of every student talking at once. "Bye Diana!" She waved as Diana broke off from them to go to her homeroom.
Trixie and Honey both headed in opposite directions toward their own homerooms.
Trixie rushed down the long hallway, her school backpack slung over one shoulder, thinking about the new guy. For some reason, she had a strange feeling that there was going to be something significant about him.
"Hey watch where you're going." a familiar male voice said, as she ran squarely into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Trixie, looking up to see into whom she'd run. "Oh Tad." She smiled. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going.
"Well, maybe next time you should pay more attention," he said coldly as he walked around her and kept going down the hall.
That was strange, she thought, puzzled by his behavior. Ever since the antique show and everything a couple of years ago, Tad had been a lot friendlier."
At lunchtime, Trixie hurriedly ran to the lunchroom, sat at the table she and the other Bob-White's usually occupied and took out her turkey and cheese sandwich, her banana and the homemade brownie Moms had packed for her. This was one of her favorite times of day, when she could sit with her brothers and closest friends.
"Wow! Am I famished!" said Honey, sitting her lunch tray on the table and pulling out a chair next to Trixie. One by one the other Bob-Whites showed up. Mart came and sat down with a lunch similar to Trixie's, just more of it and Brian did the same. Then Jim and Dan came and sat down, followed by Diana.
As usual, they all started to talk at once. "Has anyone found out who the new guy is?" Trixie asked, taking a sip of milk.
"Why don't we get together and go to the game Friday night?" said Dan.
"What are you wearing tomorrow?" Diana asked Honey.
Everyone had a different question and nobody was getting the opportunity to answer.
"Whoa!" said Brian, holding up one hand. "Let's ask each other one question at a time."
They all laughed. They continued to eat and joke discuss plans, as they always did. Then, Trixie heard a male voice behind her say, "Jim...? Jim Frayne?" Trixie, who sat across from Jim, turned to see who was speaking. To her surprise, it was the new guy she and Honey had noticed that morning. Trixie turned back around to ask Jim who he was.
At first, Jim looked puzzled, but then a look of recognition slowly dawned on his face. Then, while Trixie watched, Jim began to smile. "Mike? Mike Shay? I can't believe it's you." Jim stood up and walked around the table first shaking hands and then grabbing the guy in a bear hug.
"Honey, how does Jim know him?" asked Trixie, turning to look at Honey as Jim and his friend were caught up in conversation, unaware of anyone else.
"You know as much as I do," Honey replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Mart? Brian? Dan? Do you know who he is?"
Both Brian and Mart shook their heads.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Dan replied.
Finally, after spending most of the 30 minute lunch period talking to him, Jim turned around to introduce the new guy to the Bob-Whites. After introductions and the guys had shaken hands, Jim explained from where he knew him.
"Mike was our next door neighbor, where I lived when both my parents were still alive," he explained. "We first met when we were both five years old and we fought over my tricycle."
"Yeah" said Mike, laughing. "And I won hands down."
"You did." Agreed Jim, also laughing. "But, your mother made you apologize and you had to go inside and take a nap."
"That's right." Mike said. "And I lay in my bed plotting my revenge. But, we later became best of friends, right up until the time Jim moved away."
"Yeah, those were the days." Jim said and both of them seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Man." Said Jim. "Someone from home. I just can't believe it. Let me walk with you to your next class. Did you say you got Mr. Clemons for 5th period? I think he’s right beside my Spanish class. Man! You got to tell me what you've been doing all these years since I saw you last, weren't we like nine years old?" Jim's voice faded as he and the new guy sauntered off, backpacks thrown over their broad shoulders, laughing and talking.
After an uncomfortable silence, Honey glanced at her delicate wristwatch. "It's time to go to class." She said and quickly stood up.
"Yeah." said Brian. "I'll walk with you." He shoved back his chair, grabbed Honey's lunch tray and emptied it for her and they left hand in hand. Mart and Diana stood to walk to class together and Dan left with a group of his friends.
"Well." Trixie thought. "I guess everyone forgot about me."
Normally, Jim walked her to class after lunch. She was glad Jim had reunited with an old friend, she knew that meant a lot to him. But, she felt a wave of jealousy wash over her. She kept remembering the way Jim said "someone from home" and she worried that this might be a situation that could change things forever.
Chapter 2
A couple of weeks passed, with Jim spending more and more time with his friend Mike. He wasn't around when the Bob-Whites had their meetings. When Brian and Honey went on dates and Mart and Diana, Trixie no longer group dated with them, she just stayed home. Even though all of the Bob-Whites tried to understand Jim's desire to help Mike get used to a new school and his need to visit with a family who were once close friends with his parents, all of them missed him sorely, especially Trixie.
One Thursday afternoon, Trixie got off the bus, raced home, changed into her faded jeans and light green t-shirt and finished her chores as quickly as possible, even so, it still took about an hour. She and Honey had plans to go horseback riding that afternoon. Trixie had a new idea for a fundraiser to benefit the Sleepyside homeless shelter and she couldn't wait to tell Honey. And, with Jim gone so much and Mart and Brian and Dan busy, Regan was concerned that the horses were not being exercised enough. The guys couldn't go any this week because Brian and Mart had been informed by their father that they and Dan would be helping put a new roof on Mr. Maypenny's barn and since they had weekend plans, they were doing it after school every day. Diana wouldn't be going as she had plans to go shopping with her mother.
As soon as Trixie finished her chores, she grabbed a yellow lightweight sweater and headed out the front door. "Bye Moms, I'm going to Honey's now." "Trixie, dinner is in an hour and a half and I need you to set the table and help with Bobby, so don't be late." Moms yelled, as Trixie raced out the door. "I won't Moms."
Trixie quickly ran up the path across the Wheelers' yard and burst into the stables. Honey was already saddling Strawberry.
"Where's Jim?" Asked Trixie. "Isn't he going with us?" Trixie had asked that question every time she came to ride the horses the past couple of weeks, even though the already knew the answer.
"No." Honey said, as she continued to saddle Strawberry. "He went over to Mike's house after school. I guess he's going to have dinner with Mike and his folks.... Again." Trixie didn't reply as she led Susie out of her stall.
The two girls took off down the trails into the game preserve. This was one of Trixie's favorite places to be, on the back of Susie. She felt so carefree when she was riding. In spite of being concerned about Jim, the two girls enjoyed the ride through the preserve.
"Why don't we go ahead and ride up to Mr. Lytell's store and get a strawberry soda?" Honey asked.
"Not a bad idea, I forgot to have my afternoon snack. I was in such a hurry to do my chores and get to your house. But we have to hurry, Moms said I had to be home early," Trixie replied, maneuvering Susie down the trail. While they rode along one of the trails that ended in front of Mr. Lytell's, they discussed the next Bob-White fundraiser.
Upon arriving at the old fashioned store, they noticed the old, heavy front door was wide open. "That's odd," said Honey. "Mr. Lytell never leaves the front door standing open."
Trixie noticed an eerie quietness and stillness about the place and she had a nagging feeling that something was wrong as they entered the doorway. They fully expected to see Mr. Lytell standing behind the counter, Trixie just knew he would fuss at her as he always had.
Mr. Lytell wasn't standing behind the counter or at one of the shelves stocking groceries. "This is really unusual." Trixie thought. She knew that any other time, if Mr. Lytell went to the back where he had a small apartment, he would have left a note out front for his customers.
The two girls waited quietly for a couple of minutes and finally Honey said loudly. "Mr. Lytell!" They stood there listening, expecting Mr. Lytell to answer from the back. "Mr. Lytell!" she yelled again. "You know Trixie." she said, while reaching into her jeans pocket for some change. "We could just get our sodas and leave the money along with a note saying we took them. Maybe he's just gotten so hard of hearing that he doesn't even hear us." said Honey.
"I feel like something's wrong." Trixie stated resolutely, glancing around the small interior of the store. "I think we should make certain he's okay, before we leave." Trixie gingerly walked over to the old fashioned wooden counter and looked behind it. What she saw caused her to suppress a scream and for a moment she couldn't speak. Mr. Lytell lay in the worn wooden floor, a pool of blood forming around his head. "Oh my Gosh!" she yelled anxiously, her face turning pale as she looked back at Honey. "Something's happened. He's hurt or ....."
"Oh, Trixie" said Honey, who had came up behind looking over Trixie's shoulder.
"Call an ambulance!" yelled Trixie excitedly, grabbing the old fashioned phone and thrusting it at Honey. "I wish I knew first aid." Trixie said, while wringing her hands. "If only Brian were here, he'd know what to do."
Nervously, but quickly Honey, even though she was afraid she might faint at any moment, dialed the emergency number and in a shaky voice gave the information to a dispatcher with the ambulance service. Then, she dialed Sergeant Molinson's number.
Chapter 3
After Sergeant Molinson had finished questioning the girls and given them a stern lecture, reciting to Trixie all the reasons why she was not to investigate this crime, the girls were finally allowed to go home. Mr. Lytell had been shot and all the cash was gone from the old fashioned cash register and his safe door was open. Inside the safe was empty. But Mr. Lytell was alive, though he was in critical condition and had not regained consciousness when the ambulance took him away.
Trixie and Honey were not allowed to leave as long as the crime scene unit was there and Molinson was busy working with the unit. He had insisted that the girls stand outside the store to be questioned and they had to wait till he finished, which was a couple of hours later. Finally, after questioning them, he allowed them to leave and tiredly, they untied the horses. By this time, it was quite late and very dark and they felt weary. Before getting on Susie, Trixie suddenly remembered her Mom. "Oh my gosh!" Trixie said excitedly. "Moms is going to kill me. I should have been home hours ago, I better call her and tell her what happened!"
Trixie went inside and quickly phoned her mother and explained about Mr. Lytell. Of course, her mother was very worried about her and Honey and was about to send Mart and Brian, who hadn't been home long from Mr. Maypenny's themselves, out to look for the two girls, but Trixie reassured her mother that they were okay.
After the girls locked up the store for Mr. Lytell, they went out into the cool, October night to ride back to the Manor House stables. "Regan's going to kill us." said Honey. "For having the horses out in this cool, night air."
"I know," said Trixie. "But how else do we get them home?" They took off down one of several trails that ran behind Mr. Lytell's store into the game preserve. The girls rode quietly in the dark, not talking much after the upset about Mr. Lytell.
After riding awhile, Honey said, "Trixie, isn't this the trail that comes out near the lake?"
"I'm not sure," replied Trixie, pulling on the reigns to stop Susie. "It's so dark, I thought this was the trail that wound around behind Mr. Maypenny's and ended right near the Manor House stables."
"Oh no," said Honey.
"Ditto," said Trixie. "I think we're lost and I'm so hungry, I haven't eaten since lunchtime and it's cold out here." Trixie pulled her lightweight sweater closer around her shoulders.
"I know," said Honey. "I wish we had gotten some chips or something from the store, we didn't even get our strawberry sodas."
"I think we should try to go back to the store and then go down Glen Road to get home, even though that'll take a long time."
"I agree."
They turned the horses and headed in what they thought was the direction of the store. Finally, after about 30 minutes, Honey said, "Trixie, I think we're going in circles."
"So, do I. I'm sure Moms will realize after all this time, we've gotten lost out here in the dark and send Brian and Mart to look for us."
"I'm sure she will," said Honey. "But, in the meantime what do we do?"
"I wish we had some matches and could build a fire," said Trixie, shivering again. At that moment, they heard the high-pitched wail of a catamount from toward the Catskills. The horses started becoming upset and both girls jumped off to calm them. Their imaginations began to run wild. "What if whoever shot Mr. Lytell is wandering around out here in the woods?" Trixie said.
"Oh gosh, Trixie I haven't even considered that. If he doesn't shoot us, we could get eaten alive by a catamount." After standing there in the deep woods, for what seemed an eternity, but was really only about five minutes, they saw flashlights in the distance and recognized the voices of the guys and Regan.
"Over here!" yelled Trixie. The guys gave an answering greeting and a few minutes later Brian, Mart, Dan and Regan burst into the clearing where the girls and the horses were.
"Thank God, you're safe," said Brian, wanting to kiss Honey, but knew he dare not with Regan looking on. He settled for grabbing her by the hand. She returned his comforting gesture with a smile. Trixie was glad to see them, but disappointed that Jim wasn't with them. "After hearing what happened with Mr. Lytell and then hearing that catamount yell, we were really worried about you two out here alone."
"Where are we?" Trixie asked.
"A few more feet and you would have been on that little road slash trail that runs around the lake," said Mart, smiling to him.
"Oh." Trixie noticed Mart's smile and she knew she was never going to hear the last of this.
Before Mart could begin teasing them, Regan spoke up and said, "Dan, you and I will get the horses back to the stables and Mart and Brian you get your sister and Honey home, they've had a rough evening and it's late."
"Come to our house," begged Trixie as she, Honey, Brian and Mart headed through the woods towards home. "I know it's a school night, but after what happened to Mr. Lytell, I don't really want to be alone."
"I don't either," said Honey shivering as Brian put his arm around her. "I'll go home with you and we'll call and leave a message for Ms. Trask from there. I know she's probably at the hospital, awaiting news of Mr. Lytell's condition. I'm sure she won't mind this once and I know your mom has some of her wonderful food cooked, I'm famished!"
As the four Bob-Whites continued down the moonlit trail, Trixie stopped and turned to look back toward the dark woods of the game preserve. "What if we were still wondering around in there?" she asked herself, shivering. As Honey, Brian and Mart continued walking ahead of her, Trixie couldn't believe her eyes as she saw the bushes part and someone stepped out onto the trail that wound around the lake. There was enough moonlight, that Trixie could actually see who it was. To her astonishment, it was Tad Webster. Trixie started to yell a greeting to him, but thought better of it. "What is Tad doing in the game preserve this time of night?" Trixie asked herself..
Chapter 4
When they walked in the door of the warm, cozy, kitchen of Crabapple Farm, Trixie hurriedly looked at the old fashioned clock that hung on the wall. It was ten o'clock p.m. "Why was Tad doing wandering through the woods, this late on a school night?"
Mrs. Belden had waited up for them, and she looked tired when she saw them. "Thank God you're alright." She said to Trixie and Honey. "Knowing something like that had happened to Mr. Lytell and then you girls being late....anyway, I'm going to bed now, I made some soup and sandwiches and a chocolate cake while I was waiting for you, just help yourselves."
Mrs. Belden had cooked a huge pot of vegetable beef soup, chock full of garden vegetables canned from last summer's garden. On the sideboard was a platter of ham and cheese sandwiches and tall glasses were set out for milk. In a glass domed cake plate that sat on the shiny white countertop, was a huge chocolate cake. While Mart and Honey helped themselves to some of the piping hot soup, Trixie pondered over Tad's strange behavior. She remembered something she overheard a few weeks ago. Tad was bitterly complaining because his brother Spider would not have the money for him to participate in an important sports event this year and he (Tad) had not been able to find a part time job.
"Paging Trixie....Paging Trixie." She heard Mart's voice and this brought her back to the present. "Are you going to partake of this exquisite vegetable and beef delight or are you going to stand there and ponder the criminal element?" he asked holding the soup ladle out for her.
"I'm not daydreaming about criminals," she said, annoyed as she grabbed the ladle out of his hand. The two girls ate ravenously, along with Mart, who even though he had had dinner just a few hours earlier, insisted that the night's rescue efforts had made him hungry all over again.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Brian finally said, standing and giving Honey a light peck on the cheek. "I was going to study, but I think I better hit the sack, since it's so late." Brian then left the kitchen and slowly climbed the stairs to bed.
"Man, I just can't believe that happened to Mr. Lytell," said Mart. "Do you think he's going to be okay?"
"I hope so," said Honey, while crumbling crackers into her soup. "But he was unconscious and he lost a lot of blood. I heard one of the police detective's say that whoever shot him definitely meant to kill him."
"It's hard to believe," replied Mart thoughtfully, "that something like this happened in Sleepyside."
"I just wonder who did this" Trixie said, with a far away look in her eyes.
"Behold!" yelled Mart, causing Trixie to jump. "Trixie is about to embark on yet another mystery, dragging her siblings and best friends with her." Mart knew her all too well.
"Trixie," said Honey seriously. "This isn't a small time thief, this is someone who was willing to kill to get away with what he had done. And for all we know, it could just be a random thing, a thug may have been passing through town and decided he needed some money and may be long gone."
Trixie and Honey didn't sleep well since it was so late when they went to bed and they experienced a restless sleep, filled with nightmares. The following morning, they slowly trudged down the stairs for breakfast.
"Has anybody heard how Mr. Lytell's doing?" Trixie asked her father while retrieving her favorite cereal and two bowls from the cupboard and pouring a bowl first for Honey, then for herself.
"No, but I'm sure your mother and Ms. Trask are going to the hospital this morning to check on his condition."
"I sure hope he'll be okay," said Honey, getting the milk out of the fridge.
"I just wonder who did this to him," said Trixie.
"It's not for you to wonder about Trixie," said her father, peering at her over the top of his paper. "You leave this case to the Sleepyside Police Department."
With Sleepyside being a small town where news travels fast, the school was abuzz with those that had heard about Mr. Lytell, telling those that hadn't heard. Trixie looked around as she usually did, for Jim, as soon as Mart, Diana, Honey and Dan stepped off the bus. As she often had the last few weeks, she observed him hanging out with Mike and this time she jealously noted, two beautiful blonde girls who looked like cheerleaders from the varsity team. As her eyes scanned the crowd, she noticed Tad Webster standing off to himself and decided that this would be a good time to try to find out what was up with him.
"I'm going over to speak to Tad," she said looking back for a moment toward the other Bob-Whites who were so absorbed in their conversation, they paid no attention. "Hi Tad, how are you?"
"Okay," he said sullenly while warily staring at Trixie.
"Did you hear what happened last night?" she asked.
"Who hasn't?" he mumbled, while quickly moving away from her as the bell rang. Before Trixie could lead up to questioning him, he turned away, without even a backward glance and with all the other students, headed toward the entrance to the school.
Running to keep up with him, Trixie said, "Honey and I got lost in the game preserve last night." She smiled as she said this, thinking maybe he would find that amusing and that would be a great way to open the conversation. He just stared at her coldly. "Anyway," she continued, "we had to be rescued by the guys and Regan. When we finally were walking home, I happened to look back and I saw you come out of the woods right near the Wheeler's lake."
"You didn't see me," he told her pointedly, with what she perceived to be a threatening look in his eyes and angrily, he stalked away.
"That was weird." thought Trixie, standing in the hallway, while crowds of laughing, talking students, mulled around her. "Tad usually doesn't brush me off like that". Tad had actually become fairly good friends with she and all the Bob-Whites since the antique show last year.
Chapter 5
Tiredly, Trixie and Honey made it through the rest of the day. Finally, it was time for school to end. "Gosh, I'm glad I don't have to ride that crowded bus today," said Trixie.
"Me too," Honey replied.
"I don't mind," Diana told them. "As long as I get to sit with Mart." They all three laughed and headed toward the Bob-White mini-van.
Each week, from Monday through Thursday, Jim and Brian had morning jobs stacking books in the library and various other tasks, before and after school. Since they had to be there so early, they would use the Bob-White van. This meant of course, that the other Bob-Whites had to ride the bus. But on Friday afternoons the two boys didn't work and they all rode home together. Trixie climbed into the middle seat of the van, while Honey climbed into the front with Brian, who was driving.
"I guess Jim's hanging out with Mike?" Trixie said declaring more than asking.
"Oh, he's going to the football game with Mike and some girls from class," Brian told her.
"Oh," she replied, once again feeling a pang of jealousy and hurt. She knew it was probably the two cheerleader types she had seen he and Mike with earlier.
Dan opened the door and climbed in the seat next to Trixie.
"So, Trixie what personal agenda do you have planned for this evening?" Mart teased, leaning over the seat where Trixie and Dan sat. "Moonlight horseback riding in the game preserve?" He of course, referred to the night before when they had gotten lost.
"Oh yeah, Mart," she said sarcastically. "I can't wait. I live for the sound of a catamount yowling, my stomach growling louder than the catamount because I'm starving and the shivering so hard I'm about to fall off my horse because it's so cold."
"Oh yeah." said Honey chuckling. "It was quite an adventure."
"I have a million chores to do this afternoon," Trixie remembered. "Plus, I have to help take care of Bobby so Moms can make dinner in peace, I wish just this once, I had the afternoon free."
"Well, invite me over to spend the night and maybe I'll help," suggested Honey, laughing. "Oh, Honey, you know that goes without saying."
"It sure does," agreed Brian.
"In that case, I'll probably be over in a little while," Honey said. Brian pulled into his own driveway to let Trixie and Mart out. As Brian was backing the huge car out, Honey stuck her head out of the car window and yelled, "Brian and I will drop Dan and Diana off, take the car home and I'll gather some clothes and walk over with him.
"That'll be great," said Trixie.
Mart yelled to Diana, "I'll see you in a few."
Diana nodded, she knew as everyone in the car did that they usually had a date on Friday nights.
Honey and Brian walked through door of Crabapple Farm just as Trixie finished dusting. "I had better help Mart do the outdoor chores before Dad gets home," Brian said heading out the door. Honey offered to read a book to Bobby while Trixie helped Moms with dinner. When Mr. Belden arrived home, the aroma of fried chicken, and baked lemon meringue pies filled the house. In addition to the chicken, Trixie, Mart and Honey helped set the table and carried platters of chicken, bowls of macaroni and cheese, homemade biscuits, garden peas from last Summer's garden, spinach salad and the pies to the table.
"I can't wait for dinner," said Honey breathing in the delicious aroma of all that food. "It's a wonder I haven't gained a ton from all the wonderful food I consume over here."
"Trixie's gained it for you," said Mart. 'Right around the middle."
"Shut up!" she yelled, about to chase him out of the room.
"That's enough kids," warned Mr. Belden, looking sternly at Trixie and Mart. He knew how quickly things could get out of hand with the two of them.
Not much was said as they passed dishes from one to another. Trixie didn't have much to say, because she couldn't wait to tell Honey about the mysterious meeting she had with Tad and about seeing him come out of the game preserve last night, she wanted to tell her last night, but after all that happened, she was too exhausted. The Beldens and Honey passed food from one to another ate and joked around and Trixie almost forgot to ask about Mr. Lytell.
"Oh yeah," she said, suddenly remembering. "Has anyone heard any news about Mr. Lytell?"
"Ms. Trask and I went to the hospital to see him today," said Mrs. Belden thoughtfully. "His condition is unchanged, he's still unconscious. I just cannot begin to fathom who would have done something like this."
"It's a terrible tragedy," agreed Mr. Belden. "I just hope whoever did this is caught soon."
"Has anyone heard if there are any suspects?" asked Trixie.
"No, that's the puzzling thing," said her father. "According to the morning edition of the Sleepyside Sun, there are no clues or suspects. The police feel the motive was robbery and Ms. Trask was able to give them a general description of what was in his safe. The only thing of value, other than the cash was the ring Mr. Lytell had had in his family for several generations."
"Oh no," said Honey. "Not that beautiful ruby and diamond ring that had belonged to Mr. Lytell's grandmother." She remembered Mr. Lytell once showing it to Ms Trask and herself. "I remember him saying some count or nobleman or someone like that, had presented it, for whatever reason, I can't remember now to Mr. Lytell's great-great-grandfather and it was worth a ton of money. It's very old and very rare. Mr. Lytell told us there were only two like it in the world, and he has one of the two." Honey said as she took a bite of her macaroni and cheese
"Yeah," Mr. Belden said, thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, when they wrote that article on Mr. Lytell in the Sleepyside Sun last month, they showed a picture of that ring and the history of it and how much it was worth was also mentioned. That article was probably what motivated the robbery."
Later, as Mart left in Dad's car to take Diana out and Brian went upstairs to study, Trixie and Honey washed dishes and discussed her seeing Tad last night and his strange behavior at school. "Trixie, you can't suspect Tad. I mean, I remember the days when he acted like a total jerk, but he's been a lot nicer this past year and has even hung out with us some." "I don't really think Tad would rob and certainly he wouldn't shoot Mr. Lytell." said Trixie. "But, I wonder if he knows something about it. I mean, he was coming out of the woods at 11:00 at night."
"Trixie, we also were coming out of the woods at 11:00 at night," Honey reminded her laughing. "Maybe we're suspects."
Trixie laughed at the mental picture of she and Honey as hardened criminals. "Well, he may not have anything to do with Mr. Lytell, but something's up with him and I'm going to find out what it is, maybe there're two mysteries here. Who shot Mr. Lytell and robbed him and what's up with Tad." Even though Trixie didn't say so, she had a feeling the two were related.
"Oh" said Honey, changing the subject. "I forgot to tell you, my dad's hired a new yard man. He loves horses, so Regan thinks he's wonderful. He's a great mechanic, so Tom thinks he is wonderful and he plans to make Manor House a showplace, so Mom and Dad think he's wonderful."
"Oh," Trixie said. "Where is he staying?"
"We let him have Celia's old room up on third floor. But, he is so interesting and he can fix anything. When the stove went out last week, he had it fixed in a matter of minutes."
"I know your parents are happy, they have never been able to keep a gardener there." Trixie painstakingly washed one of Moms old-fashioned plates.
"I believe he's here to stay," said Honey. "And he's always busy, he helps Regan with the horses, if Tom is busy he will chauffeur, and he knows all about dogs too. He gave Jim some great books on training his dog."
"What's his name?" asked Trixie.
"Oh, he asked us to call him Red," said Honey. "Strangely enough, he has red hair like Dad, Jim and Regan."
"Wow!" said Trixie. "Three redheads on your place."
"Yeah, can you imagine?" said Honey.
Chapter 6
The next morning, after a quick breakfast of buttered toast and oatmeal, Honey, Trixie and Bobby climbed the hill to the Manor House. Bobby was going to hang out with Ms. Trask and Regan, while Trixie and Honey exercised Lady and Susie, since the boys had not had much time for horseback riding lately. "See, there's the new yard man now." Honey said pointing toward the handsome red-haired man. He was energetically working the soil in one of the flower gardens beside the house. Trixie quietly watched him. She was constantly practicing her skills on remembering how someone looked, what they wore, etc. "He looks to be about thirty." She noted. "Muscular, kind of that all-American farm guy look, but not too hard on the eyes." They walked over to where he was and Honey introduced them. He seemed friendly and personable and Bobby took to him right away.
"Can I help you plant flowers?" Bobby asked.
"Sure thing, sport," he said, patting Bobby on the head. "Let me get you a little shovel and you can plant a flower garden of your very own. Nice meeting you Ms. Trixie," he said, as she and Honey headed for the stables. "You two have a nice ride."
"Thanks," said Trixie.
"Well, he's very nice and even kind of cute," Trixie said giggling as she and Honey saddled the horses. "So, are you maybe a little interested?" Trixie teased.
"I might be if my heart were not already taken by a certain tall, dark and handsome Belden guy," laughed Honey.
"Hello." Regan said. Trixie and Honey both jumped. "I hope you two plan on being back before midnight this time." He teased. "Sure." laughed Honey.
After an exhilarating morning ride through the game preserve and a second breakfast with Mr. Maypenny and Dan of Mr. Maypenny's delicious donuts and hot chocolate, Trixie and Honey headed back down the trail toward manor house. When they arrived back at the stables, Jim and his friend Mike were in the stables, saddling up Jupiter and Starlight.
"Well, hello stranger," said Honey, hugging Jim. "Seems like we hardly ever see you around here anymore."
"Hi Jim," said Trixie shyly, averting her eyes. "and Mike." After exchanging pleasantries and making small talk, Jim and Mike rode off. Trixie stared wistfully after Jim.
"I miss Jim too." Honey said walking up to stand behind her.
"How did you know that's what I was thinking?" Trixie asked.
"I know some of what you're going through Trixie. It concerns me and I think it concerns all the Bob-Whites for different reasons. I know how much you care for Jim," she continued. "On my part, I feel like I've lost my brother. He's hardly ever here anymore. You know, since he came to live with us, even when my parents were gone, I didn't feel alone. He, Ms. Trask and I are like a family. We have our meals together, we talk, and we’ve established our own little nightly traditions. But, since Mike, he's hardly been home at all. He comes in at bedtime every night and he is gone early in the morning to his job, so I don't even get to see him. Oh, Trixie I'm really scared of the situation becoming permanent."
"Gleeps, Honey, don't say that," Trixie said. "Why would it be?"
"Because Mike is part of Jim's past, we're not. Mike's parents really like Jim, they've known him a long time, they were connected with his parents. You know how much that means to Jim. I'm afraid he may go live with them," she finished tearfully.
"I can't believe that would happen," said Trixie, though not totally convinced herself. "I know he would never forget us even if he did, but things wouldn't be the same." Both girls were troubled, each thinking their own thoughts, as they returned to the task of grooming the horses and putting all the gear back in its rightful place. Trixie suddenly had an idea. "Honey, why don't you see if you can stay tonight at our house too?"
"That would be great," said Honey, as she and Trixie walked out of the stables into the brisk, cool October air. "I accept the invitation, if you don't think your mom is getting tired of me, I have spent the last two nights over there."
"Oh, Moms loves having you. I wish I could stay longer. But I promised Moms I would get home and help her with some things, she and Dad are going out tonight. But, just come on over soon as you clear it with Ms. Trask." Trixie hurriedly headed down the trail to Crabapple Farm.
Chapter 7
"Oh sweetie, I'm so glad you're home," said Mrs. Belden as Trixie burst in the door of the warm, cozy farmhouse and headed straight for the kitchen, which smelled of homemade cookies. "Your father and I are going to White Plains tonight for dinner and a movie and we're probably going to stay over at that new bed and breakfast. You won't have to deal with Bobby, he's staying the night with the Lynch twins."
"Oh Moms, that sounds great for you and Dad. I invited Honey over again, is that okay?" Trixie helped herself to a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. "I was going to see if you wanted to invite her, Honey is always welcome, you know that."
"Gee thanks Moms!" Trixie, hugged her mother. "I know I complain sometimes about having to work and take care of Bobby, but I don't mind half as much as I let on, but it will be nice not to have to take care of him tonight."
"But," Mrs. Belden said, as she smiled understandingly, "you two girls be sure to lock the doors tonight, you know Brian and Mart won't be here and after what happened to Mr. Lytell, I'm a little nervous about leaving you alone." Trixie's brothers, along with Dan were camping on the Hudson River with some friends and wouldn't be home till tomorrow."
After her parents left, Trixie stood on the porch and impatiently waited for Honey to arrive. "What are we going to do tonight?" Trixie asked Honey as she came up the steps of Crabapple Farm lugging her small overnight bag. "I almost wish Brian and Mart were going to be home."
"I was thinking we could call a cab and go to the Cameo and see that new movie we talked about last week."
"Oh Honey." Said Trixie. "I've given all my money to the Bob-White fund and I only have like a dollar, I don't think I could afford a movie right now, or a cab." "Well, I can." said Honey. "I have money to get us a cab and I can use Daddy's credit card for the movie." "In that case, let's go." said Trixie.
Sleepyside had a very small cab company, with only three cabs in operation. Trixie knew the cab drivers and they knew all of the Bob-whites. The three men who ran the company and did the driving were all three Sleepyside natives. They had even gone to school with Trixie's father. The most talkative and nosey of the three was the one who came to pick them up this time. His name was Ralph and at first he made small talk with the two girls, asking about their families and all that. And then, he asked "Who is that young man that's hanging around with that red-headed brother of yours?" He looked in the rearview mirror at the two girls in back.
"Oh," Honey said. "That's a guy that Jim grew up with, who's just moved into Sleepyside."
"I was just wondering," said Ralph. "'Cause one day last week, I picked him up in front of Wimpy's and took him over to a place on Hawthorne Street. It certainly wasn't a place for any kid to hang out."
Trixie who had been staring out the car window only half way listening to the conversation felt like her ears had suddenly perked up. "Where did you let him out?" she asked curiously, leaning forward in her seat.
"Oh, it's a bookie joint, pawn shop, place where drugs are sold, that kind of thing. I hated to leave him there, him being just a kid and all, so, I told him I'd wait for him, but he said no, he wasn't leaving right away."
"That's strange," Trixie said, leaning back in her seat, a far away look in her eyes. Honey gave her a look of warning as the cab pulled up at the theater.
Chapter 8
"Trixie Belden don't even think about it." Honey told her as they walked up to the booth to purchase their movie tickets.
"What?" asked Trixie, trying to look innocent, but not able to meet Honey's eyes.
"I know you think there is a mystery, but we're not going to investigate Mike, I'm sure he has a perfectly logical explanation for being on Hawthorne Street," she finished, sounding lame even to herself.
"Oh yeah?" said Trixie, glancing at Honey as they opened the big glass doors of the old theatre. "What logical explanation would anyone have for going to Hawthorne Street?"
"Well, who knows?" said Honey. as the two girls turned to walk into the theatre. "But, we're not going to Hawthorne Street to find out."
"Who said anything about going to Hawthorne Street?" Trixie asked, once again trying to look innocent.
"Trixie, I know you!" Honey said exasperatedly.
All through the movie, Trixie could hardly concentrate. She kept going over the events of the past week and Mr. Lytell. In Trixie's heart, she was very concerned because the mysteries all could hurt people she cared about. But, on the other hand, there was that little thrill she always felt when there was a mystery.
She thought of Mr. Lytell and the missing ring, Tad who was having money problems and feeling bitter about it and was seen coming out of the game preserve late at night on the very evening Mr. Lytell had been shot, Jim's friend Mike, new in town, whom no one knew much about going to a place where there was illegal activities going on in the very worse part of town that existed in Sleepyside just a day or two after Mr. Lytell was shot. And, the new gardener working at Honey's. He, so far hadn't done anything suspicious, but, he was new in town and he had just showed at the Wheelers, right around the time of the robbery. "Things are getting more and more strange, she told herself.
Later, back at Crabapple Farm, the two girls sat on the couch having a late night dinner of salad and sandwiches, discussing the situation. Trixie told her everything she suspected.
"I agree that something's up," Honey said thoughtfully. "But, we have to be careful. We can't go around accusing people. Tad being seen in the woods that night, probably has nothing to do with what happened to Mr. Lytell. Mike going to Hawthorne Street may have nothing to do with Mr. Lytell. My father hiring a new gardener, probably has nothing to do with Mr. Lytell. And Trixie, you really have to watch what you say and do in this situation.
"First of all, for your own safety, because we know Mr. Lytell was shot not just to keep him quiet, but to kill him. I mean, the police said there was no sign of Mr. Lytell struggling. Mr. Lytell would've just given the person what they wanted, he wouldn't have fought if his life were in danger. Then, there is Tad. By questioning him at school, you've already made him suspicious that you suspect him, and he suspects that you suspect him ....well, you know what I mean. If you accuse Tad of anything, you'll offend Spider who is one of the best friends the Bob-Whites ever had and you risk offending Mrs. Vanderpoel and then there is Mike. If you go accusing him of anything without proof, it may do irreparable damage to your relationship with Jim and possibly to Jim's relationship with all the Bob-Whites."
"I know" Trixie said, a troubled look in her eyes, "I know."
The girls slept in the next day and were awakened when Mart, Brian and Dan trudged into the Belden kitchen exhausted and dirty, from their camping trip. They took showers, while the girls fixed a huge breakfast of scrambled eggs, with cheese chunks, buttered toast, bacon and hash browns. They sat the platters of food on the table along with a pitcher of milk and a pitcher of orange juice.
"So, what might you two lovely ladies have planned for the day?" Dan asked taking a big bite of scrambled eggs.
"Oh, chasing down crooks and taking moonlight horseback rides through the game preserve," Mart answered for them.
Honey laughed and Trixie glared at Mart. "We were actually thinking of going horseback riding today." Trixie, who had just thought of Tad coming out of the preserve that night, said. "I just love to ride in the game preserve. Honey, let's hurry and finish the dishes, so we can leave before Moms gets home and gives me a million chores to do."
Trixie jumped up, her breakfast half eaten and hurriedly began cleaning up the kitchen, before anyone else had even finished eating. After Dan finished, he said his goodbyes and left for home and Brian kissed Honey and tiredly climbed the stairs to his room. While Trixie and Honey finished cleaning, Mart sat at the small kitchen table teasing Honey and Trixie and eating up the chocolate chip cookies Moms had baked only yesterday. Trixie wished he would go away, because she had an idea she wanted to share with Honey.
When they finished the dishes, Trixie quickly took off the apron, hung up the dishtowels and wiped her hands on her jeans. "Come on, Honey, Let's go." She said already heading out the back door. "We'll see you later Mart," Trixie said pointedly.
"I think I'd like to go along and ride Starlight," Mart told her as he followed them out. "It's been awhile since I rode any of the horses."
"Mart!" Trixie said, exasperatedly.
Chapter 9
"Okay, girls," he told them, folding his arms resolutely as they stood on the back porch. "You might can fool everyone else, but, you cannot fool me. So, what gives?"
"What do you mean what gives?" Trixie asked innocently, sitting on the rail to the steps. "I just wanted to go horseback riding and have girl talk, that kind of stuff."
"Yeah right" Mart said. "You must have forgotten who you're talking to. First of all, Trixie and Honey, I know Trixie is dying to figure out who shot Mr. Lytell. I've known it since he was shot. Second of all, even though we enjoy having a lovely guest such as yourself Honey," he said nodding in Honey's direction, who smiled. "When she stays over at our house a lot, that usually means you two are up to something. And the third thing, which is probably the most tell-tale symptom of mystery-itis of all, is the way you cleaned the kitchen up without even fussing at me and Brian or telling us that it was our turn. Now, I'm not going to let you go till you tell me what's going on."
Trixie and Honey both knew that Mart would never turn it loose, they may as well come clean. So, Trixie told him what had happened and what she suspected so far. "And" She finished, speculatively. "Now, I want to go in the woods where I saw Tad and search for clues."
"Whoa!" said Mart. "I feel like you just unloaded three years of information on me. But, I agree with you there is some strange things going on and even though I don't believe any one of the three, including the Wheelers' yard man is cold-hearted enough to have shot an old man like Mr. Lytell, something is definitely not adding up. I too, have noticed some strange behavior from Tad." "So, now" explained Trixie. "We're going horseback riding where I saw Tad come out of the woods, to search for clues."
"Well, let's go." Mart said. With that, He, Honey and Trixie stood, brushed off their jeans and headed to the Wheeler stables.
Quietly, the three rode the horses into the woods, into the area where Trixie had seen Tad come out that night. They walked the horses slowly, Trixie scanning the ground and the general area looking for anything. They rode like that for a long time, and Mart finally said, "Trixie, I just don't think there is anything. Let's go ahead and let the horses run a little." So, they trotted along. All of a sudden, out of no where, a rabbit rushed across the path in front of Trixie and Susie reared up, frightened. "Whoa! Susie, whoa!" Trixie said, frantically trying to comfort the frightened horse. But, Susie was so nervous, she reared again and Trixie was thrown into the soft grass over beside the trail.
"Are you alright?" Mart and Honey asked concernedly, when they had caught Susie and came over to her.
"Well, I'll probably be a little sore tomorrow," Trixie replied, standing up gingerly, and rubbing her backside. "But, I don't think anything is broken."
After calming Susie, she climbed up on the horse's back. She turned the horse back toward the trail, when she happened to see something red in the bushes. As Trixie peered at it, she saw that it was a piece of cloth. Quickly, she jumped off Susie and grabbed the cloth, which was partially buried in the sand. Trixie She held it up and realized it was a shirt, a guy's shirt, she noted as she shook the sand off. It had a unique color scheme, and Trixie knew that this particular school year, a lot of different guys had been wearing this type of shirt in several variations. It was a cotton button up shirt, which had large vertical stripes in bold colors like blue, red and yellow. Trixie had recently seen two different people, on different occasions, wearing a shirt exactly like this one. One was Tad Webster and the other was Jim's friend Mike Shay. When she turned it around to look at the front of it, Honey gasped in horror and Trixie dropped the shirt on the ground like it was a hot rock. Blood was spattered on the front of the shirt, at least that was what it looked like.
Chapter 10
"Oh my gosh!" Honey said finding her voice at last. "I feel sick." She had climbed off her horse and she plopped down on a large rock. "Tad definitely has a shirt like this one." Mart said sitting down beside Honey. "I was in Crimper's right before school started and he bought his the same time I bought mine." "Yeah." Said Trixie. "A lot of the guys are wearing shirts like this, this school year, with the big stripes and the bold colors. But, there is someone else that has a shirt like this." "Who?" asked Honey curiously. "Mike Shay, Jim's friend." Said Trixie. "I noticed it the first time I ever saw him."
The three rode back to the stables in a somber mood. Trixie had the shirt rolled up on the saddle in front of her. "You know, we really should give the shirt to Sergeant Molinson and tell him what we know." Honey told Trixie and Mart. "We have to find out for sure who it belongs to, before we can do that." said Trixie. "Because, like you said the other night, Honey, it could cause a lot of hard feelings if we go reporting this to the police, and who we suspect. We have to be sure." "Against my better judgment." Said Mart, "I agree with Trixie. But, how are we going to find out whom the shirt belongs to? It's not like we can ask Mike or Tad." "I want to find out more about Mike's past, like, if he has a history of violence, or thievery." Said Trixie thoughtfully. "How in the world can you do that?" Honey asked. They stopped the horses for a moment. "I want to go to where he used to live, talk to some friends and neighbors of his, see if he has ever been in trouble and if he has a history of violence. And, I know where he used to live if he lived near Jim. Jim's parents lived in a little farming area just outside of Albany. A little place called Campbellton and Mike lived there till he came here, as far as we know." "How would we get there?" Honey asked. "Mart's going to drive us in the Bob-White van." Answered Trixie. "I am?." asked Mart. "You know our parents only allow me to drive around Sleepyside, Moms will never let us do that." "Yes she will," said Trixie, thinking. "I'll figure out what to tell Moms. "I don't like the sound of that." said Mart, shaking his head.
The week passed extremely slowly for Trixie. Mart had insisted on telling Diana, of whom he insisted he couldn't keep secrets from. They met at the lockers making plans all week long. "This is what we'll do." Said Trixie. "I've talked Moms into allowing Mart to drive us into White Plains, because one of our favorite music groups is playing at the new amusement park. I think if we say we're driving to the Albany area, she'd say that was too far for us to go alone." She said. "I hate lying to Moms, but we have to find out something." Mart, Honey and Diana nodded understandingly. "I hope you all plan to count me in." Dan Mangan said, as he stepped forward. They all jumped. "How long have you been listening to us?" "Long enough to know, there's something you're not telling me. You're trying to solve Mr. Lytell's murder aren't you?" He asked, because he knew Trixie and mysteries. "And you have some explaining to do. I want to know everything. I've noticed the meetings at the locker and I know you guys are planning something." "We'll meet at the clubhouse later." Said Trixie, since it was time to go to class. "But, you have to give us a chance to solve the mystery and not try to make us go to the police." She said, thinking of the bloody shirt, which she believed was either Tad's or Mike's hidden in a plastic bag upstairs in the attic at Crabapple Farm.
Chapter 11
That afternoon, Trixie, Honey and Diana waited at the clubhouse for Mart and Dan. Honey had bought a plate of freshly baked brownies and fruit punch and the three girls sat and discussed the situation.
"I hate not being able to tell Brian." Honey said. "And, I feel like I'm going behind Jim's back, suspecting his friend Mike."
"I feel that way too." Trixie said. "But, we have to find out for sure. I'd rather find out that Mike didn't do this, than to find out that he did." After Mart and Dan arrived, Honey passed out Styrofoam cups filled with punch and sunny yellow paper plates and napkins for the brownies.
After eating her brownie, Trixie told Dan. "This is what we have so far." Trixie explained everything from start to finish. How and why they suspected Tad and why they suspected Mike, finding the bloody shirt in the game preserve and the trip they planned on Saturday. After they had finished talking, things got very quiet, as Dan leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Before he had time to comment, however, they heard a noise outside. It sounded like a twig breaking and then they heard the sound of someone rushing away from the clubhouse.
"Who is it!" Yelled Trixie, rushing out the door. "Someone was listening to us!" She excitedly told the other Bob-Whites.
Trixie, Dan and Mart took off after whoever was out there, but all Trixie saw was a flash of green, maybe a flannel shirt or something. The boys tried, but they didn't get a good look and the woods were so dense, they couldn't move fast enough to even see who it was.
"Oh man!" Trixie said. "Someone heard every word we said" Dan offered an arm to both Trixie and Honey. "You two are going to have to be very careful from now on." He said. "That might have been who shot Mr. Lytell, but even if it wasn't, nobody would like being suspected of something like that." They walked down the driveway and onto to the front porch of Manor House. "I got to get home folks, count me in for Saturday, see you later." said Dan and took off for Mr. Maypenny's. Mart left to walk Diana home and Honey went inside. Trixie heard voices coming from the stables. She ran over to see who was there, hoping to see Jim and to pet Susie before she headed home. Susie was her favorite horse. "Oh." She said, glimpsing someone wearing a green shirt inside the stables. When she stepped in, she saw it was Jim's friend Mike. He looked like he was saddling Starlight for a ride. His hair was slightly unkempt and she noticed a small twig stuck on the side of it. "Oh, are you two going riding?" Trixie asked feeling stupid as soon as she said it. Of course he was going riding, why else would he be saddling Susie. "Sure" he said, stopping for a moment to look at her. Trixie didn't know if it was her imagination or not, but she thought she sensed hostility in his eyes. "Jim and I and our two friends Julie and Marie." "Jim walked into the stables with the two girls she had seen him with at school that day, one of them clinging possessively to Jim's arm. "Oh, what an adorable horse." She said, coming over to Susie. "Jim, this is the one I want to ride." "Sure thing." Jim said smiling. "How are you Trixie? Have you met my friends Marie and Julie?" The two girls looked disapprovingly at Trixie and she could tell they were critically taking in her blonde hair, which needed brushing right about now and her faded jeans and old stretched out yellow sweater. "Hi, how are you?" Trixie politely said to the girls, who barely nodded to her. It upset her greatly to have them there and to know that the girl that held Jim's arm so possessively was also taking Susie for a ride. She quickly left the stables totally humiliated. As she was leaving, she heard one of the girls say "What was she doing here?" Trixie didn't wait to hear Jim's reply, the tears blinded her as she stumbled down the trail to Crabapple Farm.
Chapter 12
Saturday was a beautiful autumn day. The weather was briskly cold, but not freezing. Autumn was one of Trixie's favorite times of the year. She and Mart arose earlier than everyone else in the house and after a quick breakfast of cereal and milk and bananas, they quietly left the house and walked over to Honey's to meet the others. After greeting one another, they all climbed into the van and rode away.
Mart and Dan took turns driving and it seemed as if they rode forever. Finally, after six hours of driving (since they got lost a couple of times), they arrived in the little farming town they were looking for. "Wow!" said Trixie. "This is where Jim grew up."
For a moment, she and the other Bob-Whites took a trip down memory lane, imagining Jim as a small red-haired boy, going to the old Barber shop on the corner with his Dad, eating at the little diner, with the faded sign, jumping over the cracks in the sidewalks.....
Their trip turned out to be uneventful, as no one they asked had even heard of Mike Shay and his family.
"Maybe he has lived elsewhere since he and Jim were kids," Dan suggested to Trixie.
"This has sure been a dead end," said Mart, leading the others to the van. "We need to get back home, six hours is a long drive."
"You're telling me," said Dan.
They all climbed in the car and took off down a long country road heading back toward the main highway. As they rode, the van make a sputtering noise and then it rolled to a stop. "Oh no," said Trixie. "What's wrong with the car?"
Dan quickly climbed out of the back seat, as Mart pulled the latch to pop the hood open. They both tried everything they knew, but could not get the car started.
"What are we going to do?" Diana asked nervously.
"I think we better walk to the nearest farm house and call somebody," suggested Trixie. It was decided Trixie and Dan would go. They went to the nearest farmhouse and tried calling a mechanic, but there wasn't any available on Saturday evening. They tried calling Manor House, but it seemed that no one was answering the phone.
"Could I offer you a snack?" The elderly lady who lived at the old farmhouse asked politely.
Trixie realized that she was famished. In the excitement of coming on this trip, they hadn't thought of eating. But, she didn't want to trouble the lady any further and she knew her friends back at the car were hungry also.
"Oh no," said Trixie, looking up at Dan, who also said "No thanks, we'd better get back to our friends."
They ended up calling a tow truck. The driver knew a mechanic who would still be there on Saturday afternoon, so they all piled into the tow truck and rode back into town to the mechanic's shop.
As it started to grow late, Mart said "I think Moms would be expecting us home by now, someone probably needs to call."
"That's right," said Diana. "Someone needs to call home and let our families know that we're going to be getting home late tonight."
"Uh, pardon me," said one of the mechanics, who overheard Diana. "Your car has to have a special part and it will be tomorrow before I can get it. So, you probably need to find a place to stay tonight."
"How much money do we have all together?" Mart asked everyone as they walked down the street.
"Well, usually, I have Daddy's credit card," said Diana. "But, I didn't bring it today, all I have it fifteen dollars."
"All I have is five in cash," said Honey. "I have a credit card, and it probably has enough of a balance left on it to get us a motel and have the van repaired and I already paid the tow bill. Then, it will probably be maxed out. It's the one Daddy gives me for my clothing allowance and I've used most of it this month."
"I have a few dollars," said Dan.
Trixie and Mart told how much money they had. After counting up all their cash, they had thirty-five dollars.
"We have to have at least ten dollars to buy gas to get home tomorrow," said Honey. "That leaves twenty-five to buy food with."
"That's not enough for all of us to go to a restaurant," said Mart, who of course was starving.
Chapter 13
Honey called home and relayed a message to Ms. Trask and asked her to tell Mrs. Belden and the Lynches and Mr. Maypenny, that the Bob-Whites wouldn't be home till tomorrow. "Okay," said Honey. "Let's go find a motel."
Since this was such a small, rural town, there were no franchise type hotels and/or motels. They found a small L-shaped one-story motel and were able to get two rooms side by side. The rooms were clean but not in the least luxurious. "Well, after paying for the car repairs, my credit card will be officially maxed out," said Honey. "Now, let's pool our resources."
After a delicious dinner of grilled chicken, potato salad, rolls and baked beans, from a grocery store deli, the Bob-Whites settled in to watch movies. Late into the night, Dan and Mart went to their room and Diana and Honey fell asleep. Trixie couldn't sleep, she felt turmoil on the inside. She was so disappointed that their trip had been a dead end and she wanted to solve this mystery so bad. She quietly left the motel room for a walk.
She walked down the street of the sleepy little town, looking in store windows, daydreaming about Jim and his mother walking down this same street. She didn't notice the small dark colored car that had followed her from the motel, the occupant of the car had been stealthily following the Bob-Whites all day. At first, Trixie didn't think anything of it, she noticed the car, but when she turned down a side street, the car slowly turned behind her. Trixie turned her head to look back at the car, but it was too dark to see the driver. Nervously, she began to look around for a street to take her back to the main highway. She turned down the first side street and planned to go back up the next one to get to main. The car turned down every street she did. She started to walk faster, looking to see if there was someplace safe to hide. She turned down the next street. To her dismay, she realized it was somewhat deserted, but it would take her back to the main highway and then she could make a run for the motel. About that time, she heard the whoever was in the car revving up the engine, she turned to look as the car headed straight for her. Trixie jumped into the bushes, just in time to keep from being hit. The car had missed her by inches. The car sped to the main highway and was turning around to come back. A police car came around the corner at that moment and Trixie flagged the policeman down. The small black car turned and drove away, heading out of town.
Chapter 14
"Help!" Trixie said, running up to the police car. "I was out walking," she said shakily and pointed toward the road where the car had taken off, "and whoever was in that car tried to run over me."
"Did you by chance get a tag number or vehicle description?" the officer asked her. Trixie shook her head no, as he told her she could sit down in the patrol car. "Let me radio in and see if I can get dispatch to send someone after him." Quickly the officer did that and then turned to Trixie. "What are you doing out wondering around in the dark? It's very late. Do your parents know where you are?"
Trixie didn't want to explain and have him call her parents. She was going to have enough explaining to do when she told moms she lied about where she was going this weekend and she really didn't want her parents called in the middle of the night. "I and some friends are staying at the Juniper Inn Motel, if you could just get me back there. I couldn't sleep and I went out walking and this person in the black car started to follow me and then tried to run me down." Trixie realized she was rambling on and she abruptly hushed.
"Yeah," agreed the officer. "There's a lot of sick people out there." The officer wanted to call Trixie's parents, but she begged and pleaded and he finally said she seemed like a nice kid and after she had promised that she wouldn't be out wandering around alone at night anymore, he drove her back to the motel.
"Trixie, are you alright?" Dan and Mart asked rushing to the door as a very bedraggled Trixie came walking in. Honey and Diana were also wide-awake. Dan had discovered Trixie was missing and had awakened them all. Trixie was still frightened from her experience and she was white as a ghost.
"Trixie what happened?" asked Honey. "You look like you're scared to death."
Breathlessly, Trixie told them what happened.
"That does it, said Honey. "We're going to Sergeant Molinson Monday morning and tell him everything we know. This is just too dangerous."
"No" said Trixie pleadingly. "We can't do that. We don't know anything, we just suspect." "But, we have the bloody shirt." Honey said. "That's evidence." "Yes, but that doesn't prove anything." said Trixie.
"I have to agree with Trixie," said Dan who had wrapped Trixie in his arms, Trixie found herself rather enjoying this, even though her heart still belonged to Jim. "Even if it's Mr. Lytell's blood on that shirt, it still doesn't prove who shot him."
"I believe whoever was listening to us at the clubhouse the day we were discussing all this was the one who shot Mr. Lytell. He heard us plan this trip and everything."
"But do either Tad or Mike have a car and would either of them have followed us all the way here?" asked Diana.
"They're our age" said Mart, referring to he and Dan. "They're old enough to have a license. Tad could have borrowed a friend's car, we haven't seen what kind of car Mike's parents drive, it could've been either one of them."
Chapter 15
The Bob-Whites came back from their trip and were back in school. Trixie was very frustrated because they found no clues. Jim continued to spend all his time with his friend Mike and the Bob-Whites went on as before, only without Jim. They all missed him sorely, the only one of them that seen him very much was Brian and that was only because they worked together and had some classes together.
Wednesday morning, as Trixie was getting ready for school, she was listening to the radio when the news came on. There was news that Tropical Storm Anastasia was out in the ocean gaining strength, just off the New York coastline. and it could turn into a hurricane at any time. It looked as if it would and Sleepyside might be going to sustain some of the gale force winds and rain that would come with it. Trixie began to reminisce about the last hurricane that hit Sleepyside. She remembered Tom and Celia's wedding and that was when they began to get the gatehouse ready to be their clubhouse that was an awesome time. She slipped on her new red sweater with her black jeans and rushed downstairs to the breakfast table.
"Moms, there's still no news of Mr. Lytell? I mean, is he any better?" she asked as she poured her cheerios in a bowl and helped herself to the fresh fruit platter in the middle of the table. "No, Trixie he's still in a coma."
"That's too bad." Said Trixie. "Maybe if he would wake up, he'd remember who shot him."
"The doctor's are hopeful." Mom said. "Of course with him being so old, I don't know."
"Moms" seven year old Bobby interrupted, "Is the horrorcane going to come here?" "I don't know sweetie." said Moms as she and Trixie both smiled at Bobby's pronunciation of the word "hurricane. "But, I sure hope not." "I hope not too." said Bobby.
Trixie left for school and the day passed rather uneventfully. Later in the day, they discovered that the Tropical Storm had turned into a category 3 hurricane. Sleepyside was far enough inland, that people didn't think they would be in danger, but they could get enough rain and wind to not have school. Most were hoping that would be the case. That afternoon though, Brian left his job early, so he and Mart could put the storm doors and windows on at home, just in case.
Early the next morning, before Trixie left for school, her Mother and Father received a phone call and had to go into the city. Trixie's Aunt Alicia had to be hospitalized and they had to go and be with her, they decided at the last minute to take Bobby with them. "We should be back before this afternoon." said Trixie's mother. "If not and it looks like we're going to get the high winds and rain from the hurricane, I want you to go and stay at Manor House, I don't want you kids here alone. I've already talked to Ms. Trask and she said it would be fine."
It had rained most of the morning, but the heavy rains began about an hour before lunchtime. The principal announced over the speaker system that they were letting the students leave early because of the weather and told them what stations to listen to see if there would be school tomorrow. "Oh, this rain is awful." said Trixie as she and Honey waited under the covered walkway for the bus. Honey.
"It sure is, I wish the others would come on."
The buses were beginning to line up when Mart, Diana and Dan came and joined the girls. While they stood there, Brian pulled up in the Bob-White mini-van. "Would any of you like a ride?" he asked, smiling.
"Oh Brian, you're a godsend," Honey exclaimed.
Brian quickly leaned over and opened the passenger door and Honey scrambled into the front seat, trying not to get wet. Mart and Diana dove into the very back seat of the van and Dan and Trixie jumped into the middle seat.
"Where can we commence to for our daily sustenance? I'm in the mood for a gourmet delight of some sort, I may perish if I don't partake soon," said Mart as soon as they were all in the van and Brian was maneuvering the van into the road, trying to get out before the buses did.
"The only gourmet delight you're going to get is Wimpy's," said Brian. "That is, if we all have enough money to pay for it."
"I'll pay for Diana's and mine." Volunteered Mart."
"I'll pay for Honey's and mine of course," said Brian, smiling at Honey.
"What about me?" said Trixie who didn't at the moment have any cash.
"And what about me?" joked Dan. "Mart, I thought you would at least pick up the tab for me.
"Think again, my friend," said Mart.
"No, just joking," Dan said. "I'll pay for mine and Trixie's."
"Oh, thank you Dan," said Trixie hugging him.
After lunch, Brian dropped Dan and Diana off at each of their homes and he drove the van to Crabapple Farm, instead of leaving it at manor house, because of the storm. The house was dark.
"I guess Moms and Dad aren't home, yet," said Trixie, unlocking the house and going in, her brothers and Honey following.
The phone rang and Brian answered it. After talking for a second, he came to the others and said, "That was Ms. Trask. She said the Beldens, and you, Ms. Wheeler--Honey--are supposed to come to Manor house for an official hurricane party."
"Manor house has excellent cuisine," said Mart.
"This is going to be fun!" said Trixie.
When they arrived, Diana's driver had dropped her off, and Dan answered the front door. "What are you two doing here?" asked Honey smiling.
"Uncle Bill wanted me to stay here during the hurricane," said Dan. "He's afraid Mr. Maypenny's house might not withstand the winds, even though it has withstood stronger than this." All the Bob-Whites nodded as they thought of last year's hurricane.
"My parents and younger brothers and sisters had to go into the city, this morning and I didn't want to stay there," said Diana. "So, I had our driver bring me over here."
The front door opened and they heard Jim ask, "What's everyone doing here?" Jim Frayne and Mike Shay, along with their two young lady friends Julie and Marie, walked into the big formal living room where all the other's were standing.
After everyone politely greeted Jim and his friends, the phone rang. Ms. Trask went to answer it. "We're having another guest," she told the young people. "That was Spider and Mrs. Vanderpoel is visiting her sister in Rhode Island this week. He has to work tonight and doesn't want Tad alone in a hurricane, so he's bringing Tad over to stay till the hurricane blows over, which it hasn't really hit yet, so he'll probably be here tomorrow."
All hands on deck, Trixie thought to herself. I know the new guy, Red, is here someplace and I wonder if there is a way to set a trap to find out which of the three shot Mr. Lytell. She looked up and found herself staring straight into Jim Frayne's green eyes. Jim knew her all too well and she was afraid he could read her thoughts. Quickly, she looked away from him.
To Be Continued