Chapter 16
Trixie stared out the window of the Wheelers' big formal living room as the rain and wind pelted the house and everything in the yard. If it weren't for the fact that this is a chance to catch the person who shot Mr. Lytell, Trixie thought sadly. I'd so much rather be at home. Of course, the reason she felt this way was because of Jim's newfound friends. The electricity, so far, hadn't gone out and at one point Trixie considered braving the elements and walking home to Crabapple Farm to be alone, but she knew the others wouldn't allow it.
Several hours had passed since everyone arrived at Manor house and they all meandered back and forth between the rooms. The cook and other servants had left to be with family during the hurricane, while Regan and Red stayed behind to help Ms. Trask chaperone. Instead of having the usual formal dinner, the cooks had artfully arranged on a huge sideboard in the dining room, large glass platters of assorted cold cuts along with various kinds of bread, condiments, several different types of pickles, trays of lettuce and cut-up tomatoes, huge bowls of potato salad, pasta salad and potato chips. Several different kinds of fruit were displayed in beautiful crystal fruit bowls. To the side, there were gourmet brownies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies and a coconut cake. There were also pitchers of ice tea, bottles of colas and strawberry soda, root beer and fruit punch.
As Trixie studied the sideboard, the furthest thing from her mind was food. She could only think of two things. One, how much she loved Jim Frayne and two, who shot Mr. Lytell. She also knew that whoever shot Mr. Lytell wanted her dead and she believed that person knew that she suspected them. She also believed this same person had followed the Bobwhite's out of town and waited for an opportunity to harm her.
Trixie had stepped into the big, darkened formal living room for a few moments alone. She listened and watched as different people passed from one room to another. They wandered, from the dining room, (where the food was), into the family room, where a big screen television played movies which had been rented for tonight, or they went into the side room, which Mr. Wheeler had turned into a game room for Honey, Jim and their friends. This was a very large room in which he had installed a huge stereo system, and a small refrigerator stocked full of soft drinks. He also had a pool table in the middle of the room, a ping pong table over in the corner and huge leather couches lining the walls. Some had gathered in this room. Trixie could see into the room from across the hall and she could hear everything that was being said. She saw Tad sitting on one of the couches, not really talking to anyone. She sensed that he hated to be here. Red leaned against the wall just watching the interaction between Jim and his friends. Trixie got the feeling that like Tad, he also had other places he'd rather be. Jim, Mike, Julie and Marie were having a rowdy game of pool. She knew that all the others were watching movies in the family room.
"Which one of these people would inflict harm on an old man like Mr. Lytell and try to run over someone with a car?" Trixie asked herself.
Could it be Red, the handsome yard man, that just happened to show up at the Wheelers looking for work two days after Mr. Lytell was shot? Tad, who desperately needed money and was seen leaving the game preserve the night Mr. Lytell was shot? Or Mike, who was new in town, and, just like Tad, owned a shirt like the one that was found in the game preserve? But, it seemed as if Red, older than the others, would have had an easier time following them out of town.
All of a sudden Trixie knew what she was going to do. Sometime tonight when the party was in full swing, she planned to search Red's room. She knew that she might find the missing ring. If she did, that meant Red was the culprit. Of course, that would not explain the reason Tad was in the game preserve that night or Mike was on Hawthorne Street, but one mystery at a time.
"Boo!" someone said from behind her.
Trixie jumped and quickly turned around. "Who--?" she started to ask. "Oh, hi Dan," she said, realizing he had slipped in through the other door. It was unnerving, though, knowing there may be someone loose in the house who had tried to kill someone and was likely to try again.
Chapter 17
"Why are you in here all alone?" he asked curiously, smiling. Trixie had always liked Dan, after she got over her suspicions of him, when he first came to Sleepyside, but she had never really thought about what a handsome guy he was. And when he smiled at her like that, she felt her knees grow weak.
"Oh, just thinking," she told him, returning the smile. She wasn't telling him that she was going to search Red's room, she knew he would never allow her to do that.
She watched as Jim left the game room heading toward the kitchen. Oh, I guess for once he gets to go without his arm ornament, she thought sarcastically, referring to the beautiful blonde Marie.
"Why don't we go and watch one of those movies with the others?" Trixie asked Dan.
"Sure thing," he replied, but the look on his face told Trixie he was disappointed. The two of them joined the other BWGs watching television. Jim returned from the kitchen and sat by Marie on one of the couches. Since the room was dark, Trixie could observe them.
When Jim became interested in the movie, Marie would do something to get his attention back on her. When Jim leaned forward, to zero in on what was happening on the action adventure type show they were watching, Marie would pull him back toward the couch and place his arm around her shoulders. Jim looked very uncomfortable.
"I think I'll go get something to eat," said Trixie, standing to leave the room.
"Me too," Jim said, also standing.
Jim followed Trixie into the kitchen."Trixie, I--," he said, as he looked deep into her eyes.
"Jim," said Marie, from the doorway. "I'm getting lonely in there all by myself." She came into the dining room, grabbed Jim by the arm and pulled him out of the kitchen.
Trixie absentmindedly made a sandwich and poured a glass of strawberry soda. Later, as she was passing by the game room, she heard Marie say, "Jim!" in an exasperated tone. Trixie knew that she shouldn't eavesdrop, but she stood in the dark hallway listening.
"Marie," said Jim in a tone that almost sounded like he was trying to patiently explain something to a small child. "Look, you're a beautiful lady, but I just don't like you that way. I'm not interested in a relationship with you, I told you before and now I'm telling you again, I just want to be friends, that's all our relationship is now, that is all it's been and that is all it will ever be."
"It would be something more, if it weren't for her," she said petulantly. "You just don't know what I've been through for you Jim Frayne or the trouble I've gone through so that we can be together."
Trixie didn't want to hear anymore and she turned away.
Chapter 18
Trixie tried consistently to get away from everyone so that she could go and search Red's room. But, someone came and foiled her plans every time. Which, she realized that Dan and Mart were following her around on purpose, because they knew that this would be the night that she would try to crack the case.
Eventually, the party began to wind down and everyone began to go up to the rooms that they would be staying in. Red was one of the first ones to retire. Trixie knew she must have looked as disappointed as she felt, while she watched him slowly climb the stairs. Tad had retired hours ago. He really seemed as if he didn't want to be around anyone.
"I think I'm going to call it a night." Trixie said to Brian, Honey, Mart, Diana and Dan, who were the last ones awake and they were starting to yawn as they struggled to finish watching one of the movies they had put in. Trixie slowly climbed the stairs. As she reached Honey's room, she noticed that Mike was in one of the rooms across from Honey's. "Oh, I guess that is where he's going to be staying tonight." She thought. "Well, if by chance he's the one, he's close enough to try something, but everyone will hear him." Tiredly, Trixie brushed her teeth and then she climbed into one of Honey's dainty twin beds.
Shortly afterward, Honey came up to bed. Trixie heard the other Bob-Whites laughing and telling each other good night and then Honey came into the room. While Honey was in the bathroom brushing her teeth, Trixie heard Jim Frayne open the door to his room, which was across the hall from Honey and right beside the one where Mike would be staying. "Marie," he said. "You can't come in my room with me."
"Oh please Jim, all I want you to do is hold me, that's all."
"Marie," he told her patiently. "I'm tired and I don't feel like arguing, go to the room that you'll be staying in."
"Fine!" she said, in a voice that sounded hurt and irritated. Trixie heard her footsteps as she stomped down the hall.
"Trixie, I think I'm going to lock the door tonight," Honey said, as she came out of the bathroom and walked around to the other side of her bed to turn down the covers. "Even though I don't believe for one minute that anyone in this house tonight is the guilty culprit, we may as well be careful." Honey walked toward the door.
Trixie, who had moments before been drifting off to sleep, suddenly bolted up in bed. "Oh Honey! Don't lock it. I know who shot Mr. Lytell! And they're going to try something again tonight."
"Oh Trixie," Honey said, her eyes wide with fright. "We need to call the police."
"No," said Trixie. "We have to catch them in the act. But, I'm certain the culprit will try to come in here and do us harm tonight, I just know it."
"No, Trixie..." Honey said.
"Listen Honey, I have a plan, we'll be fine. Just do what I tell you."
Chapter 19
Trixie and Honey lay in bed for a while, being very quiet and pretending to be asleep. They were both so nervous with anticipation and there was no way they could go to sleep. While the hurricane winds raged on outside and the old grandfather clock down the hallway struck four o'clock a.m., Trixie had begun to think she was wrong, the person wasn't going to try anything tonight. Then, she noticed the doorknob slowly turn and the door slowly opening.
Trixie and Honey both lay quietly. The person coming in the door was dressed all in black and even had a black stocking cap on their head. Trixie knew, even though it was too dark to see, that this person probably was carrying the same gun that was used to shoot Mr. Lytell. They couldn't use a gun inside here, because of the noise, but Trixie felt certain they would try to use the gun to intimidate her into going outside where she would be shot. Trixie bolted up in bed. "What are you doing in here?" she asked. "I know who you are."
"I just bet you do," said the person quietly. "Since you seem to know everything else."
"Why'd you do it, Marie?" asked Trixie, "Why'd you shoot Mr. Lytell. And why did you try to run me down? I didn't even suspect you then."
"Well," said Marie, thoughtfully, "I guess you deserve to know since you and I and your friend here are going to take a little walk. I did it because of Jim. I've wanted him for so long and everyone at school knows that you and he were almost an item, so I decided to give you something to keep you busy."
"That's why you shot Mr. Lytell and made it look like a robbery," Trixie. "To keep me busy solving a mystery, so that you would have a chance to move in on Jim. Why did you take the ring?"
"Oh that old ring. It's hideous. I have it in my jewelry box at home. Mike moving to town and liking Julie made things so easy for me, since she is my best friend. I just had to get you out of the picture. The only problem is, as long as you're around, he'll never be mine. That's why you and I and Honey are going to take a little walk..."
"Hello, Marie," said Dan stepping out of Honey's closet, along with Mart who began to turn on lights all over the room.
Marie turned toward Dan with the gun in her hand. "I guess all of you want to die, don't you?"
"You think you can take all of us?" said Mart. "The first shot is going to awaken everyone in the house."
"Marie, put the gun down," said Jim from the doorway.
"Jim!" she said and then right in front of everyone she just put the gun back down to her side and began to cry.
Jim came up to her, gently took the gun out of her hands and held her as she cried on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, someone called the police and everyone, including Ms. Trask and Regan and Red, watched as Marie was handcuffed and taken away in the police car. By this time, the hurricane had died down and it was only a light sprinkle of rain. Marie looked tearfully at Jim as she rode away.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do," said Jim to Trixie as they all walked back in the house.
"I've got a lot of explaining to do?" she asked incredulously.
Chapter 20
The Bob-Whites and their various houseguests were all out of bed by lunchtime the next day since they'd been up most of the night. Marie had confessed to shooting Mr. Lytell and would probably be out of the picture for a long time. Mike left for home, and Julie, who was in shock about her best friend, rode along with him. So, it was only the Bob-Whites of the Glen and Tad Webster who gathered around the huge dining table finishing up the leftovers. During the night, Mr. Lytell had come out of his coma and had told who shot him.
"I can't believe you suspected me," Tad said, after Trixie and Mart and the others had finished telling them what all had happened and how and why they had suspected him.
"I can't believe you suspected Mike," said Jim.
"I know," said Trixie, embarrassed. "And I'm sorry about that."
"I don't blame you," Jim said, putting his arm around her. "And there was the shirt in the game preserve. I can understand your suspicions."
Tad had explained earlier that the shirt was his. He had gotten in a fight earlier that evening and had busted his friend's lip and blood had spattered all over the front of his shirt. "I was so angry, I've been angry a lot lately, and I went walking that night and wound up in the game preserve to cool down. When I realized I had blood all over my shirt, I took it off and left it, because my brother would ground me for who knows how long, if he knew I had been in a fight. I took it off and just pulled my jacket around me so that Mrs. Vanderpoel wouldn't notice that I came home without a shirt."
The reason for Tad's anger was because he wanted to get a sport's scholarship. He needed money to compete in an event over in Connecticut and this was going to be very important to him being able to acquire the scholarship. Spider just did not have money for him to do this.
"Well, Tad, you should have come to us," Jim told him. "I thought we were friends."
"I couldn't go asking you guys for money," he said. "How would I ever pay it back? I can't seem to find an after school job here in Sleepyside, other students have taken all of them."
"Our Dad would loan you the money and he'll find you some work to do around here to pay him back."
"Yeah," confirmed Diana. "And, if Mr. Wheeler doesn't do it, my Dad will."
"In that case," said Jim, "let's consider it settled. We'll call Dad later on and make the arrangements."
Tad looked as if a huge weight had lifted off his shoulders.
Jim also explained why Mike went to Hawthorne Street and also cleared up a few other mysteries. "Mike's dad was hurt recently on the job and is unable to work," Jim told the others. "They came to Sleepyside hoping to start over again. His mother is working a job to make ends meet, but they are still having a really hard time financially. Mike went to Hawthorne Street to make arrangements to sell some family antiques, with the permission of his parents. Someone told him he could get top dollar from some guy who comes there from upstate once a week.
"Why can't Daddy just give them some money?" asked Honey.
"Because they feel that they would be looked at as a charity case," Jim told her. "As Bob-Whites, we can't fault them for that."
The others nodded their agreement.
"And now," said Honey, "Jim Frayne, you owe us some explanations for your behavior. When Mike moved here, you started acting like you had forgotten that you're a member of this family, my brother. You've also forgotten that you are co-president of the Bob-Whites of the Glen and I want to know why. And why were you dating a bimbo like Marie anyway?"
All the Bob-Whites, were shocked at Honey's outburst of questions, but they all looked questioningly to Jim.
"Oh gosh, you guys, I haven't meant to ignore you. But I'm starting to realize what a jerk I've been. I guess I thought you all knew that I was helping Mike as an old friend." Jim looked around the table. "I moved around a lot after my mother married Jonesy and I can tell you first hand, it's really hard to fit in to a new school, where you don't know anyone. Especially, if you have serious problems at home. Honey and I were lucky when we came to Sleepyside, because we started school with our own friends and our own little crowd. We take the good things we have for granted sometimes. Mike and his family are very old and dear friends and I was just trying to help Mike get acclimated to a new school. I guess I should have come and talked to you all about it, but I thought you knew what I was doing and it was never meant to be permanent. And besides that, I owe them. When my Dad was sick and dying, Mike's parents helped us every way they could. His mother babysat me so that Mom could work, they were always bringing us food, because they knew we were having a hard time. They would do without things they really needed just to help us. So, I owed them one. I wish they would've allowed me to do something for them. But, as far as Mike goes, he has a girlfriend now and he's made some friends at school and even though, I plan to check on his parents from time to time, and he and I will always be friends, I have what I want right here," he finished. "I just hope that you all can forgive me."
After a course of laughter and "you're forgiven"s went around the table, Mart said, "Even so, we still would like for you to explain about your fatal attraction girlfriend, Marie."
"Oh," said Jim, staring down at the table. "She and Julie were best friends. Julie started liking Mike. Marie and Julie are Mike's type, not mine, I promise you, but I took Marie out and from the very beginning, emphasized that we were just friends, that my heart has been stolen by another," he said, looking at Trixie, who smiled. "And from then on, Marie became more and more possessive." He paused. "What made you start suspecting her?" he asked Trixie.
"Oh, it was something she said last night," Trixie replied. "Something about you not knowing what she had gone through for you."
The Beldens went home and freshened up to greet their parents who had just returned from the City. Then they went to work cleaning up the yard after the hurricane.
After a tiring day, the Beldens and other Bob-Whites met at Manor House for dinner. As the others laughed and talked in the game room, Trixie and Jim walked out on the veranda for a few moments alone. "Trixie, will you ever forgive me?" he asked.
"Of course I will," said Trixie. "But, that day in the barn when you were going to go horseback riding, why didn't you stand up for me?"
"I did," Jim replied. "You didn't stick around to hear what I told her when she asked what you were doing here. I told her that you were always welcome. The truth is, Trixie, I really found myself being swept along by that particular situation and I was kind of at a loss as to what to do. I started out helping a friend in need and ended up with Marie who had some kind of a delusion that we were in a relationship, which we were not. And, from the beginning, I never meant for any of this to be permanent. I meant to help Mike make some friends of his own and once he did, I planned for things to go on as they always had. I didn't realize what I was getting into with Marie."
"Why didn't you just invite Mike over here to hang with us?" Trixie asked, looking into his eyes.
"We--and I include myself when I say this," replied Jim. "We are not Mike's type. Mike is more into football and cheerleaders and being really popular and well known in school. You know that none of that really matters to any of the Bob-Whites. He wouldn't have wanted to be a part of us. Just like I don't really want to be a part of all that."
"Jim," Trixie said. She hung her head as she dreaded to ask this next question. "Marie was very beautiful, and because of her mental problems, I know you wouldn't want her, but I know you could probably have any girl that you want and ... "
"Trixie," he said, holding up one hand to stop her, "the girl I'm in love with is also very beautiful. Not in a fashion magazine way, but in a wholesome, natural way. And she isn't only beautiful on the outside, which you are, you know, but also beautiful on the inside. You care about people, not just how you look. I'm just sorry that by trying to help an old friend, I put you in a situation that endangered your life, because I don't know if I'd want to go on if something happened to you."
"Did you say in love with?" Trixie asked incredulously.
"Yes, that's what I said. I hope it doesn't scare you."
"Oh no," said Trixie. "Because, truth be known, I've been in love with you since the days you were staying at your uncle's mansion. I just hope our love is strong enough to withstand the time when we leave Sleepyside and go to college and then start our careers."
"It is," said Jim as he took her into his arms. "It will be forever."
The End