Chapter Three (Cont.)

12 PM
Joeanne’s Apartment

Joeanne lay awake for a long time that night. For many reasons today had been the very best time she’d had in a long, long time, going back to those two blessed years at the Smith’s, before her mother had grown terribly ill.

Now she knew there were people who cared about her for who she was. Well, maybe they also pitied her, but somehow she was able to deal with that. At least they weren’t too obvious or patronizing. Mrs. Belden was such a dear! And Dave and Kenny had also loved the day and made new friends. She would never have admitted it to Dan, but she had been concerned about the company they kept. Until now, she really had no reason to be worried, but still… She had never imagined the trouble Sally would get into either.

The young woman sighed, brushing her long hair back from her face. Dan…He was another little something on her mind. She kept saying to herself that he was merely interested in what Sally could say to help with Annie’s case, but even so she couldn’t overlook the tenderness in his voice and the way he spoke to her. Honestly. The way a true friend would.

Joeanne always tried not to listen to her heart, but now was one of those times it was trying to speak up. And her memory was also playing tricks on her, by going back to her high school days.

At the age of thirteen, Joeanne had gone to Sleepyside High. Most of her friends from Elementary School were there and she didn’t exactly feel lonely, but she never really got very close to them. That was just the way she was.

But she remembered watching the BWG’s from afar and wishing she could join them. Jim, Trixie, Honey and even Di had invited her to their table at lunch several times, but she had always declined. As the years passed, she had grown to believe she had been afraid that if she did join them, her presence would spoil the perfect picture.

But there was something else she feared too. A certain tall, dark stranger, who somehow also seemed out of place amongst them and made her tremble just by the sight of him. Dan.

But she would never have admitted to having a kind of crush on him all through the few years they had spent together in school. No way! And when she’d met him at the conference in New York, she had believed her adolescent fantasies had come back to haunt her.

So, this all seemed like a dream. Or a nightmare, she wasn’t quite sure. What she knew for sure was that it was disturbing her life and the strict way she had kept it organized. Joeanne didn’t know how to deal with the way he made her feel. She had decided long ago that there was no space in her life for that. And now…

Joeanne turned to her side and breathed in deeply, decisively. She was going to convince herself he was merely interested in Annie’s situation. And that was that.

 

 

Chapter Four

Sunday, 11.45 AM
Dan’s Apartment

When he saw the blue pickup pull up by the building, Dan felt his mouth go dry. He had been pacing his apartment for over an hour, wondering if she would show up or not. He was now considering whether this was such a good idea. The previous night he had been quite sure of himself…well, not really, but he had found the nerve to offer to go with her. But right now… It all depended on whether she was in the same mood as last night. Chances were she wasn’t because Crabapple Farm and its inhabitants made everyone feel good; on the other, because he did realize that visiting Sally wasn’t very pleasant for Joeanne.

But still, she hadn’t called it off. He had checked his answering machine many times to make sure of that. And now here she was.

He saw her come out of the car and look up. He smiled at her and signalled he was coming downstairs. She nodded in agreement and went back into the car.

"Hi!" Dan greeted, casually, as he entered the car, hoping his smile would hide his nervousness. Joeanne smiled back at him, but he noticed how hard she was clutching the steering wheel. She looked like she hadn’t slept much, the light make-up not properly hiding the bags under her eyes. But despite that she still looked pretty, in her light blue jeans and pink sweatshirt.

"Rough night?" Dan asked, as he buckled up.

She sighed. "Yeah, I guess…I stayed up late, working on some stuff."

"You got to take it easy. You really do look tired."

"You might as well just say I look awful. I do have mirrors." Joeanne didn’t take her eyes off the road as she spoke.

"You couldn’t look awful, if you tried," Dan remarked, staring out the passenger window. But from the corner of his eye he saw her stare at him in amazement. He smiled inwardly.

"There’s a pretty decent restaurant close to the centre. Is that ok or you rather eat some place else?" She asked after a while.

"That’s fine by me. So," Dan changed position on the seat, so he could look at her. "Your father didn’t want to come?"

"It’s not like I asked him. I told you last night he doesn’t want to see Sally."

"And your brothers?"

There was a visible shadow in her eyes. "They want to come, but Dad won’t let them. It really isn’t a suitable place for children, but still…"

"I hope you don’t mind me asking but what will you do when Sally gets out? Where will she stay?" For a few awful seconds, Dan thought she would stop the car and tell him to get out. The expression on her face told him that that was a subject she wasn’t quite ready to deal with just yet. But still she answered him.

"I try not to think about it, but I guess she’ll have to stay with me." The determined look on Joeanne’s face couldn’t hide the anguish in her voice and Dan couldn’t help but to feel sorry for her. All those problems were eating her youth away. He wished there was something he could do.

"Jo, don’t get me wrong," he didn’t even notice what he had called her, "but though your self-sacrifice and generosity are wonderful, that’s not really fair on you. Your father must take responsibility."

"My mother used to call me Jo," she whispered, her eyes suddenly getting shinier from the held back tears.

Dan bit his lip. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…"

To his surprise she smiled. "It’s fine, Dan, don’t worry. It felt nice."

He gulped and suddenly felt at a loss for words.

 

 

Hudson River Rehabilitation Centre
2 PM

The skinny girl sitting under the old oak seemed very young. But there was a strange look on her face that seemed to belong to someone at least four times her age. It was the look worn by most of the faces around them. Young people with old eyes, which had seen the very worst of human nature.

What troubled Dan the most when he visited such places was the wasted years. Those lives would never be complete again. There would be years those people would never account for, years in which they had lost so much. Years before, Dan had done some volunteer work in a centre similar to this one. And the stories he had heard seemed unbelievable to this day.

"That’s Sally," Joeanne said, gesturing towards the girl sitting under the tree.

"How long has she been here?" Dan asked, as they walked towards her.

Joeanne sighed. "Eight months, three weeks and four days."

Dan didn’t comment. He couldn’t start to understand how Joeanne was able to deal with this on her own.

As they approached, he noticed that despite the thinness and paleness, there were certainly similarities between the two young women. Still, their expressions were very different. Though only seventeen, Sally looked almost worn out, with hollow, pale cheeks and the light gone from her eyes. She was merely a shadow of the beautiful young woman she would have been if her life hadn’t gone so terribly wrong.

"Sally?" Joeanne called out.

The dark haired girl looked up at them, and Dan thought he had seen a strange flash in her weary eyes. "Hi," she said with a blank expression.

"How’ve you been, sweetheart?" Joeanne asked, crouching beside her. "Are you feeling ok?" She reached out to brush back a lock of the girl’s hair but she moved away.

"I’m fine," she said, coldly, looking straight ahead.

The hurt look on Joeanne’s face when Sally moved away from her didn’t escape Dan, who had decided it was best to stand a few steps back until Joeanne was ready to introduce him.

"I brought you a book. It’s the kind you like. They say it’s pretty good," Joeanne reached inside her backpack and took out a book. Sally didn’t even look at her or the book. Her sister finally gave up on handing it to her and laid it on the grass beside her. Sighing, Joeanne turned her back on Sally and walked towards Dan. The moment she did it, Dan saw Sally suddenly look at the book, interest and curiosity visible in her dark eyes. He couldn’t help an inner smile. Sally was certainly playing hard to get.

Joeanne walked up to him, shrugging her shoulders. "Well," she said, lowering her voice. "At least, today she’s talking. Last week, she wouldn’t open her mouth. Come, I’ll introduce you now."

The pair walked up to the dark haired teenager, who finally gazed up at them, her interest pricked up by Dan’s presence. "Sally, this is Dan Mangan," Joeanne said.

The girl stared up at Dan for a while and then said, with a cynical grin unbecoming to her youthful features, "Finally got yourself a man, sis?"

Dan saw Joeanne grow pale as paper, her eyes brimming with tears. But she seemed to compose herself quickly, as if this kind of sting was usual. "He’s a friend of Jim Frayne, Honey Wheeler and Trixie Belden’s. You remember them, don’t you?" she asked in a tone as calm and gathered as if Sally hadn’t hurt her deeply.

"Yeah, sort of." Sally finally got up and reached out to shake Dan’s hand. Her hand lingered in his for a moment, and Dan could swear her eyes acquired a strange glow. "Pleased to meet you. And what can I do for you?" Her tone of voice became huskier, almost seductive.

Before Dan had time to say a word, Joeanne answered her question. "Dan’s an attorney and is here to ask you a few things about a very serious matter."

Sally put her hands in her back pockets and swayed her body, as she blatantly gazed at him. "You really don’t know men, do you, Jo? Dan here doesn’t seem the serious type. I really think he likes to party. Can you handle it, sis?" Then she turned to Dan, a sarcastic grin on her lips, and said, "You know, Dan, my sister never had a boyfriend, so she really knows nothing about men!"

"Sally, stop it!" Joeanne’s voice was strangled, and Dan knew he had to do something. Sally was acting like a spoiled, obnoxious brat, and he simply couldn’t let her go on hurting Joeanne, who seemed ready to turn around and run away. Therefore, he put on his most serious face and spoke for the first time. "Your sister is right, Sally. What brings me here is a very serious matter, which I hope you can help me… us with." A sidelong glance at Joeanne told him that the ‘us’ he had used had made a difference. The young woman seemed a little less distressed and her eyes had widened in amazement. Taking a deep breath, he went on. "There’s a drug problem in Sleepyside High right now, Sally, and we…"

"Oh, I get it! Sally, the junkie, must know something about it, right?" Sally’s eyes had hardened and were darting with hatred at Joeanne.

"That’s not it at all, honey! We just…" Joeanne took a step to touch her sister’s arm, but the girl brushed her hand away violently. "Sally!"

"Don’t ‘Sally’ me! That’s what you thought, right?"

Joeanne and Dan exchanged glances, none of them able to say truthfully they hadn’t.

"Just as I thought!" Sally shook her head in disbelief and walked up the lane, towards the building.

Dan suddenly saw Joeanne clench her fists and put on the same decisive look she had worn many times before. He watched in awe as she ran after Sally and forced her to stop and look at her. "You’re not doing this, Sally. This is not about you and me and whatever grudge you hold against me! This is about kids that are getting into something they will regret forever! It’s about a little girl who is being framed for something she hasn’t done… A little girl that’s as old as you were when you met the people who…" Joeanne stopped and gulped. Then she took a deep breath and went on. "They might be the same people, Sally! And you can help her by telling us whatever you can. A name, something."

However feeling as if he was trespassing on something terribly intimate, Dan knew he couldn’t just stand there. Joeanne needed his help. "Sally, all we need from you is to know if you remember anyone who could be dealing within the school," he said, as the younger girl looked from him to her sister and back, her anger seemingly dying away. "Or anyone who could be organizing it from the outside."

Sally wiped her brow with the back of her hand, looking as if she was still deciding whether or not to speak out. After a few agonizing moments, she finally said, "I’m not sure… Within the school I don’t think I know anyone. The people I hung around with were all a bit older than I was and most of them dropped out."

"And on the outside?" Dan tried to keep the anxiety away from his voice, but he felt as if he had failed miserably.

Sally stared at him, frowning. "At that time, Dick was the top man. Or rather, I think he had some kind of boss, but I never saw him or heard his name. The guy was in jail or something, but I really didn’t care. Whatever we needed, Dick would provide."

"Do you remember his last name?"

The girl shook her head. "No, I don’t. I remember hearing he had done time for theft but that really didn’t matter then. And most things are all blurry in my mind," she added, with a sad grin.

"That’s fine, Sally. We really had nothing, so this may help." Dan smiled and touched the girl’s cheek. "Thank you."

Somehow the thought of being helpful softened Sally’s heart and she smiled too, her face almost resembling that of a seventeen-year-old girl. But the look faded as Joeanne tried to hold her hand again and she drew it back.

"You have what you wanted, now you can go," Sally spat at her, bitterly.

Closing her eyes for a moment, as to stop herself from crying, Joeanne said, her voice almost perfectly under control, "We will leave. But I’ll be back next week. Be good!"

"Oh, you’re the good one in the family. I will never be able to reach your and dad’s standards." With that, Sally turned her back on them and walked away.

Joeanne made a gesture as if to stop her again, but Dan took her hand instead. "We better go, Jo. Just leave her be. She’ll come around, you’ll see."

She looked up at him, her eyes red and moist. Then she turned her back on him and quickly walked towards the car. Dan took a deep breath and followed her.

As they reached the pickup, he noticed how her hands were trembling. She wasn’t fit for driving and he told her so. To his surprise, she didn’t argue and merely handed him the keys. He couldn’t help a smile as he got in the driver’s seat.

They drove for about half an hour, in silence. Joeanne had her forehead pressed against the passenger’s window, silent tears running down her face faster than she could wipe them off.

"It’s ok to cry, Joeanne. You’ve been through hell up there," Dan finally said.

"I haven’t got time for tears, Dan." The bitterness in her voice almost broke his heart and he suddenly had an almost irresistible urge to stop the car and hold her in his arms. But he simply couldn’t do that, so he held on to the wheel and clenched his teeth.

"I’m very sorry that you had to deal with that. I told you this wasn’t a good idea. You must understand my sister is not in herself right now." Joeanne sat up straight and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Jo, I hate to tell you this, but I don’t think you can blame all that on the drugs." Dan took a deep breath. "There was something else there. She was really trying to hurt you."

"I know." Joeanne rubbed her temples, as if she was in pain. "Every time she finds a soft spot, she just pokes at it until… Until you give up and leave."

"And then she can just feel sorry for herself and blame it all on other people," Dan completed. "Yeah, I know the drill. I used to do that myself, when I thought I had no friends and was feeling miserable. But some people just refused to give up on me and everything changed."

She seemed to digest his words and then said, "Maybe that’s it, but I don’t know what else to do. I know she’s miserable and hurting, but I’ve tried to be her friend, to talk to her. She seems to hate me!"

"Were you two ever close before?"

Joeanne shook her head. "No. When Mother was alive I used up all my time studying or reading. I didn’t play with her much. Then when Mother passed away, I had the house to take care off and the babies. Sally was already 8 years old, so I thought she didn’t need that much attention. I know I made a mistake."

"Jo, you were no more than a child yourself. You can’t be blamed for anything!"

"I keep trying to tell myself that, but…" Joeanne’s voice faltered. "Sally became more and more capricious. In the beginning, I thought she was just acting girlie-like. I was always more of a tomboy, so I couldn’t tell the difference. And Dad kept excusing her, saying she was just missing her mum. There was one time though… My prom night." Through the corner of his eye, Dan saw the sadness cover her face as a veil, as the words left her lips. "I had a date, I had a pretty dress and I felt happy. When I was ready to go, Sally had a temper tantrum, I don’t even remember why. She cried and screamed and locked herself up in her room. Dad didn’t know what to do, so I…"

"You never went to the prom, did you?" Dan did his best to keep the pity out of his voice but he knew she would feel it nonetheless.

Joeanne stared out the passenger window once more, tears streaming down her face. She didn’t answer.

"I’m sorry you had to go through all that, Joeanne," he said, knowing there were many other things he would like to say, but just not sure what.

"I don’t need your pity." The bitterness was back in her voice and he noticed how she sat up straight, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Dan reached out his right hand to squeeze hers, his eyes never leaving the road. "I don’t pity you, Jo. Pity is the last thing you need. But you do need friends and that’s what I’m offering you. My friendship. And I won’t be brushed aside by your bitterness." He was amazed at himself for saying all that but certainly no more than Joeanne. One quick glance at her and he saw her struggling for something to say, but too surprised to even pull back her hand.

 

Sleepyside
5.30 PM

Dan parked the car in front of her apartment building. Suddenly, Joeanne remembered that it was her car and that she was supposed to drop him off. "Oh, Dan… I’m sorry. Drive on to your place and then I’ll drive back here," she said, sitting up straight in the passenger seat.

He shook his head. "That’s ok, Joeanne. Don’t worry. I’ll walk home. It’s not that far anyway and I kinda need the exercise." He grinned. "Besides, I’ll feel better knowing you’re home safe."

Joeanne lowered her eyes and sighed. "This was not a first for me, you know?"

"I know. But it was the first time I witnessed it, and I didn’t like the way you looked afterwards." He reached out his hand to brush back a lock of her hair and she couldn’t help shivering at his touch. He pretended not to notice her discomfort and slowly let the back of his fingers slide down the silky skin of her face. But what Dan wasn’t ready for was the way the tender gesture made his own heart race and he drew back his hand as he cleared his throat and motioned to open the car door.

Her voice stopped him. "Dan…," she called. "Thank you."

He turned to her again, his heart still beating hard in his chest.

"For what?"

"I don’t know…" She smiled sadly. "For trying to be friends with me."

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead he got out of the car and walked to the passenger side. He needed a few seconds to think of an answer that wouldn’t betray his own bewildered state. As he opened the door for Joeanne to get out, he said, with a little hoarseness in his voice, "I’m not trying anything. I intend to be your friend, whether you like it or not."

She couldn’t help a smile. "Guess I might as well give up running away then, hum?"

His face lit as he smiled back. "Yeah, I think you should do that."

They crossed the street in silence, stopping near the building’s front steps. "Will you be ok?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry."

"Well, I’ll see you then. Call me up if you need anything."

Joeanne smiled at him and waved goodbye as she slowly climbed the steps. When she got to the door, he turned and walked down the street.

****

Getting home that evening was harder than usual for Joeanne. She felt just like Cinderella would have felt after midnight, when her dress turned to rags once more. It had been a long time since she had experienced the feeling of being taken care of, and she had always told herself she didn’t want it, that she could take care of herself. But for the first time she had felt comfortable in knowing she wasn’t alone and that she wasn’t pitied, only backed up.

But as she entered her apartment, the soft warmth in her heart began to wear away as she remembered she was alone again. Well, he had said she could call him, but she wouldn’t. She had to stop that romantic nonsense before it got out of hand. She had no space in her life for that. And Dan certainly wasn’t interested in an emotionally crippled girl, that didn’t know how to deal with people and had a difficult family… Of course he wasn’t interested! Why would he be? An intelligent, handsome guy, with a bright future ahead of him? No way! And of course, there was Hallie Belden. And that she could never match. So it was best to leave it at that. But still she couldn’t help the memories that came flooding into her mind.

Joeanne sighed as she kicked off her shoes and undressed, on her way to the shower. Hallie had always been sort of an obsession with her. The beautiful Belden from Idaho had mesmerized half the Sleepyside male population under 25 when she had come to stay with her aunt and uncle. She looked glamorous and exotic even in plain old blue jeans. There was something about her air, her posture, even the way she walked that had made Joeanne feel more awkward than she already did. And even though many years had gone by that impression remained.

She shook her head, trying to dismiss the strange feeling, but then her eyes caught her image in the mirror. Joeanne had always been her most fierce critic and there was always something wrong with the image the mirror shot back at her. But somehow, now she was finding the girl in front of her attractive, in spite of her tired, weary eyes. She was shapely, with graceful curves in all the right places. The remnants of a tan still remained upon her skin, giving it a most becoming shade of gold.

Reaching up, Joeanne let down her black air and watched as it fell in soft curls over her shoulders. But the beautiful picture the mirror showed her scared her more than it pleased her and she turned her back on it. I’m going insane, she thought.

 

Chapter Five

Tuesday, 10 AM
Sleepyside High

Bobby watched as the four boys retreated into an empty corner of the schoolyard. There weren’t many doubts in his mind as to what they were up to. He had been watching them and some others for a few days, and he had a feeling this particular group could help him in his mission.

Taking a deep breath, Bobby buried his hands in his pockets and walked over to where the teenagers were standing. One of them noticed him and nudged one of the others, who hid something his coat’s pocket.

"Hi," he said, trying to play it ‘cool’. "What’s up?"

"You tell us, Belden. What do you want?" The boy who spoke seemed to be the leader of the bunch. His name was Darryl Warren and Bobby had known him for a long time, though they had never been close. Darryl was a known troublemaker ever since grade school, but the others… The others were old playmates, whom Bobby had never expected to see getting into serious trouble. But their activities were fairly obvious right now. It gets everywhere, to just about anyone, he thought, with a shiver. And that made him even surer he had to get to the bottom of this.

"Hey, cool it!" Bobby smiled, trying to hide his nervousness. "I’m just trying to be friendly."

"Right," Darryl took a step towards him, noticeably suspicious. "Come on, Belden. You always hang out with the A crowd. Have you grown tired of it?"

He nodded and smirked. "Yeah, I guess I did! Guess it’s getting monotonous! I want to add some… amusement to my life. And the word is you guys know where to get it."

The boys exchanged glances. "You want to hang with us? Even with all that community work mumbo jumbo you’re into?" Darryl was really making it hard.

"Guess I’m not really into that… But with a brother and a sister working here it’s kinda hard to go to where the fun is." With that, Bobby grinned and winked at him, as if they shared a secret.

Darryl seemed to think for a minute and then said, "Ok then. You can hang out with us… But there’s an initiation ritual, so to speak." The other boys chuckled at his words and Bobby gulped. He had a pretty clear idea of what he was talking about. And all his doubts disappeared when the boy who had hidden something in his pocket took out a small cigarette and lighted it. He passed it on to Darryl who gave it to Bobby. The shape, size and smell of the cigarette didn’t leave much space to wonder what kind it was. And Bobby knew this was a test he had to pass.

Taking a deep breath, Bobby took it from him.

"Let’s go, Bobby. Let the fun start, man! Just say no… to the monotonous days!" There was an ironic expression in Darryl’s face as he spoke.

There was no turning back now. But as Bobby brought the cigarette to his lips, he heard a voice calling him from across the yard. Turning around he saw Annie walking up to him, with a frown.

"Later, man!" Darryl said as he took the joint away from Bobby and disappeared around the corner, followed by the others.

"Annie, what the hell are you thinking?" Bobby asked, angrily.

"What am I thinking? What about you?" Annie was mad. "You were going to smoke that crap! I was watching you!"

"I had to! They were testing me!"

"So you were going to try drugs! Are you crazy?"

"It was just one smoke, Annie!"

"What about the next time? What about if they decided to test you even further?"

This time, Bobby didn’t have an answer. He knew she was right. "I have to do this, Annie. We have to get to the bottom of this!"

Annie looked on the verge of tears. "I hated this idea from the start. I have a bad feeling about it! Please, Bobby, give it up!"

"I can’t." Bobby suddenly realized he was talking too loud. Janet Martin was staring at them from across the yard. He held her gaze for a moment, but he was too worried about Annie’s reaction to wonder about it. So he merely lowered his voice. "I have to bail you out!"

At the sound of his words, tears streamed down her face. "I already lost one best friend. I don’t want to lose you too." Annie threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. "Don’t do this, Bobby."

Bobby’s heart melted. He pulled her closer to him and whispered in her ear, "You aren’t ever going to lose me, you goose! I’ll be careful, I promise."

Annie didn’t answer. But in her chest her heart was heavy. She just held him closer.

The young boy smiled and enjoyed the feeling, despite the seriousness of the subject. His eyes drifted across the yard, and he noticed the attractive Biology teacher kept on watching them. His heart was pounding in his chest at the thought she might have heard his talk with Annie. If Janet Martin or any of the other teachers thought he was involved in the case, he might be in trouble. And if he revealed his undercover assignment to defend himself, he would ruin Annie’s only chance and probably get Trixie and Mart in trouble too.

But then Janet walked away, and Bobby’s breathing returned to normal. He was off the hook, at least for the moment.

 

Around Noon
White Plains Social Services Office

Joeanne rubbed her temples. It wasn’t even lunchtime and it was already an awful day. She had hardly slept for the past two nights, her boss was bugging her about Annie’s case and she had just returned from visiting a family living on the verge of misery, with four skinny, malnourished children, a sick mother and an unemployed father with an alcohol problem. Nothing she hadn’t seen before, but the last thing she wanted to see today. She was already in a bad mood and the fact that she knew she would have to describe the situation to the Services only made it worse. Why had she taken this job? Oh right, to help people! Was taking children away from their mother helping? She groaned. Things weren’t that simple and she knew it, but today she just couldn’t cope with it.

"Joeanne… Joeanne!" She started at the sound and looked up. Susan, one of her co-workers, had apparently been trying to get her attention for some time.

"Oh, Susan… I’m sorry! Is there something wrong?" She asked, sighing.

Susan folded her arms and smiled. "You tell me. There’s one gorgeous man asking for you. He says he’s Annie Dugan’s attorney."

Joeanne’s jaw dropped. Annie had a lawyer? But why? Molinson had pressed charges? Suddenly, she got it. It could only be one person. Feeling as if her legs had suddenly turned to jelly, she got up and walked to the lobby. There he was, wearing a suit and tie. What was he up to?

"You know it’s a crime to impersonate an attorney? As far as I know you haven’t taken the bar exam yet," she said as she walked up to him, feeling the need to be defiant.

Dan grinned. "And a good day to you too!"

She exhaled and closed her eyes for a few seconds. "I’m sorry. Hi, good morning. This hasn’t been an easy day and the last thing I needed right now was bad news about Annie." She rewarded him with a smile.

"That’s ok. I just said that because I didn’t want to get you in trouble." There was a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

Now she was even more confused. "Get me in trouble? What are you talking about?"

His smile broadened, lighting his tanned face. "I’m taking you out for a picnic and it may take a little longer than your average lunch hour."

"You’re what?" Joeanne shook her head, trying to figure out whether she had heard him right. "A picnic?"

Dan’s smile broadened. "Yes, but you better lower your voice. I even dressed up to make this seem professional! Don’t give us away!"

She sighed. "Look, Dan. Thanks, but I have a lot of work to do. This hasn’t been an easy day."

"Yeah, but you do have to eat. Come on, it won’t take that long." Something in Dan’s voice made her falter. She really needed a break. Finally she gave in.

"Ok, then. Let me get my purse," she said, avoiding his eyes. There were alarm bells ringing in her mind, but for once she ignored them.

Dan stepped outside as he waited for her, feeling completely out of breath. He had tried to play it cool but the effort drained him. This idea had brewed in his mind since Sunday, and he had wondered if he ever had the nerve to pull it through. He had, and now he knew there was no turning back. How had it gone from simply wanting to help Joeanne out to… this? Ever since the barbecue at Crabapple Farm, Joeanne seemed to be permanently in his thoughts. He smiled and shook his head as he hardly believed it himself. She was aggravating, infuriating, bitter and too damned touchy. But as he managed to dig further into her shell he discovered she was someone very special, the kind of person worth getting to know better. He didn’t know that many people that would just put their lives on hold for the sake of others or suffer immense pain without complaining. Yet, Joeanne did and it fascinated him, making him want to let her know he was there for her, whenever she needed it. And besides that, she was gorgeous.

"I’m ready." Joeanne said, startling him. He felt his cheeks growing hot, as he remembered the course his thoughts had taken.

"Oh, ok… Let’s go then!" He said, hoping she wouldn’t notice his embarrassment as he led her to the Jeep parked on the other side of the street.

"Isn’t this Jim’s car?" Joeanne asked.

Dan chuckled. "Yeah…I borrowed it. I hate cars and I never could bring myself to buy one."

"You hate cars? You, the city boy?" Joeanne seemed incredulous.

Her remark gave him the perfect opportunity to tease her. "So, there are things you don’t know after all." He had the pleasure of seeing her blush. "Well, let’s go then. Off to our picnic. I’ll just get rid of this tie." Dan untied the knot of the tie, threw it on the back seat and undid the first two buttons of the shirt. Joeanne watched him in silence, still trying to figure out what on earth he was up to.

"Where exactly are we going?" she finally asked, as they drove away from the downtown area.

"Far enough for us no one to notice our little white lie…to the new Sleepyside park, actually. But I couldn’t just go waltzing in with a picnic basket and saying I needed your help on a case, right?"

The smile on Dan’s face was irresistible enough for Joeanne to let out a short laugh. "And just why did you decide to take me out on a picnic? It could rain, you know?"

"Hey, don’t jinx it. It won’t rain. And I thought it would be fun, you know, just you and me and the ants." He glanced at her sideways. "Is it that hard to believe that I like spending time with you?"

"Actually, yes, it is." Joeanne sighed.

"Well, you better get used to it." Dan’s tone left no space for an argument and Joeanne wasn’t up to it either. But her pounding heart told her she could very well get used to it. And fast.

A few minutes later, Dan parked the car near the park. It had been built in a new, modern part of Sleepyside, mostly composed of residential areas. The park was an open, sunny place, with extensive lawns and an artificial pond. There were mainly children there, accompanied by young mothers or nannies and some elderly people sitting on the benches, and happily enjoying the early spring days.

"This is nice," Joeanne said as she looked around her. She couldn’t help the strange longing in her heart as she watched a blonde young woman playing with her baby on the grass.

Dan followed her eyes and then looked back at her. The look in her eyes left no doubt as to what was going on in her mind. And he couldn’t help a few images coming up in his own mind. Uh-oh, man, he thought, Stop it! Your imagination is running away with you.

Having trouble erasing the pictures completely, Dan walked to the back of the car and took the picnic basket out of the trunk. Miss Trask had always been a wonderful friend and hadn’t asked any questions when he had asked for that small favor. She had merely smiled. Of course he could have asked Mrs. Belden but then he was sure Mart would find out all about it. And wouldn’t that be fun? he thought with a grin as he and Joeanne walked towards a sunny spot, away from the more crowded areas.

"You even brought the blanket," Joeanne noticed.

"Sure. Do you think I want grass stains all over my suit?" There was a playful glint in his eyes. Dan unfolded the checkered blanket and spread it on the grass. Joeanne sat down and peeked into the basket.

"You didn’t cook all this, did you?" she asked with a frown.

"I could have, you know? Mr Maypenny taught me well." He sat down beside her, resting his elbow on his bent knee. "But I didn’t. Let’s just say I have friends in high places."

"From the monogram on this napkin I’d say that place is Manor House. That’s high all right." Joeanne chuckled.

He was happy to see the merry look on her face. "Sure is! That hill is really steep! Just try to ride a bike uphill."

She smiled and picked up a sandwich. There was a very becoming shade of pink on her cheeks.

"It’s nice to see you in a good mood," he stated.

"I shouldn’t be, you know? My boss has been all over me about Annie, and I have other difficult cases on my hands." A sudden shadow clouded her eyes.

"And how is Annie’s case?" He asked, in a more serious attitude.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Stopped, for the time being. That’s what’s bugging my boss. She says we can’t let this go much further. But since the police never pressed charges, there’s nothing we can do. If they do… Well, then Annie will be in trouble."

"They would stop the adoption process?"

"Yes, at least until the court’s decision. Depending on it she might even end up in a correctional facility."

"That would destroy her…" Dan couldn’t even imagine it.

"Dan, believe me, I’ll do everything I can to help her!" To his surprise, along with her passionate statement, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

Surprised, but pleased, he squeezed it back. "I know. That’s why you’re so good at what you do. I heard you already had some kind of commendation for your exceptional work, in spite of being in the Social Services for such a short while."

She blushed. "I was only doing what I’m supposed to do. But I am scared for Annie. I just hope you guys can come up with something." The subject diversion didn’t escape him and he didn’t try to push her further.

"We’re trying. In fact, I’m worried about it…" Dan sighed. "Bobby went undercover, to see if can infiltrate the gang."

"That’s incredibly dangerous… and foolish." Joeanne frowned.

"Tell me about it. But the thing is we really didn’t know what else to do. And we had to do something fast."

"But that might get Bobby into trouble too." The young woman seemed genuinely concerned.

"I know it’s risky, but I trust the kid. He knows best."

Joeanne’s face turned serious. "I thought that same thing once too."

He gulped. Slowly he reached out to brush back a lock of her hair. "You did your best. And that’s what we’re trying to do too. We’re on the look out. Besides, you’re with us now, and we can benefit from your experience…as awful as this may sound." Dan drew back his hand and waited for an answer. He really hoped she wouldn’t misunderstand this time. As he watched her, he saw her face go from her usual defensive expression to confusion and hesitation.

"Jo?" He asked after a few moment’s silence.

Finally, she looked up at him. "I want to ask you something, Dan…"

He cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. "Go for it."

"Why are you doing all this? I mean, taking me out, making friends with me, wanting me to share my problems with you… What does this all mean? Are you just trying to… benefit from my experience," she pronounced the words with irony. "Or do you, for some reason I can’t understand, really enjoy my company?"

Dan bit his lip. One wrong word and she might run away for good. But his wildly beating heart was making it hard for him to think straight. Swallowing hard, he moved closer to her and held her hand in his own, trying to find the courage to look up at her. When he did, he saw that she was holding back her tears. And when he spoke there was more emotion in his voice than he expected. "Joeanne, there are many things that I don’t understand either, but I don’t really try to find a reason for them. All I know is that I feel good when I’m with you and I wish you’d feel the same way. Your sister and Annie’s situation have nothing to do with it. Please believe me, Jo."

"I’m trying to… It’s just I’ve never been very good in trusting people."

He squeezed her hand. "You can trust me."

She smiled, shyly. "I think I’m beginning to."

Dan suddenly found himself at a loss for words. But before he even had time to speak, a voice behind him made him start.

"Joeanne?"

The young woman looked up, beyond Dan and her eyes widened in amazement as she drew her hand back from his. "Dad?" Dad, hi! I wasn’t… What are doing around here?"

Oh, Lord! This can’t be happening! was the thought in Dan’s mind as he quickly got up and turned to see John Darnell for the very first time.

The man standing in front of him was a tall, lean man, his shoulders a little hunched from hard work and a lot of trouble. There were deep lines all across a prematurely aged face, framed by a thick mane of grayish air. But his eyes were still as dark and as piercing as his daughter’s. And right now they were fixed right into Dan’s own eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Dan held his gaze and waited for Joeanne to introduce them.

"Dad…This is Dan Mangan." Joeanne said, not even expecting her father to answer her question, as she walked towards him to greet him. "He’s a friend of Jim Frayne’s."

"Ah!" John Darnell’s expression seemed to lighten up and he took a step towards Dan, holding out his hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Sighing in relief, Dan reached out and shook the older man’s hand, with a smile. Silently, he thanked the heavens above for Jim’s reputation. "The pleasure is all mine. I was looking forward to meeting you, after hearing so much about you, sir."

"Well, I would like to say I had heard about you too, but by now you must know my daughter keeps a lot to herself." There was a playful twinkle in the man’s eyes.

"Dan and I are working on a case together… He works for the DA’s office." Joeanne’s rush to explain herself didn’t escape Dan. Or John Darnell.

"I see," the man smiled, knowingly. "This park is a nice place, isn’t it?" He asked.

"Yes, but… What are you doing here, Dad?" She asked again, trying to change the subject.

"I’m working here, honey. It’s a new contract, right across the park, in that construction site." John Darnell pointed at a spot near by. "We’re building a few more houses. People are looking for places like this more and more. Young families mainly. It’s a nice place to live."

"I couldn’t agree more. As a matter of fact, Honey Wheeler and Brian Belden are moving here, after they get married" Dan said, trying to have his share in the conversation. "Places like this are havens."

"You’re right, son, they are. And once all of Sleepyside was a haven too…" Dan saw the shadow clouding the man’s eyes.

"It still is, Dad." Joeanne’s voice sounded tense and cold.

Her father patted her shoulder and then asked, "And how is your friend Jim, Mr Mangan? Haven’t seen him in a while. Or any of the girls."

"Oh, please, call me Dan. They’re fine."

"They’re nice kids. Tell them I said hello. Well, sweetie, I have to go." John Darnell bent to quickly kiss his daughter on the top of her head. "Enjoy your picnic." He started to walk away, but then stopped and turned back to them. "Why don’t you come over to the farm for dinner on Thursday, Dan? Joeanne’s coming over and it would be nice to have a new face around."

"Dad, I’m sure Dan has better things to do than attending family dinners." Joeanne blushed to the root of her hair.

"Oh, I’d love to go!" Dan knew he had sounded a bit too eager, but he couldn’t stop himself.

John Darnell smiled. "That’s settled, then. See you then." And he walked away, leaving Dan and Joeanne awkwardly staring at each other.

"You could have just said you had other plans, you know." Joeanne lowered her eyes, her cheeks still flushed.

"But I don’t. And I really would like to go…if it’s ok with you, that is." Dan gazed at her, expectantly.

She looked back up at him, apparently finding it hard to believe what he’d just said. "My dad’s place is not exactly Crabapple Farm, you know?"

Dan grinned. "Well, I still think my favourite place in the world was Mr. Maypenny’s old cottage in the woods. I’m sure you can’t beat that."

Joeanne smiled too, despite her obvious discomfort. "Well, you won’t be able to say I didn’t warn you."

Chuckling, Dan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her back to the blanket.

 

2 PM

Sleepyside Police Station

"Believe me, Trixie, when I say I’d love to throw Jonesy back in jail. But I can’t do it!" Captain Molinson paced his office, his brow furrowed.

"Trespassing is a crime, Captain." Trixie said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yes, but we don’t have proof it was him."

"Bobby saw him. And there were the cigarette butts and the graffiti…"

"Bobby thinks he saw him. And there are plenty of people, I’m sure, smoking that particular brand of cigarettes… The graffiti is vandalism, but we have no proof it was him."

"So what do you suggest? We just stand around and wait for him to do something serious?" Trixie’s temper was about to burst.

Molinson turned to the young woman and sighed. "Trixie, I’ll keep an eye on him. That’s all I can do right now. Just try to stay out of his way in the meantime. And don’t go looking for trouble!"

Trixie moaned and ran her fingers through her hair. "Captain, I think he’ll do everything to keep us in his way!"

He nodded. "I think you’re right. But it’s the best we can do right now. Just tell that red-headed boyfriend of yours to keep his temper to himself."

Trixie’s eyes widened. I’m praying he does, Captain, she thought, I’m praying really hard.

"And have you kids made any progress with the drug case?" Molinson rubbed his forehead. "I can hardly believe I’m asking this… I’m actually going to Trixie Belden for help!"

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Trixie couldn’t help a smile. "This really is an event, Captain."

Molinson cleared his throat. "Anyway, have you any leads?"

She shook her head. "Unfortunately no. But we’re working on it."

"I’m not even going to ask what you’re up to. It’s best that I don’t know. And remember the only reason I want your help is because the kids won’t talk to the police. I just advise you to always make sure Annie is not left by herself. If someone is trying to frame her, it will be harder to do something against her if she has witnesses to her actions."

"We’ll make sure of that, sir."

"Trix, I’m doing my best here, but the pressure for results is rising. The mayor needs a culprit. He’s been selling Sleepyside as a haven to bring new people in and this can ruin it for him. I’ll need something soon or Annie will be in trouble."

"I know. We’ll do everything we can." Trixie got up to leave, but then changed her mind and turned back at the police officer. "Captain, thank you for trusting us. It means a lot to me… To all of us, especially to Annie."

Molinson tried to sound carefree, but Trixie could hear the emotion in his voice. "Well, kid, after a while you kind of grow on people. And the years have taught me you’re a good judge of character. Go on, get out of here. Go get us some leads."

****

When Trixie left the police station, her heart was heavy. So much was going on, so much was going so terribly wrong! It shouldn’t be like this. Everyone should be concentrating on Honey and Brian’s wedding and not on all these problems! Jonesy was back in town, Annie was under suspicion of drug dealing, Bobby was getting himself in danger… It was just too much! Besides, Trixie feared she was neglecting her duties as Honey’s best friend and bride’s maid. Sighing, she ran her finger through her silky curls and headed for Wimpy’s, where she was supposed to meet Jim for lunch.

Immersed in her thoughts, Trixie was completely distracted as she walked down the street. But as she turned a corner, she suddenly bumped into someone.

"Oh, I’m so sorry…" was her automatic apology, even before she looked up. When she did, her heart skipped a beat. The blond man standing in front of her was gazing at her, a strange, menacing expression in his eyes. Small, narrow eyes that struck a chord of remembrance deep within her. But she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. "I’m sorry," she repeated, trying hard to understand what was so familiar about the skinny man.

Clenching his teeth, as if to stop himself from answering her, the man walked away without a word. Trixie stood there watching him for a few moments, frowning, but then resumed her walk. There was too much going on to worry about the man’s rudeness.

 

2.30 PM
Sleepyside High

"Robert! Robert Belden!"

Bobby startled at the sound of his name. Only one of his teachers insisted on using his full name. So when he turned to face Janet Martin, he already had a pretty good idea what this was about.

"Robert, I was wondering if you have a minute?" The blonde teacher smiled at him.

"Sure. Did I do something wrong?" The boy asked, a little nervous.

"Oh no!" She laughed. "You’ve always been such a good boy!" Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, Janet led him away from the crowd. "But I have been worried about you."

"Why?" Bobby glanced sideways at her. Something in her tone was making his skin crawl. Don’t be a baby, he scolded himself. She’s just trying to figure out why Annie was so worked up.

"Well, I’ve noticed you hardly relate to your class mates. You spend every minute with Annie Dugan or the Lynch twins."

"They’re my closest friends." Bobby shrugged, wondering what she was trying to get at.

"Yes, I understand." Janet stopped and turned to him, patting his arm. "I just think maybe you should expand your horizons. Meet other people, go places. Such an intelligent, handsome boy like you deserves to know the world, to experience things." Bobby could swear he saw her eyes glimmer.

"But I do that. We have lots of activities. We go riding, swimming, we do community work…"

"Who are we?" Janet interrupted him. "Your brothers and sister? That club of yours?" She placed her hands on his shoulders. "It’s ok to be different from your brothers. To want other things. Just think about it! And if you need to talk you can come to me. Just to talk… Or if you feel you need anything else." With that she walked away, leaving Bobby standing there, with his mouth hanging open, not really knowing what to think.

 

18.30 PM
Sleepyside High Parking Lot

"Come on, Mart!" Trixie exclaimed as she looked back to her brother. "It’s late as it is."

"Where’s the fire, Trix?" Mart grinned. "You had lunch with Jim, you can’t be missing him that much!"

She made a face at him. "As if you don’t spend every free moment with Diana. Dad’s even said something about letting your room for rent. After fumigating it, of course."

He pinched her arm, playfully. "Very funny, sis, very funny! Let’s go then, I’m hungry!"

Trixie and Mart had been working late that day. Actually, Trixie just needed some time alone to think and since Mart was staying in school a while longer to grade some papers, she had decided to wait for him.

"I wonder if there will be anything left to eat when we get home," Mart said, mocking true concern. His profound interest in food was a known mark of his character.

"Mart, Moms always cooks as if for a whole regiment. There’ll be plenty left for…" Trixie suddenly stopped talking and froze in her steps.

"Hey, weren’t you in a hurry?" Mart stopped to turn to his sister and frowned as he saw her expression. Following her eyes, he saw two people standing and talking in a secluded area of the parking lot.

Walking back to where Trixie was standing, Mart asked: "What’s up?"

"I’m not sure…" Trixie rubbed her nose. "Isn’t that Janet Martin?"

Mart looked more attentively at the pair and nodded. "Yes, I believe it is. And who’s that with her? Her boyfriend?"

His sister shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe. The thing is I think I saw that guy earlier today."

Mart groaned. "Oh, and I’m sure there must be something very mysterious about him!"

Trixie glared at him and punched his shoulder. "No, you idiot! There is something familiar about him! I’ve seen him before! Before today I mean… I just can’t figure out where."

"So?"

She moaned in despair and pulled him down the front steps of the building. "Oh, forget it. Let’s grab some dinner!"

 

 

Chapter Six

Wednesday, 3 AM
Crabapple Farm

Trixie woke up for the umpteenth time that night. Something was bothering her, but she just couldn’t figure out what it was. This time, she had had the strangest dream. Something about eating strawberries in the clubhouse.

I guess I just ate too much strawberry cheesecake! All that sugar must be getting to me, she thought as she got up to warm up some milk. But the weird feeling in the pit of her stomach didn’t leave her as she climbed down the stairs. She hadn’t felt in a while. It usually came to her before a breakthrough on a case. But what could it be?

The blonde young woman warmed up the milk and then leant against the kitchen’s doorframe, staring into the night. In the moonlight, she could see the silhouette of the kitchen coop and the quiet orchard beyond it. Taking a deep breath, Trixie recalled the events of the day. She had begun feeling strange when she bumped into that man, outside the police station.

As she remembered the event, she felt goose bumps all over. His eyes… She couldn’t forget those tiny eyes. Weasel eyes. The moment the words formed in her mind, her eyes fell on the strawberry print dishcloth hanging over the sink. Her heart almost stopped and she dropped the glass, the sound of shattering glass filling the silent kitchen. Looking down at the glistening pieces of glass at her feet, Trixie finally remembered. The diamond hidden in the strawberry shaped needle pillow, the man that looked like a weasel, his menacing eyes staring at her. So many years before and again today… Only hours before.

Trixie leant against the wall, trembling. How could this be? Were all of her nightmares coming back to haunt her? Taking deep, slow breaths, Trixie tried to slow down the rhythm of her pounding heart. And she wondered if she could be imagining things. But no. That little voice inside told her she was right.

After cleaning up the mess she’d made, Trixie climbed the stairs and headed for Mart’s room, her legs still trembling. She knocked on the door but there was no answer. Leaning against the door, she could hear Mart’s low snoring.

I have to talk to someone or I’ll go mad, she thought. Carefully, she opened the door and let herself in. Mart was fast asleep and didn’t wake up when she sat by his side on the bed. She had to call him and give him a nudge or two, before he opened his eyes, still half asleep.

"What…?" He asked, drowsily. "Trix? What time is it?"

"It’s still dawn. I’m sorry, but I needed to talk to you!" She whispered.

"And can’t this wait till morning?" Mart motioned to turn to his other side and go back to sleep.

"No!" Trixie grabbed his arm and forced him to turn back to her. "Mart, I remembered! I know who that man is!"

He groaned. "Why can’t I have a normal sister? One that would let me sleep and not wake me with her wild fantasies about some guy!"

"Mart, I’m serious! That guy is Dick!"

"For Pete’s sake, Trixie! Why do you have to call the guy names?"

Trixie was about to lose her patience and had to count to ten not to yell at him. "Stop it, Mart! His name is Dick! Remember? Dick?"

"Dick who?" Suddenly, the word seemed to click in his mind and he quickly sat up. "Oh, hell, no way! You mean Dick, diamond-stealing-Wheeler-chauffer-weasel-eyes Dick?"

"Yes! You do have a brain after all!" Trixie sighed. "Dick the Dip is back in town too!"

"Are they holding a crook convention in town?" Mart asked with a frown.

"I don’t know. This all can be just a cruel coincidence but it sure is strange. And the strangest thing is that Janet Martin was talking to him!"

"Trix, are you sure that was him? It was dark and…"

She didn’t even let him finish. "Yes, Mart, I am sure!"

"But still, he may have been rehabilitated."

"Yeah, right, and he’s also the Easter Bunny’s best friend! Do you actually believe that?"

Mart shook his head and sighed. "We better call Captain Molinson and let him know. And we have to call for an emergency meeting of the BWG’s."

She agreed. "I’ll do it first thing in the morning. I better try to get some sleep. I need all my senses functioning."

"Trix," Mart called as she was about to leave his room. "Do you think Dick’s return is in any way connected to Jonesy’s?"

She shrugged. "You know I don’t believe in coincidences, but this time it frightens me to think it may be so. I just hope this is just some bad planet alignment!"

"What were you saying about the Easter Bunny a while ago, Trix?" Mart ran his fingers through his hair, his brow furrowed.

"I said I hoped, I didn’t say I believed it." Trix closed the door behind her and walked slowly towards her room. The puzzle was slowly taking shape and she really didn’t like the looks of it.

 

6 PM
Bob-White Clubhouse

Trixie’s news about Dick fell like a bomb. There was complete silence in the clubhouse as the BWG’s digested the words. Only Dan, Di and Annie seemed a little puzzled.

"Guys, I remember you mentioning that name, but I can’t quite place it." Dan said, hoping for enlightenment.

Mart seemed to be the only one still able to speak, no doubt because this wasn’t new to him or merely because he never ran out of words. "The diamond case, remember? The guy posed as a chauffer for the Wheelers because he watched as Honey and Trixie found the diamond in the clubhouse, where he’d lost it…"

Dan interrupted him with a gesture. "After a fight with his partner. I remember now."

"Are you sure about that, Trix? I mean, it’s been a long time." Honey was hoping this was just a big mistake.

"I wish I wasn’t sure, but I will never forget those eyes. And if you’d seen the way he looked at me in town…" Trixie shook her head and her curls bounced. "That man hated me! It was Dick, all right!"

"Lord, Trixie!" Brian exclaimed. "They had to be thinking of you when they said ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’!"

"I didn’t exactly call them back here! Or do you think I want to hold the Trixie Belden’s Enemies Ten Year Reunion?" Trixie couldn’t help the bitterness in her voice.

"That would be an explanation." Mart couldn’t resist making a joke, not even when the subject was so serious. "Soon, we’ll be seeing Pierre Lontard walking around. Or the fake Uncle Monty!"

Di shivered by his side. "Don’t even say that, Mart. I get chills all over!"

"I was only trying to lighten things up, guys!" The young blond man’s smile disappeared as he glanced at the pale faces around him.

"There’s not much lightening up to do, Mart." Jim’s freckles were very much visible as he spoke, despite the almost permanent tan he had from so much time outside. "I just wish we could put all these pieces together."

Honey took a deep breath and tried to collect herself enough to bring her practical side afloat. "So, let’s see what we have. We know Dick is back in town, as well as Jonesy, but we don’t know if they have anything to do with each other; Trixie and Mart saw Janet Martin talking to Dick outside the school, but we don’t know if he was merely asking her for directions." Honey stopped and added, "I don’t think it was the case, but still there’s a chance this was just a coincidence."

Brian smiled at his wife to be and caressed her hand. "Go on, sweetheart. We really need someone who can still think straight right now."

She smiled at the encouragement and went on. "Then we have the drug dealing case at school and the fact that someone is trying to frame Annie. The question is, is there a connection between all these factors?"

"I have one more for you." Bobby said, a little shyly. "I wasn’t even going to mention this, because I wasn’t sure if it meant something or not, but now I think it does. Ms. Martin came to me yesterday, saying she was worried I wasn’t experiencing enough of the world and that it was ok to be different from my brothers and sister. She said I could come to her if I ever needed anything."

"Janet? She said that? Whatever for?" Trixie folded her arms across her chest. "This is getting weirder by the minute!"

"She overheard me and Annie talking about…" Bobby blushed and cast a sideways glance at the girl sitting beside him. "About me joining those guys."

"She should be advising you to stay away from them, not the opposite." Brian frowned.

"Well, I don’t really like her all that much, and she did say some pretty nasty things about the BWGs, but still it’s hard for me to believe she might have something to do with drug dealing," Mart stated, as he got up and paced the room, his nervousness finally showing.

"Right now, there’s no other explanation." Trixie got up herself and walked towards her younger brother. "Maybe you should talk to her and see if you can get something more… tangible!"

"I’m not sure what tangible is, but I guess I know what you mean." Bobby grinned.

"Guys, I think I might have something for you too." Dan spoke for the first time since his question about Dick. This idea had been brewing in his mind and he had to let them know. "I went to see Sally Darnell on Sunday. Joeanne and I thought she might know something that could help us out."

"So, that’s where you were all day. With Joeanne!" Mart’s smirk didn’t leave any doubts as to what he was thinking.

Dan pretended not to notice and went on. "She mentioned a man, the guy that apparently was in charge of the dealing around Sleepyside. Sally says he was known as Dick. She doesn’t remember his last name, but still… It’s too much of a coincidence."

"Oh, Lord! That means he has been right under our noses for over two years and we didn’t know it!" Trixie moaned.

"Yes, but the question is: Why did he decide to show himself right now?" Dan asked.

And once more the clubhouse was silenced.

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