*contains adult subject matter and violence
Here is another "thriller" it’s kind of serious subject matter and I hope it is okay with everyone. Please let me know if you enjoy this story. Oh, and so far, I don’t have a universe, I think all the stories could be from different universes! I hope that’s okay too.
Once again, I am not getting paid anything from these stories, I have borrowed these characters and I just love them. That’sall!!!
Too Close to Home
by Kay Lynn
Chapter 1
"I wish I didn’t have so much to do today," sixteen-year-old Trixie Belden said to herself as she walked up the driveway leading to Crabapple Farm.
"The first onset of mental instability is usually manifested in one talking to oneself," said a voice from behind her.
Trixie turned to face her brother Mart Belden. "Oh Mart, leave me alone. I’ve got dusting to do, I have to entertain Bobby while Moms makes dinner, and I have a ton of homework." She sighed. "I have no time for me and I certainly don’t feel like having you tease me."
"Well, it could be that for a small price one certain elder sibling might help with the Bobby part of it. But--" he said, holding up his hand as he saw the interested look on her face, "keep in mind, I said, only for a price."
"Oh, I can’t afford to pay you," she said brushing him off, totally annoyed.
Trixie didn’t always complain, but she had something she wanted to do. It was her most favorite thing in the world: to solve a mystery. It had kind of fallen into her lap so to speak and she hadn’t told anyone about it.
After going into the kitchen and speaking to Moms and Bobby, Trixie grabbed a handful of homemade oatmeal cookies and a glass of milk and headed upstairs to her room. As she sat at her desk, munching a cookie and staring out the window, hardly noticing the lovely spring flower garden Moms had planted, Trixie mulled over the events of last night.
She was on the drama team at school this year. Not that she cared that much for drama, but Honey and Diana had decided to take the class and she took it for extra credit and to hang out with them. Honey and Diana both had major parts in the musical Oklahoma while Trixie was a stagehand.
Last night, after their first dress rehearsal, Trixie stayed late because she had to help take down all the props. Honey and Diana had left about an hour earlier. After finishing late, Trixie stopped by her locker. When she came out of the school, everyone was gone.
Well, what do I do now? she thought, as she searched through her purse for change to make a phone call. She dug out enough change to call Mart, but at the last minute decided to call a cab. She knew Moms would have put dinner away already and Trixie was starving. She'd have a quick hamburger at Wimpy's and then call Mart to pick her up there.
As she stood in front of the dark, lonely school waiting for a cab, she thought she heard a noise at the side of the school. It almost sounded like a muffled scream. She looked around curiously. She was about to investigate, but right at that moment her cab drove up. As the cab pulled away, Trixie glanced back through the window. Someone stepped out of the shadows where the hedge of bushes grew in profusion. As he stepped under the outdoor lighting, she could see the person was dressed all in black. She was shocked to realize that he was also wearing a ski mask.
The next day at school she expected to hear that the school had been broken into or the computers had been hacked or the place had been vandalized. But she had heard nothing.
What was he up to last night? she wondered.
Trixie changed her clothes and went downstairs to start the dusting. She was still mulling over the strange incident of last night when she heard the phone in the kitchen ring. Moms answered and Trixie momentarily stopped dusting to hear to whom Moms was talking.
"Why certainly, Miss Trask," Moms said.. "No, she doesn’t need to stay alone, just send her right on over here. We would be glad to have her."
I wonder if Honey’s coming to stay? Trixie thought excitedly, after hearing that it was Miss Trask on the phone.
"Trixie?" called Moms.
"Yes ma’am," said Trixie, coming into the kitchen where her mother was.
"You need to change the sheets and bed linens on the other bed in your room. Honey’s coming for the weekend."
"That’s great!" Trixie rushed up the stairs to prepare her room for Honey’s visit.
As Trixie put fresh linens on the bed, she heard a car drive up outside. She went to the window and watched as Tom Delanoy climbed out of the driver’s side of the Wheelers' sedan and helped Honey retrieve her luggage from the back seat. Trixie smiled faintly as she saw Mart rush out the door to help. She briefly experienced a moment of déjà vu as she remembered a few years ago when Honey was coming to stay with her and Mart and Brian rushed outside dressed in their best clothes to help Honey with her luggage.
That was an exciting time, mused Trixie, lost in a daydream. That was when we first met Dan Mangan and we thought he was a criminal. We were working on the ice show and Bobby got lost in a catamount cave.
Chapter 2
Trixie’s evening went better than she at first thought it would. Mart had actually helped with Bobby and Honey helped her do the dusting and other housework while Moms made dinner.
"I didn’t realize how hungry I was," Honey said as she smelled the frying chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, along with the lemon meringue pies Moms was baking.
"Crabapple Farm has that effect on people," laughed Trixie, as she dusted the mantle on the fireplace.
"You’re right," Honey laughingly reflected. "Just look at the appetite Mart has."
"Speaking of Mart," Trixie said, turning to look at Honey. "Since Diana is out of town tonight with her folks, maybe he’ll let us use his car to go to a movie at the Cameo. That new one’s playing, the one we talked about. If not we’re going to have quite a boring evening just staying home."
"I never get bored at your house, Trixie, but I would love to see that movie. If I have enough money with me." She giggled. Even though Honey was rich, she rarely asked for money from her parents, resulting in her having to count change or pay for things later when she went anywhere.
"Oh man, I forgot!" exclaimed Trixie, slapping her forehead. "I have to do the dinner dishes tonight. By the time we get through it’ll be too late to go to the movies."
"Oh Trixie, it doesn’t take that long and besides, I’ll help you," Honey indulgently told her.
After a delicious dinner, the girls set about clearing the table and putting away dinner. Mart came into the room took out the remainder of lemon pie, which the girls had just put away in the refrigerator.
"Don’t eat that, it’s mine," said Trixie, hitting him with the dishtowel. "I was too full from dinner to have my piece and you polished off at least half the other pie by yourself." She turned back toward the sink. "By the way, Mart, can we use your car?"
"Well, I never," said Mart, shoving the pie away from him, in a mock gesture. "I can’t have your piece of pie, but you want to drive my car. What nerve you have, little sister."
"Well, if you’ll allow us to use the car, I might consider letting you have the pie."
"I might think about it," said Mart, staring off into space, as if deep in thought. "For the pie and you taking over my dishwashing duties and Bobby-sitting duties next week, I might consider letting you drive my automobile."
"You drive a hard bargain," Honey laughingly told Mart, as she reached up in the cabinet to put away the stack of plates she had just finished drying.
"Gosh Mart," said Trixie sarcastically. "Why don’t you just ask me to do something difficult?"
"I’m joking, I’m joking," he told her holding up his hands in mock surrender. "You can use the car provided you bring it back with as much gas in it as you left here with and no dents or dings." Mart’s car was his pride and joy. It was a small, foreign-made economy car, which he bought well used, but he took care of it like it was a Rolls Royce
As Trixie and Honey were up in Trixie’s room later getting ready to go to the movies, Trixie told her what she had been bursting at the seams about all afternoon. "Something happened at the school last night, Honey. I just wonder what."
"Oh, my gosh, Trixie, I think I know," said Honey worriedly, as she studied her reflection in the mirror.
"What?" asked Trixie curiously, combing her blonde curls and trying to make them stay in some semblance of order.
"Oh Trixie," said Honey, "it’s really bad. The reason I know is because Diana told me. You know that new girl that just started our school a few months ago, the one named Serena Jennings?"
"Oh yeah," said Trixie, "she’s really nice. She and Diana have become good friends."
"But Trixie," Honey continued, turning to look Trixie in the eyes, "you cannot tell a soul, because Diana told me in confidence.
"Oh, Honey, you know I would never tell anyone."
"Well," Honey continued, her eyes growing wide with fear. "She was assaulted last night."
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Trixie. "Where did that happen?"
"That's just it," Honey said, sitting down on the bed. "It happened at school. Right there on the school grounds."
"Oh, Honey, I think I may have heard her scream," Trixie gasped. "And I bet that person I saw coming out of the bushes in the ski mask was the rapist."
"I know," said Honey. "Earlier in the evening we offered her a lift home, but she said she had homework to finish up before she left the school. One of the teachers let her use the key to the study hall room. She was going to go ahead and finish it there, because she has no reference books at home. That was the last time we saw her before it happened. Anyway, I think on our way to the movies tonight, you should stop and tell Sergeant Molinson what you know."
"Oh Honey, no," Trixie said adamantly. "I couldn’t tell him anything. I’m sure Serena has told them about a guy dressed in black and wearing a ski mask."
She didn’t tell Honey, but the truth was she didn’t want Sergeant Molinson to tell her to stay away from this case. She had every intention of solving it. "After the movie tonight," Trixie suggested, "let’s go to the school and try to find some clues."
"Trixie Belden, are you crazy?" Honey asked her, almost angrily. "That would be dangerous, don’t you know that? We’re talking about someone who is really sick. This is one time, Trixie, that you really need to leave this to the police department and their detectives. It’s just too dangerous." Honey looked at Trixie and saw that faraway look in her eyes that she knew so well.
Honey sighed.
Chapter 3
"I love Brad Pitt," said Honey dreamily, as she and Trixie came out of the Cameo and walked toward Mart’s car.
"I know," laughed Trixie, "the movie doesn’t even have to be good. It just has to have him in it." She slid into the driver’s seat and put the key into the ignition. To her dismay, the car didn't start. "Mart’s going to kill me!"
She imagined all kinds of scenarios, like having to leave the car here, someone stealing it, etc. She once again tried to start it but with no success. Trixie popped the hood and climbed out of the driver’s seat to see if she could tell anything when she looked under the hood. She knew it was wishful thinking because she knew almost nothing about cars.
She and Honey had their heads stuck under the hood. They both jumped when a male voice asked, "Is there anything I can help you ladies with?"
Honey and Trixie turned to see a gorgeous blonde guy walking towards them. He was probably about a year or two older than they were.
"I can’t seem to start my car," said Trixie.
"Well, let me take a quick look," he said, as he leaned under the hood.
"Be my guest," Trixie told him. He’s very easy on the eyes, Trixie thought as she turned to smile at Honey.
"Oh, this wire is just a little loose," he said. "Try it now."
Trixie jumped back in the driver’s seat and Honey got in on the passenger side. The car fired right up.
"That happens sometimes," he told them, while leaning in the driver's side window.
"Thanks," said Trixie, looking into his electric blue eyes. "I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t of came by. This is my brother’s car and he would kill me if I left it here."
"Which brother? Mart or Brian?" he asked.
"Oh, you know my brothers?" she said curious.
"Yeah," he replied, averting his eyes. "We’ve met. I’ve met you before, too."
"Oh," said Trixie, thinking he must be mistaken, because she wouldn’t forget meeting someone who looked like him. "I don’t recall meeting you."
"Well, it wasn’t exactly under the best of circumstances," he said, with a drop dead gorgeous smile that Trixie thought had probably caused many a girl’s heart to melt.
"Who are you?" Trixie asked after a few moments.
"I’m Dylan Thompson," he said. "My nickname used to be Snipe."
Trixie was too stunned to reply. This good-looking, well-groomed guy looked nor acted anything like the hoodlum boy that dumped her and Bobby in the snow that night over two years ago, robbing them of the antique lap desk that Mrs. Vanderpoel had given them. As he looked across the car toward Honey, he smiled; she shyly smiled back at him.
"Well, we have to go. Thanks for fixing the car," Trixie said, giving him a cold stare. She closed the door and drove off.
"Trixie, you were rude to him!" Honey told her as they were driving toward home. "He fixed your car. If he hadn’t come along, you would be calling Mart and explaining why you couldn’t bring his car home."
"Honey, do you remember what he did?" asked Trixie.
"Oh yes," said Honey, "I remember it well, but he went to reform school over that and he paid for it."
"Oh Honey, you just don’t know how it felt that night, how cold I was, how scared Bobby and I were."
"I understand what you’re saying Trixie, but everyone deserves a second chance," Honey replied, a stubborn set to her chin.
The next morning at breakfast, the headline in the Sleepyside Sun read "Girl Attacked At High School". Of course, it didn’t give the name of the girl; it just told what happened. Trixie left her place at the table and stood looking over her father’s shoulder as he read the story aloud.
"'Thursday night, a sixteen-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at Sleepyside High School. Police believe this incident is directly related to another assault that happened a month and a half ago also at the school. In this recent incident, as in the other, the girl had stayed at school after hours. She was grabbed around the neck as she came out the side entrance door. She was dragged into the bushes and the suspect brandished a knife that was put to her throat and she was told to cooperate or be killed. She described the man as wearing all black and a ski mask. If you have any information regarding this incident, please call Investigator Lanz at the Sleepyside Police Department.'
"You know, this incident just strikes too close to home," said Trixie’s father soberly, as he put down the newspaper. "Helen, when we were growing up here and when our children were small, things like this never happened. Trixie and Honey, I want you two to be extra careful until this sick person is caught."
"Oh, we will, Mr. Belden," said Honey, remembering last night when Trixie wanted to go to the school and search for clues.
"I just don’t think the Sleepyside police are doing everything they can to catch this guy," said Trixie, staring off into space.
"Young lady!" her father said sternly. "I’ve seen that look in your eyes before and it usually means you are about to go off and do something totally crazy! Well, let me just warn you that unless you want to be grounded for life, don’t even think about it. Stay out of this-- it’s over your head!"
Trixie jumped as if jolted out of her reverie by an electrical shock. She didn’t think she had ever seen her father so upset. He had warned her about things before, but never like this.
After the outburst, the Beldens and Honey finished breakfast hurriedly. It was a somber mood that morning, and no one felt much like talking. Honey and Trixie were the first to excuse themselves from the table.
After they had left, Mr. Belden turned to Mart. "Mart, I want you to keep an extremely close eye on those two till this sick person is caught. Watch your sister. If she has to stay late for any reason, I want you to stay, too."
"When that incident happened the other night," Mrs. Belden said worriedly, "Trixie was at the school staying late. It could’ve easily been her. She was standing out in front of the school all alone, waiting for a cab."
"Don’t worry, Moms and Dad," said Mart, reaching across the table to lay his hand on his mother’s. "I’ll be on Trixie like a hound dog on the trail of a rabbit. She won't get out of my sight."
Mr. and Mrs. Belden wished they could feel more assured, but they didn’t.
Chapter 4
The next week ended in a rush of activities. There was play practice, but in light of the recent events on campus the school administrators made certain everyone left at the same time and no one was alone. Trixie heard Dylan Thompson had started school this same week, but she never ran into him anywhere at school. She chalked that up to the fact that his classes must be on the other side of the school and he must have a different lunchtime than she did.
It was Friday night. Mart was getting ready to go out on a date with Diana, Trixie’s parents were going out to dinner at Glen Road Inn and Bobby had gone to spend the night at the Lynches'. As her parents were about to leave, Moms told her, "Trixie, there’s a casserole in the refrigerator if you get hungry. If you like, you can invite Honey over."
"Uh, Moms?" Trixie said. "If Honey doesn’t mind, can I spend the night over at Manor House?"
"Sure, Trixie, you haven’t stayed over in awhile and you’ve hardly had time for yourself lately. I’ll take over your chores for tomorrow so you can sleep in."
"Thanks Moms," Trixie said, giving her a hug.
Trixie quickly packed some overnight things and then phoned Honey to invite herself over as she often did.
"Hello," Honey answered the phone breathlessly.
"How would you like some company tonight?" asked Trixie.
"Well, Trixie," Honey hesitated. "You know you’re always welcome here. If you want to come over and wait for me, that's fine. I’ll be home around eleven."
"Where are you going?" Trixie asked in surprise..
"I have a date."
"Oh." Trixie was puzzled. She and Honey were supposed to be dating Brian and Jim exclusively now and she knew the two of them wouldn’t be coming home this weekend. "At risk of being nosy," said Trixie, "may I ask with whom?"
"I’m going out with Dylan Thompson," Honey answered firmly, as if she expected Trixie to lecture her. "Listen, I have to go, he’s picking me up soon."
Trixie hung up in disappointment, shock and worry. Dejectedly, she went in the living room and plopped down on the couch. She picked up one of the couch pillows and hugged it to her. I can’t believe she is so…so innocent and gullible and naïve! This guy is no good, she evidently has forgotten what happened when we were getting ready for the antique show.
Suddenly, Trixie forgot her anger and began to feel concern for Honey. It dawned on her that Dylan Thompson had shown up at the same time that these bad things were happening in Sleepyside. Trixie remembered hearing that he came into town about two days before the first rape, though he had just started school last week. I hope Honey’s safe, she worried.
Trixie spent a boring evening at home. She flipped through the television channels. She finally went into the kitchen for dinner. "Casserole. I hate casserole," she said as she moved things around in the refrigerator, searching for whatever. She didn’t really hate casserole; she was just in a really bad mood.
Saturday dawned bright and clear. Trixie bounced out of bed, forgetting the night before. She planned to quickly get her chores done and then go to Manor House for horseback riding. That always took her mind off things. After the chores were finished, she happily ran up the trail to Honey’s house. As she approached the stable, she heard voices. She recognized the sound of Honey’s laughter and she heard a masculine voice.
When she arrived at the stable, she sprang through the doors, prepared to greet Honey and whoever was with her. When she saw who it was, she stopped dead in her tracks. Honey and Dylan were saddling up Lady and Starlight up to go riding.
"Oh, I didn’t realize you had company," Trixie said coldly, glaring at Dylan.
"Hello, Trixie," said Honey, as if nothing was wrong. "Dylan and I are going riding. Would you like to join us?" As she spoke, Honey avoided looking at Trixie.
"No, it looks like three would definitely be a crowd," said Trixie haughtily. She turned on her heel and stomped out the door.
Trixie had never felt so miserable in all her life. She couldn’t believe Honey was hanging out with that hoodlum. It didn’t matter that he had beautiful eyes and a great set of biceps.
At least that shouldn’t matter, thought Trixie, as she stamped down the path to Crabapple farm. But, I guess it does to her. She went home and surprised her mother by dusting the whole house, volunteering to clean out the chicken coop and to work in the garden. As she dusted, she made up her mind that she was going to call Honey and confront her.
She phoned Manor House and Honey once again answered on the first ring. "Wheeler Residence," said Honey.
"Hello, it’s me," Trixie said.
For a minute the line was quiet.
"I didn’t appreciate the way you acted today," Honey finally said. "You were very rude to a guest of mine."
"Well, Honey, you try being terrorized by someone, have him rob you and your little brother while you are out in the woods in the middle of nowhere in the snow and freezing. Walk down a dark road in fear that he might come back and harm you and your baby brother then ask yourself why is Trixie acting rude? I know that it wouldn’t mean the same to you as it would to me, seeing my baby brother getting sick from pneumonia and knowing he could die…"
"Trixie Belden, that’s not fair," Honey angrily interjected. "You know that I was as upset over Bobby that time as you were. All the Bob-Whites were."
"Well," Trixie said, "you certainly don’t act like it. And Dylan Thompson is nothing but a low-level criminal. He’s been in reform school, for Pete’s sake!"
"Trixie Belden," Honey said icily, in an uncharacteristic tone, "people can and do change. Everyone deserves a second chance. It still makes me feel bad when I think of the way you treated Dan when he first came here."
"Well, I guess whatever you have going on with Dylan means more to you than your friendship with me!" Trixie yelled as she slammed down the phone, suddenly feeling like she couldn’t listen to any more.
Trixie ran up the stairs to her room, fell across her bed and started crying. Thank goodness Moms didn’t hear her; she didn’t want to have to explain. As she lay across her bed, staring out the window, she heard the floor creak as someone stepped into her room.
"Trixie," said Mart.
Trixie rolled over to face Mart. She didn’t want to have to talk to Moms about this, but when the chips were down as they were now, Mart Belden was the most understanding person she knew.
"I sort of overheard your phone conversation," Mart said as he sat down on the end of the bed. "It was obvious you were talking to Honey and obvious what you were talking about. And I know who Dylan is. Rumor has it around school that Honey’s been seeing him."
"Oh Mart, I just can’t believe this is happening," Trixie said, starting to cry again.
Mart hugged her and said, "Trixie, I want you to know that I see where you’re coming from. If I look at this situation from your point of view, I could punch him out. I remember what happened that night, how cold you and Bobby were and how afraid you were and how sick Bobby was after being dumped in the snow. But then I see Honey’s side. She always tries to see the good in people. She believes anyone and everyone deserves a second chance. My advice to you is to agree to disagree. I know you believe Dylan is still bad, but you believed that about Dan once, too, and he turned out okay. You and Honey have been friends for too long to allow this to come between you."
"Oh, Mart, you're right," Trixie said, hugging him. "But after the argument we just had, I doubt Honey will ever speak to me again."
"Well," said Mart, standing, "if you like, I’ll go and talk to Honey for you. And she will speak to you again. You know that she’s very forgiving."
"Please do," Trixie begged.
Mart must have worked his special magic, because Honey called Trixie crying. They apologized to one another, and even though Honey let Trixie know up front that she planned to continue seeing Dylan, they both agreed they wouldn’t discuss him anymore. This left Trixie in a quandary. She knew that Honey would never believe her suspicion that Dylan was the Sleepyside High rapist. Which left her with what she felt was her only alternative. She had to catch the rapist herself. She had to find out if it were Dylan, for Honey’s sake. "How, am I going to do that?" she asked herself.
Thursday night was play practice again. Things had kind of died down because it had been awhile since the last incident, Serena was back in school, Trixie was dying to question her to see what she knew, but under the circumstances she couldn’t. For one thing, it might upset her, for another Trixie wasn’t supposed to know. She had to squelch her desire to solve the mystery from that angle for right now.
Tonight I’ll catch Dylan and then I’ll let Honey know what he’s really like, she thought to herself as she clutched the small pocketknife that she had stuck in the pocket of her jeans that morning.
After the play was over, Honey and Diana left earlier than Trixie as they did every week. Trixie once again stayed behind to clean up and put away props, sets, and costumes. When she had finished, she quickly said good bye to Ms. Vanderheiden, the drama coach.
The drama coach stopped her as she was walking out the door. "Trixie, do you have someone waiting for you?" she asked, a concerned look in her eyes.
"Oh yes," Trixie lied. "My brother is waiting out front for me." Trixie walked away from her, not looking back. She hated lying.
After looking around and seeing that no one was wandering about, she quickly ducked into an unlocked janitorial closet, near the side door of the school. She planned to stay there, until she was certain everyone had left. I just hope Dylan is waiting around tonight to strike, she thought.
After about thirty minutes, when she was certain everyone had left, Trixie slowly opened the closet door and eased one foot out at a time. She walked quietly down the hall and stepped out the side door of the school. As the door swung shut behind her, she suddenly began to question the wisdom of what she had done. She had felt that she would be safe since she had brought the pocketknife as a weapon, but, now she wasn’t so sure.
As she stood in the darkness, she suddenly felt alone, vulnerable, and afraid. Someone came up behind her and grabbed her by the shoulder. Trixie swung around expecting to come face to face with the Sleepyside school rapist, ski mask and all. But she found herself facing none other than Mart Belden.
"Mart, what are you doing here?" she asked, slightly disappointed, but also greatly relieved.
"I’m here to clip the wings of that blatant curiosity of yours and before you become irate, and try to do some physical damage to my torso, let me remind you that I am under parental authority," he said firmly.
"I thought you were picking up Diana and the two of you were going to Wimpy’s," she told him as she picked up her book bag and readied to leave.
"Not until I made certain you had left the school grounds and weren’t hanging out trying to solve the latest mystery. I had a feeling that’s what you were doing," he told her, leading the way back to his car.
Trixie was too relieved that Mart had shown up to be mad. After receiving a long lecture from him, they met Diana at Wimpy’s for a hamburger. Diana had reserved a booth for them. Across the room, Honey sat with Dylan. Trixie and Mart politely waved at her and sat down with Diana.
Trixie watched Dylan and Honey as Mart and Diana made small talk. Dylan had his arm across the back of the seat of the booth they were in and was very attentive to Honey. From where Trixie sat, this looked like the kind of attentiveness most girls only dream about having with a guy. The two of them were so wrapped up in one another, they didn’t even notice their surroundings.
Honey, I’m so concerned about you, Trixie thought as she continued to watch them.
Mart went across the room to talk with some of his friends from the wrestling team at school. Honey and Dylan rose from their booth and left arm in arm.
"He looks just like a movie star," Diana said dreamily as she and Trixie watched the two of them leave.
"Oh, not you too Diana," groaned Trixie. No matter how Trixie felt about him personally, she had to admit to herself he was good-looking and if she didn’t know what she knew or thought she knew about him, she would completely understand Honey’s attraction.
Chapter 6
Even though Trixie and Honey were on speaking terms, their relationship was still strained. And, Dylan consumed most of Honey’s time. That was another situation in which Trixie felt betrayed because of her brother Brian.
It was Friday afternoon and after a long day at school, Trixie was at home alone doing her chores. Moms and Bobby were meeting her Dad for dinner in town. Strangely enough, she didn’t mind the work, because she felt that she had nothing else to do. She couldn’t call Diana, because she and Mart were going out. Usually, she and Honey got together on Friday nights and they would go to Wimpy’s and hang out with some of the other kids from school, but Honey was always with Dylan now. If Trixie went to Wimpy’s alone, she was sure to run into them and she could not bring herself to be friendly to him. She felt that he was the Sleepyside School rapist.
I wonder, she thought. If I go out to the school tonight, I might find some clues so that Dylan could be caught before something bad happens to Honey.
What happened next drove that thought completely out of her mind.
"What does a guy have to do to get something to eat around here?" Trixie heard a familiar voice say as she was shaking out her dust rag and preparing to put it away.
Trixie turned around, a slow grin spreading across her face. "Brian!" she yelled as she ran across the kitchen, throwing herself into his arms. "Is Jim here, too?"
"He’s at his house," he replied, hugging Trixie back before turning to open the refrigerator. "He went next door to freshen up before seeing you." Brian pulled out leftover turkey, lettuce and a tomato. "I’m starving. I don’t guess you could fix a poor hungry brother a sandwich while I go upstairs and take a shower could you?" he asked teasingly.
"Well," said Trixie, smiling. "Just this once."
After Brian had gone upstairs, Trixie, though glad to have him home, wondered what his reaction to Dylan was going to be. Brian was her brother and she loved him, and she felt that she had to be the one to break the news. When he came back downstairs, she had decided that she was going to tell him before he found out some other way.
"I already know, Trixie," he told her, when she started telling him.
"How?" she asked.
"Let’s just say, a little bird told me," he replied taking a big swallow of milk.
"And would that little bird’s name just happen to be Mart Belden?" she asked.
"Of course," said Brian.
"Well," Trixie said, "I know this is none of my business, but what are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing," replied Brian.
"Nothing!" yelled Trixie, "what do you mean nothing?"
"What do you expect me to do?" Brian asked, leaning back in his chair and studying Trixie intently. "Go over to Manor House with my club and throw Honey over my shoulder and bring her home with me against her will? I’m not a caveman Trixie. I personally think Honey’s lost her mind, but, if this is what she wants, this is what she can have. She’s too young to be in an exclusive relationship anyway. I just wish she had chosen someone other than Snipe Thompson. That really concerns me for her sake."
"You’re right," said Trixie, as she carefully thought about what he was saying. "And I can’t solve your problems, big brother. I’m just sorry if you’re hurt. I’m going upstairs and get ready to see Jim, before he shows up here and sees me with dust bunnies in my hair."
Trixie quickly showered and changed into a pair of tight indigo blue jeans and a black lace pullover t-shirt. She blow-dried her wet hair into a soft, almost straight style. She loved a mystery, but right now Jim was home and all she wanted to do was see him and feel his arms around her. Her life had felt a little out of control lately and Jim was like a safe harbor in a storm.
I just can’t wait to see him, she thought, a shiver of delight going up her spine. She put on a minimum of makeup and slipped on the bracelet he had given her a couple of years ago along with a pair of tiny gold hoop earrings that Honey had given her for Christmas.
"Well, don’t you look great," Jim Frayne said, looking up the stairs at Trixie with a smile.
"Oh, she looks all right," said Brian teasingly, noticing what a pretty girl she had become.
When she came down the stairs, she and Jim stood in the living room shyly staring into each other’s eyes. This wasn’t the greeting she wanted to give Jim, but with Brian standing there watching the two of them…
"Brian, tell Moms and Dad I’ll be home by my curfew," Trixie said, heading toward the door hand in hand with Jim, not looking back. Trixie tore her eyes away from her red-haired gorgeous guy, long enough to stare guiltily back at Brian. She sort of hated leaving him, because she knew that he must be upset about Honey and Dylan.
After Jim had helped her in the car and he climbed in the driver’s seat, he said, "Now, Miss Belden, I would like to give you a more proper greeting, than the one I gave you in your house."
Laughing, Trixie leaned over and she and Jim shared a long, passionate kiss.
Chapter 7
After seeing a movie at the Cameo, the couple headed over to Wimpy’s for hamburgers and chocolate milkshakes. Trixie didn’t talk about Dylan and Honey, because she knew that Brian had already told Jim. They walked inside the crowded building hand in hand, waving at a couple of people they knew.
Trixie saw Mart and Diana sitting with a couple of Mart’s friends from the wrestling team and their girlfriends. She saw Dan Mangan and the new girl from school that he was dating with some of his friends in another corner. Dan hadn’t seen her and Jim come in. In a booth alone, was Honey and Dylan. They were sitting on the same side of the booth, heads together, Dylan’s arm around the back of the seat.
Trixie felt Jim grow tense beside her. "Well, I’m glad to see that my little sister’s going on with her life," Jim said angrily.
On Friday nights, Wimpy’s cleared a portion of their floor for dancing to the jukebox. Someone played a slow song as Honey and Dylan arose from their table to dance.
Trixie and Jim sat at a booth and placed their order, but Jim was so busy watching Honey that Trixie felt as if she wasn’t even there, which she didn’t like. While Honey and Dylan danced so close you could not fit a piece of paper between them; Dylan’s hand strayed down Honey's backside. Before Trixie could stop him, Jim was out of the booth and across the floor, shoving Dylan away from Honey.
"You get your hands off my little sister, you stupid punk!" he yelled, jumping forward and pushing Dylan a second time.
"Jim!" Honey screamed, completely embarrassed.
Trixie rushed across the floor to try to stop Jim from fighting Dylan, but Jim was so angry, she didn’t know if she would be able to. Jim and Dylan, who looked ready for anything, faced each other warily. Mart and Dan saw the fracas and quickly came over.
"He’s not worth it, man," said Dan, stepping between Jim and a now angry Dylan and holding Jim back.
"Come on Jim," said Mart, grabbing Jim by the arm. "Let’s get out of here."
Jim flung Mart’s arm off of him. He was about to call Dylan a few choice names and then he stopped himself, conscious of the fact that Trixie was near. "Honey," said Jim, tensely, now turning to look at her, "I just can’t believe you. You had a great guy like Brian and you dumped him for this piece of trash." He turned back toward Dylan, giving him a contemptuous look.
Dylan was extremely angry now and ready to fight. "Well, since you want a piece of me," Dylan said, taking off his shirt.
Gosh, thought Trixie, He’s gorgeous without a shirt on. Then she felt ashamed. She mentally chided herself.
"Jim, let’s get out of here," she begged.
Jim looked angrily from Dylan to Trixie. Finally, turning to Honey, he said, "I feel like dragging you out of here by the hair of your head, but I know I can’t do that."
By this time, Honey was crying and a wave of compassion washed over Trixie.
Dan came up behind Trixie and put his hands on her arms. "Get him out of here," he hissed quietly in Trixie’s ear, "before he gets in trouble. You shouldn’t have brought him here, Trixie. You knew Honey and Dylan are always hanging out here."
As she and Jim were leaving, she turned around and looked back to make sure Honey was okay. Dylan and she were in each other’s arms.
Trixie’s evening with Jim ended disappointingly. Jim was so angry that he didn’t even kiss her goodbye. He just opened the door for her, walked her to the front door of her house, turned on his heel, walked back to his little silver sports car, got in and sped out of the driveway.
I’m glad Moms and Dad aren’t home yet to see you leave the driveway like that, they may not have allowed me to ride with you anymore.
Trixie realized after looking at her watch that she was home way before curfew. Sighing, she unlocked the front door and went in to get ready for bed.
I just wish things could be normal again, Trixie thought later as she sat on her bed, her knees drawn up, staring out the window at the stars. I miss Honey so much. I wish Dylan had never come here. I just hope Jim’s treatment of him tonight doesn’t trigger something bad in him and cause him to do something awful to Honey."
The next morning, Trixie was up bright and early. Jim was home and she didn’t want to waste a single moment that she could be with him. She dressed in faded blue jeans and a white t-shirt and ran down the stairs two at a time.
"What’s for breakfast, Moms?" she asked, opening the cabinet and taking plates out to set the table.
"Oh, the usual Saturday morning breakfast at Crabapple Farm," Mrs. Belden said. "Bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. By the way, don’t set a plate for Mart and Brian, they aren’t here."
"Where are they?" Trixie asked curiously as she took out forks and placed them at each place setting.
"Brian has gone over to talk to Honey and Mart has gone to Mr. Maypenny’s to help with spring planting."
"Oh, Brian’s talking to Honey," Trixie said curiously. "I hope that goes well."
Chapter 8
"Hello, Brian," Honey said, opening the door. "I’m glad you came over."
"Are you?" said Brian, looking deeply into her eyes.
Quickly, Honey averted her eyes; she couldn’t look into Brian’s eyes right now. "Let’s go out on the side porch where we can talk privately," she suggested.
"Brian," she began at the same time he said,"Honey."
Brian held up his hand. "Only one at a time," he said, which was his feeble attempt at a joke.
"First of all, Brian," Honey started again, sitting down on one of the white wicker chairs. "You know I never meant to hurt you, please tell me you know that."
"I do, Honey. And I’m okay, don’t worry about me."
"But I do worry about you," said Honey, looking up at him imploringly. "I really do love you Brian. I’m not in love with Dylan, but I like the way he makes me feel. I like the attention and the attentiveness. Not that you’re not attentive, but I’ve never really dated anyone but you. I feel like I need to see other people. And with you away at college, I hardly get to see you."
"I know where you’re coming from, Honey. I’m ashamed to say that I have sort of been seeing someone, too, for the same reasons you are." This time, he averted his eyes and looked down at the floor. "This long distance romance is too hard for both of us."
"Brian, I understand if you want to," Honey said, finally looking into his eyes. "But I don’t want to write us off, not forever. I mean, you are my first love and I hope someday there might be another chance." She looked away, starting to cry.
"I love you, too, Honey and all I can say is maybe in another place, another time… Anyway, I’m not writing you off, we just both need some time. We have almost exclusively dated each other through all of our teenage years so far and I agree that we need to be free to see other people."
The two of them stood up at the same time.
"Just be careful," he told Honey, brushing a lock of hair back from her face.
"I will," she said, looking up at him tearfully.
The two of them shared a long kiss and then he was gone.
Honey went outside, got the keys to the Wheeler sedan from Tom Delanoy and headed toward the outskirts of town where Dylan lived with his foster dad. She had never been there before, but she knew where the place was. She quickly pulled up to his house, climbed out of the car and ran up the steps of the modest two story frame house where he lived.
"Oh, you must be Honey," said Dylan’s dark-haired, middle-aged foster father.
After introducing themselves to one another, Honey asked "Is Dylan here?"
"Sure," he told her. "He’s still asleep." He motioned her into the living room. "Hang on, I’ll wake him up for you."
Dylan came down the stairs, looking like a male model, tucking his blue chambray shirt into his jeans. "Honey, are you alright?" he asked concerned.
"I just had to see you," she said, falling into his arms. "Just hold me. Don’t ever let me go."
Chapter 9
After Brian and Jim left to go back to school Sunday, life went on as usual. Trixie still was lonely for her best friend, but Honey was more wrapped up in Dylan than ever.
Thursday night was play practice and the next day something happened that changed the course of everything. There had been an attempted rape at school the night before, but a policeman was in the vicinity and heard the screams. This time they caught the perpetrator as he fled the scene. It was none other than Dylan Thompson.
Rumors were abuzz that morning at school. Trixie felt bad for Honey, but she felt relieved that it was over. Not only could she and Honey begin to rebuild their friendship, but maybe life in Sleepyside could get back to normal.
Trixie searched Honey out, hoping to offer words of comfort. No matter how hard it was, Trixie wasn’t going to say, "I told you so."
"Oh Trixie," said Honey, crying. "Dylan is innocent. I know he is." Trixie held her friend as she cried.
She’s in deep denial, Trixie thought, patting Honey on the back. I’ve got to find some way to prove to her, that Dylan is the culprit.
Dylan was out of jail within a few hours, because the evidence was circumstantial and the girl couldn’t make a positive identification. Dylan was caught walking away from the school area, right after the girl had fought him off and ran. A search of Dylan’s locker revealed a ski mask and black clothing. Trixie knew that he had to be guilty. "And somehow I’m going to prove it," she said to herself, as she watched him with Honey.
Tonight was Friday. Once again, Trixie was spending a lonely night at home. Her parents were having dinner with the Lynches. Bobby was hanging out with the Lynch twins and, of course, Mart was out with Diana.
Since Dylan is the culprit, Trixie thought, as she sliced a piece of Moms chocolate cake and placed it on a piece of the delicate antique china that belonged to her mother. And I know he’s with Honey tonight, I know I’ll be safe. I can go out to the school and search for clues. This made Trixie feel good; she felt as if she had a sense of purpose and direction. She had plenty of time because her parents and Mart wouldn’t be back till late.
Even though it was late spring, the nights were slightly chilly. Trixie pulled on a navy blue cardigan over her jeans and locked the door to Crabapple Farm, placing her key in her pocket. She started the long walk to the school.
While walking she heard a car coming up behind her. She turned and realized it was Tom Delanoy, the Wheelers' driver. If I tell him I’m going to the school, she thought, he’ll know what I’m doing and will most certainly take me back home and tell my parents. I’ve got to tell him something so he won't be suspicious. It’s a long walk to town.
Tom pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Trixie Belden, where are you walking to on a night like this?" he asked, getting out to open the door for her.
"I decided to go to Wimpy’s," she said, hating to lie to him. "I’m tired of spending my Friday nights at home."
" Well, next time catch a ride with Miss Honey," he suggested.
"I’m not too thrilled with Honey’s new boyfriend," Trixie told him.
"Yeah, I noticed you aren’t ever over at the house anymore. We all miss you, Trixie. If it’s any consolation, we’re not too thrilled with Dylan Thompson either. It makes everyone uncomfortable the way he has his hands all over Miss Honey. But," he added ruefully, "I can’t say anything. I’m just the driver."
Chapter 10
Trixie had Tom let her out in front of Wimpy’s and he drove away. She watched until he was out of sight and then quickly, she headed down the lighted sidewalk toward Sleepyside School.
The school wasn’t empty as she expected; there had been some kind of practice and teenagers were leaving. Trixie didn’t want anyone she knew to see her, so she quietly made her way around the side of the building to the secluded area where the assaults had occurred. Carefully, she combed the ground and the bushes. She usually could find things the police might miss. After about thirty minutes, she found a small piece of rope. "I wonder if this has anything to do with any of the incidents?" she asked herself.
She painstakingly continued to search the ground for more clues, like maybe a piece of cloth. If she could find a piece of black cloth that might have been torn off the suspect’s t-shirt or something. If so, they could match the tears. She really didn’t know what she hoped to find, sje just needed to feel she was being productive. After combing the bushes, she got down on her hands and knees and began to search. It dawned on her that everything had grown quiet. She felt a little spooked as she realized that she was there alone.
"I don’t have to worry," she told herself. "Dylan is with Honey and so he’s probably not going to try anything right now, not with the law watching him." She continued her search but all she had to show for it was the piece of rope and she found a small gold earring in the grass. I guess this could have belonged to one of the girls, she thought, cradling it in her hand.
Trixie stood up to leave. Her knees felt a little stiff since she had been sitting on them for awhile. She reached down and brushed the sand off her pants. Those poor girls, she thought to herself. "How frightening it must have been to have been dragged around here and thrown down and to know that they were all alone in the dark…." She never finished her thought as someone grabbed her from behind.
Trixie was lifted off the ground, kicking her legs as hard as she could.
"Dylan, let me go!" she screamed, fighting with all her might. She was thrown on the ground so hard that it knocked the wind out of her. And as she lay there, he quickly lay on top of her with his knife to her throat.
"Dylan, please don’t hurt me," Trixie begged, her eyes wide with fright.
"If you’ll cooperate, you won’t get hurt," he said.
Trixie didn’t think she had ever been so frightened in her life. The ski mask made him look even more terrifying. "
"Now," he told her, "We’re going to have us a little party. If you do as I say, I won't have to cut you. If you decide to fight me, you die. You have no choice as to what’s about to happen, so save yourself the trouble and don’t fight."
"I’ll do whatever you say," Trixie told him tearfully, wondering how she could get out of this one. She could hardly breathe with him lying on top of her.
"That’s a good girl," he told her, casually combing the knife blade through her hair.
She wanted to reach up and snatch the ski mask off of him, but she knew that would further endanger her, because then she could identify him.
"Dylan, why are you doing this?" she asked.
He just chuckled. "Now, I’m going to stand up for a minute. Don’t try nothing, all right?" He sounded almost pleasant which only made him scarier to Trixie.
Trixie closed her eyes. If I close my eyes, I could almost be in the kitchen of Crabapple Farm having a piece of chocolate cake and a glass of milk before bedtime, she thought in a feeble attempt to separate herself from what was about to happen.
He felt even heavier on her as he shifted his weight to get up. Then he fell off of her abruptly. Trixie quickly opened her eyes and realized that someone had came to her rescue. Her rescuer and the masked man were in a skirmish. Stunned, Trixie saw that her savior was none other than Dylan Thompson.
Trixie sat up and then stood as fast as she could. The guy sucker-punched Dylan. Dylan was recovering from the blow as the guy rushed toward him with his knife.
"Dylan!" screamed Trixie. "He’s got a knife!"
Chapter 11
Dylan jumped back abruptly, the knife cutting through his shirt and into his shoulder. Trixie saw blood gushing from the wound. Dylan ignored the cut and quickly landed a punch to the guy's jaw. Her attacker stopped for a moment and then grabbed Trixie from behind, wielding the knife to her throat. "Now, back off," he warned.
"Okay," Dylan said, backing away from the guy and holding up his hands. "Just please don’t hurt her."
"You’re awfully concerned about the chick that cost you a couple of years of your life, aren’t you boy?" he said chuckling.
Trixie realized that Dylan knew who this person was.
"She didn’t cost me anything," Dylan told him. "I cost myself. I’m the one who chose to go around getting into trouble."
"You been listening to them prison counselors a little too much, boy. Now, back off. Me and her are going to go and have us some fun. After we’re finished, you can have your little girlfriend back."
Fear and revulsion crept up Trixie’s back like a spider crawling up a wall. She almost couldn’t breathe.
The man holding the knife to Trixie’s throat started backing up slowly, carrying her with him. She had no choice but to cooperate.
"Let her go, Jerry," Dylan pleaded, slowly following them.
"I’m going to take her to my car," he told Dylan. "We’re leaving and don’t try to follow."
Trixie noticed that Dylan seemed to be looking beyond them. She thought she might faint. She hoped she would. She hoped she blacked out until this ordeal was finished.
She heard a familiar voice behind her. "Throw the knife down and put your hands in the air! You’re caught red-handed this time."
Jerry pressed the knife more firmly into Trixie’s throat for a moment and then relented. He threw the knife down and put his hands in the air. As he let go of her, Trixie fell, but Dylan was there to catch her. The relief she felt was so great that she couldn’t stand up. Dylan put his arms around her and helped her over to the school benches and the two sat down side by side.
"I’ll need a statement from you in the morning, young lady," said Sergenat Molinson sternly. "I’ll give you your lecture then. I hope your parents ground you for life."
Trixie nodded, realizing that Moms and Dad were going to ground her big time for this. "Dylan," said Trixie, "I owe you an apology."
"Why?" he asked, looking at her with those gorgeous blue eyes.
"For treating you like I have since you came here. You’re not the same person you were two years ago when all that stuff happened."
"Man, I don’t blame you. What I did was awful," he said, hanging his head. "You need to get home." He helped her to her feet.
"Yeah, I guess I need to go," she replied. "I don’t know how to thank you. I know when my parents hear, they’re going to want to thank you."
"I don’t think I’m ready to see your parents," he said as he flashed her that heart-stopping smile. "By the way, Dylan, who is this guy? Did you know all along that he was the rapist?"
"Trixie," he said, shaking his head as if he were still unable to believe it, "That guy was my foster father. I knew from the time I came to live with him that he was a little strange. But since I’ve been in trouble, I’ve met all kinds, so I didn’t think much about it. I didn’t know he was the rapist until I found the dark clothes and the ski mask in his closet last Wednesday evening. The next day I brought them to school with me to take to the police station, but that afternoon, I was running late and didn’t have time to go by the station. I had to rush to get to work in time. As I was walking by the school on my way home from work that same night, I caught him and the girl he attempted to assault. When he saw me, he took off running. He didn’t know at the time that I knew it was him."
"Did you know he was going to strike tonight?" Trixie asked.
"I had a feeling he would. He lay low for awhile after that happened to Serena, because everyone was being too careful. But I noticed that he kept up with school schedules. He has the times when girls would be out here at night due to practices and stuff written on a list on his refrigerator. I never could figure out why, until I found the ski mask. Living in a small town like Sleepyside, with such a low crime rate, people are lulled into a false sense of security. That makes it easy for people like him to take advantage."
Dylan called a cab for Trixie. He opened the car door for her to send her home, but not before she hugged him. She arrived at Crabapple Farm just as Sergeant Molinson was phoning her parents to tell them what had happened.
Chapter 12
The next morning, Saturday, Trixie borrowed Mart’s car to go to the police station to give her statement. Her parents, true to their word, had grounded her after a lecture that lasted long into the night. After what seemed like an eternity, Trixie was finally allowed to drag her weary body up to bed.
After leaving the police station, Trixie headed to the hardware store where Dylan worked. After asking around, someone told her he was around back unloading some boxes off of a supply truck.
"Hi," Trixie said shyly, finally admitting to herself how attractive he really was.
"Hi, yourself," he said, smiling.
"I just wanted to thank you once again, for saving me last night and I wanted to apologize once again…"
"Trixie, I told you, you had a right to be suspicious. I have a record and with what I did to you, it’s understandable."
"Where are you going to go when your foster father is put away?" she asked. "Will you stay in Sleepyside?" She hoped that he would.
"No," he told her, taking off his gloves. "I think I need to go somewhere else for a clean start. My probation officer thinks that would be best, so they located an aunt of mine in Florida. I haven’t ever met any of my mother’s family and she said they have been trying to locate me for years."
"When are you leaving?" Trixie asked regretfully.
"Next week."
He and Trixie made small talk for a few moments longer, then she said reluctantly, "I guess I have to get back home now. I’m on restriction and I promised I’d be back before lunchtime."
"Uh, before you go," he said, "come here."
"Sure," said Trixie, wondering why.
He slowly pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Jim is a great kisser, but this guy is something else, Trixie thought. When it was over, Trixie’s knees felt weak and she hoped she could walk back to the car without falling over her own feet. Wow!
Abruptly, he turned from her and went back to work.
"Now, I see what Honey saw in him," she said to herself. This was something she would never forget. "Who would have ever thought? There is something to be said for pure physical attraction," she laughed to herself.
Chapter 13
Dylan’s probation officer brought him by the Manor House to say goodbye to Honey before he got on the plane. He was as gorgeous as any movie star as he stepped out of the car. He and Honey said a short goodbye then he kissed her and waved at Trixie and Diana as he got into the car."I bet he can kiss really good," Diana said, watching him. "Oops! Don’t tell Mart I said that. I was just thinking out loud."
"He can," Trixie said, a smile on her face. Ignoring the fact that Diana’s mouth was hanging open, Trixie walked to the edge of the porch and met Honey as she came back to stand on the porch with her friends.
As the car drove away, Dylan turned and gave them that heart-stopping grin. Honey watched the car wistfully.
"Now, Trixie Belden," said Diana, "what do you mean he can? You’ve got some explaining to do."
Trixie laughed. "Let’s go over to Crabapple Farm and if Mart hasn’t eaten the last of the coconut cream pies…."
"Yeah, let’s," Honey said, linking her arm in Trixie’s and wondering what Diana was talking about. "I haven’t had any of your wonderful food in so long, I’m about to go into withdrawals!"
The End