Chapter Fourteen: Strange Relations
This story is rated blue star and suitable for all ages.
Tuesday’s weather was wet and more than a little wild. The Bob-Whites ran between classes and couldn’t manage to find a table together at lunchtime, so crowded was the cafeteria. Jammed into a tiny space in a corner with Honey, Trixie barely had enough room to lift her tuna fish sandwich to her mouth.
“Have you seen the others?” Honey asked, craning her neck.
Trixie tried to turn around but couldn’t and gave up with a shrug of her shoulders. “I’m pretty sure I saw Mart and Di on the other side of the room, and I think Dan and Jim were in the food line when we came in. Brian’s probably studying. I know he made his own lunch when he saw how bad the weather was this morning.”
“He’s not mad at us, is he?” Honey asked. Trixie had told her what Brian had said the previous afternoon.
“Of course not,” Trixie snorted. “Anyway, he’s never mad at you.”
Honey gave a sigh of relief. “I can’t believe how smart you were about the ladder and everything, Trixie.” She shot her friend an admiring glance. “Miss Trask was right—you do reason things out really well.”
Trixie shrugged. “It’s nothing,” she said, looking embarrassed.
“It’s not nothing,” Honey corrected, “I wish I was as half as smart as you are about putting clues together. Sometimes I don’t think I’ll contribute much to our agency.”
“That’s totally untrue, Honey!” Trixie responded swiftly, incredulous that her friend could feel that way. “You have terrific ideas and now you’re starting to do that psychology stuff. Brian’s right, the police and the FBI use psychologists to profile criminals all the time.”
Honey smiled. “Maybe, eventually, I’ll learn something useful, but I’ll never have your natural instincts. Jim says he’s never seen anything like the way you piece mysteries together.”
Trixie flushed and shrugged.
“And you’re so much braver than I am. I’m still afraid of spiders and mice and snakes.” Honey gave a sigh.
“According to my brothers, most girls are afraid of at least one of those things,” Trixie said, “and you’re plenty brave when it counts.”
“Usually because I’ve got you or Jim by my side,” Honey said, then seeing her friend’s embarrassment she changed the subject, adding, “I actually saw Jim at morning break, and he said he’ll need to go straight home after school tonight. Some trees have come down in the game preserve, and he’s promised to help Dan and Mr. Maypenny clear them.”
Trixie gave a rueful smile. “Another honourable Bob-White throws a spanner in the works.”
“Do you think Brian will take us to the theatre?” Honey asked.
“I don’t know. Not if things are too bad at home. He’ll want to go help clean up, too.”
“Well, we just have to go,” Honey said, remembering her promise. “I guess we can take the later bus. Tom’s gone with Daddy, and Regan will probably either help the others or exercise the horses.”
“Di and Mart still haven’t tried out the stage yet so maybe we can all take the bus home. It won’t give us much time though.”
Honey took the last bite of her egg salad sandwich and glanced at her watch. “You and I still have to survive until then, and that means another hour of algebra and Mitch Taylor.”
“We have to find out where he was on Saturday afternoon,” Trixie said, her normally clear blue eyes dark and serious.
“What?” Honey grabbed her friend’s arm. “How are we supposed to do that? Hi, Mitch, I know you can’t stand us, and you never actually talk to us except to poke fun, but what did you do on the weekend?”
Trixie giggled. “You can try that if you like.”
Honey gathered her things together. “Come on, we might as well get it over with.”
“Like lambs to the slaughter,” Trixie laughed, and the two edged their way out of the cafeteria.
The girls were early for their class and much to their surprise Mitch Taylor was already waiting in their room.
“Sleepyside’s famous detective duo,” he said, leaning back in his chair, lifting the front legs off the floor. “What is it this week? Captured a serial killer, nabbed a mad bomber? Or are you in one of your ‘causes are us’ moods? Save the whale? Global warming?”
Trixie almost bit her tongue to stop herself from retorting. She was never going to find out what she wanted if she allowed herself to be distracted.
“We’re actually still pretty busy with the benefit,” Honey said just as if his question had been a legitimate one.
Trixie smothered a smile. It was obvious from the look on Mitch’s face that Honey’s literal response had thrown him.
“I guess that might keep even you busy, raising money to help the needy.” He still sneered a little, but his tone was not quite as aggressive as it usually was.
“Yes, there’s a lot to organise,” Honey continued with an innocent blink of her hazel eyes. “We’re using the new Arts and Cultural Centre, have you seen it?”
Trixie almost clapped her hands together.
“Yeah, my uncle’s working there at the moment,” Mitch replied automatically.
“Who’s your uncle?” Trixie asked before she could stop herself.
“What’s it to you?” the young man snapped.
“I just, we—” Trixie hesitated, but a slight nod from Honey gave her the confidence she needed, “I just wondered if we’d met him, that’s all.”
“Gavin Parkes,” Mitch said. “Pretty sure he doesn’t move in your fancy rich circles.”
Trixie felt her temper flare. She hated it when people called the Beldens rich.
“Oh, we have met him, then,” Honey said with one of her sweet smiles. “He seems very…” she hesitated, “professional.”
“Yeah, whatever. Anyway, that Summers is a workaholic. He’s driving my uncle nuts.” Mitch suddenly seemed to realise that he was carrying on a normal conversation. “Why are you two in here anyway? Can’t your boring brain-trust brother help you out, Belden, or that smart stray you picked up, Wheeler?” He laughingly pushed Trixie as he spoke.
Both girls couldn’t help but react to this.
“You…” Honey cried, unable to put her feelings into words she pushed him back, while Trixie completely lost her temper and kicked out at his already off balance chair. The combination of their actions tipped the chair over and Mitch landed with a thump on the floor.
“Serves you right,” Trixie said, face flushed with anger.
He lay there stunned and within seconds the door opened, admitting Mr. Grayson and the other students.
“What exactly is going on here?” the teacher asked, eyeing the three teenagers suspiciously.
Trixie and Honey gulped and exchanged guilty looks waiting for the young man to explain.
“I thought I might learn more this way,” Mitch said sarcastically, getting to his feet.
“Anything’s possible,” Mr. Grayson allowed. “Shall we get on with it?”
There were still a number of work vehicles in the Centre’s car park when the Bob-Whites arrived just after three. In the end, Jim, Brian and Dan took the station wagon and the four remaining members were able to get away from school a little early, leaving plenty of time to go over things at the Arts Centre. Trixie and Honey raced out of school and hurried over to the theatre leaving a somewhat bewildered Mart and Di to follow them at a more leisurely pace.
Once inside, the two girls made their way to the auditorium, where several men were folding ladders and resealing paint tins.
“Hi,” Trixie said, brightly and the men turned to stare at her.
“Can we help you with something?” One of the men, a short stocky man with greying hair regarded Trixie expectantly.
There I go again, Trixie thought. I have no idea what I’m going to say to get them talking.
Tactful Honey had no such problem. “We’re involved in the benefit for the Farradale hurricane victims,” she explained with a smile as she looked around her shaking her head. “We can’t believe how quickly you’ve transformed this place, it’s wonderful. You could sure give our brothers lessons. They took far longer to paint one tiny room.”
The men exchanged glances and grinned at one another. Honey’s tone and expression were so admiring.
“Well, it does take a fair amount of work,” the man who’d spoken to Trixie said.
“You really need to know what you’re doing on a job like this,” one of the others, a young man around twenty added, moving closer to the two girls.
“I can see that. I wish you could paint my house. You’re very professional.” Honey fluttered her lashes and Trixie had to stifle a giggle. Her friend was easily the most diplomatic Bob-White, but flirting was something best left to Di. It wasn’t really in Honey’s nature. The young man didn’t seem to mind. He gave her friend a very warm, though slightly amused, smile.
“Maybe we could make an exception and take a look at your place,” he said.
“An exception?” Trixie asked, fixing the third man with a bat of her own blue eyes, all the while wondering how silly she looked. If Honey wasn’t particularly adept in the flirting department, then she had even less skill. The look on the other man’s face made her realise that most guys didn’t care how well a girl flirted, only that they did it in the first place. If nothing else, it gave them something to laugh about with their friends later.
“We only really tackle commercial jobs,” the third man, who looked to around be twenty-five, said, his grey eyes twinkling.
“Oh, Honey’s house is huge,” Trixie said. “The Manor House, out on Glen Road, you know.”
The older man raised his brows slightly. “Now that’s a domestic job we could make an exception for. Maybe your folks want to give me a call, or I could try them, name’s Wheeler, isn’t it?” He reached into his pocket and handed Honey a business card.
She nodded and took it with a weak smile.
“We should really get out of here.” He turned away and they began gathering their things together.
“Don’t you work for Mr. Summers?” Trixie asked, as she glanced over Honey’s shoulder to read the card.
All three laughed and the gray-eyed young man shook his head. “No, we’re sub-contractors. Apparently, he couldn’t get a hold of his regular crew, and he’d already bid on the job, so…”
“So here we are,” the older man finished. “I guess we’ll see you girls again. And put us down for six tickets, it’s a good cause.”
Di and Mart were exploring the stage while Honey and Trixie sat at the back of the theatre, ostensibly to see how well the sound carried.
“Well?” Honey demanded. Di and Mart had arrived just as the three men were leaving, and both girls were anxious to talk without interruptions.
“I don’t know.” Trixie frowned. “I don’t think so, but they were being friendly, and the other guys sounded really cranky.” She leaned closer to her friend. “You sure got them talking, but I think they were a little worried that you might have something in your eye.”
Honey wrinkled her nose. “Fine, so I can cross flirting off my list of accomplishments. They still talked and your own eyes looked a little crossed, if you want to know the truth.”
Trixie laughed. “Too true, but I guess they felt sorry for us, cause they were pretty chatty.” She wriggled in her seat. “You know the more I think about it, the more I’m sure that none of them were the men I overheard, at least not the louder one anyway.”
“So at least we’ve achieved something, and we can tell the others when we get home.”
“Tell them what?” Trixie said, not particularly wanting to recount their activities. “We didn’t really find anything out.”
“I wish we’d talked to them before they went home,” Honey said.
“Gosh, Honey we always talk through things first, just the two of us.” Trixie’s eyes were pleading.
“I still think we should have told Brian and Jim, maybe everyone about what Mitch said.” Honey kept her voice down, but her tone was insistent.
“We didn’t have time,” Trixie said, thinking that she should have kept the details of her conversation with Brian to herself. Honey was going to be super-careful about keeping things from the others for a while.
“But it is interesting isn’t it?” Honey mused, tugging on her long hair.
“I’ll say,” Trixie grinned at her friend. “You were terrific, Honey Wheeler, now and before, very smooth interrogation technique.”
Honey giggled. “Even I thought I was kind of impressive.”
“I should have realised Mitch and Gavin Parkes were related, they both have the same charming manners.” Trixie made a face and Honey’s giggles turned to full on laughter.
“Are you two all right up there?” Mart yelled from the stage.
“We can hear you perfectly,” Honey managed, regaining her composure.
“Well, we would if you actually did something other than wander around the stage together,” Trixie said pointedly.
Mart gave a mock bow and he and Diana quickly ran through an outline of the magic show.
Trixie had to admit that even without props her brother was pretty entertaining. After the two had finished, Di rehearsed her piece and they all watched, transfixed by their friend’s moving performance. The three teenagers applauded loudly at the conclusion and Diana flushed with pleasure.
“You’re just so good, Di, really,” Honey said, her shining eyes testament to her sincerity.
Trixie nodded vigorously. “Just terrific.”
Di climbed down from the stage to join them. “Truly?” she asked. She had spent a lot of time—rehearsing, reading and watching the news, and had even researched other disasters and the effect they had on victims.
“You do know how good you are, don’t you?” Trixie smiled at her friend.
“Well, it’s nice to hear,” Diana admitted.
“I keep telling you that,” Mart protested.
“You might be a little biased,” Di said with a grateful smile of her own.
“He might be,” Trixie admitted. “But in this case he happens to be one hundred percent correct.”
Mart clutched his chest. “Do my ears deceive me? Or did my sister just affirm my singular ability for uncannily accurate pronouncements?”
“She confirmed,” Trixie began.
“That’s it time to catch the bus,” Honey finished, and they all laughed.
As they were driving away, Trixie turned back and was surprised to see Gavin Parkes standing in the car park staring after them. Her eyes widened even further when his nephew joined him. The two watched them for a moment, then turned and entered the Arts Centre.
When they arrived back at Crabapple Farm, Jim, Dan and Brian were all in the kitchen.
“We thought you’d still be out on the preserve,” Trixie said as she rushed in.
“Mr. Maypenny got a fair amount done during the day. A bit of wind and rain doesn’t bother him,” Jim said as he sliced potatoes for French fries.
Dan looked up from setting the table. “So, with the three of us, and Regan all helping, it didn’t actually take that long.
“Hey, were you starting without us?” Mart demanded, with a suspicious look at Brian who was at the stove flipping burgers.
“Starting dinner without Mart Belden?” Jim said with a grin. “We are much too smart for a crazy move like that.”
Mart made a face and moved to stand behind his brother sniffing in appreciation, a slight frown puckered his brow. “You’re already cooking. Have you developed psychic abilities I don’t know about?”
“One, we do actually know the bus schedule, and two, I heard it coming down Glen Road,” Brian said, firmly pushing him back, and away from the stove.
Trixie shook her head. “You are almost creepy sometimes, did you know that?”
Her eldest brother just laughed and threw some sliced onion into the frying pan.
“It smells divine,” Di, said. “I wish I was staying, but someone needs to run me home, as soon as Trixie and Honey have shared the news they mentioned on the way home.”
“Actually, we checked with your folks and you are fine to stay here for dinner.” Dan smiled as he set glasses down on the table.
“Then at least let me do something?” Di begged.
“You can butter the hamburger rolls, and maybe grab the salad from the refrigerator,” Brian said, giving the onions a vigorous stir.
Di nodded and quickly went to work.
“What about us?” Honey asked, looking from one boy to the other.
“You can join forces with your partner here and spill the beans Di referred to.” Brian hooked a dark brow in Trixie’s direction.
As the others finished preparing their dinner, Trixie, with some help from Honey, recounted their conversations with both Mitch Taylor and the workmen. Because she hadn’t discussed it with Honey, she left out the part about seeing the two men in the car park. The others listened carefully to her story, making occasional observations and comments.
Finally, when they all sat down to eat, Jim looked from his sister to Trixie and shook his head.
“Should I even ask what you two were planning on doing if Trixie had recognised one of the voices?” His tone was tinged with frustration and Trixie shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Well, we weren’t going to confront them or anything reckless like that,” she said. “We just wanted to get them to talk, and we did.”
“So it seems,” Brian observed dryly, “I don’t know where to start: the two of you approaching three grown men alone, and from what you’ve said trying to wheedle information or identifications out of them, or with the potential danger of tipping someone out of a chair and onto a hard surface. I’m not too fond of Mr. Taylor, but I wouldn’t want to see him concussed, or at least I wouldn’t want you two having to answer for having done something like that.”
“Oh, pooh,” Trixie tossed her head. “It’s not that long ago that Mart was pulling chairs out from under Bobby, and we weren’t in any danger from those men, were we, Honey?”
Honey shook her head, “No, I think they thought we were cute but kind of dumb actually.”
“A completely understandable response,” Mart said, helping himself to more fries, “the dumb part anyway.”
Trixie made a face. “Mart and Di were right behind us.” She shot Brian an imploring look.
“I have to admit that connection between Gavin Parkes and Mitch Taylor kind of bothers me,” Jim said scratching his chin.
“I agree,” said Dan. “It sure lends weight to Trixie’s theory, though why they’re ticked off is anyone’s guess.”
Trixie smiled her gratitude.
“However,” Dan continued, waving a long finger at her and Honey, “I’m on Brian’s side about you two sidling up to some older guys, even with Mart and Di nearby, you still could have landed yourselves in trouble.”
“At least we’ve told you all about it,” she said, a little annoyed that their revelations had been met with criticisms.
“A very good point,” Brian said and reached over to tousle his sister’s curls, “and for that forthcoming demonstration you two can consider yourselves excused from KP tonight.”
Trixie beamed at him, and Honey smiled too.
“Not to change the subject, but how come we were treated to a Belden-Frayne feast tonight anyway? Where are our hallowed parents and much loved youngest sibling?” Mart queried.
“Bobby has tomorrow off school so Dad and Moms took him to the circus in White Plains, with a reminder that we were not to stay up until all hours, after all—” Brian said.
“Tomorrow is a school day,” they chorused.
“Naturally, knowing our undisputed skill in the kitchen, they turned the evening’s menu over to us, and voila…” Jim grinned and waved his hands expansively over the table.
“Everything’s just delicious,” Honey said, flashing both her brother and Brian a wide smile.
“I figured we owed you a dinner after all the cooking you’ve done around here lately,” Brian said.
“I guess that means no dessert.” Mart tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
Jim, Brian and Dan all grinned at him. “Not so,” said the latter. He stood up and went to the refrigerator. He withdrew a bowl of chocolate mousse and a bowl of whipped cream. “Will this do, your royal highness?” he said placing them on the table in front of Mart.
“I’ll say,” Mart eyed the dessert with enthusiasm, “another one of your culinary efforts?”
Dan nodded.
“Then we’d better rename it a Belden-Frayne-Mangan feast,” Trixie said, and everyone laughed.
They all agreed that the boys had done an excellent job preparing their meal and when they had finished, Mart, with Di’s help, took care of the clean up.
Afterwards, they all sat around the living room discussing their plans for the rest of the week. Finally, Jim looked at his watch. “Come on gang, it’s time we got going.”
Honey, who had pulled something out of her pocket as she shrugged into her jacket, seemed reluctant to move and her brother reached his hand out. “Come on, Miss Wheeler, you do actually have a home, you know.”
Honey’s attention seemed focused on the object in her hand and she exchanged glances with Trixie as she returned it to her pocket. She frowned slightly as she allowed Jim to pull her to her feet. “A very large, expansive home,” she said dolefully.
The other Bob-Whites stared at her puzzled. But Trixie started to giggle.
“Was that expansive or expensive?” Dan demanded, with a laugh.
“Both,” Honey admitted.
“What’s wrong, sis?” Jim asked.
“Nothing, nothing, at all,” Honey said. “You know this is all your fault,” she wrinkled her nose at Trixie, who had collapsed in gales of laughter. “You were the one who brought up my ‘huge’ house. The others exchanged bewildered glances and Jim tugged on his sister’s hand. “Fess up. What have you two done now?”
“Not much,” Honey said, offering him a look that was both pleading and hopeful “Only, how do you think our parents will feel about a paying for a whole new paint job?”
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BSM:MAIN NEXT
Thanks as always to Dana. Most wonderful editor ever. Trixie Belden et al remain the property of Random House. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
“Have you seen the others?” Honey asked, craning her neck.
Trixie tried to turn around but couldn’t and gave up with a shrug of her shoulders. “I’m pretty sure I saw Mart and Di on the other side of the room, and I think Dan and Jim were in the food line when we came in. Brian’s probably studying. I know he made his own lunch when he saw how bad the weather was this morning.”
“He’s not mad at us, is he?” Honey asked. Trixie had told her what Brian had said the previous afternoon.
“Of course not,” Trixie snorted. “Anyway, he’s never mad at you.”
Honey gave a sigh of relief. “I can’t believe how smart you were about the ladder and everything, Trixie.” She shot her friend an admiring glance. “Miss Trask was right—you do reason things out really well.”
Trixie shrugged. “It’s nothing,” she said, looking embarrassed.
“It’s not nothing,” Honey corrected, “I wish I was as half as smart as you are about putting clues together. Sometimes I don’t think I’ll contribute much to our agency.”
“That’s totally untrue, Honey!” Trixie responded swiftly, incredulous that her friend could feel that way. “You have terrific ideas and now you’re starting to do that psychology stuff. Brian’s right, the police and the FBI use psychologists to profile criminals all the time.”
Honey smiled. “Maybe, eventually, I’ll learn something useful, but I’ll never have your natural instincts. Jim says he’s never seen anything like the way you piece mysteries together.”
Trixie flushed and shrugged.
“And you’re so much braver than I am. I’m still afraid of spiders and mice and snakes.” Honey gave a sigh.
“According to my brothers, most girls are afraid of at least one of those things,” Trixie said, “and you’re plenty brave when it counts.”
“Usually because I’ve got you or Jim by my side,” Honey said, then seeing her friend’s embarrassment she changed the subject, adding, “I actually saw Jim at morning break, and he said he’ll need to go straight home after school tonight. Some trees have come down in the game preserve, and he’s promised to help Dan and Mr. Maypenny clear them.”
Trixie gave a rueful smile. “Another honourable Bob-White throws a spanner in the works.”
“Do you think Brian will take us to the theatre?” Honey asked.
“I don’t know. Not if things are too bad at home. He’ll want to go help clean up, too.”
“Well, we just have to go,” Honey said, remembering her promise. “I guess we can take the later bus. Tom’s gone with Daddy, and Regan will probably either help the others or exercise the horses.”
“Di and Mart still haven’t tried out the stage yet so maybe we can all take the bus home. It won’t give us much time though.”
Honey took the last bite of her egg salad sandwich and glanced at her watch. “You and I still have to survive until then, and that means another hour of algebra and Mitch Taylor.”
“We have to find out where he was on Saturday afternoon,” Trixie said, her normally clear blue eyes dark and serious.
“What?” Honey grabbed her friend’s arm. “How are we supposed to do that? Hi, Mitch, I know you can’t stand us, and you never actually talk to us except to poke fun, but what did you do on the weekend?”
Trixie giggled. “You can try that if you like.”
Honey gathered her things together. “Come on, we might as well get it over with.”
“Like lambs to the slaughter,” Trixie laughed, and the two edged their way out of the cafeteria.
The girls were early for their class and much to their surprise Mitch Taylor was already waiting in their room.
“Sleepyside’s famous detective duo,” he said, leaning back in his chair, lifting the front legs off the floor. “What is it this week? Captured a serial killer, nabbed a mad bomber? Or are you in one of your ‘causes are us’ moods? Save the whale? Global warming?”
Trixie almost bit her tongue to stop herself from retorting. She was never going to find out what she wanted if she allowed herself to be distracted.
“We’re actually still pretty busy with the benefit,” Honey said just as if his question had been a legitimate one.
Trixie smothered a smile. It was obvious from the look on Mitch’s face that Honey’s literal response had thrown him.
“I guess that might keep even you busy, raising money to help the needy.” He still sneered a little, but his tone was not quite as aggressive as it usually was.
“Yes, there’s a lot to organise,” Honey continued with an innocent blink of her hazel eyes. “We’re using the new Arts and Cultural Centre, have you seen it?”
Trixie almost clapped her hands together.
“Yeah, my uncle’s working there at the moment,” Mitch replied automatically.
“Who’s your uncle?” Trixie asked before she could stop herself.
“What’s it to you?” the young man snapped.
“I just, we—” Trixie hesitated, but a slight nod from Honey gave her the confidence she needed, “I just wondered if we’d met him, that’s all.”
“Gavin Parkes,” Mitch said. “Pretty sure he doesn’t move in your fancy rich circles.”
Trixie felt her temper flare. She hated it when people called the Beldens rich.
“Oh, we have met him, then,” Honey said with one of her sweet smiles. “He seems very…” she hesitated, “professional.”
“Yeah, whatever. Anyway, that Summers is a workaholic. He’s driving my uncle nuts.” Mitch suddenly seemed to realise that he was carrying on a normal conversation. “Why are you two in here anyway? Can’t your boring brain-trust brother help you out, Belden, or that smart stray you picked up, Wheeler?” He laughingly pushed Trixie as he spoke.
Both girls couldn’t help but react to this.
“You…” Honey cried, unable to put her feelings into words she pushed him back, while Trixie completely lost her temper and kicked out at his already off balance chair. The combination of their actions tipped the chair over and Mitch landed with a thump on the floor.
“Serves you right,” Trixie said, face flushed with anger.
He lay there stunned and within seconds the door opened, admitting Mr. Grayson and the other students.
“What exactly is going on here?” the teacher asked, eyeing the three teenagers suspiciously.
Trixie and Honey gulped and exchanged guilty looks waiting for the young man to explain.
“I thought I might learn more this way,” Mitch said sarcastically, getting to his feet.
“Anything’s possible,” Mr. Grayson allowed. “Shall we get on with it?”
There were still a number of work vehicles in the Centre’s car park when the Bob-Whites arrived just after three. In the end, Jim, Brian and Dan took the station wagon and the four remaining members were able to get away from school a little early, leaving plenty of time to go over things at the Arts Centre. Trixie and Honey raced out of school and hurried over to the theatre leaving a somewhat bewildered Mart and Di to follow them at a more leisurely pace.
Once inside, the two girls made their way to the auditorium, where several men were folding ladders and resealing paint tins.
“Hi,” Trixie said, brightly and the men turned to stare at her.
“Can we help you with something?” One of the men, a short stocky man with greying hair regarded Trixie expectantly.
There I go again, Trixie thought. I have no idea what I’m going to say to get them talking.
Tactful Honey had no such problem. “We’re involved in the benefit for the Farradale hurricane victims,” she explained with a smile as she looked around her shaking her head. “We can’t believe how quickly you’ve transformed this place, it’s wonderful. You could sure give our brothers lessons. They took far longer to paint one tiny room.”
The men exchanged glances and grinned at one another. Honey’s tone and expression were so admiring.
“Well, it does take a fair amount of work,” the man who’d spoken to Trixie said.
“You really need to know what you’re doing on a job like this,” one of the others, a young man around twenty added, moving closer to the two girls.
“I can see that. I wish you could paint my house. You’re very professional.” Honey fluttered her lashes and Trixie had to stifle a giggle. Her friend was easily the most diplomatic Bob-White, but flirting was something best left to Di. It wasn’t really in Honey’s nature. The young man didn’t seem to mind. He gave her friend a very warm, though slightly amused, smile.
“Maybe we could make an exception and take a look at your place,” he said.
“An exception?” Trixie asked, fixing the third man with a bat of her own blue eyes, all the while wondering how silly she looked. If Honey wasn’t particularly adept in the flirting department, then she had even less skill. The look on the other man’s face made her realise that most guys didn’t care how well a girl flirted, only that they did it in the first place. If nothing else, it gave them something to laugh about with their friends later.
“We only really tackle commercial jobs,” the third man, who looked to around be twenty-five, said, his grey eyes twinkling.
“Oh, Honey’s house is huge,” Trixie said. “The Manor House, out on Glen Road, you know.”
The older man raised his brows slightly. “Now that’s a domestic job we could make an exception for. Maybe your folks want to give me a call, or I could try them, name’s Wheeler, isn’t it?” He reached into his pocket and handed Honey a business card.
She nodded and took it with a weak smile.
“We should really get out of here.” He turned away and they began gathering their things together.
“Don’t you work for Mr. Summers?” Trixie asked, as she glanced over Honey’s shoulder to read the card.
All three laughed and the gray-eyed young man shook his head. “No, we’re sub-contractors. Apparently, he couldn’t get a hold of his regular crew, and he’d already bid on the job, so…”
“So here we are,” the older man finished. “I guess we’ll see you girls again. And put us down for six tickets, it’s a good cause.”
Di and Mart were exploring the stage while Honey and Trixie sat at the back of the theatre, ostensibly to see how well the sound carried.
“Well?” Honey demanded. Di and Mart had arrived just as the three men were leaving, and both girls were anxious to talk without interruptions.
“I don’t know.” Trixie frowned. “I don’t think so, but they were being friendly, and the other guys sounded really cranky.” She leaned closer to her friend. “You sure got them talking, but I think they were a little worried that you might have something in your eye.”
Honey wrinkled her nose. “Fine, so I can cross flirting off my list of accomplishments. They still talked and your own eyes looked a little crossed, if you want to know the truth.”
Trixie laughed. “Too true, but I guess they felt sorry for us, cause they were pretty chatty.” She wriggled in her seat. “You know the more I think about it, the more I’m sure that none of them were the men I overheard, at least not the louder one anyway.”
“So at least we’ve achieved something, and we can tell the others when we get home.”
“Tell them what?” Trixie said, not particularly wanting to recount their activities. “We didn’t really find anything out.”
“I wish we’d talked to them before they went home,” Honey said.
“Gosh, Honey we always talk through things first, just the two of us.” Trixie’s eyes were pleading.
“I still think we should have told Brian and Jim, maybe everyone about what Mitch said.” Honey kept her voice down, but her tone was insistent.
“We didn’t have time,” Trixie said, thinking that she should have kept the details of her conversation with Brian to herself. Honey was going to be super-careful about keeping things from the others for a while.
“But it is interesting isn’t it?” Honey mused, tugging on her long hair.
“I’ll say,” Trixie grinned at her friend. “You were terrific, Honey Wheeler, now and before, very smooth interrogation technique.”
Honey giggled. “Even I thought I was kind of impressive.”
“I should have realised Mitch and Gavin Parkes were related, they both have the same charming manners.” Trixie made a face and Honey’s giggles turned to full on laughter.
“Are you two all right up there?” Mart yelled from the stage.
“We can hear you perfectly,” Honey managed, regaining her composure.
“Well, we would if you actually did something other than wander around the stage together,” Trixie said pointedly.
Mart gave a mock bow and he and Diana quickly ran through an outline of the magic show.
Trixie had to admit that even without props her brother was pretty entertaining. After the two had finished, Di rehearsed her piece and they all watched, transfixed by their friend’s moving performance. The three teenagers applauded loudly at the conclusion and Diana flushed with pleasure.
“You’re just so good, Di, really,” Honey said, her shining eyes testament to her sincerity.
Trixie nodded vigorously. “Just terrific.”
Di climbed down from the stage to join them. “Truly?” she asked. She had spent a lot of time—rehearsing, reading and watching the news, and had even researched other disasters and the effect they had on victims.
“You do know how good you are, don’t you?” Trixie smiled at her friend.
“Well, it’s nice to hear,” Diana admitted.
“I keep telling you that,” Mart protested.
“You might be a little biased,” Di said with a grateful smile of her own.
“He might be,” Trixie admitted. “But in this case he happens to be one hundred percent correct.”
Mart clutched his chest. “Do my ears deceive me? Or did my sister just affirm my singular ability for uncannily accurate pronouncements?”
“She confirmed,” Trixie began.
“That’s it time to catch the bus,” Honey finished, and they all laughed.
As they were driving away, Trixie turned back and was surprised to see Gavin Parkes standing in the car park staring after them. Her eyes widened even further when his nephew joined him. The two watched them for a moment, then turned and entered the Arts Centre.
When they arrived back at Crabapple Farm, Jim, Dan and Brian were all in the kitchen.
“We thought you’d still be out on the preserve,” Trixie said as she rushed in.
“Mr. Maypenny got a fair amount done during the day. A bit of wind and rain doesn’t bother him,” Jim said as he sliced potatoes for French fries.
Dan looked up from setting the table. “So, with the three of us, and Regan all helping, it didn’t actually take that long.
“Hey, were you starting without us?” Mart demanded, with a suspicious look at Brian who was at the stove flipping burgers.
“Starting dinner without Mart Belden?” Jim said with a grin. “We are much too smart for a crazy move like that.”
Mart made a face and moved to stand behind his brother sniffing in appreciation, a slight frown puckered his brow. “You’re already cooking. Have you developed psychic abilities I don’t know about?”
“One, we do actually know the bus schedule, and two, I heard it coming down Glen Road,” Brian said, firmly pushing him back, and away from the stove.
Trixie shook her head. “You are almost creepy sometimes, did you know that?”
Her eldest brother just laughed and threw some sliced onion into the frying pan.
“It smells divine,” Di, said. “I wish I was staying, but someone needs to run me home, as soon as Trixie and Honey have shared the news they mentioned on the way home.”
“Actually, we checked with your folks and you are fine to stay here for dinner.” Dan smiled as he set glasses down on the table.
“Then at least let me do something?” Di begged.
“You can butter the hamburger rolls, and maybe grab the salad from the refrigerator,” Brian said, giving the onions a vigorous stir.
Di nodded and quickly went to work.
“What about us?” Honey asked, looking from one boy to the other.
“You can join forces with your partner here and spill the beans Di referred to.” Brian hooked a dark brow in Trixie’s direction.
As the others finished preparing their dinner, Trixie, with some help from Honey, recounted their conversations with both Mitch Taylor and the workmen. Because she hadn’t discussed it with Honey, she left out the part about seeing the two men in the car park. The others listened carefully to her story, making occasional observations and comments.
Finally, when they all sat down to eat, Jim looked from his sister to Trixie and shook his head.
“Should I even ask what you two were planning on doing if Trixie had recognised one of the voices?” His tone was tinged with frustration and Trixie shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Well, we weren’t going to confront them or anything reckless like that,” she said. “We just wanted to get them to talk, and we did.”
“So it seems,” Brian observed dryly, “I don’t know where to start: the two of you approaching three grown men alone, and from what you’ve said trying to wheedle information or identifications out of them, or with the potential danger of tipping someone out of a chair and onto a hard surface. I’m not too fond of Mr. Taylor, but I wouldn’t want to see him concussed, or at least I wouldn’t want you two having to answer for having done something like that.”
“Oh, pooh,” Trixie tossed her head. “It’s not that long ago that Mart was pulling chairs out from under Bobby, and we weren’t in any danger from those men, were we, Honey?”
Honey shook her head, “No, I think they thought we were cute but kind of dumb actually.”
“A completely understandable response,” Mart said, helping himself to more fries, “the dumb part anyway.”
Trixie made a face. “Mart and Di were right behind us.” She shot Brian an imploring look.
“I have to admit that connection between Gavin Parkes and Mitch Taylor kind of bothers me,” Jim said scratching his chin.
“I agree,” said Dan. “It sure lends weight to Trixie’s theory, though why they’re ticked off is anyone’s guess.”
Trixie smiled her gratitude.
“However,” Dan continued, waving a long finger at her and Honey, “I’m on Brian’s side about you two sidling up to some older guys, even with Mart and Di nearby, you still could have landed yourselves in trouble.”
“At least we’ve told you all about it,” she said, a little annoyed that their revelations had been met with criticisms.
“A very good point,” Brian said and reached over to tousle his sister’s curls, “and for that forthcoming demonstration you two can consider yourselves excused from KP tonight.”
Trixie beamed at him, and Honey smiled too.
“Not to change the subject, but how come we were treated to a Belden-Frayne feast tonight anyway? Where are our hallowed parents and much loved youngest sibling?” Mart queried.
“Bobby has tomorrow off school so Dad and Moms took him to the circus in White Plains, with a reminder that we were not to stay up until all hours, after all—” Brian said.
“Tomorrow is a school day,” they chorused.
“Naturally, knowing our undisputed skill in the kitchen, they turned the evening’s menu over to us, and voila…” Jim grinned and waved his hands expansively over the table.
“Everything’s just delicious,” Honey said, flashing both her brother and Brian a wide smile.
“I figured we owed you a dinner after all the cooking you’ve done around here lately,” Brian said.
“I guess that means no dessert.” Mart tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
Jim, Brian and Dan all grinned at him. “Not so,” said the latter. He stood up and went to the refrigerator. He withdrew a bowl of chocolate mousse and a bowl of whipped cream. “Will this do, your royal highness?” he said placing them on the table in front of Mart.
“I’ll say,” Mart eyed the dessert with enthusiasm, “another one of your culinary efforts?”
Dan nodded.
“Then we’d better rename it a Belden-Frayne-Mangan feast,” Trixie said, and everyone laughed.
They all agreed that the boys had done an excellent job preparing their meal and when they had finished, Mart, with Di’s help, took care of the clean up.
Afterwards, they all sat around the living room discussing their plans for the rest of the week. Finally, Jim looked at his watch. “Come on gang, it’s time we got going.”
Honey, who had pulled something out of her pocket as she shrugged into her jacket, seemed reluctant to move and her brother reached his hand out. “Come on, Miss Wheeler, you do actually have a home, you know.”
Honey’s attention seemed focused on the object in her hand and she exchanged glances with Trixie as she returned it to her pocket. She frowned slightly as she allowed Jim to pull her to her feet. “A very large, expansive home,” she said dolefully.
The other Bob-Whites stared at her puzzled. But Trixie started to giggle.
“Was that expansive or expensive?” Dan demanded, with a laugh.
“Both,” Honey admitted.
“What’s wrong, sis?” Jim asked.
“Nothing, nothing, at all,” Honey said. “You know this is all your fault,” she wrinkled her nose at Trixie, who had collapsed in gales of laughter. “You were the one who brought up my ‘huge’ house. The others exchanged bewildered glances and Jim tugged on his sister’s hand. “Fess up. What have you two done now?”
“Not much,” Honey said, offering him a look that was both pleading and hopeful “Only, how do you think our parents will feel about a paying for a whole new paint job?”
word count: 3922
BSM:MAIN NEXT
Thanks as always to Dana. Most wonderful editor ever. Trixie Belden et al remain the property of Random House. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
