Chapter Four: What's Going On?
“Someone’s been knocking on her door in the middle of the night, but by the time she gets there, whoever it is has skedaddled.” Trixie leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Brian asked his girlfriend.
“I was going to. Only Miss Impatience here beat me to it.” Honey shifted in her seat and crossed her long, slender legs.
“I thought you said you were going to tell him this evening.” Trixie’s blue eyes were innocently round.
“After the party,” Honey said.
“Well, he knows now. Besides Dan and I…”
“Besides, you and Dan, what?” Honey lifted her brows.
“Maybe I’ll explain that bit after you’ve had another of those.” Trixie nodded towards Honey’s half-empty champagne glass.
Honey frowned at her best friend and then saw the concern and love reflected in those familiar blue eyes. She smiled instead and squeezed her hand. “At least I know I’m loved,” she said.
“You betcha,” Trixie returned.
“This best friend thing is great,” Brian put in. “But what exactly happened? And do you have any suspects? Is that the right word in this situation?”
“Why don’t we just enjoy Di’s birthday?” Jim asked lightly, sensing this was not going to be sorted out in a few sentences. “We’ll call an emergency Bob-White meeting for when everyone else has gone home and go through everything then, okay?”
“Okay,” Brian agreed, but the expression on his face showed he was in full protection mode, and they all knew what that meant.
It was wonderful to all be together again. Helen Belden had a hard time working out who to hug first when she arrived: her beautiful baby grandson or her handsome first born. As there was queue for the baby, she was happy to wrap her arms around her tall son and hear all the latest news. Bobby, now nineteen, was glad to see his eldest brother, too. Tall like his father and Brian, but with Trixie and Mart’s curly fair hair, blue eyes and freckles, he was the Belden who resembled both parents. Now in his second year of college and studying engineering, he was a far cry from the little boy who had longed to be grown up like his sister and brothers. When Terry and Larry, the Lynch twins arrived, he raced off to see them and few minutes later, each with a platter of food in hand, they disappeared.
“Apparently,” Diana said, “there is some game, match or otherwise sporty thing on. They will, they assure me, return.
Philip and Jennifer Lynch, who were about to head off on a second honeymoon shook their collective heads.
“Boys!” said the latter.
“Teenagers,” said the former.
“Were we ever like that?” Brian asked as he laid claim to his nephew.
“We never had the chance,” Mart declared. “We had a list of chores at home as long as your arm, add to that the demands of the Bob-Whites of the Glen, our various studies and hobbies and—”
“Mart, son,” Peter Belden interrupted, dropping his arm around his middle son’s shoulders. “I deeply regret the pain and suffering you had to endure. I had no idea things had been so burdensome.”
Everyone laughed at this, including Mart. “Gee, Dad, you know what I mean.”
“Young people these days!” his mother said smiling.
“Come on, old man.” Dan, who had arrived a little late, gave his friend a playful punch. “How about you and I tend that grill, like we planned?”
“Good idea.”
Diana’s parents had organized the appetizers, refreshments and desserts, but Di didn't want her party to be too fancy, and asked that Mart and Dan barbecue for the main course, while the caterers provided an array of salads. A few minutes later, the grill was sizzling with steaks, chicken, burgers, mushrooms and prawns.
“Mmm, that smells divine,” Honey said, sniffing appreciatively as she resumed her seat at the table Brian and Trixie had secured. “I can smell garlic and ginger and chili.”
“Excellent olfactory work, sis,” Jim said as he returned from the bar with drinks for the four of them.
“Honey does seem to have a superior sense of smell,” Trixie said proudly. “We’ve solved a couple of cases that way.”
“Well, as you usually see things before I do and hear things that I miss, I guess I should be glad to have one superior sense,” Honey allowed. “But I’m not sure about it being this one. It’s fine in situations like this. I am way less fond of it when we’re in an alleyway and the smells are of a very different kind.”
“At least you have a very pretty nose to wrinkle in recognition of said aromas,” Brian said.
“Trust you to notice that,” Jim said, shooting his best friend a grin. “You know, I wanted to talk to your dad, Trix. Do you know where he is?”
“I’m guessing he and Mr. Lynch have gone to check on the scores, and Moms and Mrs. Lynch are probably cooing over Drew.” Trixie said.
“That’s a very clichéd explanation of their absence.” Brian hooked a dark brow in his sister’s direction.
“Clichés are clichés for a reason,” Trixie informed him, wrinkling her own pert nose.
“There are also exceptions to them,” Honey added. “And I hate to tell you that the paternal grandparents were, as I passed them inside, staring at the next generation in his crib with utter devotion, while the ladies were going over the Lynches’ trip itinerary.”
“Huh! How dare you?-messing with my detectiving reputation,” Trixie sniffed and giggled at the same time.
“We can keep a secret. Can’t we, guys?” Jim said.
“My lips are sealed,” Honey agreed.
“I might need an inducement,” Brian said.
“Do my ears deceive me?” Trixie demanded. “Or is the Belden family golden child hinting at bribery?”
“Dinner with you guys tomorrow night. Just the four of us?”
“That’s it? That’s your ransom demand.”
“There’s a little more.”
“Hit me,” Trixie said.
“I have a hankering for beef stroganoff.”
“Oh, for pete’s sake.” Trixie shook her head in disbelief. “I do know how to cook other things, you know.”
“I want what I want,” Brian said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Fine. Deal.”
“And I’ll help in the kitchen with the clean up,” her brother added.
“Knew it was too easy.” Trixie shrugged and nodded. If Brian wanted some alone time it was easier to just give in and get it over with.
“Why don’t you ladies sit and relax while we men grab us some food?” Jim suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Trixie said. “I am comfortable. Steak, burger and as much potato salad and coleslaw as you can fit on a plate, thanks.”
Jim grinned and nodded.
“Some of everything please,” Honey said.
“You and your former birdlike appetite.” Trixie tossed her blond curls in mock annoyance. “How you eat what you do and not put on weight is beyond me.” She watched as the two men crossed to the grill and serving area. “You know those two do come in handy, don’t they?”
Honey nodded her head in agreement. “Couldn’t have put it better myself.”
As the evening progressed and the waning sun was replaced by a night sky filled with stars and a half moon, the Bob-Whites and their families ate and talked and danced and enjoyed themselves. Diana opened her gifts and expressed her delight with each and every one. She was excited when she saw the vouchers for her art classes, promising all of her friends a sketch or canvas. Finally, she was presented with a beautiful cake, decorated with exquisite edible purple flowers. She clapped her hands happily, as her friends crowded around her and cameras flashed, capturing the moment. She had no trouble cutting the cream-frosted fudge cake and distributing it, though Mart did demand a larger slice.
When everyone, bar the Bob-Whites, had gone home, the group retired to Mart and Di’s comfortable family room. It was a large open space, casually elegant with natural stone floors and big sofas in neutral colors, with cushions and throw rugs providing pops of color. A number of floor and table lamps threw warm light around the room, making it even more inviting. It was no surprise to any of them that Diana had eventually found a career in interior design. She had a wonderful eye.
“Now,” Diana said. “I want to know exactly what this emergency meeting is about?”
“It’s nothing, Di,” Honey said shooting her much-loved partner a warning look. “Nothing important enough to hijack your lovely birthday party.”
“That’s not what I hear, Honey Wheeler,” Di returned. “I was under the impression that I was about to get an explanation for, among other things, your worn out appearance lately.”
“What?” Honey’s hand immediately flew to her face. She thought she’d done a good job disguising the hollows under her eyes.
“You look fine, tonight,” Di said pointedly. “Now share.”
The group smiled at the sight of one of their quieter members taking charge. Diana was usually happy to sit back and observe, making occasional contributions, but if she started giving instructions, people tended to listen.
After shrugging her shoulders and smiling ruefully, Honey outlined her experience at the apartment. She kept her tone casual and when she’d finished added, “I know Trix is worried about it, and obviously I want it to stop, but I’m not sure it’s necessary to drag you all into it.”
“All for one, one for all,” Mart said immediately.
Brian nodded. “I know I might be considered to have a vested interest in this one, but need I say, that we have all, maybe me more than anyone, learned the hard way not to ignore Trixie’s instincts?”
“Sorry, Sis, but I have to agree,” Jim said. “Even if you’re right and it’s just some stupid prank or someone coming home too drunk to find their own front door, we still need to look into it.”
“Fine,” Honey held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I will talk to my neighbors.” She caught sight of Trixie’s face out of the corner of her eye and hastily added, “We will talk to my neighbors.”
“I don’t know,” Jim said.
“I’m here anyway at the moment. I think I should talk to them,” Brian added.
“Really?” Honey raised her brows.
“We can handle it,” Trixie said.
“Strength in numbers,” Jim suggested.
“And I think if I’m there then…” Brian trailed off as he looked from his sister to his girlfriend. “Of course, it might be worth remembering that I’m a doctor and Jim is a teacher and you two are…”
“Detectives?” Trixie finished sweetly and her brother nodded. “Look,” she continued, “the main reason I wanted to fill you all in was a) you’re all constantly telling me that if Honey or I are being affected personally by our work, you want to know and b) because if there is something to this, I want you guys to be on the lookout, just in case.”
“You think this might be connected to one of our cases?” Honey sounded almost relieved.
“It could be. I mean I’d sort of put it out of my mind, but we did have that attempted break-in a couple of weeks ago. We weren’t the only ones in our strip,” she added when both of her brothers shot her reproachful glances. “We, and the police, because we did report it, figured it was just kids.”
“Right...” Honey nodded slowly. “So, we’re agreed that you and I will talk to the neighbors, but what if that doesn’t get us anywhere?”
“That’s where I come in,” Dan said. “I know you two well enough to know if anyone seems off, you’ll pick up on it. I can easily swing by the apartment building and do a little unofficial questioning. I’m guessing by now they all know I’m a cop. I won’t even need to show my badge.”
“Isn’t that abuse of power or misuse of your policey thing?” Honey demanded.
“Policey thing?” Dan grinned. “Is that a technical term, my fellow professional?”
“Don’t,” Honey begged. “I’ve had very little sleep and my relationship with words has been compromised.”
“Okay, then we’re all agreed. This phantom door knocker bears looking into. Honey and I will start tomorrow and we’ll report in when we have any news.” Trixie nodded her head as she spoke, her sandy curls bouncing in the old, familiar way.
“In the meantime,” Honey added, “can we please remember that this is a birthday celebration?”
“Happy birthday, Di,” Jim said, raising his coffee cup.
“Happy birthday, Di,” the others chorused.
Mart nodded and slipped an arm around his wife. “And many, many more.”
“Did you have a good birthday, my love?” Mart asked as he slipped into the king-sized bed beside his wife. He had looked in on Drew, who was sleeping peacefully, and done a final check of their home to ensure that everything was secure. He was particularly careful about this after having a party or an event where there was additional staff on the premises. A couple of years earlier, they’d been horrified to find one morning, after a charity dinner, that their flat-screen television and several pieces of artwork had been stolen. Eventually the artwork was recovered, but the experience left them wary.
“It was wonderful.” Diana leaned over and brushed his cheek with a kiss.
“I thought that cake was rather good. Rivaled the one we had in Virginia for your fourteenth birthday.”
“Dear Miss Bates and her hat cake.” Di’s violet eyes lit up at the memory of the trip years earlier. “That was a wonderful trip.”
“Of course, then, like now, we were dealing with another one of Trixie’s mysteries. If there is anything to it.”
“Even if there isn’t, I wish Honey would move back home.”
“Why?”
“I just don’t like that apartment building much, that’s all.”
“Has something happened?” Mart knew that his wife did not have his sister’s instincts or Honey’s ability to discern motives where others struggles to see them, but she did often have a sense about people and places, and he’d learned to respect it.
“Not really. It might just be that it’s just not a particularly welcoming building, but last time I was there I felt like we being watched, which probably doesn’t mean anything other than I’m used to being here with you and the family and all this space and Honey’s apartment has people coming and going all the time.”
“Both of those things are true,” Mart said. “But it must be more than that for it to have stuck with you.”
“I didn’t think of it when we talking earlier, but when I was getting ready for bed I remembered there’s a guy who lives in one of the other apartments and he always seems to be around when Honey and I are there. He calls her Miss Wheeler and…” she trailed off as she saw his lips twitch. “Okay, I can see that doesn’t seem sinister. He’s probably harmless, but I just wondered…”
“If it will make you feel better, I’ll call Trix in the morning and run it by her.”
“Oh, just ignore me,” Diana said. “I’ve been re-reading my Mary Higgins Clark books. They’re positively riddled with creepy men, and I think the guy does odd jobs around the apartment block. Those guys are always guilty of something in books. Honey and Trixie are both investigators for a living and they both worked for the police department in the past. I will leave that stuff to them.”
“And I think they would value your opinion now just as they did when we were solving mysteries years ago,” Mart said firmly, determined that he would share the information. Maybe Di was mistaken, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
“Morning.” Trixie was a little surprised to find Honey already at the office when she arrived the next day.
“Morning, Trix. There are some treats in the kitchen in case you haven’t had breakfast yet. Or even if you have.”
“Great.” Trixie smiled. Her friend was glowing, her hazel eyes were bright and sparkling and she looked…happy. “Didn’t think I’d see you this early. Where’s your car?”
Honey shrugged. “Brian dropped me off. It’s easier if he has the car this morning, and he can come back for me or you could drop me off. Anyway, I was up and ready and I figured I’d get in, sort out anything urgent, and then maybe…” She looked up, her expression hopeful. “Play hooky this afternoon?”
Trixie pretended to consider. “I suppose that could be arranged,” she said.
“Thanks, partner.” The phone rang and she grabbed it. “Belden-Wheeler Investigations, Honey Wheeler speaking.” Years ago, just after her sixteenth birthday, while she and Trixie were volunteering at a summer camp, Honey had experimented with using Madeleine and Maddie, feeling they were more suitable to an adult. She soon abandoned the idea, saying that the names belonged more to her mother than they did to her. Only Brian was told that being called Madeleine reminded her of all those years in boarding schools. Honey was the girl who’d moved to Sleepyside, met Trixie, gained Jim for a brother, become a Bob-White. And, she’d added, when a fellow volunteer referred to it as a “silly name”, that it was no sillier than Peaches or Summer or Lally or Muffin— all names of girls she’d encountered.
Honey made a couple of notes and finished the call.
“I should have said that we can do what you want, provided that your urgent list includes checking out at least a couple of your neighbors.”
“Deal.” Honey beamed at her friend.
“Honestly,” Trixie said. “Are you going to be like this all the time when Brian comes home?”
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s a little peppy. Or do I mean perky?”
“I don’t think I’m either one of those things. Just happy spending time with Brian.”
“You and Brian must have had a wonderful time last night for this mood.”
“Actually, Brian and I were both exhausted last night.”
“And I gather there were no nocturnal interruptions?”
“No nocturnal anything,” Honey said. “This morning, now that’s another story.”
“Oh, please. I was not asking for those kinds of details.”
“Then go and get your treat and let me get on with my work.”
Two hours later, Trixie pulled her SUV into one of the visitor spots at Honey’s apartment building. She and Honey got out and headed for the foyer entrance.
“Is Brian going to behave himself and leave this to us?”
“Brian has gone to have coffee with your mom, then check out the progress on the school. I said I’d call him when we were through and then he and I are going to grab some lunch.”
“Good.”
Trixie waited while Honey inserted her building key and then followed her friend inside. “Do you always need your key? Is the front door ever left open?” The main door and a side panel were clear glass, but the rest of the front entrance was brick, like the building itself.
“Most of the time you can’t get in without one,” Honey confirmed. “But sometimes the door doesn’t catch, sometimes someone comes in with one of the residents, and occasionally people leave the door open when they’re expecting someone.”
“Let’s ask them not to do that,” Trixie said. “And we'll take a quick look around outside.”
The two women went back outside and slowly made their way around dark brown brick building with its white wooden windows, Trixie taking note of windows, shrubbery, the small fenced in yard to once side and the position of the parking spaces.
“Can you tell me why we’re doing this when we’re looking for someone who knocks on my door— inside the building?” Honey asked.
“We’re detectives, we’re examining the scene and being thorough.” Trixie turned and crossed to the fence that ran along the rear and side of the property. One led to a laneway, the other to a vacant lot. Easy hiding places.
“This is all well and good, but it isn’t talking to my neighbors, and I really want to make that lunch date with Brian.”
“Fair enough.” Trixie gave in gracefully and followed her friend back into the building and up the stairs.
The apartment block was three stories high with three apartments on the ground and first floor, and two on the top floor. Located on the middle level, Honey’s two-bedroom home faced the rear of the block, meaning she had no view of the front entrance.
Although Trixie had been to the apartment on a number of occasions, she’d never viewed it with her ‘detective’s eye’ and she examined it carefully—taking in every detail.
She stood now on the landing, studying the space, moving around it, going from the stairwell to Honey’s door and back, a frown puckering her brow.
“What?” Honey asked as she opened the door to her apartment.
“Well, it’s not exactly a huge space up here, is it? I’d have a hard time believing that anyone who accidentally went to your door instead of one of these two, could just disappear without you seeing them or hearing them go inside.”
“I guess not,” Honey said, standing back to let Trixie go inside ahead of her.
“And,” Trixie continued, flinging herself onto Honey’s overstuffed sofa, “if they were meant to be on this floor, then why would they go down the stairs? You said you saw the door closing or heard it closing.”
“Right, but I’m not sure that proves or disproves any of our theories. If someone was really drunk, they might not behave in a predictable way. And if it’s a prank then none of it means anything.”
“Maybe,” Trixie conceded. “But Hon, it’s an odd kind of prank, isn’t it? I mean who gets up at that time to play a joke on someone?”
“Good point.” Honey sank down beside her friend. “We can at least find out if anyone in the building works shifts? That might explain it. I suppose I might have upset one without knowing it.”
“You?” Trixie shook her head. “What could you have done?”
“I might have been too loud one night, or parked in someone’s space, or maybe I was rude one day.”
Her friend snorted at this. “I’ve heard everything now. Honey Wheeler is getting hassled by someone she was rude to! I’d believe it was aliens before I’d swallow that!”
Honey laughed. “Oh, Trixie, I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’re never going to have to find out. Remember we made a pact years ago to die on the same day.”
“So we did.”
“Come on, as much as I’d like to stay here lolling on your sofa, it’s not getting us anywhere.”
“You’re not tired, are you?” Honey was instantly concerned.
“Only of people asking that question.” Trixie scowled, but her eyes belied her words and the two stowed their heavier bags and went to talk to the neighbors.
MPD:MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 3850
Author's Notes: Many thanks my amazing editor, Dana. She is both patient and supportive. All errors are mine. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House, not to me. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Brian asked his girlfriend.
“I was going to. Only Miss Impatience here beat me to it.” Honey shifted in her seat and crossed her long, slender legs.
“I thought you said you were going to tell him this evening.” Trixie’s blue eyes were innocently round.
“After the party,” Honey said.
“Well, he knows now. Besides Dan and I…”
“Besides, you and Dan, what?” Honey lifted her brows.
“Maybe I’ll explain that bit after you’ve had another of those.” Trixie nodded towards Honey’s half-empty champagne glass.
Honey frowned at her best friend and then saw the concern and love reflected in those familiar blue eyes. She smiled instead and squeezed her hand. “At least I know I’m loved,” she said.
“You betcha,” Trixie returned.
“This best friend thing is great,” Brian put in. “But what exactly happened? And do you have any suspects? Is that the right word in this situation?”
“Why don’t we just enjoy Di’s birthday?” Jim asked lightly, sensing this was not going to be sorted out in a few sentences. “We’ll call an emergency Bob-White meeting for when everyone else has gone home and go through everything then, okay?”
“Okay,” Brian agreed, but the expression on his face showed he was in full protection mode, and they all knew what that meant.
It was wonderful to all be together again. Helen Belden had a hard time working out who to hug first when she arrived: her beautiful baby grandson or her handsome first born. As there was queue for the baby, she was happy to wrap her arms around her tall son and hear all the latest news. Bobby, now nineteen, was glad to see his eldest brother, too. Tall like his father and Brian, but with Trixie and Mart’s curly fair hair, blue eyes and freckles, he was the Belden who resembled both parents. Now in his second year of college and studying engineering, he was a far cry from the little boy who had longed to be grown up like his sister and brothers. When Terry and Larry, the Lynch twins arrived, he raced off to see them and few minutes later, each with a platter of food in hand, they disappeared.
“Apparently,” Diana said, “there is some game, match or otherwise sporty thing on. They will, they assure me, return.
Philip and Jennifer Lynch, who were about to head off on a second honeymoon shook their collective heads.
“Boys!” said the latter.
“Teenagers,” said the former.
“Were we ever like that?” Brian asked as he laid claim to his nephew.
“We never had the chance,” Mart declared. “We had a list of chores at home as long as your arm, add to that the demands of the Bob-Whites of the Glen, our various studies and hobbies and—”
“Mart, son,” Peter Belden interrupted, dropping his arm around his middle son’s shoulders. “I deeply regret the pain and suffering you had to endure. I had no idea things had been so burdensome.”
Everyone laughed at this, including Mart. “Gee, Dad, you know what I mean.”
“Young people these days!” his mother said smiling.
“Come on, old man.” Dan, who had arrived a little late, gave his friend a playful punch. “How about you and I tend that grill, like we planned?”
“Good idea.”
Diana’s parents had organized the appetizers, refreshments and desserts, but Di didn't want her party to be too fancy, and asked that Mart and Dan barbecue for the main course, while the caterers provided an array of salads. A few minutes later, the grill was sizzling with steaks, chicken, burgers, mushrooms and prawns.
“Mmm, that smells divine,” Honey said, sniffing appreciatively as she resumed her seat at the table Brian and Trixie had secured. “I can smell garlic and ginger and chili.”
“Excellent olfactory work, sis,” Jim said as he returned from the bar with drinks for the four of them.
“Honey does seem to have a superior sense of smell,” Trixie said proudly. “We’ve solved a couple of cases that way.”
“Well, as you usually see things before I do and hear things that I miss, I guess I should be glad to have one superior sense,” Honey allowed. “But I’m not sure about it being this one. It’s fine in situations like this. I am way less fond of it when we’re in an alleyway and the smells are of a very different kind.”
“At least you have a very pretty nose to wrinkle in recognition of said aromas,” Brian said.
“Trust you to notice that,” Jim said, shooting his best friend a grin. “You know, I wanted to talk to your dad, Trix. Do you know where he is?”
“I’m guessing he and Mr. Lynch have gone to check on the scores, and Moms and Mrs. Lynch are probably cooing over Drew.” Trixie said.
“That’s a very clichéd explanation of their absence.” Brian hooked a dark brow in his sister’s direction.
“Clichés are clichés for a reason,” Trixie informed him, wrinkling her own pert nose.
“There are also exceptions to them,” Honey added. “And I hate to tell you that the paternal grandparents were, as I passed them inside, staring at the next generation in his crib with utter devotion, while the ladies were going over the Lynches’ trip itinerary.”
“Huh! How dare you?-messing with my detectiving reputation,” Trixie sniffed and giggled at the same time.
“We can keep a secret. Can’t we, guys?” Jim said.
“My lips are sealed,” Honey agreed.
“I might need an inducement,” Brian said.
“Do my ears deceive me?” Trixie demanded. “Or is the Belden family golden child hinting at bribery?”
“Dinner with you guys tomorrow night. Just the four of us?”
“That’s it? That’s your ransom demand.”
“There’s a little more.”
“Hit me,” Trixie said.
“I have a hankering for beef stroganoff.”
“Oh, for pete’s sake.” Trixie shook her head in disbelief. “I do know how to cook other things, you know.”
“I want what I want,” Brian said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Fine. Deal.”
“And I’ll help in the kitchen with the clean up,” her brother added.
“Knew it was too easy.” Trixie shrugged and nodded. If Brian wanted some alone time it was easier to just give in and get it over with.
“Why don’t you ladies sit and relax while we men grab us some food?” Jim suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Trixie said. “I am comfortable. Steak, burger and as much potato salad and coleslaw as you can fit on a plate, thanks.”
Jim grinned and nodded.
“Some of everything please,” Honey said.
“You and your former birdlike appetite.” Trixie tossed her blond curls in mock annoyance. “How you eat what you do and not put on weight is beyond me.” She watched as the two men crossed to the grill and serving area. “You know those two do come in handy, don’t they?”
Honey nodded her head in agreement. “Couldn’t have put it better myself.”
As the evening progressed and the waning sun was replaced by a night sky filled with stars and a half moon, the Bob-Whites and their families ate and talked and danced and enjoyed themselves. Diana opened her gifts and expressed her delight with each and every one. She was excited when she saw the vouchers for her art classes, promising all of her friends a sketch or canvas. Finally, she was presented with a beautiful cake, decorated with exquisite edible purple flowers. She clapped her hands happily, as her friends crowded around her and cameras flashed, capturing the moment. She had no trouble cutting the cream-frosted fudge cake and distributing it, though Mart did demand a larger slice.
When everyone, bar the Bob-Whites, had gone home, the group retired to Mart and Di’s comfortable family room. It was a large open space, casually elegant with natural stone floors and big sofas in neutral colors, with cushions and throw rugs providing pops of color. A number of floor and table lamps threw warm light around the room, making it even more inviting. It was no surprise to any of them that Diana had eventually found a career in interior design. She had a wonderful eye.
“Now,” Diana said. “I want to know exactly what this emergency meeting is about?”
“It’s nothing, Di,” Honey said shooting her much-loved partner a warning look. “Nothing important enough to hijack your lovely birthday party.”
“That’s not what I hear, Honey Wheeler,” Di returned. “I was under the impression that I was about to get an explanation for, among other things, your worn out appearance lately.”
“What?” Honey’s hand immediately flew to her face. She thought she’d done a good job disguising the hollows under her eyes.
“You look fine, tonight,” Di said pointedly. “Now share.”
The group smiled at the sight of one of their quieter members taking charge. Diana was usually happy to sit back and observe, making occasional contributions, but if she started giving instructions, people tended to listen.
After shrugging her shoulders and smiling ruefully, Honey outlined her experience at the apartment. She kept her tone casual and when she’d finished added, “I know Trix is worried about it, and obviously I want it to stop, but I’m not sure it’s necessary to drag you all into it.”
“All for one, one for all,” Mart said immediately.
Brian nodded. “I know I might be considered to have a vested interest in this one, but need I say, that we have all, maybe me more than anyone, learned the hard way not to ignore Trixie’s instincts?”
“Sorry, Sis, but I have to agree,” Jim said. “Even if you’re right and it’s just some stupid prank or someone coming home too drunk to find their own front door, we still need to look into it.”
“Fine,” Honey held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I will talk to my neighbors.” She caught sight of Trixie’s face out of the corner of her eye and hastily added, “We will talk to my neighbors.”
“I don’t know,” Jim said.
“I’m here anyway at the moment. I think I should talk to them,” Brian added.
“Really?” Honey raised her brows.
“We can handle it,” Trixie said.
“Strength in numbers,” Jim suggested.
“And I think if I’m there then…” Brian trailed off as he looked from his sister to his girlfriend. “Of course, it might be worth remembering that I’m a doctor and Jim is a teacher and you two are…”
“Detectives?” Trixie finished sweetly and her brother nodded. “Look,” she continued, “the main reason I wanted to fill you all in was a) you’re all constantly telling me that if Honey or I are being affected personally by our work, you want to know and b) because if there is something to this, I want you guys to be on the lookout, just in case.”
“You think this might be connected to one of our cases?” Honey sounded almost relieved.
“It could be. I mean I’d sort of put it out of my mind, but we did have that attempted break-in a couple of weeks ago. We weren’t the only ones in our strip,” she added when both of her brothers shot her reproachful glances. “We, and the police, because we did report it, figured it was just kids.”
“Right...” Honey nodded slowly. “So, we’re agreed that you and I will talk to the neighbors, but what if that doesn’t get us anywhere?”
“That’s where I come in,” Dan said. “I know you two well enough to know if anyone seems off, you’ll pick up on it. I can easily swing by the apartment building and do a little unofficial questioning. I’m guessing by now they all know I’m a cop. I won’t even need to show my badge.”
“Isn’t that abuse of power or misuse of your policey thing?” Honey demanded.
“Policey thing?” Dan grinned. “Is that a technical term, my fellow professional?”
“Don’t,” Honey begged. “I’ve had very little sleep and my relationship with words has been compromised.”
“Okay, then we’re all agreed. This phantom door knocker bears looking into. Honey and I will start tomorrow and we’ll report in when we have any news.” Trixie nodded her head as she spoke, her sandy curls bouncing in the old, familiar way.
“In the meantime,” Honey added, “can we please remember that this is a birthday celebration?”
“Happy birthday, Di,” Jim said, raising his coffee cup.
“Happy birthday, Di,” the others chorused.
Mart nodded and slipped an arm around his wife. “And many, many more.”
“Did you have a good birthday, my love?” Mart asked as he slipped into the king-sized bed beside his wife. He had looked in on Drew, who was sleeping peacefully, and done a final check of their home to ensure that everything was secure. He was particularly careful about this after having a party or an event where there was additional staff on the premises. A couple of years earlier, they’d been horrified to find one morning, after a charity dinner, that their flat-screen television and several pieces of artwork had been stolen. Eventually the artwork was recovered, but the experience left them wary.
“It was wonderful.” Diana leaned over and brushed his cheek with a kiss.
“I thought that cake was rather good. Rivaled the one we had in Virginia for your fourteenth birthday.”
“Dear Miss Bates and her hat cake.” Di’s violet eyes lit up at the memory of the trip years earlier. “That was a wonderful trip.”
“Of course, then, like now, we were dealing with another one of Trixie’s mysteries. If there is anything to it.”
“Even if there isn’t, I wish Honey would move back home.”
“Why?”
“I just don’t like that apartment building much, that’s all.”
“Has something happened?” Mart knew that his wife did not have his sister’s instincts or Honey’s ability to discern motives where others struggles to see them, but she did often have a sense about people and places, and he’d learned to respect it.
“Not really. It might just be that it’s just not a particularly welcoming building, but last time I was there I felt like we being watched, which probably doesn’t mean anything other than I’m used to being here with you and the family and all this space and Honey’s apartment has people coming and going all the time.”
“Both of those things are true,” Mart said. “But it must be more than that for it to have stuck with you.”
“I didn’t think of it when we talking earlier, but when I was getting ready for bed I remembered there’s a guy who lives in one of the other apartments and he always seems to be around when Honey and I are there. He calls her Miss Wheeler and…” she trailed off as she saw his lips twitch. “Okay, I can see that doesn’t seem sinister. He’s probably harmless, but I just wondered…”
“If it will make you feel better, I’ll call Trix in the morning and run it by her.”
“Oh, just ignore me,” Diana said. “I’ve been re-reading my Mary Higgins Clark books. They’re positively riddled with creepy men, and I think the guy does odd jobs around the apartment block. Those guys are always guilty of something in books. Honey and Trixie are both investigators for a living and they both worked for the police department in the past. I will leave that stuff to them.”
“And I think they would value your opinion now just as they did when we were solving mysteries years ago,” Mart said firmly, determined that he would share the information. Maybe Di was mistaken, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
“Morning.” Trixie was a little surprised to find Honey already at the office when she arrived the next day.
“Morning, Trix. There are some treats in the kitchen in case you haven’t had breakfast yet. Or even if you have.”
“Great.” Trixie smiled. Her friend was glowing, her hazel eyes were bright and sparkling and she looked…happy. “Didn’t think I’d see you this early. Where’s your car?”
Honey shrugged. “Brian dropped me off. It’s easier if he has the car this morning, and he can come back for me or you could drop me off. Anyway, I was up and ready and I figured I’d get in, sort out anything urgent, and then maybe…” She looked up, her expression hopeful. “Play hooky this afternoon?”
Trixie pretended to consider. “I suppose that could be arranged,” she said.
“Thanks, partner.” The phone rang and she grabbed it. “Belden-Wheeler Investigations, Honey Wheeler speaking.” Years ago, just after her sixteenth birthday, while she and Trixie were volunteering at a summer camp, Honey had experimented with using Madeleine and Maddie, feeling they were more suitable to an adult. She soon abandoned the idea, saying that the names belonged more to her mother than they did to her. Only Brian was told that being called Madeleine reminded her of all those years in boarding schools. Honey was the girl who’d moved to Sleepyside, met Trixie, gained Jim for a brother, become a Bob-White. And, she’d added, when a fellow volunteer referred to it as a “silly name”, that it was no sillier than Peaches or Summer or Lally or Muffin— all names of girls she’d encountered.
Honey made a couple of notes and finished the call.
“I should have said that we can do what you want, provided that your urgent list includes checking out at least a couple of your neighbors.”
“Deal.” Honey beamed at her friend.
“Honestly,” Trixie said. “Are you going to be like this all the time when Brian comes home?”
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s a little peppy. Or do I mean perky?”
“I don’t think I’m either one of those things. Just happy spending time with Brian.”
“You and Brian must have had a wonderful time last night for this mood.”
“Actually, Brian and I were both exhausted last night.”
“And I gather there were no nocturnal interruptions?”
“No nocturnal anything,” Honey said. “This morning, now that’s another story.”
“Oh, please. I was not asking for those kinds of details.”
“Then go and get your treat and let me get on with my work.”
Two hours later, Trixie pulled her SUV into one of the visitor spots at Honey’s apartment building. She and Honey got out and headed for the foyer entrance.
“Is Brian going to behave himself and leave this to us?”
“Brian has gone to have coffee with your mom, then check out the progress on the school. I said I’d call him when we were through and then he and I are going to grab some lunch.”
“Good.”
Trixie waited while Honey inserted her building key and then followed her friend inside. “Do you always need your key? Is the front door ever left open?” The main door and a side panel were clear glass, but the rest of the front entrance was brick, like the building itself.
“Most of the time you can’t get in without one,” Honey confirmed. “But sometimes the door doesn’t catch, sometimes someone comes in with one of the residents, and occasionally people leave the door open when they’re expecting someone.”
“Let’s ask them not to do that,” Trixie said. “And we'll take a quick look around outside.”
The two women went back outside and slowly made their way around dark brown brick building with its white wooden windows, Trixie taking note of windows, shrubbery, the small fenced in yard to once side and the position of the parking spaces.
“Can you tell me why we’re doing this when we’re looking for someone who knocks on my door— inside the building?” Honey asked.
“We’re detectives, we’re examining the scene and being thorough.” Trixie turned and crossed to the fence that ran along the rear and side of the property. One led to a laneway, the other to a vacant lot. Easy hiding places.
“This is all well and good, but it isn’t talking to my neighbors, and I really want to make that lunch date with Brian.”
“Fair enough.” Trixie gave in gracefully and followed her friend back into the building and up the stairs.
The apartment block was three stories high with three apartments on the ground and first floor, and two on the top floor. Located on the middle level, Honey’s two-bedroom home faced the rear of the block, meaning she had no view of the front entrance.
Although Trixie had been to the apartment on a number of occasions, she’d never viewed it with her ‘detective’s eye’ and she examined it carefully—taking in every detail.
She stood now on the landing, studying the space, moving around it, going from the stairwell to Honey’s door and back, a frown puckering her brow.
“What?” Honey asked as she opened the door to her apartment.
“Well, it’s not exactly a huge space up here, is it? I’d have a hard time believing that anyone who accidentally went to your door instead of one of these two, could just disappear without you seeing them or hearing them go inside.”
“I guess not,” Honey said, standing back to let Trixie go inside ahead of her.
“And,” Trixie continued, flinging herself onto Honey’s overstuffed sofa, “if they were meant to be on this floor, then why would they go down the stairs? You said you saw the door closing or heard it closing.”
“Right, but I’m not sure that proves or disproves any of our theories. If someone was really drunk, they might not behave in a predictable way. And if it’s a prank then none of it means anything.”
“Maybe,” Trixie conceded. “But Hon, it’s an odd kind of prank, isn’t it? I mean who gets up at that time to play a joke on someone?”
“Good point.” Honey sank down beside her friend. “We can at least find out if anyone in the building works shifts? That might explain it. I suppose I might have upset one without knowing it.”
“You?” Trixie shook her head. “What could you have done?”
“I might have been too loud one night, or parked in someone’s space, or maybe I was rude one day.”
Her friend snorted at this. “I’ve heard everything now. Honey Wheeler is getting hassled by someone she was rude to! I’d believe it was aliens before I’d swallow that!”
Honey laughed. “Oh, Trixie, I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’re never going to have to find out. Remember we made a pact years ago to die on the same day.”
“So we did.”
“Come on, as much as I’d like to stay here lolling on your sofa, it’s not getting us anywhere.”
“You’re not tired, are you?” Honey was instantly concerned.
“Only of people asking that question.” Trixie scowled, but her eyes belied her words and the two stowed their heavier bags and went to talk to the neighbors.
MPD:MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 3850
Author's Notes: Many thanks my amazing editor, Dana. She is both patient and supportive. All errors are mine. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House, not to me. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
