Chapter Ten: More Trouble For Honey
There was definitely no one waiting in the car park to follow or torment them when the four locked up Belden-Wheeler Investigations a short while later. It was a Sunday so none of the other businesses were open.
“So, where do you suppose this guy was parked last night?” Dan asked, slipping his sunglasses on.
“I’m pretty sure it was right down that end.” Trixie pointed. “Is that what you remember, Honey?”
Honey nodded and, as she stepped out from the undercover awning, reached into her tote bag, pulled out a floppy sun hat and donned it. She preferred to protect her face from the sun these days. “I do. I noticed there was someone down there and wondered if it might be our client, but we were both visible. We have our light here outside the office, and our cars were parked under a security light in the lot, just over there.” She indicated where they had been as she spoke.
“And he or she would have had a great view of you, whereas you could probably only just make out the shape of the…” Dan trailed off as he turned and strode towards the place the other car had been parked.
Trixie and Honey exchanged puzzled glances and, along with Jim, hurried after him. Dan had come to a halt right at the end of the lot. His expression was one of grim satisfaction.
“No wonder you couldn’t make out much of the car detail. Even if you had been looking, you wouldn’t have seen much.” He looked up and they followed his gaze.
“The light’s been smashed,” Honey said slowly.
“And the glass is right over here,” Trixie said, pointing at the ground. “It’s directly in front of the door to the café. If this had happened before last night, it would have been cleaned up already.”
“Meaning that whoever it was, was waiting for you. Followed you deliberately.” Jim’s green eyes glinted.
“But how would they know we’d be here,” Honey said. “We don’t usually meet clients on a Saturday evening, it was only…”
“Only because you had a call, specifically asking for a meeting at that time,” Trixie said with a shake of her sandy curls. “One of the oldest tricks in the book and we fell for it.”
“I fell for it,” Honey corrected glumly. “You were only here because we’d agreed no solo late night or out-of-the-way meetings with people we didn’t know. How could I be so dumb?”
“How does any of this make you dumb, sis?” Jim asked, reaching out a strong hand and placing it on his sister’s arm.
“Because I didn’t even think to mention it last night,” Honey said. “Because in spite of what happened I didn’t try calling the number back?”
“I didn’t think of it either.” Trixie turned to her friend. “But now might be a good time to try.”
Honey nodded and pulling her cell from her bag, flipped through until she found the call from the previous morning. They all stood and waited while she called. It didn’t take long for her to shake her head and end the call. “Number’s disconnected,” she said. “I guess that proves once and for all that we’re being targeted.”
Dan held his hand out for her phone. “Let me get the number. I can try a trace on it.”
“Disposable cell? Trixie suggested.
“Probably, but it’s worth a try.”
Honey waited while Dan took the details from her phone. “Well,” she said, “having ruined everyone’s weekend, and almost got my best friend killed, I think I’ll head for home and see if I can come up with anything useful from this list we’ve made.”
“That’s not true and you know it,” Trixie scolded. “You can just come home and spend the rest of the weekend with Jim and me.”
As Honey started to shake her head, Jim nodded his. “I agree. And as the co-presidents are in agreement you have no choice but to go along with our plan.”
Honey laughed. “I’ll make a deal with you. I want to go home and run through this by myself. I ran out of there so fast last night that I’ve probably left every appliance on and stuff everywhere…”
None of the others actually believed this, but Jim could see the set of his sister’s jaw, only visible when she had made her mind up about something. “What’s the deal part of this?” He asked.
“Give me the rest of the day to do what I need to and I’ll come for dinner and spend the night.”
“Well…” Trixie said, considering. “Okay, I suppose. One condition.”
“What would that be?” Honey was at least smiling now.
“Call Brian and let him know what’s happened. If you don’t, I will.”
“Fine,” Honey said with a gesture of resignation. “Deal.”
“We’ll see you at six,” she said. “You too,” she added with a nod in Dan’s direction.
“I might actually try and work a full shift today,” Dan said with a laugh. “The chief cuts me more breaks than most, but I don’t want to push my luck.”
“Thanks for coming down,” Trixie said, leaning over to hug her friend.
“Double thanks,” Honey added, following suit.
“You’re all welcome, and you,” he said, patting Honey on the head, “stop blaming yourself. None of this, whatever it is, is your fault.”
“Exactly,” Trixie said briskly. “But we are going to find out who’s responsible and take care of them.”
Brian knew his voice had just reached an unusually high pitch, but the latest information from Sleepyside made him wish more than ever that he wasn’t so far away. Tucking the cell phone under his ear, he crossed the floor of his tiny studio apartment and poured boiling water onto the waiting tea bag. Luckily it was herbal; he needed to stay calm. “Sorry,” he said into the phone, “but I think I’d convinced myself that it was just a teenage prank and now…”
“Dan is helping us look into it. We’ve made a list of everyone we can think of and he’s checking on anyone who might have been released from jail recently,” Honey told him.
He could hear the worry in her voice and wanted to reassure her. Wanted to be there to reassure her. “Are you sure Trixie’s okay?” he asked instead.
“You know Trixie.”
She was smiling now, he knew it as surely as if he could see her. He carried his tea over to the futon that also served as his bed and sat down. “You will keep an eye on her for me, won’t you?”
“I’ve been trying to do that for the past fourteen years,” Honey chuckled. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be very good at it.”
The truth was, Brian knew, that they kept an eye on one another, and in spite of the danger they’d faced over the years, they were both still in one piece. It had to count for something, didn’t it?
“I wish I was there with you.”
“I’m fine,” Honey said. "I hate that Trixie was in danger, but I'm fine."
“I might be able to get back sooner than I thought,” Brian said, testing that theory.
“Really?”
There was no mistaking the eagerness in her voice.
“Absolutely. I can still call in a couple of favors. If I can get a flight, I should be able to get home by tomorrow night, the next at the latest. I’ll check it out and let you know.”
“That would be great.”
“In the meantime…” Brian could picture her curled up on her sofa, a cup of tea or coffee or even a glass of wine on the end table. Her dark, gold hair would be loose around her slender shoulders, and two tell-tale lines would create a furrow between those wide hazel eyes, because whether she’d admit it or not, this whole thing was weighing heavily on her. She needed distracting.
“In the meantime what?” Honey asked.
Brian lowered his voice. “What are you wearing?”
“What am I…?” There was a short silence and when she spoke again her tone had changed. “What do you imagine I’m wearing?”
“Oh, I hope you’re comfortable,” Brian settled back on his futon, in full distraction mode.
*
“Di, don’t look like that. I’m fine,” Trixie assured her friend and sister-in-law.
“Someone tried to kill you last night,” Diana said, her violet eyes clouding. “How can you possibly be fine?” Jim had called and filled Mart in on what had happened, and Di had called Trixie, asking her to stop by on her way home. The July evening was warm, but the arrival of a few scattered clouds that danced across the sky took the edge off of the sun’s heat.
“I don’t think they were trying to kill me,” Trixie said, her expression indicating she was wondering how many times she’d have to make that claim. “It was only because I was trying to see details of the car in my rear vision mirror that I went into the gravel and lost control.”
“Oh, well that’s fine then.” Diana said, folding her arms across her chest.
“I’m guessing Jim or Mart also told you that Dan found out the teenager angle is a washout?”
“Yes, they did.” She didn’t add that she and Mart had encouraged Dan’s investigation, Trixie was a little sensitive at present about what she perceived as people “taking care” of her.
“I think Honey’s relieved. She didn’t like the idea of a kid with that much angst.”
“It’s better to have some crazed adult running around trying to hurt the pair of you? Honestly, sometimes you and Honey are just too much. Trixie, don’t you realize you’re about to become a mother? You have to be more careful.”
Trixie sighed and sank back against the well-padded outdoor chair. “I know I have to be careful, Di. Jim said something similar, though I don’t think he was quite as mad at me.”
No, Di thought. Jim’s too smart to show you how angry he is, but I’m not married to you, so I don’t care if you get mad back. “Well, I’m sorry, but I happen to love you and my unborn niece or nephew and I won’t apologize for wanting you or Honey to be safe.”
A smile crossed Trixie’s freckled face. “Believe me, I do appreciate your concern and honestly, Di, I wasn’t being careless. Whoever it was just started following me. For once, I didn’t leap into danger without looking.”
“But you’re going to take this whole thing seriously from now on?”
Trixie nodded. “I already was, and now I’m more sure than ever that someone has something against me or Honey or the firm.”
“Can I help?”
“You already have.”
“Do you want some fudge brownies? I baked this afternoon and Mart’s been out on a job.”
“As I would hate to see my beloved almost-twin brother grow fat if he had to eat them all on his own, I think I should say yes.” Trixie grinned.
“You are such a devoted sister,” Diana said with mock solemnity. “Sit tight, I won’t be long.” She headed back into the house, turning once to see that Trixie was reclining comfortably, stretched out in the lounge chair, her face turned upwards, blue eyes protected by the sunglasses she wore. Her friend was safe and she was going to do whatever she could to make sure she stayed that way.
*
Two hours later, Trixie sat in her own living room, Jim by her side as she flipped through her copy of the notes they’d made earlier that day. Finally, she shook her sandy curls and put the folder of papers aside. “It doesn’t matter how many times I go over this, I can’t get a fix on any one person as an obvious suspect.”
“You will. I’ve never known you not to work out a mystery.” Jim dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“I’ve taken us all down some pretty interesting side roads in the process though,” his wife said. “Mr. Maypenny, the poacher?”
“So? They do that on all those shows too. How often do they pick the guilty party right off the bat?”
Trixie laughed. “I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or worrying.”
“I was going for the former if that helps you make a decision.” He slid an arm around her shoulders, and she nestled against him.
“I just can’t work out what whoever is doing this wants. They must have known we could fix the window almost as easily as they broke it, hang up phone calls are annoying, but they don’t stop us from doing our job, the same with Honey’s late night visitor, though…”
“Though what?”
“That’s the thing I really don’t like. The apartment is Honey’s home, it feels more personal.”
“Well, there’s that guy you mentioned this morning, the one she dated a couple of times. It sounds as if he has reason, in his own twisted mind anyway, to resent Belden-Wheeler Investigations and Honey personally.”
“He’s top of my list, but Honey prefers Michael Connelly. He did sort of make threats. Did make threats,” she amended—Jim had earned the right to hear the truth. “But he’s an in-your-face thug—this whole door knocking thing is too subtle for him as afar as I’m concerned. I think I'm missing something.”
“Well, while I respect both my sister and my wife, I do know that Honey sometimes convinces herself that people are less dangerous than they really are. She so wants to believe the best about people.”
“Not something you can accuse me of,” Trixie said.
“You’ve always had good instincts, Trix, now they’re even more finely honed. When Honey gets here, let me sound her out. Coming from her concerned adopted brother, she just might listen.”
Honey did at least listen, conceding that the trouble at her apartment did suggest a personal link, however it didn’t particularly, in her mind, narrow the suspect list. She also pointed out that Trixie’s experience was the most dangerous so far.
“Well, Dan’s going to sniff around for Connelly, so if you’re willing to consider my suspect, I’m willing to consider yours. And we’ll look at creepy/wimpy Brett, too.”
“It’s probably someone we haven’t even thought of,” Honey said.
“That’s a cheery thought. What do you two say to a couple of chocolate shakes?” Jim asked.
“I say I’m glad I married you.” Trixie beamed at her husband.
“And I say I’m glad we adopted you,” Honey added, jumping up to give her brother a hug.
“It’s easy to buy your affections, you know.”
Trixie lifted her feet onto the ottoman and smiled as she watched her husband disappear. “I do love him.”
“Really?” Honey said, feigning surprise. “I’d never have guessed.”
Trixie made a face. “Of course, if I keep growing at this rate, I might develop feelings of resentment towards him. It’s his fault I’m in this predicament.”
“Pretty sure Brian would say you played a part. And that reminds me…”
“Reminds you of what?” Trixie frowned as her friend dashed out of the room. “Where are you going?”
Honey was back before she could ask again and she dropped a gift bag on her friend’s lap. “This is your s’prise,” she said with a grin, before resuming her seat in the oversized armchair.
Trixie opened it, her blue eyes dancing with anticipation. She withdrew two tops: one in navy blue, edged in white, the other in a soft pale blue with tiny white stars. They were soft and flowing and she held them up against her. “They’re gorgeous, just like the ones I saw that actress wearing in that movie,” she said. “And I can tell they’ll fit.” She turned each one over, examining them carefully. “There aren’t any labels,” she said slowly. “You made them. You made them for me.”
“Of course I made them for you! You said how you wished you could find something like that. I just borrowed the DVD, took a closer look and then found a pattern that was pretty close.”
“Oh, Honey.” Trixie clambered off the sofa and rushed to hug her best friend. “I love them.”
“I thought you could wear the navy one to work and the other for fun.”
“I love them both.” Trixie fell back down onto the sofa
“Well, if you really like them, you never know your luck, I could make a couple more in different fabrics.”
“Did you hear that?” Trixie demanded as Jim re-entered the room carrying a tray with three tall chocolate shakes.
“Did I hear what?”
“Your sister is absolutely the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“I know better than to argue with that.” Jim set the tray down, handed out the shakes and took a seat beside his wife.
“I hate shopping,” Trixie said, clutching her shake in one hand and one of her new tops in the other. “And I love my best friend.”
“And all is right with the world,” Honey’s eyes twinkled as she sipped her drink.
“Well, it’s better than it was anyway,” Trixie said. “And tonight that works for me.”
*
Honey Wheeler was tired, even though she’d managed to get a good night’s sleep staying with her best friend and brother. She couldn’t quite understand why Trixie seemed so convinced this was all connected to her personally. To me, personally, Honey added mentally correcting her thought as if she’d spoken aloud. It had been a relief to go into the office and work on real cases. She’d managed to track down two of the missing persons cases the Sleepyside PD had passed on to them. One was a disgruntled teenager, fed up, or the equivalent of fed up, with being treated like a child. She’d decided to teach her parents a lesson. Normally, Honey was the soul of tact and diplomacy, empathizing with the person, gently suggesting an alternate take on the situation. Today, she’d lost her temper, told the young woman that if she didn’t want to be treated like a child she shouldn’t behave like one and ordered her to go home to her family and apologize and then explain how she was feeling.
The amazing thing was the girl had meekly obeyed and even cried a little as Honey organized the reconciliation. Maybe she needed to rethink her strategies. The second missing person, a woman in her early forties, hadn’t wanted to be found, and after hearing her story, Honey could understand why. She gave the woman some contact information and called Dan to let him know the score. It wasn’t uncommon, but cases like that always made her sad. Why did people hurt the people they were supposed to love?
Trixie had had a successful day too, testifying in court to help reunite a man with his children. He was someone who’d had to fight to clear his name and Trixie had said seeing his children run to their father had brought tears to her hardened eyes.
Of course Honey knew that there was nothing hard about her beloved best friend—except possibly her head. Trixie Belden-Frayne had earned the hard-headed tag people often applied to her. Honey slammed the door of her Prius and crossed the car park. At least the door to the foyer was locked this time, easing any sense of worry.
She climbed the stairs after re-checking her cell for a message from Brian. He had said he would text with his flight details, if he could get away. She hadn’t told the others he might be making an extra trip home. Partly because she hated it when they felt they had to make up for her disappointment if he didn’t make it and partly because, selfishly, she occasionally liked to have him completely to herself. Still, it wouldn’t be long before having him around would be the norm and she couldn’t wait.
*
Brian grabbed his bag and paid the taxi driver before crossing the street to Honey’s apartment building. He’d been able to call in the favor. His plane had been on time, he’d made the train connection for White Plains and Sleepyside without a hitch, and when a taxi had pulled up beside him outside the station, he’d taken it as a sign, arriving even earlier than planned. The warmth of the late afternoon sun was tempered by a soft breeze, which stirred the leaves of the trees that lined the street. He smiled, thinking it might be nice to take a walk after dinner. It was only a little after four, but Honey had told him she was going to finish work a little early, so there was a chance she might be home. He rummaged around in the side pocket of his overnight bag in search of his keys. But when he reached the building he found the front door ajar.
“Damn,” he said, pulling it closed behind him. Trixie was right; the security around the place was a joke. He dashed up the stairs and pushed open the landing door, a feeling of anticipation building. The fact that this would soon be a normal part of his life had not quite registered and an unexpected catch up with the woman he loved was definitely something to celebrate.
He saw it before he’d even released the stairwell door. Honey’s apartment door was open. He was through it before he’d even had a chance to register what it might mean. There were two brown paper shopping bags lying on the floor, their contents spilling onto the polished wooden boards. He opened his mouth to call out, turned his head and then he saw her. She lay before him, her slender form twisted at an unnatural angle, her golden hair partly covering her face. He flung himself down beside her and automatically reached out his hand to feel for a pulse. Honey was home, but she most definitely was not okay.
MPD: MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 3664
Author's notes: Hugs and thanks to my awesome editor, Dana. No matter how hard she tries, I still manage to misplace commas and occasionally wander in my tenses. All remaining errors are entirely my own. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to my readers. I am so honoured that you take the time to read my story and your comments mean the world to me. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House and not to me. (they should belong to the loyal fan base found here at Jix, but who said that life was fair?) No profit is being made from these scribblings.
“So, where do you suppose this guy was parked last night?” Dan asked, slipping his sunglasses on.
“I’m pretty sure it was right down that end.” Trixie pointed. “Is that what you remember, Honey?”
Honey nodded and, as she stepped out from the undercover awning, reached into her tote bag, pulled out a floppy sun hat and donned it. She preferred to protect her face from the sun these days. “I do. I noticed there was someone down there and wondered if it might be our client, but we were both visible. We have our light here outside the office, and our cars were parked under a security light in the lot, just over there.” She indicated where they had been as she spoke.
“And he or she would have had a great view of you, whereas you could probably only just make out the shape of the…” Dan trailed off as he turned and strode towards the place the other car had been parked.
Trixie and Honey exchanged puzzled glances and, along with Jim, hurried after him. Dan had come to a halt right at the end of the lot. His expression was one of grim satisfaction.
“No wonder you couldn’t make out much of the car detail. Even if you had been looking, you wouldn’t have seen much.” He looked up and they followed his gaze.
“The light’s been smashed,” Honey said slowly.
“And the glass is right over here,” Trixie said, pointing at the ground. “It’s directly in front of the door to the café. If this had happened before last night, it would have been cleaned up already.”
“Meaning that whoever it was, was waiting for you. Followed you deliberately.” Jim’s green eyes glinted.
“But how would they know we’d be here,” Honey said. “We don’t usually meet clients on a Saturday evening, it was only…”
“Only because you had a call, specifically asking for a meeting at that time,” Trixie said with a shake of her sandy curls. “One of the oldest tricks in the book and we fell for it.”
“I fell for it,” Honey corrected glumly. “You were only here because we’d agreed no solo late night or out-of-the-way meetings with people we didn’t know. How could I be so dumb?”
“How does any of this make you dumb, sis?” Jim asked, reaching out a strong hand and placing it on his sister’s arm.
“Because I didn’t even think to mention it last night,” Honey said. “Because in spite of what happened I didn’t try calling the number back?”
“I didn’t think of it either.” Trixie turned to her friend. “But now might be a good time to try.”
Honey nodded and pulling her cell from her bag, flipped through until she found the call from the previous morning. They all stood and waited while she called. It didn’t take long for her to shake her head and end the call. “Number’s disconnected,” she said. “I guess that proves once and for all that we’re being targeted.”
Dan held his hand out for her phone. “Let me get the number. I can try a trace on it.”
“Disposable cell? Trixie suggested.
“Probably, but it’s worth a try.”
Honey waited while Dan took the details from her phone. “Well,” she said, “having ruined everyone’s weekend, and almost got my best friend killed, I think I’ll head for home and see if I can come up with anything useful from this list we’ve made.”
“That’s not true and you know it,” Trixie scolded. “You can just come home and spend the rest of the weekend with Jim and me.”
As Honey started to shake her head, Jim nodded his. “I agree. And as the co-presidents are in agreement you have no choice but to go along with our plan.”
Honey laughed. “I’ll make a deal with you. I want to go home and run through this by myself. I ran out of there so fast last night that I’ve probably left every appliance on and stuff everywhere…”
None of the others actually believed this, but Jim could see the set of his sister’s jaw, only visible when she had made her mind up about something. “What’s the deal part of this?” He asked.
“Give me the rest of the day to do what I need to and I’ll come for dinner and spend the night.”
“Well…” Trixie said, considering. “Okay, I suppose. One condition.”
“What would that be?” Honey was at least smiling now.
“Call Brian and let him know what’s happened. If you don’t, I will.”
“Fine,” Honey said with a gesture of resignation. “Deal.”
“We’ll see you at six,” she said. “You too,” she added with a nod in Dan’s direction.
“I might actually try and work a full shift today,” Dan said with a laugh. “The chief cuts me more breaks than most, but I don’t want to push my luck.”
“Thanks for coming down,” Trixie said, leaning over to hug her friend.
“Double thanks,” Honey added, following suit.
“You’re all welcome, and you,” he said, patting Honey on the head, “stop blaming yourself. None of this, whatever it is, is your fault.”
“Exactly,” Trixie said briskly. “But we are going to find out who’s responsible and take care of them.”
Brian knew his voice had just reached an unusually high pitch, but the latest information from Sleepyside made him wish more than ever that he wasn’t so far away. Tucking the cell phone under his ear, he crossed the floor of his tiny studio apartment and poured boiling water onto the waiting tea bag. Luckily it was herbal; he needed to stay calm. “Sorry,” he said into the phone, “but I think I’d convinced myself that it was just a teenage prank and now…”
“Dan is helping us look into it. We’ve made a list of everyone we can think of and he’s checking on anyone who might have been released from jail recently,” Honey told him.
He could hear the worry in her voice and wanted to reassure her. Wanted to be there to reassure her. “Are you sure Trixie’s okay?” he asked instead.
“You know Trixie.”
She was smiling now, he knew it as surely as if he could see her. He carried his tea over to the futon that also served as his bed and sat down. “You will keep an eye on her for me, won’t you?”
“I’ve been trying to do that for the past fourteen years,” Honey chuckled. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be very good at it.”
The truth was, Brian knew, that they kept an eye on one another, and in spite of the danger they’d faced over the years, they were both still in one piece. It had to count for something, didn’t it?
“I wish I was there with you.”
“I’m fine,” Honey said. "I hate that Trixie was in danger, but I'm fine."
“I might be able to get back sooner than I thought,” Brian said, testing that theory.
“Really?”
There was no mistaking the eagerness in her voice.
“Absolutely. I can still call in a couple of favors. If I can get a flight, I should be able to get home by tomorrow night, the next at the latest. I’ll check it out and let you know.”
“That would be great.”
“In the meantime…” Brian could picture her curled up on her sofa, a cup of tea or coffee or even a glass of wine on the end table. Her dark, gold hair would be loose around her slender shoulders, and two tell-tale lines would create a furrow between those wide hazel eyes, because whether she’d admit it or not, this whole thing was weighing heavily on her. She needed distracting.
“In the meantime what?” Honey asked.
Brian lowered his voice. “What are you wearing?”
“What am I…?” There was a short silence and when she spoke again her tone had changed. “What do you imagine I’m wearing?”
“Oh, I hope you’re comfortable,” Brian settled back on his futon, in full distraction mode.
*
“Di, don’t look like that. I’m fine,” Trixie assured her friend and sister-in-law.
“Someone tried to kill you last night,” Diana said, her violet eyes clouding. “How can you possibly be fine?” Jim had called and filled Mart in on what had happened, and Di had called Trixie, asking her to stop by on her way home. The July evening was warm, but the arrival of a few scattered clouds that danced across the sky took the edge off of the sun’s heat.
“I don’t think they were trying to kill me,” Trixie said, her expression indicating she was wondering how many times she’d have to make that claim. “It was only because I was trying to see details of the car in my rear vision mirror that I went into the gravel and lost control.”
“Oh, well that’s fine then.” Diana said, folding her arms across her chest.
“I’m guessing Jim or Mart also told you that Dan found out the teenager angle is a washout?”
“Yes, they did.” She didn’t add that she and Mart had encouraged Dan’s investigation, Trixie was a little sensitive at present about what she perceived as people “taking care” of her.
“I think Honey’s relieved. She didn’t like the idea of a kid with that much angst.”
“It’s better to have some crazed adult running around trying to hurt the pair of you? Honestly, sometimes you and Honey are just too much. Trixie, don’t you realize you’re about to become a mother? You have to be more careful.”
Trixie sighed and sank back against the well-padded outdoor chair. “I know I have to be careful, Di. Jim said something similar, though I don’t think he was quite as mad at me.”
No, Di thought. Jim’s too smart to show you how angry he is, but I’m not married to you, so I don’t care if you get mad back. “Well, I’m sorry, but I happen to love you and my unborn niece or nephew and I won’t apologize for wanting you or Honey to be safe.”
A smile crossed Trixie’s freckled face. “Believe me, I do appreciate your concern and honestly, Di, I wasn’t being careless. Whoever it was just started following me. For once, I didn’t leap into danger without looking.”
“But you’re going to take this whole thing seriously from now on?”
Trixie nodded. “I already was, and now I’m more sure than ever that someone has something against me or Honey or the firm.”
“Can I help?”
“You already have.”
“Do you want some fudge brownies? I baked this afternoon and Mart’s been out on a job.”
“As I would hate to see my beloved almost-twin brother grow fat if he had to eat them all on his own, I think I should say yes.” Trixie grinned.
“You are such a devoted sister,” Diana said with mock solemnity. “Sit tight, I won’t be long.” She headed back into the house, turning once to see that Trixie was reclining comfortably, stretched out in the lounge chair, her face turned upwards, blue eyes protected by the sunglasses she wore. Her friend was safe and she was going to do whatever she could to make sure she stayed that way.
*
Two hours later, Trixie sat in her own living room, Jim by her side as she flipped through her copy of the notes they’d made earlier that day. Finally, she shook her sandy curls and put the folder of papers aside. “It doesn’t matter how many times I go over this, I can’t get a fix on any one person as an obvious suspect.”
“You will. I’ve never known you not to work out a mystery.” Jim dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“I’ve taken us all down some pretty interesting side roads in the process though,” his wife said. “Mr. Maypenny, the poacher?”
“So? They do that on all those shows too. How often do they pick the guilty party right off the bat?”
Trixie laughed. “I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or worrying.”
“I was going for the former if that helps you make a decision.” He slid an arm around her shoulders, and she nestled against him.
“I just can’t work out what whoever is doing this wants. They must have known we could fix the window almost as easily as they broke it, hang up phone calls are annoying, but they don’t stop us from doing our job, the same with Honey’s late night visitor, though…”
“Though what?”
“That’s the thing I really don’t like. The apartment is Honey’s home, it feels more personal.”
“Well, there’s that guy you mentioned this morning, the one she dated a couple of times. It sounds as if he has reason, in his own twisted mind anyway, to resent Belden-Wheeler Investigations and Honey personally.”
“He’s top of my list, but Honey prefers Michael Connelly. He did sort of make threats. Did make threats,” she amended—Jim had earned the right to hear the truth. “But he’s an in-your-face thug—this whole door knocking thing is too subtle for him as afar as I’m concerned. I think I'm missing something.”
“Well, while I respect both my sister and my wife, I do know that Honey sometimes convinces herself that people are less dangerous than they really are. She so wants to believe the best about people.”
“Not something you can accuse me of,” Trixie said.
“You’ve always had good instincts, Trix, now they’re even more finely honed. When Honey gets here, let me sound her out. Coming from her concerned adopted brother, she just might listen.”
Honey did at least listen, conceding that the trouble at her apartment did suggest a personal link, however it didn’t particularly, in her mind, narrow the suspect list. She also pointed out that Trixie’s experience was the most dangerous so far.
“Well, Dan’s going to sniff around for Connelly, so if you’re willing to consider my suspect, I’m willing to consider yours. And we’ll look at creepy/wimpy Brett, too.”
“It’s probably someone we haven’t even thought of,” Honey said.
“That’s a cheery thought. What do you two say to a couple of chocolate shakes?” Jim asked.
“I say I’m glad I married you.” Trixie beamed at her husband.
“And I say I’m glad we adopted you,” Honey added, jumping up to give her brother a hug.
“It’s easy to buy your affections, you know.”
Trixie lifted her feet onto the ottoman and smiled as she watched her husband disappear. “I do love him.”
“Really?” Honey said, feigning surprise. “I’d never have guessed.”
Trixie made a face. “Of course, if I keep growing at this rate, I might develop feelings of resentment towards him. It’s his fault I’m in this predicament.”
“Pretty sure Brian would say you played a part. And that reminds me…”
“Reminds you of what?” Trixie frowned as her friend dashed out of the room. “Where are you going?”
Honey was back before she could ask again and she dropped a gift bag on her friend’s lap. “This is your s’prise,” she said with a grin, before resuming her seat in the oversized armchair.
Trixie opened it, her blue eyes dancing with anticipation. She withdrew two tops: one in navy blue, edged in white, the other in a soft pale blue with tiny white stars. They were soft and flowing and she held them up against her. “They’re gorgeous, just like the ones I saw that actress wearing in that movie,” she said. “And I can tell they’ll fit.” She turned each one over, examining them carefully. “There aren’t any labels,” she said slowly. “You made them. You made them for me.”
“Of course I made them for you! You said how you wished you could find something like that. I just borrowed the DVD, took a closer look and then found a pattern that was pretty close.”
“Oh, Honey.” Trixie clambered off the sofa and rushed to hug her best friend. “I love them.”
“I thought you could wear the navy one to work and the other for fun.”
“I love them both.” Trixie fell back down onto the sofa
“Well, if you really like them, you never know your luck, I could make a couple more in different fabrics.”
“Did you hear that?” Trixie demanded as Jim re-entered the room carrying a tray with three tall chocolate shakes.
“Did I hear what?”
“Your sister is absolutely the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“I know better than to argue with that.” Jim set the tray down, handed out the shakes and took a seat beside his wife.
“I hate shopping,” Trixie said, clutching her shake in one hand and one of her new tops in the other. “And I love my best friend.”
“And all is right with the world,” Honey’s eyes twinkled as she sipped her drink.
“Well, it’s better than it was anyway,” Trixie said. “And tonight that works for me.”
*
Honey Wheeler was tired, even though she’d managed to get a good night’s sleep staying with her best friend and brother. She couldn’t quite understand why Trixie seemed so convinced this was all connected to her personally. To me, personally, Honey added mentally correcting her thought as if she’d spoken aloud. It had been a relief to go into the office and work on real cases. She’d managed to track down two of the missing persons cases the Sleepyside PD had passed on to them. One was a disgruntled teenager, fed up, or the equivalent of fed up, with being treated like a child. She’d decided to teach her parents a lesson. Normally, Honey was the soul of tact and diplomacy, empathizing with the person, gently suggesting an alternate take on the situation. Today, she’d lost her temper, told the young woman that if she didn’t want to be treated like a child she shouldn’t behave like one and ordered her to go home to her family and apologize and then explain how she was feeling.
The amazing thing was the girl had meekly obeyed and even cried a little as Honey organized the reconciliation. Maybe she needed to rethink her strategies. The second missing person, a woman in her early forties, hadn’t wanted to be found, and after hearing her story, Honey could understand why. She gave the woman some contact information and called Dan to let him know the score. It wasn’t uncommon, but cases like that always made her sad. Why did people hurt the people they were supposed to love?
Trixie had had a successful day too, testifying in court to help reunite a man with his children. He was someone who’d had to fight to clear his name and Trixie had said seeing his children run to their father had brought tears to her hardened eyes.
Of course Honey knew that there was nothing hard about her beloved best friend—except possibly her head. Trixie Belden-Frayne had earned the hard-headed tag people often applied to her. Honey slammed the door of her Prius and crossed the car park. At least the door to the foyer was locked this time, easing any sense of worry.
She climbed the stairs after re-checking her cell for a message from Brian. He had said he would text with his flight details, if he could get away. She hadn’t told the others he might be making an extra trip home. Partly because she hated it when they felt they had to make up for her disappointment if he didn’t make it and partly because, selfishly, she occasionally liked to have him completely to herself. Still, it wouldn’t be long before having him around would be the norm and she couldn’t wait.
*
Brian grabbed his bag and paid the taxi driver before crossing the street to Honey’s apartment building. He’d been able to call in the favor. His plane had been on time, he’d made the train connection for White Plains and Sleepyside without a hitch, and when a taxi had pulled up beside him outside the station, he’d taken it as a sign, arriving even earlier than planned. The warmth of the late afternoon sun was tempered by a soft breeze, which stirred the leaves of the trees that lined the street. He smiled, thinking it might be nice to take a walk after dinner. It was only a little after four, but Honey had told him she was going to finish work a little early, so there was a chance she might be home. He rummaged around in the side pocket of his overnight bag in search of his keys. But when he reached the building he found the front door ajar.
“Damn,” he said, pulling it closed behind him. Trixie was right; the security around the place was a joke. He dashed up the stairs and pushed open the landing door, a feeling of anticipation building. The fact that this would soon be a normal part of his life had not quite registered and an unexpected catch up with the woman he loved was definitely something to celebrate.
He saw it before he’d even released the stairwell door. Honey’s apartment door was open. He was through it before he’d even had a chance to register what it might mean. There were two brown paper shopping bags lying on the floor, their contents spilling onto the polished wooden boards. He opened his mouth to call out, turned his head and then he saw her. She lay before him, her slender form twisted at an unnatural angle, her golden hair partly covering her face. He flung himself down beside her and automatically reached out his hand to feel for a pulse. Honey was home, but she most definitely was not okay.
MPD: MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 3664
Author's notes: Hugs and thanks to my awesome editor, Dana. No matter how hard she tries, I still manage to misplace commas and occasionally wander in my tenses. All remaining errors are entirely my own. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to my readers. I am so honoured that you take the time to read my story and your comments mean the world to me. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House and not to me. (they should belong to the loyal fan base found here at Jix, but who said that life was fair?) No profit is being made from these scribblings.
