Chapter Two
Trixie was up at dawn as usual, and downstairs in the kitchen, looking through the refrigerator when a quiet voice asked, “Who’re you?” Startled, she turned, to see a slender young man in his teens with damp, dark hair combed down, wearing faded jeans and an old sweater. “Oh, I’m Trixie. Trixie Belden,” she smiled at the youth who didn’t smile back. “You must be one of the students.” “Wesley.” “Do you want some juice?” she offered, pouring a glass. This would be one of the more stubborn boys, she knew. He had the same sullen look Jim had the day she met him. “No.” “Can I get you anything to eat?” “No. Miss Diana will be here soon. I’m on the breakfast team.” “You like to cook?” she smiled at him. In a few more years, he would be a real looker, once he dropped the attitude. “No.” Trixie tried not to laugh. “Do you like mysteries?” “No.” “Do you like anything?” “No.” “So why are you here?” she asked, leaning against the counter. He shrugged. “Well, when you decide to act like a friendly human being, let me know,” she winked at him to make sure eye knew she was joking, and strolled out of the kitchen. Wesley stared after the pretty blonde. It was the blonde from the picture on Old Frayne’s desk that he was hugging. He had overheard the Brothers Belden talking, and figured it had to be their sister. Besides, she looked so much like Mart it was almost scary, but way prettier, he thought. And there was some big scandal, something about Old Frayne still being in love with her. “Good morning, Wesley,” Diana appeared and gave him a sunny smile. Wesley just nodded to her. He hated perky people in the morning. *** The girls got the full tour that morning. The lake was frozen over for the winter, and there was a snug lake house with a garage that held all of the equipment for the year round sports. A kitchen and living room were included. The stables were enormous, with seven well-bred horses. The vegetable gardens and cornfields were covered over with black plastic to help protect the soil from snow. Trails wound through the heavy forest, marked with blue, red and yellow flags, each color corresponding to a name. There were fences along some of the trails, hard to see from the trail itself. Jim kept that land as a preserve, stocked with wild animals. After lunch, Trixie and Honey met with Jim in his office to get more details about the accidents. Honey had a pretty complete list but Trixie asked a few more questions. “Anyone you’ve ever had to expel?” she asked. “They just couldn’t survive here?” “Only two over the years. Keith Miller, from Sarasota, New York, he was in the first group I ever brought out here. And Lance Nelson, from Richmond, Virginia. Miller, I don’t know what happened to him. Nelson, I got a letter from a couple years ago, thanking me for being so hard on him and that he did managed to turn his life around and he was getting married.” Trixie scribbled all this down. “Any disgruntled teachers?” “One. He wanted to be allowed to whip the boys for misbehaving. I had to let him go. These are Mart’s notes, he went down that road already.” Trixie copied her brother’s information. “Anyone in town? You said you got a shipment of rotten meat?” “Yeah, it came in with everything else. Di didn’t even realize it until we unwrapped it, it was wrapped really well.” “Definitely sounds intentional. Have you pissed of anyone at the grocery? Post office?” “Not that I know of. We don’t have much interaction with the town. Every now and then the boys earn a treat to a movie but they’re always chaperoned by Brian, Mart or myself.” Di came in, carrying a tray with coffee, cups, sugar and cream. “Any luck?” she asked. Trixie shook her head. “Not yet. But we’ll figure it out,” she grinned at her old friend and sister in law, who gave her a sad smile. “I know you will Trix,” she slipped out of the room. Trixie frowned. “What cooks with her?” Jim hesitated a moment before answering. “Di wants a baby.” “So? Mart loves kids, that shouldn’t be a prob-oh no. Is one of them unable-“ “We don’t know. I walked in on argument between them, and all I heard was something about a baby and a family. I wasn’t about to pry.” “Hmmm,” Trixie scribbled on her notepad. “Let’s stay focused on the school for right now. Anyone else who would have a grudge against you?” Jim shook his head. “I’ve racked my brain trying to think about who I could made that angry and I come up blank. I don’t have any enemies that I know of.” “Jim,” Trixie said slowly, “I hate to bring this up, but would Jonesy-“ Jim shook his head. “He died two years ago. Mr. Rainsford sent me a note.” Trixie nodded. Jonesy was Jim’s former stepfather, who had beat him mercilessly, which made Jim run away to Sleepyside, all those years ago, to find his great uncle. Instead he found he had a fortune waiting and befriended two young girls, one who became his adopted sister, the other, his best friend. Jonesy had been furious when the Wheelers adopted Jim, ensuring he’d never get his hands on the boy’s fortune. Trixie dumped an absurd amount of sugar in her cup, added a bit of coffee, then a lot of cream. Jim had to laugh as Honey rolled her eyes. “Why not just drink coffee flavored milk?” he asked in amusement, taking his black. Honey added just a smidge of cream and sugar to hers as Trixie made a face. “It’s an acquired taste I’m still acquiring,” she said. Jim just smiled. She looked so pretty, sitting across from him, in a form hugging deep blue sweater with white snowflakes, and dark jeans. Her blonde hair seemed to glow under the light and her eyes seemed even bluer. Just a touch of gloss. No fuss, that was his Trixie. Tomboy grown into a lady, yet still keeping it simple. She had never grown her hair out because of the curls and the maintenance it would require. He didn’t care. The short bouncy curls suited her effervescent personality. Studying his sister however, Jim didn’t like what he saw. But Honey’s hazel eyes looked worn, and she wore heavy layers of makeup, more than just her usual classy touches. Her hair didn’t seem as shiny as it used to either, he thought. She wore a bulky sweater but even he could see it was hanging on her. When they were done questioning him, he had a few questions for his little sister. “Files on students and teachers are in here,” he pointed behind himself. “But I really can’t see one of these boys causing these accidents. Some of them have some attitude, but their good kids at heart.” Trixie nodded, thinking back to the sullen faced Wesley of this morning. “Any students you’re particularly fond of? Overachievers?” “Justin Barrett,” Jim answered immediately. “He’s an orphan, lived here for about three years now. I’ve actually considered adopting him. He was a shy,
skinny thing but now he often takes charge of some of the older boys. He’s fifteen.” “Anyone resentful of him?” Trixie asked. Jim thought for a minute. “If they are, it’s not in front of us. I think some of them admire the kid. He’s very patient with the younger ones, and doesn’t act snotty towards the older ones. Good kid. Todd Sanders is another. Not really an overachiever but very skilled. He’ll be eighteen in March. Very friendly. There’s a new kid, Ron Buchanan. Very shy, kind of nerdy. Got bounced around foster homes before someone sent him here. Keeps to himself unless Justin convinces him to join in.” “Troublemakers?” “Scott White. Wesley Turner. Scott is a real rebel. He keeps Mart on his toes,” Jim grinned. “Wesley isn’t really a troublemaker, he’s just sulky and doesn’t like to do anything or participate. There’s John Banen. Again, not really a troublemaker, but he’s ultra competitive. Goads Scott and Wesley a lot. Tried goading Justin one day into a swimming competition. Thought because he was bigger he’d have more arm strength. Justin left him behind,” Jim smiled at the memory and Trixie found herself smiling too. Jim loved these boys, this life. This was his dream. She was living her own. “Any disgruntled women that you dated in the last couple years?” she kept her voice neutral. “I dated a lady by the name of Cheryl Green, this spring. Only a few weeks. Lives in town.” “Turn anyone down for date?” Honey asked. “Yeah, actually, Peg Nickson, my English teacher. She asked me to have dinner with her one night in the late spring. I declined, said I don’t like confuse business with pleasure. But she’s a real nice lady, Trix. She’s been very professional ever since, never makes catty comments or anything like that.” “How many teachers live year round?” “Three. Peg, Danny Marsh, he teaches the sciences, and Andy Rivers, he runs the stables, but I’d give my right arm to have Regan here. I of course, teach the math and live here.” Trixie smirked at him. He had tutored her through math in high school. “Any of them have a grudge? Other than Ms. Nickson?” “I doubt it. Both guys have been here at least three years. Danny and I argued in the summer about his upcoming curriculum for this fall, but we get along just fine.” “All right, I’m going to get to work. Internet would help,” she forced a smile, “but phones will suffice I suppose.” “Honey, can you hang around a minute?” Jim asked as they rose. Trixie nodded to her and Honey remained seated. “What cooks, Sis?” he asked. Honey shrugged. “I try not to cook, you know that,” she played it off but he wasn’t smiling. “You’re not yourself. Are you in some kind of trouble?” “No, why?” Jim studied her. “Because you don’t look like you.” Honey sighed. “Like I told Brian last night, I had the flu last month and it went into pneumonia. I lost a lot of weight and was out of work for a couple of weeks. Trixie was marvelous though, she kept everything running, sloughed off some files on a new guy we hired temporarily. And Dan came by almost everyday to check on me. Trixie wouldn’t even allow me to set foot in the office,” she smiled. Jim pressed his fingertips together, resting them against his lip. “I’m not sure I believe you. Why’d you cut your hair?” “Jim, I’m thirty one years old. I think I can handle a little cold when two of my best friends are hovering over me all the time. And I decided it was time for a change,” she fluffed her bobbed hair. “I happen to like my hair short.” Jim nodded. “I’m sorry, Sis, it’s just. . .well. . .I worry about you. Sometimes I don’t like that I’m so isolated up here, away from you all.” “I know, but it’s ok. I promise. I’m fine,” she smiled. Jim nodded but he knew he wasn’t getting any more information out of her. *** “He’s suspicious,” Honey murmured, shutting Trixie’s door. Trixie was setting up her whiteboards around the room. “Of?” “He says I look sick. And Brian tried to give me a big lecture last night.” “Honey,” Trixie faced her friend, “you should just tell them.” “They’ll just worry and with everything going on around here, they don’t need to know.” “What tipped them off?” “Brian is a doctor. Jim is just observant. They both say I’m too thin, too much makeup.” “The hair?” “Jim asked why I cut it. Brian thought it looked nice. Neither is knowledgeable enough to see the extensions.” “Honey, they love you. Especially Brian.” “Trixie, when the next round of results come back, I’ll tell them. I promise,” Honey said softly. Trixie just shook her head. “All right. Help me get this stuff setup.” They spent the next hour making charts and lists. Accidents included the rotten meat delivery, poisoned vegetable garden in late summer. Mart had been furious to find all of his lettuce shriveled and brown. Several students had reported missing items from their room, and it was straining relations between the teens. One student had been injured by a falling rock, deep in the forest. Two newer students had gotten lost because trail markers had been switched around. A lone wolf almost attacked Mart and his three students as they hiked one day. Mart had scared it off, tracked it, and found where someone had cut a hole in the fence in the deep underbrush, that kept the wolves off the school land but still on Jim’s territory. There was no cell phone signal up here, but the staff and most of the boys carried high powered walkie talkies that would reach all over the land. Suspects included the three mentioned students, the three teachers that lived in, and might have had a grudge against Jim, and Cheryl Green. “Let’s go. You take the students, you’re nice,” Trixie grinned. Honey laughed. “Ok. Be gentle with the teachers. Especially the woman.” *** The school had been alerted to the girl’s presence, and most were eager to meet them. They had been formally introduced at lunch, and Jim asked everyone to make them feel at home during their visit. The rest of the Family would be arriving Christmas Eve. Then he went into the daily announcements and asked for volunteers to go with him to get the Christmas tree from the pines at the base of the forest trail. Trixie quickly ruled out Andy Rivers, the stableman. It was clear he idolized Jim. Even Danny Marsh didn’t seem to hold their argument against him, though he laughed and said he’d still try to get Jim to change his mind. Peg Nickson, a somewhat pretty woman with sharp features, dark haired young lady of Hispanic origin was pleasant enough, blushing slightly when Trixie questioned her about Jim. “He is very handsome,” Peg said shyly, “But I completely understood. He’s always been so generous.” Trixie didn’t quite rule out Peg or Danny but she dropped them near the bottom of the list. A phone call to Cheryl Green proved fruitless. The woman seemed to have trouble remembering Jim and Trixie got the impression she had a lot of boyfriends. Trixie dropped her to the very bottom of the list, but didn’t rule her out completely. “How’d you end up here?” Honey asked. Wesley shrugged. “It was either here or an overcrowded orphanage. I like the outdoors so I took this as the lesser of the evils.” “How do you like it?” Another shrug. Honey set her notepad down and stared hard at the
youth. “Wesley, you need to give me real answers. No more sulking, just give me ten minutes of time and then you can crawl back to your corner ok?” Wesley glared at her. “Fine.” “Now tell me if you like it here.” “It’s ok.” “Why just ok?” “Food’s good. Most everyone is all right. They don’t pester me to go pray or force me to participate in anything other than the lessons.” “And the teachers?” “They’re all right. Ms. Nickson kind of annoys me. Old Frayne is all right. Doc Brian is kinda boring but not bad.” “And Mart?” “Blondie Belden?” he sneered. Honey bit back a laugh. Mart would have shaved his head in an instant if he had heard that. “Yes, Blondie Belden,” she withheld her laughter. “He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him.” “Any particular reason?” “He caught me smoking pot last year, right after I got here. Old Frayne gave me another chance, and I’ve been clean ever since.” Honey thought of Dan Mangan. The kid reminded her of Dan when he first arrived in Sleepyside. This wasn’t a bad boy, just a lost one. And once he started talking, he was much more articulate than she had originally thought. The next student she interviewed was Scott. “Man, that stuff just happens. No one’s really been hurt, so I ain’t worried.” Honey raised one eyebrow. The boy was sprawled in his chair, long legs stretched out. His hands rested behind his head. “Where were you when the spoiled food arrived?” “Up on the roof, shooting birds,” he replied smugly. Honey raised one eyebrow and made a note to tell Jim. This boy thought himself above the rules. And she wondered why they called him ‘Old Frayne’. “Do you work in the gardens at all?” “I used to. Blondie Belden caught me trying to plant tobacco.” Honey stifled her smile. Mart would have a fit over the name. “Hey can you put in a good word with Old Frayne to get a satellite tv?” John Banen turned out to be the most irritating. “So Old Frayne brought in some pro dicks, huh,” the boy leaned forward and try to give Honey a debonair smile. Honey smiled sweetly. “Well, in our little neck of the woods, we’re generally called private investigators.” “Sure doll,” he propped his hand on his fist and stared at her with dark green eyes. “What do you think of all these odd things?” she asked. She knew how to play this kind of boy. “I think someone’s just out to have a little fun. Got a bit of a grudge towards Old Frayne though. You know, I bet he could have saved him a pile of money by just letting me find out who’s doing it. I’ve offered several times.” “We’ll keep that in mind. Now-“ “In fact, I bet I can solve it before you two girls, can,” he said with an arrogant grin. Honey decided to play along, observing the boy carefully. “I bet you could. You’re such a smart young man and obviously have great status among these boys. Why don’t you keep your ears open and let me know what you find out?” she asked sweetly. The youth grinned. “Anything for you doll. Hey, how about I get Miss Diana to make us a special dinner, just you and me?” “I don’t think my brother, Old Frayne, as you call him, would approve,” she said demurely. And she could imagine Diana’s response! John paled just a few shades as he realized who Honey was. *** They met back in Trixie’s room right before dinner. “Nothing,” Honey sighed. “Jim described them pretty well. None of them seemed nervous, no sweating, nothing. Trixie just shook her head. “This is a weak list we have. I really don’t think any of those boys are doing it. But I also don’t think it’s the teachers.” “Cheryl?” Honey asked. Trixie shook her head thoughtfully. “No, it took her forever to even remember Jim.” “So we’re still at square one,” Honey murmured. Trixie nodded. “Let’s eat dinner.” *** Jim and Mart were taking several boys out for ice skating lessons after dinner. Trixie went along, as Wesley was one of the skaters. He sat on the edge, just watching. “Not a big skating fan?” she asked, sitting down next to him. “No,” came the expected reply. She chuckled. “I knew a kid like you. Thought he was above everything, had a chip on his should the size of this property.” “So?” “So, he was a good kid, and got over himself and made a big success of his life.” “You talkin’ bout Old Frayne?” Trixie laughed. “Yeah. Why do you call him Old Frayne?” “He says Jim’s too casual and Mr. Frayne is too formal, so just Frayne. The name Old Frayne stuck a while back.” “I see,” Trixie smiled. “Can you skate?” “A little.” “Would you skate with me?” “No.” “Why not?” “I don’t want to.” “If I didn’t know better Mr. Turner, I’d say you were chicken,” she said lightly, slipping off the covers to her skates. He flushed red. “I’m not a chicken.” “Then come on,” she stood up and held out her hand to him. For a long moment he stared at it, then removed the covers of his skates and got up. Ignoring her hand he shakily skated out a few feet. “Race you to that tree,” Trixie offered. He shrugged but tensed into position. Jim smiled as he looked across the lake to see Trixie with Wesley. He should have known that if anyone might get through to him, it’d be Trixie. They raced towards a tree when Jim saw panic on her face and she was shouting to Wesley, “Wesley no! Turn back! Now!” Too late, Wesley suddenly lost his balance and went skidding across the ice. Trixie shot towards him, as did Mart, when the ice gave way and Wesley slipped over the edge. Trixie stopped before she followed suit as Mart caught up to her. Trixie screamed his name and Jim was on his way. Trixie whipped off her scarf and threw it to Wesley. “Grab it!” The terrified boy did so and she inched her way towards him. Mart reached them quickly and dropped to his knees. “Wesley hang on,” he ordered, looking up. Wesley was trying to hang onto the ice’s edge. “God, it’s so cold,” his teeth chattered. “Don’t let go!” Trixie pointed to the tree that had branches hanging over the area. Mart nodded and slipped off his skates, scrambling up the tree. One of the other students had run to the lake house for rope. Mart edged his way out on the branch, over the lake. Trixie couldn’t tell how thick the ice was, if she moved much further, she could break it and they’d both go under. Jim had already ordered everyone off the ice. They didn’t have long before Wesley could suffer hypothermia. The student that had run for the rope was Justin Barrett, and he tossed one end to Wesley. The long hook he had brought he handed up to Mart. The other boys and Jim crowded around Justin to pull Wesley out. Mart lowered the hook, trying to catch Wesley’s jacket. Trixie inched off the ice as they pulled Wesley free enough that Mart was able to hook the boy’s jackets. Finally they pulled him out and to safety. Jim and Mart lifted the shivering youth between them. “The boathouse is closer. Justin, run on ahead and get a fire going,” Jim ordered. Wesley was shaking violently with chills as Trixie wrapped him in warm blankets. Justin built up a merry fire, another student had been sent for Brian. Mart had gone to inspect the ice. “I’m so sorry Wes, by the time I realized there as a crack in the ice-“ “It-It’s ok Miss Trixie,
” he chattered, “Most fun I’ve had in a while.” Trixie smiled, trying to warm the boy’s hands in her own. His feet were soaking in a bucket of warm water. Mart returned, looking grim. “The ice was cut,” he said in a low voice. “On the curve, where it wouldn’t be seen until too late. Sawed clean through, Jim.” Jim’s heart sunk, though he had known. More sabotage. Brian had arrived, and was checking Wesley over. The other boys had been sent back up to the school. “That ice has never given way before. And this is the coldest winter yet.” “It was set to,” Mart reminded him. Jim looked out the window, then back at Trixie, the unasked question in his eyes. Could she really save his dream?
Author’s Notes
- A bow to Dana, my editor! Yes, I went and tampered afterwards so mistakes are mine!
-word count 4,011
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