Book 1-Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

Continue Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

     "What was Fairling like?"  Fletch asked, chewing on another gooey cookie.  "It's really small, but nice.  It has the coolest swimming hole, and all these rocky hills to climb on and....... Alex's words faded away.  He didn't want to talk about his hometown anymore.  The memories were still too painful.  So, he quickly asked a question of his own.  "How long have you lived here Fletch?"

     "All my life."  Fletch answered, stuffing another cookie in his mouth.  "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"  Alex continued.   "Yeah.  Sam and Matt are twins, but not identical.  Matt is taller and has dark brown hair and eyes, where Sam's got blond hair and blue eyes.  They're a year older than me."  Fletch took a deep breath.  "I have an older brother, his name is Ryan.  He's  eighteen, and graduated this year.

     Fletch took another deep breath and went on.  "My Dad works at the First National Bank.  He's a vice president.  And Mom is a nurse at the hospital.   And that's pretty much it."  He said with a smile and throwing another cookie in his open mouth.  "Three brothers!  I bet you get teased a lot huh?"  Alex said with a crooked grin.

     "Yeah, a little."  Fletch admitted with a shrug.  "But I hardly ever get picked on by anyone else.   All the bullies are afraid of Ryan.  He's really tall and muscular and can beat up anybody."  Fletch said proudly.  Alex grinned and looked over at Lee for confirmation.   "He's right!"  Lee said.   " Ryan's a scary dude, if you mess with his brothers."   Fletch nodded in agreement.

     Alex was glad the conversation wasn't focusing on him anymore, and quickly asked another question, to keep it going.  "So Lee, you said you moved here a year ago, from where exactly?"  "Chicago, State street.  It was great living there, so much to do.  Like museums, the aquarium,  Cubs baseball games.  I don't have as much to say as Fletch did.  I'm an only child."

     "But my Dad is the building commissioner here and Mom does charity work,  and otherwise stays home and gardens and stuff.  And I don't mind being an only child, because I get more presents at Christmas."  He ended with a toothy grin.   Alex and Fletch laughed heartily.  Lee suddenly stopped short.  "This is North Side, where we all will be going in September."

     The school was just two blocks  from the heart of the city.  As the friends were standing on the sidewalk staring at the large two-story building that spanned a city block, ( including the land attached to it,)  Fletch swallowed a large chunk of cookie, and promptly choked.  Alex patted him on the back.  With eyes watering, Fletch asked Lee,  "Tell me why we aren't riding our bikes to take this tour."  His voice was hoarse from his choking episode.

     " Well, for one thing, you can't ride a bike and eat cookies at the same time."  He said, rolling his eyes.  Alex chuckled.  "And two,  I wouldn't be heard over the city noises and Alex would miss out on my fascinating explanations of all the sights....... if we were on bicycles."  Lee ended in a superior tone.  Alex laughed out loud and Fletch shrugged and said, "Just thought I'd ask," tossing another cookie in his mouth.

     When the boys reached a wide bubbling waterfall at a bridge on the edge of the city, Lee stopped short.  Alex bumped into him.  Lee ignored the bump and announced, "Well, we're here!"  In front of them stretched the city of Elkhart with it's tree-lined streets and with the exception of a few, wide squat buildings.   Alex immediately leaned over the wooden railing of the bridge and looked down on the falls below.

     Lee was still talking and gesturing towards the large bank building across the street, and Fletch was peering over the other side of the bridge looking for fish,  when he and Lee heard a loud cracking noise and an equally loud scream!  Lee quickly turned to see Alex tumbling through a now gaping hole in the wooden railing into the rushing water below.