Book 1-Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

Continue Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

     Excitement and a little bit of fear was building in Alex's chest, as he leaned forward in his chair.  Max cleared his throat and continued.  "I went to a conference last week that included the high school and middle school teachers.  Your Mr. Wells was there...."  Alex's eyes were now wide as saucers, and he was listening hard.

     ...."Everyone was at the conference were socializing, except Mr. Wells, who was standing alone in a corner.  I asked the high school principal, Mr. Clower if he knew who the grumpy man was, that was being so unsociable."  "And did he?"  Alex asked eagerly.  "Yes. he did...."  Max said, getting up and then began to pace.

     Alex wondered if his father was debating how much to tell him.  Max went on. ...."Well....Mr. Clower whispered to me that Mr. Wells had been accused of murder a few years ago.  But he was found not guilty at his trial."  Alex and his father just stared at each other for a few moments.  Then Alex spoke.  "Did the police catch the killer?"  Alex asked, his heart beating faster.

     "Mr. Clower said "No." Max said, rubbing his chin with his fist.  "He's  a really spooky guy, Dad."  Alex said earnestly.  "I'll admit he did seem odd.  But Alex, he is your teacher and he deserves respect; and if the school board thought he was in anyway dangerous, they wouldn't have reinstated him."  His father ended with a stern look at his son.

     "Okay Dad."  Alex said in defeat.  But suddenly, he couldn't wait  to tell Dawn what he had found out.  "Just do the work Alex, and don't worry.  I'm sure Mr. Wells is alright."  Max said nodding.  But Alex thought he detected an uncertainty in his father's tone.

     "I have papers to grade."  Max said in an would be cheery voice, and then striding to Alex's door.  His hand was on the knob when he turned back to face his son.  "By the way, you have Mrs. Marks for English, don't you?"  Alex grinned.  "Yeah, I do. She's really nice."  "I met her mother at the conference.  She told me she had a daughter about your age."  His father said slyly.

     "Yeah, Dad ...." and now Alex's face was rather pink. ...."That's the new friend I mentioned, who told me what she heard about Mr. Wells.  Her name is Dawn."  Alex ended, looking at his shoes.  His dad stifled a chuckle.  "Well, that's nice.  You can never have too many friends."  "Yeah."  Alex said, with a crooked grin.

     "Don't tell your mother about our conversation about Mr. Wells.  She worries enough about you."  Max said with a wink.  "Don't worry Dad, I won't.

     The next morning in math class, Alex alternated his glances between the clock in the classroom and Dawn's face; wondering if he could pass her a note telling her about what his father had told him about Mr. Wells.  He didn't get the chance before class started, because Dawn was late coming in.

     After much squirming in his seat, he decided to wait until after class to tell her.  Alex finished his last problem just as the bell rang.  He hurried to the front, handed Mr. Bern his paper and  Waited out in the hall by the door.  When Fletch and Lee came out, he grabbed them and told them they all had to wait on Dawn, because he had some news.

     As soon as Dawn came out the door, Alex grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her to the side.  "Alex!  You nearly pulled my arm out of it's socket!"  She yelled.  Lee rolled his eyes at her.  "Sorry...."  Alex said, almost panting with excitement. ...."But I've got to tell you all something." he said eagerly.

     "What?"  Dawn, Lee and Fletch said in unison.  Alex quickly related what his father had told him.  "Wow!  It's the truth then."  Dawn said in an awed voice.  "And the police never caught the guy?  That's sorta scary."  Fletch said with a grimace.  "Nope."  Alex said simply.  "What does it matter?"  Lee said in an irritated tone.