"Well, as soon as we...." Sheriff Cooper stressed the word "we...., "Ruthie's gonna show us the entrance that leads to the office. Suddenly a thunder clap sounded, as if to say, "Not today." Sheriff Cooper glanced over his shoulder and through the window at the jagged lightening aiming for the school grounds. "Obviously after this storm passes," the sheriff said.
"Did Miss Leighton know about the secret door? Katie ask. "No. She didn't." Sheriff Cooper said shaking his head. It was silent for a few moments, then Beth spoke. "So is there anything new news? As a matter of fact there is. The thief didn't get all the student money." The girls stared at him in confusion. He chuckled.
"Some parents send their checks a week, a month or months after school starts. About half do, according to Miss Leighton. And some send them months before school begins. These monies are deposited in the bank as soon as they arrive. Of course the thief still got away with a large sum." "Is it possible that the thief knew all the money didn't come in all at the same time? Annie asked.
"That is certainly possible," Sheriff Cooper said, nodding at her. "And it seems to me that that means the person or persons who did this, would have to be someone who attended here or worked at this school at one time or another. How else would they be able to find out how the money was handled? And if, as we suspect the thief used the secret door, well, being a student here or a trusted employee, they could investigate secretly, and if caught find a viable excuse as to why they were here or there."
"But anyone here would report a stranger milling around in the school or on the grounds." The sheriff ended. "Everything you said makes sense, unless...." And Annie was suddenly thoughtful, staring into space. "Unless what?" the sheriff asked, after a few moments of silence. Annie focused on him again, coming out of her reverie.
"Unless, this is a ring of criminals who specialize in targeting schools. Like....doing research on histories to find secret passageways and such. Ruthie even said that this place was part of the underground railroad." Annie posed. Sheriff Cooper and her friends stared fixedly at her. "What?" Annie said, wondering if they thought her idea ridiculous.
"Nothing," Sheriff Cooper said. "Except, impressive." Annie blushed and grinned at him. "I guess that's a possibility." Beth said, trying to sound believable. "Ridgemont is a pretty prestigious school," Katie said. "The library in Waterbury no doubt has a book or books on Connecticut's history, including information on it's schools," she ended.
"It might be worth investigating; find out who checked out books on school's hist"ories and then do a background check on them." Trisha put in. "We could also check our library to see if anyone recently checked out a Ridgemont history book." Beth said. "Those are really good suggestions." Sheriff Cooper praised the girls, just as the lightening brightened the area where the friends were seated.
"At least we would be doing something." Katie said. Annie, Trisha and Beth agreed with her readily. "Well, while you all are doing your research, I'm going to check the office files for disgruntled employees and students who were expelled from this place," Sheriff Cooper said, rising from his chair.
"Dinner's at 6:00 and it's 4:15 now, so we'd better get going." Annie said getting up and throwing her bag over her shoulder. Her friends did the same. The girls and Sheriff Cooper parted at the main staircase. He waved at them heading for the office. Annie, Beth, Trisha and Katie started down the hallway to the left of the office.
The library sat halfway down across from the ballet studio. The girls hurried in and immediately spied the librarian, Miss Massey standing behind the mahogany counter stamping new books with the Ridgemont label.
Miss Eleanor Massey was a tall statuesque woman, mid thirties, with honey blond hair which hung to her shoulders. Her warm caramel colored brown eyes went well with her ready smile. She was helpful and kind and liked by the students and staff. Not wanting to waste any time looking for what they wanted, Annie, Beth, Katie and Trisha headed straight for the long counter.
"Hey, Miss Massey." Annie drawled. "Good evening girls. What can I do for you?" Annie explained what book they wanted. "We have only one book on the history of Ridgemont. And you are in luck, because it's here. No one hardly ever checks it out." She made a face, as if she wondered why that was. Annie felt disappointed. If no one hardly ever checked it out, then it was unlikely anyone here used it to get into a secret room. All her friends were wearing frowns, so Annie thought they felt the same way she did. But Annie whispered to the others that since they were here, they might as well check it out anyway. Beth, Katie and Trisha agreed.
"Follow me," Miss Massey said, leading them down the long main isle. The library had the highest ceiling of any of the rooms in the school. And at the center was a glass dome, 12 feet in circumference. On clear days the sun shone through the many small panes making a multicolored prism. At the current time the girls could see deep gray clouds moving slowly across a pitch black sky.
Miss Massey led the girls to the right of the main isle where "History Section" was posted. Shelves full of books reached from floor to ceiling in this isle and every isle in the library. Mobile steel ladders stood in the middle of each row. Miss Massey didn't need to use the ladder to retrieve the book that Annie and her friends wanted.
The librarian reached up just above her head and took down a thick volume, handing it to Annie. "Do you want to check it out, or peruse it here." Miss Massey asked them. The friends glanced at each other, then Beth spoke, "We probably should check it out." she said, looking at the large book and thinking it would take longer than the four of them had at that time to go through it all.
Miss Massey waved goodbye to Annie, Katie, Trisha and Beth, after Annie signed out the book, and the girls quickly headed toward the dorm rooms. The girls sat on the floor in Annie and Beth's room, laying the history of Ridgemont in the center of their circle. "Okay girls," Annie said, opening the book. "Let's see what secrets we can uncover."
YOU ARE READING
Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives
Mystère / ThrillerAnnie Adams was orphaned at two years old. Her mother's last wish was that Annie be placed in the care of her mother's sister and her husband. Annie was very happy with them on their farm in Hopskinville Tennessee. But at age thirteen Annie learn...
