The name of the book was, "The History of Ridgemont Academy." "I didn't know we were an academy," Katie said, while her friends giggled. Annie immediately checked the card on the front cover of the book, and sighed. "Well, if you can believe it," she said scowling, "Nobody has checked out this book for two years." She sighed again and frowned at the others. "So no one recently learned a secret way into the school from using this book," Beth said in a disappointed voice.
"Well, we signed it out, so we may as well find out what it has to say for it's self," Trisha said. The other girls agreed and crowded in as Annie opened the book. The small group spent an hour and a half perusing 200 pages as carefully as they could, but finding nothing telling them about secret doors or rooms, not even those they themselves were aware of.
"Well, there are 300 more pages, but we have to get ready for dinner." Annie said with another sigh. Beth opened the book again when Katie and Trisha left for their room to get dressed for dinner, and Annie was in the bathroom. Beth turned to page 201, the beginning of another chapter and groaned. Then she called to Annie who was just coming through the bathroom door.
"I don't think we're going to find what we're looking for in these pages either. Come over here a minute, will ya?" Beth asked. Curious, Annie walked over and Plopped on the bed making the large book bounce. "Oh no." Annie moaned while quickly flipping through the pages with one finger. "All that's left is photos of the school, headmistresses, professors and students," she said with an irritated look on her face.
"Yep," Beth said simply. "Maybe Sheriff Cooper will have better luck finding proof of your group of thieves at the Waterbury library," Beth said with a smirk at her. "Very funny. You know it was just a suggestion. I didn't rule out the single thief." Beth laughed. "Cool it girl. I was just teasing you." Beth said, still snickering. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just so anxious to have a clue to work on." Annie said with a big sigh this time.
"I know. Me too," Beth said. "Hey, we'd better get dressed for dinner and get down stairs." she ended.
Annie and Beth told Katie and Trisha about the 300 pages of photos at dinner that night. "It's too bad there wasn't anything helpful in that book at all," Trisha said, picking up her burger and taking a big bite. "But maybe Sheriff Cooper will find that disgruntled employee or expelled student that will be a good suspect," Katie said hopefully, digging in her macaroni and cheese. "Don't forget the grudge holding staff member." Beth said.
"Well, at least we know that there were no secrets in, "The History of Ridgemont." Annie said, taking a sip of her drink. "And probably no secrets in a book anywhere else. And if the thief did steal the money via the secret door, it had to be someone who attended here or worked here at one time or another." Annie ended, finishing up her cold slaw.
"Which makes me still think it was a girl, or girls from this school who did it." Katie said, starting on her blueberry pie. Annie's cell suddenly sounded it's tune. "Oh Collin, not now." Beth said with a frown on her face. Annie giggled and answered it. "Hello."...."Well, how you doing Charlie?"...."That's wonderful Charlie. I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks, but I'm just the messenger...." Annie said in a humble voice. Her friends gave her quizzical looks at what seemed an odd conversation to them...."Um, I'm not alone," Annie said sheepishly...."Okay, if you don't mind."...."just continue in the gospels...."You have?" Annie's voice showed amazement...."That's great! Then just continue with Acts through James."...."Okay. You can tell me all about it on Friday."...."Have a good night Charlie. Bye."
Annie stuck her cell in her back pocket as a tear fell from her eye. "What's wrong?" Katie asked anxiously. Beth put an arm around Annie and Trisha just stared sadly at her. Annie just grinned at them. "Nothing's wrong. Everything is right. Charlie said I could tell y'all so,.... Charlie accepted Christ as his savior," she told them triumphantly. "Oh." Katie said on a relieved sigh. "Well, that's great. But you were giving him scriptures to read, and after telling us that Charlie had told you something you couldn't share, well, I thought he was sick or dying or something." Katie admitted, now embarrassed.
"Katie." Trisha said, "You need to curb that imagination of yours." Then she lightly punched her arm. "Why would Annie use words like 'That's great!' if Charlie were dying?" Beth asked her, barely holding in her laughter. But Trisha let hers go. Soon, all the girls were laughing, except Katie who turned red with embarrassment and said shyly, "I guess I didn't hear that part."
"Is that what you and Charlie were talking about at the croquet match, salvation?" "Yeah." And Annie told them about her and Charlie's conversation. She ended with, "But Charlie did read the gospels, and the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart and he said, 'Yes' to Jesus, and now he's a Christian." Annie said, smiling broadly."
"So that's why you don't blow up at Daphne and Patti, cause you're a Christian?" Trisha asked, interested. "Well, I can't do it alone. The Holy Spirit helps me say things that are pleasing to God. I'm just human. I sin and make mistakes all the time. But God is always willing to forgive me. I'm not perfect, I'm just saved, like everyone else can be." She ended.
The friends talked a few more minutes about Charlie's good news, then picked up their trays and put them on Ruthie's cart and went back to Annie and Beth's room to discuss the case some more. "So I was saying about the underground railroad...." Annie started. "That is mentioned in here." Beth interrupted. "Yeah. But it was just a mention. It didn't give any details." Annie finished with a frown.
"Right." Beth agreed. "I wonder why?" Katie said, her forehead scrunching together. "I've watched history shows on TV that showed people taking tours through safe houses, and the guides showing and explaining where the the slaves were kept until they could get safe passage up north where they would be free." Katie told them.
"I agree with you Katie. I can't imagine why that information isn't in this book." Annie said, tapping her fingers on the book. "Maybe the authors, and they are all ex-headmistresses, by the way, thought kids like us would find a way in to these secret rooms, and either do damage, or fall through the floor from corroded wood," Beth said. "Actually, that sounds very possible." Trisha praised her.
"They also may have thought kids would use them to skip classes." Katie pointed out. Annie smirked. "Yeah. They couldn't have had any idea of what good citizens would be using these rooms."
YOU ARE READING
Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives
Mystery / 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...
