Chapter 12
Complications
The girls trooped back to their dorm rooms behind Ruthie with sad looks on their faces. Thinking that the thief could be someone from Ridgewest, where their friends Collin, Charlie Zack and Jamie lived, weren't thoughts they wanted to think about. And worse, the idea that any one of them could be involved. Annie shook her head as if to shake off the disturbing thoughts from her mind.
Sheriff Cooper was taking the pen that Beth found to the lab for a fingerprint identification. He told the girls he would come by when he had any results to report. Annie and Beth said a quiet goodnight to Ruthie, Katie and Trisha at their door. The hallway was otherwise empty, the other girls on the floor already in their rooms for the night.
Ruthie had taken a few steps toward the stairs when she stopped and turned. Annie had her key in the lock and Katie had just opened hers. "Hey!" Ruthie called softly. The girls paused, stared at her with weary looks on their faces. "I'll show you your mom's club house tomorrow after classes," she said with a small grin.
"Sure. Thanks Ruthie." Annie said in a subdued voice. "That's great." Trisha said, forcing a smile. Katie just nodded and Beth gave Ruthie a halfhearted thumbs up. "Goodnight girls." Ruthie said, and walked away. Annie, Beth, Katie and Trisha glanced at each other and then went into their respective rooms.
Ruthie felt so sorry for them. She'd hoped that the news of seeing the club house would cheer them up. But it had not. She wanted to comfort them, to tell them not to make assumptions before they knew the truth. But it was past the girls' bedtime and she knew if she had started a conversation, Annie, Beth, Trisha and Katie would've wanted to talk until who knew what time. And then they wouldn't be able to function the next day.
She shook her head sadly as she climbed into her bed that night and pulled the covers up to her chin. Then Ruthie said a little prayer for her girls.
Within a few minutes of entering their room, Beth was in bed with the quilt almost over her head. Annie climbed into bed shortly after Beth, turning the lamp on the stand off as she went. The parking light shone across the twin beds as usual, illuminating the girls' headboards. Annie looked over at Beth who was staring blindly at the ceiling. and blurted out, "Collin and his friends couldn't possibly have anything to do with the theft." Beth was startled by the sound of Annie's voice and shivered under her covers. "Man Annie! You scared me!" Annie's mouth curved up a little at the corners. But she said, "Sorry. I shouldn't have been so loud."
"It's okay." Beth said, getting comfortable under her blankets again.
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...
