Book 1-Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

     Suddenly, Lee begin his taunting again, "Oh, shucks, we missed her by one night," he said, then roaring with laughter, as did almost everyone else; except Mr. Wells who had a peculiar look on his face.  "Actually, I have heard that story before."  The laughter stopped immediately.  "You think it's true?"  Dawn said incredulously.

     "Well, I don't know  about the beautiful woman haunting the balcony, but the woman being found dead in her room is true enough.  Unfortunately, her ten year old daughter found her.  She had been at a friend's house when her mother was killed."  "That's right.  I forgot that part,"  Fletch said.  "I wonder what happened to her?"  Fletch added.

     The waiter appeared with a cart carrying the tables' dinners.  While he was serving,  Alex asked him boldly, "Do you know about this tale of Marina O'Conner?"  The waiter paused in his work, and blinked at him.  Then he answered, "Yes.  I have.  Everyone that works here knows the story."  Everyone cast him interested looks as they enjoyed their food, and the waiter continued.

     "The police never caught the murderer,"  he said.  "That's incredible that in ten years the killer hasn't been caught.  Alex said indignantly.  "Does anyone know what happened to Marina's daughter?  Glenna asked him.  "Melina?   Not really.  People say that a maiden aunt from New York raised her.  But no one knows what happened to her after she grew up.  She would be about twenty years old now," he said with a slight smile.

     He then gave them all a nod and said, "Enjoy your meal."  And with that, he strode away pushing his cart.  "I told you."  Fletch said smugly.  "Yes.  But he didn't say anything about a beautiful lady haunting the balcony."  Lee retorted.  Fletch scowled at him.  Everyone else ignored Lee and begin to discuss what they had just heard.  Soon, Lee joined in.

     At the end of the meal the waiter brought an ornately decorated birthday cake with rich pink icing, twelve candles glowing upon it; along with bowls of strawberry ice cream.

     The party guests were invited back to the house to watch Lyndell open her gifts.  Chet had a project to finish over the weekend, so he couldn't stay.  Beside which, he just knew that the North Side Detectives were going to discuss, what would no doubt become their next case, and Chet didn't think of himself as a detective in any way. 

     Mrs. Books gave her a large tin of her home baked cookies,  Scarlet and Mr. Bern handed her their combined present of movie coupons and Mr. Wells gave a first addition of "Little Women," which was one of her favorite books.  Then the four of them said they had to be on their way and said their goodbyes.

     Lyndell and the rest waved goodbye and then Lyn settled down on the floor and opened her other gifts.  Dawn and Glenna had bought her a heart shaped pendant with her name engraved on it.  Fletch and Lee built her a jewelry box with hidden doors and hooks for her earrings and necklaces.  Alex presented her with a jeweled egg that Lyn had admired while they were shopping at the mall one day.  Amy, Michael and Nikki had pooled their allowance money and bought Lyn a C.D. she wanted.   Lyndell was thrilled with all of her gifts and everyone received a hug.

     Her father Max, had slipped out of the room while Lyn was opening Alex's gift, and now he returned carrying a large box.  Max set it down among the wrapping paper on the floor.  Janeen could hardly contain her excitement as Lyn untied the big green bow that was wrapped around it.  As soon as the ribbon fell to the floor, the lid was pushed off to join it by something inside.

     Then suddenly, out jumped a very small, very hairy sable brown puppy, with four white paws.  He immediately began licking his new owner's face as Lyn squealed with delight, hugging him as he wriggled in her arms.  "What are you going to call him?"  Dawn asked giggling, and petting the pup.  "Scruffy."  Lyn said, laughing with glee.  "Just what she needed, a co-hurt in crime."  Alex said with a grin.

Lyn and her friends started a game of Monopoly in the living room, while her brother and his  made their way to the family room.   Fletch and Lee were spending the night and Glenna and Dawn stayed until eleven o'clock.  While they were all together, they discussed the Marina story.  Alex started it off,  "So what do you all think about Marina O'Conner?"  he asked, flopping on the sofa.  "It's interesting," Dawn said, "It sounds like the police eventually gave up on solving it."

     "The murderer is still out there and it's been ten years,"  Lee said, dropping into a comfortable chair and throwing his long legs over the arm.  "Wanna try and solve it?"  Alex asked with a wry smile.  Dawn, Fletch, Lee and Glenna glanced at each other, then back at Alex and grins spread across their faces.  Then in unison they chimed, "Yes."   "Where do we start?"  Lee asked, rubbing his hands together.

     "Before we get started on this, I should tell you all that Mr. Wells is very worried about us doing anymore detective work."  Alex said seriously.   "So maybe we should keep our activities to ourselves this time,"  he said warily, looking at his friends for their thoughts.  "Well, we can try.  But Mr. Wells has habit of turning up at the wrong....or right time, depending on how you look at it."  Lee said pointedly.

     "He did tell me, we could call on him at any time if we needed him.  But I'd rather not need him.  If you know what I mean."  Alex said firmly.  "I also think Mr. Wells feels guilty for keeping things from our parents."  Alex added.  "Yes.  I guess he is in kind off a tight spot."  Dawn said with a small smile.

     "Anyway, it's late, and Glenna and I have to get home,"  Dawn said.  "Why don't we meet at the shack tomorrow and discuss our plans,"  she suggested.  "You know, I've been thinking about that shack."  Fletch said in a concerned tone.  "What if someone catches us there.  I mean, it's city property I would think.  We could get in trouble for being there." 

     "Well.  If anyone would see us there, we can just say we were curious to see it, and then if who ever it is, asks us to leave, we do."  Lee said, with a quick nod of his head, as if what he'd said, was obvious.  "That does make sense."  Glenna agreed.  "Sounds right to me."  "Yeah.  I agree that, that would be the thing to do."  Alex said.  "The shack isn't a hazard of any kind.  And there's no, no trespassing sign on it, so I think we're safe for now," he added.

     "I guess you all are right,"  Fletch admitted.  "Okay, then.  Why don't we meet at the shack at nine o'clock."  Dawn said.  Everyone agreed and Dawn and Glenna said good night.

     The three boys lay in bed that night quietly discussing Marina O'Conner.  "Do you think people made up seeing the woman on the balcony....you know, to make the story more exciting?"  Fletch asked.  "I don't know."  Alex said in deep thought.  "But I would imagine the hotel still rents the room out, so people could have seen many different women on the balcony."  Alex said sleepily.

     "That's true,"  Lee mumbled.  "It's really terrible that her daughter found her."  Fletch said, closing his eyes.  "Yeah.  It is.  And I really wonder what happened to her."  Alex said, blinking his tired eyes.  "Chances are that the murderer went back to New York after the killing."  Lee  said jerkily, punching his pillow into a more comfortable shape.

     "I wonder if the aunt knew this Sean Riley."  Alex said with a huge yawn.  "I'll bet she did."  Lee said with a smile and sinking his head into his pillow.  "We'll tell Dawn and Glenna we want to start with the aunt and New York."  Lee ended.  "Good night."  Fletch and Alex said together, and then chuckled.  "Good night Lee!"  they chimed.  "Go to sleep."  Lee muttered irritably under his pillow. 

                                                                     End of Chapter 14