Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

Continue Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

     Collin, Zack, Jamie and Charlie walked the girls back to their front steps just as the sun was setting amid a rainbow of orange, purple and pale green.  Jamie pushed Patti's wheel chair for her.  The ground was uneven, making it difficult for her to handle on her own.  Collin and Charlie said goodnight to Annie and Katie at the steps with a hug, and Jamie told Patti he'd see her later.  They hadn't got to the hugging part of their relationship yet.  Then the boys hurried away.

     The girls trudged up the steps to the school, tired, but happy, and headed to the staircases that would take them up to their dorms.  Miss Leighton had a chair lift installed to carry Patti safely to the second floor.  It was a permanent fixture, in case anyone should have need of it in the future.  Patti's wheel chair was put to the side, another one was waiting for her upstairs.  Pattie and Daphne said goodnight to Annie and the rest at Annie and Beth's dorm room, then Daphne wheeled her to their quarters at the end of the hallway.

     "Fun day."  Beth said, as soon as she and Annie were alone.  Annie was already on her computer sending e-mails to her aunt and uncle and Kenny and Jeanie, her best friends back home; telling them the events of the last couple of days.  But Annie had heard Beth's comment.  "Yeah, great day."  Annie agreed. "What a change in Daphne and Patti, huh?"  Beth said in an awed voice.  "God is amazing!  Annie said, closing her lap top.  "That's for sure."  Beth agreed.

     The following week produced no clues, and no possible suspects, nothing on the stolen money.  Sheriff Cooper informed the girls he was running former employees through the police data base, to check for criminal records or recent criminal behavior.

     On Saturday that week, Annie and her friends, including Patti and Daphne cleaned the club house.  Beth, Trisha and Katie unanimously voted their new friends into the Mystery Club Detectives.  It took the girls two hours to get the room in tip top shape.  Then they stood back and admired their work they had done. 

     It turned out there was a beautiful shinny table and chairs under all the dirt and grime.  The now maple wood floor glowed from the cleaning and waxing that Beth and Daphne gave it.  Annie put the group photo of her mom and friends in the pretty silver frame that Sheriff Cooper had given her, and hung it on the wall over-looking the table.  Trisha put the spirals and pens on a shelf in the bookcase, which also had been cleaned within an inch of it's life, by Katie and Annie.  Daphne bought two rugs to complete the room's pretty and cozy look. 

     During lunch hour, Ruthie made a quick trip to the club house, where the girls were having their meal, and praised them for the wonderful job they had done.  She told them that Sara, Josie, Claire. Molly and Rose would be so proud of them.  After Ruthie left, the girls took chairs around the table, and Daphne cleared a spot for Patti's wheel chair.  When they were all seated, Annie called the first meeting of the Mystery Club Detectives to order.

     Annie was the first one to speak.  "You know, I've been thinking.  There must always be checks in the safe; payroll checks, checks for the delivery people, etc."  What are you getting at?"  Beth asked with a raised brow.  "Just that the thief might make another try at it.  After all, he must think he got away with the first one."

     "He has so far,"  Patti said scowling.  "But he's got to know the police are looking for him.  The theft had to be on the news and in the papers."  Beth ended in an obvious tone.  "Actually,"  Katie said, "It wasn't in the paper or on TV news.  I checked with both, there was nothing."  She said firmly.  "Maybe Sheriff Cooper didn't want the news of theft out there."  Trisha suggested.

       "It seems to me, and maybe it did to him, that a thief may be easier to find if he thinks that the police aren't hunting him down, and the public aren't aware of the crime, so they wouldn't be trying to find out who did it, for civic duty or some kind of reward."  Trisha ended.

     "That's a good point Trisha,"  Daphne praised her.  "And feeling safe as he does, he might make another try at the safe."  "Yeah!  Then a trap could be set and we can nab him!"  Patti exclaimed.  "You know what I'm thinking...."  Annie started.  "Well, I for one, cant' wait to hear it."  Beth said with a smirk.

     Annie giggled and said, "I think the "Trap" is a really good idea Patti."  Patti grinned at her.  I think we should ask Sheriff Cooper to do just that....set a trap for him."  The other girls grinned too, and nodded in agreement.  "What kind of trap?"  Katie asked, narrowing her bright green eyes.  "Well, I haven't figured that out yet."  she admitted.  Her friends laughed at her.

     "Any ideas?"  Annie asked.  Everyone thought hard for a few minutes.  Then Beth said, "I've got it!"  "What?"  The others chimed.  "We could take the bulb out of it's socket in the underground tunnel...."  The other girls listened intently.  "Then we throw a bunch of thumb tacks on the floor...."  Beth stopped talking when her friends eager faces turned to ones questioning how this would trap the thief. 

     "Yeah, I guess it's a goofy idea.  We can't stand guard there waiting for the thief to show up.  I guess with this plan he'd just hurt his feet," she admitted, embarrassed.  Everyone laughed, including Beth.  " Beth's idea did make me realize something," Trisha said, "In Beth's example.... sorry, Beth,"  she said with an apologetic look at her. " Even if we managed to catch the guy in the tunnel, we would have to prove he was out to steal the money.  We need to catch him in the act."  She ended wisely.

     "What if Sheriff Cooper could have an alarm put on the safe?  So if the thief opened it, it would go off.  And we'd have him!"  Daphne suggested.  "That's brilliant!"  Annie squealed. " Everyone in favor of presenting this idea to Sheriff Cooper, say "Aye."   "Aye!"  the room shouted.  "I'll call him now."  Annie said excitedly.