Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow that Mystery

     "What?"  Alex shouted.  "Are you okay?"  Janeen called through his door.  "Yeah Mom,"  Alex called back.  His mother walked away with a suspicious look on her face.  "Sorry,"  Alex told Mr. Wells.  "But why would Mr. Clouse tell us you and he were close friends?"  Alex asked him.  "I can't imagine Alex.  I really just don't know."  Mr. Wells said completely confused.

     "Well the off shoot of it was, that several kids came up to us, specifically Dawn and me asking to join The North Side Detectives."  "Really?"  Mr. Wells questioned.  "It's almost like...."  Mr. Wells voice trailed off.  "What?"  Alex said eagerly.  "Well, it seems to me that he was trying to expose you and your friends to as many people as possible."  Mr. Wells said wisely.

     "But why would he want to do that?"  Alex ask.  "I don't know Alex.  I'll have to think on it and get back to you."  "Okay,"  Alex said disappointedly.  He was hoping Mr. Wells would have an idea as to why Mr. Clouse would do such a thing.  "Listen Alex."  "Yeah."  "You and your friends lie low, no investigating at the present time."

     "What did you tell the kids who ask you about joining up?"  Mr. Wells asked him.  "I told them that the first case, your case was sort of an accident and that we weren't taking on new members.  "That's good,"  Mr. Wells said, and Alex thought he detected relief in his voice.  "Just keep telling everyone who asks the same thing."  "Right,"  Alex said and then remembered something he'd promised to tell Mr. Wells.

     "By the way, Dawn got the lead in her first play, "Barefoot in the Park."  Alex said proudly.  "That's great!  When's the showing?"  Mr. Wells asked in a more cheerful tone.  "The fifteenth of October,"  Alex said.  "I'll be there.  I'll bring Mrs. Books and Scarlet.  My sister loves plays, as you well know."  Mr. Wells said, a smile in his voice.

     "Dawn will be thrilled.  She says she needs all the help she can get,"  Alex said with a chuckle.  "We all know she'll do fine,"  Mr. Wells assured him.  Alex was silent for a moment longer than Mr. Wells thought he should have been and said, "Alex, are you still there?"  "Uh yeah.  Do you think I aught to tell my Dad about what Mr. Clouse said?"

     "Yes Alex I think you should.  First of all, Max already knows about you all helping out on my case, and that is the case Mr. Clouse talked about."  "That's true.  Thanks Mr. Wells,"  Alex said sincerely.  "No problem Alex.  I'll talk to you later."  "See ya Mr. Wells,"  Alex said and rang off.  Alex immediately called Dawn and told her what Mr. Wells said.

     "I knew Mr. Clouse was lying,"  Dawn said angrily.  The two of them talked for several minutes, abusing Mr. Clouse, then Alex told her Mr. Wells was coming to her play.  "Oh I'm so glad he's coming,"  Dawn said.   "And he's bringing Mrs. Books and Scarlet,"  Alex added.  "That's so nice that their coming,"  Dawn said, meaning it.

     "I'll call Glenna and Fletch and tell them what Mr. Wells said about Mr. Clouse, if you will call Lee,"  "I'll do that,"  Alex promised her.  They hung up and Alex called Lee right away and passed on Mr. Wells' news.  "Maybe we'll know more after Mr. Wells has a good think about it,"  Lee said when Alex had finished telling him what Mr. Wells said.  "I wonder what Mr. Clouse testified to at Mr. Wells' trail?"  Lee said, a few minutes before he and Alex ended their call.

     After Alex hung up the phone he went to look for his dad.  He found him in his den at his desk working on plays for a "mock" game his football team was having the next day.  "Hey Dad.  Can I talk to you about something?"  "Always,"  his father said putting down his pencil and rubbing his eyes.  "I was about to call it a night anyway."

     Alex sat in a chair in front of the big desk and told his father what Mr. Couse had said.  "That is strange,"  Max said scratching his head.  "What do you think it means?"  Alex asked.  "I don't know Alex.  Maybe he was just looking for a little lime light, you know, getting in good with the North Side Detectives," Max chuckled softly.

     Alex grimaced.  "Well son, it was pretty remarkable for five not quite teenagers to solve a crime that the police hadn't been able to solve for five years,"  Max said proudly.  "Or...."  Max went on,"  And too maybe aligning himself with a popular teacher, Mr. Wells, and let's not forget his best selling book author Mrs. Books, he could be a "Big Somebody" by association,"  Max said leaning in closer.

     "Yeah Dad, maybe," Alex said.  "But he would have to be really insecure, not to mention immature to do what he did, wouldn't he?"  "Yes Alex.  But a lot of people are,"  Max said with a yawn.  "Do you know Mr. Clouse?"  "Just to say hello,"  his dad answered.  "Alex, I'm glad you told me about this, and I will keep my eye on the situation, discretely of course,"  Max said with a wink at him.

     "Thanks Dad,"  Alex said rising.  "Sleep well son," his father told him.  "Night Dad,"  Alex said with a wave and left for his room.  Max continued to sit at his desk thinking about what Alex had told him.  Max hadn't said it to Alex, but he was shocked that a teacher would act in that way.  And then too, he was disturbed because Mr. Clouse had lied to Alex about he and Mr. Wells being close friends.  "Why would he do that?"  Max said aloud.

     Max suddenly thought that he might do a little investigating himself.  And he made a note to talk with his old friend, and his high school principal Daniel Fuller the next day.  Max chuckled to himself.  "This may be the first time a father inherited detective skills from his son.  I've always envied Alex and the others helping to solve crimes.  Maybe this time, if there's something to this, I can be a silent partner,"  Max chuckled.  "It could happen."

                                                                            End of Chapter 2

(Dear Readers, thanks for continuing to read my books.  High school comes with a lot of exciting challenges as you will see.)