Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

     "Mr. Clouse's attitude was rather terse before we went on vacation,"  Fletch said.  "Terse?"  Dawn said, an eyebrow raised and looking impressively at him.  Fletch chuckled.  "I have my moments," he said proudly.  "I think he's been terse too,"  Alex snickered.  "But what does that prove?"  Glenna asked stiffly.

     Alex shrugged again.  "look Alex.  If something, well, sinister happens...."  Glenna looked over at Fletch for his approval at her word usage and he smirked and nodded.  "I got an "A" in English," she bragged.  "You got an "A" in everything!"  Fletch said. "Anyway Alex I'll be right with you just like Dawn said.  Okay?"  Glenna finished.

     "Okay,"  Alex said deflated.  But he knew that none of them had the time to follow up on Mr. Clouse's odd behavior.  But Alex couldn't shake the feeling that all was not well with their geometry teacher.  "We'd better go,"  Dawn said wearily.  Alex thought that Dawn wasn't her cheery self either.  He had never seen her so up tight.

     When the friends entered their geometry class that day Mr. Clouse was surlier than they had ever seen him.  Vacation had done him little or no good.  He sat behind his desk almost the entire hour glaring at his students, five of them in particular, while they did their math problems.  And Alex thought he knew why.

     Principal Fuller must have had a talk with him about the North Side Detectives.  Alex's father Max had told him his friend Dan was going to do just that.  Alex was relieved when the bell sounded the end of class and Alex, Lee, Glenna, Fletch and Dawn hurried out of the classroom without a backward glance.

     Leading up to Christmas vacation the homework began to pile up again.  Alex was determined to get his lessons completed in study hall, which made for some very quiet hours with Alex giving his friends irritated one word answers anytime they asked him a question.  Lee, Fletch, Dawn and Glenna thought that homework, sports and his obsession with Mr. Clouse was making him "Crack Up."

     But Alex was determined to make some free time for himself so he could do some investigating on his own into Mr. Clouse's background.  And he had decided to start by visiting Mrs. Books.  She, after all had written a book on the Mr. Wells' case.  Alex was convinced that Mr. Wells' case had something to do with Mr. Clouse's spiteful behavior.

     After basketball that afternoon Max drove Alex, Lee and Fletch home.  Alex told his friends he's see them later then rushed into the house, hollered at his mom as to when dinner would be ready.  "It's ready now Alex!"  Janeen called back.  Alex ate hurriedly and when he was done he announced that he was going to see Mrs. Books.

     His mother asked if he'd finished his homework, to which Alex said a proud "Yes."   "Don't stay all night.  You have school tomorrow!"  she reminded him just before he ran out the door.  Alex arrived at Mrs. Books door ten minutes later and rang the bell.  "Hello Alex!  What a nice surprise!" she said when she saw him on her doorstep.

     "Come in, come in," she said.  "Do you have time for a chat?"  Alex asked a little too eagerly.  She raise her silver brows before she said, "Of course."  Alex sat down on her comfortable sofa and Mrs. Books went to fetch two cups of tea.  Alex took a courteous sip of his and set it on the coffee table.  Mrs. Books settled herself in her rocking chair with her cup in her hands as usual.

     "Mrs. Books," Alex began with no pretext.  "When you were researching Mr. Wells' case, did you come up with a relative of Mr. Lockes, (He was the real murderer of Benjamin Pile, Mr. Wells' best friend.) a brother or uncle who is a teacher at Elkhart high school and had testified against Mr. Wells?"  Alex asked anxiously.