Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 4

                                                                                       Sabotage

     The group spent another two hours in Mrs. Books living room discussing the resignation of Mr. Clouse, while their hostess served them tea and cookies.  Alex had a burning desire to know why Mr. Clouse was leaving.  And Alex thought his fellow detectives felt the same way because their curiosity was suddenly revived and they were as anxious to get to the bottom of this mystery as Alex was.

     Dawn suggested that the group try to get a look at Mr. Clouse's files, that is until she looked at the expression on Mr. Wells and Mrs. Books faces.  Then she decided to let the matter drop for the time being at least.  The teens were at the door ready to leave when Mrs. Books cautioned them to stay out of harm's way, which they agreed to do.  "But not out of solving this mystery,"  Alex said under his breath.

     When Alex arrived home his father Max had some information for him.  He said that Mr. Andrew Carr was replacing Mr. Clouse as the geometry teacher.  Max said he had known Mr. Carr for years and that he was a brilliant, fair minded fellow.  He went on to say Mr. Carr was an elderly gentleman who had come out of retirement temporarily to fill the post.

     Alex, Dawn, Fletch, Glenna and Lee were impressed with Mr. Carr after sitting through just one of his classes.  They thought he was a kindly old man.  He had wavy white hair and round spectacles and smiled a lot.  But his main asset was that he explained geometry more clearly than Mr. Clouse had ever done; the result being that at the end of just two weeks time the class grades rose a point or two.

     Even though the young detectives were glad to have Mr. Clouse out of their hair they wouldn't have him in their sights everyday, therefore the group wouldn't be able to discretely follow him around and find out if he was up to something. 

     Alex and his friends schedules were still very full, especially Glenna's who had rehearsals everyday for the upcoming play, "The Music Man" on April second.  To everyone's surprise Lee announced that he had joined the drama class.  And as if that news wasn't shocking enough he told his friends that he would be playing the leading male role in the play.

     Alex and Fletch felt obligated to tease him ruthlessly for about a week which to their dismay didn't seem to bother Lee a bit.  Glenna told Alex and Fletch one night after rehearsal that Lee was really a good actor and had a wonderful singing voice.  Her statement didn't go over well with Fletch because of the glowing way in which she said it.

     Alex caught Fletch sneering at Lee during lunch times and Fletch was slowly becoming cocky and rude to lee overall.  Alex had always looked forward to Glenna's plays in the past, but he thought he would be thankful when this one was over.  Lee tried to ignore Fletch's comments, telling Alex it was just the "Green Eyed Monster" syndrome, and there was no reason for it.  Alex agreed with him.  Jealousy could make a guy act so silly.  Alex thought to himself.

     As time went by Fletch's attitude worsened.  Many lunch hours found Lee and Glenna discussing drama and the upcoming play, while Fletch ate his lunch in silence with a scowl on his face.  Lee and Glenna tried to draw him into the conversation but he showed no interest in either of them at all.  Alex felt sorry for Fletch and hoped that this play was a one time thing for Lee, something he just wanted to try and would never do again.  Alex just wanted his friends to be friends again.

     Christmas came and went and soon it was the first of the year.  Alex and the others were in Driver's Ed.  The class was in the place of study hall which meant that Alex was doing his load of homework in his bedroom every night.  Alex missed getting all his homework done in study hall but he had to admit that Driver's Ed could be a lot of fun.

     For example laughing at Glenna running down other drivers, pedestrians and stop signs on the computer screens used for training.  One day Fletch really hurt Glenna's feelings when he said nastily that he wouldn't be driving on any roads that Glenna was driving on.  Alex saw Glenna give Fletch the only dirty look he had ever seen her give him.

     After a couple of weeks of their bickering Alex had had enough.  He had been trying to get them to kiss and make up.  Glenna was more than willing but Fletch was not.  So he decided to stop trying.  He told himself that he was just too busy with his school work and sports to worry anymore about their love life.

     The winter months sped by.  Before Alex could figure out where they'd gone, it was April second and the production of "The Music Man."  Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Lee's parents sat next to Alex's dad and mom, Max and Janeen.  And Fletch's parents the Clarks sat in front of the others and turned in their seats to chat until the curtain came up.  Dawn, Chet, Alex and Fletch sat in the same row with Fletch's mom and dad.

     Alex turned around to look at the big clock at the back of the theater.  It was fifteen minutes until curtain and Mr. Wells, Scarlet and Mrs. Books had not arrived.  Alex was concerned but reasoned there was nothing that he could do about it.  He told himself they were just running late and face forward just as the curtains parted, and Lee's booming baritone voice hit his ears.

     Fletch was behaving himself fairly well until Lee and Glenna shared an on screen kiss.  Alex looked over at Fletch who was now fuming.  Alex was surprised there wasn't smoke coming out of his ears.  Alex didn't know what to say to him, so said nothing.  But he noticed that Fletch began to grow redder in the face as his anger mounted.

     Alex was distracted because of his shooting glances at Fletch and looking behind him hoping to see Mr. Wells, Scarlet and Mrs. Books.  By the third act Alex was experiencing a awful knot in his stomach, always signaling to him that something was terribly wrong.  Alex was facing front again as the whole cast held hands and bowed at the end of the performance.

     Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye Alex saw something dark flash across the back stage area.  It happened at the same time that the audience exploded with applause.  Alex was temporarily distracted from what he had seen, as with everyone else he clapped for and beamed at Lee and Glenna. 

     But after a couple of minutes, as if he couldn't help it, he found himself staring fixedly behind the smiling cast to the back stage area where he'd seen the dark shadow.  But then without warning a giant chandelier (a prop in the play) came crashing down from a ceiling beam and onto the unsuspecting actors.