Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

     The group made their way across the hall to Lee's room.  Alex was glad to see that Lee was sitting up and eating some jello.  Lee's parents looked moderately cheerful as Alex and the others filed in.  "Hey!  You look loads better,"  Fletch told Lee as they entered.  "Yeah, just bruises and cuts," Lee said with a shrug.

     "Glenna's all bandaged up, but the nurse says she'll be just fine,"  Alex informed him before Lee could ask.  "That's good,"  Lee said without looking at anyone.  "The doctor says if Lee's tests come out okay, he can leave tomorrow," his mother told everybody.  "That's great!"  Alex, Fletch and Dawn said in unison.

     Lee looked up from his jello briefly to grin at his friends.  "It was a miracle that no one was killed,"  Lee's father said gruffly.  Max nodded soberly in agreement.  "Mr. Sullivan is a mess," Lee said finishing his last bite.  "I spent a good five minutes trying to convince him that this thing that happened wasn't his fault."  "Poor soul,"  Mrs. Martin said.

   Alex's father suddenly got up from his chair, and Alex's mother followed his lead.  "See ya later lee," Max said with an arm around his wife.  "We're going to see if Fletch's parents have arrived with the chicken yet."   "Later Mr. B. Mrs. B.  Thanks for coming,"  Lee said with a wave.  Max tweaked Lee's big toe on his way out.  "You know Lee, I think your dad and I are going for some coffee since you're okay,"  Mrs. Martin said, giving her son a kiss on the cheek.

     "Oh sure Mom,"  Lee said as his parents made their way to the door while he waved them out.  After the adults left, Alex and Fletch sat on one side of Lee's bed and Dawn on the other.  The three of them glanced at each other in an uneasy way for a moment.  "What?"  lee asked, having noticed the tense look that passed between them.

     "Well, we didn't say anything to Glenna because she's not in as great as shape as you are...."  Alex saw a concerned look cross Lee's face for a moment.  ...."But you seem to be much better...."  "What?"  Lee said cutting him off.  "Mrs. Books is one floor up....as a patient."  Fletch said soberly.  "What?"  Lee said just above a whisper which was full of shock and concern.

     Alex and Fletch alternately told Lee about the accident while Dawn sat mutely, thinking about her best friend down the hall.  Lee slumped back on his pillows when they had finished.  "I'm glad to hear she's going to be okay,"  he said in relief.  "But raise your hand if you think these two incidents tonight are coincidences," Lee asked.  No one did.

     "Okay then.  How did Mr. Clouse do it?"  Lee asked, his face now angry.  "He could've sabotaged the chandelier before he left." Fletch suggested.  "And as far as Mr. Wells' accident goes, he knows where he lives,"  Alex said.  "He obviously messed with the breaks at night,"  Lee growled, reddening and bolting upright again.

     "Or like the other "Nut" in broad daylight when he blew up the cars in the parking lot at North Side,"  Dawn said, her normally warm brown eyes flashing.  The conversation was obviously bringing her out of her moroseness.  "This time it's personal,"  Lee said, his jaw clenched.  Just then Mr. Wells and Scarlet walked in.

     "Hello Lee,"  Mr. Wells greeted him.  "My you look better," he said in a very pleased voice.  "Thank God you are alright!"  Scarlet said, hurrying to Lee's side and planting a kiss on his cheek.  Lee turned red with embarrassment, but looked pleased too.  "Oh Scarlet. You shouldn't have done that.  He'll never was his face again,"  Alex said nudging Lee's shoulder. Everyone laughed and Lee swatted at Alex but he deftly dodged it.

     "We were able to visit with Glenna tonight after all,"  Mr. Wells said.  We just left."  "She looks so much better,"  Scarlet said happily.  "Your parents are sitting with her now Fletch,"  Mr. Wells told him.  "You know I think I'll go see her again,"  Fletch said looking at Lee, Alex and Dawn.  "Sure man, go ahead.  I'll talk with you later."  Lee said with a forced grin.

     Fletch fist bumped Alex and Lee and was almost to the door when Dawn called, "I'll go with you."  Dawn gave Lee a kiss on the forehead and squeezed Alex's hand and then she and Fletch left.  "I wish she wouldn't do that.  It's going to ruin our wonderfully combative relationship,"  Lee said with a chuckle.  Alex snickered along with him, then they heard a voice in the hallway, "I heard that!"  Dawn called.

     "Dawn's quite a girl,"  Lee said smiling. "But don't tell her I said that,"  Lee warned Alex.  Alex chuckled.  "I won't."  There was a moments' pause and then out of the blue Lee Blurted out, "I like Glenna."  Alex just nodded at him.  Lee was shocked at Alex's cool demeanor.  "How did you know?"  Lee asked him.  "Oh, the looks you gave each other when you two were discussing....anything,"  Alex answered with a chuckle.

     "I don't know how it happened," Lee said in a confused voice. " One day she was just my friend and then suddenly I didn't think of her as just my friend.  I'm the lowest of the low aren't I?"  Lee moaned out.  "No lee you're not.  You're just....human,"  Alex told him.  Lee looked grateful for Alex's words but still unhappy with himself.

     "You'll feel better when you and Fletch have a talk,"  Alex said with a nod at him.  "Yeah I know,"  Lee said shifting uncomfortably in his bed.  And Alex knew it wasn't because of his bruises.  "What will I say?"  Lee asked him.  "What did Fletch say to you this evening when he chased your gurney down the hallway?"  Alex asked.

     "He said we were friends no matter what happens,"  Lee said with a small smile. "Well, there you go.  Just grovel a little,"  Alex said with a snicker.  Lee grinned. "Fletch will survive,"  Alex assured him.  Lee slumped onto his pillows.  "I hope our friendship survives,"  Lee said in a wretched voice.  Then suddenly his eyes opened wide and he looked anxious again.  "You know.  I don't even know if Glenna feels the same way about me,"  Lee groaned.  "Trust me.  She does,"  Alex told him.  Lee heaved a sigh and smiled, some of the tension leaving his body.

     Alex sensed they were done discussing Glenna and Fletch for the time being so he brought up something he'd been eager to tell Lee.  "Lee.  Alex said in a serious voice.  Lee turned his head to look at him.  "Yeah."   "I saw the phantom!" Alex said excitedly.  "Where?"  Lee asked sitting up again.  "At the auditorium in the back of the stage just before the chandelier fell." 

    Alex could see the wheels in Lee's brain turning in his mind's eye.  Lee was suddenly animated. "Then if Mr. Clouse caused the problem with Mr. Wells breaks, and loosened the chandelier, then...."  "He's the phantom,"  Alex supplied.  The two of them stared at each other for a moment.  Then Alex whispered, "I think this info should remain between us for now until Glenna is out of the hospital."  "For sure."  Lee agreed.

                                                                             End of Chapter 4

(Dear Readers,  I hope you're enjoying Alex Bishop number 2.  Thank you for all the lovely comments and votes.  They mean so much to me.)