Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

     On the morning of Friday the 12th of August Alex and Anna were getting ready to set off up to Lake Donnel in Vandalia Michigan.  Alex was day dreaming about catching some big pike and bass as he loaded the last of their bags in the car.  The two of them had just climbed in and Anna was about to turn the key when Alex's cell phone rang.  It was Detective Burns.

     He was calling with the news that Mr. Clouse, alias the Phantom had been arrested the day before on a charge of 32 counts of attempted murder, (all of the teens and adults that could have been killed when Clouse loosened the gigantic chandelier at the Lerner Theater, causing it to fall on the unsuspecting actors.)  He was now sitting in the county jail awaiting trial.  Alex told Detective Burns he was happy to hear it and congratulated him for his success in capturing his fugitive.  In return, Detective Burns thanked Alex and the other North Side Detectives for helping to solve yet another crime.

     Alex felt very satisfied when he plunged his cell back into his pocket.  He made a mental note to tell his friends the news when he and Anna reached the cabin.  It was a beautiful summer day, the temperature a perfect 72 degrees.  The sun made periodic appearances in a sky full of white clouds, and Anna and Alex were enjoying good conversation, the warm breezes blowing their hair back from their increasingly sun kissed faces, as Anna sped up and down the Michigan hills.

     "Man!  This is the life!" Alex shouted, to be heard over the whistling wind.  Anna laughed heartily.  "There's nothing like going down the highway with a beautiful girl in a red convertible!"  Anna laughed all the louder.  Anna had one stop to make at a small store about ten minutes from the cabin.  Alex wanted worms and crickets for bait, and she needed some charcoal for the grill.

     Alex let out with a "Wow!" when they arrived at their destination.  The cabin sat on a hill among a grove of trees with a dense woods beside it.  The rear side of the hill dropped down to the lake below and in the distance sat of row of rolling hills topped with tall pines.  Alex could just barely see a chimney top through the trees about a half a mile away.

     "I guess we don't have to worry about noisy neighbors,"  Alex said with a laugh, while unloading the car.  Anna let out a giggle and came over to help him.  She grabbed up a couple of grocery bags and headed for the front steps.  Alex caught hold of the rest of the luggage and followed Anna into the cabin.

     Alex admired how well the log cabin was put together on the way in.  A swing hung from the rafters on the front porch, and baskets of brightly colored petunias were hanging from the edge of the ceiling also.   The house had three bedrooms, a living area complete with fireplace, dinning room, kitchen and one and a half baths.  A back deck completed the cozy mountain look of the place.

     Alex just stood at the door gaping until Anna said, "Hey!  Just don't stand there.  Come on in."  Then she walked into the kitchen to unload the groceries. Then Anna looked around wondering where Alex had gotten to, he had been right behind her. Anna went looking for him  and in a few minutes found him on the back deck admiring the view.  She crept up silently behind him and tweaked his sides.

     Alex jumped in fright and Anna laughed.  "Man, you scared me!"  Alex said, clutching his chest.  "I'll get you back when you least expect it,"  he warned her.  "Ooh, I'm really scared now,"  Anna teased, laughing again and then leaning on the railing beside him.  Alex gave out a big sigh of contentment and said, "It's beautiful here."

     "Yeah.  My parents and I have been coming up here since I was two."  "How far up are we?"  Alex asked, leaning over the banister.  Suddenly, Anna gasped and grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him back.  "About two hundred feet.  And I promise not to tweak you anymore if you vow  never to do that again," Anna said breathlessly.

     The sudden terror on her face startled Alex.  "Oh Anna I'm sorry.  I forget that some people dislike heights more than I do."  Alex's statement distracted her for a moment.  "You don't like heights?  But you told me about the rock climbing you've done and all those roller coasters you've ridden.  How can you stand those things if you're afraid of heights.  Alex chuckled.  "The thrill of doing them, is greater than my fear of what could happen."

    Anna didn't know what to say to that. "Are you okay now?"  Alex asked her.  "Yes.  I'm fine,"  she said in a falsely cheerful voice.  "We have meat getting warm in there,"  Anna told him, heading back through the patio doors.  Alex took one more look at the river below and then went in to help her put the last of the groceries away. 

     After a few more minutes Anna was herself again.  She was standing at the stove making Sloppy Joes and humming a tune.  Alex was standing on the other side of the pass-through window between the kitchen and living room.  He poked his head through the space and said, while raising his eye brows up and down mischievously, "I'll take our bags to our rooms if you tell me which one is mine."

     Anna looked over at him and laughed at his appearance.  He had both bag's straps around his neck and was feigning strangulation, with a goofy look on his face.  She laughed heartily and was still giggling when she said, "You'd better take the one at the end of the hall.  You don't want mine.  It's all lavender and lace, and the one next to it is my parents' room."

     Alex just stared at her a moment.  Anna was such an out-doorsey girl that lavender and lace simply didn't fit.  As if Anna had read his mind, she said, "My mother's idea."  Alex grinned at her and then lumbered down the hallway toting the bags, while Anna prepared a nice meal of Sloppy Joes,  mac n' cheese and raw vegetables and dip.  After the meal Alex helped Anna do the dishes.  "Your mother raised you right,"  Anna told him.  "She would be really happy hear you say that,"  Alex said with a grin at her.