Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

     After Lee posed his question, Dawn hissed softly, "Anna's parents just went to bed.  Give them a chance to get to sleep before Alex tells us, 'What's up?'"  "It's okay Dawn,"  Anna started, "Believe me, they can't hear us in here.  Mom and Dad always turn on that loud window fan which blocks out all other noise everywhere."

     "So...." Lee prodded.  Alex and Anna glanced at each other.  Suddenly, Alex's eyes were wide.  "Anna.  We didn't discuss telling your parents!"  "I don't think we should,"  Anna said stony faced.  From the look she gave him, Alex knew it was wise not to ask any questions as to why?  "Hey, remember us?  We came all the way up here....friends....to help."  Lee said in an irritated voice.

     "Sorry," Alex said, taking a deep breath.  "Okay.  Now I'm getting nervous.  When you don't even make an effort to laugh at my little joke...."  Lee trailed off.  Then in a moment added, "There's something really wrong isn't there?" he ask, leaning in even more and staring intently at Alex and Anna.

     The others too, were giving Alex wary looks.  "What is it?"  Nick ask in a hushed voice.  "Will you tell it?"  Anna ask Alex.  She didn't think she could get through her telling the story a second time.  Alex told their friends the agonizing tale that Anna had shared with him that morning.  When he was finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Though he was glad to see that Anna wasn't crying hysterically as before.  Alex never wanted to see her in that much pain again.

     "Oh Anna, I'm so sorry,"  Glenna told her wiping her eyes.  "That's heartbreaking,"  Dawn said sniffing,  while Chet put an arm around her.  "Man!"  was all Fletch could say.  "And I take it that neither you Alex or Anna believe it was suicide?"  Matt ask them.  "Let's just say I think the police jumped to a conclusion that wasn't necessarily correct,"  Alex answered. "And I agree with Alex,"  Anna said, her jaw set.  Alex gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand.

     Alex and his friends were up half the night discussing Anna's sister's case, and how to find the truth of what happened to Sandra.  Alex wanted to start with the police reports and the Coroner's findings.  Fletch suggested that the group interview as many of Sandra's friends in person that were there that night. He knew the police would have gotten their statements at the time, but he thought it was important to interview them again, because the police then and his friends now were seeing the situation from two very different angles.  Their friends agreed with both Alex and Fletch that those were good places to start.

      Nick, Sam and Matt stayed until two am.  At that time they told Alex the three of them would be back in the morning.  As the the boys were leaving Alex asked with a smirk, "So, I take it you guys want to help out on this case?  I thought you all were on a fishing trip."  Sam grinned and said, "The fish will still be here next summer."  Alex patted him on the back and said, "Thanks guys."  "No prob.  Just call or text us when you're up and we'll be here."  Matt told him.  Alex nodded and Nick said,  "See ya later."  Matt and Sam gave Alex and the others a wave and the three of them left.

     Next morning Alex called Nick, Sam and Matt and told them he and the others would be leaving at eight o'clock.  Nick promised they would be at the cabin around seven thirty.  Alex passed Chet in the hallway as everyone was getting ready to go and said to him, "I'm a little surprised you came Chet.  You've always said you weren't interested in this sort of thing."  "Well.  Dawn said, when she got your call she knew there was a mystery to solve."

     "And....well, she ask me to come along," he admitted.  Alex chuckled.  "But now that I know the reason we're all here, I really want to help.  Anna's my friend too."  "Thanks Chet,"  Alex said, patting him on the back.  Nick and the twins arrived on time and the whole gang set off for Vandalia.