Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                    Chapter 19

                                                                            Lyn Hatches a Plan

Max warned Lyn and her friends to stay clear of Miss Rigby's old house, just in case some unsavory people were hanging around the place.  Alex knew that telling Lyn that, was like warning a fish to stay away from water.  He knew Lyn's curiosity was stronger than their father's wishes.  Before Alex's friends left that night, he called a meeting in the den: Subject: How to keep Lyn from getting into trouble.

     Dawn, Glenna, Lee and Fletch were a little surprised to see Mr. Wells walking in behind them.  Alex didn't object, for Mr. Wells had given the group great advice over the years.  The friends sat in the family room munching on sugar cookies and drinking sodas, while waiting for Alex to tell them why they were there.  Nick, Matt, Sam, Julie, Chet and Anna had gone on home, each giving a different reason for not staying later.  After a few minutes Alex spoke up.  "We need to keep an eye on Lyn and her friends when we can."

     "You know Alex you, your friends and now your sister and hers, are what is causing these gray hairs on my head," he said pointing to it with a strained look on his face.  Alex chuckled, but otherwise ignored the comment.  "I know we all have busy lives, I'm just saying that when any of us is around Lyn, we keep our eyes open."  Everyone, including Mr. Wells agreed they would.

     "Now, Let me asked you all, is this something we should investigate?"  By the horrified look on Mr. Wells' face, Alex knew his vote was a "No."  "Oh, I don't know.  I think I agree with what the police said,"  Dawn started, "It's probably just a short in the wiring that's causing the light to go on and off."  Lee gave her a cynical look.

     "Well.  Everything doesn't have to be a mystery does it?"  she asked, giving Lee a superior look.  "I agree with Dawn," Mr. Wells said while sipping his tea.  "What if we call Detective Burns and tell him about this?" Fletch asked.  It was obvious to Alex that Fletch didn't want to investigate at all.  "But Fletch.  The police checked out the house and didn't find anything out of the ordinary,"  Glenna reminded him. 

     "As far as investigating this Alex, I don't think any of us are going to have the time;  what with school, sports drama classes and let's not forget homework," Glenna said wisely.  "I agree with Glenna  too,"  Mr. Wells put in.  Some of the group snickered.  "Well.  As much as I love a mystery," Alex began, "I agree with the girls that we just aren't going to have the time."  Mr. Wells breathed a big sigh of relief.

     And then suggested, "I'm sure the house is all boarded up.  Maybe a police officer even checks it out from time to time, to make sure someone isn't up any sort of mischief.  If that's true, that could keep Lyn and her friends out." Mr. Wells said hopefully.  "I agree," Fletch said.  "And in what way would anyone be using the house to commit a crime?" he posed.  "What did those crooks use the "Tower" for?" Lee reminded him, while taking a handful of mints from a dish on the coffee table and then raising a brow at Fletch.

     While Alex and his friends were debating inside the family room, Lyn, Amy, Michael, Kent and Nikki were straining to hear the voices within the rooms' walls.  "What do you think Lyn?"  Kent whispered.  Lyn didn't answer but motioned for her friends to follow her.  She quietly led them out to the patio in the back of the house.  They took seats around a table under a large umbrella.

     "Well," Kent posed again.  "I think the North Side Detectives have had their share of cases and that this one is ours," she said, her arms folded tightly across her chest.  "But they have had some years of experience with this sort of thing."  Amy said nervously.  "They didn't have any experience when they solve their first case.  They were only our age when they did that."  Lyn pointed out.

     "When are we going to do this investigating?"  Michael asked, and then went on before Lyn could answer, "School starts in two days," he said, glaring at his friend.  "We have a few hours of daylight after school, and then there's weekends," Lyn answered.  "But your dad sounded really serious about us staying away from that house,"  Nikki told her.

     Lyn was silent for a moment, then said, "Yeah I know.  He doesn't want us to get hurt."  "You think we could get hurt?"  Amy asked fretfully, her brown eyes wide.  "Cool it Amy,"  Lyn whispered, even though they were outside and no one could hear them.  She just thought the situation called for it.

     "No.  I don't think we'll get hurt.  I wouldn't suggest doing anything if I thought so," Lyn assured her friends.  Amy was not much consoled by Lyn's answer.  "As for Dad.  Well I heard him tell Alex once...."  "You mean you were listening outside a door," Michael interjected with a chuckle.  Lyn gave him a peeved look.

     Anyway, Dad told Alex that he shouldn't ever lose his curiosity, and that life was to be lived, and a person only gets one shot at life, and they should live it to the fullest.  It was something like that.  And Dad was proud of Alex and his friends when they solved Mr. Wells' case, proving that he didn't murder his business partner.  Even though Dad would have preferred he hadn't done it."  Lyn ended, smiling broadly, as if that settled the matter.

     Michael sighed heavily in surrender, his mouth blowing a strand of blond hair to his forehead.  "Okay.  When do we do this?"he asked.  "Tomorrow's Saturday.  How about then?" Lyn asked beaming at the others.  "One question," Kent said raising a hand.  "Yes," Lyn said like a teacher in the classroom.  "What do we do about your brother and his spies?"  "Good point," Lyn praised him.

     "Will he really keep an eye on you like he said?" Nikki asked her.  "We can count on that," Lyn said.  "And his friends and Mr. Wells will too, every chance they get," she ended, with a pensive look on her pretty face.  "If they're around, we'll just have to ditch them," she said with a shrug, as if that wouldn't be a problem.  "Don't you think Alex will figure out where we're going and just show up there?" Michael asked sarcastically. 

     "Of course.  That's why when Alex, and or his friends are around, we don't mention the Rigby house.  We just act like we've forgotten all about it.  "Do you know where Alex will be tomorrow?" Amy asked Lyn.  "No.  But I can find out," Lyn said, saying each word distinctly.  "Be careful," Michael said, "Don't let him know we're up to something."  Lyn gave him an "I'm not stupid look."

     "I'll call you all tomorrow and let you know when we leave for the house," Lyn told them.  Her friends nodded, but with apprehensive looks on their faces.  While Lyn and her buddies were plotting, Alex and his detectives were devising a plan to protect Lyn from herself.  "Okay then we're agreed.  As much as we can, we keep a close eye out for any suspicious behavior regarding Lyn or her friends."

     "You know you really can't blame her," Dawn said.  Everyone gave her an incredulous look.  Dawn giggled.  "I mean, she got the same adventurous gene you have Alex."  "Okay.  I suppose that's right.  But she's too young to use it."  Alex told her rather forcefully.  Dawn didn't say what she was thinking, but smirked at him instead.  "And by the way," Alex started, "That "Adventuresome Gene" is what worries me the most.  Because it is so hard to resist"

                                                                             End of Chapter 19