Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years

Annie Adams-College Years

                                                                                       Chapter 20

                                                                                   Getting Serious

     The sedan continued to sit at the entrance of the parking lot waiting to pull out into the flow of traffic.  Annie took the opportunity to call her husband Len at the sheriff's department and alert him to the strange behavior of Professor Barr and the suspicious couple, and that she and her friends were now following them.

     Annie had one of her many "gut" feelings, that this time Len needed to be involved with what the Mystery Club Detectives were doing.  Deputy Steve answered the phone on the first ring.  "Waterbury Sheriff's Department.  Steve speaking.  "Hey Steve.  This is Annie Summers, the sheriff's wife.

     "Hey Annie, what's up?"  "I need to talk to Len," she said in a strained tone of voice.  "Sorry Annie.  He's out on a call.  It seems several cows got out and...."  "Will you have him call me as soon as he gets in?"  she said, interrupting what the deputy was saying.  "Sure.  Will do."  "Thanks Steve,"  the sedan pulled out into the street at that moment, and Annie rang off of her cell.

     She pulled out of the parking lot, sped up a bit to catch up with the blue sedan and then reduced her speed.  She didn't want to follow the car too closely, fearing the professor or the couple would know they were being followed.  "I take it that Len wasn't at work?"  Beth said nervously.  "No.  But Deputy Steve will tell him I called as soon as he gets in."

     "And I think it's a good idea for y'all to put your cells on vibrate.  We don't know where we're going, or what's going to happen there, but whatever we're driving into, we sure don't want a cell going off at an inopportune time."  The girls obeyed immediately.  However, Jeanie was the only one who did so with a gleeful look on her face.  Anyone could see that she was thrilled to be an honorary Mystery Club Detective.

     Annie followed the sedan at a safe distance for five miles down through town and out into the countryside.  The sedan pulled into a very long driveway of a grand two story many roomed Victorian style house.  The perfectly mowed lawns, complete with lavish gardens spread out in front of, around and to the rear of the mansion.

     "Wow!" Patti said as Annie pulled to the side of the dirt road lined with a grove of pine trees. the trees hid Annie's van nicely from anyone looking out of windows in the house.  But by getting out of the van and peeking around the trees,  Annie and her friends had a clear view of the home.  "I didn't realize that a professor could make enough money to afford something like this,"  Patti said.

     "I have a feeling that Professor Barr might have more money than the others," Trish said wisely, thinking about the stolen money.  "What are we going to do now?"  Harmony asked as Annie and the girls piled out of the van and huddled in the shadow of the pines. "Just sit and wait until Len calls," Annie answered.  "Unless I get a better idea," she added with a giggle.  The sedan had finally reached the end of the driveway.  But the three people inside it didn't get out right away.

     Beth grabbed a pair of binoculars out of the glove box and handed them to Annie, who aimed them at the sedan's rear window and then peered through them.  It looks like they're arguing,"  Annie observed.  "They have a lot of money to argue over," Trish said.  While the girls watched, the Professor and the suspicious couple got out of the sedan,(Professor Barr was carrying a brief case) and walked up the stone walkway and into the house.

     "Anyone have a guess of what Professor Barr has in that attache' case?"  Jeanie asked wisely.  Annie stared straight ahead for a moment with a tense look on her face.  "I didn't want to bother Len when he's on a call, but...." and she pick up her cell from the dash board and pushed a button.  "Good idea!"  Beth approved.

     Annie let it ring until Len's voice mail kicked in.  "Hey hon," she said, "Please call me as soon as you get this message.  Love ya." she ended.  "Well that's as good as I can do for now," Annie told her friends.  "That place is huge.  A person could get lost in there!"  Jeanie exclaimed, staring at the massive stone house, with the intricate scroll work on the windows and doors and the wrap around veranda.

     "I wonder if we could do some window peeking," Annie said.  "Are you crazy?"  Beth asked her incredulously.  "You and Harmony can barely walk!  What are we to do if Professor Barr or his two friends see us?  We'll never be able to out run them."  Beth told her.  Jeanie, Patti, Trish and Harmony laughed, but Annie said, "Aren't you a bit curious about what they're doing in there?"  "They're probably counting their stolen money, for no doubt the upteenth time,"  Beth fired at her.

     "Hey!" Patti hollered.  "It looks like a maid is coming down the driveway.... in a golf cart!  Everyone but Annie piled back into the van.  She quickly grabbed a map from the glove compartment and then walked up to the mailbox at the end of the driveway, where Annie was convinced the woman was headed.

     "What are you doing?"  Beth said, her head out the driver's side window.  "Pretending we're lost and need directions," Annie told her.  In the next minute the young women arrived at the mail box and Beth pulled her head back inside.  Annie and the red haired young woman  in the blue and white maid's uniform chatted while Annie showed her the map and asked questions.

     Beth and the others couldn't hear what the two of them were saying.  "Oh God.  Please have Len call!" Beth prayed aloud, while the other girls became more nervous by the minute.  Suddenly Annie's cell rang.  Beth was so anxious to grab it she almost dropped it.  "Oh Len.  Thank God you called," Beth said in relief.

     "What's going on Beth?"  Len said, tension in his voice.  "Where's Annie?"  Beth filled Len in on what had happened since the girls had left the shower.   "And right now, Annie is talking to a maid at the mailbox.  "She's what?"  Len said in confusion.  Len!  You have to get over here as quick as you can.  You just go five miles straight out of town and the house is on your left.  You'll see Annie's van parked on the road a few feet from the driveway."

     "You all stay put in that van until I get there!  Len ordered.  "And find a way to get Annie back in there too!" he practically shouted.  Beth!  Trish said, having just climbed back into the van, after checking on Annie.  She quickly whispered something in Beth's ear.  "Oh no!"  Beth moaned.  "What's happening?"  Len yelled,  panic in his voice.  "Get here as fast as you can Len!  Annie's gone back to the house with that woman!"

                                                                           End of Chapter 20