Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 35

                                                                                Nick's Brainstorm

     Nick, Matt and Sam sat in the Crosby's family room munching on chips and chowing down on ham and cheese sandwiches while Nick told his friends his idea to solve the computer caper.  "So the key to this whole thing is a trap door!" Nick explained.  The boys could be free to say anything they wanted to without being overheard, because Nick's parents were both at work.  So the house was empty except for the three of them.

"What do you mean a trap door?"  Matt said, giving him an incredulous look.  "A trap door in the floor boards is a way of hiding something until you're able to pick it up at a later date," Nick told them with an elated look on his face.  "And then you somehow fix the lock on the door so you can get back into the room; let's say on a weekend when, in this case the school is closed, and you can take the loot out of the room."

     "You're telling us that you think computer room 2 has a trap door in the floor?" Sam said, his blue eyes skeptical. "Think about it," Nick said with a raised brow.  "That's the only thing that makes sense."  "You really think so?"  Matt said, now getting excited.  "Yeah!  I really do.  And I think the crooks are students at the school."  Nick told them.

     "Well, students would have the opportunity more than an outsider," Sam agreed.  "Exactly," Nick said.  "So what's our plan Chief?  Matt said with a grin at him.  " Well, we could hang around after school on Monday, hide somewhere in the computer room and look for the trap door.  Or there's band practice every Saturday in the music room, which means the main entrance doors will be unlocked tomorrow while they're in the school.  We could do it then."  Nick finished.

     "How are we supposed to get into the computer room?"  Sam asked him, taking another bite of his sandwich.  Nick instantly pulled an instrument out of his pocket.  It looked like some sort of a file.  "Lee gave this to me.  He had two. Kept one."  Nick said with a chuckle.  "I didn't know you could pick locks," Matt said wide eyed.

     "A little talent I learned from my friend Lee,"  Nick said with a grin.  "Only used for doing good, not evil," he added.  The boys laughed.  "Okay.  So when does Band practice start?"  Sam asked him.  "Seven o'clock am." Nick answered.  "So I'll be over to get you two around six thirty, alright?" Nick asked.  The twins nodded in agreement.  For the rest of the time spent together, the boys talked of other important things, like sports and girls.

     Alex, Anna, Dawn, Chet, Fletch, Lee and Glenna were getting together that Friday night to share a couple of large pizzas, play cards and watch a couple of movies.  Alex and Anna got the kitchen table ready with the food and drinks, paper plates, and napkins.  They also set up two card tables up in the den with a couple decks of cards on each, and had all the DVD's they would watch later in the evening laid out ready to go.

     Like Nick, Matt and Sam, Alex and his gang had the Bishop house all to themselves.  Alex's parents were out on a date night and wouldn't be home until a late hour.  And Lyndell was spending the night at a friend's house.  Alex and Anna were at the front door at seven o'clock to greet the rest of the group when they arrived. 

     Everyone agreed that they wanted to eat first.  Like Dawn said, "We'll never be able to keep Fletch away from the food while we're playing cards, if we don't let him eat first." Everyone laughed and agreed. "So....has anyone see anything of Nick, Matt and Sam lately?  Well, other than you Fletch because you live with two of them,"  Alex asked as he sat down to eat his first slice of pizza. 

     "Include me in with the rest of you," Fletch said. "Because Matt and Sam are never home anymore," he told them all, and then quickly shoved almost a whole slice of Pizza in his mouth, which made the girls at the table cringe.  "To come to think of it," Chet put in, "I haven't seen much of them at lunch times or in the hallways lately," he had a curious look on his face while downing the rest of his Pepsi.

     "They're bound to have more homework than we do," Glenna said, "They're a year older than we are.  Maybe they're just studying during lunches," she added with a shrug.  "Didn't you say Fletch, that Nick and the twins were even doing a project today?" Anna asked him.  Fletch frowned and then wiped his chin with a napkin.  "I said that's what they told me," he corrected her.

     "And you didn't believe them?"  Dawn asked him.  Fletch chewed quickly while holding a finger up, indicating he would answer.  Then he swallowed hard and said, "No."  "Why?"  Lee asked.  "Well, they're just sneaking around....I don't know how to explain it.  Oh, leave me eat.  I don't know," he said in frustration. 

      "Well," Alex begin, "The reason I asked the question in the first place is because I've seen what I think is odd behavior from the three of them."  Like what?"  Anna asked.  "For instance.... I saw Matt standing against a wall one lunch hour, near a group of students.  He said a word or two to one of them, frowning the whole time; and when I look back a minute later he was gone."

     Then I see Sam that same day in the hallway next to the Biology classroom, doing just what Matt had done in the cafeteria.  I'm telling you it's weird to watch.  And I've see Nick exhibiting the same odd behavior.  It's all three of them acting in the same strange manner every time I see them,"  Alex said, taking a swig of his Dr. Pepper.  "Them just popping in and out all over the school!"  Everyone except Alex roared with laughter.

     When the noise let up, Dawn said, "It seems like they're just being social to me,"  Alex gave her a withering look and rolled his eyes.  "Hey," Fletch started, "We rented that spy movie!  I've really wanted to see it.  Can we watch at least that one before we play cards?" he begged,batting his eye lashes at Anna (who evidently was put in charge of the movies.)  She laughed and said, "Of course Fletch."

     "While Anna was putting in the movie, Alex went to the kitchen to get another Dr. Pepper and Lee followed after him.  "I'm telling you Lee; Nick, Matt and Sam are up to something," Alex said, reaching in the frig for his soda.  Lee snickered and said, "Aren't they always?"  Alex grinned at him.  "I hear ya.  But I think this time it's something big."

                                                                               End of Chapter 35