Blood Bath

Chapter 8

Colton and Seth completed the route by eight o'clock, Sunday morning. After loading the spy equipment into Seth's car, Colton asked if he would like to come in for breakfast.

"I would, but I'm picking up Linda in an hour, and we're going to Bay City for lunch and shopping for Christmas," he said, opening the car door.

"Well, enjoy spending your money," Colton said.

"I will. And thank you for the exciting evening. We should do more detective work. Perhaps we could put an ad in the paper or telephone directory. Have spy cameras, will travel?"

"I'll consider the idea," replied Colton with a chuckle.

"I'm serious, Colton. We should go into the spy business. I'm sure my dad would help us. He's always pushing me to earn money."

"Perhaps," Colton said. "I'll think about it, but now I have my brothers to deal with."

Colton's brothers were standing on the porch watching him and Seth talk. As Seth drove off, Terry and Jason ran out to greet Colton.

"Want to shoot hoops?" yelled Jason.

Colton gave them a big hug and said, "No. If you come in, I'll tell you how we caught an old woman stealing my papers. It was awesome, and the police took her to Bad Axe and may put her in jail.

"Wow, why would anyone want to steal your dumb papers?" asked Jason.

"I don't know, and she wouldn't tell us."

Jason looked at Terry and said, "I think I would rather shoot hoops. How about you?"

"Hoops! Sorry Colton, but old women aren't fun like basketball,"

Colton agreed and went into the house. His mom was in the kitchen and yelled, "Breakfast?"

"Yes, please. Whatever you're making is fine."

Colton's dad, Adam, walked in from the living room.

"So, did you catch the thief?" he asked.

"Yes. It was an elderly woman from Caseville. Lacie's uncle Ned helped us catch her. I can show you the video we took of her breaking into the newspaper rack. I put it on my memory card," Colton said.

"Sure, I'll get the laptop and we can watch it over breakfast," he said.

After his morning nap, Colton was ready to face the day. He shot hoops with his brothers for an hour, helped his dad clean up the orchard, and then he called Lacie to let her know about the old woman thief.

"Any idea what her name is?" asked Lacie.

"Ned said she was Mrs. Wilding, from Caseville. I can't recall ever seeing her around."

"What will happen to her?"

Colton said, "I'm not sure. Ned said Mrs. Wilding admitted to stealing my newspapers from the rack, so I imagine she will face the prosecutor, or perhaps even the Judge, on Monday."

"Call and tell me what happens," Lacie added. "I can't stop over today. We're having company and Mom needs my help. Sometimes I worry about what she'll do when I leave home. It seems like she depends on me more than ever."

"She'll adjust, or you can live at home forever, and be her personal maid."

"That will not happen," Lacie said. "I've got too many plans, and they don't include being a personal maid to anyone."

"Hope I'm in those plans."

"Some of them," she replied.

"Well, let's plan on meeting at school tomorrow. Unless you have other plans," Colton said.