Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                     Chapter 41

                                                                                Caught On Tape

     Alex and Anna's eyes were glued to the scene in front of them and they both shook with anxiety when they saw Detective Burns jump out of his cruiser, right behind the men holding Nick, Matt and Sam with his gun drawn.  The detective with him had a firearm aimed at the  computer thieves also.  The three criminals didn't need to hear Detective Burns' shout to release Nick, Matt and Sam for they dropped to their knees as soon as he jumped from his car.

     The police officers at the other end of the alley where the limo was parked had those culprits in handcuffs and were putting them in their cruisers for a ride to the police station.  Detective Burns handed the three he had captured over to his officers and grabbed up his radio and was about to speak when he spied Alex and Anna standing just inside the alleyway.

     Alex mouthed to the detective, pointing to Nick, Matt and Sam's backs, as the three boys talked to two police officers, "Don't tell them we were here."  Detective Burns smiled and nodded that he understood.  Alex then put his cell in his back pocket of his jeans and turned to Anna and said, "Well my friend, I'll drive you home."  Anna smiled at him and took his hand as they started off towards the school parking lot.

     After they were seated in the car, Anna turned to Alex and said, "That was some kiss.  Whoever you end up with will be a lucky girl."  Alex's face turned a bright shade of red as he said, "Anna, I'm so sorry about that.  I just didn't want the bad guys to get curious as to why we were there."  He said this all very fast.

     "I know," Anna assured him.   Alex breathed a sigh of relief.  Then she said, "I couldn't see too well. The alley was so dark.  But that was Fletch's brothers and Nick Crosby wasn't it?"   "Yep," Alex said, "And unless I've got it all wrong....their being royally chewed out by Brian burns right now for playing detective,"  Alex said with a smirk.

     He was right.  The police had just taken the bad guys away when Detective Burns faced Nick, Matt and Sam with a scowl on his chubby face and fire in his usually twinkling blue eyes.  Sam gulped, Matt gave the detective a "I'm sorry look," but Nick stared right into Detective Burns eyes with a satisfied grin on his handsome face.

     And before Detective Burns could vent his anger Nick handed him a tape recorder.  "What's this?"  the detective asked gruffly.  (Before the boys were grabbed by the crooks they had taped a very interesting and condemning conversation.)  "It's proof," Nick said simply.  Detective Burns gave Nick a curious look and then pushed the "Play" button.

     Within minutes the detective's scowl was gone, replaced with a wide grin.  But after he pushed the "Stop" button suddenly his face was sober again.  "Do you three realize you could've been badly hurt or worse?" he said in a grave voice.   Matt gave him a wry grin, "Is that what you say when the North Side Detectives solve a case?" he ask him.

     Detective Burns sighed heavily, "Frequently.  Don't get me wrong guys I appreciate the remarkable work you did.  In fact I cant' wait to hear the whole story.  But do me a favor will ya?  Next time just let me in on your plans,"  Detective Burns said in a weary tone.  "Well, I don't think you have to worry about that detective Sam said.  "We've had our one awesome adventure."

     The detective smiled and nodded at them and took the tape from the recorder and then handed the devise back to Nick.  "You boys have a ride home?" he asked.  "Yeah.  I'm parked in the school's lot.  Detective Burns looked up at the sky.  "It's supposed to snow again.  You three better get home or you'll be stuck in"said" parking lot for who knows how long."

     "See ya Detective Burns!" Nick, Sam and Matt chorused and waving as the detective climbed into his cruiser.  But then Nick thought of a question he wanted to ask.  He run to the driver's side window.  "Hey.  How did you know this was going down?"  Detective Burns cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat before answering.

     "Someone just called in and said there was a commotion in the alley way.  They didn't give a name."  "Oh okay.  Hey.   You can keep our names out of this right?"  Nick asked nervously.  "Yeah.  Don't worry.  I'm used to keeping people's names out of things.  See ya, and thanks," the detective said as he pulled away.

     "What did you ask him?" Sam wanted to know as soon as Nick joined them again. "I ask him how he knew something was happening here.   And he said someone called in and said there was a ruckus in the alley."  "Oh," Sam said simply.  "And by the way.  He said "Thanks."  Matt and Sam grinned.  "Well, it's like you said Nick.  We wanted to do one on our own; probably our last detecting adventure,"  Sam said, sounding a little sad.  "It doesn't have to be," Matt told him. "There's always the rest of our lives."  The boys laughed heartily as they walked back to Nick's car.

     The papers and news stations were all a buzz regarding the computer bandits being apprehended.  Three individuals working with the police, said the newsman reporting on the local news channel, are credited with making a tape of the criminals talking about how they stole the computers from Elkhart Central High School's computer room.   The tape was the proof of their thievery.  The men are being held in the county jail awaiting their arraignment.

     Alex and Anna were the only ones who knew about Nick, Matt and Sam's involvement in the computer caper.  Since Nick and the twins names weren't mentioned in any of the news media reports, Alex knew that they had asked Detective Burns to keep their identities out of it.  Which of course he would have done anyway.  So Alex and Anna had vowed to keep the boys secret too.

     Nick, Matt and Sam never said a word to the North Side Detectives about their involvement in the computer caper.  And Alex thought he knew why.  He thought what meant the most to the three of them was that they had solved a mystery on their own; and of course getting a group of thieves off of the streets.

      Nick, Sam and Matt had caused Alex to be anxious to solve another mystery by their solving of the computer case.  Alex had only restrained from being involved in the latest case because Lee couldn't participate, because his mother would flip out if her son was involved with anything remotely dangerous.  He had told himself he'd have to hold off at least until Lee's mother had abandoned her idea to move to the relatively safe town of Celina Ohio.

     But Alex was deep in thought about all these things as he drove Anna home.  Maybe the North Side Detectives could be involved in a non dangerous type case.  "Was there any such thing?  Alex wondered.  He told himself he would talk to his friends about the North Side Detectives  taking on another case before the school year ended.  "After all it's just talking," Alex mumbled.  "What?"  Anna asked.  "Oh nothing," Alex replied.

                                                                               End of Chapter 41