Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 46

                                                                                      Life Goes On

                                                                                        

     Alex had time to ponder while lying in a hospital bed, just how close he had come to the end of his life.  "It seems I'm always thanking you God for having saved my life," Alex whispered, "Thanks again."  Before breakfast was served the next morning he was chiding himself for not going for the gun under the counter.  But then again he asked himself, what if he had killed the guy?   His answer came quickly to his mind.  He could not have lived with that.

    

     After much deliberation over his ordeal, he reasoned that he had done the best thing he could have by pressing the buzzer to alert the police.  As he was finishing up with his thoughts  Mr. Wells and Mrs. Books came through the door.  "Hello Alex," Mr. Wells said, walking towards him and then when reaching his bedside, patted his right leg

     "You look better than yesterday," he told Alex.  "I feel much better than yesterday," Alex said,  while pushing the button for his pain medication that ran into his I.V.  "This stuff works really  good.  It takes all the pain away,"  Alex said, drawing out the word all and with his crooked grin in place.  "I'll bet it does," Mr. Wells said with a chuckle.

     Mr. Wells pulled up a chair for Mrs. Books and himself at Alex's bedside.  "And how are you two," Alex asked them.  "I'm fine," his two visitors said in unison.  Alex chuckled this time.  "Although I was beside myself when I first heard,"  Mrs. Books admitted.  "Don't worry.  I will be fine," Alex assured her.  My body is used to healing quickly," he said with another grin.

     "By the way," Alex started, "I gave a detailed description to the police sketch artist and Detective Burns," he ended, shifting himself to a more comfortable position.  "I talked with Detective Burns,"  Mr. Wells begin,  "he was on his out of the hospital when we were on our way in.  He's taking your situation very personally Alex,"  Mr. Wells said soberly.

     "Yeah.  I know.  He told me as much when he was here."  At that point Lee and Glenna arrived.  They both said hello to Mr. Wells and Mrs. Books.  In fact the sweet old lady got a hug from both of them.  Lee shook Mr. Wells hand and Glenna gave him a warm smile.  Then they turned their attention to Alex.

     "How are you today?"  Glenna asked while leaning over him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.  "I'm fine." ( Alex thought how tired he was of having to say that.)  "And I've never received so many kisses in my life.  I rather like it,"  he said with a smile at Glenna who giggled.  "Hey pal," Lee said, tweaking Alex's big toe.  "Hey Lee," Alex said with a little wave.  Fletch and Dawn and Chet will be up in about an hour or so.  And Anna's coming by this evening," Lee told him.

     "Alex," Mr. Wells addressed him, "Mrs. Books and I are going to go now.  We'll see you another time.  Mind your nurses."  "I will," Alex said, " And thanks for coming by."  "I'm praying for you kid," Mrs. Books said.  Love you hon," she ended, giving him a kiss.  Then the two of them left and Lee and Glenna took the seats they had vacated.

     "I assume that you gave Detective Burns a good description of this jerk who put you here," Lee said in a fierce voice.  "Yes," Alex answered, "And the police sketch artist too.  And trust me, Detective Burns is on it,"  Alex assured his friends.  "Now, you can give his description to me," Lee said firmly, taking out a pen and pad from his jacket pocket.

     "Lee, I appreciate it your concern and solidarity, but please let the police handle this," Alex begged.  Mr. Wells had forgotten his gloves and had just come back into the room to retrieve them. He immediately said, "I strongly agree with what Alex said."  Lee, Glenna and Alex all jumped.  Mr. Wells was such a quiet walker and they weren't expecting him.  Mrs. Books didn't comment, but just stood in the doorway watching the events unfold.

     Mr. Wells and Lee argued back and forth for a couple of minutes when Alex could stand it no longer and said in a rather loud voice, "Hey!  Can the victim say something?"  They both stopped short and stared at him.  "Mr. Wells, I appreciate your concern and I agree with what you're saying.  But you know Lee just about as well as I do.  If he doesn't get the information he wants from me, he will get it from another source."  Mr. Wells held his temper but physically stiffened at Alex's words.

     "And Lee, I don't want you in the bed next to me, so don't do anything stupid.  And besides, don't you think I might want to be in on what ever plan you have to capture this guy?  I would appreciate it if you'd wait to do anything, until I can help."  Mr. Wells smiled a small smile, and while Lee was looking at his shoes, partly frustrated and partly ashamed, Alex gave his former history teacher a wink.

     In a couple of minutes Lee did agree to wait until Alex could investigate his case with the rest of them and Detective Burns, ( who now a days wanted the North Side Detectives help)  which made Mrs. Books, Glenna and Mr. Wells very happy. 

     Alex was released from the hospital three days later.  It was a Friday evening so he would have the weekend to rest up before going back to school.  Anna came over that afternoon after classes and fussed over him as much as his mother did.  Alex was feeling smothered and so was wishing it was Monday morning already so he could get away from them both.

     Lee and Glenna stopped by that evening to tell Alex that Detective Burns said there were no leads on the man who shot him.  But he and his officers were keeping hard at working on his case.  Lee told Alex that Fletch and Dawn were coming over after supper so that the five of them could make a plan to catch the bad guy, when he was up to joining them.

     Janeen,  Alex's mother had started dinner around six o'clock and Anna left at that time to go home and do her school assignments.  Fletch arrived that night before dinner and stayed to eat along with Lee and Glenna.  When Dawn came through the front door supper was through, and she, Alex, Lee, Glenna and Fletch adjourned to the family room to talk about Alex's case.

     Janeen  put up a little fuss about Alex not spending time with his family as well as his friends, but Max came to Alex's rescue.  "Janeen.  Alex is almost grown.  Tonight, he needs some alone time with his friends."  Alex's mother wasn't happy, but she shrugged and said "Okay."  Then she went off to do the dishes.

     "Thanks Dad," Alex whispered.  Max just winked at him.  Alex closed the family room door when the last of his friends had entered.  They all made themselves comfortable on the two beige sofas.  "I was going to bring your homework to you," Dawn said, "But your dad said he'd do it."  "Yeah.  He told me of your conversation with him.  Thanks for offering Dawn," Alex told her.  She gave him a smile.

     Dawn then pulled a spiral from her blue jean bag and then continued to look for a pen.  She had been carrying the bag since the first year of middle school.  It was quite well worn by now, and her friends had suggested she get a new one.  But she just couldn't bear to part with it.  "Mr. Sullivan (of the drama Club) came to see me just before I was discharged today," Alex said.  "And so did Mr. Hartman." (Math teacher)  "And they each brought a plant."

     "I have so many plants and flowers, I could open my own nursery," Alex said with a chuckle.  "So how's school be going since I've been gone?"  "Well, our English teacher Miss Tuttle said to tell you she's looking forward to having you back on Monday," Dawn told him.  "Graphic Arts is a cool class," Lee put in.

     "Anna's the only one of us taking Behavoral Science, so you'll have to ask her about Mrs. Boxer's class," Dawn said, finally locating a working pen in her bag.  "Okay.  Enough of this school stuff.  We're here to discuss Alex's case and what we're going to do about it,"  Lee said in a frustrated voice.  Then everyone suddenly jumped at the door being opened and Alex's little sister Lyndell entering the room.

                                                                                End of Chapter 46