Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                      Chapter 49

                                                                                      Lee's Collar

     The next Wednesday evening,  Anna, Dawn, Fletch, Lee, Glenna, Jed North and his friends: Hank Nettles, Tom Fiester and Ben Potts, Gathered at Alex's house for Anna's Judo lesson.  When Jed and his buddies walked through the front door, Alex's mother Janeen looked like she might faint.  But the young men were very polite and Jed complimented her on how lovely her house was, which won her over immediately.  Alex gave Jed a discrete "Thumbs Up."

     Alex's arm was still tender so he couldn't join in with the activity, so he just sat on the sofa and watched the others with his dad Max.  Jed was up first and when he threw his partner Hank to the floor Alex swore that he felt the house shake with the great thump that Hank's body made.  Jed was kind enough to help his friend up.

     Fletch was in shock that his much shorter Friend Dawn could flip him over her shoulder and onto the mat so easily.  Lee and Glenna couldn't help but laugh, which seemed to make the others in the room think, they were free to laugh too.  Basically, the friends threw each other all over the mats and carpet for an hour's time.  There was much laughter and no one was hurt, for which Alex's mom was very thankful.  And Anna was very proud of the progress that her students had made.

      The first of November came around and Lee took it upon himself and in secret checked out hiding places around the convenience store, where the North Side Detectives could stay under cover on their stake out.  One Friday night the group was meeting in their headquarters (the little shack down town) to discuss their plans for that night.

    Lee begin the meeting by laying out the various hiding places he had found.  He had spoken for a few minutes when he stopped and said in a very irritated voice, "Dawn, Lyn, do you mind?"  Lyn had been complimenting Dawn and Glenna on the beautiful job they had done decorating the shack.  It was Lyn's first time there.

     "Sorry Lee," Lyn said sweetly.  "Oh, it's okay kid."  Then he raised his eyebrow at Alex to relieve the rest of his frustration and Alex laughed.  It was a lot warmer in the shack than in previous winter visits, because Dawn had thought to bring an electric heater.  The shack did have one electrical outlet.  Everyone appreciated her wisdom in bringing it and cleverness getting it out of her parents house unnoticed.

     Lee had brought blueprints he had made of the area around both Alex's convenience store and the one across the street, and he carefully laid them out on the table.  "See here," Lee started, as everyone gazed down at the map, "there is an abandoned house across the street from Alex's convenience store and next to the other store opposite it."

     "There is a window that is boarded up on the first floor in the back that we can climb through.  We should be able to see anyone who goes in and out from this house," Lee said, pointing to it  with a satisfied smirk on his handsome face.  There was a little conversation between the friends, before a decision was made, but after a few minutes everyone agreed it was a good plan.

     "Just so you know," Lyn said, as they all were preparing to leave, "There was a store just down the street from yours Alex which was hit last week."  Dawn spoke up before Alex could reply. "I read about that too.  That time no one saw the robber.  He broke in when the store was closed.  He got no money, but plenty of product," Dawn ended.