Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                     Chapter 51

                                                                                 Jed's Dilemma

     Jed, Hank, Tom and Ben joined Alex and the other North Side Detectives in study hall later that day.  "What happened in the office this morning?"  Alex asked Jed as soon as he was seated.  "Well, I told Principal Fuller why I was there with Avery; that two boys had beat him this morning.  I also said that my buddies and I would see that no harm came to him until he was no longer in any danger.  Principal Fuller seemed pleased about that."

     "Then Principal Fuller called Avery's mother about the situation.  It sounded from hearing his end of the conversation, that he was asking Avery's mother and father to come see him in the morning.  And from Principal Fuller's last words of "Thank you very much," his parents were agreeable.  When the principal ended his call, he ask Avery if he knew who the boys were that had done this to him.  Avery said he didn't know them but he could describe what they looked like."

     Then Jed took a big sigh as if what he had to say further was not a pleasant thing.  But he went on, "The descriptions Avery gave Principal Fuller....fit my former friends Larry Arnold and Will Kidd perfectly." The girls gasped and Alex and the guys gaped at him.  I told the principal that I thought I knew who the two boys were."

     "I gave him Larry and Will's full names, addresses and the first class they had today.  Then Principal Fuller had a senior in the office, run a note down to the English teacher asking her to send Larry and Will down to the office.  The kid came back in ten minutes with the teacher's reply which was, that neither boy had shown up for class.  And I just ran into the principal in the hallway while I was on my way here, and he checked with Larry and Will's other teachers and they said the two of them had ditched their classes today also."

     Alex and the others gave each other suspicious glances and then Jed said,  "I think I know why they ditched,"   "Why?" Dawn asked.  "I think one or both of them saw me going to the office with Avery," Jed answered.  "So they knew they were in big trouble," Fletch put in.  "Exactly," Jed said.  "What they did to Avery was horrible in it's self, but there's more,"  he said in a somber tone."

     "What is it?"  Anna asked him, putting a hand on his arm.  He gave her a smile then said, "Do you all remember that I told you about another convenience store down the street from yours Alex, that was robbed a few days after yours was?"  "Yes," Dawn interjected, "As a matter of fact, Lyn and I had read an article about it."

     "I'm going to let Ben take it from here," Jed said, looking over at him.  "Okay," Ben said, clearing his throat.  "I am quite sure that I saw Larry hanging around that store the day of the robbery.  Let's face it, not many guys have their hair cut in a mohawk these days, let alone dying it red.  So, within a few days after mulling over what I saw; I went from just thinking it was him to knowing it was him."

     "Anyway,  a couple days after the store was robbed I called the police, told them what I had seen, and gave them our former friends' name and address."  "What happened after that?"  Chet asked.  "Well, I called the police back in a week and ask them if they had talked to Larry Arnold about where he was when the store was robbed."

"They told me that Larry had an alibi for the time of the robbery.  But I think that Larry paid for that alibi," Ben said in a positive tone.  And I thought from the beginning that Will was in on the robbery with him.  The two of them are thick as thieves," Ben ended, brushing a tress of blond hair from his eyes.  "And there's more," Jed put in, with another big sigh.

     "When Larry and Will made it clear that they didn't want to hang with Hank and me anymore, neither one of us were disappointed, because we didn't want any part of the stuff they were in to; even as bad as we were at the time," Jed gave Anna a grin and she giggled.  "I didn't tell you all, about what I expected they were doing then; out of a misplaced loyalty I guess.  But I want to tell you now."

     Everyone at the table leaned in so they could catch every word Jed would say.  First let me say that Larry and Will have been good friends of mine since we all were in kindergarten.  We've had a lot of good times together.  At first when I heard about the bad things they were up to, getting away from them was all I cared about."

     But, in the last couple of weeks when I've seen them in the hallways, I noticed that both of them had mouth sores."  Alex and the others gave each other stunned looks.  "I can see by your expressions, you know the significance of that," Jed said.  "Sores like that are a dead give away for someone who uses "Meth."

     "After I saw that, I promised myself I was going to see what I could do to get them help." A single tear fell onto Dawn's cheek as he spoke.  "I know their families.  They are good people.  They would never put up with Larry and Will doing the things they're doing.  And they would get them help immediately.  Those two must put up a really good front at home, so their parents are clueless.  I don't know how they explain the sores."

     "I know when I met you guys," he looked around the table at his new friends,  you helped me change into someone I can be proud of."  Then Jed focused on Anna's face saying, "You in particular Anna, gave me a personality overhaul that I desperately needed."  Anna giggled while the rest of the table laughed, and then she did something that shocked everyone at the table, she kissed Jed on the cheek.

     "Jed turned a bit red but still grinned at her.  Then Jed cleared his throat and went on.  "So, in light of what I've told you...." Dawn interrupted with, "You have a question to ask us....right?" she asked with a wide grin.  The others were grinning too.  "Yes.  Yes I do," Jed said.  "I wonder if The North Side Detectives would help me, and I'm sure Detective Burns, find Larry and Will?"

     The friends looked at each other as if they were deciding, then they all nodded at Alex who grinned and said, "Of course we will."  Jed heaved a great sigh and said, "Thanks.  And oh, I forgot something," he said,  again, looking over at Anna.  "Avery wants to know if he can take Judo lessons with the rest of us?"  "Sure," Anna answered,  "But if I get anymore pupils, Dad's gonna have to enlarge the family room."  Her friends roared with laughter.

     Suddenly, at that moment the group heard heavy footsteps moving quickly to the back of the room.  Lee looked up and smirked, saying, "Well, I guess we won't have to wait long to discuss all this with Detective Burns."  Everyone then looked over to see a short chubby man with a balding head and bright blue eyes hurrying up to their table.  He arrived huffing and puffing, but managed to say, "What do you think Jr. detectives; are you up to solving another one?"

                                                                               End of Chapter 51