Clues from the Past/An Ava Fitzgearld Mystery/Wattpad Original

7 O'clock Gave us a Shock

It was 7 on the dot when Ava pedaled up to Mrs. Gerber's house. It was a small cute rumbler, with white siding and a blue door. 

" Hey." Ava was unclipping her helmet when she heard the familiar voice behind her. 

She turned to face Liam. " Hi. I hope Mrs. Gerber won't be mad that I brought you along."

Liam shrugged, and smiled sweetly at her. " I'm sure it'll be ok." He glanced around. " Where's Hannah?"

" Ummm, she couldn't really make it, had to babysit." Ava explained quickly. " So it's just us two."

Liam smiled at her again. Ava's stomach fluttered and her heart beat faster. She gave herself a mental slap on the head. What was she thinking? Hannah had a crush on Liam, not her!

" Nice. Guess we'll be getting to know each other better, huh?" 

Ava nodded, blushed, and looked away. 

Liam started up the walk towards the house and Ava followed him. She knocked on the door and Mrs. Gerber answered immediately. 

" Hello, Ava. Who's this?" She frowned as she caught a glance of Liam. " I didn't say you could bring a boy along. Unless he's your boyfriend, of course," She winked at them both. " If he is, he's welcome."

Liam opened his mouth to say something but Ava cut him off. " He's just helping me with the mystery. Sorry to dissapoint you."

Mrs. Gerber made a tsk tsk sound but allowed them both to come into her house. 

" Sit." The librarian motioned to the couch while she settled herself in her rocking chair. 

Ava sat down first, and Liam sat right next to her. Up against her. He tried to put his arm around her, but Ava pushed it back.

" Stop acting!" She hissed at him. Liam glared at her. " If we don't act, Mrs. Gerber's gonna throw me outta her house!" 

Ava folded her arms and glared back at him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gerber was chuckling, softly rocking in her chair. 

" I'm not acting!" Liam hissed indignently. 

" We're working on a mystery, not what ever you think you're doing!" She swatted his hand away from her waist. 

" Fine." He gave in.

Ava turned to Mrs. Gerber. " What can you tell us about this?" She dug the photo and locket out of her pocket and held them out to the lady.

The librarian gasped. " Why, these are indeed Jennie's!" 

" Can you tell us anything about the items?" Liam asked. 

" Yes." Mrs. Gerber sounded startled. 

" Jennie went missing when she was 25. We looked everywhere, called the police, everyone we knew to see if they had seen her. But nobody had. I remember every time I would go over to Jennie's house, before she was missing, we'd finger the locket and look at the photo. I couldn't find these items when I went over to Jennie's house after she'd gone missing. I only know one clue though, they might help you. Jennie's family owns a summer vacation house not far from here. Half an hour to an hour, maybe. When I came with her one summer, we had a secret fort. It's possible that Jennie might have left a clue there." Mrs. Gerber paused and fingered the locket. " This locket is a family heirloom. It's Abigail Adam's locket. It's worth millions, and anyone would die to get this. Keep it safe." She glanced sharply at Ava and Liam. " Now, Jennie is about sixty, like me. And I will warn you, don't talk to Carrie or Hattie about this."

" Who are-" Ava began, but Liam cut her off.  " They must be the other two girl's in the photo." He glanced at Mrs. Gerber. " Maybe I ask you you're full name?"

The librarian sighed. " Patricia. Patty. Call me whatever suits you."

" Well," Liam began, " I think that when the four of you were best friends, you all had a huge fight. You, Patricia, were closer to Jennie, and Carrie and Hattie were closer friends. I think maybe the fight gave Jennie momentum to run away, and disappear from life. Did Jennie have a hard life, Patricia?" 

Mrs. Gerber nodded slowly. " A couple months before Jennie disappeared, she found out that her father had lost his job. Now, her mother had died a few years before. That was a tough time for Jennie. You are a bright one." She smiled approvingly at Liam. He beamed, and Ava rolled her eyes. She stood up, and said:

" This is a lot to take in. Thank you, for letting us talk to you, Patricia. We'll let you know if we find out anything about Jennie. C'mon Liam." She grabbed his elbow and pulled him off the couch. 

" Bye, Patty!" He called as Ava shut the door behind them.

" Woah. 7 O'clock gave us a shock." Ava remarked. She put her helmet on and climbed on her bike. 

" Yep," Liam agreed. " I think we'll make a good, the two of- eerrr I mean, when Hannah can join us." He climbed on his bike and started pedaling in the opposite direction. " See you tomorrow, girlfriend!" He called from the stop sign.

Ava blushed. " Bye!" But he was already gone.