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"Finally!" Honey exclaimed. "I'm so sorry, Jim and Brian, but I couldn't wait for that party to be over." At long last, the Bob-Whites were all together again, sitting around a bonfire by their favorite spot near the boathouse. The flames crackled merrily and the stars were shining, but all their faces were downcast.
"You know we felt the same way, Honey, after we heard what had happened to Tom," Brian replied, draping a companionable arm over her shoulders. Honey leaned her head against him gratefully.
"I still can't believe it," Diana said sadly.
"Well, I don't believe it," Trixie said stanchly. "And Mart doesn't either, do you?"
Mart shook his head. "No way. We all know Tom better than that. He's not a teetotaler or anything, but he would never drink and drive or imbibe on the job. Something's up."
"You were the one who talked to the cops, right Jim? What exactly did they say?" Dan asked.
Jim ran his fingers through his copper-colored hair. "Well, they talked to my dad first. Since Tom was driving my car at the time, they thought it was me in the crash." Honey's gasp told Trixie that Jim hadn't shared that piece of information with her earlier.
"I bet that gave your parents quite a shock," Brian said grimly.
"Fortunately Ms. Trask was able to find me in about thirty seconds," Jim replied. "They were a little frantic because with everything going on today to get ready for the party I hadn't seen them since lunchtime."
"Why was Tom driving your car, Jim?" Mart asked.
"There were several guests that needed to be picked up for the party," Jim said. "We had hired a second driver just for the evening, and I told Tom he could use my car so the driver could use the sedan."
"Lucky you did hire him too, or Uncle Reagan and I would still be dropping folks off," Dan said ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Who was the driver?" Trixie asked. "Maybe he talked to Tom earlier in the day and can give us some information."
"Unfortunately, I didn't see him," Jim said. "Did you, Honey?" Honey shook her head in response.
Diana chimed in then. "Oh, I know – Ms. Trask called and Harrison recommended him. He's a driver Daddy sometimes uses named Chris. Chris Fellows, I think."
"We need to talk to him," Trixie said. "It's too late tonight, but maybe we can try to meet with him tomorrow."
"I can find out his phone number," Diana offered.
"That would be great," Jim said. "I don't want to ask Ms. Trask about any of this yet. She is in an awkward position since technically she's Tom's boss."
"Did anyone else see Tom today?" Brian asked. All the Bob Whites shook their heads.
"There was so much going on today," Honey replied. "The reporter came right after breakfast to interview Jim, and then they wanted photos of the family before lunch. I never even saw Celia after she served breakfast this morning since we just had lunch in the kitchen today."
"There was a reporter here?" Trixie asked.
Jim looked a little embarrassed. "I didn't want to mention it, but someone from one of the Albany papers came down to do a feature on me because of the Hudson Scholar thing."
Brian elbowed him playfully. "Looks like my future roommate is going to be famous on campus before we even get there."
Jim looked even more uncomfortable. Trixie realized that with all the concern over Tom, Jim had never gotten the chance to tell Brian or any of the other Bob Whites about the threatening letters.
"There's something else I need to tell you all about," Jim said slowly. He related the same story he had told to Trixie earlier that evening as the other Bob Whites listened.
When Jim was finished, Brian had a confused look on his face. "Uh, so I hope it goes without saying that Jim and I didn't cheat on our final project."
"Of course you didn't!" Honey cried indignantly. "No one would ever believe you had."
Mart looked calm on the outside, but Trixie could tell he was seething with anger. "Someone's got to be a real louse to try to muck all this stuff up for you two after the hard work you both put in to graduate at the top of the class."
"Any guesses who that louse could be?" Dan asked unsmilingly.
"We know it's someone local thanks to the postmarks," Trixie chimed in. "And if it's someone from around here, surely we can figure out who it is."
"How many letters did you say you've received, Jim?" Diana asked.
"Apparently there have been three letters, but I've only seen one of them. Ms. Trask didn't even take the first two letters seriously," Jim said. "It wasn't until she noticed that all three were from Sleepyside and seemed to be written by the same person that she brought them to me. Also, she said today's letter was the first to mention you, Brian, by name. The previous threats were aimed only at me."
"Tomorrow I want to have a look at all three letters," Trixie declared. "I know you said they were typewritten but they might still have all kinds of clues."
Jim smiled at her. "For once I'm glad that you're so comfortable in your gumshoes. I knew the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency would take the case."
"No question about that," Honey declared. "And since we're on the case, here's my first theory. Could the letters be from a jealous student?"
Jim and Brian exchanged glances. "I guess it's possible," Jim finally said. "There was some pretty stiff competition in our class for the top spots."
"It'd be just awful to find out it was a classmate," Diana sighed.
"I concur," Mart said. "And I doubt it is. I prefer the idea that it's some loony local trying to see if he might be able to wrangle some cash from nervous parents. After all, like you said, Honey, no one who actually knows Jim and Brian would believe they're the cheating type."
"The fact that they mentioned Brian at all makes me think it is someone we know," Trixie argued. "Jim has been in all the papers for being a Hudson Scholar, and it's his father that they're trying to get the money from. He doesn't have to bring Brian into it."
"True," Brian said. "But if the blackmailer's trying to sell the theory that we cheated on the project together, it makes sense to name me. It would give his allegation more credit since Jim and I were indeed partners for our senior project."
"Well, that's all the more reason to suspect it is someone we know, or that you two do, at least," Trixie replied. "A person could read all the papers in the world and still not know that detail."
"Trixie's right," Honey said. "In fact, it would almost have to be someone from our school to know that, wouldn't it?"
"Maybe," Jim replied. "Or the library. It felt like we lived there for a little while since we were there so often doing research. Plenty of people could have seen us or even listened to us discussing the project there."
The group was silent for a moment, the firelight reflecting off their faces. The silence was broken when Mart unsuccessfully tried to stifle a yawn.
"Come on, gang. We're not going to solve everything tonight," Brian said. "We should get the girls home."
"Can we meet at Manor House tomorrow morning? I want to see those letters, Jim," Trixie said.
"Fine by me," Jim replied.
"Ms. Trask and I are going to the hospital in the morning right after breakfast," Honey said. "We may not stay long but I wanted to at least take a few things to Celia, even if we can't see Tom."
"I do want to see the letters too, but I'd like to go with you to the hospital if that's okay, Honey," Brian said. "I hoped maybe I could talk to some of the medical staff about how they are treating him."
"I sure hope Tom's awake tomorrow," Mart said. "It'd be great to hear his side of the story."
"I sure hope so too," Trixie said fervently. "So Honey and Brian will go with Ms. Trask, but the rest of us will meet at Manor House around 9?"
The rest of the group agreed. Mart volunteered to walk Honey and Diana, who was staying at Manor House that night, back up the hill before heading to Crabapple Farm. After the tough evening, everyone exchanged embraces before parting.
"Jim and I will put out the fire, Trixie," Dan said. "You Beldens get on home."
"I guess we should," Brian said, yawning. "Thanks, fellas. I'm worn out. This has been a heck of an evening."
"As my mother always used to say," Jim said, "everything will look brighter in the morning." Trixie noticed the wistful little smile on his face as he spoke and realized he was talking about Katje, his first mother. Impulsively, she hugged him tightly. Jim let himself wrap his arms around her and hug her back.
"We're going to fix all this, Jim," she assured him.
"But not," Brian interrupted, "without a decent night's sleep. Come on, Trix."
Somewhat reluctantly, Trixie let go of Jim. She gave Dan a quick hug too, then followed her older brother down the hill to the little hollow where Crabapple Farm awaited them.