The Case of the Mysterious Man-Part Four

by HA Senidal

The next day, Shirley finally found what she was looking for. She was currently standing in front of a building used as a restaurant. "Papa Pete's Pizzeria" was painted on the large front window in red and green letters. On the glass door was the sign "CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."

Shirley stepped up to the door and started to sniff around it. She reeled back for a moment, then she resumed. She took out a glass test tube from her backpack, took out the cork, and held it to the crack of the door. She quickly replugged the test tube and put it in her pocket. As she did so, she thought she saw the homeless man who had begged from her yesterday. He was once again begging for money from some pedestrians, who were holding their noses and keeping downwind from him. Satisfied, Shirley started for home. She needed to do some things before she went to Blake's for dinner.

Bo was the first to arrive at Blake's house; it was 6:30 PM. Blake answered the door. "Hi, Bo," Blake said. "Glad you could make it."

Bo looked at Blake, then walked by him without saying a word. He went to the living room and sat down on the sofa. He looked at the various unpacked boxes in there. The walls were bare. Blake sat down in a chair facing the sofa. A coffee table separated them.

Blake tried to start a conversation. "Mom and Rosa are putting the finishing touches on dinner. Do you like chicken?"

Bo leaned back in the sofa. "So, Blake, how did you end up at Sussex instead of at a public school?"

"My mom's dad, my grandfather, was well-to-do. When he died, he left my mom, his only daughter, a lot of money. As for the school choice, my mom attended Sussex. She liked it, and I guess she felt I would too." Blake smiled. "She was right."

"Are you sure it's Sussex you like?" Bo asked, giving Blake a look.

Blake studied Bo's face. "You don't like me very much, do you, Bo?"

"Gee, why do you think that?" Bo said with a tinge of sarcasm.

"Well, every time we've hung out, when Shirley and I talk, you look at me as if I'm intruding on something."

"You want the truth, Blake?" Bo leaned toward Blake and strained to control his anger. "Shirley and I are good friends. We're a team, and you're splitting up that team." He leaned back. "Now I'm losing my best friend to you. Everything was just fine until you showed up."

A blank look crossed Blake's face. "Look, I'm not trying to ruin your friendship with Shirley. I don't mean to do you any harm. It's been a while since I had some real friends."

Bo seemed to calm down. "Sorry, Blake. It's just that when I see you and Shirley together, I feel left out. She acts differently around you, and you two have the same interests."

Blake gave Bo a look. "Bo, have you ever, even for a short moment, entertained the idea that you and Shirley could be...well...more than friends?"

"No!" Bo said, but the slight tinge of red on his cheeks didn't escape Blake's notice.

"You know, Bo, I'll respect your privacy," Blake said. "I do have some advice, though. If you do have feelings for a girl, I recommend you tell her how you feel."

"And suppose she makes fun of me or never wants to see me again if I tell her how I feel?" Bo asked.

"Well, at least you tried," Blake said.

"I'll keep that in mind." Bo's anger was completely gone. "Say, Blake, you're not such a bad guy."

Blake let out a sigh of relief and held out his hand. "Friends?"

Bo reached across and shook Blake's hand. "Friends."

Blake breathed out a sigh of relief. "You know, Bo, that in the end, it's Shirley's choice, not ours."

"Yeah." Bo knew what Blake meant. "You do admit that she's different from other girls, right, Blake?"

"Very different," Blake said in agreement. "That's what makes her so special."

"Definitely," Bo said with a grin.

The two boys laughed nervously, then stared at each other quietly. At that moment, both had finally reached an understanding. Their moment of silence was interrupted by the doorbell. "Blake, get the door please!" a woman cried out from the kitchen. "Rosa and I are still finishing up."

Blake gestured toward the door. He had a good idea who was at the door. "Go ahead," he told Bo.

Bo got up from the sofa and walked up to the door. Looking through the peephole, he saw Shirley with, as usual, her backpack draped over her shoulder. He opened the door. "Hi, Shirley."

"Hi, Bo." Shirley entered the house. "When did you get here?"

"Oh, a while ago." Bo looked at his watch. "Where have you been?" he asked as he followed her into the living room.

"Putting together the pieces of the puzzle we've been trying to solve," Shirley said as she sat down on the sofa with Blake. "Hi, Blake," she said as Bo sat next to them.

"Hi, Shirley," Blake said.

"You didn't try to find that guy again, I hope," Bo said to Shirley.

"Actually, I haven't seen him all day," Shirley said. "I did conduct a simple investigation, and the results definitely help solve the puzzle."

Before Bo or Blake could ask Shirley what she did, Dr. Hewitt came into the living room. She had light-brown hair styled in a blunt cut and wore an apron over her clothes. She saw Shirley and Bo, then looked at her son. "So, these are your new friends," she said.

Blake nodded, then gestured to the others. "Mom, Shirley Holmes and Bo Sawchuk. Shirley and Bo, my mom, Dr. Lauren Hewitt."

"Hi, Dr. Hewitt," Shirley said.

"Hi, Dr. Hewitt," Bo said.

Dr. Hewitt beamed as she looked at her son, Shirley, and Bo. "I can't thank you two enough for letting Blake be with you," Dr. Hewitt began. "Blake hasn't had any real friends since his father died."

"We know," Shirley said. "Blake explained everything."

"Well, I'm glad that my son has found some friends," Dr. Hewitt said.

"Blake mentioned you went to Africa," Bo said.

"Not to mention Asia and South America." Dr. Hewitt looked at Blake. "You forgot to mention that, Blake?" she said lightheartedly. "For shame."

"Mom." Blake looked down, his cheeks turning a light red.

The maid called out from the kitchen for Dr. Hewitt. "Looks like Rosa needs my help." She walked toward the kitchen. "I'll call you when everything's ready."

"Your mom seems okay," Bo told Blake.

"She's learned to cope with my dad's death," Blake said. "She's done a better job than me."

Shirley looked at the unpacked boxes and the blank walls. "Still settling in?"

"We just took out what's necessary, like our clothes and the kitchen stuff," Blake explained. "I did unpack my radio and my book collection, though." He had a thought. "Care to see my books until dinner's ready?"

Before Shirley and Bo could answer, the doorbell rang. "I'll get that," Blake told his guests. "Probably another well-wisher welcoming us to the neighborhood." He got up and went to the front door. Shirley and Bo watched as Blake looked through the peephole. To their surprise, they saw Blake walk carefully away from the door. "Shirley, are you sure you didn't see that strange guy today?" he said in a whisper.

"I'm sure," Shirley said. "Why?"

Blake continued to whisper, his voice a little shaky. "Because he's at the door right now."

"Are you sure?" Bo said.

"Positive," Blake said. "The long blond hair, the shades. Definitely him." He looked at Shirley and Bo. "Any ideas?"

"Wait until he leaves?" Bo said.

"Doubt he'll leave," Blake said. "He seems determined to come in."

"How did he find this place?" Bo asked.

"We're about to find out," Shirley said. "Bo, hide behind the door. Blake, let him in."

Bo could not believe what Shirley had said. "Excuse me?"

Shirley ignored Bo and continued to give him instructions. "When he comes in, tackle him on my word."

Shirley got up from the sofa and followed Blake to the door. "I hope you know what you're doing, Shirl," Bo said as he got up and followed them.

Once at the door, they all took their positions. Blake nervously approached the door. "Hello? Is anybody home?" the man asked from outside. Blake looked at Shirley, who nodded. Blake opened the door slowly. Bo stood still in his hiding place.

The mysterious man stood before Shirley and Blake in the doorway. He stepped into the house. "Hi, I was wondering if..." He froze when he saw Shirley. "Hey, I know you-"

"Now!" Shirley shouted.

Quick as a tiger, Bo rushed out from behind the door. The man turned around, but it was too late. Bo tackled him and knocked him to the ground. Blake went around them and shut the door.

"What is the meaning of this?" the man said as he struggled to get out of Bo's grip.

Shirley spotted something near the man's head and bent down to pick it up. It was a long, blond wig. She looked at the man's head and saw black hair with a touch of gray.

Dr. Hewitt had heard the scuffle and came out of the kitchen. "What's going on here?" she asked, seeing Bo and the mysterious man struggle on the floor.

Blake was about to help Bo restrain the stranger when he saw the stranger's face. He was speechless.

Dr. Hewitt got closer to the stranger for a better look. She bent down and took off his sunglasses. Her eyes widened at who she saw. "Chris?"

Blake looked at the stranger. "Dad?"

Bo let go and got up. He looked at Shirley, whose eyes were open with surprise.

"H-hi, guys," the man said weakly. "I'm home."

END OF PART FOUR