Chapter Seven
"Well, I guess it's a start." Dan said, as he leaned back in the passenger's seat of Jim's Jeep. They were headed to Sleepyside to pick up a few things Mrs. Wheeler had ordered for the party and Jim was telling him what had happened the previous night between him and Trixie.
"Yeah... Let's hope it just isn't too late a start." Jim said.
His friend patted him on the shoulder, reassuringly. "Take it easy, Jim. You can't do in two days all that should have happened in nine years."
"Thanks a lot!" Jim exclaimed. "You don't have to remind me I was a fool!"
"No, you weren't! You did what you thought was right. Trixie made her own choices! She could have made a move herself. But let the past lay. Concentrate on what you can do now."
"Sure! Pray... Pray that she isn't tired of my hesitations."
It didn't take them long to get to Sleepyside. Once there, they headed to the mall to pick up what Mrs. Wheeler had ordered in several of the stores. The party wouldn't be for another 3 days, but Jim's mother wanted to play it safe. They had just finished packing it all in the car trunk, when Dan stopped in the middle of a sentence and stared at some point across the street. Surprised at his friend sudden silence, Jim looked up at him and followed his gaze. Some people were passing by, but nothing special was happening. At least, not that Jim could notice.
"Jim, come on." Dan said, starting to cross the street.
Dazed, Jim followed him. He had to run to catch his friend's long and quick strides. "What's happening, Dan?" he asked as soon as he caught up with him. "Where are we going?"
"I don't know... We're going after that guy!" he answered, pointing at a man walking a few yards away from him.
"And why are we doing that?"
"Listen, Jim, trust me on this one. This guy is up to no good!"
"Well, if you say so... But as far as I'm concerned it's no crime to walk down the street. Ok, I grant you... He doesn't look that good, but that's no crime either!" Jim joked.
Dan couldn't help a smile. "I know this guy, Jim. From New York. He's regularly in and out of the court rooms... He's bad news! I saw him here the day I came back and wondered what he was doing here. It's as good time as any to find out."
"What do we do if he notices us following him?" Jim asked, frowning.
"We run!"
Jim didn't say another word. He could sense Dan was really worried. So he just shut up and followed him. It didn't take long for Jim to share the same kind of concern that was bothering Dan. The route they had been taking had brought them to the further most part of Sleepyside, an area that had been for a long time considered dangerous and which awakened certain memories in Jim's mind: Hawthorne Street. Many years before Trixie had followed a man impersonating Di's uncle into that street and gotten into trouble... as usual. But, also as usual she gotten herself out of it.
Hawthorne Street was a haven for criminals. It was the kind of place where everyone was mute, deaf and blind... when it suited them. Old, decadent buildings sided the street and even the sunlight seemed to be dimmer. People looked sideways at each other, always suspicious of something. Jim remembered Trixie saying that once there the attitude seemed to stick on you and you found yourself dragging your feet through the dusty, dirty sidewalks, as everyone else did.
Dan and Jim exchanged glances and buried their hands in their pockets, as they both glued their eyes on the ground. Now that transients were fewer than downtown, Jim could take a good look at the object of their pursuit. He seemed young, maybe just a little older than himself. He was dressed in jeans and t-shirt but Jim could tell they weren't of the cheaper kind of brands. His tennis shoes were also last model. But there was something in the way he moved, in the way he looked at people that made him look dangerous. Suddenly, he stopped and looked back, staring straight at Jim and Dan. Jim gulped but didn't stop. Dan seemed to have the same idea, so they both went on, passing by the man. There was a corner a few yards away and they stopped after turning it.
Dan let out his breath and whipped his brow. "Jesus, I thought that was it!"
"So did I!" Jim said carefully looking around the corner. The man had apparently dismissed the thought of being followed and had crossed the street. Jim looked back in time to see him walking through the front door of old shabby building that, if he was to believe in the sigh above the door, was a hotel.
"Well, at least we know where he's staying," Jim said, as they walked back towards safer ground. "But you never got to tell me this guy's name."
"Oh, yeah. David. David Halston," Dan said, never noticing how white Jim's face suddenly turned.
"Hey, Trixie, wake up!" Di called, waving her hands in front of Trixie's face. She seemed to startle and finally noticed her friends. "Sorry... I was miles away!" she excused herself.
"Yeah, we know. You haven't heard a word we said since we left Manor House." Di complained.
Trixie, Diana and Honey had come to Sleepyside to shop for party clothes. But Trixie wasn't feeling very cheerful. She was still going through the previous night in her mind, trying to make some sense out of everything that had been said between herself and Jim. And wondering if there was anything more she could have said.
Jim's job offering had made her feel less concerned about her near future and even excited with the prospect. Maybe he was right and this was the beginning of a new series of adventures. And if all the kids were like Annie, it would be. My God, she thought, what am I doing? Wishing for the kids to have messy lives? She shook her head but she still felt the familiar feeling of anticipation. But what was really bothering her was that since then her mind had busy trying to remember every word pronounced by Jim and find their every possible meaning. She was feeling 14 again. And 15 and 16 and 17... Trixie sighed. She was tired of feeling like that. For once she would like to know for sure. But every time she thought she would, something happened and there they went again. Throwing hints at each other and hoping the other would understand. Maybe there was something you could have done instead of waiting for him to do it!, said a little annoying voice inside her head. She gulped and tried to dismiss that inner voice by thinking of something else.
Annie. That was a pressing subject for sure. Her mind had been so full lately that she was starting to think she was neglecting the girl. But what else could she do? There were no evident clues as to whom was chasing her... Or even if there really was someone after her. Not that she doubted Bobby... But the destruction he had mentioned inside the tree house could have been brought about by his own fight with Annie, when he'd found her. In the heat of the moment he might not have noticed the state of the place.
She smiled, as she thought on how much her baby brother had grown. He was getting pretty good at mystery solving. Right now he was probably with Annie, keeping her companied for a while. Trixie was worried about the girl and was wondering how long she could keep her presence a secret. She trembled at the thought that one of the other BWG's deciding to visit the club house. What then? What would she and Jim say to excuse themselves from not letting them know? And with a mind so full as this, how on Earth could she keep up with the other two chattering?
"Is there anything wrong?" Honey asked, from behind the wheel, looking at her best friend through the rear view mirror.
Trixie shook her head, saying "No, nothing", but she felt really bad for lying to her friend. And the worse thing was that Honey realized she was lying: her eyes kept searching for her own through the rear view mirror. Once they got to Sleepyside, and as Di answered a call on her cell phone, Honey took the opportunity to talk to Trixie. "What's wrong, Trix? You can't fool me, you know."
"I'm not trying to, Honey. I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Trixie said, smiling and trying to dismiss her friend's concern.
"Are you still angry about...?"
"Honey, no!" Trixie didn't let her go on. "It's got nothing to do with your decision. Not directly, at least. If you really want to know... Well, it's that lovely brother of yours. He's driving me crazy." It's not completely untrue, Trixie thought. And she did need to talk to someone about it.
Honey's pretty features were then lighted by a smile. "Oh, is he?"
"Don't joke, Honey. Last night I thought... But then... Oh!" she groaned. Taking a deep breath, Trixie told Honey all that had happened between herself and Jim, forgetting that Honey still hadn't heard about her decision of giving up the agency. After she was done, Trixie noticed how pale Honey had grown and suddenly it hit her. "So that was the decision you were talking about?" Honey said, feeling her voice caught in her throat.
"Yeah... I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I only decided on what to do last night." Trixie excused herself. "But, hey, we all have to make choices..."
"Sure. But sometimes we are forced to make those choices because other people chose a different path..."
"Honey!" Trixie put an arm around Honey's shoulders, sensing how sad her friend was. "It's ok. It would have happened eventually! It was best this way. Besides I already have had a job offering!"
Honey's sullen face cheered up. "Yes! And you'll be great at it!"
"I hope so! I may have a chance to prove it right now!" As soon as the words left her lips, Trixie closed her eyes and prayed that Honey hadn't heard it. But she had.
"What do you mean?" the girl asked frowning.
"Oh, nothing..." Trixie said, trying to sound carefree. "Hey, look, here comes Di!" She grabbed Honey's hand and practically dragged her towards Diana, who had finished her call. But she knew that her friend knew she was hiding her something. And felt really bad for hurting her. But what else could she do? She had given her word!
As they crossed the square, they saw a familiar figure climbing down the few steps that led to the police station. The man stopped and a mocking smile lighted his features. Trixie felt life smiling at her again. Just the person she wanted to see! And she had been wondering how to do that without raising the suspicions of her two friends. If there was someone who could help her as far as Annie was concerned, that was Captain Molinson.
Captain Molinson was an old friend of the BWG's. He usually said that they had made his work twice as hard, because he was always expecting them to pop out of the most unexpected places, when he was on a case. Specially Trixie. What he generally wouldn't admit was that their involvement in those cases usually brought about a speedy conclusion. And that his promotion to Captain had come as a result not only of his own competence, but also of their interference. Nevertheless, the BWG's considered him a friend. However, it had been a while since their paths crossed, so both parties were happy to meet.
"Well, well... If it isn't Miss Shamus Belden and friends!" he exclaimed as he walked towards them. "You haven't burst into my office in a while. I hope I haven't just lost the opportunity of listening to one of your crazy stories by leaving it..."
"Oh no, Captain..." Trixie answered. "We were just passing through."
"Oh." Captain Molinson looked almost disappointed. Trixie guessed Sleepyside was kind of slow lately. But a few seconds later his face lit up as he seemed to remember something. "Well, I guess this time I'm the one with a case for you... Sort of." Reaching into his pocket, Molinson took out a photo. "This girl has been missing for about four years. Her family somehow tracked her down to Sleepyside. Her uncle is in town and he asked us for help. If you see her, please tell me. The poor man came from Ireland in search of his niece. The picture apparently his about four years old, but he hopes it'll do."
As Trixie looked at the photograph, she realized it did. The girl hadn't changed that much: although some years had gone by since it had been taken, it was plain for her to see she was looking at Annie's picture.
Trixie's spirits were brighter after that random meeting with Captain Molinson. Things were looking better for Annie. She did have relatives that worried about her! She couldn't wait to tell the girl the news. If only they would find out who was chasing her!
Honey, on the other hand, wasn't feeling that happy. Trixie was smiling, that was true enough, but Honey couldn't really tell why. Something had happened after their conversation that had made her very happy... But what? She didn't recall anything remarkable about their talk with Molinson. "I see your depression has flown away." Honey stated, hoping for an explanation.
"Oh, we can't be gloomy all day, can we?" Trixie said, without any further information.
"Yeah, I guess." It was Honey's turn to feel down. She was certain Trixie was hiding something from her... As certain as of her name being Madeleine.
"C'me on, you guys!" Diana called. "The boys must already be at Wimpy's!"
"Don't worry," Trixie said with a giggle "Mart won't miss you that much, being surrounded with food!"
Di pretended to be offended. "That is not a nice thing to say, Beatrix Belden!"
Trixie merely laughed and Diana soon did the same. But Honey never heard their teasing at each other. The thought that Trixie didn't trust her anymore was more that enough for her mind not to have space for anything else.
"Ouch! Brian, are you trying to kill me?" Mart shouted from behind the tiny stage at one corner of Wimpy's.
"Sorry, man. I thought you were outta there by now!" Brian said with a grin, as he turned off the power switch again. "You've been there forever! What's so hard about connecting a few cables?"
"I never heard you volunteering to do it yourself!" Mart groaned as he struggled to get back on his feet. "Look at that! My hands are still shaking! You could have electrocuted me!"
"Oh, stop whining!" Dan dismissed him with a gesture. "Is the job done or not?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Mart muttered, still sulking.
"I know what will make him feel better!" Tad Webster said, from behind the counter. Winking at the others, he laid a plate filled with a juicy hamburger and a huge pile of French fries in front of Mart. Mart's face lighted as if by a miracle. Tad laughed. He had been a friend of the BWG's for a long, long time, although their relationship hadn't had a good start. But things eventually straightened themselves out and now they were good friends. Since Tad's only family was Spider Webster, the BWG's favorite policeman in the world, he had to work to get through college and right now he was working at Wimpy's as its manager.
His friendliness and youth had been a major find for the restaurant. The former waiters had left a while before and with the coming of bigger restaurant chains to Sleepyside and its outskirts, the BWG's favorite restaurant had been in trouble. But Tad had managed to turn it around organizing parties, concerts and other youth attracting events. Right now, the male BWG's were helping him setting up a karaoke system.
"Do you really think anyone we know would stand up and sing?" Mart asked between two mouthfuls.
"Well, not you, dear brother of mine! You couldn't catch a tune if it bit you. You'll have to stick to the guitar." Brian stated, taking a bite of his own hamburger and dodging from Mart's punch. "However, I think we can rely on Jim to put on a nice performance!"
"No way, man!" Jim exclaimed from his seat. "That was a one time show!"
"Do you mind enlightening us at to what you're talking about?" Mart asked, his curiosity peeked.
"Well, back in college, Jim entered a bet. Some guys were saying he would never be able to do something crazy. Jim here felt his pride hurt and jumped onto the stage... We were in a karaoke bar, too. He sang 'Born to be wild' in a way that made the guys' jaws drop! It was amazing. I never knew he could sing 'till then."
"Talk about having secrets!" Dan said, teasingly. Jim's face was as red as his hair.
"And let me tell you, he struck gold with that song! There were girls smiling at him everywhere he went! I had to break some hearts by letting them know his own heart was already taken!" Brian couldn't help laughing at his friend's face.
"Why didn't you ever tell us you could sing?" Mart asked.
"Oh, I never paid much attention to it, really. My mother had a great voice and we used to sing together... Until she died. Afterwards... Well, it just didn't make much sense." Jim said, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Their conversation was interrupted by the girl's entrance. Jim's face lit up when his eyes met Trixie's and she smiled at him. "We need to talk." She whispered as she sat by him. "About you know who."
"Yeah... I have a few things to tell you myself." He said in the same tone.
"Have you never been told how rude it is to exchange secrets in the presence of others?" Mart said as he managed to squeeze himself between them.
"And have you never been told how rude it is to interrupt other people's conversations?" Jim retorted. "C'me on, Mart! Leave us be! Di's over there waiting for you!"
Mart laughed as he walked back to his seat.
"They are starting to suspect something..." Trixie stated, nodding in Honey's direction.
"We got to do something about it soon." Jim said but whatever he was going to say next was muffled by the loud music someone had just turned on. They turned in their seats to see Mart and Dan laughing by the karaoke system.
"Come on, Jim. Show us what you can do!" Mart shouted over the music.
"No way!" Jim shouted back, blushing to the root of his hair.
"What do they want you to do?" Trixie asked, amused.
"Embarrass myself!" Jim moaned, hiding his face in his hands. But Mart and Dan were determined to have a show, so they started cheering Jim and leading the other customers (most of which they had known for a long time) into doing the same. Jim groaned in desperation once more but ended up taking the challenge. Trixie felt butterflies in her stomach as she saw him walking towards the stage. Jim singing? Since when?
The red-headed young man finally got to the stage where the grinning faces of Dan and Mart awaited him. He sighed and after looking back a Trixie and winking at her, he whispered something in Dan's ear. Dan's smile as he looked in her direction made Trixie tremble. What were they up to? As the first chords started to play, her eyes widened. No, it couldn't be!
"I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?"
It was. Trixie felt her face turn to a bright shade of red. Every doubt she could have as to whom this was directed disappeared the moment she saw Jim climb off the stage and start walking in her direction. Meanwhile Brian had joined in the fun and had jumped on the stage, leading his brother and Dan to do the chorus of the song. As if all the others customers singing along wasn't enough of an embarrassment.
"My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl."
"Oh, God!" she moaned. Trixie remembered once Jim mentioning something about his mother teaching him to sing, but she had never thought he could sing like that. And on top of it all he looked gorgeous. How could a man look so good in a plain white T-Shirt and faded blue jeans? The answer came swiftly:.. He could.
"I've got so much honey the bees envy me.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees.
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?"
Jim was right in front of her, his deep, soft voice singing those words, his eyes trying to look into hers. What was he trying to do? Drive her crazy?
"My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl
I don't need no money, fortune or fame
I've got all the riches, baby, one man can claim
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl, my girl, my girl."
Trixie was so embarrassed she could barely look at him. But by then, the song was over and Jim was standing right in front of her, smiling and biting his lip as would a child that had just done something naughty.
"Sorry... They made me do it." he whispered as he took his place next to her again.
"Yeah... I saw them torture you." But there was a smile in Trixie's face. "Jim, let's take a walk and talk ok?"
Jim nodded and followed her outside. None of the other BWG's even dared to follow them but as soon as Jim and Trixie stepped outside all of them, as if on cue, rushed to the window. They had to see as much of this as they could.
"We seem to be taking a awful lot of walks lately." Trixie said, as they slowly walked down the street, towards the park.
Jim grinned and then said: "I guess we have. It's... uh... healthy!"
She had to laugh at his remark, despite her nervousness. "What was that all about, inside?"
He gave her a sideways glance, trying to figure out what was on her mind. "Well, Brian had just told them I could sing and they decided to pull a fast one on me." Jim slowly answered.
Hearing his answer made Trixie stop on her tracks and stare at him. "Yeah, but I noticed you were the one who chose the song. Why precisely that song?"
A wicked grin appeared on his lips. "Haven't you figured it out yet, hey Shamus?"
She dismissed his answer with an impatient gesture. "Jim, please. Let's stop beating around the bush! We both know something is happening and I would just like to know what it is! Lately you seem to be always trying to tell me something but you never do..."
He swallowed hard. Her playfulness was gone and he knew just by looking at her she was tired of playing games. "I'm sorry, Trix... I was just trying to... Oh, hell, I didn't mean to..." Jim couldn't find the words, so he just shut up and went on walking by her side.
"Yeah..." Trixie's ironic tone made his blood freeze. "You're always trying and you never mean it..." As soon as she said this, Trixie bit her lip and an apology formed in her mind. But she froze as she saw the look on his face. Jim had turned white and she could see how much she had hurt him. She half expected him to turn around and walk away from her. Those words had been too strong and very far from the truth. But to her surprise he didn't walk away. Clenching his fists, Jim held her gaze for a few moments. His determined look scared her.
"Are you sure you really want to know? I mean, right now?" he finally asked, in a husky voice.
"Yes..." her answer was barely audible.
Taking a deep breath, Jim fell down on one knee. Trixie took a step back, instinctively. Whatever she was expecting it wasn't this. Because now there was no doubt in her mind as to what he was thinking about doing. None of them bothered to look around and see if there were any bystanders enjoying the scene. They really didn't care. But as by magic the park was nearly empty.
"Will you marry me?" Jim asked, as he reached out to hold her hand.
Trixie lost her breath as she heard his words. She felt dizzy, her belly was aching... She felt like she had on her first day at elementary school. Her throat was so tight and her mouth so dry, she thought she would never be able to utter another word. Jim was asking her to marry him! What the hell was she supposed to say? She stepped away from him, too confused to go on looking into his eyes. Breathing in deeply, she tried to focus but she couldn't. "Oh, God!" Trixie moaned. She tried to understand what she had been expecting to hear him say. His words had been perfectly logic but still... They were so permanent, so... frightening.
Jim finally got back on his feet. There, it was out. He felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. But now... He would have to deal with what he had just said. They just stood in front of each other, both pale and trembling, staring in each other's eyes.
"I don't know what to say now..." Trixie whispered, as she dropped her eyes to the ground.
"There's only one out of two things you can say... But I'm not expecting you to say it now." Jim's heart was aching with the yearning of pulling her into his arms and empty his heart to her. But he couldn't... This was her call now. He didn't want her to say yes just because she was afraid to hurt him. That would kill him. "I love you, Trix... I should have told you before, but I'm only human and I was scared. Now you know." He added. "Think about it... But whatever you do, don't 'settle' for me!" Trixie understood the disgust he put on the word. He didn't want to be second best to her. Thousands of words came to her mind but not one left her lips. Somehow they were all inadequate. And as she saw him walk away, his head bent, she felt like crying. And she did.