The new day was perfect for a drive. Paul was at the wheel, taking himself, Pete Kelton, Perry, and Della to Manzana Valley. The autumn breeze wafted pleasantly into the convertible, bringing with it the scent of apples fresh on the trees. Manzana Valley was filled with apple orchards, which had given the area its Spanish name—manzana, the word for apple.
"It's too bad Agnes didn't know anything about Ellena," Della sighed, tying her bandanna closer against her chin. She had placed it over her hair to keep it from being blown about on the country drive.
"Well, we weren't really expecting she would," Paul said. "It was just a wild shot."
"And then Dr. Stuart called to ask you about the Topanga Canyon hauntings," Della said, looking to Perry.
"And here we thought he didn't know about them. Apparently he didn't, until after I left." Perry frowned. "Who would have called him from Amos Berry's shop?"
"At least if they're really an ally, we don't have to worry about it too much, do we?" Paul said.
"But is he an ally?" Perry retorted. "Yes, he seemed to be warning Aaron and not threatening him, but it could have merely appeared that way. He could be an enemy."
"I went over to ask Dave about it before I picked you guys up," Paul said. "He insisted he didn't know who might have used the payphone."
"What about the phone inside the shop?" Perry wondered.
"Huh?" Paul blinked.
"Well, from what you're saying, Paul, David was only talking about the payphone outside. There has to be a phone inside too, doesn't there?" Perry watched the road ahead. "Turn off here," he directed.
Paul did so. "Sure there is, but it's for employees' use only," he said. "Why the heck would any of the employees call him? They don't know him."
"True," Perry agreed. "He didn't even know about the establishment at all." Again he looked ahead. "There's the school on the right."
Paul gave a low whistle. "Wow. He really did get an upgrade." He pulled into an empty parking space near the doors.
Pete Kelton chose that moment to speak. "So if I'm going to be on the inside, what's my cover?" he asked.
"You'll have to ask Dr. Stuart about that," Paul said. "I'm not sure what's available."
"Or what's available that Pete would be qualified for," Perry deadpanned.
"That too," Paul said.
The group exited and gazed up at the building. Della, shielding her eyes from the sun, seemed particularly impressed. "Well, I do declare, Dr. Stuart's moved on up in the world," she said with a definite touch of a Southern accent.
Perry turned to look at her questioningly. "Della?"
She looked back at him, her expression blank. "Yes?" Now her voice was normal.
Perry shook his head. "Nevermind." Assuming it was some sort of joke, he headed for the doors.
Honestly puzzled, Della followed.
Aaron and Marian were coming down the hall just as the group was entering. "Hello!" Aaron called cheerfully. "Welcome to the new Manzana Valley Prep School."
"I've got to hand it to you, Dr. Stuart, this is really impressive," Paul said. "If I had kids, I'd send them here."
"If you could afford it," Della teased. "Of course, I'm sure you could, on your prices."
"Well, why don't we all go into the office and discuss how we're going to handle this?" Aaron suggested. "Oh, I don't believe I've met you." He looked to Pete, who held out a hand.
"Pete Kelton," he said with a smile. "I'll be your inside man."
"Wonderful," Aaron said, shaking hands with him.
"I'm so glad you're all here to help," Marian declared. "These problems have been worrying Aaron so much."
"Have there been any more strange phone calls since last night?" Perry queried.
"No," Aaron replied, "but I found a newspaper on the porch, open to a story about a mysterious death in Topanga Canyon." He looked troubled. "The caller last night didn't mention that."
"The police still aren't sure about it," Perry said. "It might have just been an accident."
"I'm sure it was," Marian tried to say. "There's always some poor soul miscalculating in the canyons and falling."
Aaron sighed. "That's true. Yes, that's likely the explanation." But he didn't sound or look completely convinced.
The group trouped into his office and he shut the door after them. Della looked around as she whipped off her bandanna and flipped her dark curls with her other hand. "This is real nice," she said, the Southern tones slipping back into her voice.
Perry raised an eyebrow at the less-than-perfect grammar. "Della . . ." He was about to say that it wasn't the time to joke, but she barreled on and cut him off.
"I wonder what Tobin Wade would have thought of this place."
Everyone stiffened. Stunned, Aaron looked at her and then away, crossing to his desk. "I'd just as soon not know," he said. "He wouldn't be able to help being greedy about a choice piece of real estate like this."
"Even though he's dead?" Della returned.
Paul gaped at her. Deciding that the best thing to do would be to change the subject, he said, "Well, Dr. Stuart, what jobs do you have open that Pete could choose from?"
Aaron started and glanced at him with gratitude in his eyes. "Oh, there's several possibilities. We still don't have a permanent physical education teacher, for one thing; we've been using substitutes."
"That would work alright for me," Pete said. "I'll be the new permanent gym teacher until this case is solved."
"I can make up a file for you right now," Marian offered.
"That would be great, Mrs. Stuart," Pete smiled. "Thanks."
While Marian hurried to type it up, opting to use Aaron's computer instead of her own in the outer office, the conversation continued. As Aaron discussed the particulars of the outside operation with Paul, Della wandered about the office, studying the assorted degrees and awards on the wall. Perry sidled after her.
"Della, what was with those cracks about Tobin Wade?" he asked quietly. "It isn't like you to be so impolite and unfeeling."
Della turned to look at him, her expression completely blank. "What are you talking about, Perry?" she asked. He noted that she was back to her normal voice.
"Don't you even remember what you said?" he said in disbelief. Maybe she had been working too hard lately.
Della shook her head. "Uh uh. Perry, why on Earth would I say something rude involving Tobin Wade?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Perry retorted. "And why you keep switching to that fake Southern accent."
Della's eyes widened just slightly. "Southern accent?" That rang a bell for some reason, but she couldn't think why.
Perry sighed. "Nevermind," he said, hearing a lull in the conversation between Paul and Aaron. "Just try to be more careful what you say from now on. Tobin Wade is still a very touchy subject for Aaron and Marian alike."
"Of course." Della walked away, disturbed by what she had been told. How could she say things and not remember it moments later? And why couldn't she bring to mind what was significant about speaking like a Southerner? A hand drifted to her collar, resting on the emerald necklace hidden under her blouse. Her eyes started to narrow in further confusion.
"Nevermind," Ellena whispered in her mind. "You don't need to remember any of that. Or that you're wearing the necklace. As far as you know, it's back in the safe with the earrings."
Della's hand dropped.
"So," Aaron was saying, "that's that."
Paul nodded. "I'll just go into town and visit those places you were telling me about and talk to those people and maybe hopefully I'll learn something that the headmaster of Manzana Valley Prep just isn't hearing."
Aaron sighed. "I wish it would be an outside source this time, instead of someone on the staff."
"Oh, do you have a copy of the staff list?" Pete asked. "I'll need to go over that."
"Of course," Aaron said. "Marian can print that out along with your file."
"I have that done, by the way," Marian spoke up. "Does this look good enough?"
Both Paul and Pete gathered around. "It's a work of art," Paul proclaimed with a smile. "No one should be looking at Pete's file anyway, but it's good to have one around, just in case."
"Suddenly I'm a former college football player who decided to go into teaching the game instead of playing it," Pete said wryly.
"Well, it helps that you really did play college football," Paul quipped.
"I'd better get back into practice with my kids tonight," Pete said. "When should I report for work?"
"Tomorrow morning," Aaron replied. "I'll tell the staff that I've been trying to get someone for the permanent position and you just became available."
Perry glanced over the staff list as Marian brought up the document on the screen. "I see that Janet Gwynne is still working for you," he noted.
"Oh. Yes, I didn't have any reason to let her go," Aaron said.
"What does she think about the strange paranormal activity?" Perry wondered.
"She doesn't know what to think," Aaron sighed. "She doesn't believe it's ghosts, of course, but she's puzzled."
"As are we all," Paul interjected.
"Is there any chance that Janet or someone else on the staff might become inquisitive about Pete and start to suspect he isn't just a phys ed teacher?" Perry asked.
Aaron paused, considering the question. "Janet minds her own business. Of course, if she thought that Mr. Kelton was here to do harm, she might come to me privately and talk to me about it, but I don't think it would go any further than that."
"What about the other teachers?" Perry wondered.
"I don't know the new ones well enough yet to say," Aaron said helplessly. "The others who came over from the first Manzana Valley Prep shouldn't have any reason to suspect anything."
"Surely at least some of them don't believe what's happening is just due to harmless pranks," Perry said.
"Oh, some of them are quite angry about it," Aaron said. "They don't find it the least bit harmless. They know these stories could damage the school's reputation. But if Mr. Kelton is good at his cover, they shouldn't think he's involved."
"I'll do my best," Pete promised.
"He's one of my best men," Paul insisted. "You don't have to worry."
"Like Tobin Wade worried?" Della spoke up again. The Southern drawl was back, stronger this time.
Aaron stared at her. "Whatever are you talking about, Miss Street?"
She strolled over to him, swinging her purse by the handle. "He must have worried, knowing he was going to be found out a thief. That's why he cooked up that whole scheme with you and your wife. Isn't that right, Mrs. Stuart?"
"Why . . ." Marian got up from the desk, definitely looking uncomfortable.
"It must have been real satisfying, knowing he was dead and couldn't hurt you anymore," Della barreled on. "I wonder, Dr. Stuart, if he hadn't already been killed when you got there, what would you have done?"
Aaron's patience was beginning to strain. "I don't believe that is any of your business," he said. "Nor is it relevant."
"Relevant?" Della scoffed. "Considering the whole problem here is that Tobin Wade's haunting the place, I can't think of anything that's much more relevant."
"Della!" Paul gasped.
Definitely disturbed now, Perry crossed the room and took Della's arm. "Will you excuse us for a moment?" Without waiting for a reply from Aaron, he led Della out the door and into the outer office, shutting the door after them.
Della glowered, walking away from Perry once the door was shut. Undaunted, he followed her. "Della, what is wrong?" he demanded. "I know something has to be wrong. This isn't you. Aaron has enough problems without you almost making it sound like you're accusing him of something illicit."
"Well, what about it?" Della snapped, whirling to face him. "Everyone's always on about how Tobin up and betrayed Dr. and Mrs. Stuart, but do they ever stop to really ask Why?"
"Many times," Perry frowned. "Aaron and Marian are still asking that question. You know that. And stop talking with that fake accent!"
"Because that isn't me, either?" Della sneered.
Perry rocked back. "Della . . ."
"I say that Tobin Wade must have had a good reason for what he did," Della declared. "He wouldn't turn against his best friends unless they had already turned against him!"
"You know that isn't true." Perry slowed his pace, but kept walking towards her. "Della, you're not well. Maybe this started last night, with all that nonsense about Ellena and the necklace. You acted like you wanted to solve her murder. Now you act like you want to exonerate Tobin Wade for the evil he did. I know sometimes you have compassion even on some of the murderers we've encountered, but you've never behaved this rudely towards any of our friends before."
"Well, maybe I just have other friends that you don't know anything about. And maybe I don't care about finding out who's doing this to Dr. Stuart. Maybe I hope that whatever they're trying to do, they'll succeed!" Della stormed to the door leading into the corridor and started to haul it open.
Perry reached it and placed his hand on it. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to call a cab," Della answered. "I've got some things that need doing."
"Della, you need to lie down!" Perry retorted. "I can't let you go out in this condition!"
"Why, I haven't felt this good in half a dozen years," Della giggled. With that she practically threw the door open and rushed out into the hall.
"Della!" Forced to stumble back from the force of the door opening, Perry now righted himself and dashed into the corridor after her. But the hall was empty; she was nowhere in sight.
"Perry, what for the love of Mike is going on?!"
Perry spun around as Paul opened the door to Aaron's office and stared out at him. "Something's wrong with Della, Paul," he exclaimed. "We have to find her!"
"She ran off?" Paul said in disbelief.
"Yes!" Perry chose a path and started down the hall. "Try calling her phone. I'll see if I can catch up to her before she does what she threatened to and calls a cab!"
"Cab?! Perry, what . . ." But Paul trailed off as Perry vanished from sight.
Aaron came up beside him. "She's been acting strange all morning," he said in confusion.
"Della has never acted like this before," Marian added. "What could be wrong?"
"If we knew that," Paul replied, "I wonder how many other mysteries we might be able to solve." He took out his phone and dialed Della's number. But, as he had really expected, she didn't answer.
xxxx
She pulled up in front of an old warehouse at Wharf 33 in Los Angeles. "Wait here," she told the cab driver before getting out.
"It's your dough," the cabbie shrugged.
"That's right, Darlin'." She blew him a kiss and started up the walkway. Once she was out of sight around the side of the building, she stopped and looked around. "Okay, coast is clear," she announced.
Another woman emerged from behind a stack of crates, a man in tow. "You're looking different, Ellena," she commented.
"You sound different too," the man added. "We barely recognized you when you called."
Ellena laughed and flipped her hair again. "I know, but it really can't be helped. New body and all, you know? But I'm going to get fixed up soon and be like the Ellena y'all know."
The man shook his head. "That's no good. You've been too bold and brash, like always."
Ellena frowned. "Whaddya mean?"
"You're blowing your cover too soon," the woman scolded. "If you're going to make this infiltration job work, you have to really get into the part. You can't make everyone realize something is wrong with Della Street."
Ellena cringed, realizing she was right. "I guess I've already done that."
"You can still fix it." The woman walked closer to her. "Tell them you've been sick. Better yet, let Miss Street be in control again for a while. She doesn't remember anything you do while you're in control, right?"
"Of course she doesn't," Ellena insisted.
"So it will be all the more believable. You're aware of her and can spy through her without her knowledge. Find out how the case is progressing. If they get too close to the truth, stop them."
"How?" Ellena asked, twirling a curl around her finger.
"That's up to you," the man said. "We know you don't have many scruples."
"True," Ellena nodded. "But I've never gone as far as murder."
"Would you, to avenge Tobin Wade's death?" the woman asked.
"I might." Ellena's eyes darkened. "I'll never forgive Aaron Stuart for whatever he must have done to drive Tobin to turn against him."
"Just keep that mindset," the man said, "but don't act rashly. For all intents and purposes, stay in the background. Let Miss Street be in control. Only take control yourself in the most extreme of circumstances."
Ellena sighed. "You're no fun."
"But he makes good sense," the woman said. "We're glad you found your way back to us, Ellena. That idiot who passed the necklace on to that two-bit conman did us a big favor." Her eyes gleamed. "You couldn't have landed in a better position than you're in now."
"Yeah," Ellena giggled. "I guess this was pretty lucky at that."
"So go back now," the man encouraged. "Let Miss Street take over and she can be found wandering aimlessly through L.A."
"Oh, alright," Ellena agreed. "I'll do it."
"Good girl." The woman stepped back. "You know how to contact us if anything big happens."
Ellena saluted. "Right." She paused. "But what about my first installment?"
The man frowned. "I thought you were in this for Tobin Wade."
"I am, but I'm a little short of cash unless I use Miss Street's money, and I didn't think you'd want that," Ellena purred.
The man and the woman exchanged a look. "Oh, alright," the man scowled. "You're right; you'll have to leave her money alone. We can't have it turning up on bank records about any of Miss Street's money being used for mysterious purposes." He took out an envelope and slapped it into Ellena's hand. "Just remember to keep it someplace where she won't see."
"Oh, she'll never see," Ellena grinned.
"She'd better not," the man grunted.
"She won't!" Ellena turned, skipping back to the front of the building and into the cab.
"You're in a good mood," the cabbie said. "Where to now?"
"Well . . ." She leaned back, contemplating her next move. She really should do as her comrades wanted, and she would do it, but maybe she could have a little fun first. She needed to get herself set up for those times when she would be in control and not Miss Della Street, bleeding heart.
"Take me back to town," she said at last. "To a really good wig shop." Even if she had to stick with Della's dark hair most of the time, she could look more like herself every now and then. "And then I wanna go apartment hunting." That would be the perfect place to stash the wig, the money and anything else she might want to get as herself.
The cabbie shook his head. "Your dough," he said again.
"It sure is, Honey," Ellena said, crossing her legs. "And don't you forget it!"
xxxx
Hamilton Burger sighed to himself as he drove through the streets of L.A. It had been a long day and a long court trial and he was more than ready to just go home and relax. Especially since he had to be up early tomorrow to confer in Judge Penner's chambers before the trial reconvened.
The sight of a dark-haired woman stumbling down the sidewalk made him look over with a start. "Della?" he said in disbelief. Bewildered and concerned, he drove over to the curb and parked. "Della!" he called louder.
The woman looked up. It was indeed Della Street. "Mr. Burger?" She looked dazed, confused, and dizzy all at once.
Hamilton got out of the car and hurried over to her. "What happened?" he exclaimed.
"I . . . I don't know." Della reached up, placing a hand to her forehead. "The last thing I remember is standing with Perry in Aaron Stuart's office in Manzana Valley."
Hamilton stared. "I'd better take you to the hospital." Drawing an arm around Della's shoulders, he guided her to the car.
Della, badly shaken by her lapse of memory, didn't protest.