Di's Office, Serendipity Gallery, Soho, New York

2254hrs Friday 18th February 2005

'Call this meeting to order, Madam Co-president,' Honey demanded the moment Brian shepherded Jim and Trixie into the office. She ignored the tear tracks clearing Trixie's carefully applied make-up, Brian's obvious irritation as his glare bounced between his sister and his friend, and Jim's arm wrapped protectively around Trix's shoulders.

I'm curious about what just happened out there, as is everyone here after our little discussion earlier tonight, but Di and I decided we needed to do this first. And do this we will, Honey thought determinedly.

'It's time we got this show on the road,' Di added, winking at Honey with her attempt at irony. I told Honey those two would get it together if WE could just give them long enough to sort out their problems. Well, it looks like our plan's worked, but I gather Brian is NOT happy about it. I wonder why? He didn't seem so opposed earlier this evening.

'You want a Bob White meeting now?' Jim asked in surprise, completely missing the byplay between his sister and Diana. He attempted to ignore Brian's hostility while alleviating Trixie's anxiety. He could see she wanted to escape the entire situation by running away from it, which only increased his resolve to get to the bottom of her behaviour this evening. With hindsight, he realised how un-Trixie like she'd been acting since her return to New York.

'Yes,' Mart, Dan and Honey chorused together, rolling their eyes to the ceiling.

They just don't get it, Honey realised. They have no idea what we've planned. Oh Trix, I thought you were a better investigator than this, but it appears your promise to my brother has dulled your mysterious streak.

'So would one of you do the honours, please?' Honey begged Jim and Trixie, looking anxiously at Di for moral support.

'It's been a while since I did this.' Trixie attempted a good-natured grin, only half succeeding. Finally finding the strength, she glared at Jim, who released her immediately with a nod of understanding. Trixie needed to stand on her own two feet before her friends.

The sooner I agree to whatever Honey and Di have cooked up, the sooner I can be out of here, Trixie thought, her mind still awhirl, and try to gain some perspective on all the events of tonight. How on earth am I going to explain the need to keep Jim at my side for the next few days without the rest of the Bob Whites getting the wrong idea? Do they think I'm so ignorant of their transparent plan to push us together tonight? Will Jim ever trust me again, once I tell him the truth about Sabina, if he had to undergo three years of counselling when our relationship broke up?

With a mental shake of her head, Trixie tried to think logically. This situation is deteriorating by the minute. Every time I think I have it all under control, or at least sorted out in my own mind, something else appears out of nowhere, adding yet another layer of intrigue to my investigation. How am I supposed to cope with changes in both my personal and professional life all at once and remain unscarred by them?

'I hereby call this meeting of the Bob Whites of the Glen open,' Trix declared, silencing the fear her mind generated. 'As I can't remember the last time we officially met, I'm going to skip the reading of the minute's part. Attending tonight are all the original members and their partners: Nick Roberts, Linnie Moore, Sally Wellington, Peter Kimball, and Joanne Darnell.'

'Actually,' Dan chimed in, suddenly embarrassed, although his chest puffed out slightly, 'it's officially Joanne Mangan as of last Tuesday.' He made the announcement proudly, his arm snaking around his new wife's waist.

Di and Honey squealed simultaneously. In their rush to be the first to congratulate the hapless girl they knocked Dan out of the way. Bear-hugging Jo from both sides at once, the pair demanded details. The others gaped at either Dan or Joanne with open mouths before joining in with sincere congratulations.

'Why didn't you tell us you were getting married?' Di demanded, both surprised and disappointed Dan's wedding occurred so suddenly, and without a Bob White presence. She knew these thoughts would be echoed by the other members of their group, no matter how stretched the bonds of friendship had become over the years. 'You know we would've dropped everything to be with you on such a special occasion.'

'I didn't know I was getting married until Dan showed up in Reno, five days ago, and proposed,' Jo confessed shyly, looking towards a hapless Dan, who, at this point, couldn't even get close to his wife.

'Tell them the rest, baby,' Dan told her, smiling at his new bride as she fingered the ring still attached to her necklace. Determinedly moving behind her to take the band off her chain and place it on her finger, he hoped he'd never see Joanne remove his promise of love. Unable to resist, he began recounting the story himself. 'She didn't believe me at first. She said, "Daniel Mangan, you've come all this way just to tease me." I reacted by calling the hotel's Wedding Chapel and arranging our nuptials for later that afternoon. Believe me, Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the year for wedding in Nevada, so it took some doing.'

'I didn't actually trust him,' Jo admitted, 'until I'd been decked out in this this huge white powder puff dress and saying "I do." I guess I still don't believe it really happened,' she exclaimed with stars in her eyes. 'It seemed so surreal without our family and friends to witness it.'

'Perhaps this will help?' Dan pulled a black velvet box from his jacket pocket and opened it. Displayed on a blue silk insert, a brilliant cut diamond solitaire engagement ring caught the overhead lights and sparkled.

'Isn't that a bit like putting the cart before the horse?' Mart joked, relieving the tension building in the room. Several young women eyed first Jo's ring, then their partners, expectantly. 'Or shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted?'

'We can always count on you to be the clown, Mart,' Sally smiled, appreciating his humour and timing. Even if I am one of those women who are looking at her partner of several years with a yearning in her eyes, Sally remonstrated to herself. Oh Brian, will you ever get the courage to ask me to become your wife, when it took you three months to ask me out on our first date?

'So tell us, Mr. Mangan,' Mart enquired, missing the unspoken agony in his girlfriend's expressions, 'why didn't you give Jo the stone in Reno before you got married?'

Completely embarrassed by his friend's interest in his love life, Dan blushed before confessing. 'I had intended to ask Jo to marry me the night before she left for the conference but…well…one thing lead to another and…'

'Something else came up?' Mart roared with laughter as his meaning dawned on the others in the room. One after another, wide grins enveloped their faces before they began to chuckle.

'In a manner of speaking,' Dan confessed, joining his friends in their laughter at his expense. 'I had to make up an excuse to go by our apartment tonight, between the airport and here, to retrieve it.'

'Oh, Dan!' Di suddenly realised the newlyweds flew back from their honeymoon for Nick's exhibition. 'You came home two days early for Nick and I.' Rushing over to him, Diana engulfed him in a hug. 'I guess we can forgive you for not inviting us to the wedding if you promise to have a big celebration party.'

'Actually,' Jo watched Dan slide the solitaire on her finger to join her wedding band, before glancing at his closest friends. 'We've decided to have a blessing ceremony at my parents' church two weeks from tomorrow. They want to have a small reception afterward and you're all invited. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have agreed to put you up for the night so you don't have to drive back to New York City.'

'Excuse me!' Trixie shouted over the chatter that erupted with the invite. A huge smile covering her face, she turned towards Dan and Jo, truly happy for the couple. 'I believe official congratulations are in order, Mr. and Mrs. Mangan, even if you now owe a fine to the club treasury for withholding this information. The Bob Whites also accept your invitation to witness your marriage blessing two weeks hence as payment, if that is acceptable to you, Mr. Treasurer?'

'I believe so,' Mart grinned, cheered on by the other members. 'There will be food at this…umm…small reception, won't there?'

His query was greeted with a collective groan and comments containing the words "stomach" and "only thinks of."

'I believe we need to move on to the next item of business.' Looking at Mart with a shake of her head, Trixie wondered if he would ever grow up. With a sigh, she attempted to move the meeting to the real reason Di and Honey had organised this little charade. 'Which would be…' Trixie looked towards Diana expectantly.

'Honey and I have been thinking…' Di started.

'What a novel idea!' Peter teased before Honey elbowed him in the ribs.

'Have been thinking,' Di continued as though the interruption hadn't occurred, but with a glare at Honey's boyfriend, 'wouldn't it be nice to introduce some new members in the BWG's?' Looking around the assembled faces for support, Di saw longing lacing the faces of five people. 'So Honey and I decided to put up a motion that Joanne, Linnie, Sally, Peter and Nick be inducted into the Bob Whites as full members, starting tonight.'

'I second that!' Sally declared, humour evident in her tone. I only realised tonight how much I really wanted this. Way to go Di and Honey! You always think of other people's feelings and I love you for it more than you will ever know.

'You can't second it, darling,' Brian corrected with a smile. 'At least not until your a fully fledged member. But I can.'

'All in favour say, "aye"!' Jim managed with a neutral expression, pleased by the suggestion. Maybe its time we all accepted that life has changed. We're older and, I hope, wiser. Besides, all my friends are happy with the partners they've chosen, and I'm happy for them, so why shouldn't we include them in our family?

Five official shouts of 'aye' could be heard intermingling with five, as yet unofficial, shouts of the same word.

'Motion carried,' Jim announced, finding it hard to hide his grin at the sudden turn of events. I wonder what would've happened if Trixie's current boyfriend turned up this evening, he pondered, or if Sabina hadn't been called out of the country. Not that I'd actually invited her or ever intended too. Would they have inducted a person they didn't know and another person they didn't like into the Bob Whites? Why do I get the feeling this group of people would have found a way to get rid of any partners Trixie and I brought this evening.

'Great!' Honey looked pleased as she made her way to a closet just inside Di's office before anyone could get a word in. Opening the door, Honey removed four red, hand stitched bomber jackets. This time, she'd embroidered the letters BWG's on the back in red thread to make them less obvious than her earlier edition. Handing one each to Mart, Linnie, Brian, and Sally, she returned to the closet for another load. 'I have another surprise. I made these to replace the jackets that fell apart while we were at college and for some reason never got replaced.'

'Honey, they're beautiful!' Tears gathered in Linnie's eyes as she shrugged into the coat. 'I remember the first time I saw you all in them. I wanted so much to be a part of the Bob Whites and have a club jacket.'

Her comment greeted with several nods of agreement, a sigh or two and some unshed tears. Finally, when all the jackets had been handed out and put on, some clashing with evening gowns and suits, Trixie once again called the meeting to order.

'Does anyone else have anything to add before I close the meeting?' She asked, relieved the night reached its natural conclusion.

Now she could begin to catalogue the consequences her operation forced her conscience to consider. I need some time to myself, but I'm hardly likely to get it. Brian and Jim keep looking at me with questioning glances. That's nothing in comparison to the way they keep glaring at each other warily. Mart's trying to figure out what I'm up to with his fleeting gaze. Honey and Di have worried expressions on their faces when they take a "I'm trying not to be obvious" peek at me from under their long lashes. Thank goodness Dan is too wrapped up in Jo-wait, I spoke too soon! With that intent glare he just sent my way, how on earth could I ever forget he's the assistant DA here in New York?

'Yes, I have something else to add now I'm a fully-fledged member of the Bob Whites,' Nick nodded, heading for the door, 'but you'll have to follow me to solve this little mystery.' In a teasing tone, he added, 'anyone game?'

Full of fun and laughter, still wearing their new club jackets, the group trooped after Nick to a small parking lot behind the gallery. Di trailed behind the rest, switching off lights as she went and locking the alleyway door before joining her friends. They stood before a deep green twelve-seater minivan.

'Your ride awaits!' Nick opened the side door and motioned for everyone to pile inside. Shrugging her shoulders, Honey grabbed Peter's hand and hauled him towards the back seat. He followed without protest.

'In for a penny, in for a pound,' Mart remarked in an Oxford accent, following Honey's lead. He grabbed his girlfriend by the hand and pulled her inside the van to squash in the back seat with Honey and Peter. 'Who knows, we may even get a magical ride home if we're lucky.'

Brian, Dan and their partners followed, leaving only Jim and Trixie standing on the pavement. Nick glared at them as he opened the front passenger door and helped Di into her seat. 'Getting in?' he asked in a low, menacing voice.

Shoving Trixie toward the van, Jim set a determined expression on his face. You're going on this adventure whether you like it or not, Trixie Belden. For what ever reason, Di and Honey have worked hard to get everyone together, not only physically but emotionally with the stunt they pulled a few minutes ago, and I'm not going to let you spoil their reunion, even if I would rather be interrogating you about where, how, and with whom you've spent the last six years.

The Streets of New York

2306hrs Friday 18th February 2005

Nick drove the minivan through the quiet streets, towards the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. He planed to join Route 4 heading north out of New York City, as Di requested he do earlier this evening. Silence engulfed the tired group as they moved into more comfortable positions. Honey's head rested on Peter's shoulder, as did Sally's on Brian's. Mart laced his fingers with Linnie's, who still felt uncomfortable showing any outward affection in public. They had only been seriously dating for ten months.

'Where are we going, Nick?' Jo asked, her hand firmly clasping Dan's while his arm rested across her shoulders, drawing them as close as possible. 'Not that it really bothers me.' Because I already know but I hope Jim and Trixie haven't worked that out yet. 'I'm quite comfortable right here.' A yawn escaped her and Honey giggled from the back seat.

'Ask Honey or Di,' he answered good-naturedly. 'This is their show. My job consisted in getting everyone out of the gallery and into the van.'

'I believe you managed that with ease.' Brian raised an eyebrow, wondering if this had been too easy. And when we get where we're going, I'm going to have some questions for you, James Frayne, after overhearing your conversation with my baby sister. How on earth could your relationship have progressed so far without any of us finding out?

'I'm just glad neither Sally nor I have to work tomorrow,' he added, finding his second wind after only being awake for 18 hours straight.

'I made sure no one had to work tomorrow or Sunday before I planned this,' Di grinned with amusement from the front seat. Turning to face her captive audience in the back, she explained. 'We're off to Castaway's. It's a house just out of Tuxedo Park on five acres of natural land. Mr. Withers, a friend of Daddy's, brought the property a few months ago and turned it into an up-market bed and breakfast. It's not officially open until the beginning of next month when they have their first booking, but Mr. Withers wanted someone to test drive the place for a weekend and iron out all the kinks so to speak. So I told him I had a few friends who'd love the job. Honey and I arranged enough food and clothing to be delivered to the house earlier today and picked up this courtesy vehicle, which actually belongs to another of Mr. Withers resorts. Mr. and Mrs. Gemot, his managers, won't be in residence until the first paying guest arrives in March, so I'm afraid we'll have to fend for ourselves once we get there.'

'How long will that take, Di?' Mart asked, his stomach rumbling ominously. I wonder if I can start a little interrogation session in the car. Trapped in a confined space, surrounded by people who will hold her down and force the truth from her, Trixie would have to 'fess up. We all know she's hiding something, especially Jim. Maybe we'll have to start with him first, just to find out what he knows?

'About an hour in this traffic,' Jim replied, turning in his seat to face Mart. Sitting beside Dan, Jim carefully noted Trixie's wooden posture and withdrawn expression. Smiling at her in an attempt to attract her attention drew Brian's hostile gaze. 'It's about the same distance out of New York as Sleepyside but on the other side of the Hudson River.'

If looks could kill, Jim thought, rolling his eyes. And yet I never said a word when you did the wild thing with my sister in her first year at college. I guess you see that differently, having dated for three years. Trix, when will you ever learn that keeping secrets always ends badly!

'This is not quite the way I pictured my honeymoon,' Dan declared jovially, trying to dissolve the tensions brewing between Mart, Trix, Jim, and Brian. 'I promise I'll take you on a proper vacation, without the Bob Whites, when we can schedule some holiday time together,' he promised Jo, who'd almost fallen asleep.

'I though we shared everything!' Mart exclaimed, overacting a wounded heart by placing his hand on his chest. 'Now we aren't good enough to bring on your honeymoon. Some friend you turned out to be, Dan Mangan.'

'And you did have four nights all to yourself in Reno,' Nick reproached.

'Jim.' Trixie's tone silenced the jovial banter between the boys and startled the others from semi sleep. The tension they'd worked hard to overcome returned in spades. Glancing up at the rear view mirror for the umpteenth time, Trixie became convinced they'd been followed. 'Can you see the license plate on the dark Ford Taurus four car lengths behind us?'

'No,' he replied, paling. Squinting to see the car Trix pointed at through the van's back window, Jim became blinded by headlights and unable to confirm her description, let alone read the licence plate. 'Why? Do you think it's the same car that followed us from your apartment to the gallery earlier this evening?'

'What car?'

'What are you talking about Trix?'

'Who's following you?'

'You're letting your imagination run away with you again.'

'It could just be a coincidence,' Jim finally raised his voice above those of his friends in an attempt to be heard. 'We are along way from the City, Trix.'

'I don't believe in coincidence, Jim, not in my line of work,' Trixie stated loudly over the top of her friends' questions, demanding and receiving complete silence. They'd never heard her use that tone, a tone commanding they listen to her orders. 'Nick, I noticed there should be a pull over coming up on your left any moment. Turn in but leave the engine running and be prepared to go on my say-so. If anything happens to me, even if you hear gunshots, you have to get out of here in a hurry,' Trixie instructed, still watching the vehicle trailing them. 'Promise me, Nick?' she demanded when he remained silent.

'I really don't see the need…' Nick started.

'Promise me.' Trixie's eyes met his and convinced Nick in a split second.

'I promise,' he declared, wondering just what he'd become involved in with his initiation into the Bob Whites. Then again, he thought as he remembered Trixie's exploits at school, I saved her from counterfeiters off Old Telegraph Road, and the Bob Whites restored my Dad's reputation after the Memorial Day fire. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at anything Trixie does.

'Don't come back for me if I'm hurt, no matter what happens,' distracted for a moment, Trixie caught Jim's hands in hers. 'Jim, you have to deny all knowledge of tonight's events; your life may depend on it. Sam O'Brian at the FBI is the only person you can trust. Tell her I sent you if the worst should happen. If it does, you're the only link to Sabina and an international terrorist operation. In your office, taped to the underside of your desk, is a mini data disk with my complete operational findings for the last two years. Get it to Sam-she'll know what to do with the information. If you die, too, their secret is safe and their operation in the U.S. can continue unhindered by the CIA.'

'What the hell are you talking about, Trixie?' Mart exploded. 'I think you have some 'splaining to do, Lucy.' Mart's angry tone summed up the general feeling within the car. His sister's forced admission had her friends reeling in silent contemplation.

'More than you know, Mart,' Trixie agreed, taking her gun out of her hand bag. Once again checking the magazine contained a full complement of bullets, Trixie ensuring one had been locked and loaded into the firing chamber. Taking the safety off, she held the automatic in her right hand. 'I'm afraid the explanation will just have to wait,' she stated. 'Hopefully I'll still be around to give it to you.'

'Do…do you have a lic…licence for that?' Linnie stumbled over her words as Nick indicated his intention to pull over.

'Yes,' Trixie turned to the girl seated directly behind her, checking on the progress of the car tailing them, 'and I'm prepared to use it to defend any or all of you if I have to.'

'This is going to be an interesting weekend,' Di muttered to herself as Nick pulled the van into a lay-by. 'And all I planned was a quiet few days away from our busy lives to find out how Trix and Jim really felt about each other.'

Before the car stopped rolling, Trixie slid open the side door. Jumping out, she slamming it closed. As the van sailed several yards further down the road before halting, she moved into the middle of the pavement. Gun drawn, standing in the path of an oncoming vehicle, she effectively stopped it.

'Who on earth does she think she is?!' Brian asked incredulously. 'Lucy Radcliff?'

Jim's green eyes locked on to his friends. Brian didn't look away from the pain and hurt he saw reflected there. 'From the limited information I gained this evening, I believe Trixie has been surviving a kind of Lucy Radcliff lifestyle since starting college in D.C. The scholarship she accepted came from the CIA.'