Once upon a time there was a wonderful series of books owned by Golden West.  All was right with the world.  One day, they decided to stop publishing this series and a darkness swept over the land.  Luckily, the fairy princess Zap provided a magical kingdom in which new stories were blessed and welcome.  Gee I’m sorry, but no suing for copyright infringement is allowed in this heavenly place.  So there!

Universe Notes: This story takes place approximately 4 years after Secrets

The title is “borrowed” from a Billie Holliday song I love.

Thanks to Kate for all her encouragement and advice on the joys of writing two stories at once,  and a big thanks for her all-powerful, patent-pending suck-o-meter (I send her a chapter, she lets me know if it sucks!)  I take full responsibility, however, for the contents of this story I like to call…

God Bless the Child

Chapter One

Dan Mangan made his way along the well-beaten trail from Mr. Maypenny’s cabin to Jim and Trixie’s house, hoping that the coffee was on and that they were in the mood for company.  It was a beautiful fall morning in the woods just outside of the small town of Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, but he hardly noticed as he walked along, deep in thought.  I should be happy.  I’ve finally been promoted to Detective, which is what I thought I wanted.  So why am I so miserable?  He thought he knew the answer, but what he didn’t know was what he was going to do about it.  He had worked so hard to get where he was at—was it important that he actually like it too?

“I’m not the kind of girl, who gives up just like that, oh noooooooo!”

He grinned as he heard the sound of Trixie singing at the top of her lungs, her voice floating into his ears with the fragrant, crisp air.   He rapped once on the door that led into the kitchen, opened it and called, “Yoo hoo!”

Trixie walked away from the stove, turning the radio down.  “Hey,” she greeted him, returning to her pan of scrambled eggs, sprinkling shredded cheese with one hand, stirring with the other.

“My, don’t you look domestic!” he bantered, helping himself to the longed for coffee.  He sat at the table and looked around the cheery kitchen with appreciation.  It was not unlike the kitchen at Crabapple Farm, Trixie’s childhood home.

“Yeah, yeah.  It’s not like I’m wearing a frilly apron and high heeled pumps.”  She was about as far from June Cleaver as she could get in sweats and a ‘What, Me Worry?’ tee shirt, her hair falling in damp curls onto her shoulders.  She grinned over her shoulder.  “Besides, and don’t let this get out, cooking relaxes me,” she admitted. 

“No!”

“Make yourself useful and set the table—this is almost done.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said, feeling himself relax at the familiarity of the scene.  He liked having such good friends as his closest neighbors, especially Trixie, who he always felt he could tell anything to.  His best friend was her look-alike brother Mart, but sometimes it was just easier to talk to a female.  Besides, she had his number, always had, ever since the day he first came to Sleepyside to live.  He tried to impress everyone with tall tales of avoiding arrest, but she just gave him that look, the same look she still sometimes gave him today.  “Where’s the family?” he asked as he placed four plates on the table, referring to her husband Jim and their three year old daughter Katy.

“Oh, they rode Jupiter to Mr. Lytell’s to get the paper.  They should be back any minute.”

“I can’t believe she’s not afraid of that horse.”  Jupiter was Jim’s enormous black gelding.  Even though he was growing milder as he aged, Dan would never consider trying to ride him.

Trixie set the platter of bacon in the middle of the table, the smell making his mouth water.  “I know; she’s not afraid of him at all.  She loves it—Regan says she’s a natural,” she said, referring to Dan’s uncle, Bill Regan, who was an expert in all things horse related.  “He usually doesn’t start lessons on anybody under the age of four, but he says he’ll make an exception in this case.”  She studied Dan’s face as he chewed on a piece of bacon, wondering what was making him so depressed this morning.  “What’s up?” she asked abruptly.

Dan almost choked.  He swallowed, saying teasingly, “Can’t a guy just freeload off his neighbors without the third degree?”  He sighed at her look.  “All right—I’m secretly in love with you and I’m hoping you’ll consider running off to the Caribbean Islands with me.”

“Or maybe, you’re not too sure about this whole detective thing, and you’re kind of freaking out.”  She smiled at his look of surprise.  “C’mon Dan, it’s a no-brainer—you’ve only been doing it for three months, it’s gotta be a rough adjustment and you walk in here looking all intense like Samuel L. Jackson when he decides he’s going to give up being a hitman and walk the earth.”

Dan laughed.  “Okay, caught.  I am having all these thoughts about my job.  It just isn’t how I thought it would be.”

Trixie shook her head.  “I’m starting to think that nothing ever is,” she replied sympathetically.  Dan was about to reply when the door opened again, admitting a tall, red-haired man and a long-legged little girl with strawberry blonde ringlets.

“Food…thank God.  I’m starving,” Jim said, tossing the paper on the counter, carefully setting Katy down, smiling as she made a beeline for Dan.  “What is this power you have over women?” he greeted Dan as he sat across from him.

“I drove the horse!” she announced, lifting up her arms so he could pick her up.

“You know what’s great about little kids?” Dan asked, settling her on his lap, dropping a kiss on her cheek.  “They don’t waste time wondering if they’ll be rejected, or wondering what it all means.  If they want to be held, they just hold up their arms and voila!  They’re so trusting.”

“Unless, of course, they’re given a reason not to be,” Jim said, thinking about the history of some of the students at his school.  Ten Acres Academy was a school for homeless boys that Jim founded with money that grew from the inheritance he received from his great uncle.  And while some of them had parents who once cared for them, many of them had never been given any kind of affection.  “But we sure don’t have that problem here,” he added wryly, thinking about the many people in Katy’s life. He had wondered if the outpouring of love that greeted the first grandchild on both sides, not to mention first niece for his sister and three brothers-in-law, would spoil her, but so far she seemed remarkably unaffected. 

As if reading his mind, Trixie added, “I was actually worried that she’d become too self-centered from all the attention.  I was glad when Diana had twin boys last year—it took some of the heat off!”  She smiled thinking about her two, dark-haired nephews.  They had her brother Mart’s blue eyes, but otherwise they were pure Diana.

“How are Han and Luke?” Dan asked, bouncing Katy on his knee.

“Peter and David are fine,” Trixie said, grinning.  “You’d better not let Di hear you call them that!”  When the boys were first born, Mart tried in vain to persuade Diana into naming them after the two Star Wars heroes, but settled for naming them after each grandfather.  “I can’t believe Mart was serious.”  She started serving steaming scrambled eggs to each of them.

“But it would have been so cool,” Dan said, setting Katy down on her own chair.

“Han Belden?  I’m sorry, but that sounds ridiculous,” Jim said, scooping a forkful of eggs into his mouth.  “Han’s the kind of name that only goes with Solo!”

“But Luke Belden has a nice ring to it,” Dan mused.  “Maybe they should have named them Luke and Lando…”

“Ughh, sounds like a circus act!” Trixie protested. 

They all laughed, enjoying each other’s company, Dan feeling better than he had all week. He was glad he’d decided to stop by.  If nothing else, he had friends, and really, who could ask for anything more?  “What’s on the agenda today?”

“The agenda is not to have an agenda,” Trixie answered firmly.  “Today I want a boring life.  I’m planning on reading the paper—that’s about as far as I’ve gotten.”  She and Honey had just finished a complicated case for one of their steady attorney clients and agreed not to set foot in the office for a few days.  She smiled at everyone.  “That’s the beauty of having yourself for a boss.  I’m officially declaring mysteries off limits for awhile.”

Jim and Dan laughed.  “Until you happen onto one, you mean,” Jim teased, laying his hand on her knee under the table. Trixie smiled but didn’t deny it.

“Well, I wish I could join you in doing nothing, but I’ve got to get to work,” Dan said, his face unconsciously sobering at what he had to do today.  This is not why I became a cop, he thought.  He slowly became aware that both Jim and Trixie were regarding him.  “So long,” he said, hastily standing up, tweaking Katy’s nose, making a fast exit before anyone could ask him what was wrong. “Thanks for breakfast,” he called over his shoulder, closing the door behind him.

Trixie sighed.  “Well, you were more right than you knew—I have found a new mystery.  Two new mysteries, if you want to know the truth.”  Her face was thoughtful as she leaned across the table to wipe egg off Katy’s chin before she ran into the next room. “That girl must have an internal timer that lets her know when ‘Rug Rats’ is coming on!”

“Like you ever miss X-Files,” Jim responded.  He sandwiched her hand between his.  “And what mysteries are cooking in that curly head of yours? 

“Number one, the mystery of the bummed out neighbor, starring our own Dan Mangan as the man who got what he’s always wanted and now isn’t sure he likes it.”

Jim was nodding.  “Yeah, I get the feeling that Dan’s going through some kind of career crisis too.  But what’s the other one?”

Trixie looked at him seriously, saying slowly, “The mystery of the sad sister-in-law.”  She was very worried about her best friend and co-owner of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.  Unlike Dan, Trixie knew that Honey loved her work as much as she did.  But like Dan, she’d been quiet and troubled lately.

“Honey?  What’s going on?” Jim asked, immediately worried about his only sister.  “Has something happened?”

“That’s why it’s a mystery—I don’t know that anything has happened.  She just isn’t acting like her normal happy self.   She’s been very quiet and distracted lately, but whenever I ask her if anything is bothering her, she always says no.  But I know something is.  I just know it.”  Her tone reflected her inner worry, her blue eyes troubled.

“Just keep bugging her.  If anyone can get her to open up it’s you,” Jim said, handing her the paper after removing the sports section for himself.

“Thanks…I think,” she said, smiling wryly.  They read in companionable silence for awhile, the sun shining through the windows with more light than warmth, but the day still stunningly gorgeous.  After I read the paper, I’ll see if everybody’s up for a long walk through the woods, she thought, idly skimming over the world events that seemed to get more and more alarming all the time.  She moved onto the local section, a name from the past suddenly leaping out at her.  Wow, can she even be old enough to be a lawyer? she thought as she read the article quickly, the subject matter filling her with equal parts fascination and horror. 

Jim noticed her enthralled expression and silently groaned to himself.  He knew that look.  It was the same look she always got when she started on the trail of a new mystery.  Make that three, he thought, gearing himself up for the unknown.  Life with Trixie was many things, but boring sure wasn’t one of them!

Chapter Two

Trixie, never taking her eyes off of the newspaper, reached for her coffee cup, her hand making a tentative spidery movement when she didn’t make the expected contact.  She finally looked up to find Jim slowly sliding the cup away from her hand, an amused expression in his eyes.

“You’re worse than Mart sometimes,” she said indulgently, retrieving her cup.

“What’s got you so interested?  And do I really want to hear this story?” Jim asked.  “I thought you wanted a boring life,” he reminded her, a fond smile letting her know that he didn’t really mind, was interested in whatever had her interested.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with my boring life,” Trixie replied, smiling herself.  “But it is kind of mysterious,” she finished enthusiastically, eliciting a slight groan from her husband.

“I’ll bite—just what is so mysterious?” Katy’s laugh drifted in from the other room and Trixie’s smile faded as she answered his question.

“Well, it’s more sad than mysterious, actually.  A baby has been taken away from his mother, who is under the suspicion of child endangerment.”

Jim was nodding—in his line of work he’d heard it all.  It never got any easier, but he was rarely surprised anymore either.  “And…?” he said, sensing there was much more to it.  His suspicion was confirmed when Trixie continued—

“The Attorney General’s office has the case now, because the D.A. has thrown it out for lack of evidence.  And you’ll never guess who is in charge of the case.” Trixie paused for effect.  “Joeanne Darnell!” she said, her blue eyes still surprised.  She had kept in sporadic touch with her over the years, but what with mysteries to solve, college to attend, more mysteries to solve, it had been awhile since she’d heard anything about the young woman.  Even with email, how is it that it’s so damn hard to stay in touch with people? she thought regretfully.  She had always liked Joeanne.

“Joeanne Darnell!  That can’t be—she’s not old enough to be a lawyer, let alone work for the Attorney General’s Office.”  Jim remembered a scrawny black-haired girl he had met when he ran away from Sleepyside, a serious-eyed girl who seemed much older than 11 years…

“That’s what I was thinking too!  But the article goes on to say that she’s the youngest member in the history of that office.  And the last time we heard anything about her, she was attending law school.  It has to be her!” Trixie concluded earnestly.

“What else does it say?” Jim asked, gesturing towards the paper.

“That the baby was first taken away because he failed to thrive, but the D.A.’s office wasn’t able to build a solid case.  The baby was about to be returned when ‘the youngest member in the history of the White Plains Attorney General Office’ took over the case.”  Trixie set the paper down and shook her head.  “Boy, that’s a serious accusation.  I hope Joeanne knows what she’s doing.  If she’s wrong she could do irreparable harm to that mother, not to mention the baby.”  She tried to imagine somebody taking Katy away from her and couldn’t—it was simply unthinkable.

Jim looked thoughtful.  “Joeanne is not somebody who would take a step like that lightly.  She’s far too serious and careful, not to mention responsible.”

“On the other hand, she did run away that time.  How serious, careful and responsible is that?” Trixie stated, forgetting in her enthusiasm for the subject that Jim had done the same thing, long ago.

Jim suddenly laughed. “Let’s not forget a certain person in this room ran away a couple of times!” he reminded her, a teasing glint lighting up the green of his eyes. “Besides, you’re always telling me that being too responsible isn’t good for you.” He knew he had a tendency to be far too serious, but Trixie usually saved him from becoming a complete bore.  It was because of meeting her that he rediscovered the simple joys of life—a swim in the lake, a horseback ride through the preserve, a barbecue with friends.  Before that, he’d been worked half way to death by his tyrannical stepfather, and between that and school, he’d forgotten what having fun was like until he ran away to Sleepyside, looking for his great uncle.  His uncle died before he got to meet him, but instead he found the love of his life and his sister, and his life was never the same…  

“That’s different—you didn’t have a choice,” Trixie exclaimed, not liking to think about why.  She had long grown to accept the depth of her seemingly endless hatred for Jim’s stepfather.  Even though the rational part of her understood the danger in hating somebody, her heart would not consider the possibility of forgiveness.

Jim had to smile at the fiercely protective tone of her voice.  “Of course I had a choice—I was just young and stupid back then,” he said gently, laying his hand on top of hers and giving it a squeeze.

To her complete surprise she felt her eyes fill up with tears.  “You were never stupid,” she replied, standing up and beginning to clear the table, her movements brisk and business-like until she felt steady again.  “Stubborn I’ll buy, but stupid? Never!” she said, her voice back to normal again as she loaded the dishwasher at breakneck speed.

“Where’s the fire?” Jim asked, following her lead and adopting a more casual tone.  He knew that Trixie hated when she fell apart, and over the years he’d come to accept that it was just her way to pretend that she wasn’t upset.  Since she always shared the big stuff with him, he didn’t consider it worth getting into a fight over.  As he was always telling his students, it was important to pick your battles.

She turned on the dishwasher before answering, brushing her hands briskly.  “Well you know—wipe it off now or chip it off later!”  She grinned at his look of pain.  “Besides, I feel like bundling up and going for a long walk; what do you think?”

Jim stood up and walked over to her, drawing her close.  “I think if I fall any more in love with you they’re going to have to administer oxygen,” he said, kissing her neck, pressing into her so that the backs of her thighs made contact with the throbbing heat of the dishwasher.

“Smooth talker,” she whispered, closing her eyes, tilting her head back to give him better access.  She was suddenly and completely aroused, the newspaper article and Jim’s stepfather thoroughly wiped out of her mind as she arched up into him, his mouth capturing hers as she let out a soft moan.  Things were just starting to get interesting when a sixth sense let Trixie know they weren’t alone.  A little voice confirmed it.

“Mommy? I want to go outside,” Katy said, tugging at her sweatpants.  Trixie looked down into green eyes shaped just like hers.

“Little monkey! Fifteen hours of labor and this is the thanks I get?” Trixie replied, smiling ruefully down at her.  Katy had just turned three, but her little personality was firmly in place already, and like both parents, she didn’t like staying indoors for very long.

Katy merely grinned, wrapping her arms around Trixie’s leg, wholly sure of herself. 

“If she wants a little sister so bad, she’s sure going about it the wrong way,” Jim whispered suggestively, causing Trixie to let out an unladylike snort of laughter.  He bent down and scooped Katy up with one arm.  “Get your jacket and we’ll go ‘sploring, as your Uncle Bobby would say,” he told her, kissing her cheek and setting her back down, smiling as she ran out of the room.  “Have you ever noticed that kids never walk?” he mused.  Before Trixie could answer, he pulled her back into his arms.  “Now, where were we?”

Before their lips could meet the phone rang, startling them apart.  “Geez, I guess the universe has spoken!” Trixie teased, biting back a laugh at the look of thwarted lust on Jim’s face.  She took a brief moment to thank God that he still looked at her that way after all these years before picking up the phone.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end was tense.  “Trixie?  It’s Joeanne.  Joeanne Darnell.”

Chapter 3

Trixie was so surprised she was unable to speak for a moment.

“This IS Trixie, isn’t it?”  Joeanne’s voice sounded agitated, as if she couldn’t take one more surprise.

Trixie recovered her voice.  “Yes! I’m sorry, you just surprised me, Joeanne!”  Jim started at the name, exchanging an incredulous glance with Trixie.  “How are you? God, it’s been awhile.  I just read about you in the paper!” She couldn’t seem to stop the stream of exclamations that were pouring out of her mouth.  She pressed the phone between her ear and Jim’s so he could hear too.

Joeanne let out a throaty chuckle.  “It’s been too long,” she agreed, her voice sounding more relaxed.  “It’s so good to hear your voice, and I want to get completely caught up with you and Jim and Honey, but…” she broke off.  Trixie could hear her voice catch a little, then heard a deep breath.  “Damn it, I know I’m coming across as some kind of lunatic…”

“Joeanne, there’s no way I want to have the kind of conversation we need to have on the phone.  Let’s get together—I’ll call Honey and…”

“Oh Trix, you’re a mind reader.  I do need to see you.  And Honey.  I’m at my wit’s end, but I don’t want to go into it over the phone.  I know it’s asking a lot, but could we meet today?”

“It’s not asking a lot—we’d love to see you.  Do you want to come for dinner?” 

There was a silence.  Jim and Trixie looked at each other, concern in their eyes.  This was not the calm and collected girl they remembered—Joeanne sounded like she was under a terrible strain, almost as if she could burst into tears at any moment.  Trixie’s heart went out to the young woman.

“Jo…?” Trixie said gently.

“There is nothing I’d like more than to come over.  You know, I’ve never even met your little girl; I’ve only seen pictures?  But Trixie, what I need to talk to you about, well…”

Trixie understood immediately.  “You’re talking to a woman who spent years talking in code at the dinner table because of a certain younger brother!”

Joeanne’s laugh was relieved.  “Thanks for understanding.  I wish this could be a social visit, but to be perfectly honest, what I really need right now are the services of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.”

Trixie couldn’t stop the tingle of excitement that shot up her spine, signaling the start of a new mystery.  Her desire for a boring life long forgotten she replied, “Say no more.”

Jim gave a wry smile.  “I guess that leaves me out!” he jested into his side of the phone.

“Jim! Oh man, I do want to see you. Don’t do this to me!” It was obvious that Joeanne felt like a burden had been lifted and she was once more among friends.  Jim wondered just what was going on, but decided to do the gallant thing.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Joeanne.  Meet with my better half, get whatever mess you’re in straightened out and then come to dinner and tell me how you managed to get on with the Attorney General’s Office when you’re only 23 years old.”

“I’ll be 24 next month!” Joeanne exclaimed, but there was a hint of laughter in her voice.  “You’re not the only over-achiever in the world, you know!”  Like Jim, she had skipped a few grades along the way, as well as finishing college, then law school, early.

Trixie and Joeanne quickly made arrangements to meet at a quiet bistro in White Plains in a few hours, Trixie hoping that she could get a hold of Honey in time.

“You don’t know what this means to me,” Joeanne said, her voice deeply grateful.

Trixie could feel herself reddening—it always embarrassed her to be thanked so profusely.  “You may be sorry you ever got us involved,” she said, deflecting her gratitude.

Joeanne laughed, a warm sound that made whoever was hearing it want to laugh too.  In spite of what she read in the paper, Trixie found herself very much looking forward to seeing her again.  “Don’t forget—I’ve seen you and Honey in action first hand.  There’s nobody else I’d rather have on my side.  But Jim, if you’re still listening, I could have done without the crappy haircut!”

The three of them burst out laughing.  Years ago, while on the run from his stepfather, Jim had come across Joeanne in the woods of upstate New York, her long hair hopelessly tangled in a bush.  The only way to get her free was to chop off her pigtail with his pocketknife, leaving poor Joeanne with hair as short as a boy’s, not to mention horribly uneven.

“If you kept your hair short like mine, you wouldn’t have been in that predicament!” Jim chuckled. What a mess that had been!

They made their good-byes, Trixie quickly hanging up before she could thank her again.  “Whew! Can you believe that?” she exclaimed, leaning against the kitchen counter.

Jim was shaking his head.  “After all these years, I don’t know why I still get surprised when things like this happen,” he said, putting her hands on her shoulders.  He started laughing again, thinking about Joeanne’s hair.  “God, poor Joeanne…she really did look awful.  Even after Mrs. Smith evened it out.”  Mr. and Mrs. Smith owned the farm where Jim and Joeanne ended up staying at, Joeanne and her family continuing to live there after Jim returned to Sleepyside with Trixie and Honey.

Trixie smiled, remembering Joeanne looking just like a skinny little boy, but mostly remembering how incredibly happy she was to have found Jim safe and sound at the Smith’s farm. Wanting to avoid any further waterworks, she said, “You know, as long as I’ve known you, your hair has always been short.  Don’t you ever feel like going a little wild and growing it long?”  Her voice was teasing as she circled her arms around his waist.

Jim grinned.  “You know, my real parents were considered hippies, but my Dad always had short hair too.  And I can still hear his words of advice on the subject. Whenever I’d complain about getting my hair cut, he’d always say, ‘son, I’ve got just two words for you—Raggedy Andy!’”

Trixie laughed until she could hardly breathe, the mental image almost undoing her.  I’ve got to tell Honey this one—she hasn’t laughed for days.  “Honey! I’ve got to call Honey,” she gasped suddenly.  She lifted her hands and let them drop.  “So much for us taking some time off.”

Jim shook his head.  “You would have been miserable anyway, shamus.  Didn’t you tell me once you get cranky if you don’t have a mystery to investigate?”

Trixie batted her eyelashes and assumed an innocent air.  “Why ah nevah get cranky!” she replied in her best Scarlett O’Hara accent.  She was spared his reply by Katy running back into the kitchen letting them know in no uncertain terms that she’d been waiting forever and couldn’t they just please get going?

Trixie bent down and zipped her jacket up.  “I can walk with you for a little while, but then I have to go help an old friend, okay sweetie?”

“Okay,” Katy said agreeably.  Although she had a fine little temper, an inevitable genetic inheritance from both parents, to Trixie’s relief she was a lot more reasonable than her Uncle Bobby had been as a child.  Trixie shuddered as she remembered a few of Bobby’s more spectacular tantrums.  Babysitting him had been one of her chores as a teenager, and it was often harder than all of her other chores put together.

She grabbed her jacket out of the hall closet, snagging her cellphone so she could call Honey and fill her in as they walked.  I wonder why Joeanne’s so upset, and I wonder what she needs Honey and I to do?  Her mind drifted back to their phone conversation as they made their way out the door, heading down a trail that soon took them into the stunning woods of the preserve.  She had the suddenly uneasy feeling that whatever it was, it was not going to be easy. 

***

Once upon a time Trixie and Honey had found the owner’s sister—as a result, they were always given the royal highness treatment at Jack’s Bistro.  Joeanne Darnell was quietly amused at the quick way they were seated, despite the rather large Saturday lunch crowd, at a private table located in a discreet alcove.  The dark wood and luminous lighting soothed her nerves, the white tablecloths, pretty tableware and fresh flowers only adding to the pleasing ambience.

“Apparently, you ladies have this town in your pocket,” Joeanne said, her eyebrows lifting as she took a sip of ice water.  She set the crystal goblet down.  “I mean, there’s lemon in the water and everything!”  She smiled at the two women, privately a little awed at the obvious respect they generated.  Sure wish I could get some of that, she thought wistfully, then pushed the thought to the back of her mind.  This was no time to feel sorry for herself.  And anyway, respect was earned.

“Joeanne, you look positively wonderful,” Honey said, an admiring expression flitting across her expressive face as she took in the smooth black hair cut in a chin length bob, large, almond shaped dark eyes and slim figure. Her detective’s eye also noticed the fatigue shadowing her features and the way her nails were chewed down to the quick.  Far more patient than her best friend and business partner, Honey made up her mind to let the events unfold, sure that all would eventually be revealed.

The young woman grinned, her face momentarily losing its worried look.  “Well, when you start out skinny as a rake with wiry hair, one can only go up!”

The three women chatted as they looked over the menu, giving each other the condensed version of their lives.  Joeanne sighed as she closed her menu.  “I wish we could just spend all day talking about what we’ve been doing, but…”

Trixie closed her own menu with a snap.  “Obviously, with you living in White Plains, we’ve got plenty of time for that.  Let’s order and then you can let us know what you need us to do.”  Her obvious support made Joeanne feel for the first time that she might actually be able to handle what was coming.  The attentive waiter, noticing that the menus had been laid aside, quickly took their orders and left.

Honey took a notebook out of her purse and they gazed at Joeanne expectantly, their alert expressions and just the fact that they were taking her seriously, lifting her spirits.

“You’ve both read the newspaper article?” she began.  At their nods of confirmation, she continued, “Then I’ll just get right down to what I need.  The trial starts in only a week—I’m going to be up to by eyeballs preparing for it, and there’s only so much I can do.  I need private investigators to dig up whatever dirt they can on the mother.  Talk to doctors, nurses, neighbors, anybody who has ever known her.  Find out whatever you can that may be relevant.”  She broke off, her face tightening.  “Right now, I’ve just got nothing.  Even the district attorney won’t touch it.”

Honey phrased the question as delicately as she knew how.  “Then why are you touching it?  Joeanne, if we’re going to help you, we need to know.”  Trixie silently applauded Honey’s usual gift for smooth tact.  The question was so gently asked.  Honey leaned forward and lightly touched Joeanne’s arm.

“I know it sounds like a witch hunt.  They…they didn’t really want the case either.  They threw it to the new kid because they don’t take it seriously.”

“But you do,” Trixie said flatly.  It was not a question.

“Yes,” Joeanne replied softly, a haunted look in her eyes.  She was silent as unbidden memories suffused her, almost overwhelming her with their intensity.  She ruthlessly pushed them back into the dark.  “I visited the baby in the hospital and talked to the mother.  Something just isn’t right.  And ever since Sammy’s been in the hospital and away from his mother, he’s improved.  He’s only six months old—he deserves a chance at a good life.”

“But couldn’t that be just the doctor’s care?” Trixie asked, her voice calm.  She didn’t want to be hurtful, but there was a child’s life at stake.  And understanding the mother-child bond as well as she did, there was no way she could help if she thought it was being compromised.

“It’s more than that.  It’s the way she’s acting.  I’ve been reading up on Maunchausen by Proxy syndrome, and she fits the profile.”

Honey, who had minored in Psychology, was nodding.  “I remember learning about that in school.  Has the court appointed a psychiatrist to meet with her?”

“Yes.  That’s how I found out about it.”  Anticipating Honey’s next question, she went on, “And she feels that’s what she has.  But naturally, the mother hired her own doctor, who says she doesn’t.”

“Forgive my ignorance, but what in the hell is Munch…whatever you just said?” Trixie broke in.

“Do you want the long version or the short version?” Honey asked seriously.

Trixie smiled at her sister-in-law.  “Do you even have to ask?”

Honey returned the smile, Trixie disturbed to realize it was the first smile she’d seen out of the normally cheerful woman in awhile.  I’ve just gotta get her to tell me what’s wrong!

“The short version it is.  Oh, it’s just awful, Trixie.  In a nutshell, it’s when a mother deliberately keeps her child sick or hurt just to get the attention.  It can go on for months or even years—the poor child shuttled from doctor to doctor, one illness after the other.”  Honey shuddered, remembering some of the case stories she’d studied at NYU.

Trixie was aghast.  “You have got to be kidding.  What kind of a sick…”

“That’s just it.  Sick.  It’s a mental illness.  These women are usually the most charming women in the world.  Everybody feels so sorry for them; oh the poor brave mother, she’s been so wonderful.”  Joeanne’s voice was low with disgust.

Trixie was shaking her head.  “Okay, the first thing I need to do is read up on this whatsit.  Then I need to visit Sammy and his mother for myself.  I’m sorry Joeanne, but that’s how has to be.”  Her eyes were gentle, but her voice was firm.  Honey echoed her sentiments, hoping that she understood.

She did.  “Ladies, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If our positions were reversed I’d feel exactly the same way.  We’ll head over there as soon as we eat.”  She gave them a wan smile.  “Believe me, we need to keep our strength up.”  The waiter approached their table, steaming plates expertly balanced in his capable hands.  Joeanne bent down quickly, her dark hair swinging in her face as she snapped open her briefcase.  She straightened, quickly flicking the errant strands out of her way.  “I’ll just say one more quick thing.”  She handed a photograph of a baby to Trixie, who held it so that she and Honey could study it together.  The baby was tiny, its little face wrinkled and a bit pinched; obviously a newborn.

“Don’t you have a current picture?” Trixie asked.  She and Honey gasped in horror at Joeanne’s reply.

“This is a picture that was taken of Sammy a few weeks ago when he was first brought in to the hospital,” she said sadly.

Trixie was silent, hardly noticing the food set before her as she looked at the picture.  An image of a robust and healthy Katy at six months floated into her mind and she felt sick, her appetite suddenly gone.  Sammy looks even worse than Baby Dodge! she thought, remembering a long ago adventure when her brother Brian found an abandoned baby in Reddy’s doghouse.  Helping reunite this baby with his family was one of the most satisfying mysteries she had ever been involved in.  She looked up to find Joeanne studying her, an almost ancient sadness making her eyes look like black holes.  I was right—this isn’t going to be easy.  And I wonder why Joeanne is taking this case so personally?  And what’s got Honey so upset?  She stared down into her plate, wishing that answers could be ordered just as easily as the chicken Picata she no longer had the appetite to eat.

Chapter 4

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Joeanne breathed, reaching into the crib and stroking Sammy’s downy head gently.

“He sure is,” Trixie replied, thankful that he didn’t look like the picture Joeanne had just showed them.  She glanced at Honey just in time to see a look of sadness drop away from her.

“Very beautiful,” Honey murmured.

“He’s doing so well—he’s gained 2 pounds this week,” the nurse said, smiling at the three women.  They had gone to Beth Abraham Hospital on Old Tarrytown Road right after lunch, Trixie assuring Jack that her meal was just fine, she just didn’t have the appetite she’d had when she ordered it in the first place.

“That’s wonderful,” Joeanne said, her voice bright.  Sammy gurgled at the sound, arching his back, a plump, toothless smile filling his little face. 

“Get away from him.  Get away from my son!” Sammy’s face puckered and he began to cry, his little hands clenching into fists.  An attractive woman rushed up to them, her long blonde hair pulled back from her perfectly made up face in a French braid.  She reached in and picked the baby up, cuddling him to her.  Sammy grabbed at a wisp of hair artfully hanging down and stopped crying.  “That’s it, my precious son,” she cooed, patting his back.  She lowered her voice.  “I don’t want you touching him!” she hissed at Joeanne, who stood calmly with her hands at her side.

“Debbie, it’s okay—she wasn’t doing anything,” the nurse gently interjected.  Privately she agreed with Joeanne, but professionally her only duty was to see that Sammy wasn’t disturbed, thereby jeopardizing his precarious health.  Too many people fail to realize that even the youngest babies easily pick up on the emotions and moods of the people around them.

Joeanne took a deep breath.  “Mrs. Lewis, you know that by being here without your social worker, you are violating a court order.”  She kept her voice low and pleasant out of respect for Sammy.

Deborah Lewis stared at her, gray eyes steely.  “I am his mother.  He is my child.  Nobody has the right to keep us apart.  Nobody!”

Trixie and Honey had unobtrusively backed away from the scene and were speaking in whispers.  “Honey, I think you should talk to Mrs. Lewis.  I need to talk to nurse…” she broke off to glance at the nurse’s nametag, and smiled in spite of herself when she saw the name.

Honey was nodding—she knew her best friend almost as well as she knew herself, knew that Trixie was thinking that her minor in Psychology made her more suited to interviewing this woman.  Plus, she was less likely to lose her temper!  “I think you’re right.”  She looked Mrs. Lewis.  “Should we try to break this up?”

“Let’s give it another minute,” Trixie responded.  They were learning a wealth of information listening to the outraged mother who, Trixie had to admit, did not appear to be anything but very concerned.  If it was Katy, and I walked in here seeing some government official touching her, I’d have some choice things to say myself, she thought to herself unhappily.  She sensed movement behind her, and her sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the back of a dark haired man pulling his head back from the room and striding away.  She was torn between following him and staying, finally deciding that what she needed to do here had to take precedence.  He probably had the wrong room anyway; I’m sure it’s nothing.

Mrs. Lewis handed the baby to the nurse.  “All right.  I’m going.  He feels a bit feverish to me—please check his temperature; there’s a good chance he might be slightly dehydrated.”  Without a backward glance she strode out of the room, Honey following her with a small sigh. 

“That was just great,” Joeanne murmured as Trixie moved to stand next to her.

“Does she come here often?” Trixie asked the now solemn looking nurse.  “By the way, you have the same name as my daughter.”

The nurse smiled, the expression belying the years that her steel gray hair indicated.  “How interesting—you don’t hear the name ‘Katje’ very often.  And to answer your question, she’s here everyday.”

Joeanne couldn’t stop the small gasp of surprise.  “Everyday?  Is there at least somebody in the room with her?”

Katje sighed.  “I’m sorry Joeanne, but it just isn’t possible.  We don’t have the manpower.  And the court order does specify that she’s allowed some visitation rights.”

“Supervised visitation rights,” Joeanne said firmly.  She exchanged a worried glance with Trixie.  “I’m going to call the Social Worker again.  She can’t be allowed to be alone with this child.  Why can’t I make her understand that?”  She rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly.

“What’s going on with the Social Worker?” Trixie asked.

Joeanne lifted her hands and let them drop.  “Believe it or not, Mrs. Lewis can be very charming when she wants to be.  I mean, here’s this beautiful young mother who desperately loves her little boy.  And all she wants is to be near him, to protect him…” her voice was quietly sarcastic.  “The Social Worker thinks that as long as Sammy’s in a protected environment, then what’s the harm in letting a mother spend some time with her own child?”

Trixie was torn—on the one hand, the description of the mental disorder Mrs. Lewis allegedly had sent chills down her spine.  But on the other hand…she again tried to imagine somebody taking Katy away from her, and could not.  And Sammy stopped crying as soon as his mother picked him up…“It would seem that a hospital is the safest place for Sammy to be,” she started weakly.

Joeanne looked at her bleakly.  “I hope so.  I just hope and pray that nothing else happens to this little guy.”  She glanced at her watch and her face tightened.  “I really have to get going—I can’t believe it’s after three already.”

“Go on.  If Katje’s willing, I’d like to discuss the situation,” Trixie responded, her glance taking in both women.

“I’ve been on since ten—it’s time for my dinner break,” the older woman replied with a nod.  “We can talk in the cafeteria.”  Trixie appreciated her no-nonsense tone—it reminded her a bit of her old friend Miss Trask, who now lived in New York City.

Joeanne made her good-byes, rushing off into what was left of the afternoon, as Trixie and Katje headed to the cafeteria for what Trixie hoped would be an illuminating conversation.  Clearly, Joeanne feels that this action is justified.  But I need a lot more information if I’m going to start poking around where I might not belong! 

***

Detective Dan Mangan, undercover, was getting angrier by the second.  For the past three months he’d done nothing but drug busts, and in his heart of hearts, he felt it was a colossal waste of time and energy, not to mention unnecessarily dangerous.  The real criminals were behind the scenes, men of unthinkable power.  It was madness to think that arresting local dealers would solve the so-called drug problem.  Dan rarely touched anything harder than the occasional beer himself, but to his mind as long as there was demand, there would always be supply.  They should just legalize it, and move on to more important issues, he thought tiredly.  He knew not everybody shared his views—his closest friends were very much divided on the subject.  He and Jim had decided long ago to agree to disagree, not wanting their respective tempers to get out of hand.  But they did agree that kids and drugs are a horrifying combination, and anything they could do to help somebody in that situation, they would do.  Which made the job Dan was on today all the more unbearable to him.

“These are kids,” he hissed to his new partner, a heavily muscled African-American man roughly the same age as himself, but much taller.  At 5’11” Dan felt almost like a midget next to him.  “I didn’t much like the idea of this kind of undercover work in the first place, and now this!”

Detective Raymond Carter shrugged his massive shoulders.  “Look man, I’m not crazy about busting kids either.  But they shouldn’t be involved in this kind of stuff.  And it’s up to us to get it off the streets.”  His voice was deep and low as the two men kept a watchful eye on a group of three young people who were waiting for their customers, sprawled oh so casually at an outdoor table of a run down café. 

“Oh yeah—busting these three is going to make the streets of White Plains safe for all humanity.  Meanwhile, the men who are making most of the profit from this scheme will continue on their merry way, not to mention that these three, after serving a few months in Juvie, will be right back at it.”  Dan shook his head, as his partner stared at him.  “Ray, what we’re doing isn’t helping these kids any.  The conditions that put them in this lifestyle aren’t going to go away just because they spend some time locked up.  In fact, they’ll only get worse.” 

Ray nodded.  “I’m with ya bro—but what can we do?  We have our orders.”  He laid a large hand on his partner’s shoulder briefly before lowering it.  “Maybe they’ll get some counseling at the Hall…”

“No they won’t.  They’ll get into fights with rival gang members, they’ll learn about new higher paying contacts and they’ll come out even more screwed up than before.”

“Then what is the answer?” Ray asked.  He wasn’t indifferent to these kids, but unlike Dan, he felt a few months of lost freedom would knock some sense into them. 

“These kids have to be shown a different way of life before it’s too late,” Dan answered simply.  “Like I was.”  Ray knew that once upon a time Dan had been a member of a New York City gang, but that was all.

“I don’t disagree with you Mangan, but that’s not our job.  Focus, man!” Ray said urgently.  As much as he’d grown to like his new partner over the past three months, he wasn’t about to jeopardize his position with the White Plains Police Department.  He himself had only been a detective for little over a year, and he’d worked damn hard to get here.

Dan stood still as the other detective’s words clanged around his skull with all the subtlety of an iron bell.  Not our job…not our job.  He had joined the police force with the idea that he could give back some of the help he had gotten.  But all his efforts at trying to get a special task force dedicated to helping kids break away from gangs had been fruitless.  “Not enough funds in the budget”, one Captain had told him.  “Not enough manpower,” another official had told him.  Excuses were all he ever got.  But he continued on, doing what he could.  And he had helped some break away—usually on his own time.  One of the kids he managed to reach even lived at Ten Acres Academy and was doing very well.  But his job, the job that took up so much of his time, wasn’t really about helping kids like these.  It was only about putting them away.  “You’re right, Ray.  Helping those three is not my job,” Dan said slowly, meeting his partner’s gaze.

Raymond Carter understood immediately.  “Oh no.  No, man.  You’ve worked too hard to quit now.  Don’t do anything stupid—think about what you’re giving up!”  He glanced back over at three boys and gave an ironic chuckle.  Apparently they were giving up the late arrivals as no-shows and were moving on, shoving back their chairs with studied casualness and swaggering away.  “And anyway, this isn’t happening today.  Although I suppose we could bust them on the lesser charge of possession…?”

Dan gave a black, bitter smile that gave Ray a sudden chill.  “You know the drill.  They want to bust them on selling—it’s a much stronger offense.  And the DA is more likely to throw the book at them that way.  No, we’ll just leave ‘em alone, secure in the knowledge that they’ll be busted in the next few days.”  He shoved his hands in his pockets, his face grim.  “But it won’t be by me.  Ray, it’s been an honor working with you, but I can’t do this anymore.  I won’t.”

Ray uttered a curse.  “You’re an idiot, ya know that bro?” he said angrily.  He hadn’t been Dan’s partner for long, but he knew him, knew how hard he worked and what an outstanding cop he was.  He’d hate to lose him.

“I’ve heard that before,” Dan responded wryly.

Ray’s face broke out in a slow grin.  “A stubborn idiot,” he said.  He punched Dan lightly in one hard bicep.  “But a man’s got to make up his own mind.  And this is not the kind of work to be in if you’re heart isn’t in it.  You could really get hurt that way.  And even though I think you’re a complete jackass, I’d hate to see that happen!” 

Dan punched him back, even though it felt exactly like hitting a brick wall, and suddenly they were scuffling like teenagers.  “Glad to know you’ve got my back, bro!” he gasped, ducking his partner’s playful swing.

“Let’s head for the doughnut shop.  All this hard work’s given me an appetite!” Ray said, chuckling.  ‘Doughnut shop’ was code for their favorite local bar and grill, Hendricks.  “I’ll buy you a beer and talk you out of throwing away your career.” He gave his partner one final shove.  “Then I’ll kick your ass at pool!”

“We’ll see about that,” Dan muttered.  He had no doubt that Ray was right about the pool—the man was amazing.  But Dan couldn’t believe the load that had suddenly lifted from his shoulders at the thought of quitting.  Although he had never quit anything in his life, and everybody he knew would no doubt be shocked, the decision felt like a good one.  And although it might appear a hasty decision, Dan knew this had been coming on for months, even before he was promoted to detective.

“You’re on,” Ray responded as the two men headed for their unmarked car.  As they headed for Hendricks, a place that looked like a complete dive but served the best ribs Dan had ever tasted, he almost felt like he could fly.  He had enough money in his savings to live on for awhile—Mr. Maypenny refused to let him pay any rent, and his car, even if it was a little beat up, was completely paid for.  His heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest as his future, once seemingly set in stone, suddenly became an unknown; ‘a new mystery’ as Trixie might say! he thought, settling back in his seat, unrolling the window so the crisp air could wash over him like a benediction.

Chapter 5

It was almost six and quite dark by the time Trixie wearily trudged into her house, her head spinning with everything she had taken in that day.  She had much to discuss with Honey, and she was sure Honey had information for her too, but she simply could not take in any more particulars.  She tossed her keys on the small table by the door, smiling at the sight of Jim and Katy lying on the floor in front of the fire, Jim using a rolled up blanket as a pillow, Katy using him.

“What are you guys doing down there?” she asked, shrugging out of her jacket, hanging it in the closet.  It felt incredibly good to be home where there was love, care and shelter.  She gave the dark information filling up her thoughts a firm shove, hoping they’d soon recede into that section of her brain she’d labeled ‘work’.

“Resting,” Jim replied.  “Warming up.  Wondering where you were.”  His tone was mild and Trixie was relieved; she’d been too busy to call and when she noticed the darkness as she exited the hospital, she was stunned so much time had passed.

“Sorry.  Things got…interesting,” she said guardedly.  She stood over them for a moment before joining them with a sigh, curling into Jim’s unoccupied side.  “God, I’m exhausted,” she commented, pillowing her cheek on his muscular stomach as his arm crept around her.

“You were gone forever!” Katy piped up near her ear.

“That long, huh?” Trixie said, closing her eyes tiredly.  She soaked in the feeling of security like a soothing bath, refusing to think about her new case for another minute.  “Funny, didn’t feel like forever,” she murmured.  She opened her eyes and looked into the dancing light of the flames, unconsciously letting out another sigh.

“How’s Joeanne?” Jim asked.

“She looks great, but I can tell she’s upset and worried.  She’s really taking this case personally for some reason.”

“Well, from what the paper says, the case sounds pretty abominable.”

“I know, and I don’t blame her for being upset.  I’m upset.”  Her voice wavered just the tiniest bit and she steadied it before continuing, Jim’s arm tightening around her protectively.  “No, what I mean is the case seems to be dredging something up for her.  I don’t know what, but it can’t be…pleasant.”  She was about to say more when her stomach let out a tremendous growl, causing Katy to giggle and Jim to let out a startled laugh.

“Geez—I felt that!” he said.  “Felt like an earthquake.  Didn’t you eat anything after you left? I thought you were going to Jack’s.”

“We did.  I couldn’t eat.”

Jim looked at her sharply, but merely said, “Well, then you’ll be glad to know that Mr. Maypenny has a fresh batch of hunter’s stew and we’re all invited for dinner.  Mart and Di will be there too.”

Trixie brightened.  “Oh, that sounds so good! I hope he made tons.  I’m starving.”

Jim laughed.  “He puts in an entire deer.  I don’t think you need to worry about there not being enough.”

Trixie was grinning.  “Well, you did say Mart was going to be there!”  Mart was her “almost twin” brother and his appetite was the stuff of legend.  “What time are we supposed to be there?”

“Six,” Jim admitted.  “We don’t have to go if you’re too tired.”

Trixie jumped up.  “Forget that.  I’m not missing out on venison stew!”  She went to the closet, putting her jacket back on, much to Jim’s amusement.

“So much for being exhausted,” he commented, rising and lifting Katy in one motion.  Trixie’s never ending source of energy continued to be an amazement to him, even after all this time.  The day she says she’s too tired to do something is the day I really have to start worrying! he thought, wondering just what happened today to cause the hint of darkness he detected in her expression, hoping that whatever it was, it didn’t cause her harm—and he didn’t mean the physical kind.

***

“Are you the oldest man in the world?” Katy asked Mr. Maypenny, causing everybody in the comfortable living room to roar with laughter.  After they had sated themselves on big bowls of tasty stew and homemade bread, they had all gathered there to hear the news Dan said he had for them. 

“Katy!” Trixie protested, giving her daughter a look.  Katy, sitting in Mr. Maypenny’s lap, looked nonplussed at the reaction her question generated.

Secretly, Trixie wondered along with everyone else how old he was.  His hair was white and his face weathered from a lifetime spent outdoors, but his back was as straight as ever, and he continued to patrol the preserve, hunt and chop wood, his only concession to age a touch of the ‘darn tiz’.  His cabin was a reflection of the man—sturdy, built to last, modest yet comfortable.  Gradually over the past years, he’d added a few modern amenities such as cable television, washer and dryer and telephone.  But he flatly refused to have anything to do with Dan’s computer.

Mr. Maypenny chuckled.  “That’s all right. One of the things I like best about small children is their lack of barriers.”  He ruffled Katy’s goldy red hair.  “I think Rip Van Winkle might be a bit older than me, little one, but not by much!”  The lines around his eyes deepened with amusement as he continued.  “If you add up your mom, your Dad and your Uncle Mart—I’d still be older.”

Katy nodded seriously.  “That’s old!” she said, her voice filled with awe, causing everybody to laugh all over again.

“Oh, that’s classic,” Di gasped, kissing the top of Peter’s curly head as the one year old babbled in secret twin language to his brother David, sitting across the room in his aunt Trixie’s lap.

“What do you suppose they’re saying?” Trixie asked as David gurgled something in reply.

“No doubt it is highly sensitive, top secret commando-speak, not meant to be deciphered by us civilians,” Mart commented airily.  “But if I venture a guess, it’s ‘what’s going on, Uncle Dan?’”  He looked at his best friend, the curiosity filling his face making him look uncannily like his sister.

“Subtle,” Dan congratulated him, a hint of laughter in his voice.  He cleared his throat, suddenly amused at how every set of eyes in the room were on him.  “I quit my job,” he finally said, deciding that less is more.  He leaned back in his chair, waiting for the explosions of, “You’ve got to be kidding!” and “Whaaaat?” that were sure to come.  Instead, he got a myriad of knowing looks and smiles.

“Good for you—that job was killing you,” Mart said, eschewing his usual extensive vocabulary for a simpler form of communication.

“I thought you would eventually,” Trixie nodded.  Her blues eyes twinkled into his black ones.  “You’ve always got a job anytime you want it at Belden-Wheeler!” 

“Let the man have a vacation before you recruit him!” Jim protested merrily.  “Besides, he’d rather come work for me, right?”

Diana batted her large violet eyes at him.  “Nooooooo, he’d rather be my personal bodyguard, wouldn’t you, Danny boy?”

Dan was overwhelmed by the wave of acceptance and support he felt coming from his closest friends. All he could do was smile, completely unable to speak for a moment.  He cleared his throat.  “Aren’t any of you guys going to tell me I’m crazy?”

Trixie grinned.  “Don’t you know that already?”

“Pretty redundant, good buddy,” Mart added.

Dan laughed with relief.  “Almost twins, almost clowns,” he tossed back.  He rubbed his hands thoughtfully.  “You know, it’s weird.  I’ve planned on being a cop since I was 15 years old—you’d think I’d be sad or something, but all I feel is relieved.”

Di leaned forward, resting her chin on her son’s head.  “You probably will, Dan.  Once the shock wears off you’re going to have to go through all kinds of stuff.”

“Hmmm. I don’t know…I feel like a huge weight’s been removed.”  Dan stood up, plucking David from Trixie’s lap and lifting him above his head to the boy’s crowing delight.

Jim said slowly, “No, I think Diana’s right.  No matter how much a change is positive and for the best, it’s still a change.  I remember when I first left Jonesy’s; that first night I didn’t sleep at all, just laid there all night thinking.  Man, was I freaked out…”

Trixie was aghast.  “You’re not telling us you actually missed that man, are you?”

“No way!” Jim was quick to reply.  “I just meant… well, I had taken an irreversible course of action; I’d made a destiny changing decision.  My life was never going to be the same.  It was the first…grown up thing I’d ever done really.”  He fell silent as the memory of that time overtook him.  He would never forget that night...lying under the stars, his heart pounding with a combination of fear and happiness, wondering if his Uncle James would be glad to see him or just tell him to get lost…he felt Trixie’s small hand slip into his bigger one and gave it a squeeze, suddenly a little embarrassed at the looks of understanding that were coming his way. 

“Well, on that cheery note, we’d best be on our way,” Mart said, taking his son back from a thoughtful looking Dan.  Although he and Diana had discussed moving back to Sleepyside, they were still living in the flat Diana’s parents had given to them as a wedding present in New York.  He gripped Dan’s shoulder.  “I’m happy for you.  And if you’d really like to be Diana’s bodyguard, that’s cool with me!”  He shifted David to his other arm, moving his hand around his wife’s waist as she stood next to him.

“Oooh, so glad you approve!” she cooed teasingly, kissing him on the ear.  “I thought it was one of my better ideas, myself!”  She gave Dan one of her better suggestive looks, her eyes twinkling.

“I’ll give that suggestion the serious consideration it deserves,” Dan replied.  “And as my first duty, let me walk you out to your car!” Although he wasn’t good at the ‘mushy’ stuff as he liked to call it, he didn’t want Mart to leave until he knew how much his best friend’s attitude meant to him.

***

Honey felt her eyes fill with tears as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling; wide awake in spite of her full day.  She listened to her husband’s faint snores, a sure sign that he was again exhausted from a long day at the clinic he helped organize, where he specialized in children’s medicine.  He also had his rounds at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where he’d done his internship.   She didn’t resent the long days he put in, was in fact very proud of the work he was involved in, which mostly consisted of helping families with no medical insurance.  He would come home tired and fatigued and it would always make him smile when she’d jokingly act like a fifties housewife, asking him how his day was and could she fix him a martini.  He’d usually kiss her, whispering that it wasn’t a drink that he needed, making it so obvious that he was glad to see her that her heart would soar.  He would ask her about the latest case, she would ask him about who he’d helped…they never seemed to run out of things to say to each other.

But lately, he was so quiet and withdrawn, evading her questions or giving her short, non-revealing answers.  All attempts to get him to open up only resulted in a change of subject. And tonight, when she’d again brought up the subject of them finally having a child, he withdrew even more, mumbling something about not having the energy to discuss it.

Honey curled into a ball, pressing her hand over her eyes.  Until she met Trixie at the age of 13, she’d never been exposed to young children, being an only child until her parents adopted Jim.  She knew she had a lot to learn about taking care of an infant, but she longed for a child anyway.  She loved Brian so much; he’d be a wonderful father and she could learn, couldn’t she?  She helped Trixie baby-sit her younger brother back when they were teenagers, she loved every minute she spent with her niece and nephews, delighted when after six months off, Trixie came back to work, Katy in tow as she was still breastfeeding her.  She smiled when she thought about Jim and Trixie’s rambunctious daughter.  She treasured every second with the little girl, who always ran and jumped into her arms whenever she saw her.  And when Peter and David were born, her joy increased, honored when Mart and Diana informed her that she was an “honorary” auntie, laughing when Mart whispered slyly that it really meant they wanted more free babysitting.  They obviously trusted her with children; why didn’t he? 

She recoiled at the new thought forming, but it relentlessly continued into her mind with cold acrid breath, filling her with horror. Oh God! Maybe he thinks I wouldn’t be a good mother and he’s afraid to tell me! Honey wept silently, her heart ripping into tiny pieces. Her own relationship with her mother troubled until the family moved to Sleepyside, could it be that he didn’t think she could handle it?   It’s not true…I could be a good mother. I’d be a lot better than that horrible woman I interviewed today, she thought grimly, rubbing at the tears that were now coursing down her face.  She had a lot to tell her best friend and Joeanne.  Her hands balled into fists as she recalled the conversation—every instinct in her wanting to march back to Sammy’s room, snatch him up and bring him home with her. 

She took a deep breath and quit crying; this was getting her nowhere.  What was Trixie always saying?  Honey let a smile form as she thought about one of her best friend’s favorite sayings, If it ain’t knocking, why let it in? She rolled over, looking into Brian’s sleeping face, her expression softening as she noted that he even looked troubled at rest.  What was happening with him and why couldn’t he share it with her as he’d always done?  She drew her hand down his cheek, filled with gladness when he turned into her in his sleep, reaching for her.  I have to talk to him—I have to make him see how wonderful it would be.  She snuggled deeper into his arms, letting exhaustion carry her away to dreams of a beautiful baby with dark hair and hazel eyes…

***

“The lad’s got some serious thinking to do, but I think he’s made a sound decision,” Mr. Maypenny said, nodding thoughtfully.  He looked at Jim with a small grin.  “And I don’t think I need to tell you what a good decision yours turned out to be, do I son?”

Jim grinned back.  “Not hardly.  Even if I did end up causing a few people some problems,” he finished knowingly.

Trixie leaned into him.  “Don’t be silly; if it wasn’t for finding you, Honey and I would have never ended up being so interested in mysteries!” she said saucily, laughing at his look of resignation.  That irony had never been lost on him—he couldn’t remember who first made the statement that God’s got a sick sense of humor, but at times he couldn’t help agreeing with it, wholeheartedly.  Especially when she comes home looking like she just watched Schindler’s List.

Dan re-entered the cabin, the wind causing the door to give a bang as he shut it.  “I think it’s going to rain,” he commented, throwing another log on the fire.

“I guess we’d better head on home too,” Jim said reluctantly, rising and helping Trixie to her feet.  He turned to Dan.  “Dan, I was serious about the job.  You just say the word.”

Dan looked thoughtful.  “I became a cop in the first place because I wanted to help kids in trouble.  But all they ever wanted me to do was arrest them.  Still, I don’t quite see myself as a teacher.  I’m not sure what I see myself as.”  For the first time since he’d come to his decision he felt troubled.  I guess Di was right, he sighed to himself.

“You’ll figure it out.  Just give yourself time,” Jim said reassuringly.

“On the other hand, dive right into something,” Trixie said with a laugh.  Her eyes met Dan’s and she sobered.  “Actually, Honey and I could use a hand.  I can’t stand thinking about it anymore tonight, but I can tell you it would be helping out a child.”  She lifted a yawning Katy, who promptly wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, sweetly sinking into her.  How could anybody endanger their own child? I’d kill for this girl! Trixie thought, keeping her face neutral with great effort.  She remembered what Dan said earlier that day about kids being so trusting, and felt angry and frustrated and hopeless.

“Of course I’ll help you. What do you want me to do?” Dan asked, curious and troubled at the look of intense unhappiness that came and went on Trixie’s face so quickly that anyone who didn’t know her as well would have completely missed it.

“Keep Monday morning free,” Trixie replied gratefully.  She hitched Katy higher and bent down to kiss Mr. Maypenny’s wrinkled cheek.  “Thank you for dinner.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied gruffly, but his eyes twinkled at her as she left.

Monday morning is soon enough to hear what that woman had to say to Honey.  If I think about it anymore today, I’m going to go nuts.  Trixie was silent as they walked along in the disappearing moonlight, dark clouds casting a pall over the sky as they were wont to do this time of the year.  Her heart was heavy as she felt the burden of her responsibility, her desire to help an innocent baby boy.  The nurse had spoken quietly and simply, keeping her opinions to herself, letting the facts speak for themselves.  Trixie’s momentary sympathy for the mother quickly disappeared as Katje painted the bleak little picture.  Joeanne definitely needs to subpoena her along with the Doctor, Trixie noted to herself.  She shivered a little and was glad to enter the warm kitchen.

“Are you sure getting involved in this thing is the right thing to do?” Jim asked quietly, as he shut the door and stood facing her.

“Maybe not,” she admitted. “But I have to help.  I have to.”

“Okay,” was all he said. 

“I’ll put Katy to bed—she’s fast asleep.”  She suddenly smiled. “And then we can finally finish what we started this morning!” Her voice was full of warm promise as she left the room.

Yep, that was one hell of a good decision—even if I do spend a lot of my time worrying! Jim thought to himself as he slowly locked the door, wondering just what Trixie and Honey had gotten themselves into, this time.

***

“Uh...excuse me? You sitting at the word processor?”

“You can see me?”

“Not really.  I’m just getting this sense of a person typing away.  And I’m getting a very strong ‘M’ feeling.  Mmm, Mmmaa, Mary.  Mary! Right?”

“Wow.  Well, this is certainly unexpected.”

“Can I ask you a favor, Mary?”

“Um...”

“This thing with Dan.  I was wondering if you could drop me a little hint about what he’s going to end up doing.”

“Why?”

“Well, I just thought it would be kind of cool.  See, Trixie’s always getting these feelings and flashes, and nine times out of ten they’re right.  And I just thought it would be really neat if just this once I could be the one to say, ‘I have this feeling...’”

“Hmmm.  Well, Jim...may I call you Jim?”

“Why not. You’ve already seen me naked.”

“Ahem!”

“Sorry.  Didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Oh, uh, um...you didn’t embarrass me!  Well, Jim, that just wouldn’t be in character for you.  You’re the strong supportive one with the temper.  You back Trixie up, you’re a big help in lots of ways, even if you can be pretty stubborn sometimes, but those kinds of leaps just aren’t...you.”

“So! You can do whatever you want, can’t you?”

“Well, not really.”

“What do you mean, not really?!!”

“See? You’re getting mad.”

“I’M NOT MAD!”

“Okay, you’re getting mildly concerned. Better?”

“That’s better. What do you mean, not really?”

“And you’re being just a touch stubborn! Well, what I mean is, you guys don’t exactly cooperate.  Sometimes you go off in completely different directions than I expected.  And frankly, you aren’t always very nice either.”

“I try to be nice to everybody!”

“Don’t EVER say that again! That’s not you either!”

“You’re right.  I was just testing you.  I guess you do know me pretty well.”

“Well, I do my best.”

“So you won’t tell me about Dan?”

“Sorry, Jim.”

“Wait a minute. Wait just a darn minute.  You won’t tell me because you don’t know!”

“Um...”

“You don’t have any idea! Don’t you think that’s a bit irresponsible?!”

“Hey, what’s that over there?”

“Where? I don’t see anyth...wait! Don’t close the window! Don’t close the...”

Jim opened his eyes, staring into the dark, feeling oddly unconnected.  It was a strange and unworldly feeling.  He pinched own cheek, and to his relief, felt accompanying sensation.  Trixie’s arm lying across his chest was certainly real, and he could hear the soft sound of her rhythmic breath, feel the weight of her head through her pillow as it rested over his arm.  He smiled in the dark at his own foolishness.  As if our lives are dictated arbitrarily by some stranger sitting at a computer keyboard!  The only person who knows what Dan is going to do next is Dan, he thought drowsily, feeling himself start to drift back to sleep.  He felt a twinge of annoyance as he recalled the voice telling him he was stubborn, that he had a temper.

“Bite me, Mary!” he mumbled before re-joining the land of Eros, where hopefully answers were more forthcoming.  He ignored the answering voice muttering something that sounded like How would you like it if Mr. Maypenny’s stew gave you a serious case of abdominal distress?!  knowing that it was just a dream anyway.  And as anybody with half a brain knows, dreams aren’t real.

Next

Note: Trixie Belden® is a registered trademark of Random House Books. These pages are not affiliated with Random House Books in any way. These pages are not for profit.   All stories copyright © Mary, 2007 - 2012. All rights reserved.