Mart pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped with a jerk. Putting the gear into 'Park', he turned in his seat to look at his brother.
"What do you mean? Who are these kids?"
"Jeez, Mart. Why don't you try to kill all of us?" Bobby looked behind them to make sure they wouldn't be rear-ended. There was only a narrow shoulder along this portion of Park Avenue.
"Bobby!" All of the other three in the car pleaded in unison as they twisted around in their seats to look at him.
"Okay." Bobby sighed heavily. "The two girls are Suzanne Roche and Charity Slinkard. They're going into ninth grade with me, but I think they both have been held back. In fact, I think Suzanne's been held back twice. Her boyfriend is Alan Kincaid. He's a real druggy, if you know what I mean. He's been kicked out of school and was banned from the pool for the entire summer. I'm surprised he was even in the pool parking lot." Bobby paused.
"And....What's their connection to my sisters?" Diana was clearly agitated. "Why do you think they hate Jill and Jan?
"They hate everyone."
"Probably even themselves." Honey offered sympathetically. "Oops, sorry." Honey realized Mart and Diana were anxious to hear what Bobby had to say. "Go ahead, Bobby."
"Anyway...Charity sorta had this thing for me this past year," Bobby hesitated. "You know this Junior High crush thing." The almost Senior-High student confessed. "I wasn't interested and it really pih... uh, I mean, upset her."
Mart glared back at his brother, wondering when he'd discovered girls and especially when he'd started swearing.
"Suzanne and Charity are always being rude to people, making cutting remarks. No one takes them seriously coz' they're always bad-mouthing people."
"Then why did you say they hate Jan and Jill?" Diana was determined to find out why they had a problem with her sisters. If they did, it might explain or at least connect them to the recent vandalism and cruel tricks.
"I'm getting to that!" Bobby shook his head in disgust, thinking his brother and friends were almost as bad as his parents. "Suzanne and Charity are at the pool almost every day. Of course, their parents usually drop them off and they leave after a short time. As you guys know, Terry, Larry, Jill, Jan and I go fairly regularly, too."
"Like every day?" Diana forced a weak laugh.
"Yeah. What else is there to do in Sleepyside?...Anyway, Jill and Jan are the neatest girls at the pool, ya know." Bobby hesitated before he continued. It was embarrassing for a fourteen-year-old to admit the two girls were attractive. And he really feared they might sense his special feelings towards one sister. "Everyone thinks that." He clarified. "At least everyone EXCEPT Suzanne and Charity. They pretty much hate the twins...jealous you know." He waited for everyone to nod in understanding.
"Suzanne and Charity began bad-mouthing Jill and Jan shortly after the pool opened. Making fun of their swimsuits...imitating the way they talk...laughing at their curfews...anything to try to put them down...A few weeks ago, Terry really tore into them. They cussed Terry out and made a few threats...Ya' know?" He looked at the others for confirmation that they understood.
"What kind of threats?" Mart unbuckled his seat belt and turned completely around to face his brother. He was becoming concerned now.
"Nothing specific...They just said that Terry would regret it. Actually, I think Suzanne said that her boyfriend--that's Alan--would beat his ass or something." No one flinched at Bobby's language now. They just wanted him to continue with his story. "And my rejection of Charity certainly doesn't help much."
"So you think they might be behind all this?" Diana was pretty much convinced, but she wanted Bobby to confirm it for her.
"It's so obvious...The last couple of weeks, Jill and Jan have been talking non-stop about the stupid wedding. Sorry, Di. Sorry, Mart. But everyone's pretty sick of their going on and on," Bobby broke into a falsetto voice as if imitating the girls. "They get to wear formal gowns and high heels and get their hair done by Pierre or someone..." He reverted back to his normal voice. "Most people are just ignoring it...but if Suzanne and Charity and the creepazoid Alan were looking for a way to get even...with the girls, with Terry, or with me..."
Mart turned and slumped into his seat. He stared ahead for a few moments while considering everything Bobby had said. "You need to talk to Captain Molinson, Bobby ...I think he needs to know all this and maybe talk to a couple of pool rats."
"Pool rats?" Bobby asked indignantly.
"Not you, Bobby. The two girls." Honey clarified.
"Mart, is Captain Molinson going to be able to put a stop to all the tricks or just make these kids angrier?" Diana did not have much faith in anyone being able to salvage the rest of the week and her wedding plans.
"Of course...We may not have any proof that they've committed a crime, but they've been linked to the posters and they've made threats. All he has to do is talk to their parents..."
"Jeez, Mart. Do you think their parents give a shit?"
"Bobby! Your language!" Honey feigned shock.
"Sorry, Honey...but that's the fact...I mean, Alan's been kicked out of school AND the pool and he's still running around town in a brand new Camry dealing drugs."
"Do you know he's dealing?" Mart sat up straight and looked back at his brother. He wasn't quite ready for "little" Bobby to have inside information about local drug dealers.
Bobby hesitated. "Everyone knows."
All four sat in the car, the engine still running and cool air blowing over them, as they pondered what Bobby had just shared. It was obvious the three teens were involved somehow in the recent pranks and they probably had plans to further disrupt the wedding activities. What could be done to stop their harassment? If the police stepped in, what could they do? Unless the teens confessed or something, the police didn't have enough evidence to do anything except talk to their parents.
"Okay. I have a plan." Honey spoke up first.
"I'm not sure I want to go there." Mart half-moaned, remembering the days of Honey and Trixie's 'plans'.
"Just hear me out, Mart...Please." Honey was clearly excited. "Bobby, do you have any idea where those three might be tonight?"
"Ha! It's Family Night at the pool! The girls will show up and probably then leave with Alan."
"Great! Here's what we'll do..."
That evening, Mart and Diana dropped Bobby and both sets of twins off at the pool. Then they drove to St. Michael's Church where Honey Wheeler's VW Jetta convertible was already parked in front of the church. Diana parked her BMW behind the Jetta and Mart pulled up behind her in his Taurus. Holding hands, they walked up the steps to the main entrance. Mart knocked on the door and they were let in by Honey Wheeler and Dan Mangan. Honey was wearing a yellow sundress similar to the white one Diana wore and Dan had on a dress shirt and tie but no jacket. It took the effort of all four of them, but they managed to prop the heavy wooden doors open before they disappeared inside.
Once inside the church, the four walked to the front altar where they were joined by a middle-aged man in clerical collar and robes. Honey picked up a bouquet of mixed flowers from the front pew and handed it to Diana while Mart put on a tie that Dan had given him. They all stood facing the older gentleman who appeared to be giving them instructions. He suggested they all sit and wait for a few more minutes so they all rested in the front pew while Dan lit several candles.
Bobby and the Lynches made certain they were among the first teens to enter the pool that evening so they could set up their towels and other gear near the main entrance. They then sat down and began talking as loudly as possible about how miserable and upset they were with their parents and older siblings for forcing them to spend the evening at the pool. Jill and Jan were especially vocal about how unfair their parents were being. After all, how often did you get an opportunity to participate in a wedding?
Suzanne Roche and Charity Slinkard entered shortly after Bobby and the Lynches. Just as Bobby had predicted, they were on the pay phone almost as soon as they arrived and left shortly thereafter. Seeing them leave, Bobby and the Lynches decided to make the most of the evening and all five lined up to take their turns on the diving board.
Chapel Avenue in Sleepyside is a narrow urban street lined with ancient oak trees that form a canopy over the pavement. In summer, the shade of the trees darkens the street earlier than any other in Sleepyside, but the street lights are on timers set to go off at the same time throughout the village. When it is dusk in the rest of Sleepyside, it already is dark along Chapel Avenue.
It got dark that evening along Chapel Avenue shortly after Mart and Diana entered the church. The only lights in the area were those inside the chapel of St. Michael's when a red Toyota drove down Chapel Avenue. It slowed just slightly as it came along side the BMW and then pulled away. Less than five minutes later, two teen-aged girls and a boy came walking up the street. Their hands were empty, but the boy had a small knapsack strapped on his back. All three then walked up the steps to the church. They stopped at the entrance and peered inside.
Seeing several people standing at the altar of the church they then walked back down the steps and towards the BMW. One of the girls opened the knapsack. She took something out and handed to the second girl. She then handed something to the boy before pulling something else out of the pack and closing it. Just as the boy took the cap off of the canister he was holding he was startled by two uniformed police officers running out from the church entrance.
"HALT! POLICE!"
The boy dropped the canister and started to run down the sidewalk in the direction from which he had just come when a third police officer stepped out from behind the hedges of a nearby house. The boy hesitated before starting to turn back around. Seeing the two officers from the church coming towards him, he looked up and down the street, as if trying to decide what to do or where to go next. He then seemed to shrug his shoulders before slowly raising his hands above his head.
It was going on midnight before the last police cruiser left Chapel Avenue with the three teens in custody. Captain Molinson had actually congratulated Honey on her work and had reassured Mart and Diana that there should be no further interruptions of their wedding plans...at least as long as Trixie was out of town...he had added as an afterthought. Mart, Diana, Honey and Dan were left standing in front of the church with the three cars that had been parked in front. They were all remarking on the fact that Captain Molinson had actually praised Honey.
"Of course, he had to qualify his praise by pointing out that I spent the entire summer working for him." Honey pointed out modestly.
"Take what you can, Honey. The man has been haunted by you and Trixie for years." Dan offered.
"Haunted?" Diana didn't quite understand.
"People are always saying that Trix and Honey are better detectives than the Sleepyside Police. Honey just finally proved that they work best when they work together." Mart explained as he put his arm around Diana and pulled her close to him.
That afternoon Honey had formulated a plan and managed to convince Captain Molinson to go along... At the pool, Bobby and the Lynch twins were to complain loudly and clearly enough to make certain that Suzanne and Charity learned that Mart and Di had 'cancelled' their Saturday ceremony and were having a small private one that evening. Meanwhile, the trap was being set at the church. Dan had been recruited to pose as "Best Man" and Captain Molinson had placed police officers in the church and along Chapel Avenue. The Captain himself played the role of preacher!
Just as Honey predicted, the three teens walked directly into the trap and were 'caught in the act'. It now appeared that Mart and Diana could proceed unhindered with their original wedding plans.
"Honey, we need to take you out and celebrate." Mart offered.
"No, Mart," Honey blushed as she protested. "We all worked on this."
"C'mon Honey." Dan added. "Let us buy you a congratulatory drink.... or at least a Wimpy's shake."
"No, guys. Thanks for the offer, but I'm exhausted," Honey turned to Diana. "And Di looks like she's dozing off now. I'm just glad we can go on with the wedding plans."
Mart looked at Diana. She did look totally worn out. "Well, Sweetdiana, I guess we should get you home. Do you feel up to driving?"
Di shook her head no.
"Okay, then," He turned to Dan and tossed him the keys to his Taurus. "Can you follow and pick me up at Diana's?"
Dan laughed as he caught the keys. "Sure...and I'll give you a few minutes to say goodnight." He watched as Mart and Diana got into her BMW and drove away before turning to Honey. "Well, Miss Wheeler...Once again it looks like Belden-Wheeler Investigations got their man." He laughed again and gave Honey a brief hug. Dan held the door of Honey's car while she got in and fastened her seat belt. He stepped away and watched as she started up the car and drove off. He then turned and walked towards the Ford.
Honey glanced into her rearview mirror as she headed up Chapel Avenue. No, Dan, she thought. I'm afraid I'm losing him.
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