Read Online The Mystery of the Memorial Day Fire by Julie Campbell - Free Book Online
Authors: Julie Campbell
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reporting.”
“I hope she is as competent in writing about Mr. Roberts’s release from jail,” Mart said.
“I hope so, too,” Brian told him. “But I won’t hold my breath. Arresting a suspected arsonist is of interest to everyone in Sleepyside, so it makes the front page. Releasing an innocent man is really of interest only to his friends and family, so that usually gets hidden in the back. It isn’t news.”
“There’s one way to make Mr. Roberts’s release newsworthy,” Trixie said.
“Uh-oh,” Brian said.
“Well, it’s true,” Trixie said defensively. “If Mr. Roberts is released because the real arsonist is caught, that will be news —just like you said.”
“I follow your logic, Trix,” Brian said. “But I can also take it a step farther and see you deciding to catch the arsonist yourself. I don’t want you even to think about doing that. It’s too dangerous. You’d be literally playing with fire!”
“Did you hear me say I was going to try to catch the arsonist? Did you?” Trixie demanded.
“No,” Brian admitted. “But I do want to hear you say you won’t try. Promise me, Trixie.”
“I promise,” Trixie said reluctantly. To herself, she added, But that wont stop me from trying to figure out who it is.
7 * Trixie Has a Plan
AS THE CAR HEADED DOWN GLEN ROAD, Trixie once again reached out to touch her oldest brother’s arm. “Brian, would you drop me off at the Manor House? I know it’s a little bit out of your way, but you can drive it faster than I can walk it, and I have to talk to Honey about all that’s happened.”
“There is never a dearth of detours with Beatrix directing,” Mart said.
“That’s okay,” Brian said. “I said earlier that getting things out of your system is best. I’m sure that’s what Trixie has in mind.”
A few minutes later, Trixie was hopping out of the car in front of the Manor House. “Thanks, Brian,” she said. “Tell Moms I’ll be home soonest to do my chores. I promise!” She ran up the wide steps and knocked on the front door.
Celia let her in and told her that Honey was in the den. Trixie shouted another “Thanks!” and went to find her best friend.
“Nick Roberts’s father has been arrested,” Trixie said as she burst in on Honey. “Mart and Brian and I just came from the police station.”
“Arrested!” Honey let her sewing project drop to her lap. “Oh, Trixie, no! Can they do that?”
“They did it,” Trixie said grimly. Briefly, she told Honey about the phone call from Nick, the conversation with Pat Murphy, and the intrusiveness of Jane Dix-Strauss. “Pat Murphy handled her beautifully, but Nick was so afraid of talking to her that he waited for us out in the rain. Poor guy - if I’d known, I never would have wasted time visiting his father’s store.”
“You visited the store?” Honey asked. “I thought it had burned down.”
“It did. Well, it didn’t burn down exactly. It sort of burned out. The windows and doors are all boarded over, and the alley is filled with rubble. There’s not much to see, really. Oh — except I did find this.” Trixie reached into her pocket, took out the button, and tossed it at Honey, who caught it handily.
“JDS,” Honey read.
“Huh-uh, it’s JSD,” Trixie corrected her.
“No, it isn’t, Trixie. In a monogram, the last initial goes in the middle, in a larger size, and the first two initials go on either side. So the monogram on this button says, ‘JDS.’”
“Jane Dix-Strauss!’’ Trixie exclaimed. “I’ll bet this button belongs to her.”
“Those are her initials,” Honey agreed. “They’re probably a lot of other people’s, though.”
“She has a blazer with gold buttons about this size. She was wearing it the night of the fire. I wasn’t close enough to see if there was a monogram, but — Oh, my gosh!” Trixie’s eyes widened. “Jane Dix-Strauss was wearing a blazer with gold buttons the night of the fire. I found this
“I hope she is as competent in writing about Mr. Roberts’s release from jail,” Mart said.
“I hope so, too,” Brian told him. “But I won’t hold my breath. Arresting a suspected arsonist is of interest to everyone in Sleepyside, so it makes the front page. Releasing an innocent man is really of interest only to his friends and family, so that usually gets hidden in the back. It isn’t news.”
“There’s one way to make Mr. Roberts’s release newsworthy,” Trixie said.
“Uh-oh,” Brian said.
“Well, it’s true,” Trixie said defensively. “If Mr. Roberts is released because the real arsonist is caught, that will be news —just like you said.”
“I follow your logic, Trix,” Brian said. “But I can also take it a step farther and see you deciding to catch the arsonist yourself. I don’t want you even to think about doing that. It’s too dangerous. You’d be literally playing with fire!”
“Did you hear me say I was going to try to catch the arsonist? Did you?” Trixie demanded.
“No,” Brian admitted. “But I do want to hear you say you won’t try. Promise me, Trixie.”
“I promise,” Trixie said reluctantly. To herself, she added, But that wont stop me from trying to figure out who it is.
7 * Trixie Has a Plan
AS THE CAR HEADED DOWN GLEN ROAD, Trixie once again reached out to touch her oldest brother’s arm. “Brian, would you drop me off at the Manor House? I know it’s a little bit out of your way, but you can drive it faster than I can walk it, and I have to talk to Honey about all that’s happened.”
“There is never a dearth of detours with Beatrix directing,” Mart said.
“That’s okay,” Brian said. “I said earlier that getting things out of your system is best. I’m sure that’s what Trixie has in mind.”
A few minutes later, Trixie was hopping out of the car in front of the Manor House. “Thanks, Brian,” she said. “Tell Moms I’ll be home soonest to do my chores. I promise!” She ran up the wide steps and knocked on the front door.
Celia let her in and told her that Honey was in the den. Trixie shouted another “Thanks!” and went to find her best friend.
“Nick Roberts’s father has been arrested,” Trixie said as she burst in on Honey. “Mart and Brian and I just came from the police station.”
“Arrested!” Honey let her sewing project drop to her lap. “Oh, Trixie, no! Can they do that?”
“They did it,” Trixie said grimly. Briefly, she told Honey about the phone call from Nick, the conversation with Pat Murphy, and the intrusiveness of Jane Dix-Strauss. “Pat Murphy handled her beautifully, but Nick was so afraid of talking to her that he waited for us out in the rain. Poor guy - if I’d known, I never would have wasted time visiting his father’s store.”
“You visited the store?” Honey asked. “I thought it had burned down.”
“It did. Well, it didn’t burn down exactly. It sort of burned out. The windows and doors are all boarded over, and the alley is filled with rubble. There’s not much to see, really. Oh — except I did find this.” Trixie reached into her pocket, took out the button, and tossed it at Honey, who caught it handily.
“JDS,” Honey read.
“Huh-uh, it’s JSD,” Trixie corrected her.
“No, it isn’t, Trixie. In a monogram, the last initial goes in the middle, in a larger size, and the first two initials go on either side. So the monogram on this button says, ‘JDS.’”
“Jane Dix-Strauss!’’ Trixie exclaimed. “I’ll bet this button belongs to her.”
“Those are her initials,” Honey agreed. “They’re probably a lot of other people’s, though.”
“She has a blazer with gold buttons about this size. She was wearing it the night of the fire. I wasn’t close enough to see if there was a monogram, but — Oh, my gosh!” Trixie’s eyes widened. “Jane Dix-Strauss was wearing a blazer with gold buttons the night of the fire. I found this
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