Part One

 

 

Twenty year old Trixie Belden sat up in bed with a start.  She quickly looked around her dorm room.  Nothing appeared to be amiss with her surroundings so she slowly relaxed back into a semi-doze.  For the past couple of months she’d been plagued by an odd sense of suffocation that would attack at random times, with no discernible reason.  Solving the mystery of these panic attacks appeared to be beyond her legendary detecting abilities.  She’d already spent many a precious hour of possible study time contemplating them. 

 

As she lay in bed, she looked thoughtfully around her room.  Against the wall perpendicular to her was another bed covered with a thick down comforter encased in green velvet.  This was where her roommate Willa Kerns slept. Some dried roses sat in a vase on Willa’s desk next to the bed…another gift from her most recent secret admirer.  The rest of Willa’s belongings were neatly placed away in her drawers and closet.  Trixie shook her head in wonderment; it constantly baffled her that someone who was every inch a talented artist, could be so neat and organized.  Willa once laughingly told her, “It’s all about balance Trix my dear…I have such a chaotic, cluttered brain that I’d go completely over the edge if I couldn’t make sense of something.  My art I let run free, my clothes I do not.” And with a twirl she’d been out of the room and on her way to dance class, her long auburn hair flowing behind her.  Trixie smiled ruefully remembering the conversation. “I wish I could say the same of my clothes and living area” she laughed to herself. 

 

Twenty year Beatrix Belden, in her third year at NYU as a Criminal Law and Investigations Major, was the complete opposite of her roommate.  She had a brilliant and organized mind when it came to the complexities of law and criminal investigations. However, organization was a skill she lacked in the so called domestic arena.  Her clothes, books, and papers were scattered about the room, and she considered it a good day when a piece of molding fruit wasn’t discovered in some new hiding place.  Her eyes lit on a recent picture of her and Willa, taken at a fall fundraiser the previous semester. (Do I need to say what it was for? Who organized it?) She and Willa were the top layer of a pyramid of women clad in shorts and t-shirts.  All were soaking wet and had flushed cheeks from the excitement of the day long carwash.  Trixie’s smile grew broad as she got lost in memories of that day. 

 

After several minutes she managed to shake herself out of her reverie and her mind turned once again to the question at hand, what might be causing the panic attacks.  Vowing to let it go for the day she jumped out of bed, threw together an outfit from what she hoped was the clean pile of clothes and rushed off to her first class of the day.  The Criminal Mind and Capital Punishment had fast become her favorite class as it always satisfied Trixie’s burning desire to learn new things.  Today was no exception and the hour flew by.  The rest of her class passed less quickly and enjoyably, but eventually they too were over.  She went straight back to her dorm room to and was able to get a fair portion of her homework out of the way quickly.

 

It was important to Trixie to keep Wednesday evenings free as they were generally set aside to spend time with Lanie.  Elaina Cardoza, was an 8 year old girl that Trixie had befriended through the Big Sister program. They bonded instantly at an orientation gathering for the program, where Lanie’s incessant questions reminded Trixie of herself, and had won her heart.

 

Trixie had gotten/got involved with the Big Sister program through one of her best friends, Daniel Mangan.  Dan had just graduated from the Police Academy the previous spring and was now one of New York City’s finest.  He did a lot of work with troubled youth in his free time and had correctly guessed that Trixie would jump at the chance to be involved in something similar.  Dan was also the one non family member of the Bob-Whites of the Glen – a childhood club, she her brothers and best friends had been in, that she was in touch with on a regular basis. He and Trixie had a standing weekly “date”, which usually consisted of beer, pizza, and talking about their love lives, or lack thereof. 

 

As she rode the subway to the Bronx, Trixie thought about how different her friendships with Dan and Honey had turned out.  She and Honey Wheeler, her childhood best friend, hadn’t talked (been in touch?) in a very long time.  Trixie knew she would have to address the situation soon but wasn’t looking forward to the task.  Their last few conversations had grown increasingly more awkward in nature and had dwindled away to the recent silence of the last six months.  In theory, they were still planning on opening a detective agency together after college, but the chances of it actually happening were growing slimmer as the two friends grew apart.  Trixie clung to the idea though.  In her eyes it was as much a part of her as curly blond hair or blue eyes…

 

After taking a short ride subway ride and getting off at a station in the mid-Bronx Trixie was at Lanie’s house.  Tonight was “Lanie’s Choice”, which meant that the little 8 year old girl got to pick the evening’s activity.  Her choices ran the gamut from movies to the zoo to all sorts of museums, but more often than not she preferred to go to a quiet park and have picnics with Trixie.  However, with winter beginning, the daylight hours were growing shorter and Trixie knew they’d have to find other things to do.  She mused over different activities that the two could do as she stepped up the two short steps to the Cardozas’ front door.  She knocked quickly on the door and stepped back to wait the few minutes it would take for Esther Cardoza, Lanie’s grandmother, to shuffle to the front of the house and answer the door.  She hummed to herself as she looked around the desolate street. Papers and other garbage swirled around carried on gusts of the strong November winds. Trixie could only imagine what it would be like to live here and renewed her silent vow to spend as much time with Lanie as possible.  The door opened soundlessly and a wrinkled smiling face peered around the corner.

 

“Miss Beatrix, come in.” 

 

“Thanks Mrs. Cardoza, how are you feeling tonight?” 

 

The careworn woman smiled and said “I can’t complain, better than most days, Lanie was such a help today, I felt almost lazy with all the work she did.” 

 

Trixie smiled gently “I doubt you were lazy today, but Lanie is a great little helper, that I know.” 

 

Esther Marovskya Cardoza had a serious heart condition, and had been told more than once by  doctors at the local free clinic to stop working.  But/However she was the only one around to provide for Lanie and that meant no rest yet for Esther.  She treasured her small granddaughter dearly though and didn’t think twice about her own health.  She did washing, mending, and cooking for anyone who would pay for it, often working all hours of the night to get everything done.  She was delighted that Trixie had come into their lives as it provided a safe opportunity for Lanie to have some fun. 

 

“Trixie, you’re here you’re here!” shouted Lanie as she ran into the front room. 

 

“Yep I’m here, you ready to have some fun tonight?” Trixie grinned at the little girl.  Lanie was a small girl, with shoulder length curly dark brown hair, warm brown eyes, and exotic cheekbones- a gift from Esther, who’d been born in what was then Czechoslovakia. 

 

Lanie glanced quickly at her grandmother “Do you need help tonight Nona?, cause I could stay.”  She smiled up at Trixie again “I’m a good helper for my Nona.” 

 

“That she is,” said Mrs. Cardoza affectionately, “but tonight is for fun for the two of you.  So go, have a goodtime and then you can tell me all about it later.” 

 

Trixie and Lanie walked out of the little apartment and down the street.  Lanie spoke after a few minutes “Do you wanna go to the library?”

 

“Are you sure that’s where you want to go on your fun night?” Trixie teased. 

 

“Yes please, I want to get books to read, I like Dr. Seuss, and I want to get some books maybe that I can read to Nona when her eyes hurt too much.”  Trixie marveled to herself, this was no ordinary eight year old girl. “Of course we can go to the library; I could stand to do some reading myself.” 

 

They rounded the corner and soon were at the crumbling old Bronx branch of the New York Public Library.  “After you Miss Elaina” Trixie said theatrically.  Lanie giggled and went in.  Trixie was about to follow her, when a hand grabbed her shoulder and a gruff voice said “Hey lady”.  She spun around to defend herself and was faced with black eyed Dan Mangan, smirking at her in amusement.  “Don’t you ever pull that again…”she hissed.  He just laughed and said, “So what’s a girl like you doing in a nice place like this?”  She filled him in on the library plans with Lanie. 

 

“Would you like to come in and see her?” she asked, “I know she’d love to see you too.”  He smiled and followed her into the library.  They quickly found Lanie in the children’s section in the back.  The staff at the little library had done the best they could to hide the ramshackle appearance of the building.  Brightly colored posters and displays were all over the faded walls.  Lanie was already seated on a beanbag scanning through a beautifully illustrated children’s book.  She looked up and squealed with delight when she saw Dan.

 

“Mister Dan, Mister Dan you came to see me?” “Of course Lanie, you’re my favorite girl,” he said solemnly.  Then he broke out into laughter “how are both my girls tonight?”  Trixie rifled through a magazine as Dan and Lanie held a serious discussion debating the merits of Green Eggs and Ham vs. The Cat in The Hat    The librarian had to shush them at one point, but she did so with a twinkle in her eye.  Lanie decided she wanted to finish the book she had been reading before they had to go, so she scrunched back down into the beanbag and became absorbed again. 

 

Trixie got up and motioned to Dan to follow her “come on Mangan let’s sit at this table so we can talk and not disturb the peace” she said impishly.  “Yeah we’re likely to cause a riot here in the kid’s section” he joked “but I did come to talk to you about something.” 

 

“How did you know to come find me here?” wondered Trixie. 

 

“Well I knew you were going to see Lanie tonight so I stopped by and had a chat with Mrs. Cardoza, and she knew that Lanie had wanted to go the library” he explained.  Fix structure.

 

Trixie looked worried, “is it really so important that you had to track me down all the way over in the Bronx?” 

 

He grinned “Don’t worry oh suspicious one.  I got off duty a couple hours ago, and had some time to kill.  I just wanted to let you know in person that I can’t make our date this Saturday.” 

 

“What could possibly be more important than me?” she demanded with a smiling face. 

 

“I have a date date” he mumbled sheepishly, “and if you don’t want me to cancel our date I can reschedule, I would never bail on a friend, this is just the only night she had free, and…”

 

“Slow down there buddy, that was part of our ‘date’ deal you meet someone you really like, it’s okay to break our date…if she makes you this goofy I want to meet her!” Trixie said with a laugh. 

 

Dan sighed in relief, “Thanks for being so understanding Trix. I don’t know if she’s someone I want to get serious with or not - she’s been pestering me though, and well I finally gave in, so who knows…could be good, could be bad.” 

 

Trixie was grateful to see Dan interested in someone again for the first time since her cousin Hallie so many years ago.  He’d dated on and off, but no one had seriously captured his interest.  She had a hunch that in his heart he still carried a torch for her tall beautiful cousin. 

 

“Actually Trix I hate to run again,” he apologized, “but I need to go shopping for some clothes.”  Her unrestrained laughter earned a loud “please be quiet miss” from the now disapproving librarian at the front. 

 

“Well if you have to go get something spiffy I won’t stand in your way” she chortled.  “Please go and have fun shopping.”  Dan kissed her on the top of the head and then went over and hugged Lanie goodbye. 

 

“Be good little one and maybe I’ll stop by and visit you and your Nona soon.” She gave him a quick hug, “thanks for coming to visit me Mr. Dan. Go get some bad guys!” Lanie had been very impressed when Trixie had first introduced Dan to her as a brave policeman who got the bad guys and kept them safe.  She liked to remind him of his duty every now and then. 

 

Trixie and Lanie read a little more and then did some homework. All too soon it was closing time.  They got their books checked out and headed home.  Upon arrival at the Cardoza house, Mrs. Cardoza had a kiss and a thank you for Trixie. Lanie said “see you next week Trixie, thanks for being my favorite big sister.”

 

“Aren’t I your only big sister?”

 

“Yeah, but you’re still my favorite” she giggled and ran off to bed. 

 

 

SECTION BREAK

 

 

The rest of the week passed in a blur of classes, studying and more studying.  Seeing Lanie had been only a brief break the college grind. 

 

Saturday morning dawned and Trixie allowed herself the luxury of sleeping in before beginning the day.  She had a quick bite of lunch and headed over to the large law library on the west side of campus (jasper says to verify). She was soon settled at a large wood table, dutifully reading one of her numerous text books. 

 

As she was beginning to make some headway into her coursework another suffocating panic attack struck.  She began to hyperventilate loudly and a fellow studier at the table looked up in annoyance.  His face changed to one of concern as he saw what was happening.  He quickly emptied a brown paper bag he’d carried his lunch in and gave it to her.  She was able to calm her breathing using it and handed the bag back to him with a mortified expression on her face.

 

“Ummm, thanks, I’m really embarrassed, but yeah thanks a lot” she mumbled. 

 

He asked concernedly, “Are you ok now? Maybe we should get you to the campus clinic?”  Trixie protested that she was fine and eventually he gave up trying to persuade her and introduced himself.  “Well my name is Mark Spencer, and who are you?” 

 

“I’m Trixie Belden. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

 

“I just transferred from Columbia, because the criminal law graduate program here is so much better (JASPER says verify). Since I want to be a D.A. eventually, it made sense.” 

 

“Columbia…I knew, know someone who goes there, he’s a grad student now, in Education” she said faintly.  “You wouldn’t happen to know a Jim Frayne would you?” 

 

“What? You know Jim ‘I’m pretty much perfect in every way Frayne”  he gasped. 

 

“Well we used to be really good friends in high school and for a bit after that.  We still trade cards and see each other at Christmas; our parents have lived next to each other forever.  Would you believe I used to have a crush on him?” she laughed without mirth. 

 

Mark looked at her intently “you must be the curly haired girl back home he always used to talk about.  I think the most popular guy on the Columbia campus had it pretty bad for you.” 

 

Trixie sat back into her chair in amazement, “you have got to be kidding me…you do realize how long it’s been since he and I talked last, really talked I mean?” 

 

Mark laughed at her, “used to have a crush Trixie? I think maybe someone might still have a bit of a crush!” 

 

She grimaced at him and stuck out her tongue, “it’s so in the past.  Hey it’s about dinner time and I am sick to death of studying.  Do you want to go grab a bite to eat?”

 

He looked regretfully at his watch “man I really would love to, but I’ve got to meet my sister Heidi in half an hour -  she’s driving up from her high school. She’s a senior at Providence High in Rhode Island, and finally has permission to drive the family car, so she’s coming to see me.  I’ve gotta show her the sights, she’s thinking about going here as a child psychology major, although I think she really wants to study literature. But we should definitely do it another time, and we can trade Jim stories,” he finished with a laugh. 

 

Trixie snorted “well as long as we don’t spend the whole time talking about him, it sounds great.” The two traded numbers as they gathered up their books.  Mark waved goodbye as he took off across the campus. 

 

Trixie walked slowly back to her dorm, enjoying the brisk November air.  “What should I do tonight?” she mused out loud “since Dan is probably out getting some action that leaves me with either more studying or maybe a party.  Hmm, I’m not really in the mood for a party or homework.” She climbed the stairs to her dorm room mulling over her choices. 

 

When Trixie got to her room she saw that Willa was gone, but had left a note for her. ‘I’ll be back around 1 a.m. tonight Trix, got a long rehearsal for my performance…Love ya, Wills”  Trixie sighed, “not even the comfort of a roommate.”  She sat on the bed and finally decided to read a book for fun. 

 

Trixie began to sort hopefully through her piles of books when a photo floated out from one of the teetering stacks.  She leaned over the side of the bed to pick it up.  Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at the photo. It was an old picture of the Bob Whites.  The boys were all clowning around in various poses, Di was trying to look disdainful and failing miserably, and Trixie was kissing Honey on the cheek. Honey had a mock-horrified look on her innocent face.  Trixie clutched the photo tightly to her as the tears began to flow, and then she made a decision.  She stared nervously at the phone.  Finally, she took a deep breath and got her address book.  She found the number she was looking for and dialed. 

 

“Drugs ‘R Us” a male voice answered, to laughter in the background. 

“What…I must have the wrong, I mean…uh…is Honey Wheeler there please?” 

 

“Yo! Honeeeeeeeeeey, some girl on the phone for you.” There was a long moment of silence, then the male voice returned, “Hold on a second, she might be passed out in one of the rooms up stairs…I’ll go check.”  The phone on the other line was put down with a bang and Trixie heard pounding footsteps in the distance.  She stared at her phone in shock.  Obviously there had been some mistake. 

 

“Somebody there?” a slurred voice asked.  “

 

Honey?” Trixie asked timidly. 

 

“Who is this?  I told you I didn’t wanna do it…not interested in trying that shit!” Honey’s voice became agitated.

 

“Uh Honey, its Trixie…are you okay?” she questioned quietly.  There was a long silence.  Trixie became even more concerned, “Honey, are you there? What’s going on?” 

 

“Why?” Honey sneered, “Are you shocked or something? Shocked that perfect Madeline Wheeler might be up to no good? Is that it?”

 

“Honey, I’m just worried about you…it’s been so long, I wanted to talk to you, I miss you, I love you…what’s going on?” 

 

Again there was silence, and then, “well I’m sorry Trixie, I don’t miss you, I don’t miss any of you, I’m happy out here, I’m experience true love and acceptance from all my friends…we’re about peace Trixie. …And there’s something else you ought to know…I’m calling it quits on the whole detective agency, it’s really just not my scene anymore…cops are the man, and the man is bad.  There’s way more important stuff going on in the world than our stupid kid games. I don’t have time for that shit!”  There was a click and then a dial tone…