"I'm not upset about it. Are you sure you don't want to call her?"
He looked at her, pleading with his eyes, "Can we please wait until this is over? She's going to be disappointed in me and it's hard enough."
Polly's heart broke for him. He had turned this event into an immense problem in his mind, not understanding how easily it could be fixed. Time was so compressed for these kids. She sighed. "It's going to be alright, Jason. I promise."
He didn't say anything, just stared at the floor.
Polly beckoned to Doug and Billy to open the door and come in when they arrived.
"Hey little dude!" Billy said to Jason when they came into Polly's office. "Are you gonna play with us again Friday night? You were rockin' and rollin' last time."
Jason turned pale and didn't say anything.
"Doug," Polly said, "Could you grab a couple of chairs and come in and shut the door?"
Doug pulled two chairs into the office and sat down in one of them.
"You two look pretty serious, is something wrong?"
"Well, Jason thinks he knows who has been stealing from the farms around here and who took my tack the other night."
"Dude! That's good stuff!" Billy said, clapping the younger boy on the back. Jason continued to look miserable.
"He's pretty sure they're associated with your group of gaming buddies," she said, dropping the news on them.
"Oh little dude. That's freaky weird. Are you sure?"
Doug spoke up. "That makes sense," he said.
"What do you mean?" Polly asked.
"Oh, a few things that have been going on. Crap. I can't believe I was so dense. Billy. Dude. Think about it. Just think about it."
Billy cocked his head, then he shut his eyes and when he opened them, they were huge. "You're right. We totally should have figured it out!"
"What are you talking about?" Polly demanded.
"Every farm that was hit?" Doug said.
"What?"
"There's a kid that games with us. Why didn't I put that together?"
"Are you kidding? Every one?" she asked.
"Pretty much. And you are the last to have been hit. That makes me mad," Doug said. "What were they thinking? You don't crap in your own nest."
Doug turned to Jason, "It's Dinky Stanton's brother Roger, isn't it?"
Jason nodded, still silent.
"That jerk. Of course it is."
"You know him?" Polly asked.
"Yeah. He works construction ... sometimes. Dinky isn't much better, but I was hoping he'd figure it out."
A knock at the door and Aaron opened it, "Can I come in?" he asked.
Polly pointed to the empty chair and said, "Sit down. I think we have a story for you."
Doug looked at Polly in surprise. "How did he know to come here?"
"I called him when Jason told me what he knew," she said. "But if we can keep Jason out of this, that would be my preference. I think it would be his as well."
Jason nodded rapidly.
The Sheriff said, "Jason why don't we start with what you know and then we'll determine whether or not I can use what Doug and Bill here, can tell me instead."
Jason quietly repeated what he had told Polly, doubling his regret that he had led Dinky Stanton to the barn in the first place.
Aaron didn't speak until he was finished, and then turned to Doug, "Now, tell me what you might know about this."
"Sheriff, Billy and I just figured out what morons we are. Every single family that has been hit has a kid who comes to our gaming nights. Dinky Stanton has to be the connection. And Jason is right. The truck that was here at Sycamore house the other night sounds exactly like Roger's truck. Dinky has been talking about it for months while they've been working on it. They go out to the junkyard every weekend to get parts."
"Was that Dinky Stanton in the basement of Harry Bern's house yesterday?" Polly asked.
"Yep. He was probably going to take that junk out to trade for something for the truck."
"They haven't sold the stuff they've stolen yet?"
"I dunno," Doug said. "If Roger sold it, he's holding the cash until he can get enough for a new truck. Dinky has been talking about that a lot, too."
"Have you ever been out to their place, Doug?" Aaron asked.
"Sure. We used to go fishing there all the time. They have a shed out by the lake where they keep a couple of old boats and some motors. Hey! I'll bet that's where they're keeping the junk until they sell it. It's big enough."
Aaron nodded and said, "Jason, there's no reason you need to be involved in this. I think I can get a warrant to search based on what we know. I'll pull the license information on that truck and I suspect it will line up with what you've told me."
He stood and stepped to the door. "Thanks a lot, Polly. People are going to feel better when we get this stopped."
Jason visibly relaxed when he left and Polly said, "Doug, Jason is a little worried that you might think he's a snitch."
Billy's eyes got huge. "No way, dude. You were a hero instead. Nobody wants to hang around a thief, especially when they're stealing from friends."
"Really?" Jason asked, his eyes brightening.
"Really! Buddy, you did a good thing today. It's what a Jedi Knight in training would do. You always have to be truthful to be on the light side."
"I didn't want to screw up your group. I'm only the little kid."
"Even little kids know when you have to tell the truth. You did good."
"Don't tell anyone, please?" Jason begged.
"If you don't want anyone to know that you were the hero, we'll keep quiet. I totally get it that people might not appreciate the light side of the force," Doug said. "So you'll ask your mom if you can come Friday night?"
"Yes!" Jason exclaimed. "Thanks, guys."
Billy winked at Polly.
"Thanks," she echoed.
Jason saw Eliseo walk past her inside window and asked, "Can I tell him what happened today?"
"Sure, invite him to come in.
"How did it go?" she asked Eliseo when he came into her office.
"We worked out a good deal. Thank you for that. I'm moving in tomorrow."
"Where are you gonna live?" Jason asked.
"I'm moving into Harry Bern's house and I'm going to fix it up again."
"That will be cool!" Jason said. "Your own house. Someday we're going to get a house. Whenever mom is ready."
"If you need any help with electrical, Billy and I are available,” Doug said. “We don't have our certificates yet, but we can help."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Eliseo, you should know that these three just solved the mystery of the farm thefts. I think there should be a big celebration tonight after all that has happened this weekend. We deserve it. What do you think?"
He looked around the room and saw the expectant looks on three young faces. "It sounds like a good idea."
Henry, Andrew and Obiwan came in the front door and he peered at her through the window. Polly nodded for him to join them.
Eliseo backed out of the office so Henry and Andrew could enter. Andrew jumped to the vacant seat.
"Did you tell her everything, Jason?"
"What do you know, runt?" he asked.
"I know that you were upset about something and that you had to tell Polly. That's what I know," Andrew said, sticking out his lower jaw in defiance.
Doug laughed. "He told her who had been stealing things from farms. He's a hero."
"He did?" Henry queried.
"He did. Doug and Billy figured it out too. It's the brother of one of their gaming buddies. The Sheriff has gone off to investigate and if I'm lucky I might get my stuff back before it's sold," she said. "And we're thinking there should be a celebration tonight. Don't you agree?"
"Why don't I go get my grill and bring it over? It's a nice day and we can pull chairs and tables out onto the new garage floor. Polly, do you want to go get food? Make some calls. Invite
your friends."
Jeff stuck his head in and said, "Eliseo and I will set up chairs and tables."
Polly turned to Doug and Billy, "Ask your parents to come too. Why don't we plan to eat about six fifteen? Jeff, can you pull out some of those battery candles and lanterns?
"On it," he said.
Later that evening, as sixteen people she had grown to know and love sat around tables laughing and enjoying themselves, Polly thought about the last few weeks. It seemed as if she had been uncovering treasures. From the priceless vase to the stairway which would give her freedom; to the people she continued to add to her family. Each time she turned a page in her life, something new and wonderful popped up amidst the chaos and stress.
She looked at Eliseo and couldn't believe how fortunate she was to have listened when Jeff begged her to give the man a chance. She watched as he sat there with his hand on Obiwan's head, laughing at some story Andrew was telling the adults gathered at his table.
Sylvie and her boys had become so much a part of Polly's family; she couldn't imagine them not being around every day. Doug and Billy didn't know it but when she finally got the apartment done and they moved in, she was looking forward to having them around as often as possible.
She smiled at the women in her life. They continued to love her no matter what and she couldn't believe how much Jeff had become a part of all that was happening even outside of Sycamore House.
Henry was closing up the grill after finally serving the last hamburger and hot dogs. He was a treasure she continued to discover and was making it easier for her to consider settling down. Where would she be without him? She didn't want to think about that, so she smiled and sat back. Tomorrow they would all go back to their busy lives, but for now, her treasure was right here and she was thankful.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
I was sorry to leave Bellingwood this time, how about you? I’ve begun writing Book 4 and everyone is back for more fun. The summer festival – Bellingwood Days – brings strangers into town, the Percherons will be in the parade and a woman who knew Polly’s parents well reaches out with a mystery from her past. It will be published in October 2013.
Check out the Bellingwood Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pollygiller
for news about upcoming books, conversations while I’m writing and you’re reading, and a continued look at life in a small town.
Recipes and decorating ideas found in the books can often be found on Pinterest at:
http://pinterest.com/nammynools/
And, if you are looking for Sycamore House swag, check out Polly’s CafePress store:
http://www.cafepress.com/sycamorehouse
CHARACTER LIST
Polly Amelia Giller
Parents: Everett & Barbara (Mahoney) Giller – deceased
Relatives in Story City: Clyde & Ivy Giller
Caregiver / Farmhand: Sylvester & Mary Shore
Animals:
Obiwan - German Shepherd / Labrador mix
(gift from Doug Randall & Billy Endicott)
Luke & Leia – cats (gift from Brad & Lee Giese)
Nan, Nat, Demi, Daisy – Percheron horses (black)
Henry David Sturtz
Parents: William & Marie Sturtz (Arizona)
Sister: Lonnie, Graduate work – Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Polly’s Bellingwood Girlfriends:
Aaron & Lydia Merritt (County Sheriff)
Children: Marilyn & Brian Erikson (Dayton, IA)
Jill & Steve Redman (Kansas City)
Daniel Merritt (Des Moines)
Sandy Merritt (Minneapolis)
James (Jim) Merritt (ISU, Ames)
Beryl Watson - Artist
First husband: Stewart Lanier (divorced)
Second husband: Scott Watson (deceased)
Cat: Miss Kitty
Students: Deena, Meryl
Andy Saner – Retired Teacher
Dating Len Specek?
Children: Bill Saner, Junior
John Saner
Melanie Saner (ISU, Ames)
Sylvie Donovan – Chef at Sycamore House
Children: Jason – age 12
Andrew – age 9
Polly’s Boston girlfriends:
Drea Renaldi - Professor at Boston College
Two brothers: Ray & Jon
Bunny Farnam
Sal Kahane
Henry’s Employees:
Jimmy Rio
Sam Terhune
Leroy Forster
Ben Bowen
Sycamore House Employees:
Jeff Lyndsay
Eliseo Aquila
Sylvie Donovan
Bellingwood Friends:
Mark Ogden – Veterinarian
Partner – Seth Jackson
Employees – Marnie Evans, Dena Harrison, Leanne Malloy
Siblings:
Jack – IT – Mayo Clinics (Rochester, MN)
Robert (Robbie) – Portrait & Wedding Photographer (Mnpls)
Devin & Ellen – Interior Design (Austin, MN)
Evan (Devin’s twin) – Journalist (Duluth, MN)
Lisa & Dylan Foster – Dance Studio & Pizza Pizzazz
(Bellingwood)
Doug Randall – Electrical Apprentice for Jerry Adams
Parents: Helen & Frank
Sister: Tracy
Billy Endicott – Electrical Apprentice for Jerry Adams
Parents: Marcus & June
Occasional Characters:
Bruce & Hannah McKenzie
Bruce – Mechanic & sometimes farmer (went to high school with Polly)
Hannah – works with Sylvie Donovan at Sycamore House
Children: Sammy, Emma, Tyler
Bruce’s Parents: Lyle & Shirley
Bruce’s Brother: Kevin
Brad & Lee Geise
Farm south of Boone, IA
Provided barn wood for flooring
Gave Luke & Leia (cats) to Polly
Rev. Del & Angela Boehm
United Methodist pastor & wife
Jerry & Marian Allen
Electrical Contractor
Doug Leon
Former custodian at Bellingwood Schools
Shawn Wesley
First of several awful custodians at Sycamore House
Treasure Uncovered (Bellingwood #3) Page 33