“The kind that you're not invited to, Pops,” Dex said with a sneer. “Why don't you back that bike up and pretend like you made a wrong turn. Trust me, you don't want to be here.” He stepped closer to Mad Dog.
There was a pause, then Mad Dog's frown slowly turned into a smile. He chuckled and patted a worried-looking Derek on the shoulder. “You hear that? I think this dude's threatening me.”
Sam shook his head at Mad Dog. This was bad. He knew Mad Dog was a tough leader of his biker gang, but this was no time to mess around. These guys meant business. If he was smart, Mad Dog would listen to Dex.
But that's when he heard it. Another rumble from down in the valley. But not like before. This was a deeper, louder rumble that echoed up the mountain like an avalanche. A light appeared up the drive. Then another. And another. Soon there were twenty lights, maybe more, streaming up the driveway toward the mansion like a swarm of fireflies shooting through the night. It was the Ghosts! Dozens of them, maybe all of them!
Ninja Man glanced at No-Neck then grabbed the money case from Dex's hand and jumped into the box truck. Sam thought he saw a hint of disappointment in No-Neck's eyes, but he turned and followed his partner into the truck. It tore off around the back of the building toward the tower, just ahead of the army of motorcycles.
“Wait!” screamed Dex. “Come back! That’s my money!”
Sam looked up at Mad Dog. A big grin stretched across his bearded face. Derek raced over to Sam, Caitlin, and Mr. Murphy as the motorcycles formed a wide half-circle around the front of the mansion, boxing Dex and Cody in tight.
Marshall Drake walked up to Dex. “I think this party's over.”
“Don't move,” cried Dex, waving his gun wildly at the headlights. “I'm warning you.”
“What are you going to do, shoot all of us, Dex?” The marshal reached out and grabbed the gun from Dex's grip. He handed it to Mad Dog then pushed Dex up against the patio railing. Cody quickly held up his hands in surrender before any force was required. He sat down on the patio steps, staring out at the motorcycle lights. He looked like a Christmas display all lit up.
Sam let out a long deep breath. They'd made it. Everybody was going to be okay.
Caitlin hugged her dad.
Derek high-fived Mad Dog and asked him if he could hold the gun.
“Don't get carried away, kid,” Mad Dog growled with a smile.
Marshal Drake tied up Dex and Cody with some rope they found inside by the cages, securing them to the railing on the porch. He stepped up to Mad Dog. “You arrived just in time.”
Mad Dog gave the gun back and shook the marshal’s hand. “The name's Luke. Luke DeWitt. Derek here told us that y'all might need some assistance up here tonight. Looks like he was right.”
“He sure was!” said Caitlin.
Marshal Drake nodded. “I'm mighty grateful to you.”
“That was awesome!” shouted Derek.
“I didn't think you were coming back,” said Sam, turning to his brother. “Think you could have taken any longer?”
Derek shrugged his shoulders. “It's not easy finding your way around in the dark, you know. Then I had to find the motel where the Ghosts were staying. It took a little time to explain to the guys that I knew Mad Dog and then for them to track him down.” He put his arm around Sam. “But I'm glad you're all right, little bro. I was worried about you guys.”
Mr. Murphy shook Mad Dog's hand and hugged Caitlin. “I wasn't sure how that little standoff was going to end, but I'm sure glad you came when you did.”
Marshal Drake leaned up against the pickup. His face looked weary. “I've been tracking Dex for months. He's been running a smuggling ring for rare birds and animals all up and down the east coast.”
“Who was he selling them to?” asked Caitlin.
“Well, those two other gentlemen that you met tonight are the middle men. They find wealthy buyers all over the world who want exotic pets that can't be bought legally on the open market.”
“That's terrible,” said Caitlin, pointing into the mansion. “People shouldn't have these kinds of animals as pets, they should be free in the wild. Or at least in good zoos like at Maymont.”
Sam looked over at the marshal. “Why exactly were you in Maymont that day we met you?”
“I'd received a tip from an anonymous source on my phone that Dex would be making a move on the eagles, but he must have found the leak. He turned the tables and was waiting for me. They chased me through the gardens, where I bounced into you, but I didn't quite make it past the canal.” He turned and looked at Dex who was sulking up on the porch. “Trust me, he's faster than he looks.”
“Do you think the eagles can be returned to Maymont?” asked Derek.
“I don't see why not,” replied the marshal. “They don't seem to have been injured. They’re just a little sluggish from the tranquilizer. That's the only good part about this whole scheme. The buyers won't pay for damaged goods, so the animals are kept in decent condition.”
“Thank goodness,” said Caitlin.
“We'll have them checked out by some professionals and hopefully get them back home soon.”
Mr. Murphy stepped forward. “Speaking of getting home, I really need to get these kids back. We really appreciate everything you all have done tonight, but it's late. Boys, I'm sure your parents are going to be worried about you. I know Caitlin and I have had just about all the excitement we can handle for one day.”
The marshal nodded. “I can take it from here.” He looked at Mad Dog. “Think you can call the authorities for me back at your motel?”
Mad Dog nodded. “Consider it done.”
“How are we going to get back to our car?” asked Sam.
Caitlin pointed down the driveway. “It's just a little ways down the road, remember?”
Derek grinned and stepped over to Mad Dog's motorcycle. “How about another ride?”
Mad Dog let out a deep chuckle. “I think that could be arranged.” He turned and motioned to a few of his crewmates. They helped Sam, Derek, Caitlin, and her dad onto the back of several motorcycles. The marshal stayed behind to watch Dex and Cody and the animals until more police arrived.
And for the second time in his life, Sam rode on the back of a Harley through the night to safety.
16
Sam fell asleep in Mr. Murphy's car halfway home from the Blue Ridge. He didn't think he would, with his mind so full of images from the long day, but he was exhausted. In his sleep, he dreamed about Dex pointing his gun or that the marshal was attacked by wild animals. He thought maybe it was the bobcat, escaped from its cage. Or the black bear from the Appalachian Trail.
Mr. Murphy called Mom and Dad from the car once they got within cell range to let them know they were going to be late. He didn't go into every detail, but he did give a brief overview and reported that everyone was okay.
Barely, thought Sam.
It was well after midnight when Mr. Murphy dropped them off. Mom gave them the expected hugs and a thorough look-over. Dad peppered them with questions to figure out how much of what happened was due to their mischief versus just bad circumstances. The more adventures they had, the harder it was to convince Dad that it was just coincidence.
The next morning, everyone slept in. Eventually, Sam rolled out of bed and got dressed. Hearing voices downstairs, he lazily wandered down to investigate. Mr. Haskins was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Derek while Dad drank coffee.
“Morning,” said Dad. “Feel better?”
Sam nodded, sitting down in a chair. “Yeah, I was tired.” He looked up at his neighbor. “Morning, Mr. Haskins.”
“Not much longer,” the old man grumbled, glancing at the clock. “You nearly missed it.”
Sam scrunched his eyebrows together and tried to clear his brain. Even when he was wide awake it was hard to understand Mr. Haskins sometimes.
“I was just filling them in on yesterday,” said Derek. He paused and grinned at Sam. “Well, most of
it at least.”
“Uh, huh,” said Sam. He could barely believe all that had happened.
Derek's phone buzzed. “No way!” he exclaimed, staring at the screen. “Sam, check this out.”
Sam took the phone from his brother. His eyes opened wide in surprise at the screen. “Oh my gosh!” He dropped the phone on the table. It was a close-up picture of a bear. The one from the trail.
“Hey! Be careful.”
“I don't want to see that,” said Sam. “Once was enough for me.”
Derek laughed and showed the picture to Mr. Haskins and their dad. “Mr. Murphy emailed it to me. It's the one I took with his camera.”
Mr. Haskins whistled. “Ursus Americanus.”
Sam turned his head. “Huh?”
“American Black Bear,” replied Mr. Haskins. “Loads of 'em up there in the Blue Ridge.” He glanced down at Sam over his glasses. “I told ya so.”
Sam rolled his eyes. It was way too late for I-told-you-sos. Or too early.
Dad looked up, his face in a resigned expression. “Boys, just promise me one thing.”
“What?” said Derek.
Dad shook his head. “Don't show this picture to your mother.”
It was a beautiful blue-sky morning at Maymont. Soft, puffy clouds drifted overhead as Sam and Caitlin walked down the path toward the animal habitats. It had been two weeks since their escapades in the mountains at Swannanoa. Sam was a little hesitant to be back at the place where they'd first run into the marshal and Dex, but when Caitlin called and asked them to come, he knew he couldn't miss it. It was the first morning that the bald eagles were returning to their habitat at the estate.
“I wonder if they know they're back home?” asked Sam as they walked past the black bear enclosure. He purposely kept to the far side of the path, even though the bears didn't seem to be out yet. He'd been close enough to bears lately.
“Of course they do,” answered Caitlin, stepping onto the wooden bridge that led to the eagle habitat. “I told you the last time, they're very intelligent.”
Sam strained to see into the fenced off area that housed the eagles. “Where are they?” he said, scanning the enclosure.
“There they are!” Caitlin pointed to the corner behind some bushes. Sam didn't see anything at first, but then one of the eagles stepped forward into the clearing. With a slight flap of its wings, it hopped up to a wooden perch. The second eagle followed, landing on a small log.
“Hi guys. Welcome back.”
Both of the majestic birds swiveled their necks in Sam and Caitlin's direction.
“They're looking at us!” squealed Caitlin.
“No they're not.”
“Sure they are. See?”
Sam watched the eagles closely. Their eyes blinked, but their focus stayed fixed on where he and Caitlin stood. It did kind of seem like they were watching them.
“I wonder if they remember us?” asked Caitlin.
“From Maymont before?” said Sam. “A lot of people come visit them, so I doubt it.”
“No, from at Swannanoa.”
Sam shook his head. “They were drugged, remember?”
“Oh, right.” Caitlin leaned in toward the fence. “We helped save you,” she whispered.
For a moment it looked like the first eagle leaned his head in toward them as well. Its beak opened quickly, then it stretched out its huge wings and flapped over to the far side of the habitat.
“Did you see that?” Caitlin exclaimed. “He said thank you!”
Sam rolled his eyes. “I don't know about that.”
Caitlin turned and smirked at him. “Sam, sometimes things are true whether you believe them or not.”
Sam considered what she said. “Like Dex hiding the animals at Swannanoa, I guess.”
Caitlin grinned. “Exactly.”
Sam leaned against the railing, thinking back to the mansion on Afton Mountain. He pictured the giant, stained glass window of Sallie Dooley and how everything around him now used to be her home. He stared back at the eagles.
“What are you smiling about?” asked Caitlin, glancing at him sideways.
“Nothing,” said Sam. “I guess it's just good to see everyone back home.”
“That's for sure,” said Caitlin, turning around. “Hey, where's Derek? He said he was going to meet us down here.”
They were both startled as a loud roar rang out across the lawn followed by several shouts. The noise seemed to be coming from the bear habitat.
Caitlin looked up at Sam, her mouth hanging open in surprise. “You don't think...?”
Sam sighed and shook his head as he took off toward the sound.
“Derek!”
Acknowledgments
This was a fun one to write. Maymont has been on my list as a book setting for a while and was my first taste of Richmond when visiting family twelve years ago. I love finding common historical threads that can fit within the same storyline, so when I learned about Swannanoa on my own Maymont mansion tour, I knew it would make the book. Much of my research about Swannanoa was done online, but a day trip several weeks back allowed me to fact check. It’s a pretty awesome place, although sadly in a partial state of disrepair. I’d definitely recommend it if you find yourself on I-64 just west of Charlottesville.
An influence for the mystery in this story was the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, The Man Who Knew Too Much, staring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. I was taken with the idea of running into a mysterious stranger and a secret hiding spot with an unusual name. It’s a fun movie that should even appeal to kids 9+ if they are like mine.
As always, I have to thank my family—Mary, Matthew, Josh, and Aaron—for their patience in allowing me to use part of my spare time to create. Aaron, in particular, has turned into a great reader and ready companion for book deliveries and was the first to hear this story. Thanks to my friends in Richmond Children’s Writers, especially Lana for her edits, the good folks at CHAT, bbgb books, Pat Smith at The Jefferson, Colonial Williamsburg, Lara Ivey, Sarah Takacs, Jill Tinsley, Leah Armstrong, Lucas Krost, Kim Sheard for her editing, Janie Dullard for her proofreading, and Dane at Ebook Launch for what might be my favorite cover yet.
About the Author
Steven K. Smith is the author of The Virginia Mysteries series for middle grade readers as well as the parenting memoir, Splashing in the Deep End: Adventures Raising Boys. He lives with his wife, three young sons, and a golden retriever named Charlie, in Richmond, Virginia.
For more information:
@myboysthree
MyBoysThree
www.VirginiaMysteries.com
[email protected]
Also by Steven K. Smith
Summer of the Woods
Mystery on Church Hill
Ghosts of Belle Isle
Secret of the Staircase
Midnight at the Mansion
Splashing in the Deep End (parenting non-fiction)
MyBoys3 Press Supports CHAT
Sam and Derek aren’t the only kids who crave adventure. Whether near woods in the country or amidst tall buildings and the busy urban streets of a city, every child needs exciting ways to explore his or her imagination, excel at learning and have fun.
Ten percent of the proceeds from The Virginia Mysteries series will be donated to the great work of CHAT (Church Hill Activities & Tutoring). CHAT is a non-profit group that works with kids in the Church Hill neighborhood of inner-city Richmond, Virginia.
CHAT started in 2001, when a family from the West End suburbs of Richmond went “all in” to invest in the residents of the Church Hill community – they bought a home and moved into the neighborhood! CHAT’s vision is Opening Homes, Transforming Lives, Rebuilding Communities. They literally open up their homes to provide after-school tutoring, life-skills training, leadership programs, a private academy for at-risk high school students, community events, summer camps and more.
To learn more about CHAT, including opportunities to volunteer or contribute
financially, visit their website: www.chatrichmond.org.
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Midnight at the Mansion (The Virginia Mysteries Book 5) Page 9