Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, while waiting outside the old courthouse for Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole to figure out who struck museum curator, Bonnie Whiteside, on the head, the teens and Mr. Dinello were trying to decide what to do about Mr. Barrymore and Mina. As everyone grew more and more tired, Mr. Dinello called Mina’s friend who said that it would be best if they waited to talk with her in the morning. Vera worried that Mr. Barrymore would try to bother Mina that night, but the others disagreed. Weary from their long day, everyone wanted to go home and get some sleep so that they could further investigate the imposter ghost the next day. Vera wanted to stay out longer. What did they do? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 25
Tiptoe from your Tunic

“I suggest that when Sam and Jenny come out of there, we all go to our homes and get some sleep. Tomorrow’s Saturday. There’s no school. We can start our investigation again tomorrow.” Mr. Dinello said.

“Yeah, in the daylight. We’d be able to see more clues.” TJ nodded.

“But, the so-called ‘ghost’ doesn’t come out during the day.” Vera said. “How will we catch her?”

“We can catch her by figuring out who she is.” Mr. Dinello said rationally.

“I’m not going home.” Vera stamped her foot again.

“You may not have a choice.” Lucy giggled. “As we said, mom and dad have been pretty generous to let us stay out this long. I don’t think they’ll want us to stay out much later.”

“I’m not going.” Vera shook her head.

“If we all go home, you go home.” Mr. Dinello raised an eyebrow. “And that’s that.”

“Is it?” Vera muttered to herself. “Is it?”

“It is.” Mr. Dinello said firmly.

“Fine.” Vera sighed, pretending to go along with what Mr. Dinello was saying, however, she was quietly hatching a scheme of her own.

Within a few minutes, Chief Colbert and Officer Littlepoole came out of the old courthouse followed by many other people that Mr. Dinello and the teens knew. The famous art historians, the DeLorcas, Mrs. Conn and the wealthy Trotter family were accompanied by a woman that the teens recognized as former high fashion model, Mia Duomo.

Officer Littlepoole and Chief Colbert joined the teens and Mr. Dinello.

“We’re not getting anywhere tonight.” Chief Colbert shook his head. “We still have no idea who hit Bonnie Whiteside and we’re nowhere closer to figuring out who’s posing as the ghost of Theodosia Westwick.”

“Are all those other people involved?” Lucy asked.

“They saw the ‘ghost,’ too.” Officer Littlepoole nodded. “They’re conducting their own investigation.”

“Oh.” Lucy nodded.

“Right now, however, we all need to go home and get some rest.” Chief Colbert said, rubbing the cast on his broken arm. It’s been a long day.”

“A weird day.” Rick smiled.

“But, a good one.” Officer Littlepoole wrapped her arm around Chief Colbert’s waist.
“Don’t forget, we got engaged to be married tonight.”

“So, it’s a good day, after all!” Mr. Dinello said cheerfully. “I was just telling the gang that we should all turn in, too. We’ll start again tomorrow.”

“Fine by me.” Chief Colbert yawned. “Come on, some of you can ride with me, some of you can go with Jenny. We’ll drop you all off at your houses. Your moms and dads are probably worried you’re out so late.”

“We’ll meet again in the morning at Kitty Conn’s Candy Corner. We can have breakfast and then begin again.” Officer Littlepoole suggested.

“First thing we need to do is talk with Mina.” TJ stretched.

“I agree.” Chief Colbert nodded. “Were you able to track her down?”

“We were.” Mr. Dinello said.

“Good, well, come on, let’s go.” Chief Colbert nodded toward their cars.

Soon, everyone had been delivered to their own homes.

At the Molton house, Lucy, Vera and Kate shared the events of the evening with Lucy and Vera’s mother and father (Kate’s aunt and uncle).

Mr. Molton was eager to meet Mina and thought that she sounded as though she’d be an excellent addition to his team at the hardware store.

The girls said “Good night” and went upstairs. Kate went to the guest room where she’d been staying since coming to Vista Falls and Lucy and Vera went to the room that they shared.

“I can barely keep my eyes open.” Lucy said to her twin.

“Me either.” Vera said, faking a yawn.

After changing her clothes and washing up, Lucy crawled into her bed and fell quickly asleep.

Vera, too, washed up, but she slipped her nightgown over the clothes she was already wearing.

She waited until Lucy was sound asleep, and then, she put her plan into action.

Quietly getting out of bed, Vera took off the nightgown that covered her day clothes, silently put on her shoes and tiptoed out of the room.

Lucy was so tired, she didn’t even stir.

Vera made her way down the stairs, being careful not to step hard on the treads that creaked and stealthily walked into the kitchen where she slipped out the back door.

“I am not giving up.” Vera said as she closed the door gently behind her. “I know the Woman in Gray is out there somewhere and I’m going to find her!”

Vera walked quickly through the dark streets of Vista Falls. She felt a little nervous. The night was especially dark and all the streetlights did was cast strange and frightening shadows on the streets.

She made her way to the town square and hoped to look around the old courthouse where the “ghost” had last been seen.

As Vera studied the building, she suddenly felt as though she was being watched. She looked around, but saw no one.

Then, she heard footsteps—heavy footsteps.

“Who’s there?” Vera said.

She spun around quickly again, and then screamed!

“You!” Vera shouted.

Who was it?

Voting results for how the story continues:

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Vista Falls Ch. 25: Who was it? Mr. Barrymore? 66.7% “The Woman in Gray?” 22.2% Chief Colbert? 11.1%   Version 2.03

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