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Last time, after finding a note and a photograph with an arrangement of red roses in the tunnel beneath Old Martin Creek, Jenny Littlepoole decided to follow the threatening instructions in the letter in order to find Chief Colbert. Meanwhile, Blaine acted strangely when he spotted his father in the park and asked Mr. Jaquith to help him hide from his father. Blaine even promised to tell Mr. Jaquith everything he knew about the Red Rose Rascals if he helped. Mr. Jaquith said he wasn’t about to lie to Blaine’s father and Blaine ran off. Mr. Jaquith met Blaine’s father, Declan Bauer, who automatically assumed that his son was causing trouble and angrily went off to find Blaine. Mr. Jaquith hoped he had done the right thing. Meanwhile, Kate was running from Mrs. Conn’s shop—frustrated with the whole situation. She ran toward Cascades Park and, as she did, the wind blew her hair into her eyes. Unable to see, Kate ran into someone as she ran. Who was it? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 30: Window Watcher
By Joseph Crisalli

Meanwhile, Kate was also running toward the museum.  She had followed the tracks that Mr. Jaquith’s chair had made in the soft grass of the park.

As she was running, her long hair kept getting into her eyes so she would have to constantly brush it aside with her hands.

A gust of wind blew Kate’s hair into her eyes again.  She grunted and raised her hand to brush it away, but before she knew it, she had run into someone who shouted, “Hey!”
Kate brushed her hair out of her eyes again and stopped.  Her face turned pale when she saw Blaine.

“I’m…I’m…”  Kate stammered.

Blaine put his finger to his lips and whispered “Shhhhh…”

“Listen, Blaine, I don’t want…”  Kate began.

“Just be quiet.”  Blaine whispered.  He crouched behind some shrubs, pulling Kate’s hand.  “Get down here.”

“Why?”  Kate asked.

“Please.”  Blaine whispered in a frightened voice.  “I’m in trouble.  Please, get down so no one can see you.”

Kate knelt down next to Blaine.

“Where’s Mr. Jaquith?”  Kate whispered angrily.

“He’s fine.”  Blaine pointed through the shrub.  “See him?  He’s right out there.”

“I see him.”  Kate said, peering through the shrubs.  She began to feel a little better knowing Mr. Jaquith was safe.

“What?”  Blaine frowned.  “Did you think I was going to hurt an old man?”

“You hurt me.”  Kate answered softly.  “You bullied me and made my life miserable.”

“Yeah, but that’s different.  I wouldn’t hurt an old man in a wheelchair.”  Blaine sighed.

“So, you do have some sort of morals.”  Kate shrugged.

“Is that a joke?”  Blaine frowned again.

“I’m not sure.”  Kate shook her head.  “But, I’m not sure of a lot of things right now.” 
She looked at Blaine.  “Why exactly are we hiding in the park behind some plants?”

“My dad is out there looking for me.”  Blaine answered.

“You hide from your dad?”  Kate asked.

“If your dad was like mine, you would, too.”  Blaine answered, not looking at Kate.

Kate nodded.  She didn’t quite understand, but she knew that Blaine was genuinely frightened.  Being frightened, at least, was something Kate could relate to.

“How long do we have to stay here?”  Kate asked.

“I don’t know.”  Blaine shrugged his shoulders.  “Until I know he’s gone.”

“Okay.”  Kate nodded.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps pounding up the hillside.  Kate peered out between the leaves.

“Who is it?”  Blaine asked.

“It’s Officer Littlepoole.”  Kate answered.

At that very moment, Mr. Dinello was also hurrying through the park.  He spotted Mr. Jaquith.

“Claude!”  Mr. Dinello called out, rushing to Mr. Jaquith’s wheelchair.  “You’re all right.”

“I’m fine.”  Mr. Jaquith nodded. 

“Where’s Blaine?”  Mr. Dinello asked.

He brought me out here and said he’d tell me what was going on, but then he got skittish when he saw his father and he ran off.  I could see why, Declan Bauer seems like a moody man.”  Mr. Jaquith explained.

“That explains a lot.”  Mr. Dinello sighed.  “Listen, Johann’s looking for you.”

“I’ll call him.”  Mr. Jaquith said.  “I’ll let him know I’m okay.  Where are the teenagers?”

“I left them at Mrs. Conn’s.”  Mr. Dinello answered.  “I have a strange feeling something is wrong with Sam Colbert.  Any sign of him?”

“No.”  Mr. Jaquith shook his head.  “Wait!”  Mr. Jaquith paused.  “What was that?”

They both listened as a familiar voice called their names.

“Claude!  Jeff!”  Jenny Littlepoole shouted, panting as she ran.  “Have you seen Sam?”

“No.”  Mr. Dinello answered.  “I came out here to look for him.  Something has happened.  Hasn’t it?”

“He’s disappeared.”  Jenny Littlepoole answered.  “The Red Rose Rascal has him.  I found a note in a tunnel at Old Martin Creek.”

She handed the note to Mr. Dinello.  “Look at it.”  She panted.

Mr. Dinello studied it.  “This photo.  This is the man who was snooping in my garden.”

“Do you know who he is?”  Jenny asked.

“No.”  Mr. Dinello shook his head.  “Claude?”  He handed the photo and the note to Mr. Jaquith.

“It’s signed T.D.”  Mr. Jaquith took a deep breath.  He looked closely at the photo.  “yes!  I do know who this is.  I remember him!”

Back at Mrs. Conn’s shop, the teens all sat at the table while Johann’s wife, June, stood behind the counter, rocking the baby.

“Kate’s been gone a long time.”  Delia said, worry creeping into her voice.

“She has.”  Lucy frowned at Vera.  “I hope you’re happy, sis.”

“Me?”  Vera squinted.  “What did I do?”

“It was because of you that she ran out of here.”  Lucy scowled.

“Actually, it was both of you.”  Ward said flatly.  “Can you just stop bickering?”

“I feel so helpless.”  TJ muttered.

“I hate just sitting here.”  Rick nodded.

Delia stared out the window.  “I know what you mean.”  Suddenly something caught Delia’s attention.

“You guys,”  She whispered.  “Don’t look, but someone is looking in the window at us. Someone is peering around the window frame.  I see their eyes.”

Vera started to look.

“Don’t look!”  Delia hissed.

“How can I tell who it is, if I don’t look?”  Vera mumbled.

Due to the upcoming Easter holidays the next Vista Falls Junior High installment will be online April 22...stay tuned!