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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
How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!
Last time, the group decided that they would all go the museum together. However, they would go before the time stated on the invitation in order to get a sense of what was in store for them. Deciding to walk so that they could look for clues on the way, they picked the route from Mr. Dinello’s house through Cascades Park along Old Martin Creek. Suddenly smelling roses, they traced the scent to a large pile of rocks by the creek bed. On one side of the rock pile, they were shocked to find that someone had arranged dozens of roses around a large photograph of Officer Littlepoole. Jenny Littlepoole stated that the photo was an enlargement of her high school photo. Who had gotten it? Why? That very moment, they were interrupted by the sound of someone coming. Who was it? Here’s what you decided.
Chapter 18: Argue Meant to Be
By Joseph Crisalli
“That’s my high school yearbook picture.” Jenny Littlepoole said, her voice shaking. “Who could have gotten that? And, why would they enlarge it and leave it here with all of these roses?”
The others in the group came behind the rock pile as well.
“Wow.” Ward said quickly.
“That’s weird.” TJ whispered to Lucy.
“I’m scared.” Kate mumbled.
Suddenly, they heard someone coming up through the brush behind them.
They turned quickly to see who was coming.
“Hello,” Chief Colbert said quickly to the approaching man.
“Hi.” The man grumbled. He wore a ball cap with the bill pulled down so that it covered his forehead. He also wore sunglasses despite the fact that the sun was beginning to set, and around his neck, he wore a large scarf that covered part of his chin. Why he was wearing a scarf wasn’t very clear since the weather wasn’t really very cold. All that they could see of the man’s face was his nose and mouth.
“What’s this?” the man pointed to the picture of Jenny Littlepoole surrounded by roses.
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Officer Littlepoole said quickly.
“I don’t mean to interrupt.” The man said, tugging at the sleeves of his jacket.
Mr. Dinello didn’t know it, but this was the very same man that had been lurking in his yard. This was the man with whom Blaine had been talking.
“You’re not really interrupting.” Chief Colbert said, also unaware that the man to whom he was talking was the very same person that had spied on them as they walked to Mr. Dinello’s house. “I’m Sam Colbert. I’m the Chief of Police here in Vista Falls. Are you new to town?”
“Yes.” The man nodded, speaking in a low voice.
“Did you just move here?” Mr. Dinello asked.
“No,” the man said hurriedly, “I was just visiting some old friends.”
“Oh, really, who?” Mr. Dinello asked. “We know everyone in town.”
“My friend doesn’t live here either. We’re all visiting. Tourists, I guess you could say. We read about your town and heard what a great place it is to visit—a beautiful museum, the Wildlife Sanctuary, this gorgeous park and all the charming old houses. It just seemed like a nice place to vacation. It’s good to get some rest with friends now and again. That’s what I always say. For friendship!”
“For friendship?” Vera muttered, recalling the peculiar way the cards on the red roses had been written, “For family,” etc.
“That girl in the photo.” The man pointed. “That’s you, isn’t it, officer?” The man asked Jenny Littlepoole.
“Yes.” Officer Littlepoole nodded.
“It’s a nice picture. I wonder where you’d get an old yearbook picture like that.” The man said.
“How’d you know it was a yearbook picture?” Mr. Dinello asked.
“It just looks like one.” The man answered. “You know, they all look alike.” He took a deep breath. “I’d better be going. My friends are expecting me.”
“Have a nice day, Mr…” Mr. Dinello said. “Wait! I didn’t catch your name.”
“I didn’t tell you.” The man said, walking off as quickly as he could.
“That was weird.” Lucy sighed.
“Did you smell him?” Vera asked. “He smelled like roses.”
“Are you sure you’re not smelling the roses around us?” Delia asked.
“No.” Vera shook her head. “It was him.”
“That was the man who’s been doing all of these weird things.” Kate muttered.
“Do you know that for a fact?” Chief Colbert asked.
“No.” Kate said. “I just have a feeling.”
“I agree with you.” Jenny Littlepoole nodded. “There was something about him. Something familiar…”
“I thought so, too.” Kate said softly. “You know who he reminded me of?”
“Who?” Lucy asked her cousin.
“Blaine.” Kate said quietly.
Meanwhile, the man, having gotten away from the group as quickly as he could, took a cell phone from his pocket and quickly dialed a number.
“How are things going at the museum?” He asked quickly. “What? No, I can’t get there right now. You’ll have to handle it on your own. I can’t be everywhere at once. Don’t make a mess of this! I have my own problems. Littlepoole found the picture! Besides, I’d better get back to the movie theater. I forgot that I left something behind.”
With that, the man snapped the phone shut and ran off toward the town square.
Back at the creek, Officer Littlepoole continued to stare at the giant photo.
“I don’t like this one bit.” Jenny sighed, taking the picture from where it rested against the rocks.
“No.” Chief Colbert said. “I don’t either. And, I hate to say this, but I think you’d better put that picture back.”
“Leave this out here for all the world to see?” Jenny Littlepoole said angrily. “No.”
“Jenny, it’s evidence.” Chief Colbert said.
“I don’t care.” Jenny Littlepoole responded.
“You know we can’t tamper with evidence. We’ll have to leave it as it was until it can be dusted for fingerprints and examined for other evidence by the forensics unit.” Chief Colbert continued.
“I don’t want this out here.” Jenny Littlepoole said. “I may be a police officer, but I’m also a person. If you recall, I’m the woman you’re supposed to marry tomorrow. I think you could be a little more sensitive to my feelings.”
“I am sensitive to your feelings.” Chief Colbert said, trying not to raise his voice. “But, I’m also sensitive to the fact that we can’t compromise a crime scene just based on emotion.”
“Just based on emotion?” Jenny Littlepoole raised her voice.
The teens, Mr. Dinello and Mr. Jaquith began to feel uncomfortable watching Chief Colbert and Jenny Littlepoole argue. Vera, being Vera, wanted to interrupt and argue with them. The others, however, wondered if they shouldn’t step away to let the couple argue in private.
What should they do?
Voting results for how the story continues:
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42.1%
36.8%
21.1%
