“Save it for the station, Marty,” Chief McGinnis said, spitting out Roland’s real name. “We know all about you and your wife. What we didn’t know until now was that you were in River Heights.”
The three of us watched as the officers led Roland and Amy out of the woods.
“I guess I owe you girls an apology,” Chief McGinnis told us, “For accusing you of the Casabian sisters’ disappearance.”
The Casabian sisters!
Roland had never told us what he did to them!
“Chief McGinnis, Roland—or Marty Malone—wanted to get rid of the sisters to get to us,” I said. “He already tried poisoning them with carbon monoxide.”
Chief McGinnis shook his head with a smile. “I spoke to them,” he said. “Mandy, Mallory, and Mia are just fine.”
“What? Where are they?” Bess asked.
“How did you find them?” George asked.
“I’ll fill you in on everything after we book Mr. and Mrs. Malone,” Chief McGinnis said. “In the meantime, why don’t you help the campers and counselors call home? Like Green Ridge, Camp Athena will soon be history.”
Bess, George, and I were too relieved and exhausted to speak as we followed Chief McGinnis out of the woods. I was happy Roland would finally get what he deserved. Secretly I hoped Amy would get some kind of break for trying to start a new life and for saving ours. That I would leave to the police and the legal justice system.
Back on the campgrounds, the girls and their counselors were buzzing about the excitement. I caught the eye of Lindsay standing in the crowd with Darcy and Ava. Instead of scowling at us like she usually did, she smiled and gave us a big thumbs-up.
“Are we some kind of heroes?” George asked.
“Here come the real heroes,” I said as Maggie and Alice raced over.
“Good job!” Bess said, hugging and high-fiving her sister. “I believe we have another detective team in River Heights!”
“Alice Bothwell, Private Investigator,” Alice said thoughtfully. “I guess I could be mayor of Malachite Beach and a detective someday.”
“With a little multitasking,” I added.
“Now do you believe us about the monster of Camp Athena?” Maggie asked.
“He was a monster, all right,” I said with a shudder.
“And guess what, you guys?” George told the girls. “You’re finally going home.”
“Home?” Maggie said.
“Too bad,” Alice said with a grin. “We were just starting to have fun!”
“So what did happen to the Casabian sisters?” Ned asked, pushing his recorder closer to Bess, George, and me.
It was only two days after Roland’s capture. My two friends and I sat in Sylvio’s, being interviewed for the second time by Ned.
“Before I answer that question,” I teased, “do you promise our interview will appear in the Bugle this time?”
“Page four!” Ned said with a nod.
“And you promise not to replace it at the last minute with any Hollywood gossip?” Bess asked.
“I promise, I promise!” Ned laughed.
“In that case, Nancy,” George said, “spill.”
“Okay, here goes,” I said. “The Casabian sisters left River Heights one at time and for different reasons. That’s what they said when we spoke to them on the phone the other day.”
“What kind of reasons?” Ned asked.
“Well,” I said sprinkling oregano on my slice, “Mia totally hated the idea of another reality show. Mandy hated working real jobs like the one she got at Safer’s Cheese Shop.”
“And Mallory?” Ned asked.
“That’s easy,” George blurted. “She hated Deirdre Shannon.”
“Don’t quote her on that,” I said quickly.
“How’s this for a happy ending?” Bess said, twirling the straw in her lemonade. “Now all three sisters are home where they belong.”
“That must be Malachite Beach,” Ned said.
“Nope,” I said. “Alice went home to Malachite Beach. Mandy, Mallory, and Mia are in Ohio.”
“Ohio?” Ned asked.
“Where their parents and brother still live,” I said. “I guess they finally realized their true reality.”
“Wow,” Ned said. “Didn’t they tell one another where they were going? I mean, from what I heard, they didn’t even pack their bags.”
“It was part of their plan,” I said.
“As in secret plan?” Ned asked, his eyebrows flying up. “This is getting good!”
I nodded. “They didn’t want anyone here—especially Deirdre—to try to stop them,” I said. “So they each disappeared without a trace. Mallory knew all along, but she ‘played’ us, just like the ‘reality’ actress she is.”
“They said they had meant to call us from Ohio,” George said. “Unfortunately, they didn’t call fast enough.”
That was for sure. I shivered, remembering being framed for the disappearance of the sisters and coming within inches of death at the hands of Roland.
“Are you guys worried?” Ned asked.
“Worried about what?” I asked.
“About Roland escaping again,” Ned said.
I looked at Bess and George before all three of us shook our heads.
“No,” I told Ned. “Roland—or Marty Malone—has never dealt with River Heights justice before.”
“Can you elaborate on that?” Ned asked.
“Sure,” I said. “River Heights may be considered rinky-dink to someone from Malachite, but we have the best police, the best lawyers—”
“And the best girl detectives,” George said. She grinned as she picked up another slice. “And you can quote me on that.”
Carolyn Keene, Stalk, Don't Run
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