Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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

Last time, as they waited for an ambulance to help Vera Molton, Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca and the others wondered where Mia Duomo had gone when a piercing scream arose from the lower floor of the museum. Mr. DeLorca called Eben who was down at the wedding reception with Isaac, Kathy, Nancy and Sarah. Mr. DeLorca asked Eben to look for Mia Duomo, but told him not to mention anything to the kids for fear of upsetting them. Eben agreed and tried to excuse himself from the table. However, the kids wanted to come with them. What happened next? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 10: An Unexpected Return
by Joseph Crisalli

“Where are you going?” Isaac asked.

“Just…” Eben paused. “It’s just…warm in here. I thought I might, uhhh, step outside and cool off.”

“Can I come, too?” Isaac asked.

“I want to go.” Sarah said.

“Me, too.” Kathy added.

Eben’s face turned red. He looked at Nancy.

“I wouldn’t mind getting some air, too.” Nancy added.

“Well…” Eben squinted.

“Eben,” Nancy said softly, “is something wrong?”

Eben sighed. “I can’t lie to you all. The truth is that this is a private DeLorca matter. I just have to take care of something and I’ll be right back.”

“That doesn’t tell us anything.” Sarah snapped.

“I know. That’s the point.” Eben smiled. “Honestly, Sarah—all of you, just trust me. I’ll be right back. Please, wait right here.” Eben waved at Mrs. Conn who came over to the table.

“Eben, can I help you with something?” Mrs. Conn asked, grinning.

“Would you mind keeping an eye on the kids while I take care of a little project for my father?” Eben asked.

“Not at all.” Mrs. Conn nodded. “I’ve been standing for the entire reception. I could use a break.” She sat at the table in the chair Eben had vacated.

“Thanks,” Eben said. With that, he hurried off.

“Watch us?” Sarah frowned. “We’re not babies. We don’t need watching! We’re in the fifth grade!”

“When did that happen?” Mrs. Conn joked.

“Awhile ago.” Sarah answered.

“Seems like you’ve been in the fourth grade for about ten years now.” Mrs. Conn winked.

“All the more reason we don’t need a babysitter.” Sarah groaned.

“He probably knows we would have followed him.” Kathy giggled.

“I’m sure that’s true.” Mrs. Conn smiled. “If Eben has something to do and he doesn’t want you to come along, I’m sure he has a good reason for it. Now, let’s just forget it for the time being. Does anyone want a piece of cake?”

“I do!” Isaac raised his hand.

“Isaac!” Sarah barked.

“Oh. Right.” Isaac frowned. “We’ve all had, cake. Thank you.”

“Well, then, tell me what you think of the wedding and the reception…” Mrs. Conn began. As the children talked, she glanced toward the lobby of the museum where Eben had walked. She knew something was wrong. She just hoped it wasn’t something terrible.

At that very moment, something terrible was, indeed, happening. Mia Duomo found herself in a cold, damp room. She had some sort of blindfold over her eyes.

“Get this thing off of my eyes!” Mia shouted. “You’re ruining my eye makeup!”

Someone untied the blindfold. Mia turned around quickly.

“Why did you do that?” Mia shouted.

“I needed to get you down here.” The person responded.

“Why?” Mia demanded.

“Because those were my orders.” The person laughed.

“You’re not supposed to be here. You were never to come back to Vista Falls!” Mia said, tears welling up in her eyes. “We agreed, Winston.”

“I know.” The man said. “But, agreements can be broken.”

“Why would you want to be here anyway? What does a town like Vista Falls hold for the great Winston Chagall—famous author, and equally famous criminal?” Mia asked.

The man, Winston Chagall, smiled. “I came here to impress someone. You can understand that. You spent your entire career as a model trying to impress people.”

“A career you ruined when you wrote that awful book about me—‘Vanity Speaks.’” Mia began to sob.

“Remember, Mia, I had help. Your daughter helped me write that book. She wanted to ruin you—not I. I only wanted you out of the way.” Winston Chagall smiled.

“Out of the way so you could commit horrible crimes in this town.” Mia sneered. “Crimes you went to jail for, if you’ll remember. You swore to me that once your community service ended, you would leave here and never come back.”

“I changed my mind. Or, I should say, my mind was changed for me.” Winston laughed.

“So you came back here to blindfold me and take me to the basement of the museum?” Mia asked. “How is that going to impress someone?”

“The person in question asked for you specifically. This person knew that you and I used to work together and, so, I was asked to help in getting your cooperation.” Winston Chagall responded.

“Cooperation?” Mia asked.

“Yes. Though I’ve never seen it, you are still considered one of the world’s great beauties. And, this person thinks that you would be perfect.” Winston answered.

“Perfect for what?” Mia asked.

“To be painted.” Winston smiled wickedly. “You’re going to be my friend’s next model. The ‘Portrait of Mia’ will be the finest masterpiece!”

Mia gasped!

Meanwhile, Eben was wandering toward the back hallways of the museum. He noticed two of the boys from Vista Falls Junior High—Rick and Ward—who, upon seeing Eben nodded politely and hurried off in the opposite direction.

“They’re up to something.” Eben muttered to himself. “But, they wouldn’t have made Mia scream."

Suddenly, Eben felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Margaret Pipkin.

“You startled me.” Eben said quickly.

“Eben, I just wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier. You and your parents were only trying to look out for your friends who were married today. It’s just that being here with all these strangers has made me irritable.”

“So, seeing people that you knew from Londonderry should have cheered you up.” Eben said plainly.

“You’re right.” Margaret nodded. “You know I’ve always been a bit of a grouch. I’m sorry I was so rude. Let’s talk.”

“Paint.” Eben said.

“Excuse me?” Margaret asked.

“You have paint on your shoes.” Eben answered. “Your mother did, too. White paint.”

“Okay, let’s go talk about white paint.” Margaret smiled.

Eben didn’t answer. He could tell that Margaret was up to something and whatever it was, her mother was involved as well. Perhaps, Eben thought, Margaret and Evelyn Pipkin had been the one’s to make Mia scream. He wondered if he should try to get some information out of Margaret—whose suspicious change of attitude worried him—or continue his search for Mia Duomo.

What should Eben do?

Excuse himself and keep looking for Mia?
Talk with Margaret?
Ask Margaret if she would like to join him in looking for Mia?

Email your thoughts.

Go to next chapter!