Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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

Last time, Mr. DeLorca, Mrs. DeLorca and Shakuntala joined Eben, Nancy and Eben’s dog, Sheridan, at Trellis’ Flowers and Gifts where they were searching for clues as to the identity of the sender of the mysterious red roses. Bette Trellis continued to insist that she didn’t know anything about the flowers even though she knew the flowers had come from her shop. Miss Violet Trotter arrived at the flower shop and announced that she, too, had received a bouquet of red roses with a strange card which read, “For Age.” Miss Trotter was very upset by this and, noticing that the flowers were purchased from the Trellis’ flower shop, had come looking for answers. Bette continued to say that she knew nothing about it and asked everyone to leave her shop. What did they do? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 8: A Stranger, a Complainer and Some Danger
by Joseph Crisalli

“Really, if you all would leave, please.” Miss Trellis sighed. “I don’t know anything about the roses, Miss Trotter. If the card wasn’t signed, even if it did come from this florist, I have no idea who left the flowers for you.”

“Why not?” Miss Trotter frowned.

“You see,” Mrs. DeLorca explained. “Eben received some, too, and so did we. Mia assumed they were for her, but we’re not sure. Bette says that she has no idea who could have purchased the flowers here and left them for any of us. That’s why Eben’s here with Nancy. They were looking for clues.”

“And, now, you’re just wasting my time.” Miss Trellis sighed.

“Something stinks.” Miss Trotter scowled.

“Just what a florist loves to hear.” Bette Trellis sighed again.

“I think what Miss Trotter means is that she’s suspicious…” Eben began helpfully.

“I know what she means.” Bette snapped. “Now, I’m going to ask again. All of you, please, leave. I have nothing else to tell you.”

“I say,” Mr. DeLorca sighed, “If my family, friends and assorted pets aren’t welcome here, perhaps we’d best leave.”

Mrs. DeLorca frowned. “We weren’t trying to cause any trouble for you, Bette. We only wanted to know who might have sent these flowers.”

“I’ve already told you all I know.” Bette responded melodramatically.

“Very well.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded. “We’ll be going, then. We’re sorry if we upset you.”

“It’s fine.” Bette Trellis answered. “I just need some time to myself.”

“Come on, then, Sheridan.” Eben said to his dog who tugged at his leash, ready to go outside.

Not to be outdone, Shakuntala flapped her wings furiously and made it clear that she, too, was ready to get some fresh air.

Violet, the DeLorcas and Nancy left the flower shop. The bells on the door jingled as the door shut behind them. That merry sound was immediately followed by the somewhat unpleasant sound of the door quickly being locked by Miss Trellis.

“Well, then, I say,” Mr. DeLorca sighed, “No new information in our heads and no extra food in our stomachs. What say we jaunt on over to Kitty Conn’s for some refreshments and such?”

“Mrs. Conn isn’t at her bakery.” Nancy reminded Mr. DeLorca. “She’s at the museum setting up for the wedding reception.”

“Oh, yes, I know,” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “But, surely Johann is there. I’m sure he could provide us with some lovely snacks.”

“You just had a piece of pie and a cookie.” Mrs. DeLorca gently reminded her husband. “I don’t think there’s any need for you to eat right away.”

“Oh, it’s not for me that I’m concerned,” Mr. DeLorca answered quickly. “It’s just the Shakuntala is weak with hunger.” He glanced up at the bird who sat on his shoulder--a bird that was clearly not weak with hunger or anything else.

“She looks all right to me.” Mrs. DeLorca smiled.

“What about the dog?” Mr. DeLorca said persuasively. “Maybe he’d like a sandwich. Or Eben, even. You eat and all that. Aren’t you ready for a snack?”

“I’m fine, Father.” Eben grinned.

“Stop snack suggestions!” Miss Trotter snapped. “Series shenanigans seem to be unscrupulously underway.”

“Yes, these flowers are a mystery.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.

“Flowers?” A man said as he passed by them on the sidewalk.

“Yes.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded to the stranger. “Roses to be exact.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you.” The man said politely. “I just couldn’t help overhear. You see, I just had a peculiar experience with roses myself.”

“Did you receive a bouquet of red roses with a weird card, too?” Eben asked the man.

“No. I just came from the movie theater.” The man answered nervously. “We were all set to watch the movie when the film broke and the theater filled with the smell of red roses. Then, suddenly, this strange voice said that the afternoon’s entertainment was brought to us by someone who called himself ‘The Red Rose Rascal.’”

“The Red Rose Rascal?” Mr. DeLorca repeated. “I say.”

“What did you all do?” Mrs. DeLorca asked.

“The theater manager made us all leave. It was the weirdest thing. I don’t know how whoever did it managed to get the whole theater to smell like roses.” The man explained.

“I wonder.” Mrs. DeLorca sighed.

“Again, I’m sorry to interrupt you.” The man nodded.

“No, no. I’m glad you did.” Mrs. DeLorca said. “I think this is bigger than we realized. Thank you for telling us, Mr.…”

“Throckmorten.” The man said. “Alec Throckmorten.”

“Well, thank you, Mr. Throckmorten.” Mrs. DeLorca smiled.

“Don’t mention it.” Mr. Throckmorten nodded again. “If you’ll excuse me, I can’t wait to go home and tell my wife about all of this.”

“Have a nice day,” Eben said. “Or, a nicer one anyway.”

The man waved as he hurried off.

“This is stranger than we thought.” Eben shook his head.

“What are we going to do?” Nancy asked.

“We’ll talk about it over a nice piece of cake or a lovely baked sweet potato with marshmallows. Or both. We call that ‘Londonderry Style’.” Mr. DeLorca suggested.

“No.” Miss Trotter shook her head. “We’re walking wildly right back into that florid florist’s suspicious store.”

“But, Miss Trellis asked us to leave.” Nancy said. “She’s locked the door.”

“Besides, she’s already left.” Eben said. “I saw her drive out of the alley. She must have left through the back door.”

“All the better.” Miss Trotter smiled.

“You’re not suggesting that we sneak back into the shop, are you?” Mrs. DeLorca asked.

“Absolutely affirmative.” Mrs. Trotter nodded her head, “yes.”

“We can’t.” Mrs. DeLorca said. “That’s wrong.”

“So is what’s happening around here.” Miss Trotter said firmly, leaning on her cane and already headed around the corner of the shop to the alley.

“She’s going to do this with or without us.” Mrs. DeLorca said with alarm in her voice.

“I say, but, really, we should have gone for snacks before she had a chance.” Mr. DeLorca said seriously.

“We can’t let her do this alone.” Eben said, “Let’s go!”

They all followed her.

Little did they know, but they weren’t the only ones in the alley. As they studied the florist shop’s back door to see if it had been left unlocked, they were being watched. From the shadows behind the dumpster, Bette’s brother Trippy was watching angrily.

But, Trippy Trellis wasn’t the only one who was upset.

Back at her offices, Mia Duomo was becoming increasingly upset by the behavior of Edie Merrill who continued to insult her with every sentence she spoke.

“So, what I’m sayin’,” Edie continued as she had been for the past hour. “Is that I don’t think a glamour girl like you is going to be much help to me. What do you know about opening a restaurant?”

“Miss Merrill,” Mia said as patiently as she could, “You’ve come to me so I can help you with your image, with your social skills, with the way you manage your life. Learning all of these things and improving your skills will only help you in your efforts to open your restaurant.”

“My stars!” Edie laughed. “You certainly are sure of yourself.”

“And, you could be, too.” Mia smiled. “In a way that’s helpful and positive.”

But, before Mia could say another word, she heard a strange noise downstairs.

“What was that?” Edie asked.

“I don’t know.” Mia shook her head. “It sounded as if someone knocked something over—something heavy.”

“What’re you going to do about it?” Edie grinned.

Mia shrugged. She was sure that the DeLorcas hadn’t returned. She didn’t hear their voices or the sounds of the animals. Mia was beginning to get concerned. What if someone had broken into the gallery downstairs?

What should Mia Duomo do?

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