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

Last time, despite Margaret Pipkin’s constant interruptions, Eben heard Mia Duomo screaming from the basement of the museum. Eben rushed down the basement stairs, only to find the door was locked. Margaret pleaded with Eben not to find the key to the door. Questioning why Margaret was so interested, Eben wondered what to do next. What happened? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 14: Coming up Empty
by Joseph Crisalli

“Eben, just leave it alone.” Margaret begged.

“No.” Eben squinted. “I’m not going to let my friend suffer. You obviously have some reason you don’t want me to open that door.”

“Well, you can’t open it anyway. It’s locked.” Margaret grinned.

“As I reminded you earlier, my mother is the curator of the museum. I can easily get the key from her.” Eben said, pushing past Margaret.

“I don’t think you should.” Margaret laughed.

“You know, I would love to find out why you’re so interested in any of this, but right now, my main priority is to help Mia.” Eben said as he walked back up the stairs.

“Eben, stop!” Margaret demanded.

“No.” Eben shook his head. He took his cell phone from his pocket and dialed.

“Eben, who are you calling?” Margaret asked.

“My mother.” Eben frowned.

Upstairs, Mrs. DeLorca answered her phone.

“Eben? What is it?” Mrs. DeLorca asked. She listened to Eben for a moment and quickly answered, “We’ll be right down.”

“I say, dear,” Mr. DeLorca widened his eyes, “what’s happened?”

“Eben’s found Mia. She’s locked in the basement. He said she’s screaming.” Mrs. DeLorca took her husband’s hand and gently pulled him along with her. “I’ve got to bring the key to them.”

“Them?” Mr. DeLorca asked as they walked.

“Margaret Pipkin is with him.” Mrs. DeLorca grumbled.

“The daughter of that pelican-upsetting Evelyn Pipkin?” Mr. DeLorca asked, alarmed. “That young woman is trouble. She’s as much trouble as a bumble bee at a pie eating contest. Pesky bees…”

“Yes, she is.” Mrs. DeLorca answered as they hurried down the stairs. “I wanted to give both of them a chance, to give them the benefit of the doubt. But, I fear that both of the Pipkin women may still be as troublesome as they were when we all lived in Londonderry.”

“Pity.” Mr. DeLorca sighed.

“It is disappointing, yes.” Mrs. DeLorca answered.

“Well, yes, yes and all that. But, I was still thinking about the bumble bees. Do you know how many bees I have almost eaten at pie-eating contests?” Mr. DeLorca responded.

“Yes, dear, I do. Five hundred eighty-nine.” Mrs. DeLorca said.

“And a half.” Mr. DeLorca corrected her. “The one I almost inhaled—don’t forget that one.”

“How could I?” Mrs. DeLorca said. She paused and pointed. “There they are!”

Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca raced over to the basement door.

“I am begging you, Mrs. DeLorca, don’t open that door.” Margaret said.

“No.” Mrs. DeLorca shook her head as she unlocked the door. “Our friend could be in serious danger.”

“I don’t understand why this is so important to you.” Eben glared at Margaret. “Why? What are you hiding?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Margaret shook her head.

Mrs. DeLorca opened the door. She and Mr. DeLorca walked in first.

The room was empty!

“I say, no one’s here.” Mr. DeLorca’s eyes widened.

“I heard her.” Eben said as he followed his parents into the room.

“Of course, you did.” Mrs. DeLorca said reassuringly. “I can tell she was in here. I still smell her perfume.”

“And, look!” Eben walked over to a chair that stood alone in the middle of the room. He picked up something small, round and sparkling. “It’s a bead from Mia’s dress.”

“Is there another entrance to this room?” Mr. DeLorca asked his wife.

“Two others.” Mrs. DeLorca said.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of a door slamming behind them.

“Margaret shut us in!” Mrs. DeLorca shouted.

“You have the keys.” Eben said. “We’re not trapped.”

Mr. DeLorca studied one of the doors. “The problem is, there’s only a key hole on the outside of the doors.”

“One of these doors must be unlocked if Mia was somehow taken out of here,” Mrs. DeLorca said calmly.

“Which one?” Eben asked.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, Evelyn Pipkin was standing outside the door with her daughter, Margret.

“Mother! Why did you close them in there?” Margaret asked.

“They’re in the way!” Evelyn growled. “Now, they won’t be any trouble to us. We can do what we came to do and get out of here before anyone can stop us!”

“It’s wrong.” Margaret shook her head.

“I don’t recall asking for your opinion.” Evelyn sneered. “Now, help me.”

“Mother, I never wanted any part of this.” Margaret said.

“Well, you are a part of it—now. You have got to do what I say! I’m your mother!”

“I…” Margaret began. She didn’t want to be involved with her mother’s mysterious scheme. She just wanted to go home. But, she didn’t want to go against her mother’s wishes.

What should Margaret do?

Tell her mother she won’t help her?
Do as her mother asks?
Say she’ll help, but that it’s for the last time.

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