Previous chapters of the Vista Falls 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, Ward and Rick were face-to-face with Vivian Crane, the artist. Vivian demanded to know why the boys had her purse. They explained that they had found the purse and were looking to see to whom it belonged. Instead of just handing the purse over to Vivian Crane, Ward and Rick decided to check the I.D. cards in the purse’s wallet. The I.D. card was for Vivian Crane. So, Ward handed the purse over to Miss Crane who very angrily stormed off after commenting about Mia Duomo (who was still missing). Rick pointed out that the credit cards in the wallet didn’t belong to Vivian Crane, but were, instead, listed in the name of “Rebecca Anderson.” Before the boys could investigate further, Mr. Dinello called for them. He was upset that Ward and Rick had snuck off, but decided not to talk with them about it. Vera was being taken to the hospital. Everyone except Mr. Jaquith was going to follow behind the ambulance. Mr. Jaquith went to tell Sam and Jenny what had been going on during their wedding reception. The Colberts were upset that they had been unaware of all of the trouble that had been happening. Chief Colbert wanted to stop the reception so he could help his friends investigate the mystery. What happened next? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 12: Waiting Room
By Joseph Crisalli

“I’m sorry to tell you this,” Mr. Jaquith began. He told them about the strange painting they found, about being stuck in the elevator, about the painting of Vera, about Vera’s heart and what they had learned from the DeLorcas.

“Oh dear.” Jenny sighed.

“We’re not very good police officers, are we?” Chief Colbert asked his wife. “All of this happening at our own wedding reception and we don’t even notice it.”

“You did have other things on your mind.” Mr. Jaquith smiled.

“So, Vera’s gone to the hospital?” Jenny asked.

“Yes.” Mr. Jaquith nodded.

“And, while the DeLorcas have the painting of Vera, the one of us is still missing?” Chief Colbert asked.

“Well, then, we can’t have all of our friends here. Something dangerous may be happening.” Jenny Colbert said.

“You’re right.” Chief Colbert nodded. “We need to stop the party right away.”

“Oh, no.” Mr. Jaquith said. “No, not your wedding reception.”

“What else can we do?” Chief Colbert asked.

Jenny Colbert looked around at their friends and family who were there to celebrate their wedding. “Everyone is having such a good time,” she said, “it seems a shame to stop the party. Let’s just slip away. We can come back in a little while. No one will even notice we’re not here.”

Chief Colbert took a moment to glance around the room at the happy faces of the people at the reception. “You’re right. This party is really as much for them as it is for us. The reception is our way of thanking everyone for sticking by us through our engagement and for being such good friends.”

“And speaking of being good friends, let’s see if we can figure out what’s going on with these mysterious paintings and missing models.” Jenny Colbert added.

“Let’s.” Chief Colbert smiled. “Shall we, Mrs. Colbert?”

“With pleasure, Mr. Colbert.” Jenny responded.

With that, they hurried to the museum’s second floor. They took the main elevator with Mr. Jaquith. Jenny Colbert commented to the two men as the elevator doors closed. “You know, I’ve investigated a lot of crimes through my years as a police officer, but this is the first time I’ve done so in a wedding dress.”

Chief Colbert laughed. “That’s true, I’m sure. What I’m not sure about is what crime we’re investigating. Someone has painted two strange portraits. While it’s not in good taste, it’s not necessarily a crime.”

“No, but what is a crime is the fact that someone has been trespassing in the museum. Someone brought paintings in here that don’t belong here and, in doing so, went into an area of the museum that is closed to the public. If we can find out who made those tracks in the white paint, we can find our culprit.” Jenny continued.

“And maybe find out what happened to Mia Duomo.” Mr. Jaquith added. “That’s the real crime—that Mia is missing.”

“I know Mia Duomo has had a reputation for being a little difficult, but she’s been very calm lately. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt her.” Jenny said as the elevator doors opened.

“Isn’t that always the way, though?” Chief Colbert asked. “Why do people do the strange things they do? For example, why would anyone paint a picture like that of us? Or, of Vera? What did Vera ever do to deserve that?”

“Or Jeff?” Mr. Jaquith asked.

“What about Jeff?” Chief Colbert asked.

“Look…” Mr. Jaquith pointed.

Jenny and Sam Colbert gasped when they looked in the direction Mr. Jaquith was pointing. There, on the freshly painted wall in the upstairs hallway—drawn in black charcoal—was a life-size sketch of Jeff Dinello. While they could easily recognize that the drawing was of Mr. Dinello, the picture was not at all the way Jeff Dinello really looked. As with the two paintings, the drawing showed a person in pain—his face was gaunt and pinched, his eyes were nothing but blackened ovals, the hands were withered claws.

“It’s horrible!” Jenny moaned as she looked away.

“Is this the way the painting of us looked?” Chief Colbert asked.

“Yes, and the one of Vera, too.” Mr. Jaquith nodded slowly.

Chief Colbert shook his head. “It’s not right.”

“No.” Mr. Jaquith wheeled his chair closer to the drawing. “This wasn’t here twenty minutes ago. Someone just did this after we all left.”

“But, why?” Chief Colbert asked.

Meanwhile, at Vista Falls General Hospital, Lucy’s and Vera’s mother was asking the same question.

“But, why?” Mrs. Molton said angrily. “Why can’t I go in there? She’s my daughter!”

“While Vera is being examined,” Nurse Angelina Johnson said calmly, “you’ll have to stay out here. It’s just hospital policy, Ivy.”

“Angelina,” Mrs. Molton argued, “we have known each other for years. Our kids are best friends. If that was TJ in there, I would bet you’d want to be in there with him.”

“I would.” Mrs. Johnson nodded, glancing at her son with loving eyes. “But, I would also try to accept the hospital policy and know that he was getting good care. The best thing is for you to stay out here with Lucy, Kate and your husband and wait. Pray, think good thoughts. You know that Vera is in good hands.”

“At least…will you go in there?” Ivy Molton asked. “I’d feel better knowing you were in there with her—a familiar face.”

“I will. I’ll go in right now.” Nurse Johnson said. On her way out, she paused to hug TJ.

“Mrs. Molton,” TJ said, “don’t worry, my mom will take good care of Vera.”

“I know.” Ivy Molton nodded. “Unlike some people…” She looked at Lucy.

She sat down next to Lucy in the waiting room. “How did this happen? I thought that you’d all be safe at the reception. After all, it was the marriage of the Chief of Police and an officer. You’d think there’d be good security there.”

“Mom, we told you already what happened. Vera panicked.” Lucy said softly.

“Can’t I trust you to look after her? You’re twins! You’re supposed to take care of one another.” Mrs. Molton continued.

“You know Vera is her own person. She does what she wants.” Lucy said.

“All the more reason for you to watch out for her. You’re supposed to be the sensible one!” Mrs. Molton continued. “How could you be so irresponsible?”

Kate squinted. She didn’t like the way her aunt was talking to Lucy. She understood that Aunt Ivy was upset, but that was no reason to be shouting at Lucy. It wasn’t Lucy’s fault.
As Mrs. Molton continued, Kate began to feel all the more sad for her cousin, Lucy. Kate wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. Perhaps she shouldn’t say anything at all.

What should Kate do?
Tell Mrs. Molton to be quiet?
Gently remind her aunt that it isn’t Lucy’s fault?
Just keep quiet?

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