Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

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

Last time, as The Woman in Gray ran off, Vera was knocked down. Jenny Littlepoole ran after the imposter ghost, calling Mr. Dinello to come for Vera and calling Chief Colbert for back-up as she ran. As Officer Littlepoole cornered The Woman in Gray in the basement of the abandoned courthouse, Chief Colbert arrived. Little did they know, Mr. Barrymore was watching from his hiding place in the shrubbery. Muttering to himself, Mr. Barrymore stated that he thought he should pay a visit to Mina who would cooperate with him when she discovered what he had done with Riley, the former desk-clerk at the hotel. Mr. Barrymore also revealed his association with “The Woman in Gray,” and referred to the fake ghost as his wife! Meanwhile, Mr. Dinello arrived in the alleyway to pick Vera up. Vera was acting strangely and admitted that she wasn’t feeling well. Mr. Dinello began to realize that Vera’s heart—which had been badly damaged a few years before—was giving her trouble. Very concerned, Mr. Dinello wanted to bring Vera to the hospital, but Vera didn’t want to go. What happened next? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 31
Help

“Vera, is it your heart?” Mr. Dinello asked, well aware of Vera’s problem.

“I think so.” Vera groaned. She slumped to the ground. “I feel sick, Mr. Dinello.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Mr. Dinello said gently, helping Vera to her feet.

“You’re not going to take me to the hospital, are you?” Vera moaned. “I don’t want to go back to the hospital.”

“I don’t think we have much of a choice.” Mr. Dinello said as calmly as he could.

“Please, no.” Vera said, leaning on Mr. Dinello’s arm. “I don’t want to go. I was wrong. It’s not my heart. I think I’m just having a panic attack. Let me calm down. I’ll be fine.”

“Either way, if it’s your heart or a panic attack, it’s serious. We have to do something. We can’t take chances with your health.” Mr. Dinello shook his head.

“Please, I don’t want to go to the hospital. I’ll do anything else. But, I hate the hospital.”

What do you want me to do, Vera?” Mr. Dinello asked.

Vera began to shake. “It really hurts.”

“We have to get you help, Vera.” Mr. Dinello said quickly.

“Yes.” Vera nodded slowly. “Okay, I know you’re right.”

“My car is just over there.” Mr. Dinello pointed to the end of the alley. “Can you walk? Do I need to carry you?”

“I can walk.” Vera wheezed.

Carefully, but as quickly as Vera could stand, they made their way to Mr. Dinello’s car. Within a few minutes, they had arrived at Vista Falls General Hospital. Mr. Dinello parked in emergency parking and helped Vera inside.

The first person they saw was TJ’s mother, Angelina Johnson, the head-nurse at the hospital.

“Vera!” Mrs. Johnson gasped, rushing to the girl’s side. She waved at an aid, “Get a wheelchair over here.”

“I don’t need a wheelchair.” Vera mumbled.

“My hospital. My rules.” Mrs. Johnson said quickly. “What’s happened?”

“Tell her.” Vera wheezed at Mr. Dinello who explained what Vera was experiencing.

“Take her in Exam Cubicle 3,” Mrs. Johnson said. She rushed back to the desk and paged a doctor.

Once Vera was be examined by the doctor, Mrs. Johnson sat down next to Mr. Dinello.

“How did this happen, Jeff?” Mrs. Johnson asked.

“I don’t know.” Mr. Dinello shrugged. “After we dropped the kids off at their homes, I guess Vera snuck out. You know how strong-willed she is. She wanted to find more clues for this mystery we’re working on. From what she told me in the car, she saw this person who is posing as the legendary ‘Woman in Gray’ and got caught up in a scuffle.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Johnson sighed.

“I saw TJ before I left for my shift. He told me about this ‘Woman in Gray’ business.” She paused and looked seriously at Mr. Dinello, “Jeff, these mysteries are getting more and more dangerous. I don’t mind TJ and the other kids hanging out with you and Chief Colbert, but I think this is getting out of hand.”

“Believe me, we didn’t know Vera was out on her own.” Mr. Dinello said.

“I’m sure of that.” Mrs. Johnson said. “But, Jeff, these kids are just in junior high. If you and Sam and Jenny want to play detective, that’s one thing, but we’ve had too many of our kids hurt during these adventures of yours.”

“They’ve been hurt when they’ve disobeyed us…” Mr. Dinello began.

“Jeff, you three are the adults, you’re responsible. We’ll talk about this more later, right now; I have to call Vera’s parents.” Mrs. Johnson stood up.

However, before she could make the phone call, the doctor came out of the exam cubicle where Vera had been taken. “Nurse Johnson, I need you in here, stat!”

Mr. Dinello stood up in a panic. Was Vera worse? Mrs. Johnson closed the door behind her.

Pacing back and forth down the corridor nervously, Mr. Dinello hoped that they would come out and tell him something. In his mind he heard Mrs. Johnson saying, “You’re responsible.”

He went to the nurse’s station and asked to use the phone. Once he’d dialed, he spoke as clearly and firmly as he could, “Mrs. Molton, it’s Jeff Dinello. I’m calling about Vera…”

Meanwhile, at the abandoned courthouse, Jenny Littlepoole and Sam Colbert were very cautiously searching the basement for the Woman in Gray. Yet, she was nowhere to be found.

“She couldn’t have just disappeared,” Jenny Littlepoole whispered to Chief Colbert.

“I know.” Sam Colbert shook his head. “There’s only one way out of here and it’s the stairs leading to the next floor.”

“I’ve been watching the stairs. I haven’t seen anyone go up.” Officer Littlepoole whispered back.

“She’s got to be down here somewhere.” Chief Colbert said.

“With all these places to hide,” Officer Littlepoole began, but she stopped mid-sentence, screaming. “Sam!”

Shining his flashlight into one of the dark corners of the basement, Chief Colbert saw what had startled his partner. “Oh no.” Chief Colbert coughed. “It’s Riley!”

At that very moment, Mr. Barrymore was carefully making his way down the side of the rocky slope at Old Martin Creek.

“Ah, there you are, my dear.” Mr. Barrymore smiled.

The Woman in Gray slowly made her way out of the bushes.

“I’m too old to be running around like this.” The woman hissed.

“So, am I, my dear.” Mr. Barrymore frowned. “At least you haven’t been attacked by a teenager. That red-headed girl kicked me in the shin.”

“She’s nothing but trouble. I had to deal with her in the alleyway.” The Woman in Gray sighed. However, her sigh quickly turned into a cackle. “Right about now, those two cops are looking for me in the courthouse.”

“But, they won’t find you.” Mr. Barrymore said. “You’re all mine.”

“No, dear, you’re all mine.” The Woman in Gray spat. “Remember, this is my plan. You’re just my little helper.”

“I’m your husband,” Mr. Barrymore narrowed his eyes.

“Right now, you’re my errand boy.” The woman snapped.

“I take it you have the information I need, then.” Mr. Barrymore answered huffily.

“Yes, I hope you know what a lot of trouble I had to go through to get this.” The Woman in Gray handed Mr. Barrymore a piece of paper.

“I’m only the ‘helper,’” Mr. Barrymore answered sarcastically, “remember? Whatever you did, you’ve done for yourself. Don’t forget that.”

“I won’t—especially when the money rolls in.” The woman cackled again.

“Are you sure that Riley won’t talk?” Mr. Barrymore asked nervously. “Did he recognize you?”

“Let’s just say that Riley won’t be saying anything to anyone.” The woman laughed. “Even when those two cops find him.”

“What have you done?” Mr. Barrymore asked.

“Suddenly you have a conscience?” The imposter ghost mocked Mr. Barrymore. “You bore me. Now, go take care of Mina. You have the address now. Just go do it!”

“Why should I?” Mr. Barrymore glared at the woman. “Since I’m nothing but your errand boy, as you say, what’s in it for me? What’s to keep me from going up there and telling the police who you are? I do know your name, after all. You are my wife. And, wouldn’t the people of Vista Falls be very interested in knowing that one of their most respected citizens…”

“Be quiet.” The woman growled. “No one knows I’m married to you.”

“Unless I tell them.” Mr. Barrymore smiled wickedly. “Maybe I should go do that right now. I’m tired of your games and your treachery.”

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