Twenty-three year old Trixie Belden made her way through the crowds of people gathered in the open field just outside of Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, the town she had grown up in. She looked at the people as they moved from the rides to the games to the food tents. It was the first day of the Independence Day celebration the town had ever held. It seemed like every resident was taking advantage of the five-day celebration that led up to the holiday.

Trixie looked around making sure nothing crooked was going on. Sleepyside Police Chief Wendel Molinson had assigned her to a security detail. She thought about what the chief had told her. He gave her the long shift so she could get the ‘feel of the environment’. But part of her knew that he wanted her out of the station since they always butted heads.

Even so, she didn’t mind having this duty. She was out of the station and in the fresh air.

She had been working at the station for two weeks. It was something to do until the detective agency was opened. The agency was a dream of hers and her best friend, now sister-in-law, Madeleine “Honey” Belden.

It would take some time and planning to get going, but they were both determined to make it work. They were going to start taking about plans in three weeks when Honey and Brian returned from their honeymoon in Europe.

Trixie brushed her long, curly hair out of her face as she looked at the people playing games. Despite the heat, everyone seemed to be having a good time. She, however, couldn’t wait for the shift to end and relax. She looked at her watch and realized she only had an hour to go. She was anxious for her date.

She smiled at the thought of the man she had been seeing for the past week. James Winthrop Frayne II had been a childhood friend. After a period of not speaking, they had decided to try and rebuild the bridge that had been broken. During their time together, they talked getting to know each other all over again.

A child looking around quickly caught her attention. The child looked to be about six-years-old. She moved to the child and crouched down, grateful to have the police jacket around her waist.

“Hi there,” she said. “Are you lost?”

“Where’s Mommy?” the little girl asked.

“We can find her. Why don’t you take my hand and we’ll go find her.”

The little girl looked at her and took a step back from Trixie. She knew the little girl was afraid because she was a stranger. Trixie untied the coat and pulled it around to show the little girl.

“It’s okay. My name is Trixie and I work with the police.”

“Will you help find my mommy?”

“Of course. Take my hand and we’ll take a look.”

The little girl took her hand and they slowly made their way through the crowd. Trixie kept her eyes opened for a frantic-looking woman. They were walking back through the crowd when Trixie saw a woman standing by one of the uniformed officers. She moved toward the officer.

“Mommy!” the little girl yelled when they were ten feet away. The little girl ran to her mother and jumped into her arms.

Trixie reached them as the mother said, “Oh, baby. I was so worried about yuo. I’, sorry we got separated.”

“You got lost,” the little girl said accusingly.

“But you found me.” The mother looked at Trixie and the officer. “Thank you both.”

“You’re welcome,” Trixie said and the officer nodded his head.

The woman set the girl on the ground, took her hand and made her way into the crowd.

Trixie turned to the office. “Are you here to relieve me, Steve?”

“Yeah. The chief felt you had been out here enough.”

“Wasn’t that nice of him,” Trixie said sarcastically. “Sorry.”

“It’s all right,” Steve said with a small laugh. “I think we’ve all felt that way one time or another. Go ahead and get out of here.”

“See you later, Steve.”

“Bye.”

She turned and headed for the police station to drop off her coat. She was looking forward to going home and taking a shower.

After stopping at the station and avoiding Chief Molinson, she made her way out to her jeep. She was about to get in when she saw a piece of paper under her windshield wiper. She pulled the paper out and opened it, quickly recognizing the handwriting.

“Trix, come to Ten Acres as soon as you can. Jim.”

She folded the note wondering what Jim had planned. She really hoped there was nothing wrong.

To be continued...