The next day, Trixie went back to the Glen Road Inn. She was determined to find out who the two men were and what they were up to. It was only two more days until July 4th. She knew she had to figure out what they were doing and stop it before anyone got hurt.

Now, Trixie was sitting in the lobby waiting for the right moment. She needed a group at the desk, distracting the clerk, so she could look at the hotel registry. It had been quiet in the hour she waited. She was about to give up a half an hour later when suddenly the desk was crowded. Making her way to the desk and looking down at the registry, she found the room number and quickly read the name, Aristotle Stanios.

She slipped back through the crowd and headed for the door going outside. This was a start, she thought. She got in the jeep and wrote the name down. She wondered if that was really the person’s name or an alias.

Returning home, she logged onto the computer. Because of her time with the FBI, she knew some sites that would help her search for information. Trixie was grateful she still had clearance to get the information. She spent some time searching for the name and came up with a match. A picture of Aristotle Stanios appeared on the screen. It was the same face she had seen at the inn. It belonged to the man who had exited the room and tried to ease the tension between her and the other man.

But what surprised her was the amount of information listed with him. Aristotle had been arrested for armed robbery. His crime was compounded by shooting an employee during his theft of priceless diamonds. He had been convicted and sentenced to twenty years in jail.

There was no address listed as to his whereabouts, but Trixie felt she had a good idea where he was.

After printing out the information, she did a search on the case trying to get as much information as she could. She found a series of articles that were written about the trial. She scanned the articles until she came across the name of the victim who was shot: William Blaney.

She stared at the screen. Trixie immediately realized that was the name of the jeweler in Sleepyside. She wondered if that was the reason Aristotle was there.

Trixie scanned the court transcipt of William’s testimony.

Trixie read on how officers stopped Aristotle as he exited the building as they were responding to the silent alarm without their sirens blaring. Aristotle had not been looking out the window as he exited the shop and did not see the officers on the scene. He was apprehended and taken to the police station. She scanned the rest of the articles that dealt with eyewitness accounts of Aristotle’s exit of the store. She read on to where he was found guilty of armed robbery and attempted murder.

At his sentencing, Aristotle claimed he was innocent. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison. That time was now up.

Trixie leaned back in her chair. I don’t think this is good, she thought. The man who robbed the jewelry store now comes to where the victim who was shot has opened his own business. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence to me. Could Aristotle be here in Sleepyside seeking revenge against the man who put him in jail? If it’s true, then William Blaney is in danger.

Ring.

Trixie jumped as he phone rang. She put it to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, Trix.”

“Hi, Jim. How are things going? Did you talk to the student?”

“Brad claims he didn’t do it,” Jim said. “The police are checking the can and paper for fingerprints.”

“What do you think? Do you think Brad actually did it?”

“I don’t know, Trix. Part of me wants to believe him, but...I just don’t know.”

“What are the police doing?”

“Asking a lot of questions, but getting nowhere.”

“They’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so,” Jim said. “I just don’t want any bad press for the school.”

“Hopefully, there won’t be.”

“I hope you’re right.” Jim changed subjects. “How are your errands going?”

“Not bad. I have a couple more to do.”

“I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner with me tonight.”

Trixie smiled. “That sounds nice. Just the two of us?”

“Of course. I was thinking of the Italian place in White Plains.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“I’ll make reservations for seven and pick you up about five-thirty.”

“Great.”

“I’ll see you later, Trix.”

“Bye, Jim.”     

“Bye.”

As she ended the call, she looked back at the screen, her mind back on the case. She wanted to talk to William to get his side of the story. She wondered if he had been at the sentencing, and if Aristotle had any comments for him when he had pleaded his case. Trixie glanced at her watch. There was plenty of time to go into Sleepyside before Jim arrived at Crabapple Farm expecting her ready for their date.

Continue to Chapter 9