Disclaimer: I do not own Trixie or the Bob-Whites. No profit is being made from their use.

Chapter Thirteen

Once in the back of the squad car, Trixie could hardly contain her excitement. Sgt. Molinson noticed and gave her a harsh stare before driving away.

"Let's make one thing clear, Belden," he stated firmly, "you do not do anything, and I mean anything, without my clearance. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Trixie said meekly.

Turning to Jim, he added, "I trust you can do the same." At Jim's nod, he said, "See if she'll listen to you. Heaven knows, she never listens to me."

Trixie remain quiet until they were on the interstate heading for New York. "Where are we going?"

"JFK," the sergeant replied, "I checked the airport schedule while you were changing clothes. They have a flight that leaves for Amsterdam at 2 PM."

Trixie reached over and squeezed Jim's hand in excitement. He couldn't help but smile at the flush on her cheeks. He knew he shouldn't encourage her, but in spite of that fact, he couldn't stop grinning at her. The answering smile he received was reward enough, a smile full of adoration and complete faith. Even Mr. Verkuilen wasn't immune to her enthusiasm.

"I take it you're the one who found the cross," he inquired. "Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix will feel honored that you troubled yourself so."

"Queen Beatrix," Trixie gasped, "I didn't know we had the same name. Juliana didn't share that with me."

"I asked her not to," Mr. Verkuilen admitted. "I wanted to tell you in person."

"I'm surprised my brother, Mart didn't tell me," Trixie said, "but he's been busy with other things."

Molinson was not impressed by Trixie's bout of enthusiasm. He gave her a frown through the rearview mirror. "Let me do all the talking when we get to JFK," the sergeant interrupted them. "The security at the airport is really tight. I had the station call ahead and warn the city cops. They are going to meet us just outside the terminals, and there might be a few feds there as well. When you see that guy, let us know."

"I promise," Trixie told him. Her heart beat excitedly at the thought of actually working with federal agents.

Nothing seemed amiss when they arrived at the airport. As they walked toward the entrance, the group was met by a small contingent of security forces.

"Are you Sergeant Molinson?" one of them asked. At Molinson's nod, he continued, "I'm Agent Dugan, and this my partner, Agent Reynolds."

Shaking the men's hands, Sergeant Molinson introduced the members of the group, ending with Trixie. "She's the only one who knows exactly what the guy looks like, although Mr. Verkuilen here has an idea."

"Come inside to our offices," Agent Dugan instructed them. "We'll have more privacy there."

Once inside the small office, Agent Dugan looked apprehensively at Sergeant Molinson. "You'll probably have to wait here," he told the sergeant. "The safety of the passengers is the most important thing. If he sees your uniform he might panic. You'll be able to watch everything on the security monitors."

Molinson looked uncomfortable with the idea. He glanced irritably at Trixie. He had promised her father he would keep an eye on her. Trixie, to his chagrin, was ignoring him and his warning glances while hanging on to every word the agents spoke.

"We have two flights that leave at 2 PM," Agent Dugan continued. "We'll have to split up and hope we spot him." He motioned toward Trixie and Jim. "You two, will go with Agent Reynolds while I escort Mr. Verkuilen. All you have to do is identify him. We're not certain if he is armed or not, and the dagger has proven to be deadly. Keep that in mind. The security team we have in place will handle the rest."

If he were a betting man, the sergeant would have placed a substantial wager that wherever Trixie went the man and the cross would be there. Frowning severely at her, he said sternly, "Can you remember that, Trixie? They can deal with this guy. Make sure you don't interfere."

Agent Dugan gave Molinson a sharp look as he rebuked Trixie. "Surely, Sergeant, that's not necessary. Miss Belden has been very helpful investigating this case. I'm sure she will listen to us."

Molinson snorted and shook his head. Having seen the tactics Trixie had used in the past, he wasn't sure of what she would do if the situation failed to go smoothly. He was about to warn the agents when there was a knock on the door.

A pleasant looking woman in a business suit entered. "Everything is in place," she told them. "They want you to go to the gates."

Jim grabbed Trixie's hand and held it tightly as they followed the agents and Mr. Verkuilen. He gave Molinson an apologetic look as they left.

The sergeant was more like Trixie than he realized. He positively hated being left out of the action, especially when she was going to be right in the thick of things. Growling, he went with a security guard to the viewing area to watch the action.

"Trixie," Jim whispered as they walked behind Agent Reynolds, "the sergeant looked like he was going to blow his top."

"I know," Trixie agreed, "I didn't think about his uniform getting in the way."

"Trix, remember," Jim warned her, squeezing her hand gently, "we just let Agent Reynolds and the rest catch the guy."

Trixie grinned at Jim without remorse. "Of course, I doubt if even I could do a better job than they can." She then turned her attention to Agent Reynolds as he led them through the security checkpoint. When they arrived at the gate, she quickly scanned the area looking for the man who had abducted her the night before.

"He'll probably stay out of sight until it's time for his flight," the agent cautioned them. "Just stay alert."

With her heart pounding, Trixie kept her eyes watchful as passengers passed by. "What if he has a disguise?" Trixie asked Jim. "I'm not sure if I can recognize him then."

The agent heard her and said, "If you even think it might be him, let me know. Don't worry about making a mistake."

Trixie became anxious as the time sped by. She was sure that Agent Dugan had caught the man by now, but no word had come from them. She was looking as the passengers lined up to board the plane when she spied a man in a baseball cap with a beard. Studying him closely, she held her breath for a moment.

"That could be him," Trixie grabbed the agent's arm, "the one with the cap on."

Quickly, the agent mobilized the security team. When two of them approached the man, he looked puzzled but went with them, albeit reluctantly. Agent Reynolds motioned for them to remain where they were as he escorted the man to a more private area.

"I hope his beard is a fake," Trixie said sheepishly, "or else I made a big mistake. It's just so much more difficult trying to find someone in all these people."

"Don't worry about it, Trix," Jim reassured her, "this is a long shot anyway. If we don't catch him here, the Dutch authorities can search all the passengers when they arrive there."

"I suppose you're right," Trixie conceded regretfully. "I was just hoping for Mrs. Vander…." She stopped suddenly and leaned toward Jim. "It's him," she hissed, "coming out of the bathroom. What are we going to do?"

Jim followed the path of Trixie's eyes and found the tall blond man walking toward the line to board the plane. "Trixie," he whispered frantically, "go find someone in security while I keep an eye on him."

"But Jim, they're leaving in a few minutes."

"Just go, Trixie," he urged, "I'll think of something."

She nodded and swiftly ran off to warn the agents.

Sergeant Molinson was watching the pair curiously on the monitor. When Trixie ran off at a furious pace, he motioned to the security offices beside him. "Something's wrong," he told them, "I know those two. There is no way Jim would let her run off by herself."

The two guards looked at the monitor closely and observed Jim. As they watched, Jim approached the man and intentionally bumped into him, causing them both to trip onto the floor. Immediately one of the guards radioed for assistance while Molinson tried not to smirk. These kids, he thought, never cease to surprise me.

Jim was lying on the man while feigning an injury as the man angrily tried to push Jim off of him. When a crowd gathered around, the man tried to make light of the situation.

"I'll get the attendant to see to your injury," he said to Jim, "if you'll just get off of me."

"I'll be okay in a minute," Jim replied, "I just need to catch my breath."

"Sir, I demand you let me up this instant."

Slowly, Jim complied while still holding the man down. Unobtrusively, he leaned on the case the man carried and popped it open. Kicking the small piece of luggage as he arose, the contents spilled out of its container.

"What have you done?" the man shrieked. "Don't touch that!"

Pretending to be helpful, Jim scattered his belongings more thoroughly, apologizing profusely as he did so.

"See here, young man," the blond man began to berate Jim, "I would prefer you leave my things alone."

When security approached, Jim heaved a sigh of relief. Hoping Trixie was correct in her identification, he allowed himself to be escorted from the premises along with the other man. While Jim was taken to another room, Agent Reynolds met the suspect and walked with him to another area.

"We need to file an incident report," the agent said. "They'll hold the plane for you."

"That's not necessary," the young man insisted, "I'm anxious to leave."

"It won't take but a minute," the agent reassured him.

The door closed and Jim couldn't hear anymore. He stopped to look at the security guards. "What happens now?"

Back in the control room, Molinson was pacing anxiously when Trixie appeared. "Belden," he bellowed, "didn't I tell you to leave it to the agents?"

"I went to the agents," Trixie insisted. "They made me come in here."

"Good for them," the sergeant said sarcastically.

"What happened?" she questioned. "Where's Jim?"

"You tell me," the sergeant countered, "what went on out there?"

"I picked out the wrong guy," Trixie admitted sheepishly, "but then the real criminal showed up. We couldn't let him get away. Did Jim stop him?"

Molinson didn't have time to answer before Jim entered the room.

"Jim," Trixie cried, "what happened?"

"They've got the guy in custody," he told her. He explained what had happened. "I do hope he's your guy."

Trixie hugged Jim joyously. Blushing, she grinned, "No, I think you've got that wrong. You're my guy."

When the two agents arrived, Jim, Trixie, and Molinson jumped to their feet and began to speak at once. Holding up his hand to silence them, Agent Dugan gave them a grin.

"We've recovered the cross," he announced. "He had it with him the entire time."

"No wonder he was so frantic about his carry-on," Jim mused.

"But how did he get it through security?" Trixie questioned. "I thought they examined everything."

"They do," agreed Agent Dugan, "but unfortunately things get by even our trained professionals. On the x-ray it merely looked like a piece of jewelry. Even I couldn't tell it from just another gaudy piece of jewelry."

"Where's Mr. Verkuilen?" Trixie asked.

"He's making arrangements to transport the cross to Amsterdam," he explained. "Evidently the cross is worth a considerable amount of money. The Dutch embassy is taking care of it now."

"So it will go back to where it belongs," Trixie smiled happily. "Mrs. Vanderpoel will be delighted."

"I think it's about time I get you two back where you belong," Molinson said, "before you get me mixed up in anything else."

Trixie and Jim merely grinned as they followed him out the door. They waited patiently while Molinson exchanged a few words with the agent.

"You know, Trixie," Jim said softly as he took both of her hands in his, "I was going to see if you wanted to go to the dance with me."

"Unfortunately, I don't have a dress," Trixie sighed.

"Yes, you do," Jim smiled. "Honey has been working on it when I told her there might be a chance for me to take you."

"In that case," Trixie laughed, "I'm glad Sergeant Molinson is in such a hurry to get us back to Sleepyside."

The gym was lit by dim lanterns representing an earlier time. It looked like an old fashioned harvest ball with a romantic full moon hanging from the ceiling. Although Trixie and Jim were a bit late, they were spotted immediately by the other Bob-Whites. Jim put his arm around her waist as they walked toward their friends.

"Thanks for the dress, Honey," Trixie said gratefully. "You did a wonderful job fixing it up."

"I told you that dress was perfect for you," Honey said. "It didn't take much and you look gorgeous."

The look in Jim's eyes as he glanced at Trixie said he agreed completely. "I'm very glad that I was able to be here, too."

"Me, too," Trixie smiled.

"Dance with me?" Jim asked and took her hand as she nodded.

"Jim," she murmured as she placed her hands on his shoulders, "thanks for helping me today."

"It was my pleasure," Jim said tenderly, "although I have to admit that I'm going to add this to my list of reasons to worry about you."

"Am I the only one on that list?" Trixie teased.

"You're at the top of the list," he said, "and I think you're at the top of all my other lists, too."

Trixie looked up at Jim's intense gaze and felt her heart flutter. He bent his head down and gave her a soft kiss. Trixie sighed happily and kissed him back.

"You know, Trix," he said as they pulled apart, "maybe you could work on less dangerous mysteries while I'm away, like the Dan and Mart mystery."

"Oh, I forgot," Trixie giggled, "I promised to reveal the solution to that little mystery, didn't I?" Grabbing Jim's hand, she tugged him to where the other Bob-Whites were still gathered.

"I have one more mystery to solve," she told her friends.

"What is it now?" Dan grinned at Mart.

"I figured out just what you two were hiding," Trixie said.

"Let's hear it," Mart demanded. "Let's hear exactly how you found this out."

"First of all," Trixie said, "you two kept disappearing. Then, Dan let it slip that he needed money. You took Bobby on a secret trip to the post office. That was a big mistake, by the way. You had all these meetings with the guidance counselor at school." Trixie paused to take a breath. "Finally," she grinned at Dan, "someone left their mail laying around for anyone to see it."

"And your conclusion is?" Mart prompted, knowing full well that Trixie had solved the case.

"Well, it was from NYU-POLY," Trixie told him. "I checked the brochures in Mrs. Denton's office. According to that, NYU-POLY has a great summer program for high school students, which is where the letter was from. I think you and Dan are going to have a fantastic time there next summer. Moms and Dad will be so proud of you. Why did you keep it a secret?"

Mart turned a dull red. "We're not in yet," he cautioned her. "I guess I didn't want to make a big deal of it just in case we're not accepted."

Trixie grinned at Dan and nodded at him to speak.

"Yeah, about that," Dan chuckled, "the letter Trixie saw was your acceptance letter. We both got in. We just wanted to tell you when we were all together."

Congratulations and hugs abounded as the Bob-Whites cheered the good news. Trixie smiled happily at Mart and told him she was proud of him.

"You know, Jim," Mart teased, "with Dan and me gone next summer, you and Brian will have your hands full. I do hope you can manage to keep the girls out of trouble as well as we did."

The group burst into laughter as Mart looked fondly at his sister.

"I'll be here," Jim promised with a wink at Trixie, "but I'll probably follow her into more adventures, just like today."

Trixie blushed as Jim put his arm around her. Even the dullest adventure would seem exciting with Jim by her side. She looked happily at her friends smiling faces. They would share more adventures, hopefully a lifetime of them.

THE END