Strangers in the Lane (4 page)

“I have to talk to you for a minute,” Jessie said. “Then Bryce is going to ride me home on his bike.”

They went into the living room where Mrs. Adams lay on the sofa. A gas log burned in the fireplace and in a chair by the fire sat the most beautiful girl in middle school, Cami Falkenborg.

What was Cami doing here? Jessie thought. There she was looking gorgeous, auburn hair falling in shining waves to her shoulders. She of the perfect nose, rosy lips and heavenly blue eyes.

“Hi, Cami,” said Bryce.

Oh, sure, thought Jessie. Of course he knows her. They were both in a grade ahead of Jessie and Tina. She could feel her heart sinking.

Mrs. Adams struggled to sit up. “Cami brought dinner tonight. She and her mom fixed it since I can hardly move anymore.”

Jessie thought Tina’s mom was awfully big. Maybe the baby was late in coming. “We can hardly wait for the baby,” she said.

Tina led Jessie to her bedroom and closed the door.

Jessie pulled off her gloves. “I went to the Marshalls’ and I’m almost positive their nanny is the voice on the monitor. It sounds like the same accent.”

“What? A nanny?” Tina was quiet for a moment. “You know. It makes perfect sense.”

“I only have a minute. I told my mom everything.” Jessie was rushing her words. “I had to. I heard the voices again on the monitor. They’re going to rob someone on Thursday. This is Monday. We went to the police and they won’t help unless we know more.” Jessie paused, breathless.

“Boy, you’ve been busy.” Tina plopped into the chair by her desk. “What should we
do
?”

“Here’s the plan. In the morning, I’ll call Carol Marshall and ask if we can bring Phillip over after school—so he can play with Robyn. Then we’ll get into Robyn’s bedroom and talk and my mom can listen at home to see if she hears us on the baby monitor.” Jessie started to put on her gloves. “That way we’ll know the voices are coming from the Marshalls’ and we can tell the police.”

Tina stood. “I’m impressed. When did you think all this up and what’re you doing here with Bryce? Does he know about the monitor deal?”

“One thing at a time, Tina.” Jessie zipped up her parka. “No, Bryce knows nothing. He saw me fall on the ice and took pity on me and rode me over here. I’m sure he thinks I’m a total zero.” She tugged her long braid out of the collar of her jacket. “Every time he sees me, I’m doing something stupid. Now he can compare me to the perfect girl, Cami Falkenborg.”

Tina laughed. “You’re jealous! You should look at yourself in the mirror. You can compete with Cami anytime.”

“Oh, sure”, Jessie said. “Anyway, I have to get home. I’ll set this up with Mrs. Marshall and Mom.”

Jessie started to open the door, but then stopped and looked at Tina. “I’m counting on you to go with me to the Marshalls’ tomorrow. Promise?”

“The only thing that would keep me from going is if Mom has the baby,” said Tina.

They went back to the living room. When Bryce saw Jessie, he stood to leave. “Thanks, Cami,” he said. “This will help me out a lot! I’ll see you Saturday morning at the school auditorium. Bye, Tina. Bye, Mrs. Adams.”

Jessie felt hot. She was stunned to hear him making a date with Cami. She walked outside in a daze and climbed back up on his bike.

They started off. Thin stripes of pink and blue lined the horizon across the flat land. Stars were coming out.

“Cami’s going to accompany me when I play my violin at the museum opening next month,” Bryce told her as they rode down the street. “We’re getting together to practice Saturday.”

Well, thought Jessie, it could be worse. Of course Cami played the piano. She could also sing and dance. I should have listened when Mom tried to get me to take music lessons.

“That’s nice of her,” said Jessie. It
was
nice of Cami. She was actually a nice person. Darn.

Jessie forgot about Cami. She forgot about the baby monitor. She just breathed in the moment—being close to Bryce on the bike and watching the sunset.

Bryce let her off in front of her house and she thanked him. He looked at her for a minute, a serious look. “You know, Jessie, I can tell something’s wrong. I’ll help you anytime.” He started to ride off. “Think about it.”

She watched as he rode into his driveway across Willow Lane. Farley, the sheepdog, jumped out from the bushes and ran barking alongside the bike. Then boy and dog disappeared into the shadows.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jessie sat with her parents at the kitchen table. Phillip was asleep and the baby monitor was on the counter.

“Here’s the plan,” she said. “I’ll call Carol Marshall in the morning and ask if I can bring Phillip to play with Robyn after school.”

“I don’t know about this,” said her mother. “Especially involving Phillip. What if the nanny suspects something?”

“I know,” Jessie said. “But I’ll be careful and if I get worried, we’ll just leave the house. And don’t forget, Tina will be there. Besides, I don’t think the nanny will do anything bad with Robyn around.”

“It’ll be all right,” said her dad. “I think it sounds like a good plan. It’s the only way to make sure that these are the people on the monitor. And the police need solid evidence. Also, there’s no need to upset the Marshalls yet.”

Her mother looked tired and worried. “So… I stay here and listen to the monitor?” said her mom.

Jessie knew from that remark that her mother would go along with the plan. She felt relieved. And scared.

“Now, Jess,” said her dad, “you
do
understand that you must leave the Marshalls’ at the first sign of trouble?”

He was coming on strong, now that her mother had basically agreed. Jessie figured he felt responsible for reassuring her mom. “I promise,” she said.

* * *

Jessie was dressed and ready for school by seven the next morning. She fastened a black band at the end of her long braid while she held the phone between her chin and shoulder. She wore thick black tights, a black turtleneck tunic and fleece-lined boots. In this outfit she could be warm
and
run fast.

“Mrs. Marshall? This is Jessie Hanson.” She held the receiver tight and tried to sound casual. “Could I bring Phillip to play with Robyn after school today?” She listened. “Great! Phillip will love it. Oh… Tina Adams is coming too. She’s practicing babysitting.”

Jessie laughed. “We’ll be there around three thirty. Thanks. Bye.”

Her mother was watching her from the kitchen doorway. “So, is it okay?”

Jessie put her arms around her mom’s waist and rested her head on her shoulder. “So far, it’s working.” Her mother hugged her close.

She thought the school day would never end. Tina’s face looked pale against her shiny black hair. Jessie could tell that Tina was worried. Every time Jessie looked at Tina, she felt a knot in her stomach. Maybe Tina wasn’t up to this plan. Maybe it was too much on top of her mother having the baby and all.

The school bell rang. They ran from the building, still zipping up their jackets.

“I’ll get Phillip and meet you at Marshalls’ corner in fifteen minutes.”

“Right,” said Tina. “I’ll check on my mom and make sure she hasn’t gone to the hospital.”

When Jessie got to Willow Lane, she could see her mother waiting on the front porch with Phillip. He wasn’t wearing his bulky snowsuit. Instead he wore navy leggings and a lightweight windbreaker over a red wool sweater. A ski cap covered his hair and he had on his red boots, as always. Mom must be thinking like me, thought Jessie. Dress light for running. She felt her stomach tighten.

Jessie and Phillip hurried to meet Tina. Phillip was excited to be going to Robyn’s and chattered non-stop.

At the corner, they met Tina and walked to the Marshall mansion.

“My mom has the Marshalls’ telephone number. They’ll call if the baby’s coming.”

“I hope it doesn’t happen in the next two hours. I’d hate to be there all alone,” said Jessie.

Jessie rang the doorbell. The same tall woman from yesterday answered the door. She wore a brown and yellow print dress with a shapeless white apron over it. Robyn hid behind the nanny’s skirt and peeked around at Phillip. She looked like a doll in a tiny blue checked dress with red trim and blue tights. A red ribbon was tied in a bow on top of her curly dark hair.

“So. You come to play with Robyn? My name is Lena. Tell me
your
names.”

She seems friendly, Jessie thought. I wonder where her boyfriend is.

“I’m Jessie and this is Tina. That’s my brother, Phillip. Is Mrs. Marshall home?”

“Nein, nein, she is out.”

Jessie looked at her boots. “Should we just go in our stocking feet?”

“Ya. Better take off boots.” With a very large foot, Lena scooted a green throw rug in their direction. “You put them on this.”

“Do you want us to take the kids to play in Robyn’s bedroom?” Jessie glanced up the wide curving staircase.

The nanny shook her head. “Nein, nein. You play downstairs in playroom.” She led the way to a big room off the main entrance.

Jessie looked at Tina. She was frowning.

The playroom had everything. Dolls in small beds, a little playhouse with wooden flowers in boxes at the windows and real curtains, puzzles on a small table and a chair set and a train with a track on a raised platform. A giant rocking horse sat on a colorful rug in the center of the room. It was a child’s paradise.

Jessie looked around the room for a baby monitor. Nothing.

“Thanks. This is great,” said Jessie. She helped Phillip take off his hat and coat. He ran to the train and turned on the switch. The little engine chugged around the track, fake smoke billowing from its stack. “Look, Jessie! Look.”

Robyn grabbed Tina’s hand and pulled her to the playhouse. She rang the doorbell and opened the little door. Tina ducked into the house with Robyn.

“I get snacks,” Lena said. She hurried from the room.

Jessie edged into the hall and looked up the huge staircase. How could she ever find Robyn’s room with Lena lurking around? Somewhere in the house, a phone rang. Uh-oh, thought Jessie.

Lena appeared. “Telephone for other girl.”

Tina ran to the phone in the hall. “No kidding?” she said. “I’ll come right home.” She hung up the phone and looked at Jessie in the playroom doorway. “Bad timing. It’s the baby. I have to leave.”

“Sure,” said Jessie. “You have to. I’ll be fine.”

Then Tina was gone and Jessie was on her own. She helped Phillip and Robyn eat their snack and watched while they wrote on the chalkboard.

Jessie sat on the floor with the kids and reached for some blocks. “Can you show me your bedroom, Robyn?” She built a tower. “Where do you sleep?” She added another block to her stack. “Can you take us there?”

“Let’s go,” squealed Phillip.

“Shhh…” said Jessie. She put her finger to her lips. “Let’s be real quiet.”

Robyn stood up and took Jessie’s hand. “I show.”

Together they went into the hallway. Jessie looked around for Lena. She must have been in the kitchen or with the boyfriend. Robyn’s dark curls bounced as she took each big step up the staircase. She was almost two years old, but tiny. At the top of the steps, Robyn pointed to a door.

“Is that your bedroom?” whispered Jessie.

Robyn looked up at Jessie and nodded hard, her lips pursed up like a rosebud.

They walked to the door and Jessie turned the brass knob. Inside was a pretty nursery. Ducks and geese frolicked in a mural on the wall. An old-fashioned crib was the main piece of furniture and a rocking chair sat next to it. By the chair was a round table with a lamp—and a baby monitor.

Jessie didn’t have much time. She stepped to the monitor and turned it on. Phillip climbed into the rocking chair and Jessie lifted Robyn up to sit beside him.

“Shall I sing you a song?” Jessie rocked the two children. They nodded their heads in unison.

Jessie sang, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you…”

The nursery door flew open and banged against the wall with a thud. Robyn and Phillip jumped, startled. Lena stood in the doorway. “You, girl. Jessie, is it? I told you to play downstairs!” The nanny’s face was red.

Phillip began to cry. Jessie picked him up and helped Robyn down from the chair. “I’m sorry. Robyn was showing us her room,” said Jessie. She hurried the children past the nanny out to the hallway.

“I think you take your brother and go home!” said Lena.

“Don’t cry, Phillip,” Jessie whispered in his ear. She hurried down the staircase, ran to the downstairs playroom and grabbed their coats. At the door she picked up their boots.

“You go NOW! I not like disobedient children!”

At the entrance, Lena hurried them out onto the porch. Jessie felt a breeze from the door slamming behind them.

CHAPTER NINE

“That is one crabby woman,” Jessie said. She hustled Phillip into his jacket, helped him with his boots and pulled on his hat.

Phillip laughed through his tears and shook his finger at the Marshalls’ front door. “Crabby, crabby, crabby.”

She guided the toddler down the front steps, wondering if her plan had worked. In the quiet, Jessie heard someone humming, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” A chill ran over her scalp.

“Who’s there?” Her heart was racing. It was getting dark and Jessie couldn’t see anyone around. She heard the humming again. She turned at the tall hedge and collided with a smiling Bryce Peterson. He was the “hummer.” Farley was with him on a red leash that matched his panting tongue. The dog’s feet danced on the pavement at the sight of Jessie and Phillip.

“You scared me, Bryce. Why are you humming that song?”

“Because that’s the song you were singing on the baby monitor.” He reached down and took Phillip’s other hand. “I stopped by your house and listened with your mom.”

Jessie grinned. “You mean my plan worked?”

“Yep. Like a charm.” Bryce hoisted Phillip into the air. “Want a ride on my shoulders?”