Chpt 10: The Case of the Silent Chimes.

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Chapter 10: The Ringing of Hope

The storm raged outside the Dark Tower, the wind howling through the narrow windows like a warning. Thunder cracked so close, it rattled the heavy stones beneath Rita’s feet. The friends huddled near the base of the Carillon’s bell chamber, the giant brass bells looming above them, motionless in the flickering lightning.

Rita held a flashlight steady, casting a beam across the walls, when a sudden clang echoed through the tower. Everyone jumped.

“It’s her,” Kyle whispered, wide-eyed. “It’s Mrs. Garrison.”

As if in answer, the bells swayed gently, though no wind stirred inside the tower. The small brass plaque at the base of the largest bell glinted in the light:
"In loving memory of Eleanor Garrison — May her song forever ring."

A chill filled the room, and the faint scent of roses drifted on the air. Rita, heart pounding, stepped forward.
“Mrs. Garrison,” she said softly, “you loved this place. We know you just want it to be cared for. We’re here to help.”

The air grew warmer, and the bells stopped moving. A faint figure appeared—a gentle woman with silver hair and a kind smile, her hands clasped over her heart. Rita felt a tear slip down her cheek.

“Thank you,” the figure whispered, her voice like a fading chime. “Don’t let them silence the music.”

Then, as quickly as she came, the vision faded. The room seemed lighter, the air still.

Lane let out a shaky breath. “Did that really just happen?”

Kyle nodded, wide-eyed. “She wanted us to know she was here. That she cared.”

Suddenly, the heavy tower door burst open, the storm having calmed outside. In rushed Kyle’s father, drenched but grinning, holding a manila folder high like a trophy.
“Kids! You won’t believe this,” he called, panting. “I just came from the Capitol. The state’s approving the funding for the Carillon! We’re going to save the bells!”

Cheers erupted. Kyle whooped, hugging Lane and Georgia, who both laughed in relief. Rita felt a deep, quiet peace settle over her.

They had done it. They’d saved the Carillon, honored Mrs. Garrison’s memory, and uncovered a story that would become legend in their town. The tower wasn’t just stone and bells—it was the beating heart of their community, and now it would ring out once again.

As they stepped into the cool night, the storm clouds parted, revealing a star-studded sky. Far above, the bells gleamed in the moonlight, waiting for their next song.

Rita smiled, slipping her notebook into her backpack. The case of the silent chimes was closed—but the adventure wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

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Chpt 9: The Case of the Silent Chimes

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🌙 Chapter Nine: The Whisper in the Office

The next morning, the four friends huddled outside the Carillon Journal building—an aging brick structure across from the tower, its windows dark except for a dim light in the janitor’s closet.

“Let’s do it,” Rita whispered, and they crept inside.

The place smelled like old ink and lemon-scented cleaner. Dust motes danced in the sunlight. Kyle tiptoed past a stack of newspapers with bold headlines:

CARILLON SILENT: A TOWN MOURNS.
NEW OWNERSHIP, NEW VISION: THE JOURNAL’S FUTURE.

Rita paused, tracing her fingers over a framed photo on the wall—an older man and woman standing proudly in front of the tower.

“That’s Mr. and Mrs. Garrison,” Lane whispered. “The original owners. They built the Carillon.”

A soft clang echoed from the back of the office. The kids froze.

“Who’s there?” called a shaky voice.

It was Mr. Binks, the janitor—an older man with a shock of white hair, pushing a mop bucket. His eyes darted nervously between the kids and the shadows.

Kyle stepped forward. “It’s okay, Mr. Binks. We’re... doing research. For school.”

Mr. Binks’ hands trembled as he wiped them on his overalls. “You kids shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t like it when people snoop.”

“She?” Rita echoed, heart racing.

Binks lowered his voice, leaning in like a man sharing a terrible secret. “The old lady. Mrs. Garrison. I think her spirit’s still here... watching.”

He glanced over his shoulder, then muttered, “The bells—they were her pride and joy. After she passed, the auto-player stopped working... like it broke when her heart did.”

Georgia’s eyes widened. “Wait... are you saying the ghost of Mrs. Garrison is keeping the bells silent?”

Mr. Binks nodded quickly, tapping his temple like a nervous tic. “I hear the bells at night sometimes—just a few notes, like she’s trying to remind us. So I ring my little handbell while I clean... to keep her at bay.”

He pulled a tarnished brass bell from his pocket, its handle worn smooth.

“Do you know anything about the auto-player? Or Mr. Halloway’s last song?” Rita asked.

Binks hesitated, then shuffled toward an old filing cabinet. He fumbled with the lock and pried it open, revealing a thin folder labeled Halloway, L. – Final Composition.

“I found this years ago, buried in a stack of invoices. Nobody cared. The new owners—bah! They don’t want to fix the Carillon; they want to sell it off piece by piece. Scrap the bells, flatten the tower for condos. That’s why they’re not repairing the auto-player.”

Rita’s stomach turned cold. “So... the Foundation, the new owners... they’re trying to erase the Carillon?”

Binks nodded grimly. “Unless someone stops them. Unless...” He trailed off, staring at the sheet music in Rita’s hands.

“Maybe it’s not a ghost. Maybe it’s just... an unfinished song waiting to be heard.”

The bells in the tower let out a faint, almost imperceptible chime—a single note in the afternoon breeze.

The kids exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“We need to get this music to Kyle’s dad,” Rita whispered fiercely. “And we need to find a way to play that song—before the Foundation silences the Carillon forever.”

---

Chpt 8: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🌙 Chapter Eight: Broken Music

That night, the four friends crept back toward the Carillon, flashlights bobbing in the darkness.

Kyle whispered, “My dad’s at the State Capitol all week—he’s trying to convince the state to fund the tower repairs. If we could prove the auto-player is broken, maybe he’ll get the money faster.”

Rita nodded. “Let’s find the player mechanism. We’ll take pictures and show them to your dad.”

Inside the tower, the air smelled like dust and old stories. The winding staircase groaned under their feet as they climbed. At the top, the bell chamber loomed—silent and eerie.

Lane shivered. “I don’t like it up here.”

Georgia swung her flashlight around. It landed on a strange contraption: a rusted, gear-filled box mounted to the wall, its wires snaking across the floor. A faded label read:

AUTO-PLAY SYSTEM – DO NOT OPERATE MANUALLY

Kyle leaned in, inspecting the wires. “Looks like someone tried to fix it... and gave up.”

Rita ran her fingers over the dusty control panel. The buttons were cracked, the lights dead. She found a switch labeled ‘Start’ and pressed it.

Nothing.

Then...

BANG!

A loud metallic clunk echoed through the chamber. The kids jumped, hearts racing.

“It’s jammed!” Lane yelped, peering at a jammed gear.

“Or maybe...” Georgia’s voice trailed off as she pointed to a scrap of paper wedged in the gears. Rita carefully tugged it free.

It was old—yellowed, with faded ink.

A music sheet.

“Is this... one of Mr. Halloway’s songs?” Rita whispered.

Kyle’s face went pale. “My dad said Mr. Halloway was working on a new piece when he got sick. He never finished it.”

Georgia’s brow furrowed. “So... the auto-player’s broken, the song was never played, and now we’ve got a ghost who won’t leave until he hears it?”

Rita’s mind raced. “If we can fix the player or find another way to finish the song, maybe we can help Mr. Halloway rest... and save the tower before the Foundation cuts it off for good.”

Lane tapped Kyle’s shoulder. “What if your dad doesn’t get the funding in time?”

Kyle’s eyes darkened. “Then... the Carillon goes silent forever.”

The bells above them swayed slightly in the night breeze, and a soft, almost imperceptible chime floated down the staircase—just one single note, like the ghost of a song that wanted to be heard.

Rita folded the music sheet gently. “We’ll find a way,” she whispered. “We have to.”

---

Chpt. 7: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🌙 Chapter Seven: A Song Unsung

The next afternoon, Rita, Kyle, Georgia, and Lane huddled around a small table at The Crown Diner, their heads close together over a crumpled newspaper.

“I found it in the archives,” Rita whispered, tapping a finger on the headline:
‘Carillon Foundation Announces Budget Cuts: Music Program on Hold’

Kyle let out a low whistle. “So they did stop the music on purpose.”

Georgia frowned, stirring her soda absentmindedly. “But why? The Carillon’s part of the town’s history. People love the bells.”

Lane leaned back, his arms crossed. “Yeah, but if they think it saves money...”

Rita’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t add up. Mr. Binks believes the ghost is real. He rings that bell like his life depends on it. But if the Carillon Foundation shut down the music... maybe the ghost needs the bells to stay at rest. Maybe the bells were more than just music.”

Kyle’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait—you’re saying the ghost is mad because the music stopped? That’s why we keep hearing those weird sounds?”

“Or,” Georgia added, “maybe the sounds we hear are the ghost trying to play the bells. Like... a warning.”

A chill ran down Rita’s spine. What if the old bell ringer, Mr. Halloway, was still trying to finish the songs he’d started? What if the unfinished music was keeping him here?

Lane snapped his fingers. “Didn’t Mr. Binks say something about the air feeling heavy? Like something’s waiting?”

Rita nodded, her mind racing. “We need to get back into the tower. If the Foundation isn’t playing the bells, maybe we can find a way to turn them back on. Or... at least figure out how they work.”

Georgia hesitated. “Isn’t that... I don’t know... illegal?”

Kyle grinned. “It’s only illegal if we get caught.”

Lane rolled his eyes. “Famous last words.”

Rita folded the paper, her resolve hardening. The Carillon wasn’t just an old tower with rusty bells. It was the heartbeat of the town. If the Foundation wanted to silence it, they’d have to get through her and her friends first.

As they left the diner, the wind shifted, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible sound—the distant echo of a bell’s chime. Soft. Faint. Almost like a sigh.

Rita stopped in her tracks.

“Did you hear that?” she whispered.

They all turned toward the tower, its silhouette dark against the dusky sky.

And just for a moment, it seemed as if the tower itself was listening.

---

Chpt 6: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🌙 Chapter Six: The Bell Keeper’s Secret

Rita, Kyle, Lane, and Georgia ducked back into the tunnel, crouching low behind the heavy door. Their hearts pounded in unison, breaths ragged and quick.

“Did you see that?” Kyle whispered, gripping the flashlight so hard his knuckles turned white.

“He’s... like a ghost whisperer or something,” Georgia muttered, eyes wide.

Lane leaned in. “No way. He’s just a janitor, right?”

But Rita wasn’t so sure. She peered through the crack again, watching Mr. Binks shuffle around the basement. Every few steps, he’d ring the small brass bell dangling from his belt, as if on autopilot.

She caught a glimpse of something pinned to the wall—a faded newspaper clipping framed in cheap plastic. “Carillon Ghost Story: Fact or Folklore?” The photo showed a shadowy figure silhouetted against the bell tower, the headline screaming in bold letters.

“Guys... look,” Rita whispered. “He knows about the ghost.”

Kyle nodded slowly. “Maybe that’s why he rings the bell. To keep the ghost away while he’s working.”

Georgia frowned, skeptical as ever. “Or he’s just superstitious. People get weird about old buildings.”

Lane shook his head. “Either way, we need to ask him.”

Before they could debate further, the door creaked open wider—and there was Mr. Binks, standing in the tunnel, his mop in one hand and the bell in the other.

The kids froze.

“Well, well,” Mr. Binks said, a thin smile twitching beneath his mustache. “Looks like I’ve got company tonight.”

Kyle swallowed hard. “Uh... hi, Mr. Binks.”

Mr. Binks tilted his head, eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “You kids think you’ve found a secret, haven’t you?”

Rita hesitated, then stepped forward. “We’re just... curious, sir. About the bells. And the tower.”

Mr. Binks sighed, shifting his weight as the bell on his belt gave a soft chime. “Curiosity can be dangerous in an old place like this. The Carillon’s got stories, sure. Ghost stories. Folks say the old bell ringer—Mr. Halloway—never really left.”

Lane’s eyes widened. “You believe that?”

Binks rubbed his chin. “I don’t know what I believe. But I do know that every time I clean down here... I feel something. Like the air’s too heavy. Like someone’s watching. So I keep my bell handy.” He lifted it, the sound sharp and clear in the dim tunnel.

“Bells clear the air, see? Chase the spirits away.”

Rita’s mind raced. Could the ghost of Mr. Halloway really still linger in the Carillon? Was he the one the pigeons were afraid of? Could he be... waiting for someone to finish his song?

Mr. Binks’s gaze darkened. “The tower’s been quiet too long, kids. When the chimes fall silent, that’s when you ought to worry.”

He stepped aside, motioning them back toward the stairs. “Go on home now. Let the bells do their job.”

But as they climbed the steps back toward the tower’s main level, Rita paused, her heart pounding. There had to be more to this. Why had the bells really stopped ringing? And was Mr. Binks the only one who knew the truth?

She looked back once, catching the faintest glint of a bell swinging on Mr. Binks’s belt—like a silent guardian against the secrets of the Carillon.

---

Chpt 5: The Case of the Silent Chimes.

 

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🌙 Chapter Five: The Whispering Stairs

The hidden staircase creaked beneath their feet, spiraling down into the earth like a coiled snake. The air grew colder with each step, and the sound of their breathing seemed to echo in the tight space. Kyle’s flashlight beam jittered across the stone walls, revealing cobwebs, old bricks, and what looked like an old pulley system.

“I feel like we’re in a movie,” Kyle whispered, clutching the flashlight like it was a sword.

“Yeah,” Georgia muttered, “a horror movie.”

At the bottom of the stairs, the passage opened into a small stone chamber, with a narrow wooden door set into the far wall. Above the door, carved into the lintel, was the same swirling keyhole symbol.

Rita’s heart raced. She reached for the latch—but the door swung open by itself, creaking on ancient hinges.

Inside was a dimly lit corridor, lined with bricks that seemed to stretch on forever. The air smelled faintly of old paper and ink.

Lane sniffed. “Is it just me, or does it smell like... a printing press?”

Rita’s eyes widened. “The newspaper office! The Carillon Journal! My grandpa said the old office used to connect to the tower back in the day.”

Georgia raised an eyebrow. “Wait—you’re telling me there’s a secret tunnel from the bell tower to the newspaper?”

“Looks like it,” Kyle said, shining the flashlight ahead. “Guess the headline tomorrow will be: Local Teens Discover Secret Passage.”

They followed the tunnel, which sloped upward slightly, until they reached another small wooden door. Faint light flickered from beneath it, and they could hear... music? No, not music exactly—more like the soft, rhythmic clinking of metal.

Rita slowly pushed the door open a crack—and froze.

In the dim light of the newspaper’s basement, an older man shuffled across the floor, a mop in one hand and a dustpan in the other. His gray hair stuck out in wild tufts, and his heavy work boots clomped as he moved. But the oddest thing was that every few steps, he’d pause... and ring a small bell on his belt, like a habit. Clink. Clink. Clink.

Kyle whispered, “That’s the janitor! Mr. Binks!”

Georgia’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a sec—does he even know he’s doing that?”

They watched as Mr. Binks hummed softly, the bell’s chime echoing in the empty space. He didn’t seem to notice the sound at all. His gaze was vacant, like he was lost in thought... or maybe something else.

Lane nudged Rita. “Do you think... he’s the ghost bell ringer?”

Rita’s mind raced. Could Mr. Binks, in his quiet routine, be echoing the old melodies from the tower? Was it just a habit—or was something pulling the strings?

She turned to her friends, a spark of determination in her eyes.

“This isn’t over,” she whispered. “We’ve got a mystery to solve.”

---

🎵 End of Chapter Five

Chpt 4: The Case of the Silent Chimes

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🌙 Chapter Four: The Chimes at Midnight

The night air was sharp, with a faint scent of lilacs drifting from the churchyard. Rita, Georgia, and Kyle huddled under the shadow of the tower, staring up at its dark, looming shape. The bells hung silent in the moonlight, but Kyle swore he’d heard them—chiming on their own.

“It was like a whisper at first,” Kyle said, shifting nervously. “Then... it was like someone was playing a tune, but soft. And then it stopped.”

Rita frowned. “Did you tell Lane?”

Kyle nodded. “He went to get a flashlight. He’s coming.”

Just then, Lane jogged up, breathless, with the flashlight beam bouncing across the grass. “Got it! What’s the plan, detective?”

Rita glanced up. The bell tower’s iron door was shut tight, but the small side window—barely big enough for a kid—was cracked open. “We’re going in.”

Georgia groaned. “I knew you’d say that.”

Kyle gave a crooked grin. “Adventure’s calling, G.”

Lane boosted Kyle up, and with a grunt, Kyle slipped through the window. Rita followed, feeling the scrape of the windowsill on her elbows. Georgia sighed dramatically before climbing in last.

Inside, the air was damp, filled with the faint scent of old wood and metal. The floor creaked beneath their feet. They tiptoed toward the stairs, the flashlight beam sweeping over dusty beams and ropes.

Kyle stopped suddenly, pointing the flashlight upward. “Look!”

The gold symbol from the photo—the swirling keyhole surrounded by ivy—was carved into the wooden beam above the bell rope. Rita’s heart leaped.

“It’s real,” she whispered.

Lane tilted the flashlight, revealing a small latch hidden in the wall beneath the carving. Kyle pressed it—and with a soft click, a panel in the floor shifted.

They exchanged wide-eyed looks. Georgia muttered, “This is so not in the building plans.”

Rita knelt and gently lifted the panel. Below was a narrow staircase, descending into darkness.

Kyle gulped. “Anyone else hear that?”

They froze. A soft, distant chime echoed up from the hidden stairwell—one note, then two, then silence.

Rita’s pulse raced. “The bells…”

Lane took a step back. “Guys, this is way more than we bargained for.”

Rita looked at her friends—faces pale, eyes wide, hearts pounding. She knew they were scared.

But she also knew this was the clue they’d been waiting for.

“Let’s go.”

And one by one, they slipped down the hidden stairs into the shadows—toward the secret that had been waiting beneath the tower all along.

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Chpt 3: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🌙 Rita Logan and the Dark Tower: The Case of the Silent Chimes

Chapter Three: Whispers in the Library

Rita stood in the hallway, watching as Kyle and Lane trailed behind Principal Grayson like two kids being marched to the guillotine. Her gut twisted. She knew they were only trying to help, but rules were rules. And if the council found out about the break-in, it could mean more than detention—it could mean losing the tower altogether.

She tugged Georgia’s sleeve. “C’mon. We’ve got to figure out a way to help them.”

“Help them?” Georgia echoed, exasperated. “Rita, they broke into the tower. They could get expelled. And you want to help them?”

Rita nodded. “Exactly. We need to prove they weren’t trying to vandalize anything. And I have a feeling…” Her eyes drifted toward the old library wing. “There’s more to this tower than we think.”

Georgia sighed. “I knew you’d drag me into this.”

They ducked into the library, weaving between the rows of dusty shelves. Rita beelined for the Local History section, pulling out a thick, crumbling book titled The Carillon: A Town’s Timeless Treasure.

Flipping through, Rita’s fingers paused on an old, faded photograph: the Carillon under construction in 1928. Beneath it was a note:

“Dedicated in honor of Thomas Carlyle Sr., benefactor and founder of Carlyle Industries.”

“Wait a second…” Rita murmured. “Carlyle? As in… Kyle’s family?”

Georgia leaned in. “So his great-grandfather helped build the tower?”

“Looks like it.” Rita flipped the page—and gasped.

There was a second photo, hidden beneath a loose scrap of paper. This one showed the tower’s bell chamber, but in the corner of the picture, almost too faint to see, was a symbol etched into the wall: a small, swirling design that looked like an old-fashioned keyhole surrounded by ivy.

“What is that?” Georgia asked, pointing.

“I don’t know.” Rita’s mind raced. A secret symbol… an old family connection…

She carefully folded the loose paper and tucked it into her backpack. “But I’m going to find out.”

Just then, the library doors creaked open, and a familiar voice whispered from the shadows.

“Rita. Georgia. We need your help.”

It was Kyle, breathless and pale. “Something’s wrong with the bells.”

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🔎 Clues for the Reader

1. The Carlyle family connection to the tower—could there be an inheritance or hidden responsibility involved?

2. The secret symbol in the bell chamber—what might it unlock?

3. Kyle’s urgent message—why are the bells acting strange?

4. What does Tommy, the homeless man, know about the tower’s secrets?

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Chpt 2: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🌙 Rita Logan and the Dark Tower: The Case of the Silent Chimes

Chapter Two: Secrets in the Tower

Rita’s mind buzzed as she and Georgia walked home. The midnight chimes. The birdseed. The broken latch. Something wasn’t adding up.

The next morning at school, she found Kyle and Lane whispering in the corner by the lockers. They looked nervous—like they were hiding something.

“Hey,” Rita called, dropping her backpack. “What’s going on?”

Kyle tried to grin, but it looked forced. Lane rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh… nothing. Just talking soccer stuff.”

“Right,” Rita said, raising an eyebrow. “Does this soccer stuff happen to involve midnight chimes?”

Kyle’s face turned red. “How did you know about—”

“Gotcha!” Rita crossed her arms. “You were in the tower last night.”

Lane sighed, glancing around the hallway. “Okay, fine. But it’s not what you think. We were… helping someone.”

“Helping?” Georgia appeared at Rita’s side, arms folded.

Kyle nodded quickly. “There’s this guy—Tommy. Homeless. Been around town for months. We saw him sleeping in the park, and it was freezing last night. So, we… let him stay in the tower. Just for a couple of nights.”

Rita’s heart softened a little. She’d seen Tommy before—an older man with a scruffy beard and kind eyes. He often sat by the grocery store, humming old tunes.

“We left some birdseed for the pigeons to keep them from bothering him,” Lane added. “And the wedge was to keep the door from locking behind us.”

“But the bells?” Rita asked. “Why were they ringing?”

Kyle looked sheepish. “That was me. I… I couldn’t resist trying it. Just a few pulls to see if it still worked. I didn’t think anyone would hear.”

Rita sighed. “You do realize the Carillon is a landmark, right? If the council finds out someone’s been inside…”

“I know,” Lane said quietly. “But we couldn’t just leave Tommy in the cold.”

Rita glanced at Georgia, who still looked skeptical but a little less angry.

“Okay,” Rita said finally. “We’ll help you figure this out. But we have to make sure Tommy’s safe—and the tower isn’t damaged. We can’t risk losing it.”

Kyle grinned, relieved. “Thanks, Rita.”

But just as they were about to leave for lunch, a voice boomed across the hallway:

“Lane Larson! Kyle Carlyle! In my office. Now.”

It was Principal Grayson. And from the look on his face, someone had definitely heard the bells.

---

🔍 Clues for the Reader

1. Lane’s family is always busy helping at church—maybe they know resources for someone like Tommy.

2. The Carillon is an old building with strict rules about access—why would someone break in without permission?

3. Kyle’s dad is a prominent businessman who’s out of town.

4. Tommy, the homeless man, might have his own story to tell.

5. The bells themselves—could they have a hidden meaning?

---

Chpt 1: The Case of the Silent Chimes

 

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🕰️ Rita Logan and the Dark Tower: The Case of the Silent Chimes

Chapter One: The Mystery at Midnight

The fog curled thick around the base of the Carillon tower, swallowing the streetlights and casting long shadows across Willow Creek’s town square. Rita Logan zipped up her jacket tighter as she walked home from the library, her best friend Georgia Bailey at her side.

“Did you hear that?” Georgia stopped, eyes wide. A faint ding... dong... echoed through the fog.

Rita paused. The Carillon bells had been silent since Mr. Franklin, the town’s beloved bell player, had passed away. Yet here, in the middle of the night, the bells seemed to whisper across the rooftops.

“No way,” Georgia breathed. “They’re ringing.”

Rita narrowed her eyes at the dark shape of the tower. “Come on. Let’s check it out.”

“Now?” Georgia’s voice squeaked. “It’s past curfew!”

But Rita was already crossing the street, her mind racing. The Carillon was supposed to be locked up—off-limits while the town council figured out how to fix the aging ropes and gears. If someone was ringing the bells, it meant they’d gotten inside. But how?

Kyle Carlyle was waiting on the bench by the square’s fountain, fiddling with a yo-yo. “You two look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he joked, but his grin faded when Rita told him about the chimes. Lane Larson, the athlete of the group, joined them a few minutes later, his soccer bag slung over one shoulder.

“I heard it too,” Lane said. “Midnight chimes. Nobody’s supposed to be in the tower.” His eyes gleamed. “Let’s investigate.”

Inside the tower’s entryway, the air smelled of old stone and musty wood. They moved quietly, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust on the floor. Rita shined her flashlight beam across the walls. The bell ropes dangled in the center of the room, motionless.

“Wait—look at this!” Lane crouched down, pointing. A small rubber wedge lay near the ropes.

“And this.” Georgia held up a half-empty bag of birdseed, stuffed behind a dusty chair. Kyle, meanwhile, tugged at the window latch. It wobbled, bent and broken, as if it had been forced open.

“Someone’s been sneaking in,” Rita murmured.

“But who?” Georgia asked.

“And why are the bells only ringing at midnight?” Kyle added. “Ghostly prank, or...?”

Rita’s eyes sparkled. A mystery was unfolding, and she was determined to solve it.

---

🕵️‍♀️ Clues So Far

1. A rubber wedge near the ropes.

2. A bag of birdseed hidden behind a chair.

3. A broken window latch.

4. Bells ringing at midnight, even though the tower is supposed to be empty.

5. Lane’s new drone controller sticking out of his bag.

---

Reader Challenge:
Can you figure out what caused the midnight chimes?

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Rita Logan and the Dark Tower - Episode 10

Episode 10:

Truthfully, this wasn't an uncommon instance in Rita Logan's life. She had seen more spooky houses, mysterious swamps, and hidden passageways than anyone her age. So, this locked door didn't seem such a great obstacle, but as they say, looks can be deceiving.

Matt used his exception all cool gizmo to pick the lock, but that seemed to only send the door into lockdown mode. Several clicks reverberated through the small space. Each click seemed in time with Rita's heart.

"What was that?" She asked.

Matt smiled sheepishly. They had been under the impression this place was just a normal, aging tower with normal locks and zero security. They should have guessed something like this would happen. Rita had told them about the the front door without a lock and the holographic images inside the living room.

"Minor setbacks," he said. "Nothing to worry about. We've got it covered."

Noah's expression was classic, a cross between you're crazy and maybe he was adopted. "There is no 'we' in this equation. There There's only you."

"Cosmo said these could get him into any normal door."

"Then I guess we're dealing with something that is not normal." Rita retrieved the flashlight from the dusty messenger bag and trained it on the door. It appeared to be made of wood, but when she knocked on it with her flashlight, it echoed like it was hollow metal. "That is definitely not a normal door. It's extra thick, not to mention made of something that sounds like metal and looks like wood."

Matt grabbed the flashlight and shined it on the hinges. They were gleaming and new and wired for electricity.

"This thing is booby trapped," he said. "Who would go to this much trouble to secure a door in a crumbling death trap?"

"That, my brother, is an excellent question." Noah climbed out the big hole in the side of the stairwell. He wandered around the courtyard trying to catch a signal on his phone. He was so distracted he didn't notice the short girl with the pageboy haircut carrying a pile of books toward the back of the dark tower. She was walking swiftly as if she knew she was expected and was already late.

Noah turned into the girl's path and they crashed into each other. Her books went flying along with his cell phone. The girl lost her balance but Noah's quick reflexes had him reaching for her arm. He grasped it and jerked her back up right.

"You all right?" he asked, dropping the girl's arm like a hot potato. Not because she was ugly but the opposite. She possessed what he called Nerdy Chic. She wasn't a style icon but she had feminine touches in all the right places balanced with her natural girl librarian outside.

He reached down to retrieve her fallen books but she pushed his hand out of the way as she gathered them back in her arms. Noah noticed all the books were published by the same company, Legacy Press. He'd never heard of the publisher and made a mental note of it.

"I'm fine," she said, obviously nervous. "My fault entirely." She spun around to make a speedy exit and stepped squarely on Noah's phone. It made the piercing sound of breaking glass. Her eyes showed shock and apology as she mumbled goodbye and disappeared behind the tower. Noah quickly followed curious about the mysterious girl but somehow, with only a few steps she had effectively disappeared.

Noah grabbed his broken cell, shoved it into his jacket pocket, and walked back to the gaping hole in the side of the tower's front stairwell.

***

In the meantime, Rita watched Matt examine the door. At that moment, if he could have dissected the door with his eyes, he would have done it.

"It's just a door, not a bank vault," Rita said.

"I'm not so sure about that, " Matt said. "Hollow metal, shattering lock and booby trapped hinges, whatever is inside this tower, someone really doesn't want us to see it."

"We got in once," Rita said.

"You had the element of surprise. Now they're onto you."

"Whomever they are."

"Right."

Rita pressed on the wall beside the door. She tested the firmness wondering if this wall was as strong as the one she'd accidently fell through earlier. While Matt was fascinated with the door, Rita picked up a loose board near the haphazard wall of tables in chairs and began to poke at a weak spot. It wasn't long before she had a small hole in the wall. She reached hear hand through and unlocked the door from the other side. Matt was leaning on the door when it suddenly wasn't  holding his weight any more. He landed on his hands and feet inside a dusty corridor.

"How'd you do that?" he muttered.

"You couldn't open the door. I had a better idea."

Rita was known for her ability to think outside the box. Today, this just seemed the most logical conclusion to her. Noah peered in from the outside. He saw the open door. "Nice Good thing you didn't need my idea."

"What was your idea?" Rita asked.

"I was going to search for the model number etched in the door, but I crashed into someone in the courtyard and her shoe did a number on my phone." He displayed the broken pieces. "Dad is going to kill me. I wish I knew how to fix it. I'm not due for another upgrade for over a year."

"Bad luck," Matt said. "Phoneless on the first week of school." He shook his head. "You'll be a social outcast. You'll be unconnected." He gasped melodramatically. "You'll actually have to use the library. "That's inhumane, bro."

"Some of us do get through life without a phone."

"Who? Do you know them? Are they old? Do they still use rotary phones you have to plug into a wall?"

Rita shook her head. "There's something wrong with you, Matt."

He smiled mischievously. He knew he was weird and was perfectly okay with the label.

"You can borrow my phone for anything you need," Rita said. "Not that the library is the entrance to the Underworld or anything."

Matt chucked. "Speak for yourself. Mrs. Worth, the librarian? She's scary. I mean, if you dressed up like her for Halloween, I'd be mighty frightened. She's like my kryptonite. I can't go near her without getting the shivers."

"That's only because she stood up to you in the 4th Grade and forced you to do your homework in study hall."

Matt shivered. "I still have flashbacks."

Cover possibility

Here is a test cover. This isn't the real art of Rita, but it is a shot I took with my ipod.

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower: Episode 9

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower

Episode 9:

by Toni Walker

Rita Logan and brothers, Noah and Matt Strong managed to sneak out by doing a typical teenage activity: going to the movies. Rita knew that her parent's wouldn't want her going back to the Dark Tower so soon, especially after what had happened the first time. But if they had really thought about it, they should have realized their daughter wouldn't let this big of a mystery go.

"We should only be gone a couple of hours," Matt reassured them. "And we promise to come straight home.

"See that you do," Rita's father said, his eyes were questioning, as if he didn't quite believe this story but was going to let it go for now.

The three of them hurried to the green beat up station wagon Stephen Strong called his second car. None of them commented on how ugly it was or how unpopular just being seen in it would make them seem. They were just grateful they didn't have to ride their bikes across town.

"Before we get back, we need to read up on this plot of this movie we're supposedly going to," Rita suggested.

"It's an action flick. A lot of stuff blows up. There are cool effects and a love story thrown in for the female viewers," Matt said. "What's there to read up on?"

"Plus," Noah added. "Matt's already seen it like three times."

"It's gonna be a classic!"

"You're too weird," Rita said.

"I know," Matt laughed. "That's why you love me."

Rita chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You wish."

It only took the trio a few minutes to make their way to the dark tower. It loomed above them like a dark beacon. The moon, high in the sky, cast an ominous glow on the restricted area. Rita leaned against the fence while Noah worked on the lock. 

It had been nearly impossible to get into the first time. She hoped something in her backpack would make it easier to enter this time. 

"I have a few ideas about how to get into the tower,"  Matt said pulling a crumpled map out of his bag. 

Noah studied the map momentarily and grabbed Matt's arm. "Wait here. We shouldn't be long."

Rita found herself on the long staircase leading up toward a metal door. She wondered what was inside they wanted to keep so protected. It must have been pretty important considering the thickness of the door. 

Someone wanted to keep snooping eyes away. 

A police car turned onto the road that ran in front of the tower. Rita knew none of them were supposed to be there, so being caught by the police wouldn't be a good thing. 

She hurried down the stairs and hid behind the incline of the steps. She peered over them waiting for the cruiser to pass by. She leaned forward to tuck her head below the stairs as the spotlight from the police car panned over the area. She crouched down even further putting more pressure on the stairway wall. Something gave way beneath her fingertips. Rita fell forward into the darkness. 

* * *

Matt and Noah also noticed the police car cruising around the block. They ducked behind some rusted trash cans and flattened themselves against the building. 

"Dad must have put some extra patrols up," Noah said. "We have to get inside ASAP. He may have some of his men on foot patrol."

"He's such an over-achiever," Matt mumbled. 

Noah fiddled with the lock on the cellar door. He'd borrowed a tool from his dad's kit. It looked like a gun with long thin tweezers on the end. It only had one use, picking locks. 

He stuck the end of the gun into the lock and squeezed the trigger a few times. In a few seconds the padlock was off and they were inside.

"Piece of cake," Matt yelped slipping in behind Noah. "Dad has the coolest toys."

"Dad better not find out we borrowed this. We'll be grounded until we're thirty."

"My lips are sealed bro."

* * *

The darkness surrounded Rita like a blanket. She moaned and opened her eyes to total darkness. 

Noah and Matt heard the crash and came running around the building. The large gaping hole in the side of the stairwell was obvious. Noah shined his flashlight and found Rita crumpled in a ball a few feet down. She wasn't moving. 

Matt climbed down into the hole and took the flashlight from Noah, who followed in his brother's footsteps. 

"Do you think she's all right?" Matt asked. The beam from the flashlight  bounced around the dark area. 

Noah leaned down and felt Rita's pulse but before he could count out the beats, she stirred. 

"She's awake," he said. Noah helped her sit up, but she was a bit wobbly. Matt trained the light on her face. 

"I think she's cut her head," he said. "She's bleeding."

"I'm not surprised. That was a pretty long fall. I hope she doesn't have a concussion. Maybe we should have dad check her out."

"No," Rita protested weakly. "I've made it this far. I want to keep going."

"You are so stubborn," Noah said. 

"Mom says I get that from her."

Rita had to lean against Noah, but she eventually found her footing. She discovered her flashlight broken into three pieces on the floor in front of her. "Great. Now we're out one light."

"We should take you back to the Strong Compound," Matt said. "You really don't look good."

"Will you both stop it? I bumped my head. I'm fine."

Rita leaned against the wall to steady herself and her hand made contact with the light switch. She flipped it up before saying anything to Noah and Matt. They shielded their eyes against the brightness.

"Woah, warn a guy next time. I think I'm going blind." Matt rubbed his eyes and squinted taking a look at the world around him. Tables, cabinets and chains were stacked haphazardly in the small space. 

'What is this place? A grave yard for school supplies?"

Behind the wall of desks peeked a door handle. Rita pointed it out to the boys.

"Maybe we can get in through that door," Rita suggested.

"Or... we could go in the door that doesn't have a million chairs stacked in front of it." Matt suggested.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying," Rita asked.

"We found a way in. Having a sheriff as a dad has its perks," Matt said. "Not to mention really handy tools and an automatic get out of jail free card if something goes drastically wrong.

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower - Episode 8

 

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower

Episode 8

Sunlight fell on the face of Rita Logan peeking over the roof of the house next door spilling over the window sill. It slowly nudged her out of her slumber whispering that morning had arrived.

She rolled over away from the brightness subconsciously wanting a bit more sleep. But her mind, the part that remembered the events of yesterday, shouted at her from inside its gauzy depths, "GET UP!"

Rita's heart pounded beating a rapid rhythm that felt lodged in her throat. She rubbed her eyes and let them adjust to the sunlight. Her feet dangled off the edge of the bed.

The room where she found herself was unfamiliar. It wasn't a place she had spent any time, but it was the sort of room she'd found herself many times in her life. Her parents never verbalized their fears, but every so often those fears came to the forefront of their lives pushing them to move out of town.

Rita wasn't sure what they were running from but she did know one thing -- those fears were building again.

This was why she's never allowed herself to become close to anyone. She knew eventually her parents would get 'that look' in their eyes and calmly tell her it was time to move again.

She heard her parents voices somewhere outside her door. She'd been so busy following the clues of her new mystery she'd almost forgotten they'd both been missing for a few days.

"Mom? Dad?" she said with surprising pep in her voice. "Is that really you?"

"Yes, pumpkin. It's us." Ford Logan tousled his oldest girl's hair. "Didn't think you could get rid of us that easily, did you?"

"I didn't know what happened. I came home from school and you were just gone. Even Xander, my evil half-brother, went missing. Not that I'm complaining, at least, about Xander."

Rita's parents apologized for not being able to find her during their time of crisis and they didn't explain further. She thought it was odd at the time but was more focused on her own mystery quest.

She checked her phone and there was a message from Kyle. asking her where she was. She was a popular girl these days. He was apparently hiding in her house. At text from Jordan followed with a frantic message that George was missing.

Rita could have run, but where would she go? She was bruised everywhere and it still hurt to move. She sat up in bed, her head spinning a bit. How had all this happened without her? A suitcase full of clothes was lying on the dresser. Someone had thought ahead to pack things for her. That was odd considering they'd forgotten to inform her about the danger.

Something wasn't right. And she felt like her parents were still keeping something from her.

Rita slipped into the outfit on top of the pile, grabbed her messenger bag and moved to the window. She had to find Kyle and Jordan and see what was really going on.

She was in the process of removing the screen when Noah appeared in her doorway.

"Rita? You up?"

She stilled. What was Noah Strong doing here at the safe house?"

"Just a minute!" Rita yelled. She replaced the screen pulled the curtains and moved to her bed. "Okay, you can come in," she called.

Noah poked his head in the door. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right. You came in a bit out of it last night."

"I was going back to the Dark Tower to do a bit more investigation, but I guess I never made it. Somehow, I woke up here."

"Oh, you made it all right. And about got yourself kidnapped for your trouble."

"Kidnapped?"

"Some man in black came out of the shadows and grabbed you. If it hadn't been for my brother, Micah, there's no telling where you'd be right now."

She let that thought sink in for a moment, but it didn't effect her in the way Noah thought. She wasn't scared, she was frustrated.

"All of these fantastical things have happened and I'm not any closer to solving the mystery of the Dark Tower than I was when I started." Rita huffed.

"Maybe staying safe is more important than solving a mystery no one cares about."

"That's just crazy talk," she muttered. "Everyone in town wonders about the Dark Tower. Strange lights, strange noises at all times of night. Heck, there was a holographic image on the first floor projecting an image of a living room. Why on earth would they do that unless something strange was going on?"

Noah was also interested in knowing what was going on at the Dark Tower, but he wouldn't admit that to his father, who was against trespassing on the property again.

"All right. We'll go over there together and figure this out, but we need to make sure our parents don't know what we're doing."

"Cool," said a voice behind them. It was Noah's brother, Matt. "So, are we saying 'road trip?'"

Episode 7: Duct Tape & Secret Passages

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower
Part 7: Duct Tape and Secret Passages
by Toni Walker

A hand closed over Rita Logan’s mouth. She struggled against her attacker for a good minute before he started dragging her toward the woods. She felt herself getting a bit woozy. Whatever was on the rag in his hand was causing her to loose consciousness.

Micah Strong heard the commotion from his position on the far side of the Dark Tower. He approached the goon that had Rita from behind and tapped him on the shoulder.

“You know, kidnapping is not a real nice way of introducing yourself.” He spoke casually, like the good-ole-boy from the south he was. His calm façade produced the results he wanted. The goon craned his neck around, dropping the rag covering Rita’s mouth. She melted to the floor out of the bad guy’s hands as he spun around to attack.

“Howdy,” Micah said. “Nice meeting ya.” In Micah’s hands was a long strip of silver duct tape. Before the goon knew what was happening Micah had the tape twisted around his wrists, trapping him . As he moved around the tape came up him until the man was bound by the silver tape. The goon grunted in protest.

“Love to stay and chat,” he said slapping the man on the back. “But I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”

Micah grabbed the rag soaked in sleep inducing agent and shoved it into the man’s mouth. “Sleep tight.”

There was something a bit unconventional about Micah Strong. He did things his own way. And that had a lot of people questioning him. But his results were rock solid.

“You’re weird, you know that?” Rita said slurring her words.

Micah smiled. “I like to call it thinking on my feet,” he said. “It did the job, didn’t it?

She had to agree. His odd way of saving her did produce results.

“You can think of me like MacGyver.”

A confused expression crossed her face. “Who?”

Micah sighed and shook his head. Kids were getting younger and younger every day. “Never mind.”

A few steps into their walk to his Jeep had Rita stumbling. He scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way. As he drove the short distance, Rita spoke in gibberish he couldn’t understand. Rita was more effected by the sleep agent that he first thought . Her head bobbed as she struggled to remain awake.

Up ahead was the Strong Compound, it was where his father did all his deep thinking. He pulled his Jeep Wrangler into the long round driveway parking out front. Cosmo met him at the door.

“What happened to her?” Cosmo asked.

Micah carried Rita from the Jeep and past the computer nerd. “They tried to get her. Right in front of us they tried to get her.” He easily deposited her sleeping form on the nearest couch.

“Ballsy bastards, aren’t they?” Cosmo muttered.

Helen and Ford Logan, Rita’s parents appeared at the top of the second landing and rushed down the stairs when they saw their daughter.

“She’s fine,” Micah reassured them. “Just a little sleepy. It will wear off soon.”

“You promised me they wouldn’t get her,” Helen stressed.

Steven Strong, Micah’s father, appeared from the next room. “And they didn’t get her. She’s safe and she’s home.”

“I can’t believe you’ve pulled us from our home, Steven,” Helen said. “We haven’t had time to talk to Rita about any of this.”

“You know my theory has been the less they know the better,” Steven said.

“The kids deserve to know what they’re up against.” Ford Logan crossed his arms over his chest.

The door to the compound opened and everyone turned toward the foyer. The housekeeper opened the entrance revealing Noah and Matt.

“Yeah, dad. We deserve to know what is going on,” Noah said.

^^^

The basement of Rita’s home was dark and smelled like lint and dryer sheets. Kyle Fillmore coughed then sneezed. He was allergic to mold. There was probably mold down here too. He’d have to tell the Logan’s to do something about the mold. Having mold in your house wasn’t safe.

When the previous intruders had exited and Kyle was sure the coast was clear, he exited the cardboard box where he’d been hiding. It wasn’t the most original place to hide but it served its purpose.

He felt his pulse skyrocket when someone else entered the house. He took a few deep breaths and forced himself not to pass out. Being comatose on the floor was not the best way to evade the bad guys. He quickly jumped back into the box. The bottom was filled with clothes vacuumed sealed inside plastic sleeves. Each movement made a discernible crackling sound. He’d have to be as quiet as a church mouse to keep the bad ones from discovering his location.

^^^

Jordan Langford and her boyfriend, George exchanged troubling glances.

“He has to be here,” Jordan said as she swept her pink highlighted hair behind one ear.

“We are talking about Kyle here,” George reminded her. “And what about Rita and her family? Weren’t they supposed to be here too?”

“This is just too weird,” she whispered. “I feel like Rita looking for clues.”

“Rita’s parents are gone. Rita is gone and know Kyle. Are you sure this is the night they wanted to hair the family dinner?”

“I’m certain,” Jordan said. “There are two things I’m never wrong about. Music and food. And you couldn’t make me miss one of Mrs. Logan’s homemade meals.”

A crash in the basement had Jordan and George running down the back stairs. They found Kyle flat on his face in the middle of the laundry room floor.

“What are you doing?” Jordan asked.

“Obviously, I’m hiding.” Kyle stood and brushed the lint off his pants and shirt.

George leaned against the wall next to the washing machine. Before Jordan could tease Kyle any more, George yelped. When they both turned around to look, George was gone.

Part 6 - Surprise Attack

Rita Logan and the Dark Tower

PART 6 - Surprise Attack

"What are you doing?" Matt pulled Noah aside. "Dad is
going to totally freak out. He doesn't like when we
get civilians involved in police business."

Noah used hushed tones but Matt could tell how serious
he was. "We need her, Matt. What if our paren't were
the ones missing. Wouldn't you want someone to believe
you? Help you find them?

"Of course, but..." Matt wasn't sure about this.

"But nothing. She needs our help and we're going to
give it to her."

"Where do we start?" Matt asked. He gave in easily
already knowing Noah would win any argument where
Rita's safety was concerned.

"I think I have something," Rita said..

She pulled out an old photo of her parents when they
were teenagers. "Look at this. Look in the background.
Isn't that the dark tower?"

"Yeah, it could be. This must have been taken back in
the day when the tower wasn't so spooky," Matt said.
"It looks pratically brand new."

Noah examined the photo more intently.

"Matt, doesn't that look like Micah's girlfriend?"

"It couldn't be," Rita said. "This photo must be over
twenty years old."

"That must be her mother," Matt said.

"We need to show this to Dad. It may be a big clue if
more people in the photo are among the missing."

"Can we borrow this?" Matt asked.

"Why don't you just scan it and email it to your
father?"

Rita led them into her bedroom and plugged in a
portable scanner to her laptop. The boys were focused
on sending the email when they heard a loud click from
across the room.

"What was that?" Noah asked.

Matt turned toward the door. "She's locked us in!"

"Sorry, boys. If my parents are in danger, I have to
go after them. I had to make sure you wouldn't stop
me."

They could hear the front door slam and her
convertible speed off.

"I can't believe we fell for that," Noah said. "The
ole come-up-to-my-bedroom-and-scan-the-picture-ploy."

"Well, while we're here, we might as well send this
photo to Dad. This could be a super clue." Matt
scanned in the image and sent the email.

Meanwhile, Noah worked on the archaic lock and managed
to slide a nail file between the door latch and the
wall. It didn't take him long to jimmy the lock and
free them from the bedroom. But Rita did have a pretty
big head start on them.

"Exactly how much trouble do you think we're in?" Matt
asked.

"Cosmo has probably already told Dad about the cell
phone triangulation and Rita's missing parents," Noah
said. "If I miss my guess, he probably beat Rita
there. And our brother, Micah, couldn't be far
behind."

"But do you think we're in trouble?"

"Probably. Keeping things from Dad always gets us in
trouble," Noah said.

***

"What do you mean?" Steven Strong asked his buddy and
fellow detective, Cosmo.

"Matt and Noah went and talked to Rita Logan," Cosmo
said. "But don't get mad. They found something. Check
our your email. They sent you something. I think it's
a clue."

Steven wasn't used to his sons sneaking into an
investigation, although, he shouldn't be surprised by
their actions. His sons had solved more cases in
Gateway City than most of the detectives on his squad.
Steven knew his face was blood red. It had to be. His
blood pressure was pounding in his ears.

As he entered his password into his personal email
program, he willed himself to calm down. His sons
seemed to be two of the few people who could make him
lose his cool. And that meddlesome Rita Logan wasn't
far behind.

He scanned the photo and the quick note left by Matt.
He sighed in frustration. He should have known he
couldn't hide something like this from his sons. He
grabbed the phone on his desk and called Micah's
private cell.

"Rita Logan and your brothers are closing in on
solving the case," Steven told his oldest son.

"I told you that you should have confided in them.
They're curious guys. You should know. You raised
them," Micah said. "And Rita Logan being involved will
only make Noah want to help more. You know he has a
crush on the girl."

"I know. You were right. I think we should bring them
all in on this case before the whole thing blows up in
our face." Steven wasn't happy about having to involve
his youngest sons i the case. This was a pretty
dangerous one, one that would, in the end, get someone
killed.

Micah was so silent on the other end of the line,
Steven feared his untrustworthy cell phone had dropped
the call. It wasn't until he heard his son's sharp
intake of breath that he knew that wasn't the case.

"We've got a problem, Dad. The Logan girl is back and
alone. I don't think a bunch of holograms are going to
scare her off as easily this time."

Like a spector, Detective Micah Strong moved with the
shadows, stealthy and secretive. He was an expert
tracker. Gateway City criminals didn't have a chance
of resisting his hometown all-star allure.

Steven was afraid of that. He wasn't a fan of getting
civillians involved in an investigation but he feared
if he didn't, those missing college girls would be
lost to him forever.

"Bring her back to the compound. I think we need to
have a chat with Ms. Logan and the boys."

"Your sons are on their way back," Cosmo said as he
monitored the surveillance cameras they'd set up all
around the dark tower. "Rita locked them into her
room," he said with a snicker.

"Good. Thanks." Steven took a deep breath. He didn't
want to think about what they were doing in Rita
Logan's bedroom.

***

Rita Logan had a feeling about that strange
holographic set up in the living area of the tower.
She had a feeling it was just a red herring to either
scare her off or throw her off. Either way, it had
done its job on her first visit. The tactic wouldn't
be so successful a second time.

Before she got within fifteen feet of the front door
of the tower a gloved hand grabbed her mouth and
shoved her forcefully toward the woods behind Mrs.
Cresswell's cabin. Rita struggled but something was
wrong. With each step she felt weaker and weaker. The
woods ahead began to blur in her vision and before she
could see where the kidnapper was taking her, she
passed out.