The Charelton Locket

By Ann Morgan Taylor

The Charelton Locket
FinalistAward
The Beverly Hills 2014 International Book Awards

With the end of summer vacation, spunky teenage detective Missey Wilcox is looking forward to returning to school. The new school year brings Zoe Rabin to Colony High. Zoe's eyes seem to hide many secrets. When Zoe begins to experience strange accidents, is bullied by the most popular girl in school, and is accused of stealing, Missey is determined to unlock the mystery of Zoe's unknown past. With the help of her best friend, Willow, Missey embarks on a journey of mysterious twists and turns as she uncovers prejudice, greed, and selfishness aimed at Zoe and finds herself in danger

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493156771

Ann Morgan Taylor

Ann Morgan Taylor was the owner of an accounting and tax practice for twenty years. Now that she is retired, she is able to write full time. She is a history buff, collects antiques, and enjoys incorporating these two hobbies into her writing. She lives in Pennsylvania with her two cats, Max and Peter.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Tuketu Kids Camp 2013

H ey, Missey, I’m heading over to the amphitheater, are you about ready? Didi Gunther asked as she popped her head inside the cabin door.

Just about. I’ll meet you there.

Okay, but hurry. You don’t want to miss any of the show.

Tonight is the last night of camp. The kids are roasting marshmallows around the campfire while they wait for the talent show to begin, which is the final event. For the past two weeks, I’ve been one of the assistant camp counselors at Tuketu Kids Camp. The camp director said that the meaning of Tuketu is bear making dust. Well, there has been a lot of dust around here for sure, with two hundred kids running all around the camp. I was assigned to assist Counselor Carrey Tinsdale with her group. Carrey is twenty-two and a senior at Penn State. She is the perfect mother hen to our group of twelve seven- and eight-year-old girls. It’s been fun helping the little kids with the various activities even though a few of them did experience some homesickness; and I have an awesome tan from all the outdoor activities. Tuketu Kids Camp is a hundred-acre camp in the Alleghany Mountains with all sorts of things to do. The camp has a lake, a great dining hall, and lots of trails for hiking. All the wood-sided cabins have bunk beds, and Carrey and I are always with the girls. The other camp counselors and assistants are nice, and I have made new friends, but there is one assistant that I can’t quite figure out. Her name is Zoe Rabin. Zoe helps the kids with craft making and dance. The first time I saw Zoe, all I could do was stand and stare at her. While some girls are pretty or cute, Zoe is drop-dead gorgeous. Her oval face is so flawless it reminds me of one of Gram’s porcelain Meissen figurines. She has a pert nose, big sable-brown eyes, and her eyelashes are so long most girls would be envious. Her raven-black hair frames her face and cascades down to the middle of her back. She is thin but not skinny, and the best way to describe her walk is graceful. She is sweet and nice, but she is also very quiet and rather shy. She smiles and laughs at times, but there is also sadness, especially in her eyes.

One morning I woke up extra early, and as I was walking to the bathroom, I looked out the window of our cabin and spotted Zoe. She was off by herself in a little clearing just beyond the camp compound, stretching and doing exercises. Her movements were so graceful that I just stood there watching in amazement. She seemed to be in a world all her own. Since everyone in camp had to do morning exercises, I was curious why she was exercising so early. After that morning, I decided to see if she went off by herself every morning, and sure enough, she did. My curiosity got the better of me, and one morning, I walked up to her. She was apparently concentrating on her movements so much that she didn’t hear me walk up behind her in the soft grass. She was wearing a black leotard and shorts. Her back was to me, and as she was standing on her left foot; she began to raise her right leg upward in a slow, fluid movement until she was holding her ankle with both hands, and her foot was above her head. Her toes were pointed, and she was literally doing a split standing up.

That was incredible! I said, and Zoe immediately put her leg down and turned around, a bit startled. How did you learn to do that? Does it hurt? I could never do that in a million years.

You scared me.

Oh, I’m sorry.

That’s okay. A smile crossed Zoe’s face, Thanks, and no, it doesn’t hurt to stretch like that. I’ve been doing it since I was about three.

Wow! Are you a gymnast or a dancer, because those are the only two things I can think of that would make you want to split yourself in half standing up?

A little giggle escaped Zoe’s lips. I dance a little, and I enjoy exercising by myself. Picking up her towel, shower sponge, and a bar of soap, she looked at me just before she started to turn and walk away. Well, I better get back. I want to take a shower before the rest of the kids get up. See you later.

Hey, wait up, and I’ll walk with you. My name is Missey Wilcox, I said as I extended my hand.

Zoe shook my hand and responded. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Zoe Rabin. Then just as she took a couple of steps toward the log shower building, I heard a loud crack. I looked up just in time to see a large domed beehive full of honeybees fall within a couple of feet of where Zoe was standing. The bees were instantly mad and swarmed all around us. I started to run, but when I looked over my shoulder to see if Zoe was running too, I saw her jumping around in one spot flailing her arms, which was the worst thing she could do. I ran back to her, grabbed the towel out of her hand, threw it over her head, and jerking her arm; I shouted, Come on, hold the towel and run. The loud buzz of the bees was deafening. Zoe started to head toward the lake, but I grabbed her arm again and shook my head no. We would only be able to hold our breath underwater just so long, and the bees would just wait for us to come up for air and then sting us anyway. We had to get inside a building and close the door, but I didn’t want to run into one of the cabins filled with little kids. I was concentrating so hard on where we should go that I didn’t feel the bees stinging. Just as we ran into the main part of the camp, the director, Chad Dunham, stepped out of his cabin door. Seeing the dark cloud of bees flying around us, he yelled for us to run into his cabin. Chad slammed his door shut the second we cleared the threshold.

Some of the bees made it inside, but Chad quickly extinguished them. Zoe looked pretty shaken up, and my heart was pounding at least a hundred beats a minute. We had beestings all right, but at least Zoe wasn’t stung badly on her face.

Are you girls all right? How badly are you stung? Chad asked as he guided us to a sofa.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I replied, I have some beestings that are starting to hurt, but thankfully, I put on a pair of sweats, so I’m not stung too bad. I think I’m okay. How about you, Zoe? Are you okay?

Zoe’s eyes were large and full of fright as she looked up at me. I don’t know. I have beestings everywhere, and they hurt.

Yes, they do hurt. Do you know if you’re allergic to bees? Chad asked as he kneeled down in front of Zoe.

I don’t know. I’ve never been stung by a bee before.

I’ll have the nurse come as soon as she can. Are you having any trouble breathing?

No. It was just so scary.

I’m sure it was. I have to make an announcement for everyone to remain in their cabin until the bees clear the area, Chad said as he poured two glasses of water from a carafe. Handing me a glass, he turned to Zoe. Drink this glass of water. It will help cool you down. You have a lot of stings, but it was a good thing you put that towel over your head, or your face would have been stung more.

I didn’t do that. Missey did. Why did you do that?

Bees are attracted to dark hair and clothing, and you’re wearing black, and your hair is as black as all get out, I replied.

You two girls take it as easy as you can, and I’ll be right back.

As Chad walked into another room, Zoe turned to me with a shudder. Thanks, Missey. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. The bees were everywhere.

You’re welcome.

Chad returned and gave both Zoe and me a couple of Tylenol to ease the pain. Honeybees have barbed stingers and leave their stingers behind. They will have to be removed quickly as possible in order to prevent any more venom being injected into your system.

Chad’s wife, Cheryl, entered from the back of the house. Cheryl is the camp nurse, and she had been in the dispensary with a camper who had come down with a summer cold. Chad and Cheryl used their fingers and a pair of tweezers to remove the stingers as gently as they could.

How did this happen? Chad asked as he removed another stinger.

We don’t really know, I said for the both of us. We were just starting to turn back toward the girls’ shower building when I heard a crack and then this ginormous beehive fell down within a foot or two of Zoe. Boy, those bees were mad.

I bet they were. You both know leaving the camp without anyone’s knowledge is against the rules, but it seems you both have been punished enough for your error in judgment, so no further action will be taken. What were you doing out of camp in the first place?

Oh, that was my fault, Zoe replied through gritted teeth as Chad removed another stinger. I like to exercise early in the morning, and I went to that little clearing just beyond the line of trees. I didn’t think I had really left camp. I’m sorry.

I had seen Zoe doing exercises the day before and was curious why she was exercising so early. Actually, she was practicing various dance exercises, and she is really great.

If it’s all right, I’m not feeling very well, and I would like to go lay down, Zoe said.

I’ll take you two girls back to the dispensary. I’ll give you some ice packs that will help with the pain and swelling. Hopefully, you will be able to get some rest, and I will watch you for a while to make sure you’re all right.

I’ll be right there, I called out to the back of Cheryl and Zoe as they walked to the door. I just want to finish this glass of water first. After Zoe and Cheryl left, I turned to Chad, who seemed to be deep in thought. I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think that hive fell out of the tree by itself. I heard a loud crack just before the hive came falling to the ground.

I was thinking along those lines myself, Missey. Beehives don’t just fall down from trees. I assure you I will check everything out and get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, you better go to the dispensary and put some ice on those stings. I’ll call your parents and tell them what has happened, and let them know you both are all right.

Two hundred yards away, Buddy Roehm struggled to raise his large girth up from the ground. Buddy wasn’t good looking or physically fit. He was a big-boned man, and at five feet, eight inches tall and 280 pounds, his stomach swelled over his belted pants, and the buttons on his shirt strained to keep his shirt closed. His curly carrot-red hair glistened in the sun; his neck was just one large roll of fat, and the drooping jowls on both sides of his face made him look like a bulldog. What he lacked in looks, he more than made up for in strength. He was as strong as a bull ox and very accurate with a rifle. A self-satisfied smile crossed his face as he disassembled the rifle he had used to shoot down the beehive.

CHAPTER 2

I didn’t get to talk to Zoe for the next couple of days. I only had to stay in the dispensary for one night, but Zoe was having a harder time recovering from the stings. I stopped by the dispensary several times as I wanted to see how she was doing and to get to know her better, but every time I went there, she was sleeping. I finally caught up with her at lunch on Thursday.

Hi, Zoe. How are you feeling?

I’m fine, but I still have nightmares of bees stinging me. How are you?

I’m great. Are you enjoying camp? I mean, besides the bee episode.

Outside of that, yes.

This is my first year as an assistant, and my first year at Tuketu Camp. How long have you been coming here?

This is my first year too. Well, I better get going. Hope you have a nice day.

Thanks. You too, I said as I watched her go outside. That was it. That was all she said. I had thought after the bee experience, she and I would have formed at least the beginning of a friendship, and I concluded there was something going on with that girl. Her eyes were sad once again, and I immediately formed the opinion that a girl who was that beautiful, agile, and graceful should not be so unhappy. Now my curiosity was in high gear, and I was determined to find out more about her; so at lunch the next day, I made a point of sitting next to her.

Hey, Zoe, how was your morning? I asked.

Fine. How was yours?

Now we’re getting somewhere, I thought to myself. I was helping the kids with archery this morning, and let me tell you, some of them really needed watching.

I bet they do. The only thing I have to watch out for is to make sure they don’t put glue into someone else’s hair or lick their fingers.

Now that’s funny. Do you have any brothers or sisters?

No.

I don’t either. Being the only child has its advantages but it has its disadvantages too. Some of my friends say I’m spoiled—well, except Willow. She’s my best friend. I guess it’s true some of the time, but then I’ve never had anyone to play with at home. So I guess it evens out. These hot dogs are really good. I think I’ll get another one. Would you like me to bring you one? I asked, as the only food sitting on her plate was some fruit, a salad with vegetables, and a glass of water. No wonder she was so thin, she ate like a bird.

No. But thanks, I’m fine.

Don’t you like hot dogs?

Yeah, they’re good, but the hot dogs here aren’t kosher.

Kosher? What’s that?

Zoe’s lips parted into a full smile this time as she replied, It’s a little complicated, but I don’t eat any meat that comes from a pig, and most hot dogs have pork in them.

Humph! I guess I never thought about what kind of meat is in a hot dog. Kosher sounds sort of religious to me.

The look on Zoe’s face clearly said she was debating with herself in how she was going to answer me. Finally, she said, Kosher is a Jewish word. I’m Jewish.

That’s really cool! I know a lot of Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Catholics, but I have never met anyone who is Jewish before. I’m Lutheran.

And I’ve never met a Lutheran before, Zoe said as she actually laughed.

Okay. I’ll be right back. Helping and running after the little kids makes me hungry.

Yeah, they can, I guess, but since I only help with crafts and dance, I don’t get that hungry. I’ve seen you running and swimming and rowing, so I’m sure you get hungry. I’ll save your spot.

Thanks.

Returning to the table with my second hot dog and another glass of ice water, I stated, My school starts next week.

So does mine.

I live in the town of Evergreen in Pennsylvania. Where do you live?

I have to get going. My next group is about to start. We’re supposed to weave a basket. Since I don’t have a clue how to weave a basket, this should be a trip. See you later.

Geez, I thought to myself, her group wasn’t starting before mine, and I still had fifteen minutes before I had to be at the next rowing session. It almost seemed like she didn’t want to tell me where she lived. I looked for Zoe at breakfast, lunch, and dinner after that, but she was either sitting with some of the little kids, or I just didn’t see her. Perhaps I’ll see her tonight.

CHAPTER 3

W ell this is the best I can do, I muttered to myself as I checked out my costume for the dance that some of the other camp counselors and I are to perform. All of us are to dress like Native American Indians. When I heard that news, all I could say was Good luck with that. One of the girls gave me a red-and-white scarf to fold and wrap around my forehead, and we’re all wearing tan burlap gunnysacks that we cut holes in for our head and arms. They’re scratchy, but it was the best we could do. Each girl took a black marker and drew a pattern on the front of her sack. I drew a sun