Stage Fright: The Charm Chase: A Diamond Minds Mystery

By Jessica McAdam

On the second day of summer drama camp, Biani Madrigal is plunged into a real-life drama when her teacher, Miss Jazz, goes missing. Biani and her new friends Michael and Cole become known as The Diamond Minds Detectives as they follow clues the authorities ignore: Lost charms. A break in. A vandalized car. Fingerprints. Watch out! Evil is chasing the charm chasers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644719909

Book preview

9781644719909_cover.jpg

Stage Fright

The Charm Chase

Jessica McAdam

ISBN 978-1-64471-989-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64471-990-9 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Jessica McAdam

Illustrations by the author

Digital conversion of artwork by Jesse Ryan McAdam

Logo by Jacob McAdam

All rights reserved

First Edition

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

The Old Barn Theater

Crime Scene

Clues

The Police

Kidnapped

Main Street

A Delicate Operation

Ransacked

Making Connections

In the Shed

No One Home

Trapped

Michael’s Discovery

Facing Grandma

From Joy to Despair

Into the Fire

Putting the Pieces Together

Summing It All Up Center Stage

About the Author

Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank the following for helping me to bring The Diamond Minds Mysteries series to life: my husband, Chris, who continues to champion my dreams in art and writing; my supportive family members: Terrie, Emma, Ruth and Beverly; my students, past and present, for their enthusiasm while awaiting the publication of this first novel, with a special shout-out to the real Michael, who was the very first to know these fictional friends, Biani, Cole and Kendra.

Finally, I give thanks here, and every week, to my writing companions: Sharon, Shelia and Jamie.

Chapter 1

The Old Barn Theater

Hey! Biani! Do you want a ride to the theater?

Eleven-year-old Biani turned to see Kendra Rice calling from the passenger seat of the sleek red convertible driven by her mother. Biani had met Kendra yesterday, on the first day of summer drama camp, at the Old Barn Theater in Logan, Utah.

Biani knew that living in Logan for the summer with her grandmother would not be like living in her home town, San Francisco, California.

For one thing, Biani thought, as she watched Kendra and her mother, In San Francisco, strangers are not this chummy.

Mrs. Rice was inching the car alongside Biani as she and her daughter waited for a reply. I barely know this girl, Biani reasoned. And I’ve never met her mother. I don’t take rides from strangers!

N-no thanks, she finally stammered. I’m almost there.

But we’re getting our parts this morning! Aren’t you excited? squeaked Kendra, her blue eyes dancing with anticipation.

If Biani had known a mystery was coming to light at the theater—not the mystery of who would play which part—but a mystery capable of closing the curtains for good, she would have thrown caution to the wind and jumped into the Rices’ car. Biani saw that both mother and daughter were watching her with identical expressions of kindly interest.

Kendra looks just like her mom, thought Biani. I look like my dad. Biani’s brow puckered. Or, at least, like his photograph. With that thought, her hand went to the golden locket she always wore around her neck. Inside was a tiny photo, the details of which Biani had memorized. It showed a young man with thick black hair falling over his handsome brow. He had a strong, square jaw and creamy olive skin. Besides possessing her father’s hair and skin color, Biani knew that when she looked into her father’s dark brown eyes in the photo, it was like looking into a mirror.

You’ll be late… said Mrs. Rice, who had noticed a cloud pass over Biani’s face. I know your grandmother well. She won’t mind if you ride with us. Hop in!

Biani knew she would be late. She was dawdling on purpose. Walking along, she was reviewing all the unfair things in her life. These thoughts were giving her a sour kind of pleasure, like scratching an unstoppable itch.

Thanks, but I really like to walk, Biani answered stubbornly, catching a look that passed between Kendra and her mother.

Okay, see you there, said Kendra, forcing a smile. Daughter and mother waved as their car picked up speed.

With a mixture of relief and disappointment, Biani watched the car pull away. She noticed the silver emblem of a little horse on the trunk—tail flying and hooves thundering. She realized she had just snubbed a girl who was trying to be her friend, and (What a dummy!) had also missed a ride in a really cool car. Suddenly, she felt an urgency to get to the theater and be better about making friends, and yet, once more, she persisted in ignoring her instincts. Instead, her thoughts spun out to review how the first acting class had gone the day before.

I did okay in auditions, Biani thought, unable to suppress a grin. I hope I get to play the part of the wicked niece who steals the diamond necklace from her uncle!

Biani figured her first day had gone so well because the teacher, Miss Jazzael, had helped her to feel good about trying out. Miss Jazzael was easy to like, but her name was hard to say. Biani had learned it was pronounced, Jaz-EYE-el. She was glad when the teacher had told everyone they could just call her Miss Jazz.

Counting herself and Kendra, there were twenty-five kids, ages eight to twelve, in the summer theater camp.

Many of the kids, including a new friend Biani had made on Saturday, named Michael, had been in the camp for three previous summers.

Thinking of Michael made Biani laugh. He lived on her grandmother’s street. She knew this because he had made a grand entrance moments after she and her parents had arrived in Logan. Her mom and stepdad, Ted, had already gone into the house, but she was still in the driveway pulling her suitcase out of the car, which was parked close to a lavender hedge. She was trying not to alarm the bees humming noisily among the blossoms, when a boy on a bicycle came barreling over the front lawn shouting, Hi! I’m Michael Altenberg! To Biani’s astonishment, he crashed right into the buzzing hedge, then leaped right back out as he slapped at the attacking swarm.

After the crash, or maybe because of it, she and Michael had become instant friends. They sat on the front porch and talked while Michael iced his bee stings. She had been surprised when Michael said he was eleven, too. His silky blond hair was buzzed short, except for his bangs, which were forever falling over his round blue eyes. Biani noticed he was shorter than her and had what she would describe as a baby face. She wouldn’t have said so out loud, but she did write it in her journal. And she also wrote that Michael was interesting to talk to. He was smart, funny and full of enthusiasm.

Coming back to the present, Biani realized she was almost at the theater. She could see the Old Barn across the street through the trees ahead. Kendra had told her there was a long list of kids who wanted to get into the summer camp if anyone dropped out. Biani didn’t tell Kendra, but she’d be happy to give up her place. Except, Biani knew she wouldn’t really drop out. The camp had been Grandma’s big surprise—a special gift she was extremely excited about.

I wonder if Grandma knows how I really feel, Biani thought with a frown. I bet that’s why she gave me a pep talk yesterday.

You don’t crave the limelight, her grandmother had said, "and I know you’ve never been in a play before, but you listen well, follow directions, and you’re observant. Just paying attention is half the battle in life. During my years of teaching school, I always knew how well my students would do by how well they paid attention. Biani, it’s not how big a part you get, but how well you do your part that matters. Grandma had hugged her and whispered, I am so excited I will get to see my beautiful granddaughter on stage!"

A loud beep startled Biani and she looked up to see Mrs. Rice waving as she pulled out of the gravel driveway at the theater. Biani returned an awkward wave, scanned the road in both directions, and crossed the street while Mrs. Rice disappeared out of sight.

It’s so weird that people constantly wave to each other in this town. It seems like everybody knows everybody, thought Biani.

In fact, her mom and Ted had both grown up in Logan. They had reconnected at their fifteenth high school reunion a year ago. It bothered Biani to know her mom shared memories with Ted that didn’t belong to her too. Biani truly liked Ted, but she didn’t like the way her life was changing since he’d appeared. For instance, Ted and her mom had gone, without her, to look at houses in a new subdivision in Logan.

Before Ted, Biani sulked out loud, "Mom never would have left me out of something so important! And I don’t want to move away from San Francisco!" Biani kicked passionately at the gravel driveway for emphasis. She was ashamed to see pebbles ping off the only car in the parking lot—her teacher’s car. She rushed over and was relieved to see no damage. Her eyes darted about to make sure no one else had seen what she’d almost done to Miss Jazz’s car.

Now, feeling a little rattled, Biani finally found herself at the front door of the theather. She reached for the doorknob, but it opened on its own! Her shock turned to relief when she saw it was only Michael. But his urgent words sent chills up her spine as