DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR CH 1 "I think our mothers are getting along great." Eighteen year-old Jasmine Medina said to her best friend, eighteen year old Lori Fielding. The girls were best friends and lived near each other in the small town of Thunder Ridge New Mexico "It seems like it" the barefooted Lori replied as she laid down on her couch and started to change the TV channels with the remote. Jasmine sat in a chair across from the couch and crossed her shapely tanned legs, which looked great in the jean cutoffs and white flip-flops she was wearing. Lori had on a red pair of shorts while both girls were wearing their t-shirts from the soccer camp. In the other room, Jane Medina and Susan Fielding were talking about their daughters' harrowing ordeal at the camp a month before. "We have pretty remarkable girls." Jane said to Susan. "I mean their bonding is incredible after what happened up there" "It sure is. My daughter was really shy around people until she met Jasmine. She's always been great at school, but didn't have a lot of friends ... . Can I show you the rest of the house?" "That would be wonderful" Jane answered as she put down her glass of ice tea and followed Susan "Girls, I'm showing Jane around the house" "Okay mom" Lori replied as she flipped through the channels. Being an Saturday morning in early August, there wasn't much on the tube. "I am super bored" Lori said "What about you?" "Kind of" Jasmine replied, giving her a small smile "You're still thinking about Javier aren't you ... Jasmine ... ?" Lori quizzed, talking about Jasmine's crush on the local college soccer star, Javier Gomez "Jasmine ... ?" "Okay" the pretty brunette replied, "You got me!" Lori tossed a pillow at her friend hitting her in the head. Jasmine laughed and squealed and threw it back. "Okay girls, that's enough" Susan Fielding announced smiling as she came down the stairs with Jane, catching the girls red handed "Don't want to break anything now" Susan took Jane out back as the girls broke into laughter "Busted!" Lori replied as Jasmine stuck her tongue out at her Sunday morning broke bright and sunny at the Fielding house as Lori's father Michael was reading the newspaper. Susan was making breakfast when Lori made it down the stairs wearing a pink robe and wearing her glasses, which she didn't wear often because she was so used to contact lenses. "Morning daddy" she said kissing him on the cheek. "Good morning sweetie" her father replied putting down the sports section. Michael, as well as Susan learned to appreciate their daughter more and more each day since last month's experience "Morning mom" she said kissing her mother as well "oooh pancakes" she added smelling the delicious meal cooking on the stove "Morning dear. I have some terrific news. Guess who called this morning?" Lori shrugged her shoulders "Your cousin Heather. She's coming to visit us for a week from Colorado" "Really! When?" "Next Friday. She's flying from Denver to Albuquerque and then onto Santa Fe. We'll pick her up there" "Oh man I have to call Jasmine ... she'll love Heather!" "Breakfast first okay, it's almost ready" Lori nodded as she helped her mother set the table DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 2) "I can't believe Heather's coming into town" Lori beamed as she sat in the back seat with Jasmine. Michael and Susan Fielding sat up front of their SUV as they rode the two-hour trip to Santa Fe to pick up Heather Banning, Lori's cousin. "Thanks again for inviting me Mr. and Mrs. Fielding" Jasmine smiled as she looked at Lori "No problem my dear" Susan replied, turning around "It's always a pleasure to have you around. Isn't your father live near here?" "Yes, but he's out of town on business...I talked to him the other day" Jasmine smiled as she thought of how close she as well as Lori, was to not being there at all. Her eyes welled with tears thinking about it. Jasmine then took out her phone and opened it. She then got a goofy grin on her face. "What are you looking at?" Lori asked trying to see. Jasmine then showed her the picture of Javier that she took for her phone "Oh man" Lori replied, rolling her eyes "Again? God Jasmine you're obsessed!" "Are you talking about Javier again?" Susan asked, "I think he's hot as well" Her reply got a funny look from her husband, not to mention laughter from Jasmine "Mom!" Lori shouted "But I think your father is hotter!" The girls giggled, as they got closer to the airport Jasmine and the Fielding's waited in the lobby for Heather. Her plane had landed about five minutes before. "There she is!" Susan shouted, waving Heather Banning had dirty blonde hair and was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. She was carrying her purse and was listening to her I pod as she made it down the escalator. She then caught her cousin's eye and waved. The Fielding's, as well as Jasmine, made it quickly over to her. Heather pulled the earplugs from her ears and hugged Susan and then the rest "Aunt Susan! Uncle Michael! Lori!" "How was the flight?' Michael added "Long, but I'm here now. I've got to get my bags" She then saw Jasmine standing behind them "And you must be Jasmine" she added giving her a hug as well "Nice to meet you Heather" "Likewise. I've heard nothing but great things about you. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you and my cousin ... " "Well we're here now," Jasmine replied putting her arm around Lori "That's all that matters" Everyone smiled as the group made it over to baggage "Okay everybody smile!" Heather said as she held a mini camcorder up and started filming in the vehicle. Heather had got her luggage and they all had soon left to head back to Thunder Ridge "Lori ... ." Heather shouted holding the camera on her cousin "Hello ... " Lori just gave her a small smile and then stuck her tongue out. Jasmine then jumped into the picture and smiled "Hi Jasmine!" Jasmine then showed Heather Javier's picture on her phone. Heather then gasped as she lowered the camera "Oh my God ... he's gorgeous ... who is he?" "Javier Gomez" Lori replied rolling her eyes "Jasmine's crush!" Jasmine gave her friend a friendly elbow as she laughed and soon the vehicle filled with laughter Meanwhile an old sedan pulled up to an old looking house. There were NO TRESPASSING signs on the fence outside it. The man and woman in the car then started talking "This place is secure" the woman said, "It won't be easy" "No problem ... nobody around though" "If you're right about what's inside, we'll be rich" "That's the idea baby" he added kissing her "That's the idea. We can start in the morning" DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 3) Later on that day, while Jasmine's mother was upstairs visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Fielding, the girls were all sitting in the large basement rec room of the Fielding house and talking. All of them were in t-shirts and shorts and barefoot "So what are we going to do tomorrow cousin?" Heather asked as she lay down on the rug. "What do you want to do? Lori replied "I'm open for anything" "Where do the cute boys hang out?" Jasmine snickered and then laughed as she caught Heather's face "God you two and boys!" Lori shot back, obviously shy of talking about the subject "Between you and Jasmine's Javier, I can't get no break!" Jasmine then put her arm around Lori, who smiled "I love you the way you are Fielding!" "So any boyfriend Jasmine?" Jasmine shook her head "You're kidding right? I mean you're already drop dead gorgeous!" Jasmine was kind of embarrassed by the statement "Me and my mom just moved here recently, I haven't had any time to meet many people ... I mean I'm only eighteen" "You definitely get your good looks from your mom, she should be a model" "Heather!" Lori shouted "You're embarrassing Jasmine!" "It's okay Lori" "And your name Jasmine is so pretty" "Jasmine Maria is my full name. My parents named me after my grandmother" "So," Lori said, "What ARE we going to do tomorrow?" Heather hesitated and then said something that made everyone laugh "What else, look at boys!" Saturday morning broke bright and sunny as the doorbell rang at the Fielding house. Lori and Heather were sitting watching TV on the couch "I'll get it!" Lori shouted as she got up and answered the door "Hey" Lori said to Jasmine "Morning everyone" "Jasmine, you rode over here?" Heather asked "I live only a mile away, besides it's beautiful out ... let's go for a ride you guys" "Do you have an extra bike Lori?" Heather asked Michael Fielding then walked in the room, obviously hearing their conversation "Matter a fact, we do. Let me go get it down for you. It's in the garage attic" "Oh I forgot about that bike daddy." Lori added, slipping a pair of white ankle socks over her feet. As Mr. Fielding left, Jasmine took a seat "Oh man, I have a great idea!" Heather announced, "I can film some things in the area. A documentary for school, sort of a summer project" "I think it's an excellent idea" Lori replied, putting her sneakers on "There's lots of scenery ... . and I don't mean boys either!" Heather and Jasmine just laughed at her statement. A few minutes later, Mr. Fielding had got the extra bike down. All three girls were dressed for riding: T-shirts, shorts and sneakers. Heather put her mini-camcorder in a bag around her waist. Soon after, the trio rode out of Lori's driveway to see the sites of Thunder Ridge. DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 4) "Wow! What a view!" Heather beamed as she held her camcorder to see one of Thunder Ridge's picturesque mountain views. The town sat near the Rocky Mountains, but had it's own small range that was just as spectacular. "Let's go to the park now" Lori said as she got back on her bike. The girls then started riding. Soon they arrived at the park and Heather started filming everything it seemed. In the distance, something caught her eye. "What's that place?" "Over there?" Lori asked looking "Yeah" "Oh that's Wilcox manor ... . they're going to tear it down ... condemned I think" "Ooohh, I bet its haunted ... . the kids back home would love this stuff!" "Let's go then." Jasmine chirped in "Jasmine" Lori replied, "It's just an old building ... private property ... " "Come on Cous, I'll race ya!" Heather, followed by Jasmine, rode up to the road that the manor was on. Lori reluctantly followed behind "I think you're wasting your time Heather!" she shouted to her cousin Soon the girls arrived in front of the very old three-story house. NO TRESPASSING signs dominated the landscape along with a fence. "See what did I tell ya?" Lori said, "Come on let's get back home" "I want to film you guys standing in front of the place" "Come on Lori, she is your cousin ... ." "Oh all right then" Heather made the best friends stand in front of the old house and it's NO TRESPASSING signs. Heather even made commentary about them standing in front of a supposedly "Haunted house" Lori just rolled her eyes as the girls started the ride home. "This is so silly!" Lori said to her cousin as she showed them her finished product "Your friends back home sill think we're dorks or something" "Oh come on honey, I think it's good" Susan Fielding said after looking at it as well "Very nice Heather" "If she wasn't your niece, you wouldn't say that I bet" Jasmine seemed puzzled by something as she looked at the video "Earth to Jasmine" Lori said waving her hand in front of the Latina's face "Javier is not in this picture!" Jasmine hesitated and smiled "I know." she said returning to her puzzled look. Susan then got up and announced she was going to order pizza for dinner "You're invited Jasmine, as always" "Thank you Mrs. Fielding, but let me call my mom first" "Maybe she can join us too" Jasmine smiled as she dialed her phone A little later after eating, Jasmine took Heather aside "Can I see your video again?" "Sure" Heather put the DVD back in the player and started it "Can you get to the part at the manor?" Heather did as Lori walked into the room "Hey, what are we looking at ... that again?" "There!" Jasmine shouted "What is it?" Lori asked, puzzled "That car in the background ... . it just pulled up" "A car?" Heather added, "I thought it was private property? And how did they get past the fence?" "Good question ... maybe there's a side entrance?" "It could be anyone Jasmine" Lori added, "Do you see who was driving?" "Nope. Heather's film ends there" "You think there's somebody there who shouldn't be?" Heather asked Jasmine The teen nodded in agreement "Lucky us" Lori added "Oooh a mystery to solve maybe?" Heather chirped, "That might be fun!" "Not to mention dangerous. Lori replied "Wait, I can clear this up right now" The young brunette walked into the kitchen and asked her mother a question "Mom, why are they tearing down Wilcox Manor?" "It's old. But from what I hear, there's supposedly a fortune in that place. That's why it's sealed off like that. "I guess they'll turn over all the artifacts and things to the museum and probably charity" Jasmine and Heather heard Susan's statement and looked at each other shocked. Maybe somebody was trying to steal the riches inside Wilcox Manor ... . DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 5) The next day, the girls were sitting around in Lori's basement trying to figure out what Lori's mother had said the day before about the possible fortune inside Wilcox Manor "I think we should check it out" Heather said to Jasmine and Lori "I mean, who could have been trespassing?" "I think you're right" Jasmine replied "It might be nothing though" "Jasmine" Lori added "You do remember the last time we decided to do some detective work don't you?" Referring to Soccer Camp and their perilous encounter with kidnappers "I know Lori, but someone might be trying to rob the place..." "I think we should keep this between the three of us" Heather shot back "At least for now" Jasmine added "We'll leave it alone if nothing comes out of it okay?" Lori nodded her head in agreement as the girls made it upstairs where Susan Fielding was standing. "Girls" Susan said "Me and Lori's father have to go out of town tonight on a quick business trip...something that came up with the Police Academy fundraiser" "For how long?" Lori asked "Just overnight. We should be back tomorrow late" "Mrs Butler has agreed to watch the house and you. I mean what are neighbors for?" "Mom! I'm not a child!" Lori said, rolling her eyes "Lori Anne, your eighteen still" Susan said hugging her daughter "And you know I love you very much. Jasmine can stay over if she likes" "Thank you Mrs.Fielding."Jasmine replied "Lori, your mom is just being protective that's all...I can relate" "Hey what about me?" Heather chirped "Don't I get a hug?" With that, laughter filled the air as the four females gave a big group hug A little later on, the teens were back out at Wilcox Manor "I wonder if I was right about another entrance" Jasmine said as she walked her bike near the Main entrance of the old building "Let's check it out" The girls parked their bikes across the road in a wooded area and made their way around the fence "This is exciting!" Heather exclaimed as she worked her camera, filming everything about the old place. A few minutes later the girls came across a small dirt road that led to a back entrance "I knew it!" Jasmine shouted and then quickly looking around, trying not to attract attention "What's that?" Lori said looking at the road. It looked like fresh tire tracks "Someone's definitely been here" Jasmine said "But who?" "Well they're not here now...can we go?" Lori added impatiently Just then the teens heard a car engine coming near. Someone was coming up the road! "Quick!" Jasmine half-shouted "Hide!" The girls quickly hid behind some bushes nearby. As Heather kept filming, the car approached the manor back entrance and stopped. It was an old sedan with big decals on the side that read 'THUNDER RIDGE HISTORIANS SOCIETY" Soon after, a tall well dressed man with a mustache got out. He went to the trunk and got out a bag and then unlocked a back door and went inside "It does look like a wild goose chase" Jasmine said whispering "I think he is from the museum" "It is. It's Richard Stanley, the curator" Lori added softly "He's well known in this town" The girls then made their way back to their bikes. "Man I was sure there was a mystery there" Heather said, putting on her helmet "If I can just check out the goods inside...That would be awesome!" Lori groaned and got on her bike "It's private property cous" "I know, but aren't you the least bit curious?" "Come on, let's go" Jasmine added as Lori rolled her eyes at her free-spirited cousin. Soon after, the girls made the ride back to Lori's house for the night "I wonder how much that place is worth?" Heather said as she laid on the blow up mattress. Lori and Jasmine were getting ready for bed as the girls were sleeping down in the basement den. Mrs. Butler, the neighbor was upstairs "House sitting" as Lori's parents had left town on the business trip. "Would you quit obsessing about it Heather!" Lori snapped, taking off her glasses that she sometimes wore "When Mr. Stanley puts it up in the museum, then you'll know" "I'll be gone by then cous ... I'm only here until the weekend" "Then Lori will have to tell you all about it" Jasmine added, putting her brown hair into a ponytail, before laying down "Let's get some sleep ... we can look at boys tomorrow if you want" Lori said, getting a giggle out of the other two "Or not!" Lori then shut off the light and then the girls fell fast asleep DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 6) Heather awoke after getting a restless night of sleep. She tiptoed up the stairs to not wake Jasmine and Lori. Changing in Lori's room, she put on a t-shirt and a pair of sweats. Heather then left the room as Mrs. Butler had awoken as well. "Good morning Heather, how did you sleep?" the middle aged woman asked "Okay ... don't wake Lori and Jasmine. I'm going out for my morning ride" "Okay dear. I'll have breakfast ready for all of you after awhile" "Sounds good" The blonde teen smiled as she went back down the stairs quietly and grabbed her camera. She then went into the garage and got on the extra bike and put on a helmet. She remembered the way over to the manor and a few minutes later she arrived there, parking her bike in the same place as yesterday. Heather then snuck up to the old building and filmed more of it. She then went over to the back door and not surprisingly, it was locked. Heather then went about finding a way in. The curiosity of what was inside was almost too much. She then saw a window and looked in, covering her eyes from the outside glare of the morning sun. It was definitely dark. She then suddenly heard a car engine coming up the back entrance. Hiding quickly behind the other side of the building, her pulse quickened as a man and woman got out, carrying a big bag and flashlights. Heather carefully filmed them as they looked around, but didn't notice her. They unlocked the door and went inside. "They're definitely suspicious ... I don't think they're from the museum ... Maybe they are crooks?" she thought, as then the coast was clear. The teen went back over to the door and opened it a crack. Stepping inside, the adventurous girl noticed how dark it really was, almost creepy ... the only light basically was from the small windows. Heather then went and put her camera down outside the door, next to a rock and slipped back inside. "It's too dark in here to take any pictures" She thought, walking slowly. She then walked a few more feet and saw a light up ahead. Suddenly out of nowhere, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind! "Mmmppphhh!" she garbled, her heart pounding as a voice filled the air. "Well, I thought we had company" the man sneered "Nice of you to stop by my dear" he added as he forced the terrified girl down the hall and into the lighted room. The woman, who she had seen a few minutes earlier, was handling some paintings. The man uncovered his hand as he pushed the teen inside the small room "Who is she?" the woman quizzed, putting the artwork down "Found her snooping around in here Bev" "Is that so ... well what do you know young lady?" "Enough to put you away!" Heather shouted boldly, probably forgetting for a second that she was in no position to negotiate. "She's trouble ... and probably got friends snooping around as well. I'll look around" "Stanley is always here at 10. We need to take her with us for now" "You won't get away with kidnapping me!" the teen shouted, trying to be brave "Raymond, find something to tie her up with and put her in the car ... And gag that motor mouth of hers as well" As Raymond jerked Heather out of the room, Jasmine and Lori had awoken, unaware of Heather's dilemma "Heather?" "She must be up already Lori" The two best friends started up the stairs and looked around for Heather, but ran into Mrs. Butler "Good morning girls. Lori your cousin will be back soon" "Where is she?" Lori asked "She went on her morning ride dear" "Morning ride?" Lori shot back, looking at Jasmine with dread "Oh my God!" Lori half shouted as she spotted Heather's phone on the table "What is it Lori?" Mrs. Butler asked, puzzled "Oh nothing ... " the teen stammered as she and Jasmine flew out of the room and down the stairs "We need to get over there, or we'll all be in trouble!" Jasmine said, changing from her sleepwear into some shorts, a t-shirt, ankle socks and sneakers "I can't believe she did this!" Lori shouted dressing much the same "And forgetting her phone, so we can't call her!" The two girls thought that trespassing on the Manor property again was bad enough, but they were unaware that Heather was in greater danger ... she was now a captive of two thieves! DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 7) "We have to figure what do with this brat" Beverly said as her husband in crime, Raymond drove the car away from the manor. "She knows we were here" "I think I have a plan ... I'll tell you about it back at the house. Check on her" Beverly leaned over the seat and pulled on a blanket that revealed Heather. The frightened teen was lying there tied up and a red bandana cleave-gagging her mouth. "Doing okay dear?" Beverly asked sarcastically as she laughed and covered Heather back up. Heather tried to fight back the tears as she had no idea where she was being taken to, let alone her fate. She thought of her camera and her bike still back at the manor. She could only hope that Lori and Jasmine would discover them and figure she was in trouble ... . the problem was, would they stumble into the same predicament ... Jasmine and Lori arrived near the manor and parked their bikes, discovering Heather's bike still there. "Well, she's still here Lori" Jasmine said, taking off her helmet "It looks that way ... hopefully we can drag her out of here for good and tie her down so she doesn't go back!" Lori replied, not knowing the irony in her statement "I hope that thing works" Jasmine asked looking at the small pen light that Lori brought from home "It's gotta be dark in there" "I couldn't find my dad's regular flashlight" "I just hope Mrs. Butler bought our explanation about where we were going ... and to be gone most of the day" The girls made it back up near the entrance and looked around. They noticed that were fresh tire tracks and the back door was locked "Okay Heather, where are you?" Lori asked in general, trying to find a way in. Jasmine then crouched down and picked up Heather's camera "Lori, look at this" "Why would she leave it there?" "Like you said, it's probably dark inside ... probably too dark to film anything" "Let's look at it, maybe there's an answer on it" The girls went over to the other side of the manor, out of anyone's view and crouched down. Lori turned on the camcorder and the girls activated the menu. The teens noticed the last thing on it was Heather shooting the car containing Raymond and Beverly getting out "Oh my God!" Lori half-shouted" "I know them!" "Who are they?" Jasmine asked "Raymond and Beverly Swanson. They're well known thieves. The last thing I read about them that they're on probation." "It doesn't take a genius to figure out that they want to get what's inside" Jasmine added as a bad feeling hit her stomach "Look at the time Lori. Heather shot this in the last half-hour" "That means, they either caught her and have her prisoner or maybe she got inside and hid from them" "We've got to get in there Lori" Jasmine added "And hope she hid from them ... we have nothing else to go on" "And if they did catch her" Lori added, fighting back tears "They'll be back ... and maybe for us" "Oh man, what about the curator, Mr. Stanley?" Jasmine added "You don't think he's helping them do you?" "Not sure, but they must know what his schedule is. I mean it seems weird that we saw him yesterday and they were here this morning" That statement seemed to be a signal as at that moment a car arrived up the road. The girls peeked around the corner and saw the curator as well as another younger man, get out of the car. They then took something out of the trunk and then went and unlocked the back door and went inside the place. Lori looked at her phone. The time said 10 AM. "That other guy is Mr. Davis, his new assistant at the Museum. Jasmine, it's ten o'clock" Lori announced, "I think we should tell them what's going on" "Jasmine then stopped her friend. "We don't know anything yet. Besides, they can get us for trespassing. I think we need to do this on our own Lori" "Heather might be in trouble!" Lori half-shouted at her friend, almost scolding her before collecting herself "I'm sorry" she added, "I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just ... your right we need to find her" "It's okay Lori, completely understandable. We need to get inside, hopefully she's in there hiding" The girls then snuck over to the door and stepped inside the dark manor; unaware that Heather wasn't anywhere near there ... DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH [http://static.yuku.com/domain/bypass/images/cool02.gif] Jasmine and Lori went inside the manor and noticed how dark it was. Lori turned on the penlight and shined it down a hallway. "You're right" Lori said "It's really dark in here ... and creepy too" "I think there's a light up ahead" Jasmine added "Maybe it's them?" "Let's check it out ... . but be careful" The girls crept down the hallway, trying to be as quiet as possible. They then crouched down as they spotted the curator and his assistant taking inventory. The teens watched curiously as nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary "Everything looks normal" Lori whispered to Jasmine "If the Swanson's have been taking things, they don't seem to notice" "There's a lot more valuable stuff in here though" Jasmine answered back quietly "Come on, let's go upstairs" The girls backtracked and made it to an old staircase. There was dust on the railing as the girls made their way up on it. "God, this is so creepy!" Lori said as she shined the small penlight in front of her. Jasmine had held onto Lori's arm as she agreed with her friend. The girls couldn't help but make the staircase creak a little bit also. "I'll be stunned if she's up here Lori" Jasmine said, almost giving up going up stairs "My cousin is ever the adventurer ... that's why she's in trouble now" Lori shot back as she let out a little shriek due to a cobweb she walked into. Jasmine covered her friend's mouth for a second, for not to attract attention. "Sorry" Lori said, continuing up the long staircase "I told you it was creepy" Jasmine returned her explanation as then the girls had arrived at the upstairs floor. More cobwebs and dust were everywhere as the teens made it down one of the hallways. "I know she has friends," Beverly Swanson said as she told her husband Raymond "She can't be that smart" Heather was sitting on an old couch, still bound and gagged listening to her captors talk. Beverly walked over and pulled the bandana from her mouth "Okay sweetie, I want answers" "I don't know anything, I swear!" "Likely story" Raymond replied putting some papers in a suitcase "I'm not even from here, I'm from Colorado ... I'm staying with my cousin" The Swanson's just laughed at that statement "It's the truth. I just wanted something for a school project ... like filming an old creepy place" Raymond then looked at his wife "Filming?" Heather then realized what she had said. She had inadvertently told them she had a camera "Where's the camera honey?" Bev asked, almost getting in Heather's face "I'm not telling you anything!" Heather said boldly "You're a pretty hard headed kid," Bev said as she gagged the teen again "But not too smart ... but we'll find it and get rid of any evidence" "Stanley is going to be back there at Three Bev, we need to get back there soon" "We need to replace these paintings first" As Heather struggled in her bonds, she watched the Swanson's change out some paintings with replica pictures "Stanley will never suspect these things are worthless" The teen then realized the crooks were replacing the original priceless paintings with duplicates that were absolutely worthless, then keeping the originals to make money. The only question was, what were the crooks planning to do with a witness? Heather could only dread what that answer might be ... "Now what?" Lori asked as she stopped "Where could she be?" adding, getting a bad feeling about her cousin as the girls had almost covered the upstairs "Down there" Jasmine replied as she led Lori down into a narrow way and into a room. A lone window brought in the bright sunshine of morning. "Man at least it's not too hot in here" Jasmine replied, wiping some sweat from her brow. The manor still had some kind of airflow going still, probably on so the Museum people could work ... but it wasn't working properly ... so it wasn't that cold. Lori then started sobbing as Jasmine comforted her "We'll find her Lori ... I just don't think she's here though ... " "That means ... " "The Swanson's probably kidnapped her ... but they'll be back, I'm sure of it" Just then the girls heard voices outside the window and towards the ground. The curator and assistant were leaving "They're leaving ... " Jasmine replied before horror swept over her "We'll probably be locked in! Come on!" The girls hurried as much as they could down the old staircase, almost blindly despite the small penlight, and into the main back hallway. The girls panicked when they reached the back door. It was indeed locked "It's locked!" Lori shouted, "We're trapped!" DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 9) "Don't panic Lori" Jasmine said calming down her friend "There's has to be another way out" "We can smash a window maybe?, if we can find one not boarded up" Lori replied, rather sarcastically "I think we can use this time to our advantage, but let me do this first. Heather! Heather, are you here!" Jasmine shouted loudly, only getting a creepy echo in return. "She's not here Jasmine" Lori replied, tearing up again "You can stop trying" "Come on Lori, let's check that room where they were working...then we'll go to the front of this place, maybe we can find a way out there" "The front door probably has a big padlock on it" Lori said, almost knowingly The girls went over to the area that the curators were working and noticed a light switch on the wall. Jasmine turned it on and the girls noticed lots of paintings stacked on top of one another, along with some other priceless looking antiques. "Wow!" Jasmine beamed "This stuff must be worth a fortune" "And there's a lot more in here as well" Lori added as she went into another smaller room. She shrieked as as he walked into the light switch. She pulled it and it revealed more of the same...stacks of what looked like priceless paintings. "Man, this is some collection" Jasmine beamed as she looked over the goods, forgetting Lori's cousin for the moment perhaps. "We're not here for that Jasmine" Lori said, reminding her of Heather. "I know...I'm sorry. Come on, let's check out front" Raymond Swanson looked at his watch as he replaced one the paintings. "Calm down dear, we have plenty of time" "Not when that camera is out there where her friends can get to it" "Who's to say she has friends that know anything? Maybe she was snooping alone" "Bev, can we really take that chance?" Bev looked at him and kept working. All this time, Heather was being kept in the back room on an old bed. She was struggling all over the bed, trying to loosen the tight bonds that kept her prisoner. Her captors had tied her hands and feet together in a loose hog-tie, just enough so she couldn't hop around. With the gag drying her mouth and not being able to hop, she was helpless to look for anything to help her escape. She was kicking herself for running off alone to the manor. She sobbed as she thought about Lori, as well as Jasmine. She just wanted a great vacation, but it was a now a nightmare... "It still doesn't add up Lori" Jasmine said as the girls made their way towards the front of the manor. More cobwebs protruded the girls path as they had to endure it. "What doesn't add up?' Lori replied, pushing a cobweb off of her forehead "It doesn't look like anything was taken, or at least not a whole lot" "Jasmine, there is so much stuff in here.... Lori couldn't finish the sentence. She had stepped over an opening in the floor! As she tumbled down it, she screamed as at the last minute, grabbed onto the end of the floor opening and held on! "Jasmine! Help! Jasmine!" Lori screamed frantically The young Latina quickly tried to pull Lori up "Don't let me fall! Help!" Panicking, Jasmine tried to pull her friend through the hole in the floor. It was dark, so she couldn't tell how far the opening went, probably to a large cellar, but neither of them wanted to find out anytime soon "Hold on Lori!" Jasmine screamed as she grabbed her friend's arm. "I'm slipping!" Lori screamed back "Oh my God!" Jasmine felt her hand slipping as well as she desperately tried to pull Lori to safety ... DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 10) "Please, don't let me fall!" Lori screamed as Jasmine pulled on her friend's hand, desperate to pull her to safety from the hole in the floor. Jasmine panicked, but managed the strength to pull Lori up. She immediately hugged her friend and cried "Oh thank God!" "Jasmine, I hate this place" Lori said sobbing."Please tell me that Heather's okay?" As the two friends hugged and caught their breath, Heather was desperately trying to free herself in the Swanson's house. Sweating and tired, Heather realized that she wasn't getting loose and whatever fate the Swanson's had for her she just had to wait. "Okay i think we can pack up" Beverly Swanson said to her husband "What about the kid?" "Pack her up to. If she does have friends helping her, we can use her to get them as well" Heather was hearing all this and teared up. Soon Lori and Jasmine would be caught also Jasmine and Lori had made their way to the front of the manor and as expected, the front door was locked, as well as boarded up along with the front windows. "I just knew it!" Lori gasped as Jasmine let out a gasp as well "Your penlight is dying. We need to find a light" The teens made it around the front and into a den like area. Jasmine then noticed a light switch on the wall. Not having anything to lose, she tried it. To the girls surprise, the light worked! "Oh man, talk about luck" Lori exclaimed, looking at the valuables in the room. There was more paintings, antique vases among other things and not to mention the large chandelier light hanging from the ceiling, which looked like a small fortune in itself "You're right Lori" Jasmine gasped "There's so much here" "Yeah, all we need is a secret room behind this wall or something" Lori went over to a bookcase and for fun, pushed on it. To her amazement and as well as Jasmine's, the wall pushed away, revealing a secret room! "No way!" Lori shouted "I thought that only happened in the movies!" As the girls had a quick laugh, they peeked inside the dark room. What little light they had, they saw what looked like stacks of money! Suddenly they heard a voice behind them. The voice made the teens jump as they turned around to face Mr. Davis, Mr Stanley's assistant "What are you girls doing in here, you're trespassing!" Jasmine looked at Lori and then at Mr. Davis "We're sorry sir, but our friend is missing" "Friend?" "My cousin Heather" Lori replied "She's visiting from out of town and wanted to see this place. Well she snuck over here this morning and now we can't find her" "We think the Swanson's are trying to rob this place. Her camcorder here shows them pulling up this morning, it's the last thing on it" "You said the Swanson's? Ray and Beverly?" "Yes."Jasmine added "We're sorry if we're trespassing, we just want to find her. I'm sure that Mr. Stanley will understand if we just explain..." Davis then dropped Heather's camera to the hard wooden floor, possibly breaking it. It shocked the girls. What they saw next shocked them even more...Davis pulled out a gun and held it on them! "Oh my God!" Lori gasped as she grabbed a hold of Jasmine who gulped hard "You two are done pokin your noses in where it doesn't concern you" he sneered "This is going to be my stuff, not the Swanson's and certainly not Stanley and the stupid museum" "Don't hurt us" Jasmine and Lori almost said at once, realizing they were in as much danger as Heather probably, but by another thief! "You won't get hurt as long as you do exactly as I say, now move!" The scared teens nodded as Davis pushed the girls out of the large den DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 11) "You two better hope that your friend got away from the Swanson's" Davis said sarcastically as he finished tying Jasmine's ankles together with some clothesline "I hate to see what might happen to her" Davis had tied Jasmine and Lori up and had the girls sitting on an old dusty couch in a small room near the front of the manor. The teens had their hands tied behind their backs and both of them were gagged with black cloths tightly tied into their mouths "Sorry girls, but if you had just stayed away and not meddled. But I want to thank you for opening that passage for me ... I knew there was cash here" He said as he put their cell phones in his pocket. "Now I have work to, so happy snooping!" Davis left and with what light Jasmine and Lori had, struggled hard to free themselves from the ropes that were already biting into their wrists. "Mmmmppphhh!!!" Jasmine tried to say to her friend as she bumped her back against Lori's. Lori caught on as Jasmine was trying to tell her to sit back to back so they could try and free one another "Grrrmphhh!!!" was Lori's response as she positioned herself so Jasmine could find her wrists "Do you have everything?" Raymond said to his wife as he carried a still bound and gagged Heather, who was now blindfolded and laid her in the trunk "Yes dear. Let's get going ... it's getting late" Heather heard the car start up and was tossed around a bit as the car started back to the manor. Dark and scared out of her mind, Heather fretted over her cousin and Jasmine getting caught as well, unaware that Mr. Davis was trying to rob the place under Mr. Stanley's nose and had captured the other two. She prayed hard that she would get out of this and enjoy the rest of the week. "Mmmppphhh!!!" Jasmine tried to say behind the gag. She wanted Lori to push harder against her back as she tried to grab one of the knots on Lori's wrists. Lori tried to talk back, only mumbled drivel coming out as she reached for Jasmine's wrists. Several minutes of this, had both teens sweating and get tired out. Finally the girls got in a rhythm as they tried to pry open the tight knots. Davis was counting the money in the hidden passageway. There were stacks about four rows deep against the wall. Davis gave a wide-eyed smile as he put the money into giant white sacks. "This will make me rich quicker than any of these old antiques." he thought obviously as several more minutes of this filled up several bags. He tied them off and put them outside the bookcase entrance. He then walked out of the den and into the small room where his two captives were trying their best to free themselves. "I admire your determination girls," he said sarcastically as he started to untie their ankles. Any momentum they had in freeing the other was now gone. They would have to get it back to get out of this mess they were in "But it's time to put you somewhere else ... somewhere where no one will ever find you" A tearful Jasmine bit hard on her gag as she looked at Lori who returned her scared look with her own tears. The teens prayed that he didn't mean what they thought he meant or did it? Having the duo's ankles untied, Davis jerked them down the hall and into a dark passage that was under the staircase. Flicking on a light, Davis made Jasmine and Lori walk down some rickety steps. Screaming into their gags, the girls noticed a skeleton in the corner of the room, which had cobwebs all over it. Davis then pushed the teens down onto an old stained mattress and retied their ankles. "Oh don't worry about old bones over there, he doesn't say much" Davis's attempt at humor didn't go over well with the girls, whose tears got more persistent as they looked at the skeleton and wondered how long it had been down there ... "Now I'm going to go wait for the Swanson's to get here, Luckily, I hid the car so they won't suspect anyone's here ... let alone two nosy teenagers. And by the time anyone finds you, I'll be in South America ... " Davis didn't say anything else as he climbed the old stairs and at the last minute, shut off the light. Jasmine and Lori lay on the old smelly mattress, bound and gagged tightly. They thought of Heather, who they still couldn't find. They had to get out of there and stop Davis, but they speculated that the Swanson's had Heather, so they seemingly had two problems ... .but first they had to get out of their current predicament.... DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 12) The Swanson's pulled up the manor, not knowing that Davis was waiting for them and robbing the place at the same time. And Heather had no idea that her cousin and her best friend were Davis's prisoners. The car stopped and Heather wondered if this was the end for her. She heard the couple talk as they got out of the vehicle "Raymond dear, go check around ... we have to find that camera." Beverly asked as she got a case out of the back seat "What about her?" "I'll take care of her, just find it" Heather wondered what she meant by "taking care of her" She sobbed under the blindfold as she thought her young life would be over before it basically started. Meanwhile from an upstairs window, Davis was watching their every move. "Don't see your friend girls" he thought out loud "Maybe they took care of her" He watched for several more minutes as he finally saw Beverly get Heather out of the trunk and forced to walk into the manor. "I guess she's still their prisoner ... ." >>From the damp dark room that they were tied up in, Jasmine and Lori were determined to get free from the ropes that held them prisoner. "Mmmppphhh!" Jasmine tried to say as she rolled over and found Lori's wrist knots again. Lori soon found Jasmine's as well. The girls pushed and squirmed in trying once again to untie one another. They could only pray that they would find Heather and they would escape with their lives Raymond looked all around for Heather's camera but didn't anything. He then noticed the girls bikes lined up near the road opposite the manor. Raymond then went back to the manor and rejoined his wife inside "No luck ... I looked everywhere" he said to her "But I found three bikes across the road" "That means she's got friends here now somewhere looking for her. We need to find the little snoopers" >>From the other room nearby, Heather heard this and perked up. Jasmine and Lori were here, but she was unaware that they were tied up in another part of the manor. She looked around and spotted an old nail protruding from the wall. She managed to get to her feet and hop over to it. Backing up, she carefully placed her bound wrists over it and tried to pry open the tight knot. It was hard work as the teen worked up a sweat. Several minutes later, Heather's mood brightened as she felt the knot loosen. She wiggled her hands until she was free! After rubbing her wrists, Heather removed the gag from her mouth and freed her ankles. Tip-toeing to the door, she could hear the Swanson's talk about the goods inside the manor. She then saw them go down the hallway and out of her sight. Heather stepped out of the small room and started to look for Jasmine and Lori. She started to go up the stairs when she heard the Swanson's voices down the hall. Curiously, Heather crept down the corridor and crouched down when she saw them. Then she saw Davis holding a gun on the couple! "Who is that man?" she thought "A partner of theirs?" She listened quietly as they argued about the goods in the manor. Heather then made a noise which was loud enough for the trio to hear "Someone's there!" a voice called out. Heather scooted down the hall and tried to find a hiding place. Suddenly a gun shot filled the air. Heather could only wonder who got shot or if not, was she the target? DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 13) >>From their prison room, Jasmine and Lori heard the gunshot and wondered where it came from. "Davis must have encountered someone" Jasmine thought as she worked feverishly on Lori's knots "But who? Heather?" The girls tried not to think about it too much as they made headway on the other's bonds Heather was wondering the same thing as she heard Beverly Swanson scream and then heard loud talking. Getting down on her knees, the teen scooted along the wooded dusty floor until she was near the room where the shot rang out. Crawling along on the hard floor chafed up her knees pretty good, but she ignored it as she listened and watched. Beverly was next to Raymond who had been shot by Davis. Heather could tell that Raymond had only been wounded in the shoulder, but looked like he was losing a lot of blood. "You are not going anywhere with that money!" Raymond shouted as he tried to sit up before Beverly made him stay still "Sit still darling" she said as she tried to think of something to say to Davis "Next time you try and jump me ... . trust me, I won't miss" Davis warned "Can't we share it?" Bev said, trying to reason with him "I mean look at all the stuff here ... " "Shut up! It's all mine" he sneered as he waved his gun at them "I can't believe two petty crooks like yourselves want to ruin everything I've planned ... . just like those two kids" Heather heard this and perked up as well as the Swanson's who wondered who he was talking about "You said two kids?" Bev asked Davis nodded as he told them he caught Jasmine and Lori snooping "Well we caught one as well," Raymond, added as Bev tried to wrap up his arm "She's tied up in the other room" "I think they're all snooping together ... I'm sure of it. The three bikes hidden across the way told us that obviously" Heather gulped as she backed up and hid, trying to figure a way to get to the basement "And what makes sure I can trust you two?" "Do you think we would go to the cops? Bev added, "We want what's in here as much as you do" "Those kids will blab to the cops, you know they will" Raymond said groggily "What do you have to lose" "You better not double cross me" Davis said "Now, where's the third one at?" referring to Heather. The teen heard this and gulped. Jasmine and Lori were Davis's prisoners and now he looked like he was in cahoots with the Swanson's "I've got to find Lori and Jasmine ... " she thought as he carefully looked around for a possible entrance to the basement Jasmine made one last pull as Lori did the same. The pretty Latina then felt the bonds loosen around her wrists! In a flash, she was free from the harsh ropes. She immediately rubbed her wrists for circulation, as they were now red. She pulled the gag from her mouth and then reached to free Lori "I'll have you free in a moment" Jasmine said, trying to get some of the dryness out of her throat. Moments later Lori was free from the ropes and gag. "Oh thank goodness" Lori said as she found her friend and hugged her "We have to get out of this miserable place" Jasmine couldn't agree more as she helped Lori to stand up. "The stairs have to be here somewhere" Jasmine whispered as she felt all around her for them since it was pitch black. Just then the girls heard the door open from above. Their hearts started to pound as they heard footsteps start down the stairs. Someone was coming down the stairs. Was it Davis returning to silence two witnesses? The thought terrified the two teens as the steps got louder ... DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 14) Jasmine and Lori cringed as the steps got closer. Suddenly the light switched on and the girls shrieked. Then their fear turned to absolute joy. It was Heather! "Oh my God!" Heather shouted as she rushed down the rest of the old stairs and hugged her cousin and Jasmine. "What happened? Who is that other man?" "That's Davis" Lori replied "Mr. Stanley's assistant at the museum and a two timing criminal!" "We came looking for you" Jasmine added "But we couldn't find you anywhere. We found a secret room in the front of the manor and in that room was lots of money. That's when Davis showed up" "We tried to explain that you had the Swanson's on film" the pretty Latina added, "But he took the camera and broke it I think ... then he pulled a gun on us and tied us up. He then brought us down here ... ." "The camera is nothing" Heather shot back "It was old anyway, the main thing is that you two are ok" "But the Swanson's had you prisoner?" Lori asked "Yes. They caught me. It was so stupid ... I should have listened to you ... I freed myself and then saw them talking in the other room" "But what was that shot we heard?" "Davis shot Mr. Swanson in the shoulder ... but I think they're in cahoots together ... they're stealing the original art and replacing it with fakes ... . and then there's that money you found ... " "Well one thing's for certain" Jasmine added, "We have to get out of here" "Oh man" Lori replied "Davis took our phones ... he still has them" "And I forgot mine" Heather answered, referring to the other girls finding it at the house that morning "That means were going to have to get by them and find a way out ... come on" Jasmine led the way up the stairs followed closely by Lori and her cousin. The teens tiptoed up to the door and opened it a crack. Jasmine thought the coast was clear and opened the door. She then heard voices coming from the other room. Jasmine motioned for the other two to follow her. The girls made it down the hall and to the back door area. The girls then let out a scream. Blocking their path was Beverly Swanson! "Leaving so soon?" she snarled as the girls tried to figure out a way to get around her. Heather had picked up a vase and hit the woman with it! "Run!" Heather screamed as she grabbed the others. Bev was dazed from the shot as Davis had heard the commotion and ran into the other room. "They got the jump on me" she said holding her head "You and your husband are pathetic" Davis said as he looked around for the girls "They have to be around here somewhere" Meanwhile, the girls had made it into a closet nearby and crouched down. "Oh man.." Heather gasped, "We'll never get out of here" Jasmine then covered Heather's mouth as they could hear Davis nearby. Their hearts were pounding as they could hear him walking outside the door "I know your here somewhere girls...why don't you make it easy on yourselves and come out" The girls sighed from relief as they could hear Davis move away from their hiding place "I'm going to try and draw him away from here" Jasmine said as Lori and Heather protested "You two sit tight" Their protests fell on deaf ears as Jasmine got up and crept out of the hiding place. She tiptoed over to the staircase when suddenly an arm wrapped around her neck. Her attacker trying to choke her she managed to elbow him hard in the gut and threw herself forward to make him land hard on the floor. As both of them hit the floor Jasmine managed to escape his hold and even ended up straddling him. However Davis was skilled and managed to slip from underneath her. Davis threw her on her back but Jasmine wrapped her long legs around his shoulder and neck in a triangle choke. Pulling hard on his head she noticed his face turning red. However in a last ditch attempt Davis spun around and slipped out of her choke. Rolling around like spiders Davis managed to pin his knee on Jasmine's chest, then then seized her long hair and tried to wrap it around her neck, trying to apply a choke with her own hair. However Jasmine was able to reverse him and ended up on top. She tried to hit him with some punches to his face. Davis managed to entangle his legs around her right leg, wrapping his arms around her waist he was able to keep her close, which gave Jasmine a hard time punching him. Suddenly Davis moved and he managed to spin behind her. Jasmine tried to get to a standing position. Davis hugged her from behind and tripped her forward, making Jasmine drop to all fours. Jasmine tried to get back to her feet but Davis held pressure on her. Jasmine managed to get to her feet but took some hard punches to her head. They kept fighting but Davis seized her shoulders and then slammed his knee hard in her belly that made her gasp for air, and quite literally knocked the fight out of her. Quickly Davis spun her around and then pulled her arms behind her. In a swift motion he wrapped his left arm around the crooks of her elbows and trapped both her arms. He wrapped his right hand around her neck and squeezed long enough to show her she was helpless. "Nice try, but if you resist me again I will end you." "Great idea Jasmine.." she thought as Davis had caught her again "Now you're going to get your friends out of their hiding place...do I make myself clear Chica?" Jasmine nodded as his hand tightened over her mouth. Her idea had backfired and now all three were in big trouble... DANGER AT WILCOX MANOR (CH 15) Heather and Lori couldn't hear anything from their hiding place as they didn't know that Davis had faught and overpowered Jasmine "What do we do?" Lori whispered to her cousin Heather shrugged her shoulders as suddenly they heard footsteps again. Suddenly the door flew open and Davis stood there holding Jasmine tightly. "Sorry..." Jasmine tearfully said as Davis made Lori and Heather get up from the floor "Okay girls...were going for a walk" Davis said "And if you don't want anything to happen to your feisty friend here, you better cooperate.." As Davis still held Jasmine tight, Lori and Heather were forced to walk towards the front of the manor. Davis then handed Heather the keys to the lock. "Open it...and no tricks" A reluctant Heather opened it and the three teens were forced outside. "What are you going to to with us?" Jasmine asked softly "I've got a big hole dug over on the other side...by the time anyone notices it covered up, you'll run out of air" "Oh my God...he's going to bury us alive!" Lori screamed as Davis pushed her and the others towards the large hole "Now get in and lie down or will I have to throw you in?" "P..please....no!" Lori sobbed as tears streamed from her and the others eyes "Move!" The mere thought of not being able to breathe again was almost incomprehensible. Jasmine closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle. Suddenly Police sirens filled the air. The girls saw two squad cars pull up as well as Mr. Stanley "Freeze! Don't move!" Davis put his hands in the air as a Police officer cuffed him and read him his rights. The girls hugged each other and cried tears of joy. "I knew something was up with you" Stanley said to his assistant "I was right on my suspicions and by the looks of things, just in time" "What about the Swanson's?" Jasmine asked "We'll get them....now for you three trespassers. I think a visit to your parents will be in order. I think I would rather do that than have you arrested for being juveniles" "Yes sir" Lori said knowing she was probably going to be punished in some way, at least it would be from her parents "It's all my fault" Heather tried to explain "If i had just stayed away..." she then broke down and cried "I just want to enjoy the rest of the week... As Jasmine and Lori comforted her, The Swanson's and Davis were put in a squad car and taken away TWO WEEKS LATER "I can't believe these past two weeks Lori" Jasmine said as she talked on the phone to her best friend "I know being grounded is not fun. But it was better than the other alternatives" "I know. I can't believe school starts in a few days...i mean where has the time gone?" The girls could only laugh at that statement as the duo had faced two perilous adventures and lived to tell about it THE END