Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult - Erica Rodgers [34]
Kate: Too bad you don’t have a tiny video bug you could plant on her purse or dress and see the hands of the men she talks to.
Sydney: I’m still thinking about this Bruce Benton guy. If he’s the one trying to destroy the animal reserve, do you think he’ll try to ruin the event tonight? Could you plant the mic on him? Then you could hear if he’s up to something.
Alexis: I don’t see how I could. Bailey’s sitting here and just said she doesn’t see how we could, either.
McKenzie: And what if he’s not the man with the red hand? You could be concentrating on him and wouldn’t even realize if anyone is popping Jake with another punch or shooting another BB gun—or worse….
Elizabeth: Maybe that’s what you should do with the lapel mic. Maybe you should put it on Jake where no one can see it. That way if anyone threatens him or does anything else, you’ll hear it.
Alexis: Brilliant idea, Elizabeth. I hope no one harms Jake, but he’s the one most likely to have someone bother him. And we can only plant the bug well on someone who knows we’re doing it. I’m sure he’ll let us.
Sydney: Well, also keep an eye on Bruce Benton….
McKenzie: And Chloe Stevens!
Alexis: We need a few more of you here on site with us! We’ve gotta run if we want to get hold of Jake before the benefit starts.
Elizabeth: Okay. Check in tonight, and let us know what happened since you don’t have cell phones with you. And we’ll all be praying that God gives you wisdom, understanding, and eyes that can see everything!
Alexis and Bailey were ecstatic. Alexis wasted no time in pounding the number to the reserve into the hotel phone. She hoped that Karen and Jake hadn’t left yet.
“Yes?” a voice answered.
It was Jake, and he sounded like he was in a hurry.
“Hey, Jake, it’s Alexis. Can you guys drop by our room when you get to the hotel? We’d like to put a microphone on you for the evening, if that’s okay. It won’t take long.”
“A mic?”
“Yes, we’ll explain later, but we think it will help us catch whoever is trying to ruin the reserve,” Alexis said.
“Yeah, yeah—sure. We’ll be there in half an hour. What room?” After Jake jotted down the room number, he quickly hung up.
“He’s going to do it?” asked Bailey.
“Yep!” Alexis said. “He sounded a little agitated though. I wonder if something else happened.”
Mrs. Howell came into the front room carrying the girl’s miniature purses. Bailey’s was silver and went beautifully with her sapphire-blue dress and silver heels. Alexis’s purse was the same color as her dress—a light peach that looked good with her pale skin and dark hair.
“I put the lip glosses in there for you,” said Mrs. Howell. “You can borrow them for the evening in case you want to refresh.”
“Thanks, Mom,” said Alexis. She doubted that she would reapply the lip gloss, because she hardly ever wore the stuff. This one matched the color of her dress perfectly, though, and went great with her blue eyes, so maybe she would try it.
Before long, someone knocked on the door. Bailey rushed to open it, and Misty Marks swept into the room trailing her long, white dress behind her. Feathers ran from one of her shoulders down the back of the dress and all the way to the train, which rested on the floor. Her outfit was stunning.
Right away Alexis realized that she had forgotten to mention Misty Marks to her mother. Mrs. Howell stood in the middle of the room touching her hair absentmindedly with her mouth hanging1 open.
“You girls look absolutely gorgeous!” chimed Misty. She glided over to Mrs. Howell and introduced herself. Alexis was glad Misty was there to keep her mother busy while she and Bailey hooked up Jake, who looked like he’d rather be in one of his flannel shirts than the rented tuxedo he wore.
Alexis could tell that something was bothering him. His face—bruised pretty badly from the punch he’d taken the day before—was covered with worry.
“What’s wrong, Jake?” Alexis asked as Bailey untangled the cord on the lapel mic.
“What? Oh, nothing, nothing,” said Jake. “Everything’s fine. Do you really think this will work?”
“Well,