The Trap by Joan Lowery Nixon Page A

door, Uncle Gabe pushed himself upright in his chair, rubbed his eyes, and tried to pretend he hadn’t fallen asleep.
    After he had greeted Ashley, I asked, “May we please use your observatory, Uncle Gabe? It’s a clear night, and we’d love to try your telescope.”
    He beamed with pleasure. “I wish I could be with you. The moment this old ankle is healed …”
    I took the key from the board in the kitchen and a flashlight from the drawer Glenda had shown me. Then I led Ashley down the path from the front door to the stairs to the observatory. I kept my eyes straight ahead.
    I was surprised when Ashley said, “It’s so spooky out here. At least in the trailer park we have plenty of light.”
    Our weight on the wooden steps caused pops and creaks that seemed really loud. Ashley pressed close to me as I inserted the key into the lock and pushed the door open.
    Once inside, with the lights on and the door firmly closed, we both relaxed. Ashley leaned against the door and giggled. “Don’t mind me,” she said. “When I was little I thought a monster lived under my bed.”
    I laughed, then rested my hand on the gleaming brass telescope. “Let’s see what this beautiful thing can show us,” I said. “You first.”
    We raised the blinds on all the windows, turned off the lights, and took turns with the telescope. It must have been top of the line, because the clarity was wonderful. Ashley knew more about astronomy than I did, so she pointed out a couple of constellations that were new to me. At least, thanks to my fifth-grade teacher, who had given me my first taste of astronomy, I could find the Big and Little Dippers and Orion’s belt.
    All too soon, we saw the headlights from Millie Lee’s car sweep up the hill and across our driveway.
    Ashley quickly began helping me lower the blinds and put the telescope back in place. “This was great,” she said. “I’m glad I came. Thanks for inviting me.”
    She really was glad. I could tell. Maybe she was finally warming up to me.
    I locked up, said goodbye to Ashley, and waved to Millie Lee. As I went into the house, Glenda got up from her chair and kissed me good night.
    “Gabe’s already in bed,” she said, “and that’s where I’m going too.”
    I wasn’t ready for bed. I sat at my laptop in Gabe’s office, intending to e-mail Robin. It was Friday night, and she should have returned home. But I didn’t have to e-mail. Her name popped up on my buddy list in the upper corner of my screen, so I knew she was home and online, probably checking her e-mail. I went into an instant message.
    Jul59: Hi, Robin. How was Santa Barbara?
    Robinor: Great, as always. UK?
    Jul59: K, I guess. But one of the other men who lives on the ranch died in a fall.
    Robinor: What! Tell me everything. Every detail.
    I did, and even though it didn’t seem to be important, I told her about the missing paperweight.
    Robinor: Paperweight? Wow! I’ve read two mysteries in which a paperweight was the murder weapon.
    Jul59: Mr. Barrow’s death wasn’t a murder. The deputy was satisfied that Mr. Barrow fell and hit his head on the corner of the stone fireplace.
    Robinor: What did the medical examiner rule?
    Jul59: What medical examiner?
    Robinor: If there’s any suspicion of murder, then the medical examiner has to be called in. The body can’t be released to the family until the m.e. says so.
    Jul59: Are you sure?
    Robinor: Of course I’m sure. It’s in all the murder mysteries. I worry about you, Julie. Something weird is going on at that ranch. Three accidents in a short time. Three people who fell. At least your dad’s uncle wasn’t killed when he fell.
    Aunt Glenda, her robe pulled around her, came into the room. I didn’t want her to see Robin’s last buddy note, so I quickly wrote GTG. Bye and signed off.
    “Who are you writing to? Your mother?” Glenda asked.
    I didn’t give her a direct answer. “I decided to check my e-mail,” I said.
    Glenda sank down in a chair