Dennie groaned and threw his left hand over to the alarm clock, missing and knocking his watch off the nightstand. "Grr," he growled, sitting up and flipping the switch on the back of the clock to stop the annoying ring.

Dennie bent down and picked up his watch, checking the time against the alarm clock. He set the watch back on the nightstand and stood up. Stretching, he looked around to see if Artie had returned. Not seeing him, or any sign that he had returned, Dennie picked his clothes from the chair on which he had placed them the previous evening, and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.When Dennie exited the bathroom dressed in denim shorts and a pristine white tee which flattered his sun-bronzed skin, Artie still hadn't returned. Dennie went to the nightstand and put on his watch. He made his way to the kitchen where a strong, pleasant aroma was concentrated."Good morning, Joseph," greeted Marla Duvalier, the plump wife of Dr. Galen Duvalier, and one of his hosts."Hi," Dennie returned the salutation. "Breakfast smells wonderful," he added, the cuisine being his favorite part of the vacation. "Oh, you," Mrs. Duvalier said, coyly turning away from Dennie's blatant flirtatious grin."Where's your bandmate?" asked Mr. Mondello, a man whose features Artie's would reflect in twenty years time."He went for a walk earlier," Dennie said, a frown coming on his face. "He should have been back by now.""Sit down and have breakfast," Mrs. Duvalier instructed. "Galen will help you look for him if he hasn't returned by the time you finish.""Um," Dennie shook his head. "I can't," he said. "I've got to find Artie first.""Don't go too far," Mr. Mondello said, knowing Dennie didn't feel like eating with his bandmate missing. "He may have strayed from the path and gotten lost. If you don't see him, come back here and Galen and I will help you look for him.""Will do," Dennie agreed, leaving by the kitchen door. Dennie headed down the path Artie had taken, his tracks visible on the sandy turf. "Artie!" Dennie shouted as he strode along.Nothing save the sounds of the insects could be heard. Dennie became more worried as he walked along. Artie's footprints still led the way, but Dennie knew Artie would have been at the house earlier had something not happened. Artie was the most dependable person he knew. If they didn't leave on time, they might miss their plane and that would create a problem since there was only one US flight a week to or from the island. Artie would never be late by choice."Artie!" Dennie shouted again, coming to the base of the mountain as Artie had earlier. Dennie looked around for several minutes before spotting Artie's tracks along a different path leading back toward the house.Dennie followed the tracks, noticing where they made a turn into the brush. He stepped from the path and saw Artie's tracks stop just a foot or so inside a clearing.. Perhaps Artie had heard an animal in the brush and went to see. Dennie could see no other tracks save Artie's in the small clearing. He backed up and followed Artie's tracks further. "Artie!" he shouted yet again, as he grew nearer the house. Dennie felt relief wash over him as the house came into view through the trees. He must have just missed Artie. Dennie gave a small laugh, knowing Artie was going to tease him about his jumping the gun because he had been a few moments late for breakfast. Artie was the worrier in the family, not Dennie. Dennie picked up his pace, in a hurry now to get back to the house and have his own breakfast. No longer looking down, Dennie's foot hit something lying on the path and he fell forward.Dennie looked back and gasped. He quickly moved to a sitting position and reached for the wrist of the one person who meant everything to him.

There was no pulse. Dennie reached a trembling hand to feel for a pulse in Artie's neck. "No," he whispered, leaning over to listen for a heartbeat. "No, no no," Dennie said repeatedly. Dennie laid his head on his bandmate's chest, his tears flowing freely, as Artie's once soulful brown eyes stared up at the sky in seemingly silent disregard.

 

The Mondellos belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Mondellos Fan Fiction authors of the Mondello Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.