For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
There was a clear “click” from my gun. I think poor Lena almost fainted. Lara just sat there staring at me, like she was frozen in place. “You’re lucky that time Lara, but there are bullets in this gun,” I said, “so how many times can you give me a wrong answer before we come to one of them?” She just sat there and never said a word. Mr. Cat was sitting with me. I whispered to him and he left. Lena watched as he positioned himself to see the front door and the hall. She looked over at me nervously. “Now Lara, once more,” I said, “who is behind all of this?” “I, I honestly don’t know,” she blurted out, “a man and woman came to me, they knew something about me that I want to keep private. I was told my secret would be safe if I helped them get you here, because they have a job for you to do.
The jade cat I have is only a copy of the real one, but the jewels inside are mine and are real, part of my inheritance. The Jade Cat, the real one, is presently in a museum not far from here and will be on display for a couple more days.” “I want to help you Lara,” I told her, “but you have to be truthful with me all the way, no hiding anything. As I said, I have no patience right now. Help me and I will protect you, but if you hold anything back, you will be on your own.” I turned to Lena and asked, “Can you see the back door from there?” “Yes,” she said hesitatingly, “why, what’s wrong?” “There are men outside right now,” I said, “possibly after Lara.” I turn to her, she looked rather afraid now. “Do you want my help?”, I asked. “Y…Yes, I do,” she managed to say. I pointed my gun at her again.
“Okay, where is Muffin?”, I asked. She hesitated, then said, “I don’t know.” “Wrong answer again,” I said and pulled the trigger. But I had quickly turned and shot out the window at a man standing a few feet away with his gun aimed, likely at Lara. Shooting through a window is imprecise sometimes, but I hit him, only wounding him. At the same time the front door burst open and another gunman entered and…Thwock! He was down. But a third man had come down the other hallway and had his gun pointing at me. “Okay,” he said loudly to Lena and I, “drop your guns!” Lena dropped hers right away, but I didn’t. “I would say the same to you,” I said calmly, “you’re a dead man right now, but I want to talk. Just take a look at my cat on the floor.”
He did. “He can use that slingshot very accurately,” I said, “you’re friend coming in the door found out the hard way. Now, drop your gun or you will have the same fate.” He hesitated for a moment then dropped it while I kept my gun pointed at him. “Okay, now we can talk,” I said, “what is going on? Why do you want me?” “My boss wants you to do a job for him,” he said. “Then why not just ask me,” I responded, “I don’t like the way he’s doing things already so why should I work for him?” “He has your cat,” he reminded me, “and he knows you’ll do anything to get her back.” “That’s quite true,” I said assuredly, “starting with killing you perhaps, then hunting down your boss, which I can do, and will do if I have to. If he wants me to do a job for him then he needs to return Muffin right away, or the answer is no.”
I go over to the man and check him for other weapons, but he had none. I kick his gun away, turn him and point to a spot on his chest and said, “here Mr. Cat.” Thwock! The man groaned and fell. “That likely broke a rib,” I said to him, “the next one will be worse. Now, get your boss on the phone and tell him to call me, now!” He did so and my phone was soon ringing. He told me that the job was stealing the real Jade Cat from the museum. I thought for a moment. “Okay,” I said, “I will do the job, but only if you return Muffin first, she will be essential for a job like this. It’s my way or no way, you hurt Muffin and I will hunt you down.” “Fine,” he said, “she will be back soon, but I will keep an eye on you all the way.”
To Be Continued.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
This is not going well. Too many lies and they took Muffin. So untrustworthy!
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Yes, I agree, hard to know how to handle this one so we all come out alive. First thing is to get Muffin. Somehow I don’t think I want to trust Lara right now.
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The going gets tough… π±π
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But will it get me Muffin? Getting her back is top priority right now!π πΎππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Absolutely!
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You’re not a theif!ππ€¨ What gives?? You planning a double cross??π€ Hmmmm… I’d be careful….
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Whatever works to get Muffin back, after that we’ll see what happens.π πΎππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Good choice!
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Thanks! Hopefully it is anyway. We’ll see.π¬
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You have a plan… they don’t! They just have wants!π
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I have a plan? Quick, tell me what it is!π³π€
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To get Muffin back! They just want you to steal a fake cat.. that’s not a plan..π
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I think my plan is more desperation than a real plan,π³ but if it works that’s the main thing.π€
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Of course! Still a plan..
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I agree! I think.ππ€
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Good job! No fear! Think away!!πππ
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I’m not thinking this month, remember?π€¨
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Well, make today February 1st and think away! ππ€π€π My new Calendar π
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I can’t do that, then I would have to scream and run around the room in circles, which would be a bad idea because there’s not enough room to run in circles which means I would run into something which means I would go splat!π² And that might hurt.π€ͺπ€
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Good point!! Hmmm… might have to reconsider that whole month jump..π€π€ thats alot at once! Okay then.. no thinking until February!π And I’m going to hold you to it!π
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Now I can settle down again. Even though I never did anything. So…if I didn’t do anything can I then stop doing it?
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It’s almost like you never did it! No running around in circles until February!π€ͺπ€ͺπ€ͺππ
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I have to run in circles the last day of January, that’s a big holiday.
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Okay… I know better than to ask… whats the Holiday?π
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It’s International Cabin Fever Day!!!!π€ͺπ€ͺπ€£π€£π΅π΅π₯΄π₯΄π€―π€―πππΆπΆπ₯³π₯³π₯³
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Oh yeah!!! How could I forget that? ππππ
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I’m surprised the greeting card companies haven’t picked up on that one yet.ππ
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π€«π€«π€«π€«π€« shhhhhh….. you still have a chance to claim it!ππ
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Now there’s something to think about.π€π€
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Not until Februaryπ€¨
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Right, I agree.
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It’s only a few weeks… piece of cake π π
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How can you make cake last a few weeks?π€
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I eat very slowlyπππ
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Muffin and I could finish it in a day.ππΈ
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Mee too, but you asked how I make it last for weeksπππ
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Okay Steve, this has gone way beyond a missing cat case. Bravo!!! πππ. Also, way to negotiate the return of Muffin. ππ. Finally, I know you have something up your sleeve regarding their request for assistance. π. Love it! π€πππ
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Yes, it has taken a bit of a twist here.ππ³ Hopefully it works for getting Muffin back.π πΎ Yep, I’m going to steal that Jade Cat! I think.π€πΎππ΅οΈββοΈ
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I believe that Muffin has something up her sleeve,oh, her paw…I believe that Mr. Cat is aware of what Muffin is up to…this is exciting ! βοΈβοΈπ΅οΈββοΈπΌπΌ
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Hmm, that’s possible. But I’m worried by the fact these people gave in to my demands so easily. Something is up and it may not be good!π€πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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That was a super action packed one πPI Steve gets into real action in Chapter 4 I could imagine Steve in his boots with long hair and long beard with a hat and a long cost with dark colored boots and stick with a gun and a big cigar In his mouthπ A super hero PIπ good job PI Steve and author Steve. Nice lesson to them. hope they both will be trustful from now, but then, who is this new entry, what does he really want π§ again Jade cat jewels or something else π§π§ let’s find outπ
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Something is up with this new person coming along.π΅οΈββοΈ Does he really want the Jade Cat?π€ Maybe he’s after something else?π Or maybe he’s a big jewel thief?π€¨ But if he is, then why doesn’t he get the cat himself?π€ Hmm, something is wrong here, but right now I just want Muffin.π πΎ
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Let’s hope he doesn’t want Muffin, Not the Jade cat too, I suspect he is worried about the Jewels…π€ or is he ? π’Muffin should be safe first.π. Take care Mr Cat, I know you can do this.π
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Meow!!=Oh, just wait! They regret taking my Muffin away!!πΎπΎπΎπΎ
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That’s right Mr Cat! βΊοΈ They must regret π
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πΎπΎπΎπΎ
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Well, Muffin is a smart cat and I think the kitty stealers are going to regret their actions! πΎπΉπ―βοΈπ₯
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They sure will regret it if they don’t bring Muffin back, and soon!π πΎ Muffin is probably working out her own plan by now!πΌ
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Well done Steve and Mr Cat! Now hopefully theyβll return Muffin π» First thing first π
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Yes, that’s right. I’m just a bit suspicious that they agreed so quickly to my demand. Something is up, but what is it?π€πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Hope Muffin returns safe and sound! These people don’t sound very trustworthy π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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That is so very true!π¬πππ΅οΈββοΈ
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