Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. Treasure Hunt. Chapter 8.
I called the police and explained why I was there. Apparently the secretary had been given the afternoon off, which was not unusual she had said. His business wasn’t doing so well, maybe that’s why he was so anxious to sell the chateau, he would make a fair bit of money on that. There is only one other place in town now, so they will have to handle the sale of the chateau, unless I just do it myself, which I don’t really care to do. I go out to the front room and notice the car is empty. That made me run fast outside, where did they all go? The cats are wearing their backpacks so that is good, I grab mine as well since I will have to go looking for them. Then I see Muffin waving in a window across the street. A restaurant, guess Calanthe was hungry. Anyway I went over to join them and I must admit, it was a good meal.
We were just getting ready to leave when there was a huge explosion! Our car! Certainly wasn’t much left of it. Obviously the bomb was times to go off so that we would be on the road somewhere. Stopping for a meal saved us that time. The police drove us back to the chateau. At least there was a couple more cars there we could use, but we’ll have to inspect them ahead of time. That bomb could have been put in the car while we were here at the chateau, or in town, but I’m sure it would have been here. We are getting too many uninvited guests out here. Calanthe was a bit scared to stay here any longer, but it’s a 3 hour drive to the other chateau, it’s better to stay here. However, I made some changes to locking the gates so that should help a bit. Plus I’m making sure the guest cottage is properly locked up as well.
We all went to bed early except the cats who were taking the first shift at watching. I’m thinking too much to sleep. There is some strange things happening here. At least the food we ate should have been safe, no drugs put into it. Although, to be honest, I’m not sure I trust anyone in that town right now, no one seems to act normal there. It’s very odd. But I soon fell asleep even with all my thinking. Mr. Cat came in and jumped on me to wake me up, it was my turn to watch. The time went by too fast. We went back into the living room, the cats were going to stay with me and sleep. About an hour later I woke up the cats and pointed to the fireplace. There was Linnea again, standing looking at us. “Steve, please be careful,” she said, “3 groups of people involved here. Come to my funeral, in my pocket is a note. Remember, I’m going down in the ground. Going down is going up to go down again.”
Then she turned and ran into the fireplace, with me and the cats right behind her, but again she disappeared. There has to be a door in the fireplace, which was already open for Linnea to go through quickly and then closed before we got there. But how to open it? The cats and I looked over that fireplace and could find no way to open that door. Meow,meow.=Linnea is ghost, not need door. “There are no ghosts Muffin,” I said. Meow?=Then how you explain she disappear? “Sigh, I don’t know how she did it, except she walked through a door that was already open. Maybe it only opens from the inside,” I said to them. Meow,meow.=Me think you too tired still. Meow.=Yep, need help in thinking department. Meow,meow.=I agree. “Chomp!” “Chomp!” “AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!,” I screamed, and Calanthe came running in pointing her gun at us.
“It’s okay,” I said, “the cats and I were discussing the case.” “You certainly like to discuss things loudly,” she said, “anything I need to know about?” “I was just wondering if there was a hidden door in this fireplace, like the ones in the chateau,” I said. “Yes,” she answered, “just pull that knob over there.” Pull, why didn’t I think of that? So I pulled it and the door opened, but it didn’t lead anywhere. “Apparently it led to some kind of dungeon so Linnea’s uncle had it blocked off, he didn’t like the looks of it,” said Calanthe, “anyone for an early pancake breakfast?” There was no disagreement about that. But, how did Linnea disappear in there when there is nowhere to go? And why is Calanthe so calm and happy?
To Be Continued.
Pictures of Mr. Cat are kindly supplied by his human, Nina.
Previous chapters of this story, and other stories can be found on my home page under, “The Investigators, Inc.” and “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Steve, this is certainly a story with many mysteries and violence. The theme, however, is DON’T TRUST ANYONE! Be careful!
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Yes, many mysteries is right, I was hired to find a treasure and I end up looking for Linnea’s killer instead. But so far only 2 people have died in this case, not as bad as the last case thankfully. But what lies ahead?😳😾😾🕵️♂️👩
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It has to be a wax replica of Linnea in the casket! She is still alive! Be careful now!😬😲😲😳
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But I checked her myself, so did Muffin and so did Baldwin, it was her in the casket! No doubt about it. But who is at the chateau? Why was Calanthe so calm this time? Of course, it’s probably good that she was or she might have shot me!😬🙀🙀🕵️♂️👩
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Well then if she is truly dead… then it has to be her spirit.. no other explanation.. right?
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It could be someone just made to look like Linnea, with a mask. But then why is she warning me? That part doesn’t make sense.🤔🙄
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Exactly! Unless.. it’s a misdirection to make you confused and unsure.. about what though is the question! Perhaps a test to see if you would sell or keep the property?
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Perhaps, but the will said the chateau is to be sold, but only with my authorization, so I get to pick who buys it, but it must be sold. Besides, I have my own chateau now. Interestingly, she said there was 3 groups of people involved, that’s Baldwin, the unknown from the realtor, and who? Basically that’s two unknown people, I don’t like when I don’t know who the enemy is.😬🙀🙀
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Very true! Never what direction they will come from…🤔🤔🤔 you’ve got your work cutout for yourself now!! It’s fun just being able to read and guess!! Glad I don’t need to try and solve it!😂😂😂
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Another thing, if she has a note for me, why not give it to me right then instead of leaving it in her pocket? I mean, how can I go looking in her pocket when she’s in the casket and everyone is looking? Hmm, I wonder who else will show up for that funeral?😳🤔
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Does Calanthe look at all like Linnea?? could she pull off the disguise to get you to find the treasure for her?? You had better prove the treasure is gone and soon. Three enemies are hard to fight
Laughter can move mountains
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No, the two are quite different, Calanthe is quite a bit shorter, brown hair, Linnea has blonde hair although both are about the same length. Their faces are very different, different color eyes, but with a good mask and wig it could be done perhaps, she is never around long enough to really check. Yes, 3 enemies are hard to fight, especially not knowing 2 of them. Right now I want to find Linnea’s killer rather then the treasure.
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I think if you get closer to the treasure Linnea’s killer will reveal themselves.
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Yes, once Linnea is buried, then comes the time to set the trap!
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There is more trouble ahead for all of you ! How can you trust other people to make your food ? Ever hear of “ small doses “ of poisons or tranquilizers added to your coffee and food ? Don’t take chances ! ☕️☕️🕵️♂️🙀🙀‼️
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Well, we do make our own food at the chateau and Muffin checks it before we eat, she has been trained to sniff out poisons and other drugs, even small amounts, and she’s teaching Mr. Cat now too. Yes, I think there is more trouble ahead.😬🙀🙀🕵️♂️👩
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At this point I agree with Muffin: Linnea is a ghost 👻🙈
A whole town against you! Just be careful!
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I still think it’s a fake Linnea, someone just dressed up like her wearing a mask perhaps. But on this case anything can happen!😳🙄😾😾🕵️♂️👩
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hmm, Calanthe is something isn’t it? strange things happen.. and that is with PI Steve… let’s see in next chapter 😎
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Yes, is Calanthe good or bad? Is she pretending to help me or leading me to a trap?😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️👩
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That’s confusing for us, still reading, and still more posts to go 😁 I’ll find that, eventually 🤗
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😂😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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