Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. Treasure Hunt. Chapter 9.
Well, we enjoyed our pancake breakfast. Muffin checked the food carefully, she has been trained to sniff out poison and drugs, even small amounts. However, she has missed a couple of times, but she has been practicing more too, just to make sure. Then we got ready for the funeral, which really wasn’t going to be much, just a small gathering at the cemetery, whoever wants to come. I want to see who comes out, that will give us a look at our enemies. But, first of all I need to stop at the funeral home and make sure Linnea is still in the casket and check her pockets for a note. I don’t really like that part, but, it has to be done, hopefully the note will be in the first pocket I check. I take Muffin with me and leave Mr. Cat with Calanthe, they will drive to the cemetery behind us. Muffin and I are going in the hearse to make sure nothing happens to Linnea’s body along the way.
Sure enough, she is still there, not sure why I would expect anything else. I was to say ‘treasure hunt’ to the man in charge there so I could be alone with Linnea’s body. He and the other man left us alone. Linnea was wearing a small jacket that she liked so I checked all the pockets but found nothing. Next pocket, there it is! Muffin jumps up on my shoulder so she can read it too. “All finished?”, I ask her. Meow,meow=Yep, all done. I call the man back in and told him to close and lock the casket in my presence which he did, then off we went. At the cemetery we had an interesting view of several people. Baldwin was there with 4 associates, which are his bodyguards. Next to him Calanthe told me was the bank manager and two men with her. They also looked like bodyguards. Why would a bank manager in a small town require bodyguards?
Next to her was the mayor with 2 police officers, which I will assume are also bodyguards. Now a late comer, Calanthe said she was a very successful investor from Germany who came here 2 months ago to open up a branch of her investment business. She had been after Linnea to invest her money through her agency. Hmm, why would a person with a successful business in Germany come to a small town like this? Baldwin’s business is also investment. I checked on him and he’s completely clean, a very legitimate businessman. That’s good to know, but, it’s still odd that he would come here at this time. Then a person can also invest through the bank, so that makes 3, that’s a lot of competition in a small town. That doesn’t sound right to me. Where does the mayor stand in all of this?
Once the dirt was being put in the grave everyone began to leave. Baldwin came past us and put his hand on my shoulder and kept going. We waited until everyone else had gone. Back at the chateau it was time to head back underground, but which was the best way. Linnea had given us a hint, “to go down first go up and then go down”. Okay, back up the tower to that passageway that isn’t on the map. And down we went again looking through the maze of passages and rooms. Every room had furniture in it, but mostly things that were broken and never completely furnished. A dead end was before us. But was it? “This has been blocked off more recently than the tunnels,” I said to Calanthe.
“How can you tell?”, she inquired. “The stones are different, same kind of rock, but easy to tell they are not as old,” I explained, “we need to open this, but it’s too late today so we will attack it tomorrow.” Calanthe seemed rather quiet about this for some reason. Back upstairs in the tower Calanthe took a big breath. “I don’t like being in those passages,” she said, “these ones are too narrow for me, the others are not as bad because they are wider.” “You have a point,” I said, “so tomorrow we won’t stay down as long at a time.” “That sounds good,” said Calanthe with a smile. “Now to think…” I started to say. Meow,meow=Oh no, he thinking again, more trouble coming up. Meow.=Maybe time for chomp, chomp again. “No, that’s okay,” I said, “but, now it’s time to think about those people we saw today and…what’s this?”
To Be Continued.
Pictures of Mr. Cat are kindly supplied by his human, Nina.
Previous chapters of this story and other stories may be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.” and “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
I notice you carefully omitted the contents of the note on the body. That’s naughty. Interesting that every one feels they need a body guard at a simple funeral. Maybe not so simple?
Laugh Long and Prosper
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, did I forget to reveal the note? Had things on my mind, like making sure this body gets buried so it can’t come and bother me anymore. Yes, I thought it was interesting too, did they all know who was coming perhaps? Are they all that dangerous? Yes, perhaps not simple at all. Come to think of it, Calanthe and I had 2 bodyguards as well. Strange group, but at least I know who we’re dealing with now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, and none of them are a friendly sort. I still don’t like Calanthe. I could be wrong but…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, at least she hasn’t tried to kill me yet, that’s something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chomp! Chomp!😂😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They like to help out any way they can!😂😹
LikeLike
I love it! They are so good to you!!😉😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I appreciate that.🙄😳😹😹
LikeLike
How was your day?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful day, back was terrible so I couldn’t go for my walk to the river. Might still be too much ice anyway. How about you? You’re late today, just when I’m leaving, didn’t get much sleep last night.
LikeLike
I had a good day. I went for dinner with friends tonight. So, yeah a bit tardy, but I’m here. Glad it’s Friday tomorrow! I am going to make it an early day. So look me up after lunch time if you like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The week is moving fast, at least for me too fast! Yep, will talk tomorrow, for now I’m off to bed, have a good night Dusty!😁🌙😴
LikeLike
Good Night😴💤💤
TTYT
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting … what’s with all the bodyguards ?…something is fishy…☕️☕️🕵️♂️🤔😼😼👩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, all those bodyguards is odd, why do they need them? They don’t seem to trust each other, but why? Guess we will find out sooner or later.🤔😾😾🕵️♂️👩
LikeLike
Way too many bodyguards in a small town…something is not quite right 🤔 but what have you found?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree, too many bodyguards and too many people with a lot of money after the same chateau. But why?🤔😾😾🕵️♂️👩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Treasure hunt? 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have decided they can’t be after the treasure, something that likely doesn’t even exist when they are willing to spend 2 million euros on the chateau.🤔🙀🙀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm 🤔 then it’s really strange why al these people want the chateau 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
They must have a different reason, possibly a different reason for each, we will soon see.😳🙀🙀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂 yep he thinking, thta means more trouble 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just don’t understand those cats sometimes.😳🙄😹😹
LikeLiked by 1 person