Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. Married. Chapter 8.
We stopped just before getting to the village. My leg was throbbing. The bullet had gone right through, just in the fleshy part of the leg, so no real damage, but…it sure hurt. Our medic looked at it again and he said it’s all okay, but I shouldn’t be giving it so much exercise so soon. Can’t do anything about that. There are no boats at the docks and no one walking around this tiny village. I don’t like that. But we went into the village, spread out a bit just in case. The store was open, but no one was there. Same with the few houses and a very small, and old, hotel. It’s like a ghost town, but with all the furniture, clothes, food left behind. While in the hotel checking it out, one of the men, named Benjamin got “stung”.
Actually it was a spider bite and medic Stan gave him a shot right away which should counteract the poison from the spider. Apparently it is a killer poison. Baldwin picked this guy to join us because of his knowledge of dangerous insects and spiders. We have to protect him. Just past the village was a trail that led to the insect man’s house. I knocked on the door but there was no answer. The door was open however so we went cautiously inside. The first room was obviously the man’s study, and that’s where we found him, dead, covered with those same deadly spiders. This was no accident. We got out quickly and I tossed a fire bomb into the house. It wasn’t long and the whole house was in flames.
Meanwhile we got out of there. Hopefully not many of those spiders left the house. Hopefully none did. I’m sure the one we found in the hotel was planted there. We still had time to get back to our hotel before dark, so off we went. I doubt our enemies would want those dangerous spiders and insects to get out either as it would be just as bad for them as it would be for us. It was nice to have a phone again, and we had a solar powered charger for the phones and other things. I called Baldwin to see if the helicopter made it back okay. It did. And Baldwin checked to make sure the doctor and staff were okay and he had guards at the rooms for Lena and Tom.
“I’m going to be straight with you Steve,” said Baldwin, “Lena was shot bad, in the chest next to her heart and in her stomach. It doesn’t look good. She’s in surgery right now.” “Thanks Baldwin,” I said kind of choked up, “keep me informed, let me know right away after her surgery.” “Maybe you should come back now,” he said. “No,” I said, “Lena wouldn’t want that, we need to catch these people. What about the guy who wanted to buy this place? And what about the real owners?”
“After the owners turned down his offer, he went and bought a different hotel,” said Baldwin, “I didn’t think he would be behind all that trouble. No one knows what happened to the original owners, but that wasn’t Jimmy and his daughter, she’s still at the university and she doesn’t know, or doesn’t want to tell, where her dad and grandparents are right now. But those two who died were also not part of the acting group.” Hmm, this is getting more interesting all the time. For now we have lost all our suspects and that’s not good.
“I have someone for you to check out for me,” I said to Baldwin, “her name is Katharina, she was from one of our past cases and was part of a big drug syndicate that we broke up. Everyone at the time was arrested, except her, but they figured it wouldn’t be long before they had her in custody. Considering what she did in that case, something like this would be just what she would like to do. I know she probably doesn’t like me too much for messing things up for her and her family.” Baldwin said he would check and now it was time for us to settle in for the night. We decided to use the owner’s suite, it was big enough for all of us, the guys just needed to bring in an extra bed. The cats checked the suite thoroughly, and the rest of us checked areas they couldn’t reach. We didn’t want any surprises.
To Be Continued.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
I hope Lena makes it😬🥺😞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, me too! It doesn’t look so good right now.😬😟
LikeLike
What are you going to do??😬😬😳😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t want to leave, Lena is safe in a hidden location, if I go there these people could follow.😒 And I need to stop whoever it is or we could be on the run for a long time.😠😾😾
LikeLike
Then you have to make sure you’ve got your eyes crossed and your t’s dotted!🧐🧐
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I did that I wouldn’t be able to see to shoot!
LikeLike
Good thing you’ve got the cat’s on your side!😂😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow ! Spiders covering the insect guy ! Creepy ! Something is not right …have the cats look around…mind you , I don’t want them to be bitten…☕️☕️🕵️♂️😾😾🤔🕷👩😢
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, this is strange, now we have no suspects left, except maybe Dan can tell us something, he must be part of this somehow. That’s Baldwin’s part now. The cats are careful and have checked the suite, no bugs of any kind. We need to find out who’s behind this and soon!🤔😠😾😾🕵️♂️
LikeLike
On no, no spiders 🕷 What a hell of a honeymoon so far! I know you want to get who is behind all this but Lena may need you too 😾
LikeLiked by 1 person
The problem is, these people will likely follow us. Right now Lena is safe in a hidden location. But we’ll see how this goes.😳😠😾😾🕵️♂️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone addressed my concerns on Lena, but I understand why you cannot go to be with her now. Hoping she pulls through. I know you have a lot on your mind with your concern for her and this bizarre mystery. Good thing you remembered Katharine. You all be careful, there is danger around every corner, it seems. So grateful for the cats and for Baldwin’s help coupled with your instincts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s nice having Baldwin working with us now, he can handle the home base aspect which is important. I’m sure it must be Katharina, it has to be someone we know and that’s why I don’t want to lead her to Lena, Katharina would love that. Yes, danger could come from any direction, we must be ready.😳🤔😾😾🕵️♂️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is nice. Your strategy is definitely understandable. Yes, caution and ready to act. 😳🤔 You all have this, we believe in you! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you have confidence, I sure don’t!😬😲🙀🙀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😬😳😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Frankly Steve I don’t think sleeping is very good for your healrh right now. By the way you and long term relationships really don’t get along. If Lena dies you’ll have lost two wives and never got past the honeymoon
;;
;;
;;
Laughter; After a thousand years still your best entertainment value
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, a PI should probably stay single! Never even got to start the honeymoon the first time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Sam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh… Katharina.. she is still alive 😐 she is the reason behind all this 🤔 will find out soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, can we trust her? No other choice right now, I’m definitely finished without her help, maybe there is a chance…😳🙀🙀
LikeLike
May be there is a chance, when I read the next chapter as early as possible 😁. aren’t you sleeping 😉 Good Night 🤗🤗 I’m reading the next chapter 😺
LikeLiked by 1 person