Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Painting. Chapter 6.
I pull out my gun and the cats take up positions around the room and the door opens. “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the maid, “I was just bringing you some fresh towels, Mrs. Hand said you were out.” Kat goes over and takes the towels and thanks her and she leaves in a hurry. Marven and Mable Hand are the new people claiming to be the owners of the Inn. “Do you think maybe we’re getting too jumpy?”, asked Kat. “Perhaps, but it’s good to be on the safe side,” I said. Well, the evening went by quietly and the cats took turns watching the car overnight, though we still checked it in the morning anyway since there was time last evening that someone could have done something to the car.
After a very good breakfast we went for our drive down the road and easily found the other road that led to the castle. There was nice rolling hills, some open fields and forested areas as well. We crossed over a meandering stream making it’s way around the hills, it was a beautiful sight. It seemed like a long drive though before we finally spotted the castle sitting atop the tallest hill in the area. It must have been quite impressive in it’s day, even now it stands quite tall and strong. There is a little parking area just off the road and a small path up to the castle, not one that sees much activity though. But that’s a good thing.
We don’t mention any of the information we have discovered, somehow I think they probably know we have been checking on them. We walk around the castle and Jessica tells us about a legend of the castle. “Actually, there are many legends associated with this castle,” said Jessica. “All castles have their own legends,” said uncle Benjamin, almost growling. He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood this morning. And his son Ben is keeping his distance from us, but I notice that Kat is watching him rather closely for some reason.
“That’s true uncle,” said Jessica, “but I like all these old legends, like this one. The king, about 700 years ago had a mighty prince, who was also his closest companion and he wanted to marry the kings daughter. The king was overjoyed with this, but the night before the wedding the princess was found dead, apparently she had killed herself. The king was terribly grieved over this and the prince vowed to find out who killed the princess, for he did not believe she killed herself. That night he too was found dead, apparently he hanged himself.”
“I like these old legends too,” said Kat, “I wonder who starts them and when do they get started?” “This one is supposed to be as old as it says,” said Jessica. Uncle Benjamin just kind of sneered and went over to his son. “Be careful Steve,” said Jessica quietly, “don’t trust anyone.” Then I told her about the owners of the Inn. She looked genuinely surprised and scared. “Don’t trust those new people,” she said, “they are not the owners, Jim and Melissa Farthington own that Inn, and have for 10 years.” “That’s interesting to know,” I said, “we’ll watch them for sure.”
Uncle Benjamin showed us the tunnel to get to where Jessica was staying. Kat drew a map of the route, which was a good thing, we turned so many times I lost what direction we were going. The cats were also marking the way as we went along. Then we departed and headed back to the Inn after Kat took pictures of the place. About half way back I heard a noise and it hit me we had forgotten to check the car before leaving the castle. I stopped and yelled for everyone to get out! We ran and hid behind some trees. Then there was some smoke from under the car and a loud voice that said, “Bang, you’re dead!”
I went back and located the fake bomb. “What was that for?”, asked Kat. “Someone just reminding us they could have killed us had they wanted to,” I said. Back at the Inn we relaxed for a while in our room before heading down for dinner. “That was kind of a scary warning,” said Kat. “True, so we will have to be extra careful about…” Then I stopped as I remembered the legend that Jessica told us. I grabbed my phone and called Baldwin, but Calanthe said he was at an important meeting in New York and he can’t be disturbed.
I asked about Brandi and Calanthe said she was fine. Then she asked why. “Do you have good security right now?”, I ask. “There’s only 2 guards here today,” she said. “Then get more fast and don’t let Brandi out of your sight!”, I said, “and I need to talk with Baldwin, now!” Calanthe didn’t hesitate anymore and got through to Baldwin. “Brandi’s in danger Baldwin, someone is out to kill her tonight,” I said, “and you’re next in line to be killed tomorrow! Get guards for Brandi and yourself, this is no idle threat, it’s real!” “I’m on it Steve!”, he said, and he was gone. I just hope…
To Be Continued.
Previous chapters of this story, and other stories in this series, can be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.”
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Oooooohhhhh…. things are getting really really interesting!!! How sure are you about Kat?🤔🤔🤔🤫🤫🤫🤫🤭🤭🤭🤭
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Kat? What did she do? Is she doing something behind my back in front of my face? Jessica did warn me about Brandi and Baldwin, in a rather unusual way, but a warning anyway. That makes me think that she is being forced to do her part in this, whatever it is. Maybe that’s why uncle Benjamin is around, to make sure she does what she’s told. Or perhaps not, he could be innocent. Ben I really don’t trust.🤨👱♀️😾😾🕵️♂️
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Still too early for me to make any conclusions on any of them just yet! But! That conversation that was had about the 700 year old story about the King the Prince and Princess was very interesting!🤔🤔🤔 Kats response was kinda suspect🙄🙄
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Didn’t she say she enjoyed hearing these old legends? But it was an interesting way for Jessica to warn me though. I was kinda curious why Kat was so interested in Ben today, forgot to ask her about that.🤔🙄
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That’s true!🤔🤔 But why the interest in who and how they got started??? Hmmmm??🤔🤔
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That’s good PI thinking! Trying to find out if these legends might have some fact or are being used as a means of pressuring.🤔🤔
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Yeah, or maybe someone just tipped their hand????😲😲😳😳🤔🤔
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Aha! Now we’re thinking! And who was it that put that fake bomb on the car? It had to be done while we were at the castle. That was just too close!😬😬💣💥
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We’re you followed?? 🤔🤔😳😳
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Not a vehicle on the road anywhere, but Ben was out of sight for a while when uncle Benjamin took us through the tunnels.
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There ya go!!🤨🤨
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Yep, I really don’t trust him at all, but then, uncle Benjamin and Ben are not who they claim to be anyway. And tomorrow we visit the cemetery. I just want to make sure that Benjamin really is buried there.🤔😳
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But how??🤔🤔🙄🙄 Can’t dig him up!😬😬
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Amazing what you can find at a cemetery though!
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Here I thought it was kinda dead there!😂😂😂😂
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Hey, there’s life in them old bones sometimes!
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Better hope not! 👻 👽 😲😳
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I’m hoping there is, I need information, can’t get it from the living, then maybe from the dead.🤔😳🙄🙀🙀👻☠💀
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What are you hoping to dig up??🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Information about Benjamin Carberry, he’s supposed to be buried there, along with his wife and daughter, so I thought maybe one of them could fill me in on some things.🤔
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Better bring your shovels…
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Not a bad idea.🤔🙄
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Thank you! That’s my one for today!😁😁😂😂
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Now you’re one ahead of me.😁😳
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It’s still late you can catch up!😉😂😂😂
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Not a chance.
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If you insist!😏
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Oh thank you!
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Just trying to support you in all you do!😉😁😊😂😂😂😂
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That’s nice, I need it right now, I can barely walk!🏑🚶♂️
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My cane?
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That’s why the club, I couldn’t find an emoji cane.
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Okay! 🤣🤣
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Strange they don’t have a cane. Unless it’s hidden somewhere odd like somewhere.🤔🙄🙄
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Hmmm intriguing 🤔 👀
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Maybe we need a PI?
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Where can you find one of those when you one??🙄🙄🤔🤔🤭🤭🤭🤭
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That’s a good question, maybe I’ll ask around.
I’m off!😁
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Me too!😂😂
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You are too trusting of some people…are you able to confront the “new” owners ? Or are you biding your time ? …interesting plot…hmmm…be ever diligent around you ! ☕️☕️🕵️♂️👩😼😼🤔☕️☕️
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Well, I can trust the 4 of us, plus Baldwin and the girls, but they’re not here. I don’t trust the new owners at all, but I’m leaving them alone for now. Jessica did warn us of danger for Baldwin and Brandi, but in a way that makes me think people are using her to trap us again. I think uncle Benjamin and Ben are there to keep an eye on her for the bad guys, whoever they are. Certainly not sure what is going on yet so we just go along with things for a while.🤔👱♀️😾😾🕵️♂️
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Seems, you can’t trust anyone except the cats! Yikes! 💣🙀😱
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Well, Kat and the cats anyway. But Jessica did warn us of danger, but secretly, which tells me that uncle Benjamin and Ben are there to watch Jessica to make sure she does her job, whatever that is. Ben must have planted that fake bomb, there was no one else around. But why was Kat so interested in Ben? I haven’t asked her that yet. I still don’t know what’s going on.🤔👱♀️😾😾🕵️♂️
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