For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
But another helicopter flew overhead to the field where the other two had landed. The group coming up the hill stopped and Marik went off to the field. That gives us a little time. Annelie had fallen behind the rest of us coming out but finally showed up. “There is another way out of that corridor,” she said, “maybe we can get that loot out of there while they are waiting.” “Okay, let’s give it a try,” I said and waved to the others to come along. We carried the gold and jewels out first and hid them in a secret passage that Annelie had found. Then Annelie stayed to carry the money out while the rest of us went back out to see what was going on.
Marik and someone else were just joining the others and were standing around talking. Then they began coming back up the hill toward us. We were all in our positions waiting for them to get a little closer. “Meow!”, I called out and Muffin shot one of her flares which lit up the area where the men were. Just like daylight, we could see everyone, easily spotting the leaders, though I could not see Vinny anywhere. Annelie came out right then and a shot came ringing out from the left of us. Annelie lay motionless on the ground, bleeding badly.
“Meow!”, I said again and another flare flew up. That is when we started shooting, aiming for the leaders first. Kristina and Adela started shooting too, but too quickly and they were very soon out of bullets. I had told them to shoot slowly, oh well, they do not know how to use a gun. Kat then ran back to Annelie and another shot rang out from the shadows to our left. Kat was motionless on the ground. She had been shot in the back. Jennifer came to me. “I’m going after Vinny,” she said angrily. “Come here,” I said, “make sure you come back.” She smiled, “I’m planning to, you go after the fat man, don’t let him get away.”
“That’s what I am planning to do,” I said. Jennifer disappeared in the shadows of the night. I ran to the right, I had seen the fat man and his bodyguards heading in that direction. They obviously wanted to come up behind us as best they could. So I figured I would save them a few steps by meeting them halfway. While I was going to meet them, Adela must have gotten scared and tried to run away. Vinny shot again and she was down. “Vinny!”, Jennifer called out from behind him. He turned to shoot, but Jennifer shot first, three times, and Vinny fell. Then she shot two more times. She wanted to make sure he was dead, she knew how dangerous he was.
While that was happening Kristina ran and grabbed Kat’s gun just as Mr. Bowman and 3 others jumped over a little wall we had been hiding behind. Kristina shot at them, emptying the clip and all 4 of them fell. There was the fat man and his two men in front of me. I shot at the bodyguards just as they also shot towards me. They missed, but I did not. “Hey, PI man!”, the fat man called, “I am unarmed, why not come fight me like a man?” “Gladly,” I answered him and tossed my gun on some rocks. I knew he never carried a gun, only that short whip of his, so I was just going to walk up, keeping just out of range of that whip, then run the last part right at him.
Then I felt a tearing across my chest…he had a longer whip! Then he wrapped it around my legs and pulled, knocking me down on my back…on a pile of rocks. My back was in pain, plus I hit my head, but I did have a knife which I threw the best I could hitting him in the chest, but not close enough to his heart to stop him. He did bend over briefly, but then kept coming. I couldn’t get up, but suddenly…”Thwock!”, and the fat man fell. Muffin came running over. “Thanks Muffin,” I said, “you are just in time!”
Right then two helicopters showed up flooding the area with bright lights while police started coming up from the parking area. There was a short gun fight, but the remaining men quickly gave up when they realized that all their bosses were dead. I told the police about 3 more men in the town and they quickly went and rounded them up. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get up on my feet. “Don’t try to get up Steve,” called Jennifer as she came running over. It seems the cats, Jennifer and Kristina were not hurt at all. Kat, Annelie and Adela were alive, but injured badly.
To Be Continued.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Whoa!! What an ending!! π²π³π€― I’m glad you got them all, but what about the govt that’s after you? Now they will send someone new!!π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed, the story isn’t over yet! There is more to come as we deal with those that are after us! But how can we do that? Especially now, we are mostly all sitting ducks! Just Jennifer and the cats left to protect us.π³π±ββοΈπΎπΎπ±ββοΈπ©π©π±ββοΈπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLike
You’ll have to sleep with one eye open!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually that’s the cat’s job.πΎπΎ But I sleep with a gun under my pillow!π¬π«πͺπΉπ£
LikeLike
Better becareful… π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s hard to do when we don’t know who to look out for or when, but we will try.π³π¬ππ I forgot, now that we are back in our favorite hospital, Rock is here to help protect us also. π The hospital decided to keep two rooms set aside for us at all times since we are there so often.π
LikeLike
Your own private hotel with beside service!!ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed, it was very nice of them! They even decorated the rooms nicely for us. They do get a lot of return business from us.π€ππ
LikeLike
It’s good you get a discount! Or do you have good insurance?ππ€
LikeLiked by 1 person
We used to have insurance, but no one will insure us now, seems we are considered high risk for some reason.π€π³
LikeLike
Yeah, I can’t imagine what would cause them to do that? ππ€ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me neither, I mean, lots of people have constant problems of one kind or another.π€ππ
LikeLike
Not to mention dead clients and gunshot wounds!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, it could happen to anyone. I don’t really think they’re being fair. I mean, this is costing Baldwin a bundle!π³π³
LikeLike
Nice to have rich friends!!π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s a good one for sure. He says it helps to use up some of the interest on one of his bank accounts.π
LikeLike
That’s tough…π poor fella!π€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does have some problems that way.π€π³
LikeLike
I wish I had those problems!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
He calls it his piggy bank, he likes to keep a few tens of millions available for quick spending in case he needs a new sweater, car, mansion, just for normal shopping kind of things. Plus for helping us out too.π€π€ππ
LikeLike
It might be cheaper if he hired you and put you all on payroll!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I might need a different job after this one. A PI that can’t walk isn’t much good for that job.π€π¬
LikeLike
Hey.. there are a bunch of Su I er Heros in wheel chairs!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I don’t have any super powers to go with it. And the rest of my team would have to do all the work which wouldn’t be nice.ππ€π¬
LikeLike
Hey… I remember when it was just you and Muffin!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, just the two of us for the first half of the year until Mr Cat joined us!ππΊπΊ
LikeLike
Exactly! Now you have a well trained staff!! You just coach them!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I hate the thought of sending them into danger while I stay behind.π¬
LikeLike
Yeah, but you can oversee what’s happening and send help when they need it like Baldwin does for you… plus you don’t get all beat up! BONUS!!ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I wouldn’t be able to sleep nights wondering if they are going to get killed or shot or kidnapped or both!π³π³
LikeLike
Then you better get an electric scooter!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, and get electrocuted!π²
LikeLike
Well you’re not supposed to take it swimming!!π€¨π€¨ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Morning Steve ππ βοΈ β π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!π³βπ§
LikeLike
There you are!! I was growing concerned that I hadn’t heard from you!! Good Morning!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been one of those days, now I have to go get my stuff out of the garage and there is a steady drizzle out there. But, has to get done.π¬
LikeLike
Take carefully… don’t want to end in bed with a back ache
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, that one box is kind of heavy. Anyway, talk later.π
LikeLike
Alright! Have fun!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun isn’t quite the right word for it.ππ
LikeLike
What would be the right word for it??π€π€ππ€
LikeLiked by 1 person
How about, ‘ another way for Steve to hurt himself ‘?π€π
LikeLike
I warned ya!πππππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
But not soon enough, you have to do it sooner before I hurt myself.π€ππ¬
LikeLike
Yeah… I tried!! Somehow I don’t think it would have slowed you down enough to help prevent Steve from falling down again..ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is quite possibly a possibility to possibly consider.π€
LikeLike
Did you get the job done??π€¨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, mostly, just one item to move, but I might need some help with that one.
LikeLike
At least that’s some progress right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it is! Maybe it’s the change in weather, but I’m aching all over!π¬π³
LikeLike
I’m sure that’s part of it… we have thunder going on outside here..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost thought we had thunder, but it was just the deer running through the yard.ππ¦π¦
LikeLike
Must be big deer !!π¦ πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s hollow ground.π€
LikeLike
Frozen no doubt… Maybe it was Santa π π§βπ on his practice run before Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, then Muffin would have been scared.
LikeLike
Of Santa?π²π³ Poor Kitty πΊ
LikeLiked by 1 person
He has a beard.
LikeLike
Uh ohπ³ I better shave!π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s scared of beards.
LikeLike
π¬π¬ I’ll trim it up…π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Morning π βοΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning!πββπ¨π₯Ά
LikeLike
A little windy and snowy there this morning ???
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just a teeny bit.πππ
LikeLike
We’re getting a little bit also..π
LikeLiked by 1 person
The poor birds trying to land on those feeders while they swing back and forth so wildly!π³π³
LikeLike
Like a carnival ride for birds!!ππ I hope they don’t get motion sickness!π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doesn’t seem to bother them at all, I think they enjoy it!ππ
LikeLike
You’re probably right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I am quite sure they do, really, honestly and truly!ππ’π π‘πͺ
LikeLike
For sure??π²
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most definitatively!π
LikeLike
Oh my!!π€―
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh why?π²
LikeLike
Why not??π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why not what not?π€ππ
LikeLike
How about a square knot??π³π²
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I have round fingers so I can’t tie a square knot.π³π
LikeLike
There’s always the yknot… works well for the covid virus!!ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
What about whatknots? Or nutknots? And even peaknots!πππ€£π€£
LikeLike
Or peanuts?π₯ πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I just said.ππ
LikeLike
There is only one peanut as I understand itπ€ am I right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope, there’s a whole gang of them!
LikeLike
Oh my.. that’s got to hard to keep track of!!π³
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, there’s Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, um, the piano kid, peppermint Patty, 3,4 and 5, um, and others.
LikeLike
I love the peanuts!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, me too!
LikeLike
Schroeder ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
You forgot my name??π²π²
LikeLike
Nope… the kid who plays the piano in the Peanuts cartoonsπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, right, that’s him! I knew I would think of it!
Well, time for bed.
Good night Dusty!πππ΄
Talk tomorrow!π
Jingle bells, jingle bells…ππΆπ΅πΌπ
LikeLike
Good Night Steve! π΄ Pleasant Dreams
Sleep Tight don’t let those bed bugs bite!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
So you’re all signed up for another year there huh??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed, all signed, sealed and delivered!ππΊπ‘
LikeLike
That’s got to feel good huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does. As they say in the old country, “that’s one more snowball off the ol brain.”
LikeLike
So does that mean you’re rent is locked in at the same rate it was?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, for a year, then he can raise it. He can apply to the tenant board to raise it sooner if he incurs some unexpected, or planned, expense. Such as putting in new windows. He probably won’t do that next year however. He’s planning on renovating the house first.
LikeLike
That’s good. Now you can relax a bit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, now I can relax a bit. One more snowball off the ol brain!ππΉ
LikeLike
Good!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got through that time.ππππ
LikeLike
And you were concerned…ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t recall being concerned.π€π€
LikeLike
Okay…. you were worried he would raise the rent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s not what we were talking about that time.π
LikeLike
Ah you’re trying to changes the subject againπ€¨π€¨π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t I just say that?
LikeLike
Nope I said it Second then you said it third!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I was first saying in second in third place!
LikeLike
Hey you medaled in all three places!!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
Good morning Dusty!πββββ
LikeLike
Good Morning Mr. Coffee β π π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I have enjoyed my coffee for now!π
LikeLike
Excellent!π Got lots to do today?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A slightly busy day. Now it’s time for the next chapter!π³
LikeLike
Sweet π π§ πͺ π
LikeLiked by 1 person
You seem somewhat distracted recently.. have you been very busy getting things organized?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, just haven’t been feeling too great.
Oh, the next chapter is out, late today.π
LikeLike
Thanks for telling me!! I’ll read it before bed!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the girls were dead, but to my surprise they are still alive ! Close one ! The saga continues…were you shot as well ? Or was it the result of being whipped and dragged across the rocks ? Hmmmm…π΅οΈββοΈπ©π©π©πΌπΌπ€π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a good thing it was at night, I think that helped us a lot. Yes, the story is not yet finished, we still have the people who are after us, but who are they and how can we fight them? Yep, it was falling on those rocks that did me in this time and maybe for good. Perhaps this is the end of our PI business!π€π±ββοΈπΎπΎπ±ββοΈπ©π©π±ββοΈπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLike
Oh, my! Another action-filled chapter! Well, you can’t give up now! I think you need to add more to the team. The bad guys are mean to the core. π±π¬πΎπ΅οΈπ΅οΈπ΅οΈ
π₯ π₯βοΈβοΈβοΈπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
We still have problems ahead yet, finding and stopping these people who are after us. How to do that is the big problem. Yes, maybe a bigger team, but I could be out of it now and that will make things hard.π³π±ββοΈπΎπΎπ±ββοΈπ©π©π±ββοΈπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Investigators, Inc. Sleepy Town Mystery. Chapter 9, Hidden. – Nelsapy
Thank you so much for sharing!
LikeLike