Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. Mountain Cabin Mystery. Chapter 7. Photo Album.
Jenny, Kristina, Muffin and I walked around the beautiful resort a bit after the girls had left. They did have a beautiful garden area to enjoy. I kept trying to think of what is the secret to this place. It must be valuable that these people are willing to kill for it. And trying to trap us, for what purpose though? It did not really make sense, unless they plan on holding us hostage to gain access to this secret.
But if Paul and Beth really do not know what the secret is, then holding us all here would make no sense. Paul does know more than he is saying however, and we have to find out what. We went to the lodge for some coffee and I asked where Paul was. The lady that works there did not know where he was, but Beth was in bed sick this morning. That does not help.
I do not want Beth anyway, she is too scared of something to talk right now. There was a nice large area to sit in nice antique chairs and look out windows giving a beautiful view. There were also shelves on one wall lined with books to read on days that were less pleasant than this one. Kristina was looking at the books though. She seemed to find one that interested her and came back to sit down and read a bit.
Jenny was busy looking through an older photo album of previous guests to the resort. She stopped and stared. “Look at this Steve,” she said quietly, and showed me a page in the album. She then pointed to one picture in particular. “That is Hermit Pete,” I said. His name was right under the photo. “But look at the date,” she said, “it is 1955. That is 67 years ago and he is old back then.”
“You are right,” I admitted, “there is no way he would be alive now, the man seen in the window was about 60 or 70.” “Right,” she said, “so it has to be someone other than the original Hermit Pete, and yet it looks like him.” “So someone is pretending to be him for some reason,” I said, “but why?” Jennifer continued to look through the album while I thought about this new interesting addition to our case. Jennifer stopped again and showed me another picture. It was the 4 seniors, but much younger.
“Looks like they must enjoy this place,” I said. “But the ladies told Kat and I that this is the first time they had been here,” said Jennifer. “Perhaps they just forgot,” I said, “it can happen.” Jenny looked at me, “not too likely anyone would forget coming here. And look what it says, they were both on their honeymoon. They were all childhood friends and got married at the same time, then came here. I do not think they would forget that.” “Hmm, guess you are right,” I said, “it is rather odd, why would they lie about that?”
Kristina came closer. “Perhaps everyone here is mixed up in whatever is going on here,” she said, “look what I found tucked in behind those big books on the bottom shelf.” It was an old diary of sorts, but really it was written as a story about this resort, starting from its very beginning. I read a few pages. “Take this back to our cabin with you,” I told Kristina. We finished our coffee and left.
I told the lady to tell Paul I wanted to see him. All she said was “fine”. “She gives me the chills,” said Kristina as we walked back to the cabin. When we got back the door was open so Jenny and Kristina went in first, Muffin stayed outside with me. Suddenly 3 shots hit the cabin right beside me and I dropped to the ground. The girls came running outside and down the stairs. I yelled at them to get down.
“It must have come from between those two cabins,” I said. Right then the two senior ladies came out from between those very cabins. The girls ran around behind the cabins while Muffin and I ran over to the ladies and asked if they had seen anyone. They said no and kept on walking over to the garden. That was all very strange. We went back inside. The girls said there was no evidence that anyone had been in there.
“They just left the door open so we would think there was someone inside,” I said, “just to separate us.” “But you were right in the open,” said Jennifer, “how could they miss?” “Because they did not want to kill me right then,” I said, “they just wanted to let me know they can do it whenever they want. That means we need to be a lot more careful.” “Yes,” said Kristina, “we are not supposed to leave you out of sight at any time.” “Well, we do not have to tell Kat,” I said. “Someone will see those bullet holes out there,” said Jenny. “Yes, I guess you are right,” I sighed…
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Rule number one in a marriage is no secrets between husband and a wife!! You’ve been married long enough to know that! (In the story) So now what?🤔 What message is being sent? Why would they want to kill you? Why even let you know they are even around? 🤔 Too many unanswered questions yet to be answered to speculate just yet 🙄 🤔
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Secrets? Oh, you mean that one, well, it was just so that Kat wouldn’t throw the girls out of the cabin tonight. It gets cold up here at night. Speaking of secrets, why did the seniors lie about not being here before, I mean, what’s the point? Why did Paul and Beth lie about Hermit Pete? They obviously know it’s not him. Considering that they said before they did not want to fight with us, why did they kill Salka? And why shoot at me? Or is someone else involved in this game of secrets too? Those 4 young guys are sure keeping to themselves, that is suspicious too. And where is Paul? He suddenly disappears when his wife is sick. Something strange there too. This diary story is interesting reading though.🤔👩😾😾😾🕵️
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Yep! I agree on each and everyone of those points!😁😉 That’s why I’m waiting to read a little more before I try to figure out the why.🤔🙄 If they were there before you all arrived doing whatever it is they are doing, then why would they announce that they were even around? So maybe they were trying to avoid being found out when the little girl witnessed something she wasn’t supposed to see? She us the key to this mystery! The truth is there… It could be that the oldsters are behind the whole thing! They discovered something while on their Honeymoons and are back to try and claim it at any cost!😉🤨😬
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Yep, that little girl knows more than she realizes and that threw everything out of whack for these people who are after the resort secret. I think you are right, those seniors are perhaps involved, but on their own. Q is after this secret too, somehow she found out about it, maybe even from the seniors, so she followed them here. Just a guess, it could just be they are here at the same time by coincidence. I’m thinking that Paul knows what the secret is, but he wants it for himself and isn’t even telling his wife about it. The only thing that doesn’t fit with those seniors, why did they wait so long to come back for this “treasure” or whatever it is?🤔👩😾😾😾🕵️
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Perhaps a look into the oldsters finances could provide a clue as to why they took so long to come back??😉🤔🙄
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That would be good idea, but remember, we can’t call out right now. So we can’t check for info.😬🙄
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That’s right!! RATS!!😖 I was sure there was an answer to the motive there!! Did you bring the miniature satellite 🛰 dish with??🤔🤔 You could connect to the internet that way!
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Mini satellite dish? How big do you think our backpacks are anyway? They are already full of gidgets and gadgets and widgets and wadgets, plus guns, ammo, rope, ladders, handcuffs, rolls of wire, tools, batteries, flashlights and many other things like our vests and other new clothing. Our regular clothes go in the luggage.😁
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That’s why it’s miniature!!😂😂😂😛
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But it would likely just get discombobulated like the rest of the stuff. Interference can interfere with any kind of interference.🤔🙄🕵️
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Ah… yeah that’s right! Rats!!😣 That’s two times tonight!!😬😬
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Hey, you’re doing good! As they say in the old country baseball game, “3 times a winner!”😁🙄
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That’s me!!!😂😂😂
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Oh, did you play baseball in the old country?🤔
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Yes I played in the country!! 😁😊😂😂
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Which country?
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The old one!!🤪🤪
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Oh no, I was probably one of the speculators!
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I thought I saw you there!😉😁😊😂😂
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So far so good…🤔 Any guesses who might be Q ? Intriguing …just make sure that you are well protected ! 🕵️♂️👩👩
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Well, let’s see, I think it could be the cook that is working out here, but that is just a guess. Or, perhaps we will find out something today.
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