Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Northern Mystery. Chapter 11. Mandar Returns.
With all that has been going on the last few weeks we had all but forgotten our case and these crazy clues. And, of course, our competitors, especially Mandar. He was an odd one to figure out. He certainly did not need the money, but perhaps this was sort of a hobby for him. Annelie had found enough information on him, right from birth to the time we met basically. He is very wealthy, not quite like Baldwin, but still, he has no money worries.
He is 50 years old, the police have watched him on and off for years for criminal activities but have never been able to charge him with anything at all. They were sure he was involved in some things, but what they did not know. However, Annelie found some hints, some of his friends were well known criminals so it is quite likely he was involved with things but keeping himself distant enough to appear “clean”.
We were all in the library going over the latest clue with the dots and I was going over the information about Mandar. Tracy came in to join us, it was a week since Jake’s funeral and she has been doing much better. “What are you reading Steve?,” she asked. “All about Mandar,” I said, “trying to see if I can figure out why he is after this treasure, and how he knew about it.” “I have not seen a pic of him yet,” she said. “There is one on the table over there,” I told her.
She went over and looked at it. I certainly did not expect her reaction. She tossed the photo back on the table yelling “Jeffrey!” and ran out of the room. I told Galyna and Kristina to follow her. Kristina came back a while later. “Tracy knows him as Jeffrey Conners,” she said, “he gave a job to her when she first went out on her own. Not a good job either. We need to watch him close, he could be dangerous.” Galyna came out shortly after and asked Mriya if she had something to calm Tracy down.
“Sure do,” she said, and off she went to give her something. But she called for help right away so Galyna and Kristina went back to the bedroom. Mriya had called for an ambulance but it arrived too late. Tracy was dead. She had stabbed herself. “Mandar, you are responsible for her death,” I said out loud, “and we will come after you for this.” Seeing Mandar so soon after Jake’s death was obviously too much for her.
I should never have let her join in on things just yet, it was too soon to get involved. I went for a walk to be alone, but Kat said no to that, so she and Sigurbjorn came with me. “It was Mandar who killed Jake,” I said, “no doubt about that.” “I agree,” said Kat, “he wanted to get rid of both of them.” “Yes,” agreed Sigurbjorn, “but why go to the trouble of tracking us down when it is the treasure he wants?” “Maybe he does not want the treasure,” I said, “maybe it was just Jake and Tracy all along.”
“Or perhaps he wants all of us,” said Kat. I suddenly stop walking. “Jeffrey Conners!”, I exclaimed, “now I know why that sounded familiar. That is Avina’s uncle, her favorite uncle. I remember now seeing him just once when he was visiting Avina and her family while we were in high school. He does want all of us.” I called Baldwin right away to tell him what happened. I also wanted him to warn Rock and Annelie.
Mandar will not know they have quit our PI team so he might go after them too. Baldwin put a 24 hour guard on them right away. I cannot believe all this is happening right now, too much in a short time. And Chung wants me to relax? How? That will be impossible until we stop Mandar. Kat called Annelie to see if she can find Mandar for us before anyone else gets hurt. Apparently Baldwin ‘forgot’ to tell them about Tracy. Another funeral for our little PI family.
We are back at the chateau, trying to relax after the funeral. Work on the treasure case has stopped, we have to deal with Mandar first. It would not have been difficult for him to find us, our home is not exactly a secret. Another week has passed but still no word from Annelie about where we might find Mandar. Okay, perhaps John can help us. I called him and left an urgent message for him to call me.
He called back about an hour later and asked what was going on. I brought him up to date on things. The last thing I mentioned was my heart attack. That made him go silent. “Are you still there?”, I asked. “Yeah Steve, still here,” he said, “you have a lot going on, sorry to hear about your health especially. How can I help?” “Ever hear of a guy named Mandar?”, I asked. “Mandar!”, he exclaimed, “yeah, I know him…”
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Oh great!! Another tem member gone!😔😳😲😥
What is going on??? You have to put s stop to this Jeffery, Mandar or whatever name he goes by!!🤨🤨 He needs to pay for his dirty deeds! You better tell John to watch his back also! Never know who he’ll go after next!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we are going to stop this Mandar, we just need to find him first and then sneak up behind him to catch him off guard. He thinks he has us on the run, well, we’ll run right around until we are chasing him. Doing that to Tracy was just too much! Still, I never should have let her get involved in the case right now, it was just too soon. Sigh. I will indeed warn John too since he helped us against Avina.🤔👩😾😾😾🕵️
LikeLike
Yep!! He’s got a world of hurt coming his way!!😖
LikeLiked by 1 person
He picked the wrong group to mess with this time!🤨👩😾🕵️
LikeLike
I agree!!😖😡 Now…. how’s the search for him going??🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, not so good right now. Annelie has not found anything, we have lost Jake so we also lose his contacts. And John has heard nothing. This is not good.😬🕵️
LikeLike
Well, I guess you could either wait until he tries something again or you could try to bait him into giving himself away with offering something he couldn’t resist?🤔🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought about baiting him, but I don’t know how. I’m beginning to think this treasure hunt was to bait me and the team out where he could knock us off one by one in different ways. So we will not play that game right now. And since he likes to stay away from the action, he could be anywhere.🤔🕵️
LikeLike
Plant a false story about solving the last message and where you’re going to begin looking for it. Then set an ambush for him or his men. If it’s his men… well, you use a little cohesion to find where he’s at!😉🤨
LikeLiked by 1 person
But if Mandar set up this treasure hunt to catch me, then he will know I’m lying and just setting a trap for him. Then it will be harder to catch him after that.🤔🕵️
LikeLike
Yes! But then you will know for certain he’s the one behind the attempts!😉🤨
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m already certain he is, it is just too much of a coincidence. I know it was because of him that Tracy killed herself. That’s enough right there.🤨🕵️
LikeLike
I suppose you’re right..🤔 but how will you find him then?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trickery! But I hope John can put us on to his trail, even in a general way, then we can find him. If all else fails I will look for Brenda. Her and Mandar are very much the same, so they likely know each other and hate each other. She would probably love to get rid of him. That’s where we come in. However, that is plan B. Plan A is we do it ourselves. That would be best. But whatever works…🤔🕵️
LikeLike
I like it!😉 That’s a good plan! I hope John can come through…🙄🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I hope so too! One way or another we will find Mandar.🤨🕵️
LikeLike
I know you will get even with him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just want to put him out of business, for good!🤨🕵️
LikeLike
I’m certain you will. But you can’t let it become an obsession…. that could cloud your judgement and make you vulnerable! 😬😬
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true, we shall relax and think this through carefully before we strike. We don’t want to make a mistake, that’s for sure. We likely won’t get a second chance if we do.🤔🕵️
LikeLike
That’s for sure! Plus it could it make him more determined to get even with you!!😳😲
LikeLiked by 1 person
He seems determined enough now!
LikeLike
Jeffrey or Mandar has a way of showcasing himself. When you first met he was showcasing himself as blind, when he was not. He likes to make the first move but instead you should make the first move and be in charge! He has much to answer for but he is arrogant and full of pride which will work against him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, we just need a way to bring him out in the open somehow. Right now I think he is likely far away. But if I can find out approx. where he is it won’t be hard to find him. I might even enlist the help of someone else, Brenda, she likely knows Mandar and since they are much the same they probably don’t like each other. But that will be plan B for now. Hopefully John can get some info for me.🤔👩😾😾😾🕵️
LikeLiked by 1 person
So Mandar is not Mandar…🤔 hmmm…” trouble is afoot “ …watch your backs ! 🕵️♂️👩👩🥺🤭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, although Mandar is the name he uses now. A dangerous man. I think more changes are coming up for our PI team as we chase Mandar.🤔👩😾😾😾🕵️
LikeLike