Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Warning Mystery. Chapter 5. The Surgeon.
“It is designed to kill me on Monday, at midnight.” “Oh my, oh my,” he said, “no, I had no part in this at all. That is not the way I work and even though we might not be friends in the usual sense, I have no hatred for you, or your team and I certainly do not want to kill you.” “Have you ever heard of Avina?” I asked. “Oh yes, she is a horrid woman, worse than my late wife Brenda. They were cousins you know.”
“That is news to me,” I said, “but it is adding up perhaps. Then you must also know Toledo.” “Why yes, I do,” said Mandar, “he went into hiding after his wife was killed and, oh my, I just remembered something. His ‘hobby’ was working in devices like you mention and they have quite the explosive potential. You simply cannot have surgery done indoors where there is electricity within 10 feet.
That device can capture the electrical energy to give it more explosive power. It would certainly kill you and the surgeon as well.” “That is not welcome news, we will never find a surgeon now,” I said, putting my head down. “Not so, my good man,” said Mandar, “there is a surgeon who would gladly lay his life on the line to help you.” I looked at Mandar. Do I dare to trust him to recommend yet another doctor to me? Especially when it is a life and death situation?
Meaning my life and death. We talked some more and I finally said okay to his recommendation. “And I will be there myself,” he reminded me, “if things go wrong, your team can kill me on the spot. And believe me, I have no desire to die right now, I would prefer to live a while longer. But, if this surgery goes as I expect it shall, then you must give me an invitation.” He looked sternly at me.
I smiled. “What makes you think there will be anything to need an invitation for?” I asked him. “If there is not, then you are a great fool, my good man,” he said shaking his head. Perhaps he is right, but for now I just cannot think about it. “Shall we go then?” I ask Mandar, “but first I am sure you want to contact your organization to let them know you might be gone for a day or two.” I gave him my phone to use instead of his phone which might have a tracker on it.
He told his man not to worry, that he was going away for a couple of days and that he was in good hands. “There we go, Steve,” he said handing my phone back, “I hope you do not mind my using your name?” “Not at all,” I said, “that is what it is for. But stand back from the door.” He looked a bit bewildered. I slowly opened the door and Rock came flying in nearly tearing the door off its hinges anyway. “No Rock, do not hurt him,” I said, “he is coming with us.”
Now Rock had that same bewildered look. Jennifer came in next and looked at me. I explained to them that Mandar was coming with us as our guest to “watch over” the operation. “And if things do not work out and I die, then you have the right to kill him,” I said. “Yes, I made that agreement with Steve,” said Mandar, “and I will not resist. I say, could we get something to eat? I am famished.” “Food is already prepared and waiting on the plane,” said Jenny, “there should be enough for one more.”
As we flew back, I explained to everyone what was happening, and that included Mr. B who was on the phone with us. “Are you sure that is what you want?” said Mr. B. “Yes, it is,” I said and then I told him what we were going to need for the operation. “And Chung will be the only one with us during the operation,” I said. That was something that Jennifer and Rock did not like.
“I do not want to make our surgeon nervous,” I said, “that could prove fatal. Only Chung stays in during the operation.” Oddly, I did not feel at all nervous about this. “What do you cats think?” I asked. Meow,meow.=Me trust human Mandar, he not kill you. Meow.=Me too trust human Mandar to do opera train. “That is operation,” I reminded him. Meow.=That what I said.
Everyone laughed. Meowr.=Me agree too, Mandar okay for me too. Then Muffin went to Mandar. Meow,meow.=You please help my human, not want him to die, me need him, please. Mandar looked, and looked. Then he looked at me. “No, it is not any of us,” I said, “she is a special cat and can talk to people, but only talk to those who she trusts. So you are quite privileged.”
“I would never believe it if I had not seen it and heard her myself,” he said quite amazed, “and my precious little cat, I will do my utmost to save your human from this cruel device.” She then gave Mandar a hug and he was quite taken with her. I did not mention that all 3 cats can talk, some secrets must remain. Now, the surgery…
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
How exciting ! Love it so far ! 😀 I see that you are being cautious ! Good ! Something always goes wrong…hmmm🤔…Glad the cats are unison with everyone ! 🤭 I think ! …Just watch your back ! 🕵️♂️👩👩👩👩😼😼😼
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Yep, even though I trust Mandar, caution is still necessary right now. The “cat test” is always a good one to use, they know better than anyone. Well, once surgery starts, I will be on my back, but not able to watch my back, that will be Chung’s job. 🤔👩😺😺😺🕵️
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Excellent decision to have the cats 🐈 give their approval to Mandar! And to also trust his doctor! Although I’m not sure where you’ll find an operating room outdoors to use….🙄🤔🤔🤔 But I’m confident Mandars man will have an idea 💡 😁😊
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We already sent the specs ahead and Baldwin will have it all ready for us to use tomorrow. It will be set up at the clinic. I think you might have missed something in the dialogue. Only 3 people will be in that operating room, me, Chung and the surgeon. I did mention the name of the surgeon in today’s chapter, though perhaps not quite specifically, and that was deliberate. But I think I mentioned who would be in the operating room, so that gives a clue. Yes, I wanted the cats approval for this one. 🤔👩😺😺😺🕵️
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I will need to reread that again.. although I did understand that only three would be there.😉
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Then you know who the surgeon will be! 🤔👩😺🕵️
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I believe his name begins with the letter preceding the letter “N”?
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Aww, my hints gave it away! He does have good incentive to make sure I can walk away after that surgery, his own life!😯👩😺🕵️
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That’s true!! But I didn’t realize he had a prior profession!! Perhaps that’s where his refined tastes come from??🤔🤔
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Quite possibly, it was a surprise to find out he had been a surgeon. He gave it up though, said it was too stressful and by then his organization had grown sufficiently to provide him with the income he wanted. Now his organization owns numerous legitimate businesses around the world. He insists that he is involved in nothing really illegal, whatever he means by that. Still, he does get involved in some illegal activities obviously. Although he told me that he had nothing to do with his wife’s death. So, someone else is out there? Getting too many enemies around. 🤔👩🕵️
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It woukd seem to go against his oath to do no harm!🙄🤔 But you can never tell how seriously someone takes that oath..🤔
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I am quite sure he has done no harm physically to anyone. His bodyguards on the other hand might be a different story. 🙄🕵️
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That’s true but at his orders!!🙄 So he kinda does do it..🤔
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Yes, it is basically the same thing, but I’m not sure what kind of deeds they might be guilty of. He certainly has been careful with us, just giving us warnings which we have heeded, not knowing what he would do. This is a story of strange things happening, and stranger things are coming! 🤔👩😾🕵️
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Oh… good!! I like twists and turns!! Gotta tighten the ole seat belt and hang on!!😁😂😂😂
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Yep, some strange things going to happen, unexpected twists for sure! Can you think of anything?🤔🕵️
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Oh my… I don’t have the creative mind like you!! How long do I have to think of something?🙄🤔 I can follow along and see the different possibilities, but guessing what’s coming next??😬😬 That might be a thought to far for this old brain 🧠 🤔 😅
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Yeah, must admit I am not quite sure myself. I do know one thing coming up soon, maybe a second thing, but there will be more, I am sure! 🤔🕵️
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Well… I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Jenny has taken an interest you after Kats passing…🤔🙄😉
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Do you really think she might? Hmm, I’m not so sure. But I guess anything is possible. 🤔🕵️
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She does show a bit more concern about you than the others!😉😊
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Well, she just might be doing that because she’s Kat’s sister and feels obligated to look after me a bit now that Kat is gone. 🤔🕵️ Don’t forget that Carine was in love with me before.
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I know… but now that Kat is gone she might feel that it would be OK to care for you in a different way?? Maybe she has all along, but because of Kat never allowed herself to feel more?☺️🙄🤔😉
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Hmm, an interesting thought to think about. Mandar noticed this, which is why he told her not to let me slip through her fingers, and why he said I would be a great fool for letting her get away from me. He just didn’t say it so plainly. Still, it might seem kinda strange. 🤔🕵️
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I don’t think so 🤔 it would only be a natural progression of a very close working relationship 🤔 😊
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Yes, that is one way to look at it, but it would probably take a bit of time, hard to say if it could happen on this case.🤔🕵️
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Well.. the seeds could be planted on this case and sprout on the next one or two…🙄🤔😊
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That is definitely a possible possibility for a possible outcome. 🤔🕵️
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Great!! Can’t wait to see how it unfolds!😁😊
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