For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Well, it has been several days now and Chung has allowed me to return home. Sigurbjorn is giving me my daily massage, and I am supposed to be out walking each day to strengthen my heart. It does feel good being home, that I will admit. Mandar returned to England the day after my surgery, so I never had a chance to thank him, which I am sure is the way he wanted it.
Between his organization and ours, we are trying to get a lead on Toledo and where he is hiding. But, so far, nothing. He certainly knows how to hide himself. That is the kind of knowledge I need at times. I must admit, the only thing I really want right now is a nice, quiet, vacation. But is that even possible? I highly doubt it. I still think the best way would be for Muffin and I to sneak away on our own. But is that even possible? I highly doubt it. Sigh.
But it is just too hard for us all to go together, keeping our whole team disguised is impossible. People ask too many questions. And if they find out, then sure enough, someone wants our help with something. I do not mind helping people, that is our job, but sometimes we need a break from that. So, Muffin and I are secretly planning our getaway. We will not do it, but it is fun to plan anyway. I just asked Sigurbjorn if she could keep up with the massage just a little longer. She happily agreed.
We have a new emergency plan in place to help secure our chateau. It requires each team member to put their hands on a screen outside the door in order to gain admission to the chateau. While Sigurbjorn was massaging me, someone came to the front door and hands were placed on the screen. The door unlocked and opened.
But once inside, the alarm went off and Sigurbjorn immediately locked the doors to the library where we were. She then readied herself with a gun beside me. The alarm brought everyone running to the front door, with guns ready. Kristina buzzed. “There is someone here to see you Steve,” she said, “you probably will not believe who it is though.”
I got myself ready and then said she could come in with our guest. The cats came running in first and positioned themselves. Then Kristina came in with Tracy. Yes, it was Tracy, Jake’s younger sister who had been killed. Yet, here she was, very much alive. I smiled. “You do not look very surprised Steve,” said Kristina.
“Why should I be?” I asked, “I have been expecting Tracy. Others can keep secrets, and so can we. We deliberately faked her death in order to keep her alive, but also, so she could help us with information gathering.” “Hi Steve,” said Tracy with a smile. Then she came over and gave me a hug. “I was so worried about you,” she said, “but I am so happy you are okay now. And now it is time for me to come back and help out. I do have some info for you too. Do you remember Lavina?”
“Yes, that is the young woman we broke out of prison, Avina’s young sister,” I said, “she went back to prison screaming she would kill me one day.” “And she almost succeeded,” said Tracy, “it was Lavina that hired that doctor to put the device on your heart.” I just looked at her. “It was not Toledo?” I asked. “Well, he was involved too,” said Tracy, “but Lavina planned it all.
The two of them are working together now. Lavina was out of prison just two months after she was put back there.” “That figures,” I said, “and I thought it would be years before I would have to worry about her. Do you know where they are hiding?” “Sorry, but that is something I could not find out, even with all of my contacts,” she said sadly.
Toledo and Lavina working together is bad news for us, we must find them soon or we will have to worry about them for a long time. Everyone was very glad to have Tracy back with us again. “How did she open the door?” asked Kristina who is in charge of security this week. “That was my doing,” I said, “just a little test of our security measures.”
“But what if we had shot her?” asked Angel. “Then someone would be in serious trouble,” I said, “our security rules are very clear, no shooting is to be done unless there is a real security threat, and I believe Tracy came in with hands raised.” “Well, yes, she did,” said Angel, “you are right, we never shoot at someone surrendering.” The day passed quickly, as did the night. The next day Mandar called…
To Be Continued.
Β©2022 Steve McLeod.
Ooooo…. Mandar calling is a good sign!!π He’s probably got info on Lavina and Toledo!! Oh, I’m glad your feeling better too!
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Are you sure it’s a good sign? It could be something bad. πMaybe he’s warning me about something?π― Did you notice something different about today’s chapter?π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈ
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No Jenny?π€
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Oh, you did notice. Very good. ππ©πΌπ΅οΈ
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You…. you think I don’t pay attention?? Ha!πππ
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Well, you didn’t say anything, so I was wondering. It is rather odd since she has been quite central these days. π€π©πΌπ΅οΈ
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I thought perhaps she went on vacation after your close call π π€
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None of our team goes anywhere alone these days, always 3 or more. π€π©πΌπ΅οΈ
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Well, I guess I meant a break… just relaxing at the Chateau…π
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We can relax at the chateau? π€π―I must find out where! π
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Try the library!πππ
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Well, there are lots of books in the library. We should get more tropical vacation books in stock so we can dream of a real vacation. π€π΅οΈ
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Now you’re catching on!!ππ
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Actually, there is a better idea, and it’s almost completed. But I can’t say anything or it might spoil the surprise for everyone. As for Jennifer, something else is happening… π―ππ΅οΈ
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Oh ohπ³π² Is she not feeling well?π€
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I can’t say right now, but we might find out something tomorrow. π€π―π©π΅οΈ
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Ooo.. ok! Don’t want to spoil the surprise!π¬π¬
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Especially since it might not be a good surprise and it would just make it hard to sleep. π―π©π΅οΈ
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I don’t any of that!!π³ I don’t sleep already!!π¬π¬ Is she physically ok?
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Just pretend I didn’t say anything, then it won’t bother you if something happened to her resulting in me needing the extra long massage to help my tense muscles from worry. π―π©π΅οΈ
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This is sounding serious!π¬π¬
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That’s because it could be serious. I think I missed this one before. π€π©π΅οΈ
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No worries…π
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I still don’t know how I missed it, I take them in order and no other comments are coming in.π―π΅οΈ
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Got stuck in customs on uts way thru!ππ
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Oh, that’s good, you are probably right!
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heheheπ€π€π€
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Was she overcome with emotion after your operation??
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She was overcome with something, or by something, or with something by something. I am not sure which. π€π©π΅οΈ
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Uh oh… she’s in the clinic??π¬
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She is under a doctor’s care…oops, there I go again! π¬π©π΅οΈ
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Oh myπ³π² Stop!! I don’t want to know!!! It could be serious!!
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I promise that something will be said tomorrow since it’s Friday. How much I will say is undecided at this time. π¬π©π΅οΈ
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I will be watching and waiting anxiously
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As will I. Muffin just voted for telling it all, tomorrow that is. πΎπ¬π΅οΈ
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I think that is a great idea!πππΈ
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When I asked her opinion, she took out her file and began sharpening her claws… π§πΎπ΅οΈ
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You best get typing on that keyboard!!ππ
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Already got it ready in my head, just need to put it on paper, I mean laptop, now. π€π©π΅οΈ
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Excellent ππΈπΊ
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Writing sad chapters is hard though. Sigh. π§π©π΅οΈ
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She can’t die!!πππ₯Ίπ₯Ί
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Did I say that? Huh? Did I? π€π©π΅οΈ
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You inferred it!!π€¨
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But I still didn’t say it! π€ππ΅οΈ
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And you had better not!π€¨ She’s kinda the glue that holds your team together!π
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I thought that was Muffin??π€πΎπ΅οΈ
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Muffin would never let Jenny die!!ππΎ
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Me neither neither! π€¨πBut…
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I know!!ππ
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And soon so you don’t forget it!!π³π³
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I never forget, I have the memory of a chickadee! π€π΅οΈ
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Is that good?ππ€
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Well, studies have proven that chickadees can remember where they hide food up to a year later! Not bad for a tiny bird with a tiny brain! π€π©π΅οΈ
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Well, this is a surprise ! π²π€ It looks like you are planning something without telling Baldwin…hmmm π€ ! Looking forward to the next chapter ! π΅οΈββοΈπΌπ―π€
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No, Baldwin knew about this too, we just wanted to keep news about Tracy quiet for a while so she could do some work for us, not just on this case, but something else too which is still a secret. But there is more to come! π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈ
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