For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
We still had MC with us, so it gave Rock an excuse to come and see us. “You had a long boat ride today” I said to him, “did you go further than you had expected?” “No, actually we did not go as far,” he said, “we decided to stop on one of the islands and walk around for a while. We met a lot of people on the hiking trails there.
We did not see anything interesting though, but some of the people we met had seem some exotic looking birds. Annelie was hoping we would too, but we saw absolutely nothing. We met some locals who said a woman was killed by a falling rock in a cave there just recently, so they told us to stay out. They said it was haunted or something. I do not believe that kind of stuff, but rocks can fall from the ceilings of caves, nothing haunted about that.”
“Yeah, we heard that story too,” I said, “I think it was just a tourist stunt to draw more people to the area.” “I would not doubt that,” said Rock, “thanks for looking after Mr. Cat for us.” “That was easy,” said Sky, “he and Muffin played all afternoon and then fell asleep.” Rock picked up MC and left. He also left a note for me which had some interesting thoughts written on it. I let everyone read it and then I burned it, flushing the ashes down the toilet.
Tomorrow our team will check out that cave. Meanwhile… “I do not like it,” said Mark, “3 groups of people show up, each group has a cat, does that not seem suspicious?” “Not to me,” said Milton, “these days lots of people travel with their pets. There is a 4th couple with a cat too, and a family with a small dog. They sure do not seem like they know each other.”
“Okay, fine,” he replied, “maybe I am just a bit nervous, we should not have given Major so much time, he could have gotten the money faster than that.” “Hey, the Major does not have that kind of money hanging around in cash,” said Milton, “he invests his money, so it takes a little time to get it and then to travel out here to give it to us.” “What if he decides not to pay,” said Gerald, “that is a lot of money to pay for his daughter. We should have kidnapped one of his sons instead, they are more important to the organization.”
“Yeah, then Victor might get involved, and we do not want that,” said Milton, “he would just come with men and guns and we would all be dead.” “Well, that Major guy better show up with the cash,” said Mark, “or his daughter will be fed to the sharks.” “He will pay,” said Milton, “he really does love his daughter, so he will be here. Just remember, she goes back to him after we get the money.
I do not want the Major after us either, that would be just as bad as having Victor after us. Well, I have to get back to Italy, Victor wants me for a special delivery.” “Why now?” asked Gerald, “he has others he could use.” “Yeah, but I know better than to refuse Victor,” said Milton, “if I show up whenever he calls me, it will soon lead to a promotion, and more pay.
And this delivery is going to pay me twice what I normally get as well. I will see you guys when I get back. However, I may not be back in time for the payoff, so make sure you do things the way I said, or Victor finds out about you two, anonymously of course.” Off he went in his boat back to the hotel, then off to the main island. Before he left the hotel, he stopped to talk with the manager who was working at the front desk.
“If those new people start asking questions, remember, you know nothing,” he said, “then call this number and tell the man.” “I will do that,” he said nervously. Milton then gave him some money and left. Kristina and Crystal were in the dining room getting some tea at the time and Muffin was listening to the conversation.
When they came back to the room Muffin told us what had been said. That proves this Milton is involved with the kidnapping, and so is the hotel manager, at least somewhat. I sent a text to everyone telling them about this too. We need to be very careful around any employees of the hotel now…
To Be Continued.
Β©2023 Steve McLeod.
That’s progress!π€ Now to get those cats π to that island as soon as the sun comes up, and find Macey! Although something is telling me it won’t be that easyππ¬π³π²
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Yes, things are moving along nicely. But you’re right, I doubt it will be that easy to get to Macey without getting her killed. We will have to take this slow and easy for now.π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Is the Major going to be coming with the money just in case?π€ it might not be a bad idea just in case..π
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He will show up at the appointed time with the money if we cannot find Macey before then. But he won’t show up much before the actual time. Since he has to come alone, we will stay around to help protect him.π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Oh good. At least there’s a safety net if you can’t find her.π«’
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I still wonder if they will give her back after getting paid. We will be watching the drop location and pick up whoever picks it up, or at least follow him back to wherever he is staying and try to get Macey at that time.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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That’s a dangerous situation if you’re spotted π¬π«£
But it’s better than not getting her back at all.π
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Well, we plan on being spotted if necessary, unless we can follow the guy. But if he goes by boat, that will not be possible. So then we will reveal ourselves to him, and stop him from returning to the hideout with the money. And then a new strategy!π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Good plan!
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I may have Rock and his group go out to that island earlier in the afternoon and hide until nightfall when that guy is supposed to pick up the money, then follow him into the cave when he gets back. I may have Angel’s team out there too. We can look after things here.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Eeeeee…. that’s kinda dangerous! What if they’re spotted?π³ That could blow the whole case!
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Yeah, that’s true, but if it comes down to paying, we will have to take some chances. The team can come along on the opposite side of the island so they can’t be seen, then come over to the side with the cave, and wait for my signal. I will have to pass that with the Major first however.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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For good reason most certainly!π But how to get into that cave if needed??π¬π¬ That’s dangerous! π²
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Yes indeed, but I have a plan for that which should work, I hope. The guy picking up the money will take me in with him! Sky however, doesn’t like my plan. π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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I can see why!π§ Not a good plan!!π€¨
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I thought it sounded good. It would be one way to get in and hopefully get Macey out.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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And just how are you going to convince him to do that for you?π€¨π
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I will just show up after he picks up the money and politely ask him to take me along so I can bring Macey back safely. After all, it will be dark.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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And if he says no???π
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With my gun pointing at his stomach, I am sure he will see things my way.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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And Sky didn’t like the idea huh??ππ Gee I can’t understand why??ππππ
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That’s what I said to her, there should be nothing to it really. I will bring an extra gun for Macey too, just in case. And with Rock’s team waiting for us outside the cave, there is nothing to worry about. Unless there is a back door to this cave.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Maybe you should have your teams question the locals and find that out?π€π Just thinkin π€
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Not a bad thinkin, we will do that. But not until the last minute, in case word gets out we are asking questions. That wouldn’t be good.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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I tend to agree with your assessment π€
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Thank you. This is definitely going to be a close one, unless we can find Macey ahead of time. But that does not seem likely if we can’t question people. And we can’t trust any of the hotel employees now, so that makes things even harder.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Well I’m certain the caves have been mapped. So perhaps Annakie could do a little digging electronically and find out where the other opening is!πππππ
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We tried that, but no mapping has been done of these caves. There is a small map available locally, showing the area that is safe and just spots were it says not to enter. Doesn’t help much.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Scratch that idea then π
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It has been scratched, erased, blotted out, burned, tossed to the fish…π€ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Well that was kinda harsh!ππ³π€
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Gotta be sometimes…π
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Is that so??? Everytime I am I get scolded and ignored π π You’re so lucky…
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Well, you wouldn’t want us to get shot to pieces would you? Or lose Macey? Or get lost in the caves?π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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I guess not… ππ
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However, the paper did come in handy for writing notes.ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Recycling β»οΈ that’s a good thing when you’re on an island π π
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Very true! And we need to write notes a lot anyway. Unknown to us though, we have been found out! Treachery afoot!π²π²
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Oh oh….π«£π«£ But who??π€π€π€ And how??π³
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Even in a big organization like Victor’s, silence isn’t always silent. Though it will get that way once the Major finds out!π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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If they can figure out who it was. Although there are only a few people in the chain that knows you’re there!
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Yep, only Victor, Major and the 3 men that came with the Major to see us. I would think those 3 men would be sweating about now. But we will find out how this happened tomorrow. And it will make things a bit harder for us, actually, a lot harder for us.π²π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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No kidding! I guess you won’t be asking the kidnapper to walk you onto the cave…πππ
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Oh, I would still be willing to do it. Sky said she would have Rock tie me up first so I couldn’t go. No idea why.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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She knows Rock needs to brush up on his knot πͺ’ tying. He’s been very busy recently and hasn’t been practicing!π€π€
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That is knot very funny!π€¨
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Well I tied to be!!ππππ
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I’ll knot let that slip by!ππΉ
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Oh a slip knot eh??ππ
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Oh, you caught that one! Shows your knot a square!ππΉππΉ
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Nope! More round than square!!πππ
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Better for rolling in the snow!
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No it’s knot!!ππππππππ
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tis 2 tis 2!ππΉ
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I got nothin for that!!ππππππ
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I WIN, I WIN!!! πππππ₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³
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What? What??π³π³ππ
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That’s exactly right!π
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I knew it!!πππππ
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So did I!ππΉ
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Yay!!!!!ππππ We both win!!πππππ
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You lost, so you can’t win, but you can have runner up position if you want.π€ππ
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Oh you mean the first loser or the last winner….π€¨π€¨π€¨ππππ
GN π΄ π€
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ππΉ
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No Thanks! 1st place or not at all!πππππ
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Early shopping again in the morning π€
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Yep, sure enough, I will be, yessir, yepper, very early, before dawn, righto, for sure, absolutely, yes. Hmm, guess that means I should hit the hay, hit the sack, jump into bed, lie me down, get some sleep…π₯±π₯±π₯±π₯±π₯±π₯±
In short, Good night Dusty!ππππ I’m off to dream land, ready to saw logs, get some zzzzzz’s, get some shut eye….π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄
I’ll be back with more chatter on the morrow!πππππ
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Okie and Dokie π
Good Night π΄ π π
I will be awaiting your presence πππππΈ
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Dokie and okie!
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Things are progressing… the cats are a big help ! πΌπΌπΌ …Major seems to be okay π€ I hope the others on your team are all loyal to you ! π³π΅οΈββοΈπ©π©βπ¦±π©βπ¦°π©βπ¦° Just watch your back !
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Yes, things are progressing. Of course we don’t know what was going on with the kidnappers. But at least we know that one guy is part of the kidnapper group and he is out of the way now. But how many others are there? How can we get close enough to free Macey without getting her killed? Yes, my team are all loyal now, but we can’t trust any of the hotel employees now and that makes it harder for us.π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Such a terrible situation with that killer. We have many murderers in our area too. I found your site and let’s follow our blogs. Thanks Anita
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Thank you for visiting and following Anita! I will be around to follow your blog as well. Enjoy your weekend!ππΊββ
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High stakes and nothing is certain. Everything will have to have precise timing and being very aware of all people. A dangerous assignment.
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Yes, it is a dangerous assignment indeed. For Macey especially, but could also be for us too. One wrong move or wrong word could mean the difference between life and death. Careful planning is necessary.π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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π
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