For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
I needed to come up with an idea, quickly. Two of my friends were in this hospital, barely hanging onto life. My team, and extra volunteers, were in a very dangerous position. More could be hurt, or even killed. Is it really worth it? This is not about some jewels, but about losing some sensitive information, military information perhaps, and a doctor working on some experiments that could be dangerous to a great many people. Maybe.
But how do we really know for sure what is going on? Is it worth getting people, perhaps quite a few people, on the team getting killed? This is not an easy decision. But I know what needs to be done. Then Saranna called me and asked me to come to Chung’s room quickly. That did not sound good. I went in, but Saranna kept Sky out. I touched his hand and he opened his eyes. I could see it in his eyes. We talked for about 5 minutes. Then he said “goodbye” weakly and closed his eyes, for good.
I was numb. I lost one of the best friends I ever had. Kat asked me to look after Chung if anything should happen to her. He was her family, even though they were not related. Chung had helped her a great deal. She loved him like he was her own father. I had promised that I would take care of him. No one would kill him with me still alive, though I did not say that part to her. But I was still alive, and Chung was not.
I had failed. Three times now. I failed to protect Kat. I failed to protect Jennifer. I failed to protect Chung. And Baldwin lay in another bed, clinging to life. He should not be there. He was not supposed to meet Chung at the airport, I was supposed to do that. Only Baldwin and I knew when Chung was coming back, no one else, not even Sky knew. But somehow the doctor knew.
There is only one person that could have given him that information. Baldwin. Yet not Baldwin himself. Baldwin has a bad habit of talking to himself. It would not be hard to listen at his office door to pick up information to sell. We regularly, though irregularly, check Baldwin’s office for listening devices. Even the cats help with that. We never found any in all those inspections. But, in the outer office is Baldwin’s secretary. She has been with Baldwin for years and he trusts her completely.
Sky does not, neither does Muffin. She could easily listen at his door and pick up sensitive information to sell. She will be stopped. I come out of the room. Sky could read it on my face. I put out my hand, she took it and we walked back to my room. First Saranna gave me a piece of paper with some info on it. I was still numb. I called Annelie and asked her to get Rock for me.
“Hi Steve, what is the news?” he asked. “Get out of there, and fast,” I said, “no questions, no arguments, just leave. When you are 15 minutes from the pickup location call for the choppers. When you have been in the air for 15 minutes, then call me.” “Got it Steve,” he said, “on the way.” “I will let you know why when you get here,” I told him. I then called Mandar, then our mystery visitor, to tell them of my decision.
“Good decision Steve,” said the mystery man, “so sorry to hear of Chung, I know how much he meant to you. If you need anything, just call me, anytime.” “Thank you,” I said, “do you still trust me?” “100%,” he said, “right from the beginning.” “Thanks,” I said, “I still think you are on the wrong side.” He just said that maybe I was right. Then Saranna called me. “Would you like me to take care of that phone call Steve?” she asked.
“No, that is my duty,” I said, “I failed to keep Chung safe, but I will not pass this off to anyone else. Chung was the only family she had, it will be hard for her.” I was still numb. But all was now quiet. I sat down and Sky sat on my lap. That is when it hit me and I fell apart, crying uncontrollably. Sky had her arm around me and her head on mine. No words spoken. Muffin woke up when she heard me crying and came over too.
Meow,meow?=My human Chung not here now? “No, he is not little one,” said Sky quietly, then she too began crying. Muffin lay down on the arm of the chair, with her head down, tears coming from her eyes too. After what seemed like hours, though it really was not, Rock finally called. “We are 15 minutes out,” he said. “Good, you will be brought directly to the hospital,” I told him. Then I made another call. “Okay, it is your turn,” I said, and hung up.
To Be Continued.
Β©2023 Steve McLeod.
Could Kat still be alive??π²π³π€―
It is so sad to here about Chung π he was the best!! But now you need to focus on Baldwin and Mandar!! Whatever this doctor is up to he has a lot backing, especially if it Involves another country!!π€¨ So…this will require much thought and planning to not only figure out what they’re up to… but to also stop them if possible!!π
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If Kat is still alive then I am in trouble being married to her and Sky at the same time! No, Kat is dead, but I made the promise when she was alive, long before she was killed actually. The doctor won this round, but he will lose in the end. I will make sure of that. But ultimately Toledo is responsible for Chung’s death, he made it possible for the doctor. And Baldwin’s secretary. She will be stopped, along with Toledo. A lot happening on this case, and more to come.π²π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Captivating reading to be sure!!ππ Has me waiting to read each new chapter!π
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So very glad to hear that! We may need to let the doctor get away for now and go after him another time. We have things to do, looking after Baldwin and a funeral for Chung. Then I go after Toledo.π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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I believe that to be a wise move!π€π You will need to locate him first, or…. bait a trap that he can’t refuse to go after!π€π€«π€«π€«
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I think baiting a trap for Toledo would be hard, he doesn’t trust people at all. I will have to try and find him, perhaps my mystery visitor will be able to help me there.π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Yes….π€ but who is this mysterious visitor??π€«
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That is a good question. I seem to be hiding his identity, but why? I obviously know him well. Has he been in the story before? He must have been. But if so, why do I not mention his name now? Interesting indeed.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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It is!! Very!! But why are you hiding it??π€π€ Does HE need protecting?? If so…. why??π€ how is he connected to all of this??? Sooooo….. many questions yet to be answered!!!π€π€π€π€π€
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Yep, he is definitely a mystery man! It is possible the doctor might have known him, but I could have still revealed his identity to my readers. But I kept him a secret. Hmm. He must be an important man if he has specialized men working for him that he could loan to us. Will we ever find out? Hard to say. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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It is hard to say…π€ but why?? π€π€π€
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Another good question indeed! But you never know, his identity might be revealed yet. Maybe not in this case though.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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How would I when you do?π€π€ You can’t just say the mystery man is so and so!π€¨
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Why can’t I say that? Actually, there is a way to do it quite seamlessly without missing a beat in the storyline. I almost did it in today’s chapter!ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Ah ha!!π€¨ But you didn’t! Why??π€
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It was the wrong time. But I’m sure the right time will eventually come along and everyone will be surprised at who it is. Maybe.π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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Another person comes back from the deceased π π³π²
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Um, no, he isn’t dead, he hasn’t died or pretended to die. But he is a mystery.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Hmmm…. that will be a surprise then!!π€π€
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Yep, that is so true! I am sure that when he is revealed you will be slapping yourself silly! Now why didn’t I think of him, you will exclaim!π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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No slapping please??π
Me and slapping DO NOT get along! But you’re right! I’m sure I will say why didn’t I think of him??πππ€π€πππ
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Yep, that’s for sure! He is someone well known and yet unknown. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Ooooo…. I can’t wait to find out who he is!!π
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Yes, me too! I mean, that’s true I’m sure!π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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So you haven’t decided who yet???πππ€π€
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Yep, I know who it is. You could probably figure it out too with a little thunking about it.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Maybe I’ll sleep on it and it will occur to me in the morning?π€π€
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Good thinking that is, for sure and certainly!π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Steve, it sounds like you have a plan in place. I hope no one else dies. Chung has been on your team for a long time. So sad he is gone, I know you will miss him.
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I wish I did have a plan, but really don’t. I know that Toledo is ultimately responsible for Chung’s death, he helped the doctor. Toledo is also responsible for Kat and Jennifer’s deaths. We will have to let the doctor go for now. We need to get Baldwin back on his feet and there is the funeral for Chung. Yes, he has been around a long time with us. He was a vital part of our team. I will definitely miss him. After this, then I will go after Toledo, he must be stopped.π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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A time for healing and restoration. Without a excellent plan it is better to rest and heal. Too many emotions are not good for taking out your enemies. Then in the right time, you can look for Toledo.
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Yes indeed, we need to sit back for a bit. Right now I am too upset for good clear thinking, and this is not a time for mistakes. So we will wait for now. Perhaps I can find out where Toledo might be hiding during this time. I need to ask around.π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Waiting and grieving are important. Someone may come to you, with Toledo’s location, when you are ready to take him out.
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I agree. Yes, it might come in a very least likely way, but at just the right time. Or we might have to pay for the information. Either way works for me!π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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π
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But something else may come along before the hunt for Toledo can be begin. Hopefully nothing more before the funeral though.π³π΅οΈββοΈ
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I am sure something else will come along, first. You have so many on your team and are well known, so something is bound to happen.
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Yep, seems we attract more trouble than cases these days! And somehow I just feel trouble coming again.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yes, listen to your gut. The Investigators definitely have more than their fair share of TROUBLE!
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Yep, maybe we can change some of that in the future by being more careful with our choice of cases. Still, some of this trouble comes without us even trying, like with M. Sigh.ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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It comes with past cases and the clientele. Maybe you can have an offshoot of your agency that investigates tropical vacation spots with a zero crime rate!
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Hmm, I like that thought!ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Chung must have known something and was killed because of that ! It is true that more hard times to come !π€π³π² ! Be ready for them ! π΅οΈββοΈπΌπ©π©π©βπ¦°π©βπ¦±
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I think Chung was killed just as a warning for us to stop getting involved. That’s what the note had said anyway. And it worked, for now at least. But we will meet up with the doctor again and stop him. First we need to concentrate on Baldwin getting back to health, and the funeral for Chung. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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