For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
What Tamara just said about me being the leader of The Investigators was not what I wanted to hear. Now what happens, I wonder. And normally that would have surprised me, but this time I was ready for it and reacted quite calmly. “An interesting thought,” I said, “why would you say that?” “Are you going to play games with me?” she asked, “I must admit, I was expecting a shocked look or something, but you are rather cool.
But I do not want to play games. Be honest with me and I will be honest with you. I have some important news for you that you will want to hear. And also a question. Can we talk now?” “Yes, we can talk, but not here,” I said, “in our room if you do not mind.” “That is fine with me,” she answered, “but just you and your wife, okay?” “That is okay too,” I said. I called the girls in and told them to get changed right away.
Back in our room I told Tamara she would need to be searched. “Does it look like I can hide any weapons?” she asked. “No, but you could hide other things,” I said, “like a listening device. Do you mind if the cats check you?” “Not at all,” she said with a puzzled look. “They have been trained to sniff out many different things,” I said, “just lie down on the bed and they will do the rest.” She did so, but the cats did not find anything.
I told her to sit in the chair and told her I am not really the leader right now, a man named Rock is leader at present since I have some health problems. “Yeah, you have amnesia or something,” she said. “Do you mind if Rock listens in on our conversation?” I asked. She said no. “Okay, start with the news first,” I said. “I found out you are The Investigators from Brandish,” she began, “he checked you out. Apparently you had a good cover, but then he decided to call a friend of his, a man named Toledo.
He told Brandish about you once he asked a few questions about you, like having a bunch of girls around, plus the cats.” The cats ears went straight up when she mentioned them. “What did he say about the cats?” I asked. “He told Brandish to be careful about the cats, that they can be dangerous,” she said, “though I do not see how they can be.
He also said that you recently took down a guy named Carnival, smashed his whole organization, so he should deal with you quickly before the rest of your group gets here. So Brandish is coming this afternoon with 20 men to do that. Plus he has those 4 fake cops on his side, they are ex cons and dangerous men.” “How many of his other men are good, or are they just guys he picks up off the street?”
“Seven of the men are pros, the others he picks up here and there,” she said, “but do not be deceived by that, they are still good, and you are terribly outnumbered.” “Hmm, 25 of them and 12 of us,” I said, “that makes it about even I would say.” “Hey Steve,” said Rock, “do not get overconfident, take things easy, you do not want to lose anyone.” “That is okay Rock,” I said, “I am not overconfident, just trying to make things a bit lighter in here, we will be very careful.”
“I think you need to count again Steve,” said Tamara, “there are only 8 of you, unless you are hiding some people. But I would know if you were.” “Have you found John and Mac yet Steve?” asked Rock. “No, that concerns me a bit,” I said, “I have not seen them since last evening. Maybe you should try to call them.” “Will do,” he said. “Is that all the info?” I asked.
“Yes, it is,” she said putting her head down, “may I ask my question now?” “You certainly may,” said Sky softly, already figuring what the question was anyway. Tamara looks up at us. “I, I, need help, please help me!” she said crying, “PLEASE! I want out of this racket, I cannot take it anymore, I do not like it, never did, but I got trapped in some bad debt and did not know what to do. Please help me, please!” Then she fell to her knees crying uncontrollably.
Sky got down beside her. “I will beg, I am begging!” she said finally, “you are my only hope now!” Sky helped her onto the bed and sat beside her putting her arm around her. I sat on the other side of her. “Yes, we will help you,” I said quietly, “what do you think Rock?” “Yeah, definitely we will help,” he said slowly. He had obviously been crying too, quite something for Rock.
I asked the other girls to join us, John and Mac came with them too. I explained things to them and everyone was in favor of helping. Then Tamara showed us something, a dark letter B. “That is a brand,” said Bridgette gasping. “Brandish is a dead man,” said Mac…
To Be Continued.
Β©2023 Steve McLeod.
Yes
[Result-start] This was a very intense and captivating story! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It’s great that the group is willing to help Tamara, despite the danger they are facing. I’m curious to know more about the cats and their training to sniff out different things. How did you come up with that idea? [Result-end]
Cassie
http://radiantbeautycare.com/
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So Toledo shows up at the most inopportune times!π€¨ He really does need to go away…( if you know what I mean?)
But… they have 2 to 1 advantage over you. That will not be easy to compensate for!π€ You have to set the time and place for the showdown without them knowing about it!π€π€¨
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Yes, we need to deal with Toledo next I think. If we can find him, he is a slippery fish to catch. Yeah, there are more of them, but that just gives them a better chance, doesn’t mean they will win the fight. But we have superior intelligence on our side and lots of experience to use against them. Plus, we know they are coming, that helps too. We do not want to lose anyone, so we will play it right.π€π©πΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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And safe I hope?ππ¬
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Naturally, don’t we always? Seeing that brand on Tamara solidified our determination to stop him totally. With Tamara’s info, we have the upper hand on this one.π π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Hmmmπ€ππ¬ I really get scared when you talk like that!π«£ But you do have a very experienced crew!π
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Exactly, we know what to do with this guy. Experience counts for a lot at times like this. Now if we didn’t know he was coming, that would be different, then he could ambush us. Now he can’t do that.π π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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You can ambush him instead!!π€¨
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Precisely! Tamara has told us where he is going to dock his boat further down the island, so we will just wait for him to come ashore and bang!π π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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I sure hope it works that way….πππππ«£π«£
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How can it possibly miss? This is one of our easiest jobs.π€π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Mmm huh! Right!ππ«£ I’ve heard that before!!ππ³
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But other times were different, this time it’s a snap!
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Never good to say snap in your line of work… people tend to associate it with broken bones π«£π¬πππ
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Hmm, funny guy. Just wait and see what happens when we meet that guy and his friends. He will find out that crime doesn’t pay and neither does branding people! But for some reason Sky feels impending doom. Hard to figure.π€π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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A ladies intuition it’s called! And not to be ignored!π Listen to her… it might save a life! Maybe even your own!!π€¨π€¨
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Hmm, yeah, right, maybe so. But still, what could go wrong on this? We go, we wait, we ambush. Of course there is the problem of these headaches that could get in the way.π€π©πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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It’s good thing they’re not contagious, so only you have them!ππ
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But at the wrong time it could affect the lives of the others too. Yet I can’t stay behind, that would be too dangerous to be alone and since we are outnumbered already, no one could stay with me. Perhaps we should just run and hide.π―π΅οΈββοΈ
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You could try it!πππ€π€ It’s better to just go for it! Show no fear. Think positive, plan for the worst, and hope for the best!πππ€π€
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That’s what I was thinking too. We will get this guy and the case will be done by the next chapter!π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Right! Brand new case next week!π€π
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Doesn’t sound like you believe me somehow. This will be our shortest case ever if all works out.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yep, it sure will be!π€ I’ll wait to read it and see first. Ya know just in case something unexpected happens!π€π€πππ€
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Well, I guess there is always the unexpected that could get in the way. But I can’t imagine what that could be this time.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Gee… me either!ππ Ya know like machine guns or hand grenades or hidden snippers… hardly anything πππ
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Oh, you mean like more dangerous stuff than ordinary guns like. Well, at least you didn’t mention a canon on his boat, I thought you would.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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See?? Those are the unexpected things that you can’t plan for!!ππππ
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Yes, that’s true. Maybe I should ask Tamara if he has a canon on his boat. That boat of his is 150ft long, big enough for a canon.π―π΅οΈββοΈ
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He might even have missles!!π²π³
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That’s okay, I’ve already had the measles.
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Not these kind!!ππππ
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Yep, every kind!π€
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You should wear your covid mask π· π πππ
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Don’t think that would help out much, our vests would be better, but they are back home.π€π―π΅οΈββοΈ
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Living dangerously πππ
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Brandish doesn’t realize he is taking his like in his hands!
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Yes indeed! Seeing that brand on Tamara just solidified our determination to stop him for good. He may have more men, but that will not help him this time.π€π©πΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Good! Branding someone is not okay!
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That’s for sure! He thinks he owns her now, but he will discover otherwise!π π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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