The Investigators, Inc. The Mysterious Hidden Cabin. Chapter 12. Lauren Wins.

I was a very worried about how things were going out at the cabin, but I was even more worried now because of how we treated Chantelle, making it look like she was guilty before we had enough proof. So I decided to call her myself, even though I had told Rock to deal with it. ”Hi Chantelle,” I said, “how do you feel?” 

“Hey Steve, okay I guess,” she said, “but I am worried about what the others will think about me now.” ”If anyone gives you a hard time, call me and tell me about it,” I said, “do not just go to Rock. This was my responsibility and I acted too hastily. Please accept my apology, I was wrong.” ”You do not need to apologize to me Steve,” she said, “you were following protocol.” 

“Hmm, okay, perhaps when you get home,” I said. ”What?” she asked. ”Just please look after the girls the best you can,” I said, “I know it is not easy and you are doing a great job. Please look after my Sky too.” ”Of course I will Steve,” she said. We talked a bit more then hung up. Little did everyone know that would be the last time they would hear from me. 

Rock knew he could trust Aari and Dawn for sure, so they would take turns watching through the night, along with the cats. Everything depended on them watching. The cats understood this too and were extra diligent in watching that night. But the day went on, still snowing, though not as much now, but the wind was blowing strong and the temperature was really dropping. 

It was a good thing they had a lot of firewood and Rock had made a good path to the woodpile, plus he and the guys hauled a lot of wood inside during the day. Plus they broke up some of the wood from the part of the house that had collapsed which gave them more wood to use. 

Everyone was trying to figure out where the not so friendly ‘ghost’ was living, he must be in the house somewhere, unless he was living in that small cabin, wherever it was. But, why did they not see any footprints around in the snow? Storm came in right around lunch time covered in snow and shivering from the cold. 

He was a tropical cat, not a cold weather cat. He also had something in his mouth. ”That is part of a drone,” said Miles. Meowr.=That what me shoot at before. Me not just pretend or shoot at nothing. ”Sorry Storm,” said Rock, “I should not have doubted you.” 

“That is why we could not shoot that ghost before,” said Clarence, “probably this drone, or one like it, just projecting an image for us. Then it dropped some explosives on our snowmobile.” ”Good going Storm,” said Dawn, “you showed them.” Storm sat up nice and tall, still shivering. 

“Hey, come here you,” said Chantelle, “it is not good for you to be cold like that, sit by the heater for a while and I will get you some food.” He certainly enjoyed that heat, and food, he was hungry after all that digging through the snow. After lunch the girls finally remembered about that secret door in the large fireplace on the side of the house that collapsed. 

The guys went over to take a look. It was still there and just inside the door was a hole in the floor with a ladder going down to a room below. John, Miles, Clarence and Alfred went down to take a look. The girls wanted at least 2 of the guys to stay behind, so Rock and Aari did so. At the bottom of the ladder was a large wood door with a sign on it that said “The Cabin”. 

No wonder they had not been able to find that cabin, it was right underneath them, not out back somewhere. The door appeared to be locked on the inside, so Rock went down and smashed the door right off it’s hinges and they all went charging in. There was no one present so Rock came back upstairs. It did look like someone had been, or still was, living in there. 

They did find more drones of various sizes, plus explosives, which they brought back up with them. They also found a large steel door with a combination lock on it, possibly a safe. John and Miles tried to open it, but without success. ”Maybe I should try,” said Clarence, “I was good with these things at one time.” 

“How come you did not say something sooner?” asked John. ”You never asked me.” he said. Just then they heard Rock calling so they went upstairs quickly. ”Just got a call from Mr. B,” he said, “Steve, Aasta, Kat, Muffin, Snow and Rusty are gone.” Aari was sitting on a chair with his head in his hands. ”Lauren has got them for sure,” he said…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.