The Investigators, Inc. The Secret Vacation Case. Chapter 12. Screams.

After our ghosts had their fun at the restaurant and left, there was some discussion about things between Montana, Harder and Trapper. Matt and the Knight Riders were still there but over at the other end of the restaurant. However, Tiger was close to them and had his recorder on which then played on Matt’s phone so the guys could easily hear every word. First of all Harder and Trapper had to calm Montana down as she was hysterical at that moment, having come face to face with real ghosts.

Montana believes in ghosts and she was thoroughly terrified at the moment, crying and screaming and nearly pulling her hair out. Finally she was calmed down enough to do some talking. “Why didn’t you do something Trapper?” she asked, still shaking somewhat. “What did you expect me to do?” he asked, “We were a bit outnumbered. Harder’s ape was killed by that ghost woman, Kat, and well, she also killed my man. She can’t be killed, or even hurt, as you saw yourself. Not much I can do against her.

You had 12 men out in front of the restaurant and they didn’t see any of these ghosts come in, and they could not stop the Wildcats from coming in. I likely saved your life by not doing anything. Sounded to me like they would love to kill you Montana. You would be smart to head back home where it is safe.” “Good idea Montana,” said Harder, “we could leave first thing in the morning!” “NO! I want Sigrid. I want that mansion that Mandar owns,” she said firmly, “that place is hundreds of years old and it has an amazing treasure hidden in it somewhere and I want that treasure!

And Sigrid knows where it is, and you let her get away from you, you idiot!” She was speaking to Harder right then. “It wasn’t my fault!” he declared, “She jumped out a second floor window. How was I to know she would just go crashing through that glass and fall to the ground and run away unhurt? And that was right after Henry had been punching her. It wasn’t my fault!” “Shut up you idiot!” she said, “Trapper, get me Sigrid.” “You want me to just go into that mansion and take Sigrid away from Steve and his team of Investigators?” he asked incredulously, “He has 15 or 20 of his girls with him.

Then there is Kat and her Wildcats that are helping Steve right now because some idiot tried to kill Mandar who has a special relationship with Kat and she is upset about that. Then this idiot decided that wasn’t stupid enough, so he told one of his cops to kill Steve’s wife. That got him more than a bit upset. Then there is Matt and his Knight Riders sitting down there enjoying their dinner. He is the leader of a large criminal organization. They are rough, tough characters, just look at the size of them. He is helping Steve too because Steve saved his daughter once. So tell me, how do you expect me to get Sigrid?”

“I don’t care how you get her, just get her for me, and alive!” she screamed, “I want Sigrid, I want Sigrid…” She just kept screaming that over and over again until Matt came over, turned her chair around and slapped her. She was quite shocked by that. “That is how to stop some idiot that has gone hysterical,” he said calmly, “now I will give you some advice, don’t try going after Sigrid or I will crush you Montana, and I can do it too. I would suggest that you also forget about any treasure in that house, it isn’t worth your life.” By then the rest of the Riders had joined him.

“Oskar, I think Harder needs to learn what it feels like to have a sore stomach,” he said. Oskar just smiled and went over to Harder, picked him up off his chair, held onto him with one hand and kept punching him with the other until his legs went limp. Then he dropped him on the floor and the Knight Riders left. “You are a coward and a weakling Trapper,” said Montana, very disgustedly, “I hate both.” “Perhaps you are right,” he said, “but I’m alive to fight another day, and on my terms.” “I think you’re in love with that ghost woman, Kat,” she said, almost spitting at him.

“That would certainly be an interesting relationship,” he said smiling, “I wonder if it’s possible? She sure is beautiful though. You know, you will never get Sigrid by fighting Steve, so why not try something different? I’m sure a PI doesn’t make a lot of money, so why not offer to buy Sigrid from him. After all, she doesn’t mean anything to him. Or, you could offer to give him the one who ordered the killing of his wife, in exchange for Sigrid. He definitely wants Harder for her murder. I’m sure you could find a better boyfriend.”

“Hey, where are you going?” she demanded. “Off to bed,” said Trapper, “see you in the morning Montana.” He left and Montana sat there looking at Harder still lying on the floor groaning. “Yes, I could find a better boyfriend,” she thought to herself, “it just might work.” Meanwhile, the Knight Riders came out to the house when they left the restaurant and Matt filled me in on some things. “Yes, I read about that treasure in this little journal we found here,” I told him, “but it has been a long time and could have been found a long time ago.” I then called for Sigrid and asked if she knew about the treasure.

“I read about it in a little book I found upstairs,” she said, “but all these old places have stories about hidden or buried treasure and no one ever finds anything. I thought maybe Mandar had found it when he had this place renovated.” “That would not surprise me,” I said chuckling, “he has a way of finding money without even trying. Matt, I would like you and your team to stay out here tonight.” “I was thinking about doing that too, Steve,” he said, “so we brought all our stuff with us.”

“Are you thinking about giving me to Montana, Steve?” asked Sigrid nervously. “No, never would I do that,” I told her, “some things are worth fighting for and you are worth fighting for. I don’t know how strong Montana is right now. I do know she has a large organization and she doesn’t mind fighting. Hopefully she got scared enough to back off, but if not, then she will lose.” The next morning Montana was again screaming, but for a different reason.

Apparently Trapper and his men left sometime during the night and they did not leave a forwarding address, which was probably smart. I guess Kat got through to him after all. “Amazing what a woman can do, Steve,” she said, “now if only I could get through to you, my dear husband, and make you realize that you need to stay home more now and let the rest of us do the legwork.” Perhaps she is right. Perhaps my usefulness with The Investigators is over and I need to sit back and relax more, away from the team, before I become too much of a liability…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.