The Investigators, Inc. The Hotel Case. Chapter 8. The Job.

For some reason I am not able to communicate with Jennifer the “ghost” way, so it was good that she gave one of our regular communicators to Sky. I called Jennifer so she could contact Matt to begin attacking Granger’s businesses here in Europe, whether they were large or small. Hopefully that will be enough to scare customers and investors away. That will probably hurt Granger more than anything else, though it might take more time.

Granger is building his “empire” which he began, successfully, in the US, and now wants to expand it here in Europe. He definitely won’t want anyone, or anything, to get in his way, one thing I have learned about him, he does not like to lose, not even a little. Penny, Matt’s wife, is helping with the computer back home now that Annelie has been shot. Annelie trained Penny and Brook (Miles’ wife) to handle the computer for us in case anything happened to her, such as right now.

Some others have also been trained such as Tracy, Galyna, Cynthia, Melanie and Pacca. Penny and Brook have compiled a list of people and companies for Matt and the Knight Riders to visit. Between Matt and Aari they really know how to handle such things. At the first place they visited, the owner just bluntly told them to leave or he would call the police.

However, Baldwin has already called Rossana and the police in the various cities where the Knight Riders will be working, have been informed not to interfere with them. They were told it is an undercover operation, which in reality it is. Anyway, Matt just took his team around to the large warehouse of that first place, told all the workers to get out and then tossed some of Catalina’s fire bombs around. The warehouse was soon engulfed in flames, destroying everything inside.

They met the owner coming around to the warehouse and Aari told him that he should have bought their insurance package, then things like this would never happen. They went to 4 other places owned by Granger, with similar results. Then they contacted some of the biggest customers and investors for some other companies and warned them that it was dangerous dealing with Granger’s companies. They did not like to hear from people like Matt, so they decided to start pulling out of those companies.

Then Brook discovered a small company that handled drugs for Granger and they had just recently a new shipment of drugs, plus another shipment was on the way, disguised in tins labeled as mixed nuts. The Knight Riders intercepted this shipment, plus they took the shipment that had already come in. Between the two, there was over 50 million euros worth. Then they set fire to the warehouse that was being used for these shipments. Granger was furious when he heard the news.

This was his major distribution center for drugs, which he would then ship to other areas. Combined with losses in customers and investors from other businesses, he would be losing a great deal of money, and that was just the beginning. Matt made sure that Granger knew it was his gang doing this. Matt and his Knight Riders had to cover a lot of ground in a short time, but it was paying off. Granger was angry, very angry, his plans seemed to be crumbling all around him.

But so far we still did not know why Granger wanted me, except he likely wants us to do something for him. All that my team could do for now was to wait, since there seemed to be no way to get down here except through that one door from the restaurant. But there was no way to get in or out using that door, without knowing how to unlock it. Hannah had arrived with Kristina’s team, along with her two caracal cats who then joined the other cats searching around outside for a way to get down to the dungeon.

They were able to get beyond the fence and search through other buildings for another entrance. Meanwhile, Penny contacted Jennifer about Nicole’s family, which consisted of her parents and 3 younger siblings, two boys and the youngest was a sister. The parents and her two brothers were found dead in their house due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Her younger sister had been at a sleepover with some friends, so she was still alive, but also still in danger if Granger was to find out. Baldwin talked with our police friends and let them know the danger the girl was in. We need to get Nicole away from the castle and reunited with her sister, then we could keep them safe at our chateau. So, Kristina picked 6 from her team to take Nicole back to safety. They left that night when no one would see them go, and by morning it would be too late.

The next day Granger came to my cell and let me know what he wanted. “Three of my friends are in prison,” he said, “and I want them out, within the next 3 days. I know your team has experience in doing such things.” “Nice of you to give us so much time to get this done Granger,” I said. “Don’t get smart with me PI,” he said, “I could kill you right now if I wanted.” “But you won’t,” I said, “because you need me alive, otherwise my team won’t help you.

Plus, they would destroy you if you killed me, and, by the way, they can easily destroy you.” Granger was angry when I said that so he nodded to one of his men. That man tried to hit me, but his arm went stiff so he was unable to move it. “Probably the dampness in here,” I said, “it’s just terrible.” “Shut up!” yelled Granger, “My patience is nearly gone!” “So is mine,” I said, “so why not let me go and I will forget all about this.”

“You seem to forget, I am the one in control around here,” he growled. Another man tried to hit me, but he screamed and died. “Sometimes I think this place is haunted,” I said. “I don’t believe in ghosts!” exclaimed Granger. “I certainly do,” I said, “a woman suddenly appeared in here and said this castle was her home and ordered me to leave. She has been living here for 400 years. I touched her and she felt real, but she disappeared before my eyes. Explain that one if there are no ghosts.”

I think Granger was about to explode, he had turned so red with anger. But he then calmed down and asked if I would do the job. “Well, first I will need to talk with my team,” I said, “they will want to make sure I am alive and in good health before agreeing to do anything for you.” “Yes, I thought you would want that,” he said, “so I will let one of them come down and talk with you, then that person can leave and talk it over with your team. How does that sound?”

“Fine with me,” I said. It didn’t take long and Angel came down, along with her cat Tracker, who was sitting, invisible, on her shoulder. She hugged me and Tracker came over onto my shoulder where he could remain invisible. Angel told Granger that one of our team would have to remain with me to massage my back since one of his men had hurt me.

Plus I would need better accommodations. He did give me a mattress and a better toilet with extra water for washing. Definitely an improvement. The team voted in favor of doing the job and Angel would be staying with me…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.