The Investigators, Inc. The Ghost House Case. Chapter 8. Family Ties.

Pierre and Beau kept talking about Vivienne and Giselle for a while, then Pierre asked Francis why Jacques had not called in yet. So Francis called Jacques and Suzette answered his phone. “Bonjour, Jacques is not here right now,” said Suzette, “is there a message for him?” She was speaking in French, which she is more comfortable with anyway. “Who are you lady?” asked Francis. When Pierre heard he was talking to a woman instead of Jacques, he decided to enter the conversation.

“I am Jacques’ girlfriend,” she said calmly, “he is out getting some food at the moment.” “Are the other guys around?” asked Pierre. “Somewhere, I think, yes,” she said, “but who knows where, they come and go all the time.” Pierre was not too happy when Suzette was telling him all this. We had already found these guys watching us from a vacant house across the street, so we paid them a visit. That is why we had the phone for Jacques, and it was Suzette’s job to answer it if anyone called. Jacques and his 3 friends are presently tied up in the basement.

Suzette was enjoying her time talking with Pierre. “I want you to watch that house across the street until Jacques returns,” said Pierre. “I do not work for you Monsieur Lefebvre,” she said, “so do not order me around or I hang up on you.” “What is your name again?” he asked. “I did not tell you before,” she said, “and I still do not tell you. Oh, is my handsome Beau with you now? My friend Vivienne said he would soon be free.” “Look lady,” he growled, “you do as you’re told or you will find yourself in a box!”

“Do not threaten me,” she said, “or I tell my brother Aari, he will tell his boss and they will pay you a visit at your fancy nightclub.” She even mentioned the name of his nightclub. “How did you find out where I am?” he asked, “Did Jacques tell you?” “No, Vivienne tell me,” said Suzette, “she knows much about you, including that huge safe in the basement of your nightclub. I am surprised that you still use such things these days. They are so easy to open, I could do it myself.”

“Okay girl,” said Pierre, “why not come over here and do that?” “I just might try that one of these days,” said Suzette, “when I’m not so busy doing nothing.” “That’s great,” said Pierre, “I will look forward to that.” He then hung up. “I want those 4 men back here by tomorrow,” said Pierre, “and I mean get it done!” Meanwhile, back to us. “Look at this Steve,” said Jennifer. She had found a diagram in that one old book of a house.

The floor plan looks just like that old stone house, though it’s possible that many houses were built in that style during that time period. Still, it is quite interesting and considering this case, it just might fit. Colette is helping Jennifer go through that book since the book is written in French and the old style handwriting is difficult to read, but Colette is an expert in ancient handwriting so she can read it without any problem.

Jennifer finally decided to leave it in her hands and she went back to the attic office space with me and the cats. “Giselle’s parents must have some connection to a criminal organization,” I said, “otherwise why is everyone so interested in Giselle?” “That is a bit of a puzzle,” agreed Jennifer. Melanie soon joined us in the office. “You look puzzled too Melanie,” said Jennifer. “Well, some things just don’t add up,” she said, “Giselle said she is 24, her younger brother was 22 and her oldest brother Beau is 34, and Vivienne I think is 27.”

“What is so odd about that?” I asked. “Well, Giselle’s dad was 60 and her mom was 40 when they were killed,” she said, “so things don’t add up.” “How come I didn’t notice that?” I asked, not really looking for an answer. “None of us were looking at all the different ages presented to us,” said Jennifer, “since none of these came to us at the same time.” “A second wife, possibly?” added Melanie. “Well, there is no record of a second marriage,” I said, but I decided to check with Penny again and she told me that she would check again.

That night at the hotel Giselle had a nightmare and woke up screaming. She had Angel, Katresa and Suzette in the room with her. “Hey girl,” said Angel, as she hugged Giselle, “you were having a bad dream.” “It was a nightmare,” said Giselle, “I have it regularly and it always terrifies me. Please don’t let them kill me Angel, please!” “No one is going to kill you with me in the room Giselle,” she said, “and that is a promise. What is this nightmare all about?”

Meanwhile, “Wake up Jennifer, there is trouble,” I said. “Yes, I feel it too Steve,” she replied, “and I heard that screaming next door.” “Oh, it was Giselle having a nightmare,” I said, “Angel just told me, maybe you should check on things.” “Okay, I will do that,” she said, “now, you cats watch Steve.” But before she left Amerie was at our door, she too had heard the screams and came to tell us. Jennifer told her to stay with me while she checked on Giselle and the others.

“I’m really not sure what it’s all about,” said Giselle, “it’s a little different sometimes, yet, still the same. My parents are arguing about something after Mom came home from work. She would work somewhere until quite late and would come home about 2am. One night she brought something home and it scared my Dad and he said we would all be killed, they will take our daughters for slaves! Mom said we can go away and they will never find us, we have so much money now.

Dad said it was stolen money and she must put it back. Then they both went out somewhere, but only Dad came home and went quickly to his bedroom. When he came out, he told us that Mom had gone to visit a sick friend. Later I found his clothes in the garbage and they had blood on them. Mom never came home and 6 months later Dad married another woman. That is when I found out that he and Mom were never married.

Vivienne told us later that Mom worked for a criminal gang and was one of the top people. She said Mom had stolen something very important to the gang, including a lot of money, or something of great value anyway. This is the first time I have remembered so much of this dream. Not that it means anything, dreams are always so mixed up, one never knows what is true and what is not.” “I think much of your dream is true Giselle,” said Jennifer, “though maybe not everything. Do you remember your Mom’s name?”

Giselle thought for a while and finally said, “Alice, I am sure it was Alice.” In the morning when we were back at the house, Giselle showed us a photo of her Mom that she had hidden from her Dad under her mattress. Jennifer sent a picture of it to Penny who had a full history of her quite quickly for us. Her name is Alice Lefebvre and she was the sister of Pierre who now runs the nightclub their uncle had owned when Alice worked there.

Except the nightclub where Alice worked was in Paris and apparently it is still there and operated by their cousin. It is quite the family affair and Giselle must know what it was that her Mom stole from her uncle. It must be worth a lot if they are still looking for it today. Unfortunately, those kinds of thefts don’t normally make it into the news. Hmm, I wonder if that cousin is related to Trapper…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.