The Investigators, Inc. The Destruction Case. Chapter 6. Baldwin Disappears.

Going through Annelie’s diary was not easy, so Jennifer read it mostly, and told me what was written. Somehow Paul managed to convince her and Brook that I was acting more like a dictator than a true leader. He said I would not let others make suggestions and the other leaders couldn’t make their own decisions on their own teams. That was false, that is why I gave the leaders their own teams, to share the burden a bit more.

Also, we had too many rules so no one could do anything at all except what I said. The team had no real life, just stuck at home all the time with no socializing between men and women. That part was not true, the guys were at our chateau nearly every day unless Baldwin wanted them to stay at their chateau for some reason. However, there was no getting together at night, a rule that the girls specifically asked for. Then something hit me.

Where was Baldwin right now? He had been at the chateau when all this started, did he suddenly leave on one of his business trips? Or had he been killed by Paul? I asked Kat to check the safe room, but he was not there, so her and Carine went back to the other chateau that the guys had been using to check the safe room over there. But again they found the place empty and they could not find any record of him going on a business trip.

I tried calling Roger, he was Baldwin’s top man, much like Richard who works for Mandar. However, the three phone numbers I had were no longer in service. Baldwin did have a small, secret office in the city so Kat went there to see what she could find out. When she arrived the office was not just closed, but totally empty as well. Then she remembered that he also had an office at the airport which the pilots always used.

But that office was also closed and empty and no jets or helicopters were around. So, she went back to our chateau, then went to the clinic to see how things were going there. Carine was now there too and she will stay there to help look after our wounded team members. I did not want Samantha or Bridgette going back there right now, however, Bridgette persuaded me to let her go and help. Carine would stay with her all the time to keep her safe.

The clinic would stay in lockdown 24 hours/day for now. While Kat was there she managed to find out from Dr. Jorgenson that Baldwin was being kept in a safe room under the clinic. Apparently he had suffered a complete mental collapse and is basically a scared little boy right now. His corporation is keeping this totally quiet as news like this could devastate the corporation and throw investors into a panic. There are two of the best doctors in Europe looking after him right now.

Kat tried to visit him, but as soon as he saw her he just yelled “ghost” and “get her away”, so she left. I wonder if this is part of the attic on us or did this happen because he was against us too? Well, at least we know what happened to him and he will be safe where he is and getting good care. Kat is trying to get information from the van driver but he really doesn’t appear to know very much. He had been hired in the city by the six attackers to take them out to the chateau so they could visit some friends.

He did not know they had guns with them. I contacted Rossana for advice on how to handle things properly. She told me to stay hidden for now and she would take care of things from the police side since it is an international case. But since all perpetrators of the crime are now dead it will be marked as a closed case for now. Only Medina is left alive, though she likely has more people working for her, but they may not have been involved in attacking us.

If we got the regular police involved it would seriously hamper what we can or cannot do. She also said to let the van driver go free or he could have us charged for forcible confinement. She could have him arrested again later if necessary. I agreed so told Kat to let him go immediately. Later that day Caleigh was massaging my back, Dawn, Amerie and Colette were in the room too as my bodyguards, plus Muffin, Storm, Jewel, Ginger and Moonbeam were also in the room.

“Hey, you suddenly get very tense Steve, why?” asked Caleigh. “Sky,” I said in return and she appeared lying on the bed beside me. “What is wrong, my dear former husband?” she asked. “I sense trouble,” I told her, “and Jennifer is downstairs getting some tea and donuts.” Sky looked around the room. “And why couldn’t these girls go instead?” she asked. “We offered,” said Dawn, “but Jennifer wanted to get out of the room for a while.”

“Hmm, makes sense,” said Sky, “can you tell what kind of trouble it might be?” “I wish I was able to do that,” I said, “sometimes I can tell where the trouble is coming from or how close, but this time I only sense that there is trouble.” At that moment Jennifer came rushing in. “I don’t see any trouble,” she said, looking at me. “Neither do I,” I said, “but I did sense it, quite strongly for a few minutes, now it seems to be gone.” “I don’t like that,” said Sky.

“Neither do I,” said Jennifer. She stayed now and a few minutes later some of the other girls brought our tea and donuts to us. The cats checked it all out very thoroughly, just in case. After we were in bed, there it was again. “I sense trouble again,” I said. “Yes, I do as well,” said Jennifer. Milena, Aasta and Amber were bodyguards tonight, plus Muffin, Storm, Jewel and Rascal. “Sky,” I said…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.