The Investigators, Inc. Case of the Kidnapped Family. Chapter 7. Clarke’s Visit.

We were with Martin and like the first time he did not want to be very helpful. We did get him to admit he sold his kids to Warren Clarke in order to clear his debt with Cairns. Or was his debt to Clarke? How does Clarke fit into this picture? If he is the main character here, then why do Jazzy and Hannah not know him? Jazzy especially should know him, but she doesn’t.

That means he is a very new player around here, but how did he get so big, so fast? Or is he just trying to act big? We will find out when he reacts to our returning of his dead men, something he will view as a challenge. Now, back to our talk with Martin. We had been playing around with him a bit to make him nervous, our ghosts are really good at that.

Still wish I knew how they do such things. Oh well. Martin thought we had put some kind of drug in his coffee and this is where we rejoin our conversation. Also, this time we are going to let Cairns listen in at certain points in the conversation, just enough to get him upset. “Martin, we didn’t put any drugs in your coffee,” I said, “that is not how we work.”

“Then why was I seeing things?” he responded loudly. “Perhaps you are just getting nervous,” I told him, “but I’m willing to make you an offer.” “Hey, Mr. Cairns, we’re getting a connection now,” said Eddy, “that PI is making Martin an offer.” “What kind of offer PI,” said Martin. “I was thinking of $100,000 for information about…” That is all Eddy heard and it went scratchy again.

“The PI is giving Martin $100,000, but I don’t know what for,” said Eddy, “these bugs are no better than the ones we used before.” “Who sold them to us?” asked Cairns. “It was Fenbrook,” said Eddy. “Kill him,” said Cairns. “I will get Freddie on it right away,” said Eddy. “Wait, tell Freddie I’ll give him $20,000 to kill that PI,” said Cairns, “but tell him to aim high, he wears a vest.”

“Okay, shall do,” said Eddy, “hey, here’s more.” “Okay, we’ll add a flight to anywhere you want to go, plus the cash,” I said, “that’s not bad just to tell me…” That’s where it ended again for Eddy. “It stopped again!” exclaimed Eddy. “Well, Martin won’t live long enough to enjoy his money or his trip,” said Cairns, “and I don’t see what Martin can tell that PI about me that he doesn’t already know.”

That’s when Eddy noticed a large man standing in the doorway to the office. “You will cancel that order for Freddie,” said Clarke, “and you will leave Martin alone. Do I make myself clear?” “Yes, Mr. Clarke,” said Eddy, “everything is canceled.” Then Clarke turned his attention to Cairns. “I told you before to leave Martin alone,” he said, “he might be an idiot, but he’s a useful idiot, for now at least.

And what do you think would happen if you killed that PI?” “Hopefully his friends will see that it’s too dangerous here and leave,” said Cairns, grumbling, “we can’t have them poking their noses into our affairs, they might uncover something.” “I don’t know how you stay alive Cairns,” said Clarke shaking his head, “instead of leaving, his whole team would be after us, plus Kat and her Wildcats.

That PI’s wife is Kat’s sister and I’m sure she would be willing to help her sister. Plus this Aari Jensen and his Jaguars would join in because he’s their older brother. All 3 of those groups together would have no less than 200 people behind them, and possibly more. Then there is the other woman, Sky, and her gang called Sky’s Bad Girls.

It seems Steve saved her life once and she is committed to helping him now. I could find no information on her or her gang and that concerns me a bit. I like to know who I’m up against. So, don’t try killing Steve or any of the other leaders.” “Okay, okay,” said Cairns, “I just don’t like having them around, that’s all.” “Neither do I,” said Clarke, “but the only reason they are here is to find Amanda and her kids.

You should have told me that Amanda had an influential friend that could afford to hire these people.” “I didn’t know either,” said Cairns, “Martin never said anything about Amanda having any kind of friends, and she didn’t say anything either.” Meanwhile, back to us.

While talking with Martin, Jennifer communicated with me to let me know the kids are in Dallas at a place called Triple Star Photography Studio which specializes in taking photos and videos at kids birthday parties. I communicated back to send Aari and his Jaguars, plus Carine. They were soon flying down there on one of our jets. Having those bugs planted in Cairns office is finally paying off.

“Okay Martin,” I said, “where is Amanda? And don’t tell me you don’t know.” Meow!= Yeah, you know where human wife is, so better confess or I get my big brother to come back again! (said Rusty) Martin just stared at him. “Surely you don’t expect me to believe a cat can talk,” laughed Martin. Rusty jumped over to Martin’s chair.

Meow?= You laugh at me? Maybe I should bite you. “Now Rusty,” said Kat, “be nice. You can bite him if he doesn’t cooperate with us.” Meow!= Oh good, you tell me when and I bite hard! Kat then picked him up and put him on her shoulder and he disappeared. That got Martin’s eyes nice and wide, but he said nothing. Then that huge lion returned and looked at Martin.

“Ha!” he said, “That lion isn’t real, no lion is that big, it’s just some kind of holographic image!” But our lion walked over to him and put it’s big paws on his legs, put his head right in front of Martin and began breathing in his face. “Get it away, get it away!” he yelled. “Close your eyes,” I said, and he did immediately. When he opened his eyes the lion was gone and Angel was sitting next to me again.

“Now, where is Amanda?” I asked again. “I really don’t know,” he said, “but Cairns has a place close to Los Angeles, called Triple X Ranch, if she’s still alive, that’s where she will be. But I doubt she’s alive now. Cairns would have killed her when he found out you wanted her.” Martin could be right about that.

I think Amanda, like Emerald, has important information about Cairns, and maybe Clarke too. That’s why Clarke wants Emerald dead. Acadia (one of our best photographers) told Jennifer she got a good photo of Clarke when he went into Cairns’ nightclub and he was still inside.

Jennifer let me know and she then sent the photo back to Jazzy and Cristy. We decided to leave Martin since we were not getting anywhere with him. It didn’t take long after we pulled away and a car was following us again. “Time to set our trap,” I said…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.