The Investigators, Inc. The Chambers Case. Chapter 13. The Chateau Challenge.

We arrived back at the chateau quickly, it didn’t actually seem to take any time at all, and according to the clock, it didn’t. I still need to get used to this ghost stuff. There are good points, and some negative points too. For now, we focus on the good points. The girls and cats were all ready for the fight. Then Sienna came into the library, with guns and her vest on.

“Um, what do you think you’re doing?” I asked her. “I’m going to help fight Helene,” she said, “I can shoot as good as anyone, well, almost anyway.” “No,” I said, “you will not be joining in the fight. You will go to the safe room and stay there, or you can go to the clinic and stay there where you will be safe. But no fighting for you, unless the fighting comes indoors.”

“That is not fair Steve,” she said, “how can I sit back in safety when all of you are fighting Helene and her men, and possibly getting killed, while I sit in safety. Nope. I won’t do it.” She kind of scowled at me. “Cristy,” I said. She was right next to me so fast I couldn’t believe it. “Yes Steve?” she asked. “Um, I want you to take Sienna to the safe room,” I said.

“Right,” she said, “this way Sienna.” “No, I’m not going,” she replied. “She won’t come with me,” said Cristy. “Then force her to go with you,” I said, “and that is an order.” “Oh, if it’s an order, that’s different,” she said, “okay Sienna (she grabbed Sienna’s arm), come with me or I will make you.” Cristy was trying to sound very tough, which is impossible for her.

I nearly began to laugh so I decided to leave the room. As I was going out, Misty came in. “Cristy, Misty needs your help,” I told her, “she needs to take Sienna to the safe room and Sienna won’t go, so take her there, that’s an order.” “Right away Steve,” said Misty and she ran down to where Cristy and Sienna were arguing.

“Sienna,” said Misty, “come with us to the safe room.” “No, I will not go,” she said. That’s when Misty punched her, knocking her out. Sienna won’t like that. “Good one Cristy,” I said. “Thanks Steve!” said Misty. They each grabbed an arm and started to drag Sienna. Then they stopped. Then they dropped Sienna on her head.

“Steve,” said Misty, “I’m Misty, not Cristy.” “Oh, sorry Cristy,” I said. “That’s okay,” said Misty and they picked up Sienna again. They took one step and stopped, dropping Sienna on her head again. They looked at each other, then back at me. “Steve, stop that,” said Cristy, “she’s Cristy, I’m Misty.” “I thought you were Misty and she’s Cristy,” I said.

They looked at each other and sighed and went to pick up Sienna, who was no longer there. “Where did she go?” asked Misty. Sienna was sitting on a chair now, rubbing her head. “Which one of you hit me?” she asked. Misty and Cristy pointed at each other. That was too much, I started laughing. That brought Sky.

She sorted things out and took Sienna to the clinic. She was now injured so Samantha ordered her to stay at the clinic until she recovered fully. It was only a few minutes later that Helene and her men came driving up to the chateau. There were 3 cars and 8 vans. “Get that machine gun out,” I told Dawn. “Can’t, it’s not working,” she said, “I don’t know what the problem is, and Rock isn’t here to figure it out.”

I called Aari to find out where the guys were. “We’re close at hand Steve,” he said, “just give the word.” “Hold off for now,” I said, “I’ll call when it’s time.” Bunker then got out of the middle car and called up to the chateau, telling our team to surrender. “And don’t try to scare me with that big pop gun of yours,” he said, “by now you have discovered it doesn’t work, right babe?”

“How did he know that?” asked Dawn, looking at me. “We have another traitor in our midst perhaps,” I said, “or they were able to sabotage it some other way.” “Okay, my dear ghostly friends,” I said, “time to show our faces.” Sky, Angel and I went outside onto the steps first. “Helene,” I called, “are you brave enough to talk out in the open?”

Bunker leaned into the car, then he opened the door and out came Helene. I was surprised she would do it. “How did you manage to get here before us Steve?” she asked. “Maybe we never left,” I said, “you don’t seem surprised to see me alive.” “That’s because Koffman said you had been there talking with him,” she said, “though I’m not sure how you managed to pull off that fake dead man act.”

“Well, first, that was a nice act, wasn’t it?” I asked, “I have that ability now. You see, one of Rico’s men shot and killed me. Now I have come back as a ghost.” She laughed, as did Bunker. “Nice try Steve,” said Bunker, “but without Wilbur, that’s impossible to do.” “He’s right Steve,” said Helene, “you can’t fool me with that one. Now, tell the truth.”

“Okay, I will prove it,” I said and began walking toward them. “Stop right there Steve,” said Bunker, “or you really will die.” He then pulled out his gun. I disappeared and reappeared behind Helene with my arm tightly around her neck. “Hurt her and you die,” growled Bunker. “How do you manage it with 2 boyfriends Helene?” I asked.

“Well, Wendel doesn’t even suspect Bunker is my real boyfriend,” she said, “Wendel is only my boyfriend because of his money.” I then let her go and walked toward Bunker. He shot. “Missed,” I said smiling. He shot again, and again. “Now your gun is too hot to hold,” I said. He quickly dropped it, then suddenly backed away. I turned and Helene screamed since I had no face.

I returned to normal. Helene’s men began to get out of their vans. I pointed at one, so did Sky, and electricity left our fingers, killing one man each. “Tell your men to stop Helene,” I said, “or I kill you next.” She shouted at them to get back into their vans. “We have enough people here to stop your attack,” I told her, “with more on the way.”

Suddenly the driveway was filling up with motorcycles. “My wife’s brother and some of his men,” I said, “you don’t want to tangle with them.” Then sirens sounded as police vans entered as well. “Those are for you and your men,” I told her. “They have nothing on me,” she said. “Murder comes to mind,” I said. “I never killed anyone,” she said, “it was always my men.”

“Well, that makes you involved,” I said, “and Bunker here was caught on security cameras killing Koffman and Decker. Wendel has now been picked up too, for killing 3 people.” “I will be out soon enough,” she smiled. “Your 2 boyfriends will be in prison for a long time,” I said. “Oh well, there are a lot more men around,” she said, “and I will try to get Bunker out quicker.

I see Kitty over there, and I assume Sky is another ghost?” “Yes, we are all ghosts,” I said, “and since we can’t be killed, the 3 of us are more than enough to kill all of your men.” “I am still interested in buying Kitty,” she said. “The answer is still the same, she is not for sale,” I said, “and you can’t take her from us either.” “I wouldn’t even try that one,” she said.

The police rounded up everyone and hauled them away. Most of her men will be back out quickly, but Bunker and Wendel will be in prison for a long time, and so will Helene, unless she can buy her way out, and she will likely try that. Kind of an odd case.

I am sure we will see Helene again at some point, but not for a while. The police will be closing the Chambers Hotel too. Well, I think we need a vacation. But that never seems to happen. I wonder what awaits us in the next case?

Case Closed. A new one will begin soon.

©2025 Steve McLeod.