The Investigators, Inc. Spider House Mystery. Chapter 1. Harley, Summer, Irene.

Well, we are all rested and mostly back to normal here at The Investigators. Dr. Jorgenson just can’t understand how Misty could be completely healed with no lasting effects. He said every time Kat would visit Misty and Cristy they would automatically be feeling 20% better than before, now they are perfect again.

And so is everyone else. He just shakes his head saying, “I just don’t understand it, it shouldn’t happen this way.” He knows that Kat can help the healing process, but he doesn’t understand how she can do that. I tell him I don’t understand it either, but it doesn’t seem to help him. Galyna helped me, and Jennifer, plus Muffin and Storm.

It was a family counselling session which lasted all day, 3 days in a row. Poor Galyna. She needs a vacation, which is where she’s at right now, along with Jennifer and I, plus Jennifer’s “sister” Angel and my “sister” Misty. There are others along too, but we are pretending not to know each other. Galyna is with them, which includes Dawn, Melanie, and Kristina.

Then there is Milena, Astrid, Crystal, Sigrid, Cynthia and Kitty. We got to this island paradise, so called, yesterday evening and enjoyed a nice, quiet night. That part was great, and we are now enjoying a nice breakfast in their rather large restaurant. Our groups are the only ones having breakfast though and I mentioned to the waitress that it seemed strange that so few people were eating.

She told us it was too early, people just start to trickle in around 8 and it is busy by 9. We arrived at 7, which is when the restaurant opens. The waitress was friendly and would talk if we said something first, but her smile was forced. It was easy to tell she was not happy. I will say that is what Jennifer told me, I didn’t notice these things at all. Sigh.

The owner/manager allowed us to bring our cats into the restaurant since the other two groups of ladies didn’t mind, they each had a cat too. We had Muffin and Storm, the other cats are Midnight, Sunny and Ginger. Melanie and Crystal lost their cats in our last case and they were feeling quite bad about that which is why I picked them to come along with us on our “vacation”.

Anyway, as I was eating my waffles, Jennifer noticed me frowning and asked why. “Oh, uh, nothing really,” I said, “just thinking about the busy day we have planned.” She then took my plate of waffles. “Now, let’s try that again,” she said, “why the frown?” That got the attention of Misty and Angel who were now smiling, waiting for my response. Sigh. “My waffles will get cold,” I said.

“Only if you delay answering my question,” she responded. The other 2 giggled. “I sense trouble,” I said, “and it’s not far away.” “An orange is bright, the morning is quiet, looking around, at sky and ground,” she said quietly. The other 2 groups got the message, it’s Code Orange, starting now, act normal, be prepared.

“I don’t sense danger,” said Jennifer. Then our waitress came back, she had been crying, but she faked a smile and asked if we wanted more coffee and we all said yes. “Why are you crying on such a beautiful day like this?” I asked her. “Oh, uh, I, I’m not crying sir,” she said, “uh, it’s just something in my eye. Please don’t say anything more, I could lose my job and I can’t afford that right now.”

“Okay, no more said,” I told her. She thanked me and left. Another waitress came in now, getting ready for the main breakfast crowd. She came with more coffee for us. “The other waitress doesn’t seem too happy this morning,” said Jennifer. “Her name is Harley,” she answered, “it’s partly due to some creep named Greg that won’t leave her alone. And partly due to that crazy haunted house she inherited from her grandmother.”

“Does it have real ghosts?” asked Misty excitedly. “She says that she has seen ghosts,” she answered, “but it’s likely the wind or something making noises. I have never seen or heard anything. Harley and I are good friends, my name is Summer.” Summer was certainly a very happy, smiling type of young woman, very different than Harley.

Just then 2 young men came in and sat down and Summer gave them some coffee and told one of them to leave Harley alone. “That must be Greg,” I told the others. Harley then came out to take their order. “I want a kiss, followed by another kiss, then a hug and a kiss,” said Greg, “how about it babe?” “Stop calling me babe,” she said firmly.

“Aww, come on babe, cheer up and kiss me,” he said. He then stood up and forced a kiss on her. Jennifer did not like that and suddenly disappeared. Greg had a ponytail and his head suddenly jerked backward, compliments of Jennifer. She then hit his lower back causing him to groan and fall to his knees. “What’s wrong with you man?” asked the other man.

“Who did that?” asked Greg as he stood up. “What are you talking about?” asked the other man. “Someone hit me,” he said, “was it that guy over there?” “He never left his chair Greg,” said Harley. “Yeah, right, the air hit me,” he said sneering. He then came to our table. “You the idiot that hit me?” he asked. “Go sit down,” I said, “or you might get hurt.”

I continued eating. He grabbed my cup of coffee and threw it in my face. So much for a peaceful morning. I stood up to confront him but a voice got his attention. “Greg!” said a woman wearing a shirt with a large spider on it, a very real looking spider, “go sit down, now!” He did so without saying a word which was rather interesting.

“He works for me,” she said. Summer came running over with a towel to dry me off. “My apologies for his actions,” said the woman, “allow me to pay for your breakfast. My name is Irene Laurel.” “My name is Steve Kendrick and this is my wife Jennifer, my sister Misty and my wife’s sister Angel. We’re on a family vacation, one that is long overdue and, unfortunately, not off to a very good start.”

“I will make sure that Greg doesn’t bother you again,” said Irene. “That spider looks like it could be real,” I said. “They are real, and deadly,” she said, “just like a woman.” She smiled and went to sit with Greg and his friend. Just then a rather large man came in and joined the other 3. Rather interesting group. Summer returned with more coffee for me, and when she left a note dropped onto my lap.

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.