The Investigators, Inc. Spider House Mystery. Chapter 13. Bad News.

We were on our way to try and find Summer who was taken by her aunt and uncle. I communicated with Kristina to see how things were going at the chateau and she said there were no problems out there. I told her to keep it at Code Red anyway and to make sure that Mandy and Erika were in the safe room. Our new safe rooms are much nicer and better than our old ones.

I decided to send Mandy and Erika back to the chateau and Sky took them earlier today. That’s a good thing too since they would have been in the room with Summer and would likely have been taken prisoner by Summer’s uncle. I had Sky take Jennifer back to the chateau as well so she can specifically look after our kids.

I asked if Cristy had found out anything about Summer’s uncle and aunt and she had found out some interesting things. Summer’s uncle, Austin Davies, is a cousin to Adamson, which makes him another relative of Toledo. Summer’s aunt, Ava, is a cold and cruel woman who is in charge of their sex trafficking ring and they even use their own 2 daughters for this.

They also want Summer to add to their list of girls. “Steve,” said Misty, “we’re going in the wrong direction.” “What?” I asked. “Something wrong with your hearing Steve?” she asked. “There’s nothing wrong with my hearing,” I said. “Then why did you say what?” she asked. “What?” I repeated. “See, there is something wrong with your hearing,” she said.

“No, there is not,” I said, “I was asking why you think we are going in the wrong direction.” “Because you’re looking at the map wrong,” she said, “see here, you have to use the latitude and longitude of the island, which places the island like this.” She then moved the island a bit to place it at an angle to what I had it.

“This is the real latitude and longitude of the island,” she said, “so now the light showing Summer is where it should be. And that puts it over here now, not over there.” “But this is where the path is,” I said. “Exactly,” said Misty, “if you had a secret hideaway, would you have a well worn path leading to it?” I could hardly argue that point, she was making too much sense now.

“Um, so how did you…” was all I said. “Hannah has been showing me all about reading maps,” said Misty, “plus using math equations to solve puzzles. And Cynthia has been really helping me with puzzles and problems solving too and how to use different tools to find clues that can help find other clues to find people or whatever.”

Misty smiled at me. I looked at her. I’m beginning to wonder why I come along on these cases, Misty could look after things far better than I can. Now where did she go? “Look Steve,” she said, “some of Summer’s hair, she must have pulled out a few strands to leave for us so we could follow her. Guess she didn’t know we had a locator on her.”

“We call them locators now?” I asked. “Oh, I don’t know,” said Misty, “it’s just what I call them.” She smiled again. I looked at that heavy brush and grabbed Misty’s hand and we were soon on the other side of it. “Hey, that’s cool,” said Misty, “good thing you are around Steve. I would have just fought my way through there and got myself all scratched up.”

“Um, right,” I said, “guess I’m still good for something.” Misty giggled. She then zoomed in on the tablet. “Look, the hideout is likely near that big boulder,” she said. I try looking all around but can’t see any boulders. “I mean on the map,” she said, “the boulder would be about a thousand feet up that way. But they probably have cameras watching us and will see us coming now.”

“They will need electricity for that,” I said. “Yeah, and it’s right up there,” she said, pointing to the hydro line. “Hmm, right about there should stop them,” I said and I tossed a lightning ball, blowing up a transformer, “that will cut electricity to them.” “Yeah, but it might make it hard to get into their hideout now,” said Misty, “their door is probably electric.”

“So what?” I asked, “I have lots of electricity to use.” Now it was my turn to smile. “I knew it would be good to have you along,” she said. I am determined to spend 24 hours with Misty when we get back home and try to figure out how she can have time to learn all that she does and still do her regular work, use her relaxation time, do her exercise period, keep up with fighting and target practice, eat and sleep, all within 24 hours.

I don’t think it can be done and I’m going to prove it. Anyway, back to the present and trying to find Summer. Hopefully we can find her alive too. Meanwhile, uncle Austin was “teaching” Summer what would happen to her if she disobeyed him again or tried to run away. “Sky!” she cried, “If you’re real, please help me!”

Uncle Austin laughed so hard when he heard her that he had to temporarily stop hitting Summer. Back to us. “I’m here Steve, what’s the problem?” asked Sky. I just looked at her. “You’re supposed to be at the chateau,” I said. “You called me,” she said in reply. “No, I didn’t,” I told her, but then I thought of something, “could Summer be calling you?”

“Maybe, but it shouldn’t work,” she said. “Concentrate Sky,” I said, “it might be Summer and she needs you.” Back to the hideout. “Sky, please help me!” Summer called again. Uncle Austin gave her a hard backhanded punch, knocking her into a corner of the room and onto the floor. “Give her one more!” shouted Aunt Ava.

Uncle Austin went over to Summer, picked her up with one hand and was about to hit her with his other hand, but he couldn’t move his arm, it was paralyzed. “My arm, I can’t move it,” he said. “Aww, poor big man,” said a voice. Uncle Austin dropped Summer and looked around, and so did Aunt Ava. Then Sky appeared in front of Uncle Austin.

“Coward!” she yelled at him, “Now, let’s see how well you do with someone that can fight back!” She then kicked him 3 times in the stomach, knocking him to the floor groaning. Then she turned to Aunt Ava who tried to shoot Sky, but without success. Then she screamed and dropped her gun because it was too hot!

“Now it’s my turn to laugh!” exclaimed Sky, and laugh she did. Aunt Ava was livid and picked up a stick she used as a club at times and ran toward Sky swinging it as hard as she could! Finally she was close enough and swung at Sky’s head, but the club went right through it, but Aunt Ava ran into Sky. Sky in turn touched Ava and she went flying backward, hitting the wall and falling to the floor.

But she got to her feet quickly, picked up her club and swung it at Summer who was on the floor beside her! Sky moved into position quickly, touching the club which began to burn causing Ava to drop it. Now Sky was angry and she pushed Ava backward, then she tossed a lightning ball at her killing her instantly. Sky looked around, but Uncle Austin was gone, so she picked up Summer and brought her to us.

I told Sky to take Angel and check the hideout for Austin. The place wasn’t very big so it only took about 15 minutes to look around, but Austin was gone. They did find another exit, which he must have used to get away. However, he still has to get off the island, and that won’t be easy. I picked up Summer and was soon at the clinic with her where Dr. Jorgenson could look after her.

I then went back and asked how Astrid is doing and Kat said she’ll be okay but will need to some time for full recovery. After asking Kat’s permission, I picked up Astrid and brought her back to the clinic and Sky brought Kat back so she could help with Summer. Then Sky and myself returned to the island and discovered more bad news, Irene has gone missing!

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.