The Investigators, Inc. Case of Rossana’s Family. Chapter 1. Fun and Friends.

Well, here we are, relaxing still from our last case which was supposed to be our vacation to relax from the previous case. Sigh. I think we do better just relaxing at home. Which is what we are doing, or trying to do anyway. I’m relaxing, though a little too much for my liking. I’m feeling fine really, after getting the much needed second blood transfusion from Sky, something I should have had a long time ago already.

That isn’t necessary for our regular ghosts, but I’m kind of a different kind of a ghost. If that makes sense. I’m the only one that was saved by the blood of another ghost. Our ghosts have blood that seems to be a bit different than regular blood, but I don’t really understand that part.

All I know is that I died and Sky’s blood brought me back from the dead. I guess. I still don’t understand. But I can do most of what our other ghosts can do and basically everything that Sky can do. Almost. Anyway, since I had some problems and fainted and needed this latest transfusion, Samantha said I need to be on recovery for a while so she can watch me and make sure that everything is okay.

That means no work for me, which means I can do nothing for 30 days. Not even if a case comes along. Right now Kat and Jennifer are once again in the Leader 1 position. They enjoy being in that position. “What? Why us? We can’t do this!” they both said together. “I really enjoy when you do that,” I said smiling. “When we do what?” they asked together.

“That, when you talk at the same time,” I said, “and you do enjoy being Leader 1.” “We enjoy being Leader 1?” they asked again. “See, I’m glad you agree,” I told them. “No, we did not agree,” they said, “that was a question. If we agreed it would have been a statement.” “But a question is a statement,” I said, “it’s a statement of questioning.”

“What? What kind of grammar did you learn?” they asked. “The grammar of backward statement speech,” I told them. They just stood there looking at me and blinking. They even blink at the same time. Cool. “Hey, they blink at the same time,” said Misty, “cool!” Kat and Jennifer sighed together and gave up. “You have Samantha to thank for this anyway,” I told them, “I certainly didn’t do it.”

Just then Samantha came into the library with coffee and four donuts. “Fresh donuts!” I said. “Samantha, look over there,” said Misty. “What? Where?” she asked, “Hey, what happened to my donuts?” She looked at the four of us munching away. “That wasn’t nice,” she said and back to the kitchen she went and came with 4 more donuts. “Cristy, Samantha’s here now,” I said casually.

“Oh good,” she said, and then she got a puzzled look on her face. Samantha looked at her. Misty had all four donuts picked up and tossed to each of us so fast it was almost hard to see her hands move. Samantha looked back quickly, but the donuts were gone. She sighed very loudly. “Misty, would you please get some more donuts please?” I asked her.

Off she went and came back with 4 more donuts and tossed us each one and we started munching. “Where’s mine?” asked Samantha. “There was only 4 left,” said Misty, “and since you kept bringing 4 donuts in for us I figured you didn’t want any.” She smiled. Samantha sighed.

It was a hot day so I got ready for time at our pool. “Where are you going?” asked Jennifer. “To the pool,” I said, “where else would I be going?” “It’s the girls relaxation time,” she said, “and it’s pool only for today since it’s hot. No guys are allowed when the girls are there, or did you forget the rules?” “My name is on the list for today,” I told her. She went to look and came back.

“Misty,” she said, “you made the list for today’s pool time, correct?” “Yep, you told me to do that all this week,” she said cheerfully, “um, did I forget someone?” “You put Steve on the list,” she said, “he’s not a girl, or did you forget?” That was too much for Misty and she laughed. Loud and long. She stopped quickly when Jennifer said she was getting five demerits for laughing at her.

“But I was just obeying Samantha,” she said, half crying, “she wanted Steve on the list every day this week. You and Kat are on for every day too, Samantha’s orders.” Later at the pool. “I’m sure you had something to do with this Steve,” said Kat. “I agree,” said Jennifer. “Yep,” said Misty and Cristy. We do get to have some fun now and then, but it’s usually short lived.

The next day Cristy said I had a phone call from Rossana, so I told her to transfer it to me. “It’s private,” said Cristy. “Everyone out of the library,” I said, “except Jennifer, Kat, Sienna and Cristy. Hi Rossana, what’s up, you don’t normally call me at home.” “Well, I have a big request,” she said quietly, “I’m not really supposed to do this, but my boss said it would be okay this time.

We are on a case, have been for a long time, trying to stop a certain organization. But so far we have not succeeded and now something has happened. They have found out that I infiltrated their organization, so I had to get out quickly. But now they have taken some of my family hostage and they will be killed unless we stop chasing this group and get all of our officers out.

We have 7 days to make our decision. We can’t accept their demands Steve, I’m sure you understand that. Our families are always at risk when we do things like this. It is my brother, his wife, their 3 young daughters, his wife’s sister and her daughter. I’m sure you also realize that even if we gave in to their demands, our officers would likely be killed once they know who they are.

My family would be killed too. They found out through an informant the number of people we had in their organization, so we would need to pull them all out, hopefully alive. What I’m asking is this, would you try to get my family out of the way? Then we can move in and at least partially dismantle this group before our officers are exposed.”

I then explained that I was on recovery right now with Jennifer and Kat acting as Leader 1, but they heard the conversation. “We will hold a team leaders meeting right away,” said Kat, “and we will get back to you.” Kat and Jennifer looked sternly at me. “That wasn’t nice,” said Jennifer, “you have known Rossana longer than anyone on the team and you pass it off to us.”

“I have no choice,” I said, “I want to help out with this case, but Samantha has that authority over all of us. However, there is one possibility, get Samantha to give me an Emergency Case Exemption. That would take me off recovery just for the length of the case.” “Why didn’t you say so before?” they both asked and they called for Samantha right away, plus all of the team leaders.

“No, I won’t do it,” said Samantha, “it could be harmful for Steve and perhaps make it dangerous for others.” “I’ll watch Steve,” said Dawn. “Me too,” said Misty. “And he always has Sky to look after him,” said Kat and Jennifer together. Samantha sighed. “Only if Sky promises to stay with Steve 24 hours a day,” she said.

“Yes!” said Jennifer and Kat, “You will need a wife for this one too.” “He already has one,” said Misty laughing. “Thanks for volunteering,” they said. “What? Wait,” she said, “that isn’t what I meant. I meant…” “That you gladly accept without question,” they said, “correct?”

“Um, yeah, exactly,” she said, then she thought to herself, “I really must learn to keep my mouth shut.” We accepted the case, naturally, now we have 6 days to get the job done. At least Rossana could tell us where her family was being held, that helps a lot. I think.

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.