The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Lily’s Treasure. Chapter 7. Valeska and Father.

Things are just not adding up correctly in this case, too many pieces of the puzzle are missing and I’m beginning to think that some pieces don’t even exist. There seems to be a traitor on our team again, yet I can’t think of anyone that I don’t fully trust. I can’t talk with Muffin about this, she is still too sick from that poison, like the other 4 cats.

I was lying on my bed and called Galyna, Victoria, Hannah, Cristy and Alizeah, asking them to come to my room in 30 minutes. “I wonder if Sky is listening to me right now?” I said out loud, “I sure could use some of those fresh donuts and coffee right now. Sky.” “Here is the coffee for each of us,” she said immediately, then she was gone and back again with a plate of donuts, “for us to share.”

She laid down on the bed beside me, well, we were half sitting really. “So, what are we talking about?” she asked. “Some things don’t fit,” I told her, “Lily gets shot, seriously, and would be dead if not for Kat being right there. Three of her brothers also get shot and killed. Myrtle gets shot, but just a minor wound, a scratch really.

The shooter is experienced, so how did he manage to miss Myrtle?” “I give up, why?” she asked. “Because Myrtle hired the shooter to kill Lily and those 3 brothers,” I said, “the oldest brother, Lawrence and the youngest, Ralph, were not shot, neither were the other sisters.” “Why would she shoot her own family?” asked Sky.

“More money perhaps,” I said, “or maybe they were wanting too much leadership responsibility and Myrtle wants to run things her way. Only problem with that theory is Ralph, he seems to want the leadership all to himself.” “Maybe he is the leader but doesn’t want to kill his mother,” said Sky, “at least, not yet. What about this possible traitor in our own midst?” I looked at her and she smiled.

“You were listening to a private conversation,” I said, trying to give her that ‘look’. Sky shook her head. “You are terrible at giving that ‘look’,” she said, then giggled, “do you think I’m the traitor?” “Of course not,” I said, “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m starting from the bottom and working up to the top.” “Oh, good answer,” she said, “anyway, I believe you, I can tell what you’re thinking.”

“Sometimes I think you really can,” I said smiling. “Sometimes you are so stubborn,” she said shaking her head. “I sense trouble, wait, make that danger and it’s close by,” I said, “silent Code Red, possible attack.” Then after a few seconds, “It’s Misty!” I exclaimed and Sky was gone. I ran downstairs, past the library to the hallway leading to the clinic.

As I passed the library I spotted Chloe. “Bad Girls, clinic!” I yelled and the four of them followed me, or rather, I ended up following them, to the clinic. Meanwhile, Sky appeared in Misty’s room where Misty had been handcuffed to the bed, knocked out and Valeska was about to give her a needle.

“This will cause you to fall asleep and never wake up, you most annoying woman,” she said, “and this will make Brielle very happy and me very wealthy.” “I think you have that a bit wrong Valeska,” said Sky calmly. Valeska turned to see Sky smiling. Then Sky touched her heart, Valeska screamed and fell to the floor dead.

“Betraying the one who loves you brings death,” said Sky. She loosed Misty just as the Bad Girls and I arrived. Sky unlocked the door for us. “Steve is huffing and huffing again,” said Suzette, “he forget to wiggle his nose so he can fly here again.” “No, no,” said Chloe, “not wiggle his nose, he blink his eyes to fly here and here.” “Oh yes, I forget again,” said Suzette.

“Who told you he blinks his eyes?” asked Sky. “Misty tell us this,” said Chloe, “and Steve tell her when they are pretend married.” Sky looks at me and shakes her head. Chloe and Caleigh carried Valeska out. “And to think we rescued her from that awful penal colony,” said Sky, “she certainly wasn’t very grateful. She did tell us that Brielle is definitely behind these attacks here at the chateau.”

“Proves I’m not so stupid after all,” I said. “I never said you were, dear husband of mine,” said Sky. “You haven’t said that to me for a long time,” I said, “nice to hear you say it again.” “Oops, I’m being bad again,” she said and giggled. “Oh, sorry for interrupting,” said Samantha, “I just wanted to check on the patient.”

“Aww, they were just at the best part too,” said Misty smiling. Meanwhile, back in Canada. Jennifer had sensed the danger too, the same time as me and she wanted to know what happened, so I filled her in. “Sky is right, she wasn’t very grateful,” repeated Jennifer, “I guess that penal colony wasn’t such a bad place. Anyway, we are heading out to the cottage that Lily inherited to look around for a while.

I will keep you posted on what we find, if anything. Oh, the Wildcats are coming with us too.” “Good, better to have more along, it might keep problems away,” I said. It took them a while to find the cottage, the road into it hadn’t been used in years so it was overgrown somewhat. The cottage was quite run down, but also quite large, which makes sense since Lily’s father was a millionaire.

Oddly, it was locked, but Lily had been given several keys for the place and one unlocked the door for them. Inside was quite a surprise, it was all in very good condition and furnished. They began looking around the main floor first, though there was an upper floor as well. The electricity even worked, the fridge was plugged in and had fresh food in it.

Someone was obviously living out there, but who, and why? Then Amber called to Kat and Jennifer and they came running back into the living room, but they stopped when they saw an older gentleman standing there. “Father!” exclaimed Lily, “You’re still alive!” She then ran over and hugged him. “Yes, I’m still alive,” he said, “but I don’t know for how long.”

He then told them all about what had been happening. He admitted to getting involved in criminal activities, starting with drugs, then thefts, pressuring people to sell properties cheap and he would resell for a huge profit. Then a woman came along named Luna Dalton, and she got them involved in bigger things which started bringing in bigger profits for the family.

Then the got involved in murders. He didn’t like the idea at first, but it was other criminals they were killing, so that didn’t sound so bad. Then they got the order to kill the police chief and he said no to that one. But his wife finally talked him into doing it.

They were going to hire someone, but Luna said it would be better for him and his wife to do it. The fewer people that know things, the better. They didn’t tell anyone else in the family, but Ralph heard them talking about it the night they would do the job.

So, they promised to make Ralph the number 2 person in the organization which he gladly accepted. The job was done, then someone tried killing him, but killed his friend instead, which is who they buried. Ralph knows this also, but doesn’t know where he is hiding. “Danger nearby,” said Jennifer quietly…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.