The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Steve’s Disappearance. Chapter 6. Hike and Fight.

Well, we were up nice and early, it was barely getting daylight. Having to be together at all times does have some problems to it since she’s a woman and I’m a guy. So, when it comes to bathroom breaks and showers we have to do it differently. I stand in the hall while Celestine is in the bathroom, the door is open partially and Sir Night is inside guarding. He can then warn me of any problems. It’s a little harder when I’m showering since I can’t hear very well in the shower, but hopefully nothing will happen at that time.

Normally we have some of the girls along, so they can handle these situations. And it bed, she is under the sheet, I am on top, an effective barrier for accidental moving around. And, Sir Night sleeps between us. These precautions were set in place back when I was married to Kat, and they just stayed in place. When we sat down to eat breakfast, Celestine was sad again and she looked at me.

“I’m sorry Steve,” she said, “I should not have slapped you. Sir Night told me what you tried to do and I moved at the last second, so your kiss on the nose ended as a kiss on my lips. It was just a natural reaction to slap you, not because I was mad at you, honest.” “Apology accepted,” I said, “and I will try to be more careful next time. This must be a long hike you have planned if we have to leave so early.” “Well, it takes a while to drive to the hiking trail,” she said, “and, I have to pack a picnic lunch for us too.” “Hey, I can help with that,” I said.

“Good, start by cutting some slices of bread,” she said. “Do you bake your own bread too?” I asked. “Yep, I’m a decent cook and a great baker,” she said, smiling. “I think you’re a great cook too,” I said, “I’m surprised you’re not married yet.” “I’m too young to get married,” she said, “besides, I have not met a man I would like to marry.” “How old are you?” I asked. “You should never ask a woman about her age, it’s bad manners,” she said giggling, “how old are you?” “I’m 32, I was 27 when I started my investigator business,” I told her.

“Hmm, okay, I’m 21,” she said, “and I will gladly show my drivers license to prove it if necessary.” “No proof needed,” I said. “Am I too young to join your investigators?” she asked. “No, we have some women younger than you on our team,” I said. That seemed to make her feel better and soon we were off, driving to this hiking trail. “I hope you’re in good shape for hiking,” she said after we parked. “Good time to ask me,” I said, “it might have been better to ask before we got here.”

It was not a mountain, exactly, just a high hill, and we didn’t go to the top. About half way there is a nice lookout spot with tables and a grassy area. We chose to eat on the grassy area, which is why Celestine brought a blanket for us to use. It was truly beautiful up there. Celestine and I talked the entire way up to the picnic spot, nothing serious, just talking. It was nice to be in a place where we didn’t need to have 4 or 5 bodyguards along and we could just talk about normal things.

This is something I miss, and need. Jennifer and I need to start doing this on a regular basis, after all, we are both ghosts, why do we need bodyguards? This would be a big help to me for relaxing. I mentioned this to Celestine. “How much time do you get alone with your wife Steve?” she asked. “Well, most nights we are alone,” I said. She sat there blinking again, just like Misty and Cristy. “You’re going to make me dizzy blinking like that,” I said, chuckling. “Hey, this is no laughing matter,” she said, “and what about family time?”

“Um, well, um, the girls spend a lot of time with the women on our team,” I said. “That is not what I asked,” she said firmly, “family time is you, Jennifer and your 2 daughters.” “Yes, well, not much time,” I said, with my head down. “Look at me,” she said, still firmly, so I did, “you will change that when you get home. And I don’t mean to think about it, I mean do it!” She was right, very right and things are going to change. Finally it was time to leave and down we went, but, near the bottom of the hill there were 4 young men standing around and I sensed trouble.

“Hold my hand,” I said, “those guys are trouble, I know it.” Celestine grabbed my hand and held on tightly. “I thought they looked like trouble too,” she said. “Sir Night, you get ready to jump off me and run ahead of those men a little ways,” I said. He had come along with us too, I didn’t like the idea of leaving him home alone right now. As we got closer the men stood across the path. “You and the cat can go, lady,” they said, “but your boyfriend stays here, we want to talk with him.” I told Celestine to walk ahead and wait for me. The men let her pass and she kept walking.

Then I went up to the men and they took out knives and attacked me. I touched the chests of the first two and they went flying back several feet and laid on the ground unconscious. I then gave another one a backhanded slap, knocking him out cold. I then kicked the last one in the stomach, then touched his back and he fell to the ground, unconscious. I could have killed them, but that would have involved the police, this likely won’t, at least not as much. Celestine had already called the police, so we waited until they arrived and told our story which the police believed.

Then they arrested the men who were just waking up at that time. “You are a fantastic fighter, Steve,” said Celestine, “I was worried sick that they would kill you, I mean, it was 4 against one.” “They didn’t know much about fighting,” I said, “guys like that work on fear mostly, but they seldom can fight well.”

Back at home we got the next clue out and Celestine read it, “Now ’tis time to push aside straight and tall, then you will find a hollow wall, a board of six, strong and true, to keep the spikes from pushing through, next a turn, but left or right, one is dark, the other is light, here the queen will need her king, or you’ll not find a thing.” “Well, that’s a really helpful clue,” Celestine said sarcastically. That got me laughing, and laughing, and laughing.

I think it might have been too much for Celestine and she decided to jump onto my lap. Then she pushed my mouth closed and kissed me. Meower!= “Oooooo, that one super long!” Then she sat down beside me again. “There, that will teach you for laughing at me,” she said, “and if I get a chance to meet your wife, I will tell her exactly what I did, and why.” I looked at her. Then I quickly grabbed her, put her across my lap and spanked her, and she screamed the whole time. Then she sat beside me again.

“Didn’t hurt,” she said, pouting. I put my arm around her. “I love you little sis,” I said, smiling. She looked at me, then we both began laughing. Meower.= “Human people very strange sometimes.” Meanwhile, back at the chateau, Jennifer was talking with Sky and Angel. “How close does Angel have to be to you,” asked Jennifer, “so that she could go with you if Steve should call you?”

“I can fix it so that if we are in the same room, she will come along,” said Sky. “Do that please,” said Jennifer, “then always stay in the same room together. Steve really is in danger, I can feel it, but mostly someone else that is with him. Please protect them both…”

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.