The Investigators, Inc. The Haunted House Case. Chapter 11. The Room.

After going through the clues found in the old diary, it ended with the finding of an envelope, which ended up in Jennifer’s hands, much to the disappointment of the three would be treasure hunters. “What’s that?” asked Kat. “This is our treasure map,” said Jennifer smiling. “A treasure map?! yelled the other three girls as they ran toward Jennifer who quickly held the map behind her back. But Sky came sneaking up on her hands and knees behind Jennifer and…she suddenly snapped the map out of Jennifer’s hand! “Aha! Got it!” yelled Sky.

But just as suddenly an orange streak jumped and snatched it from Sky’s hand! “Come back here you four-footed furry sneak!” she yelled. It was Jewel, Jennifer’s cat, who turned around, came running back and jumped into Jennifer’s waiting arms. “Thank you Jewel,” said Jennifer, giving Jewel a kiss, “and you four can go sit down over there.” Sky, Misty, Dawn and Macy slouched over and shuffled their way to the sofa and sat down. It was very difficult for Jennifer and Kat to keep from laughing at that sight. The rest of the team didn’t even try to contain themselves, they just laughed, especially Rock.

“As I was saying,” said Jennifer, “this is a map to show us how to get into that secret room. And to do that, we need to go upstairs to the attic.” “The only way into the attic is by breaking one of the windows,” said Rock, “there is just no other way in.” “Wrong,” said Jennifer, “this map says there is a way in from upstairs, so let’s go take a look.”

Meanwhile, “How come none of our cameras work?” asked Phoenix, “Both outside and inside, none work.” “It seems they have something that found all of our cameras, listening devices, projectors and speakers,” said George, “and they destroyed them all.” “Useless! USELESS!!” screeched Phoenix, “I spend millions of dollars on all this equipment and painful surgeries for myself, and nothing works! Two of those women I kicked several times, and they just stood there smiling, then they kick me nearly knocking my head off! Why?!”

“They must have some kind of shield similar to the one I invented for you, my beautiful Phoenix,” said Dr. Pointer, “but once I have my new laboratory working, then no one will ever be able to win a fight with you. Soon you will be the queen of the criminals in this country and will rule whatever you wish.” “You are the most amazing man I know, Dr. Pointer,” she said, “exceeded only by my late brother Toledo.” “That is quite an honor, thank you my dear,” he replied.

“Stanley, kill one of those Investigator women we have and let her be found,” said Phoenix, “they need another warning!” “Which one?” he asked. “I don’t care,” she said, “just pick whichever one you want.” Now as Kat, Jennifer and the others arrived upstairs, Nakedra yelled, “It’s Alexine!” Sure enough, there she was in one of the bedrooms, lying on the bed. She had been stabbed and was dead. “That’s a warning for us,” said Kat, “and it also means the girls are in here somewhere, likely in that hidden room.” “And if we go into that room,” added Jennifer, “they will kill the remaining girls.”

Kat then went to work on Alexine, hoping to save her. “Do you think she will make it Kat?” asked Nakedra. “It depends on how long she has been dead,” replied Kat, “and I would say she was still alive when they put her on this bed, so, maybe.” “Only us ghosts will go in,” said Jennifer, “that way we can stay invisible and Sky can rescue the girls quickly while we take care of Phoenix and her men.” “Strange she doesn’t have any women working for her,” said Nakedra.

“Competition Nakedra, competition,” said Jennifer, “she wants to be the only queen in her organization, with men doing her bidding.” “Can I please go too?” pleaded Misty, “After all, I found the diary with the clues in it.” “And me,” said Dawn, “I helped solve the clues.” “And me,” said Macy, “I found the metal book for the key.” The three of them stood there smiling, and saluting, at Jennifer who just sighed once more. “Girls,” said Jennifer. “Yes Jennifer?” they asked at one time. “You are saluting again,” said Jennifer. “Oops, sorry leader Jennifer,” they said together and put their hands down.

“I guess we could keep you invisible,” said Jennifer. “Okay, hold hands with Sky, Angel and Kitty,” said Kat, “Carine, I want you to stay with the others, no one goes outside and groups of 4 only at all times.” She continued working on Alexine while talking. “Maybe we should go ahead Kat,” said Jennifer, “after all, right now, every minute counts. We don’t want anymore of those girls being killed or otherwise be abused.” Kat thought for a moment. “Okay, go ahead,” she said quietly, “but please be careful sis, she is a dangerous woman still, don’t take chances. And that goes for the rest of you too, no heroes, work together, and come back together.”

“First thing Sky,” said Jennifer, “check around this closet door for wires that could lead to a warning for them.” Sky went all around the door, but couldn’t find anything. Then she looked at the ceiling where the secret door was supposed to be. They called Rock back upstairs and he lifted Sky up to the ceiling and she felt all around the edges and stopped at one spot. “Aha, here it is,” she said. “Can you stop it from working without them knowing?” asked Jennifer. “No problem,” said Sky.

“I hate when people say that,” said Kat sighing. But Sky did disconnect it with her electrical current. “All done, thanks Rock,” she said smiling. Next came the secret way of opening and closing the closet door, swinging it open just the right amount, slightly more each time, until they heard a click. It was kind of like opening the lock on a safe. Once done, the ceiling door opened, but there were no stairs or ladder to get up there. So, Rock helped out again, lifting each of them into the opening after Jennifer made sure there was no one waiting for them up there.

Once all were in place, the ghosts held the hands of the other girls so that all could remain invisible. It wasn’t hard to find the stairs leading down to that underground room, they were right out in the open. Down they went, and being invisible also meant they made no creaking noises on those old stairs, a very helpful thing. When they got to the bottom of the stairs they entered a dimly lit room, fairly large, with a table in the middle surrounded by chairs. There were 4 desks along one wall, each one with a computer and a man at each one watching something.

There were two other men sitting on comfortable chairs in another corner of the room drinking. Then another man showed up, coming out of what was likely another room. “Bring girl A and girl D into the video room,” said George to the two men sitting. The girls could hardly believe their eyes when they saw George, the man who hired them and whose daughter had been kidnapped by these perverted criminals. He was one of them! Phoenix was nowhere in sight, so perhaps she was in the video room which was likely through the door to Jennifer’s left.

Jennifer took Misty’s hand so Sky could go over and turn off the computers. While Sky was there she saw that they were watching a live show that was being done in the next room with Cathy and Acadia. Sky was furious, but she just did what Jennifer had told her, turn off the computers, permanently. And, that is what she did, one after the other. They snapped and crackled with sparks shooting outward which startled each of the men.

Just then the two men brought out girl A and girl D which was George’s daughter and her friend. That’s when all of the girls became visible and, using silencers on their guns, shot each of the men, except for George. Jennifer went walking up to him. “You are a very pathetic man,” she said, “we’ll save you for prison.” She then hit and kicked him just enough to knock him out…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.