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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
After we had finished looking all over the house and not finding anything, Crystal came to me and asked if she could show me something in the cellar. So, I followed her to the cellar, Sky and Kitty coming with us. “Do you see anything interesting?” she asked me as we stood looking at those old chests. I looked, as did Sky and Kitty, but could not see anything interesting. “Do I get a hint?” I asked Crystal. “Look at the dust,” she said smiling. “Dust?” I asked.
Now, I looked at the dust thinking there must be something in that dust, like some obscure fingerprints perhaps. But I could see nothing, and I think Crystal noticed that too. “Here,” she said, and she wiped her fingers on the floor, then on one of the chests. “The dust is a different color,” I said. “Correct!” she said excitedly, “In reality, the dust should be the same color, or very close to it, but this dust is very different in color to this dust. That’s because the dust on the trunks isn’t real, it’s fake dust. You can get little machines that blow fake dust around on objects to cover up something or make something appear older than it is, or whatever.
The dust on the floor is real, except where some fake dust has been used to cover up footprints, or more precisely, an area that has been lightly swept before walking on it so footprints won’t be noticeable. If the lighting was brighter, like upstairs, this would all be much more noticeable.” “That means someone has been in these old trunks,” I said, “I would say that means they were hiding something.” Crystal had brought her cat, Bandit, down with her as well, plus I had Snow with me, so we let them sniff the trunks.
Both cats screeched and said that human people were in four of the trunks. Bandit also said that skinnies were in 3 other trunks. Skinny is the name that Muffin originally gave to a skeleton that she had found, and the name stuck. Then it was passed on to the other cats. “Mac, come here please,” I said, right away”. He and Jazzy plus some of the girls came running downstairs. Strangely, the cats didn’t notice that there were humans in these trunks when we were down here before, but, they also didn’t go over to sniff at the trunks either so maybe that’s why.
After all, no one had been in those trunks for years and years, so why pay much attention to them? Good thing I have a team that likes to think. I should have thought about this myself. I guess my brain isn’t working too good right now. Jennifer is right, I should just coordinate, not get involved. Mac had the trunks open easily enough and sure enough, there were bodies in those 4 trunks. It was the caretaker and his family. Jazzy has seen a lot of dead bodies in her life, but never children and it bothered her so much she had to run back upstairs.
Mac said these people hadn’t been dead long and likely were put in those trunks the day before. But Jazzy was here then, so were we by early afternoon. However, Jazzy and her bodyguard Howard, plus two others she has here with her, had to leave for a while and come to meet us to guide us to the house. She didn’t want to give the address to me over the phone. So, it is likely those bodies were put in there while they were away, which was about an hour. That is likely when the new lock was put on the cellar door too.
However, the listening devices and cameras must have been put in before Jazzy came here, they would have taken longer. The next 3 trunks had skeletons in them, 2 adults and a child. The last 2 trunks had dishes and blankets in them, nothing unusual about that. Well, looks like we will have to call in the police now although that will really interfere with this case. But I don’t know what else to do, we can’t leave those bodies lying around for days, they will smell.
I had Jazzy call the police and they arrived quickly enough, along with ambulances to take the bodies away. There were the usual questions which we are all used to answering. Then Jazzy asked if we could stay on the job since she had hired us to help find the caretaker and his family and also to find out why someone is so interested in her house. The officer in charge said he would have to ask his superior to see if it was okay, and he would let us know. Off they went and we met in the living room again to talk things over. “It must be that man who wants to buy my house,” said Jazzy.
“I agree, he is the prime suspect at the moment,” I said, “but there could be two things going on at the same time here.” It was late afternoon and Jazzy decided to take us out to a nearby restaurant. While there, a gang showed up on motorcycles and came inside. There were 10 of these men and they were obviously quite interested in our girls. Two waitresses were just finishing bringing our meals to us and one of them spoke to me. “Those men are trouble,” she said, “I never like when they come in, they don’t leave us alone.”
“If they start to give you trouble,” I told her, “my girls will settle them down.” “You need tough men to handle them, not women,” she said, “best to leave them alone.” Then she did something odd, she put her arm around me and kissed my cheek. “Thank you for coming Steve,” she said smiling, “I knew you would.” Then she and the other waitress went back to the kitchen briefly, then over to the long table where the gang had sat down. I was watching to see what would happen. Sky, on the other hand, was watching me and trying to get my attention.
“Is that another old girlfriend?” she asked, “Do I need to tell Jennifer about her?” I wasn’t paying attention to her, however, just watching. The man sitting at the head of the table, likely the leader of the gang, couldn’t keep his hands off the waitress and it was obvious she didn’t like it. He then pulled her onto his lap, so I got up and headed over there. I first nodded to Sky and Mac to follow me. Sky told Melanie, Melissa, Alizea, Crystal and Cassie to come along as well.
“Hey, look, he brings more women for us!” said the leader, “But we need two more.” “Let her go,” I said very bluntly. “Oh, but she likes me,” he said laughing, “see, she likes to sit on my lap.” “She told you to stop and let go of her,” I said, “and I will say it just once more, let her go.” He then let her go and stood up slowly. Then he suddenly tried to punch me, but he missed as I ducked quickly.
Then, with a little electrical help, I punched him in the stomach and he sat down again. The man beside me was about to get up too, but Mac had a knife at his throat quickly. The girls took out knives as well. “Now, treat these waitresses properly,” I said. “Thank you Steve,” said that one waitress and she kissed my cheek again. We then went back to our tables…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Adding dust on the trunks shows a diabolical mind at work with much planning. Crystal was very observant and saw something that others had missed. The cats sure helped in locating the corpses.
The motorcycle gang are involved in the mystery and probably in sex trafficking. The one waitress is either the mystery woman or a second mystery. She obviously knew Steve by her kiss on his cheek and her addressing him by name.
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Yes, these people came prepared to hide their work. I wonder who those skeletons are? They would have been there a long time for the bodies to decompose so completely. Why did no one smell anything?
It does help having a large team so that little details are not overlooked. Crystal has been training for finding such details. Yes, the cats are good detectives too!
I agree, that motorcycle gang must be part of this and perhaps the restaurant owner too. Quite likely they handle sex trafficking and drugs for Schultz, or someone else. Mr. Schultz may not be the leader, just working on the leader’s behalf. Perhaps anyway.
That waitress was expecting me to come here and even thanked me for coming, though if she is the same woman at the cemetery, she never asked me to come here. She knows me so I must know her. Muffin would have remembered, I need to think some more about this. 🤔👩👻😼🕵️♂️
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The skeletons might have been killed elsewhere and their bones put in the trunks for a place to hide them.
Crystal is putting her detective details skills to good use, as are the cats.
The waitress might know you but you haven’t recovered from all the drugs given you in the last case.
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That’s a good point, now to find out who they are, or were. Yes, Crystal is working hard at learning new skills and using them! The cats are always a good addition to our working team.
I think you are right, those drugs are still affecting my brain which is not a good thing while on a case. I need to think straight.
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Steve needs to be detoxed from all the drugs he was given. It is hard to function when you are not thinking clearly.
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Yes, that is so true, those drugs are still affecting me and I should really be at home, but, this case is for Jazzy and I’m going to fight for her, though I do plan to stay on the side line for now.
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We’ll see where the sideline is for Steve. Probably in the limelight.
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Yep, I wouldn’t doubt that!
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🤣
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Good evening! Things are warmer here today. Not as warm as I prefer, but much warmer than you’re dealing with currently.
What is it with these biker gangs and mistreating women?😡
They seem to have a penchant for it! I guess it comes with that whole outlaw mentality!😠 I think you should teach them all a very memorable lesson they won’t forget! Starting with the leader!!
As for those dead bodies… well someone wants access to that house and they were in t he way. Your investigators better start digging quickly before there are more bodies to bury! 😉 (did you see what I did there?)🤔🤭
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I’m back, the nurse just left, she was late tonight.
Yes, they seem to think that women are meant to be their slaves, or something. Aari and the Black Wolves are the ones for the job of dealing with these gang types, and they will. However, there’s more to it than what we see, which we will find out tonight.
Yes, the caretakers were in the way and this was also a warning to Jazzy that it would be safer to sell then end up in a box. But Jazzy doesn’t like threats and never backs down. Yes, we don’t want more bodies to bury, especially not our own. Yes, I noticed, you know how to pick the digging jokes! How does this waitress know me and how did she know I would come?🤔👩👻😼🕵️♂️
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Obviously she wanted you there. Perhaps she’s engineering the quest to purchase the house knowing Jazzy would call on you to help?🤔 Better be careful 🧐
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Yes, she must have wanted me here, but does that mean she is friend or foe? Hmm, yes, we had better be careful, this could be a trap. But if she’s the same woman as at the cemetery, then she must be a friend. However, I don’t remember her as that woman. Always complications.🤔👩🕵️♂️
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Well, they do see. To multiply when you’re involved…🙄 Maybe she could have so insight to this mysterious buyer to?
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What, what do I involve? That is quite possible, maybe he comes into that restaurant sometimes too. Great way to find out information about people. Perhaps the buyer and the gang work together? Maybe the restaurant owner too. Perhaps even…hmm.
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Ah…. I’m beginning to smell a trail here. You might be on to something 🤔 (or maybe on something)🤭
Either way, good thinking on my part!
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Yes, there could very well be a connection here. Although, I still don’t know how she got to be at the cemetery, if it’s the same woman, and now here. Snow and Sir Night saw her at the cemetery, but none of the other cats did, which adds to the mystery. Of course, those two cats haven’t seen this waitress yet, maybe I will have to sneak one of the cats in to see the waitress.
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Good idea 💡 👏 don’t tell though. See if they recognize her on their own. That will be a convincing fact. Then you can set out to find out here origins also, perhaps she’s a human version of your talking cats? Only those she wants to see her can!🤔
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Hmm, that’s an interesting thought Dusty, maybe that’s why others don’t see her or hear her. What happens in tonight’s chapter would fit that thought!
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Yeah…. old Barney Fife does it again!!😁 I coukd be an investigator 😁 Yep solved it in three chapters!!
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Not solved yet, lots more work to be done! But we’re gettin’ there!
Well, time to sign off again, the next chapter has just been posted, let’s see if you can figure out some more! Have a good night Dusty!
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Okie dokie 😁 Sleep well 😴
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Hi Dusty! Are you around? My nurse just left so checking in with you.
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