The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Jazzy’s House. Chapter 4. Friskie.

After returning to our table Jazzy stared at me. “Well?” she asked, “Are you going to tell us who this mystery girlfriend is Steve?” “I have no idea who she is,” I replied, “I don’t remember ever seeing her before.” “You must know her Steve,” said Sky, “I mean, she obviously knows you and was expecting you to come here.” “Yes, I know,” I said, “but I really don’t understand that part and I really don’t know who she is.” “You went to her rescue quickly enough,” said Jazzy smiling. “I would do that for any woman,” I told her.

“He has a point,” said Sky, “that is one of the nice things about Steve.” We soon left and went back to Jazzy’s place for the night. “Do you think we left too early Steve?” asked Jazzy, “Those gangsters will just start tormenting those waitresses again.” “Oh, I don’t think we have to worry about that,” I said. I couldn’t tell her, but I had communicated with Carine to let Aari know about that waitress and to make sure she stays safe. So, after we were gone, Aari and some of the Black Wolves came into the restaurant and sat down. That gang was too interested in those waitresses to even notice.

That one particular waitress finally broke free and practically ran over to the tables where the Black Wolves were sitting. “Don’t worry about that gang,” said Aari, “we are friends of Steve, if any of them touch you again, we’ll make sure they stop.” The waitress smiled and said she would be right back with menus and coffee. But, her boss was waiting for her. “You look after Klaus and his friends,” he said, “I will look after those other people.” “They want me, not you,” she said. He then slapped her and told her to remember who owns her. Carine saw what happened and told Aari.

The waitress was soon on that gang leaders lap again, just as the owner arrived at the Black Wolves’ tables. Aari stood up, along with Rock, Bear and Oskar. “I don’t like the way you treat your waitresses,” said Aari, “I said that waitress serves us, you can serve those dogs at the other table.” Then they went over to the gang’s table. “Let her go,” said Aari, “and I don’t say things twice.” The man then pushed the waitress away, nearly knocking her to the floor and then stood up.

He was taller and bigger than Aari, but Rock stepped over and smiled at the man, then punched him hard in the stomach. The man groaned and fell over backward onto the floor. The man next to Aari was about to stand up, but Aari gave him a hard back handed punch to the side of his head. The owner was now there yelling at them to leave or he would call the police. Then Aari pulled out some money and handed the owner 500 euros. “This should take care of any damages,” he said, “and this (another 500 euros) to allow this charming waitress to serve us tonight.”

“Oh, yes, yes, that can certainly be arranged,” he said, quickly putting the money in his pocket, “I’m sure Klaus won’t mind giving up this one waitress just for this evening.” About 20 minutes later that gang, named the Dog Dragons, left the restaurant. “You should be very careful about them,” said the waitress, “there are many more of them and they are very cruel.” Then she began to cry. “I am in a lot of trouble,” she said, “can you tell Steve I will visit him tonight, but not to say anything to anyone, please.” “Yes, I will tell him,” said Carine, “and don’t worry, Steve will help you, and so will we.”

Meanwhile, as we sat in the living room at Jazzy’s, I asked her why she only had 3 of her men with her, she usually travels with a dozen or more. She told me that most of her men are on other “errands” for her at the moment, including her main bodyguards. “I hate to say this Jazzy,” I said, “but I don’t really trust those bodyguards you have with you this time, I just sense that they might be trouble.” “Well, I’m not going to doubt you Steve,” she said, “you seem to have a way of sensing trouble, though I don’t know how. I will be careful what I say around them from now on.”

“I would like Kristina to stay with you at night,” I said, “and no arguing, you hired me to help, and that includes keeping you safe.” I smiled when I said that though. “Okay, I will give in to you about that,” she said. Carine had already communicated with me that this waitress would visit me tonight which I thought was rather strange. “You are daydreaming again my dear husband,” said Celestine, “care to share?” “He’s probably dreaming about that pretty waitress again,” said Angel smiling, “am I correct?”

“Hmm? What?” I asked as I suddenly dropped back into reality. “Have you thought of her name yet?” asked Celestine. “What? Whose name?” I asked, “Oh, you mean the waitress? No, I haven’t.” “Wow, she really has your attention Steve,” said Celestine, giggling. Everyone else started laughing too, how odd. We all went to bed around 11pm and I laid there for a while trying to think of how this waitress was going to visit me tonight. While I was thinking about this I had a flashback to that time at the cemetery as I stood up and looked at the woman who had been talking to me.

Then the picture suddenly changed to the waitress, but they looked different, or did they? I fell asleep soon after. About 1am I was awakened by a woman kissing me. “Don’t be afraid Steve,” she said, “it’s just me. Hi Snow, hi Sir Night, do you remember me?” Meowy= “Yep, you cemetery ghost.” Meowser= “Me remember too.” She was sitting beside me on the bed. “Don’t worry Steve,” she said, “the others won’t wake up while we talk.”

This waitress didn’t know that Sky and Angel are ghosts and most likely are just pretending to be asleep right now. “Steve, I need your help,” she said, “I don’t have much time and need to be back before my owner misses me. I am in a lot of trouble.” “Why don’t you just leave this guy, whoever he is?” I asked, “No one owns you, just stay here and we will protect you.” “I wish it was that easy,” she said, “but first, don’t let your friend Jazzy sell to Emil Schultz, fine businessman, also known as Emil Schmidt part owner of a large criminal organization with a man named Koffman.

He wants this house to fill it with women for the desires of men. He is very cruel and abuses women all the time. He will beat them and torture them, to him they are just a means of making a lot of money. He also wants to use this place for crooked gambling, a way to trap influential people to do his bidding. It will also be his headquarters for gun smuggling and drugs. That gang, the Dog Dragons, are his strong arm for sex trafficking, drugs and extortion.

Mr. Schultz owns me and I can’t leave because he has my 5 year old daughter. He will kill her if I don’t do his bidding. Please rescue my daughter Steve, please, then I can leave and go…wherever.” She was crying when she pleaded with me. “We will get your daughter from Schultz,” I said, “and the two of you will come home with us, please. Do you know where he keeps her? Also, will you let me know your name and your daughter’s name?” “Do you remember a little girl named Friskie?” she asked, “That’s me, I was just 10 back then and you used to babysit me.” Then she told me a couple of things that only Friskie would know…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.