The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Carmeline. Chapter 11. Betrayal.

As I was sitting in the library looking at some photos that Cristy sent to my laptop, Jennifer came walking in. “Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked me. “Don’t I live here anymore?” I asked with a worried look. “That’s not what I meant you goofball,” she said, hugging me. “Samantha said I could leave,” I told her. “And you walked to our bedroom without clothes?” she asked again. “No, I’m wearing clothes,” I said. Jennifer looked at me. “You are going to get Misty in trouble one of these days,” she said.

“How do you know it was Misty?” I asked. “Who else was around at the time?” she asked in return. “Hmm, you have a point,” I said, “anyway, I have been looking at these photos that Cristy gave me, I want you to look at them too.” I then asked Cristy to lower the screen so we can get a bigger look at these photos. “Wow, her place is a real castle,” said Jennifer. “Not really,” I told her, “she had it built, patterned after a real castle. She has this nice high wall all around the castle too.”

“And it’s extremely well guarded,” said Sapphire, “there are large machine guns in each of the four turrets at the corners of that wall, plus one on each side of that big gate. It would be suicide to try and attack that place.” “Anyone watching this place for us?” I asked. “Yes, I sent Aoife, Emily, Charlotte, Ivy, Alizea and Valeria,” said Jennifer, “I know what to do too, my dear husband, although I didn’t realize she lived in a place like that. I didn’t look at the photos until now, I have been too worried about you.”

“I realize you know what to do, which is why I leave you in charge when I’m away,” I said, smiling, and hugging her. “Uh huh,” she said and giggled, “but obviously we can’t just walk into that place and using our snipers would be sort of murder, am I right?” “Hmm, normally I would agree with that, but, this is different,” I said, “those two are dangerous and need to be stopped.” I then asked Hannah, Galyna, Yana, Victoria and Jazzy to join us in the library. “Not Celestine?” asked Jennifer. “Is she here?” I asked.

“Sky can get her for us,” she said, “it might be a good idea.” “Sky,” I said and she appeared dripping wet, “you’re wet.” “I was swimming!” she said, staring at me. “Oh, sorry, I need you to get Celestine for me, right away please,” I said, smiling. “Good thing you said please, and smiled,” she said and off she went, returning in record time. “You can stay and help us plan the demise of Philly and Harold if you want,” I said to Sky. She smiled and sat on my lap. Jennifer began laughing and the others joined in, loud and long. Sigh. That’s twice now. I need a vacation. Anyway, once the girls settled down, we talked and made plans.

Meanwhile… “I don’t believe it!” yelled Philly, “Colin was arrested and charged with sex trafficking, drug smuggling and murder. And, Sugar disappeared along with Carmeline’s gems. That same gang that got Carmeline out of prison, the Wildcats, were in Miami at the time Sugar disappeared.” “I thought the Wildcats were guarding Carmeline?” asked Harold. “They were, but all those guards disappeared and so did Carmeline,” said Philly, “and my guess is they took her to Miami with them and rescued Sugar and now they are all gone.

I don’t know how they did that, but they did it. Somehow they found those trackers we embedded into Carmeline’s skin, so now we can’t even find her, they could be anywhere now.” “Well, all we have to do is look for those Wildcats,” said Harold. “They won’t stay with those girls you idiot!” she exclaimed, “They took those girls somewhere and then went on their way.” “Yeah, I guess that’s probably true,” he said, “well, we don’t really need those gems anyway, like you said, my inheritance will make us billionaires soon.”

“I’m sorry to say this Harold,” said Philly, “but I don’t really need you anymore, so, good bye.” She then quickly pulled out her knife and stabbed him. She then called some of her men to take his body out to sea and dump it overboard. Our girls were watching as four men came out of the castle carrying Harold’s body and they took some nice photos, then called me about it. I then called the police who met the men at the marina where Philly keeps her two yachts docked.

The men were arrested and one of them talked, telling the police that Philly killed him and told them to toss the body in the sea. Not long after that Philly arrived at the same marina. She was planning to take her larger yacht and head to Spain where she has a villa overlooking the sea. However, she was arrested and charged with murder. After Philly left, our girls went to work and used drones with explosives to attack those towers where the machine guns were positioned, making it safer for the police to enter later.

Then they left and went to Athens where our small jet was waiting to pick them up and fly them back to Paris where I told them they could spend a couple of days relaxing. Several days later we were all back at the chateau, including Carmeline and Sugar. They both asked if they could stay with us and join the Investigators so they will soon be starting our tests and training program, along with some of the other girls that have come to us recently. Carmeline’s inheritance seems to have disappeared though.

We tried searching for it everywhere but have been unable to find it. Carmeline said she didn’t care anyway and would rather not have all that money. She wants to sell most of her gems and just keep a few that she likes. Well, this case ended in a way we didn’t expect, which is okay. We did find out that there was someone else involved in all of this too, a man that used the name of Mr. Diamond. His name was found on Philly’s laptop and apparently she also referred to him as her boss, which was interesting.

But there was no contact information and the police were unable to find out anything about him, and neither could we. Perhaps we will meet in the future, but I hope not. I’m thinking that the inheritance money went to that man, which is why we couldn’t find it. Well, I guess that is all for this case, though I wonder if Philly will actually end up in prison. The police in Miami also found an odd gadget at Colin’s home, actually in a shed out back. It turned out to be what Misty had suggested earlier. Right now it is time for us to relax until the next case comes along.

The End, but a new case will begin soon. ©2026 Steve McLeod.