The Investigators, Inc. The Missing Jewels Case. Chapter 7. Playing Games.

Kat came in to visit me in the clinic after I woke up. “Jennifer is rather sneaky,” I said, “she should be on Misty’s team. She would be a perfect fit, she’s a great sneaker.” “Well, you did deserve that,” she said, “you were rather jumpy and you need Samantha to look at you.” “Samantha is busy with the girls,” I said, “and they are more important than me. If she tries to waste time in here I will order her to leave.” “You seem to forget Steve,” she said, “Samantha out ranks you in the clinic. She gives the orders, you obey them, and that is an order from me. You are in the clinic, so that means what?”

“Okay, you and Jennifer are in charge,” I said, “I know the rules.” “If that is the case,” she said frowning, “then why do you keep disobeying those rules that YOU wrote.” She deliberately put the emphasis on the YOU, and she was right, I too often forget the rules that I wrote. “Now,” she said, “here is a copy of our rule book, you have lots of time to read it and I expect you to read the whole thing while you’re in here. It’s not big, and you can’t leave until you have read it, and when Samantha says you can leave.” She smiled.

“How about a little kiss for your former husband?” I asked, “I need one right now.” “I’m not sure I should do that when Jennifer isn’t here,” she said. “She won’t mind,” I said, “you know that.” So she did. “You sneaky sneak!” I said. Jennifer laughed. “I still don’t know how you can tell us apart from a kiss,” she said, still laughing. She then left to go visit the girls. A little later Misty looked in the door, then came in quickly and closed the door. “I just wanted to visit for a while,” she said.

Then she took a couple of donuts from her pocket, wrapped in foil. “They’re fresh,” she said, “but I could only get us 2 each, and that wasn’t easy, everyone watches me so closely now.” I chuckled. “You’re still the best sneaker of all,” I said, munching on my second donut. Just then the door opened and Celestine peeked in, then she came in quickly and closed the door. “Fresh, hot coffee,” she said, “plus 2 donuts for each of us, it was all I could get. I saw Misty coming this way, otherwise there would be three each.”

While we were talking the door opened and a little head peeked in. Then she came in quickly and hid behind the chair. When the girls left, Steffie came out and jumped on the bed. “Hi daddy!” she exclaimed, “Look, donuts!” Misty was about to come back in when she heard Steffie call me daddy and that caused her to stop in her tracks and listen carefully at the door. “Hey little girl,” I said, “what’s with this calling me daddy?”

“Well, Erika calls you daddy,” she said, “and Mandy too. I want to call you daddy too, I need a daddy.” “Yes, that’s true, they do,” I said, “but I adopted them, so that makes me their daddy.” “You can dot me too!” she said excitedly, “and mommy told me a secret too, wanna hear it?” “Okay, what is it?” I asked. Poor Misty, she had her ear right against the door trying hard to hear what Steffie said, but she couldn’t. Then a hand landed on Misty’s shoulder. “AAAAAAAA!!!” yelled Misty. “YAAAA!” yelled someone else as she was getting flipped over Misty and landing with a thud on the floor!

The door then opened and in came Misty, looking rather sheepish, and Jennifer, with a big smile. “Wow, did I have a great ride!” exclaimed Jennifer. “You must have sneaked up behind Misty and touched her shoulder,” I said. “Yep, sure did,” she said, “and, I caught this sneaker listening intently at your door for some reason. Now I see why.” Out popped Steffie from under the blanket. “I heared screaming and got scared,” she said, “so I hide under the blanket.”

“I see donut crumbs too,” said Jennifer, “you know donuts are not allowed in here Steffie.” “I just wanted to make dad, I mean, Uncle Steve, feel better,” she said, “so I bring donuts and hugs!” “Okay, you’re forgiven,” said Jennifer, hugging Steffie, “now, back to school for you.” Off she ran. “That girl is fast!” said Jennifer. “Yep,” said Misty, “almost as fast as a ghost. Um, I brought donuts too.” “And a kiss,” I said, “on the cheek though.” “I suppose Celestine brought donuts too?” asked Jennifer. She sighed.

“On another note,” I said, “we should maybe let our three guests go back home, we don’t need them anymore and they just might lead us to someone else. They must have more women hidden somewhere, if we watch them, we might find out where.” “Good thought,” said Jennifer, “I will get Sky to take them back.” I called Sky at that point. “Why are you dressed like that?” I asked. “Because I was in bed,” she said, “it’s night in Australia, night is for sleeping, remember?” “But you’re a ghost,” said Misty. “I still like to sleep,” she said.

I told her what we wanted her to do and Jennifer put them to sleep first, then Sky took them back and left them in the parking lot of the hotel. After an hour they woke up and called Hugh to pick them up. Hugh was not impressed with his brother for giving up his part of the combination for the vault. “So we lost what was in the vault,” said Bradley, “we still have our bank account which is more than the vault.” “I have news for you Bradley,” said Hugh, “somehow they found a way to clear out our account, there is nothing left. We are going to have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Yeah, Vanessa won’t be too happy,” said Bradley. “Vanessa is dead,” said Hugh. “Oh,” said Bradley, “that means we have to deal directly with Mr. Flynn. He won’t be happy at all.” “Well, at least we didn’t lose our merchandise,” said Hugh, “if that happened Mr. Flynn would be taking us out on his yacht for a one way ocean cruise. So we stay away from location M for a while. Those Black Wolves are tough and they will likely be watching us for a while.”

“Hey, that’s where I live too,” said Bradley, “I have to go there.” “You will stay away from there Bradley,” said Hugh, “stay in a hotel for a while.” “What do I use for money?” he asked. “Fine, you can stay with me for a few days,” said Hugh. “But I need clothes,” he said, “you and I are not exactly the same size.” “Okay, we use plan X to get you back to location M, then you stay there,” said Hugh.

Three taxis showed up and three men, all the same size got in, one to each taxi. The taxis let them off at a club, but one of the men went out the back way and into a waiting delivery truck. This went on several more times with Bradley finally making it back to location M. Aari had men following each of the taxis, but they lost Bradley. But, Steffie had already told me that her mom liked to play hop, skip and jump…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.