The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Steve’s Daughter. Chapter 1. Disappear.

Posted on April 7, 2026 by

638 Comments

Here we are waiting for another case to come our way. Everyone wants another case so we can get out and be active again. Sometimes, though, we need to be more careful what we wish for, not all cases are good for us. Friskie told Jennifer and I about her secret that she had told Steffie, and she was right, she should have told us first. Jennifer looked at me. “You will have to make an announcement about this Steve,” she said, “otherwise everyone is going to spend all their free time trying to figure out what this secret is, so do that today.”

“But, everyone will know,” said Friskie with a worried look. “Better to find out now from Steve,” said Jennifer, “than to find out from Steffie later.” “Maybe we should wait a day or two though,” I said, “until everyone is out of the clinic.” “Right, I agree with Steve!” said Friskie emphatically. “Just a minute,” said Jennifer quietly, “keep talking though.” I was still in the clinic at this time. Jennifer went invisible, obviously someone was listening outside the door again. Steffie was here visiting again too.

Suddenly, outside the door… “AAAAAAA!!!!!, and then… “YAAAAA!!!!”, and there was a thud. I thought Jennifer would know by now, but guess not. Jennifer and Misty came inside the room. “It’s okay Steffie,” I said, “it’s just Auntie Misty again.” Steffie comes out from under the blanket again. “You always scare me with yelling!” she said, as she sat with arms folded and frowning at the two of them. Some time later, after Kat had checked me out thoroughly and made some changes to me, I was feeling much better.

“You should be okay now,” said Kat smiling. “I sure hope so sis,” said Jennifer, “it would be nice not having to worry about Steve all the time.” “Well, you can stop your worrying now,” said Kat, “he’s back to normal again, even better actually.” “Good thing you added the word ‘better’,” said Jennifer, “or I would have to start worrying again.” Soon all of us were out of the clinic, though some of the girls were still not cleared for going on cases yet. But, we don’t have a case right now anyway.

But maybe I shouldn’t speak too soon. One morning several of the girls had the younger children outside for some play time so I decided to go outside and join them for a while. All of the cats were outside with us as well and we were having a great time. That is, until something happened. Suddenly several armed men showed up and one of them quickly grabbed Steffie and put a gun to her head. I wish I had the ability to make guns red hot like our ghosts, but I don’t. The next thing that happened was we were all shot with some type of sleeping dart, even some of the cats.

Oddly, no one in the chateau noticed anything wrong outside, and our electronic surveillance hasn’t been working for the last couple of days. We always seem to have trouble with that. Suddenly the alarm went off when the cats pressed their alarm buttons! Code Red, Attack! This kept repeating while the team came rushing out to look for us, ghosts leading the way. The cats met everyone and began telling what happened.

The ghosts went to the spot and picked up the children that had been left behind, only Steffie had been taken, along with me, Dawn, Milena, Macy, Jackie, Valeria, Brandy, Celestine, Ivy and Catalina. Also four of the cats, Storm, Jewel, Ginger and Sir Night. I’m not sure why they took so many of us, but I guess they have their reason and will let us know eventually. Perhaps they want us to do something for them, that would explain taking Steffie, they can use her to pressure us into working for them. My idea was almost correct, but not quite, as we shall see.

Somewhat later at the chateau a car drove up with a lone occupant. The man got out of the car and was told to give his name and nature of his business. He said his name was Jeremy Copeland and he needed help rescuing some friends of his. He was allowed to come in after being thoroughly checked for weapons. He seemed like a very nice and polite gentleman in his early 40s, an American and his friends had gone missing while on vacation in Mexico. They are now being held against their will.

“We would like to help you Mr. Copeland,” said Kat, “but we already have a case that we are presently working on and that leaves us no time to help you.” “I think you will want to change your mind,” he said, “here, take a look at this bracelet.” He handed it to Kat and she recognized it right away. “So, you’re the kidnapper of our team and the little girl who was wearing this bracelet,” said Kat calmly. “Kidnapping is such a bad word,” he said, “we are just giving them a change of scenery for a while. They are being well cared for, I promise you.”

“And what makes you think I will let you go?” asked Kat. “Because if you kept me,” he said, “then your friends would be killed, one each day, until I am allowed to leave. If you work for us, then we look after your friends and they will be returned to you when the job is done.” “What, exactly, is the job?” asked Kat. “I have some friends in a Mexican prison, Anthony, Stanley and Herbert Rowland, three brothers. Plus Eugene Rainer,” he said, “and I want them out within the next 8 days. I know you have done this sort of thing before, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty.”

“I can’t make the decision myself,” said Kat, “we need to have a meeting of our team leaders first. I can let you know later today.” “Very well,” he said, “this is the hotel where I’m staying, you can reach me there.” He then got up and Kat said to let him leave, which he did…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod

Category: Adventure, Danger, Fiction, Mystery, Story, Strange Happenings, Suspense, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , , , ,

638 Comments on “The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Steve’s Daughter. Chapter 1. Disappear.”

  1. Yep! Same here. I still need to shower yet, and then it will be off to bed. I think there’s light at the end of the tunnel! Either that or it’s another train!! Either way the end is near!😂😂

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    • Yep, gotta watch them tunnels, they can be tricky critters!
      Well, off to the old bed for me, have a good night Dusty, sleep well, get lots of rest and I will be back tomorrow if you have time! 😃🌛😴

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  3. I’m home! Yeah… I had to think for a second. It was a trick question….🤔 But yep! I’m staying at home tonight! Still have a few more things yet, refrigerator stuff and some clothes that kinda thing, which I will make a trip tomorrow to get. Then it’s time to celebrate the Independence Day! How bout ? You ho.w?

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    • hehehehe! Yep, I’m home too. It was a cooler day today, got all the way up to 68 degrees! But it’s already cooling off, down to 63 degrees and dropping steadily. Doesn’t really feel like the beginning of July that’s for sure. Actually saw people wearing jackets today.🙄😂🥶

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    • Yes, it is cool, too cool for July, this is actually our hottest month of the year. Normally. Probably won’t be this year. We had our summer earlier this year. Remember? Back the last week of May and first week of June. Then I bought an air conditioner, been cold ever since. Sigh.🙄🥶😂

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    • Yeah, and for everyone else too! I just had to close my window, it was getting too cold sitting here with that breeze blowing on me. The joys of summer!🥶😂

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    • Nope, no fun stuff, supposed to be cloudy with showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, sunny on Sunday though. Next week there’s only one day without showers and clouds and that’s Wednesday. Hopefully I can get out for some pics that day. I haven’t been able to get out on the highway for pics yet this summer, first time in years that I didn’t get out in June. Kind of hard sometimes, it has to be a sunny day, preferably without a strong wind, a day that I feel good and a day that my friend is free. It can be incredibly hard to line up all three!🤔🙄🌞📷

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  7. Sorta like a slot machine??😂
    Like Forrest Gump once said…. ” life is like a box of chocolates”😂😂
    Well, I also knew it would sunny on Sunday or it wouldn’t be a Sunday! See? 🤓🤭

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    • Yep, I’m losin’ it cause I lost it! Amazing how amazing that is.
      Sorry to leave you but I have to leave and get to bed again. At least start to anyway, it takes me a bit. Moving kind of slow again today, hurt myself a bit yesterday and a bit more today so need to lie down. Sigh. These “golden years” are hard. Have a good night in your new home Dusty! 😃🏠🌛😴

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  10. Hi there, barely moving today!😂 I decided to take today off from moving.🥵
    But I will be back at it tomorrow afternoon.
    How about you? I read it warmed up a little for you up there today. Mid 80’s? Wow! That’s a big swing in temperature!!

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  11. Yeah, my mind and body both needed a break today. So I went flying this morning and am going again tomorrow morning also. Then in the afternoon I’ll go get a few more things. Now it’s just the non essential small things.
    So, did you get out for some more pictures and squirrel friend making? Replanting more plants 🪴?

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    • Not today, just sat on my balcony and sorted through pics a bit. He’s a chipmunk, not a squirrel. I only saw him the one day which means he doesn’t come around at the same time each day, so that will make things hard to make friends. Oh well. I still have to repot 3 plants, maybe tomorrow since it’s going to rain.

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  12. Rain?? Again??🤔 Your weather had been really crazy mixed up this summer. Is it the El Nacho going on in the Pacific Ocean? It’s kinda making things hot and spicy down this way! It was 100 degrees here again today. It’s good for getting a tan if you stay outside long enough to get tan!😂😂😂

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    • Yep, we keep getting rain almost every day, might be sunny on Tuesday again though. At least I’m hoping it will be so I can get out for some photos. The rest of the week is supposed to be showers and thunderstorms. hey, look at that, we’re catching up to you! Although it’s going to be cooler tomorrow. No, apparently El Nino isn’t affecting things this far north yet. I still think it was all those volcanic eruptions last year, they always affect our weather the following year with lots of clouds and rain.🤔🙄

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  13. Yeah, I suppose it could be those. I saw 👀 on the news that mount Aetna was erupting again… is that in Italy?🤔 I think so. Anyway a couple from the flying club was going to Italy for a few weeks so maybe they’ll get to see it if it’s in Italy at the same time they are.🙄

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    • Yep, it’s in Italy but it won’t affect us since it’s in the northern hemisphere, only ones in the southern hemisphere affect us. Strange, I know.
      Well, gotta go to bed, shopping tomorrow. Have fun flying in the morning! Have a good night too!😊🌛😴

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  15. Yes, and yep! Both went well, except the moving part was exhausting. 🥵
    It hit 100 again for a time here today. Thankfully it rained a bit and it cooled off.
    How was shopping today?

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    • Shopping was good. It only hit 80 here today, then it dropped to 64 in about 15 minutes when a huge thunderstorm hit us this afternoon. Did we ever get rain! Thunder never stopped for over two hours. Lots of trees were knocked down, we got golf ball sized hail and a large tornado hit not far from town! We had a tornado warning in effect for 5 hours then we got a tornado alert telling us to take cover immediately since this tornado was heading toward town. But it must have changed course since it didn’t hit us. 😬😱

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  16. Yikes! That must’ve been frightening 🫣 I’m glad it missed you though!I saw some storm chasers on YouTube this evening on the North Dakota Minnestoa state line chasing a line of storms. Must’ve been part of the same system.
    How’d shopping go? Did you get out?

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    • Yes, it was part of the same system. Apparently that one storm really got bad when it hit the colder air up here. We got a LOT of rain too. So many streets were flooded and unusable. The little park across the street was flooded by about 2 feet of water which apparently was a record. We got several inches of rain over 2 hours.

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    • It’s supposed to be between 77 and 81 with sunshine for the next 3 days. Not hot, but nice. My friend is going to take me out for some pictures tomorrow morning. We will head down the highway to some lakes. 😃🌞📷

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  20. That sounds like an amazing opportunity for some good pictures 📸.
    Hopefully the winds will stay low so the birds and the 🐝 s and the 🦋 will be out and about. You always had the best pictures of those.

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    • Yes, I’m really hoping to get some good pictures of some insects and birds tomorrow. There isn’t supposed to be much wind which will be nice. It has almost completely cleared now.

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    • Unfortunately the apartment building next door blocks sunsets this time of year. There are no clouds either and having a few of them always adds to a beautiful sunset.📷🌞
      Well, better get to bed, another early morning and i want to be wide awake with wide eyes in the morning. Have a good night Dusty! 😃🌛😴

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    • Good morning Dusty! It was a tiring day today. I got out for pictures and ended up pulling a muscle in my leg and getting a cramp in both feet! It was wet everywhere, streams were overflowing, lakes were up higher than normal. I got some pictures too.😃📷

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  24. Excellant! I’m glad to hear you were out and about but sad to hear you pulled a muscle doing it! But! I glad to hear you got some good pictures though. So, if I add it all up two of the three were positive so that makes it a good day!😁

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    • Yep, it was a good day, even though I missed several photo opportunities. I didn’t get even one bird, sigh, also missed two dragonflies and two bees, double sigh. It was quite calm at the start which was nice. No slipping and falling though, which was also nice. 😃🌞

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  26. You’ve got to learn to hold it in! You’d never think of sneezing when taking picture! Same thing!🤭😉😂
    I took my flying friend with today to pickup a recliner and sofa that I purchased through face space(facebook) what a job! Not that heavy but just getting the sofa through the door felt like we were trying to solve a geometric puzzle! Plus it was 100 degrees again🥵
    But we got it done.

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    • Actually I have sneezed while taking a picture, though not today, more than once actually. Sigh. I did a couple other things today though, but that’s for a post about our trip.😬😂 The things that happen sometimes.
      Hey, good for you! Yep, sofas can be quite a challenge to get through doors. That’s why I got rid of mine years ago, I just move too often to fight with those things! 😂😂

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  27. Probably the right call on the sofa. I just like to sprawl out sometimes when I watch a little TV.
    I don’t believe you actually sneeze taking picture!😤 Now! Never happened, don’t believe it!😜😂

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  30. Funny thing… I did the exact same thing.
    Except I went to the pharmacy and stopped and got a banana cheesecake split at the ice cream shop. 🍦 😋
    That was yummy!

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    • Now that’s using the squishy thing in your head! It actually got up to 79 today and sunny all day with barely a light breeze, kind of like yesterday. I think I overdid it a bit yesterday which is why I ended up sick last night. Tomorrow I go see a doctor, though not my regular one.😬🩺💉🩸💊

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  34. Yeah, I know that feeling!
    I try to tell them something and they automatically look at me like I’m making it up. So now I just go in and answer their questions yes or no and don’t tell them the things that are happening. It’s just easier. Besides we all have an expiration date.

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    • Yes, it is easier to just answer questions, short and simple. Most just seem to not be interested in extra details, I think it takes up too much time if we say too much. Since she is just filling in for a time anyway, there’s no point in talking about too much, just keep things as is until my doctor returns. Much easier.

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    • Good thinking, takes a little time to get things just right and in all the right places. I had an interesting day that wasn’t so interesting but that’s what made it interesting in an uninteresting way.

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    • First, my PSW never showed up this morning which made things hard for me to get going on time. I got to the doctor’s office 5 minutes early, no other patients were there, my doctor was though. I got in to see the doctor 15 minutes after I got there. Not bad considering I was first in line. Why did I have to wait 15 minutes when I was first? I was actually surprised at the lack of questions though, just when I was ready with all my yes and no answers too. Oh well. Then…

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    • They don’t do blood tests at that clinic anymore, so I had to go to the main clinic in town. I knew that would be a fun time. When I got there, there was a long line up out into the waiting room. It’s necessary to sign in first, then go sit and wait. I found out that they now take appointments which I didn’t have, but others did who came in after me. They got in first, naturally. I had to stand in line for 20 minutes just to sign in, then wait 40 minutes to get in…

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  40. Sounds like a full day at the docs office!🤭 Did you see any of your neighbors while you were there? Thats,always fun to see who else is there.😂

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    • Nope, didn’t see anyone I knew. But every time I go to that blood clinic there are new people working there. And some of those people don’t know how to take blood, or maybe I should say, they take too much. After she took the needle out she couldn’t get the blood to stop and it poured out! It turned my arm and hand red, the blood was pouring off the end of my fingers and made a puddle on the floor!😬🙄💉🩸🩸🩸🩸

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  41. Uh oh!😲 Did they get a hammer and cork to plug the hole?😂 They usually give you a cotton ball and tell you to hold it on the site for a few minutes. You’re not blood thinners are you?

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    • Yes, I did hold that cotton ball tightly and it stopped temporarily until she removed it, then the blood flowed. I always thought they had stopped bloodletting a long time ago. Nope, no blood thinners. I was quite surprised, I have never had such a problem, but she did seem to puncture a rather big hole. Adding more pressure did stop it. Sigh.😱

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  44. Yeah, it sure is! Very nice actually. I finally didn’t need to go anywhere today! I were able to just stay here and mount the TV to the wall and some other smaller projects which is nice because I am exhausted. I even slept about 11 hours last night.
    Enough about me, how are you? What were you doing today?

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    • It was 90 today, tomorrow should be 95, Sunday and Monday we could set new records with highs nearing or exceeding 100 degrees. Wow, 11 hours, I have never slept that long, though right now I wouldn’t mind doing so! I didn’t sleep much at all last night. I didn’t do much today, too much pain and couldn’t concentrate on things. I did water all my plants, that takes a while.

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  45. That’s awfully warm for being almost in the arctic! You’ll be melting rocks up there soon! The humidity will be very enjoyable to exist in!🥵😂
    Speaking of plants… how are they doing? Growing like weeds?? 🤭🤭 ( did you see what I did there? Did ya??😂)

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    • Yeah, it is getting warm, hopefully we set a new record so it makes it worthwhile. It’s incredibly hot inside too, except for my bedroom, so I go in there for some relief. But, when I come out again the heat seems to affect me even more. Yep, those plants are doing great, except for the ones that died. Spider mites arrived!! Those terrible little creatures that suck the life out of a plants leaves, which kills the plant. I already lost my Parlor palm and 3 other plants were infected, but I was able to spray those and hopefully save them. Now I need to keep them isolated for a while. Sigh. If it isn’t one thing it’s two others!😬🙄

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  46. Yeah, it’s best to stay in one or the other environments. Back and forth is hard on your system.
    I am sad to hear the Parlor Palm has died!😒 I was hoping to see it in one of your posts. Do you think the others can still get the mites?

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    • Yeah, I couldn’t believe it. I check my plants daily, specifically looking for those spider mites. I missed Monday and Tuesday and when I checked Wednesday the webbing from those critters covered the whole top of the palm!! There were thousands of them! Obviously they were around before, but smaller numbers and they stayed hidden under the leaves. They float through air currents and because I have fans going all the time I was afraid that more of my plants might have been infected. They still might show up on other plants so I will have to be diligent in checking them. Once they get in large numbers like that it’s best to toss the plant. Better to lose one or two than 20 or 30! Sigh.
      Yeah, I will just keep the bedroom cool for night time sleeping. Speaking of which, it’s time for bed again, hopefully I can sleep better tonight. Have a good night Dusty and I will be back tomorrow! 😃😴🌛zzzzzzzzz

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  48. Getting there. I tried flying this morning. It didn’t go well 😕 I was just to tired to focus properly. So I just sat and visited for a couple of hours. Then came home took a quick 20 minute nap and then… not much else.
    How about you?

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    • I didn’t do much except make the church bulletin for tomorrow. It hit 102 today, tomorrow is supposed to be 105 or higher, then Monday could actually hit 110! It’s 90 in my apartment with 62% humidity, so it feels worse, although my bedroom is cooler so sleeping will be okay, I hope. I have a terrible headache though, no appetite and I have been drinking steady since first thing this morning. Periodically I start to shiver and get shaky, but not bad like before. I did repot two plants before it got too hot as well. 😊🌞🪴🪴

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  49. That sounds awful. You should spend as much time as you can in the ac. Especially if you’re getting headaches. That could be dehydration. Are they stopping to check on you regularly?

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    • They check on me twice a day only, I stopped the midday check because it had gotten cooler again. I’m drinking steadily so I don’t see how I could be dehydrated. The next couple of days I will try to spend more time in the bedroom.

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    • Yeah, I know it, we’re setting records right now, we’re just not used to this kind of heat up here. Several people in our building have been taken to the hospital already and the worst hasn’t hit us yet. Wednesday it cools off to highs of only 80 for a few days, then the heat returns next weekend.

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