The Investigators, Inc. The Mysterious Mystery Case. Chapter 9. The Meeting.

Kat was finished with what she needed to do in the clinic, so she went to talk with Hannah about what she had found in the lining of Elly’s purse. It would appear that Elly had taken Elizabeth’s place, at least in some things. She even passed the facial recognition system they had in place where Elizabeth worked. However, fingerprint recognition was necessary in some areas so she could not get in those places and she never even tried. If she did, she would have been arrested right away, and she knew it. She had learned to walk, talk and act just like Elizabeth because she had been living with her and the children for the past year after her boyfriend died.

I am sure we will learn even more once we get hold of Elizabeth. It could be that both sisters were working together to sell secrets to our enemies. We now know that Elly certainly was doing that. I am back in the clinic after being hit with that strange weapon. We had searched Elly, though at the time we thought she was Elizabeth, quite thoroughly. That tube of lipstick passed through our x-ray machine, plus another new machine we had just installed from the Baldwin Corp.

Nothing unusual was noticed about it. I guess from now on we will just have to remove all personal items from “guests” when they come to see us, whether it’s a long or short visit. It’s just getting too dangerous out there. Elly was working for an enemy country, one that is quite capable at producing such weaponry. Looking around my special room in the clinic I started thinking that maybe I should make this my new office. Just enlarge it a bit to fit my office furniture.

After all, I spend more time here than I do in my office! Sigh. More and more I think that Muffin was right when she said, “We start together and we stop together.” I should have stopped when she was killed and either retired or get a different job. Definitely something to think about. Just then Steffie peeked in the door and when she saw I was alone, in she came, quickly closing the door. Then she climbed onto the bed and reached into her backpack and took out two donuts, one for each of us. “Auntie Cassie say I only can bring you one donut,” she said smiling, “Erika coming with fresh coffee too, but it not quite ready.”

Soon Erika was peeking in the door, then she came in and poured me a cup of coffee. “Got to have coffee with fresh donuts,” she said smiling. Steffie gave her a donut too and we sat there talking and laughing. Then they left and Bridgette came in to see what I wanted for lunch. I told her I wasn’t hungry. “How many donuts did you eat?” she asked. “Um, four,” I said. She just looked at me and shook her head, then she took out two donuts from her pocket and handed me one. “Just don’t tell Samantha I gave you one,” she said giggling. “I heard that,” said Samantha as she came in the room.

“Good thing it’s only one donut,” she said, then she also handed one to me, “I couldn’t resist bringing you one since they were nice and hot.” We all laughed. About an hour later Aari and Kat came in to see me, they had found out where these agents were staying. It was a hotel in the same city where Nikolas and Andressa were living. We also found out from the papers that Elly had, that these people thought we worked with those two. This is something we need to clear up quickly, before they tell their government to attack us again.

Aari wants permission to go see them and Kat will go along with him as protection since Carine is in London with the other ghosts right now. Kat will be better protection anyway I’m sure, she is our strongest ghost and who knows what kind of strange weapons these people are carrying with them. I told Kat that since her and Jennifer are in the leader position right now, then it’s up to them to make that decision. Kat just looked at me. So I said that it might be a good idea, but make sure the Black Wolves are close by too.

Aari has already returned Andressa to Nikolas, even though they did trick us a bit by not telling us about having Elizabeth and her children. However, Friskie had communicated with me that those two had no idea they had Elizabeth, apparently the people running their photo studio had kept this information from them, for whatever reason. Anyway, they were quite upset to hear that news and Andressa was planning to take the next flight to London to check on that photo studio and see what is going on.

I then communicated with Jennifer to get Elizabeth quickly, and why. Sky returned briefly to take Kat and Aari to their destination, she then returned here briefly to pick up some fresh donuts and she came to see me before heading back to London. Angel came to visit at the same time and see if I needed more strength. She looked at my eyes and concluded that I did need more, so she began giving me strength once again.

Meanwhile, Kat and Aari were entering the restaurant where these agents were eating their dinner. They also had Bear and Cal with them. The agents, 5 of them, were seated at a table for 8, which was perfect, especially since one chair was empty beside the man who looked to be in charge. So, Aari decided to join them and sat down on the chair by the leader, with Kat standing guard behind him and keeping her hand on his right shoulder. “That chair is reserved,” said another man to Aari’s right. Aari just ignored him and looked at the other man instead.

“My name is Aari Jensen,” he began, “I’m the leader of the Black Wolves, and I know you have heard of us. I have no quarrel with you people, neither does my brother-in-law.” “Who is your brother-in-law?” asked the man as he continued to eat. “Steve McCann,” said Aari, “he is the head of the Investigators, Inc. He does not work for, or with, Nikolas and Andressa Bauer. He was hired to rescue some children, which he did. Reuniting the children with their mother is all he plans to do. But, we will fight anyone who decides to attack us. We are both large organizations, well equipped and well funded.

I’m sure you can see the wisdom for both sides to ignore each other.” “You and your brother-in-law work opposite sides,” said the man. “True, we have different paths,” said Aari, “but sometimes those paths meet together.” “You do not carry a weapon, why?” asked the man. “I am his weapon,” said Kat calmly. The man looked at Kat. “What if my man over there were to take out his gun?” asked the man. “Let him try,” answered Kat. The man nodded and the other man took out his gun amazingly fast, but he immediately fell forward into his plate of food. “He’s not dead, just unconscious,” said Aari. “Let us both ignore each other,” said the man. Aari then got up and they all left…

To be continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.