The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 11. Concluding.

Posted on June 13, 2026 by

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Man in leather jacket reading notes with ghostly woman beside him in office

Steffie had just finished her little speech and everyone throughout the chateau had gone silent while she spoke. Cristy had allowed everyone in the chateau to hear Steffie, all but Jennifer and I. We were in my office and Cristy turned off the speaker into the office so we couldn’t hear what was going on. At first Friskie had reprimanded Steffie for saying her aunties were bad, but now she was silent too. Sky had heard Jennifer and I talking before Steffie began her speech and she “sneaked” some donuts from the other girls to bring to me as a present while she apologized to me.

Sky has the ability to hear me talking no matter where I am, even if I’m half way around the world. She just doesn’t normally use that ability unless necessary. However, at times she likes to listen in, the sneak. I think Jennifer is angry just like Steffie and she says that there will be some major changes within the Investigators from now on. Sky agreed that changes need to be made. “We need to get those changes done quickly,” said Sky, “I know you can do it Steve.” “That was a quick move from ‘we’ to ‘you’,” I said sighing. “Well, you are the leader,” she said smiling.

“Sometimes I’m not so sure about that,” I replied. “I will be making the changes myself if Steve doesn’t get things moving,” said Jennifer. “Oooh, sounds interesting,” said Sky excitedly. The Black Wolves and Wildcats made it back home safely and I announced to everyone that tomorrow was going to be a free day to just relax, then we would have a team picnic two days later since that is the date that Muffin and I launched the Investigators, Inc. Everyone was totally excited about that and much of the work was already done by the home team during this last case.

That case is officially closed since there really was nothing else we could do anyway. We did close down what we could of that international gang of sex traffickers and whatever else they were. With help from Kat, Samantha was able to get Harley up and walking around again so that she will be able to participate in our anniversary picnic. Yes, we did do a little misleading of our enemies in order to bring them out in the open so that we could stop them. We just never imagined how big that group was!

I’m so glad that Harley survived, I would have felt totally responsible for her death because we never checked out her family before sending her back home. That is something we are going to do from now on though, just in case. We had to make things look good just in case we were being watched. We almost lost John though and although Samantha says he will recover, she isn’t sure if he will recover fully so he can go on cases. I think that will be harder on John than it is on me having to stay home. However, there are other ways he could still work for us, such as a driver, something that we always need.

The day between our free day and our picnic we will be having a team leaders meeting which will also include all ghosts, Samantha, Galyna, Celestine, Victoria and Sienna. I wanted our doctor and 3 counselors to be in attendance to give their opinion on some things. Sienna also has a wealth of knowledge that she can share with us. Storm, Jewel and Snow will also attend this meeting. I even called Mandar to join us if he has the time as I’m sure he could also have much wisdom to share with us.

He wasn’t quite sure if he could make it until I mentioned our anniversary picnic that would be on the following day. He then said there was indeed an opening on his calendar so he would be happy to join us. Nothing like food to get Mandar’s attention! Well, the day of our meeting has now arrived after a very relaxing day yesterday and our meeting is now underway. I told everyone that we need better communication from now on, especially keeping me informed as to what is happening on a case. So they will give me a daily update, more often if there is a problem of any kind.

Team leaders will also pick a junior leader who can take their place in an emergency. They will each give me their pick but I will have the final say. Junior leaders can’t be any of the ghosts, however, since the ghosts get moved around a lot on cases even though normally assigned to a specific team. We will also have a team leaders meeting before all cases so everyone knows what is going on first hand. There will be two ghosts at home at all times, which is something we do now, but we will try to change which of them stays home each time so that all get a chance to go on cases too.

I will not be confined to my office, or even inside, as long as both ghosts are with me at all times while outside. And one of them will have to hold my hand at all times while outdoors in order to ensure my safety. Jennifer will stay home most of the time with me as one of the ghosts, unless she specifically needs to be on a case. Mandar is going to provide extra security for our picnic so that all of our team can participate.

The last time we had such a large team picnic we were attacked by Toledo and Kat was killed. Mandar wants to make sure there is no such repeat, especially since he will be here too. Well, I wonder what kind of case we will have come our way next? I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a simple case for us, but perhaps something that isn’t quite so complex would be nice. We shall see.

The End. A new case will be on the way shortly. ÂĐ2026 Steve McLeod.

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

290 Comments on “The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 11. Concluding.”

    • The sun’s not coming out so guess there will be no rainbow this evening. Sigh. I agree with you and not enough, um, well, I was thinking of something but forgot what it was I was thinking. I think.
      Anyway, must get to bed, I can barely keep my eyes open, been that way since 3pm. I should have had a nap.
      Have a good night Dusty! 😃ðŸĨąðŸŒ›ðŸ˜ī

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  2. I setup my home stereo system today, (finally) other that… not much. Tomorrow I will try to work on my workshop insulation project. I hope to get an early start, but lately I’ve been sleeping until around 8:30 and by then it’s starting to get warm in the shop. So, I’ll see h I w that goes. How’s about you? What did you do today?

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    • I’m here, I’m here, honest, I’m here! It’s a mixed up sort of day and things are all mixed up and I’m mixed up too. Sigh. At 3:30 I was sitting here, hungry, so decided to start supper, even though it was early. That’s the last I remember until I woke up at 4:30. So, it takes me a while to fully wake up after a sudden unplanned nap and I’m walking around bumping into things and, well, at 5:30 I’m finally making supper. Sigh. I was still eating when my PSW showed up, she was early today, naturally. I was cleaning today, rearranging too. It’s going well, amazingly.

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  3. Excellent, well not the falling g asleep per se I mean it’s good you sleep but, not if it stops you from doing things like eating or sorting or doing the dishes or…. whatever. I’m happy you slept, but not that it took 2 hours to make supper because if it.

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    • Yep, I was hungry too, even more so by the time I finally got to eat. Sigh. It was 85 degrees today and humid, mostly cloudy. Now there is a severe thunderstorm warning issued for us. Hopefully we won’t get one. Regular thunderstorm is okay, but not severe. Only supposed to be a high of 70 tomorrow. This up and down is a pain, literally. Sigh.

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  4. That should make for better sleeping temps I hope.ðŸĪž A nice rain would also be calming to sleep by. When do you start on the Sunday bulletin for Church?

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    • It actually appears to be clearing right now, that’s okay. It’s already cool enough in here for me. I can feel that the outside air has already cooled off a lot. Oh well, can’t do much about it one way or another. Normal temp for this time of year is 80, 60 at night. Dropping down to 55 tonight. No wonder I’m in so much pain right now. Oh well. Minor detail, it will help to slow down those fires though and that’s a good thing. I usually do the bulletin Saturday morning.

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    • Pastor gives me the announcements, we don’t put the songs in the bulletin though. I pick out verses to use and quotes from other people, sometimes I put in a short poem if there is space for one, or a short history of one of the songs we will be singing. I also add in prayer requests that are of a more major nature if people want it.

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    • Oh my, it’s late, time flies too fast at times when it’s time. Anyway, have a good night Dusty and I shall return tomorrow with more fun and fun! 😃ðŸĨąðŸŒ›ðŸ˜ī

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    • Good morning Dusty! 😃 Did you get any work done in your workshop where you work? That is something I really miss having. Do you have a/c hooked up in there too?ðŸĨķ🙃 Wow, did we ever have thunderstorms last night! A cold front moved through and thunderstorms began around 11 and continued until after 2am. Lots of lightning and thunder but very little rain which isn’t good.⛈ïļâ›ˆïļ

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  6. I have the ceiling covered in the shop now. I think tomorrow I can finish the walls then it should be good. Yes, I bought a window a/c unit and when the insula g ion is done it should keep it reasonably cool for working.
    It’s to bad more rain didn’t fall with storms, but they cam be interesting to watch and listen to.

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    • Yeah, the storms were great, I just hope they don’t start more fires. That’s usually what happens when we don’t get enough rain with them.
      Yep, with the kind of heat you get, having a/c is important everywhere.

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  7. Yeah, hopefully they didn’t cause any. It was a little warm working in there but it got better the more I put up more sheets of insulation . Amazing how that worked ðŸĪ”
    What’d you do today? More insulators sorting and displaying?

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    • Yep, I nearly have them all sorted and put back on shelves again. Plus I put out some of my photos that I had printed on canvas a while back. They sure came out good! Wish I could get more of them done, but then there is the problem of where to put them, just like everything else. But it’s nice having them out on display where they can be seen. Everyone really enjoys them too. 😃 I would just hang them on the wall, but they do have regulations about that in this building. The property managers don’t want a lot of holes in the walls, and I can understand that. So I have to get creative if I want to hang things. 🙃😂

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  8. Yeah, I can understand that also. Hey, I got a call tonight from a couple in the court I lived in, they are going to buy the trailer. I thought that was kind of a nice way to end my week.😁

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    • Hey, that’s fantastic Dusty! That’s a great way to end your week, that’s for sure. Ugh, my neighbor across the hall has started smoking a cigar again. He has begun doing that on weekends when he won’t be caught. I was hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight, I only got 3 hours last night and I’m tired. Oh well.

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  9. Mention it to the management. He’s not supposed to do it period! Doesn’t matter if it’s the weekend or not. I don’t line those stinky things!😝

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    • I already tried that, but they said there is nothing they can do unless they catch him in the act. If I say he did, he says he didn’t, so it means nothing. Why have a law banning smoking in apartment buildings and then nothing can be done about it? Sigh. We just had a light shower. Barely made things wet. Going down to 50 tonight! That’s getting too cold for this early in August! ðŸĨķ😎

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  10. They should send someone when you call them and catch him in the act.
    Ooo… that is chilly for this early in August. It seems like the summer went fast this year. I know there’s still 3 weeks left in August but it went quickly I thought.

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    • Yes, summer went by very quickly. And these cool temps are expected to stay with us all month. Though that could change.
      No one works on weekends or weeknights so it’s impossible to catch these people and they know it too.

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  11. That stinks literally and figuratively!
    Maybe you’ll get a nice warm long fall. That wouldn’t be good for the fires, but it would be good for you!😁😉😂

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    • Yep, they are suggesting it could be a long and warmer than normal fall and that would be nice. Hopefully I can get out for some pics again next week though. Soon our birds will be disappearing, actually they already are, and insects will be gone too, at least the interesting ones anyway. Plus the last of our summer flowers are out now too. Time goes too fast at times and this summer it is hard to get sunny weather, there are always clouds and showers in the forecast. Oh well, hopefully we will get one day next week.
      Well, got to hit the old bed again and hopefully I will get more than 3 hours of sleep tonight. Have a good night Dusty and I shall be back tomorrow with more fun and chatter! 😃ðŸĨąðŸ˜ī🌛

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    • Good morning Dusty! 😃 How’s things today? It was a hot one here today, got up to 70 once again. Everyone I talk to around here thinks this is great weather. Hard to believe. 🙄 Whew, I was busy today, doing this and that, hardly any time to relax! ðŸĨĩ How about you?ðŸĪ”

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  13. Hi, yeah I’m I’m here today. Yesterday I was not feeling well and went to bed early, very tired and very, very sore from all the work I’ve doing in the shop to get it insulated. All that left now is to put the tape on all the seams, then build the benches and mount my saws and sander etc. Then I can start working in there!!😂😂😂ðŸĨĩðŸĨĩ

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    • Wow, you’re going to need a vacation from all that retirement living! Are you closer to the beach now where you live or farther away? You need to slow down a bit, don’t overdo it all at once, overdo it a little at a time instead. I think. Something like that.🙄

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  14. About the same distance actually. But the roads to the beach are less busy with big vehicles. Yeah, I’m trying to overdue it a little at a time but it feels like a lot at a time instead. Besides if I don’t get this work done I’ll never get started on the plane I’ve been waiting to build. I would like to have it completed by next spring so I can take it to Waco next June! Oh yeah, by the way I was invited back to Waco for a giant scale warbirds fun fly on Halloween weekend. 😁 That should be fun! I really e joked the show in June.

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    • Oooo, more big time flying fun coming up, sounds great! You really found yourself a great hobby, that’s for sure. 😃ðŸ›Đïļ Wish I could do the same. Must admit, not being able to get out much, or have any kind of real hobby at home, kind of gets me discouraged at times. More so in the winter than in the summer.

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    • I have thought about that, but this apartment is not very big and I would have nowhere to keep them unless I was to get rid of everything I own and start over. I don’t want to do that either.

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  16. Space is definitely a consideration. No sense building something you can’t keep, unless you can sell or donate them to kids… Anyway, you know your situation better than me, it was just an idea ðŸ’Ą

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    • Yep, it was a good idea too and one that I considered. Oh well, maybe one of these days I will figure out something.
      Anyway, time for bed, early morning shopping tomorrow. I shall be back, have a good night Dusty! 😃🌛ðŸĨąðŸ˜ī

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    • Cool! It got up to 73 today, not bad! Tomorrow morning my friend and I will be taking a trip down the highway for some picture taking. 😃📷 Providing the forecast doesn’t change that is. 🙄

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    • Yep, that’s for sure! Supposed to be sunny and just a light breeze which is perfect for pictures. Amazing to think that some of our birds have already headed south! Summer is so short up here. I’ve heard a few people mentioning that lately, it’s like we have already moved into fall. ðŸ˜ē😎

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  20. That’s what I’ve been hearing also. I hope in a few weeks it turns nice and warm again for you. Otherwise it’ll be right back into the icebox for another 8 mo ths or so.😎ðŸĨķ

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    • Well, they are saying that it should be a long warm fall. Of course, warm in the fall is not warm like summer. Low 60s can be considered warm for fall, but that’s okay if it means a long fall and hopefully not too wet. Unfortunately, the photo opportunities are limited in fall to scenery mostly. The last 3 years haven’t been too good for scenery either because we never had an early fall frost. Maybe this year. 😊

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  21. You’re due for a nice one this year. You should still be able to get some good bug pictures and bird pictures to.
    The days here are already starting to get shorter. The difference between here and up there is really noticeable for me here.

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    • We have already lost nearly 2 hours of daylight here, hard to believe. That’s one of the reasons our nights are so cool now, getting down to mid 50s and even lower a couple of times.
      Yeah, I’m hoping for some good insect pics, bird and mammal pics would be a nice bonus too. Maybe something odd this time would be super amazing!🙃📷

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    • Yep, we have all of them. Lots of coyotes in our area now, they started moving in about 30 years ago, then mange nearly wiped them out, but they are making a good comeback now and are quite common again.

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    • Yep, lots of foxes around here, even right in town, coyotes come in town as well sometimes. I have seen so many foxes over the years and yet I still don’t have a picture of one, so that would be super nice to get!
      Well, I better get to bed, we’re leaving fairly early tomorrow and hopefully I can get a good sleep tonight. Have a good night Dusty and hopefully I will have good news for tomorrow! 😃📷ðŸĨąðŸ˜ī🌛

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    • Well, hey, that’s not so bad for one day. Now you just need to get those supplies and off you go again! You’re flying! Pun intended. 😂🙃ðŸ›Đïļ

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  28. Nope, not yet. I’m waiting for the material for the wings. But I can get started on some of the other items though. I’m sorry I’m very tired and sore again tonight.

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    • That’s okay, I’m very tired and sore tonight also. I wore myself out this morning going on the photography outing. My PSW was very late and just left. There were a couple of medical emergencies she had to deal with where an ambulance had to be called, each time takes nearly an hour, so she was way behind.

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  29. You’re very gracious, so thank you for being so.
    It’s just hard to be engaging when I’m feeling like this.
    Anyway, enough about me, how did the outing go today? We’re you able to get any interesting mamals?

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    • There was no wind at the start, so I got some nice scenery shots of calm lakes. Aside from that, there wasn’t much activity. I haven’t had a chance to go over the pics yet, I will do that tomorrow when I’m feeling better. The only insects were two varieties of flower flies, absolutely no other insects! I couldn’t believe it! There should be lots of dragon flies and damselflies at least this time of the summer, but not one. Perhaps it was a bad year for them. It was also very dry out that way so wildflowers were all dried up and fall flowers had only barely begun to start blooming and they were small. I tried to get a pic of a minnow at one lake, but he just would not sit still! Well, I guess minnows don’t sit, but I guess it would be float still? There was lots of flocks of small birds, warblers and sparrows, heading south. But they stay high in the trees while migrating so it was impossible to get any pics of them. Sigh. But it was a lovely morning, nice and sunny. My friend was a bit disappointed that we travelled all that way and I didn’t get many photos. I was disappointed as well, but it didn’t bother me as much as it did him.

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    • Yep, that’s true, but my friend is not really a country, nature kind of guy. If I’m not getting pics of lots of things then it’s not worthwhile. Yep, I really enjoyed it even with the lack of photos, those calm lakes were so beautiful. Still, it would have been nice to get more variety. Oh well, can’t be great every time! I could have stayed out there all day enjoying those lakes. Maybe with more time I could have gotten some bird pics too. Well, I might have gotten a couple birds, just not sure how good they are, they were quite far away.
      Well, I must say good night, I need to get to bed. Have a good night Dusty and I shall be back tomorrow! 😃ðŸĨąðŸ˜ī🌛

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  32. Hi, I’m sorry I’m late. Can I have a raincheck tonight? I got stuck at Bruce’s all afternoon and am just getting home now, and I’m exhausted. I’m sorry 😞

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    • Oh, there you are. Sorry for the delay, my notification thingy isn’t working again. Sigh. My PSW just left a few minutes ago. I’m tired. My neighbor was extremely drunk last night and went to be at around 9pm and so she brought her cats inside. Except for one, guess she didn’t notice one was missing. At 10:55 the cat woke me up meowing. ðŸ˜ēðŸ˜ū It continued meowing until 1:05 when she managed to wake up her owner and was allowed to come inside. By that time I was thoroughly awake and it took a while to fall asleep. Sigh. Otherwise I’m doing okay. How about you?ðŸĪ”

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  35. Well that’s not very responsible of her!😏 Plus it’s rude to her neighbors. 😉
    Sounds like my night. I went to be early and then at around 11:30 my back and leg started aching something awful which woke me up so I got up and took a half a pain pill and lay down on the sofa and watched TV until the pill started working which took until about 1 am then I went back to bed. But I didn’t sleep well at all. Very restless and uncomfortable. Woke up with a sore back and aching leg again.😛ðŸĨī

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    • That’s bad when that happens and it’s usually on a night when we’re really tired too. My back, right shoulder, and hip are sore tonight, so that might mean another sleepless night. I hope not though.

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  36. That’s how it seems to work for myself also. But I know mine is from all the bending and lifting I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. Anyway, it’s Friday tomorrow! I’m not sure why that excites me… but it does for some dumb reason I suppose.ðŸĪŠ

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    • Well, after years of working Friday was always an exciting day and that keeps on for a while even after retirement. Until we finally realize that every day is the same now! 🙄😂

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  37. Yeah, I suppose that’s right.
    It doesn’t look like good flying weather on Saturday so that’s not it.ðŸĪ”
    I’m hoping maybe Monday I can start to work on my planes fuselage.

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    • Hey, that sounds cool, you should take pictures of the build along the way. ðŸ›ĐïļðŸ“· I keep telling myself that too when i start something, then I forget at the beginning so I then say, what’s the point now?🙄 Oh well.
      I need to call it a night already unfortunately. Hope you have a great night Dusty! I shall return with more exciting conversation tomorrow. 🙃ðŸĨąðŸ˜ī🌛

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