The Investigators, Inc. The Nordic Family Mystery. Chapter 10. Exposed.

There are only 4 members left alive of this family, which is very sad indeed. We have somehow failed to keep this family alive, most have been murdered while we were here protecting them. Though some of them were not exactly very helpful at the beginning, not wanting us to be inside their house or flat. It would have been so much easier to protect them from the inside, rather than only from the outside. Oh well, we can’t change what is done. Astrid seems to really have had a change of heart.

At first she didn’t really want us around at all, and definitely not in the house even though her husband, Leif, wanted us inside. He ended up being murdered and that is really affecting Astrid right now. Kat, Kristina, Engla, Roxette, Macy and Jackie are staying with her right now, plus 4 cats. I changed the girls around a bit now. Jennifer, Kitty, Sigrid, Astrid, Milena and Kelsey are with Ronja and Dagmar at night. Angel is with Dagmar during the day while she is at work, though remaining invisible since the store owner didn’t want to scare customers. I guess she had a point, so it’s handy having our ghosts along.

Aari, Carine and Oskar are staying with Jon at his flat, along with 2 cats. Anyway, just now, Ronja’s best friend, Sanna, has just shown up and she looked rather worried. “I need to talk with you,” Sanna whispered to Ronja. “It’s okay Sanna,” said Ronja, “you can talk in front of my new friends. I trust them completely.” Sanna seemed a bit embarrassed now. “I’m sorry everyone,” she said, “but right now I’m scared and I think Ronja’s life is in immediate danger, maybe mine too.”

“Why do you think that?” asked Jennifer. “Well, this might sound crazy,” she said, “but, well, oh, I guess it is just crazy.” “Don’t think of it as crazy,” said Sigrid, “it might be something important that might help us catch the murderer, or murderers, and keep the rest of the family safe.” “Well, when I arrived just now,” she began, “Johan, Dagmar’s boyfriend…” She suddenly stopped when she saw everyone look at Ronja when she mentioned Dagmar’s boyfriend. “Umm, sorry Ronja, I thought they knew,” apologized Sanna.

“It’s okay,” she replied, “I should have told them before. Dagmar never wanted the family to know that Johan was her boyfriend. He and Leif had been good friends since they were about 10 years old. Then he did something to Leif, I don’t know what, but it destroyed their friendship. Dagmar was afraid that the family would try to convince her to give up Johan, so she asked me not to say anything to anyone. I guess I really messed up by not telling you about them, I’m really very sorry.”

“Well, you definitely should have told us,” said Jennifer, “but it would not have changed anything since we were not thinking of him as a suspect in these murders, until just recently.” “You think he might be the murderer?” asked a shocked Ronja. “Well, it is only a possibility at this point,” said Jennifer, “we don’t have any hard proof, but certain things really fit him as the possible murderer.” “Now I’m really scared,” said Sanna, “as I mentioned, I met him when I arrived here and he wanted me to convince Ronja to come with him so she could be put under police protection now since you people were not doing a good job of protecting the family.

He said that he had convinced Dagmar to seek police protection but he couldn’t convince Ronja. He even offered me 7,000 Krona if I convinced her to come along with him. He held up the money in his hand so I quickly snapped it away from him and said I would bring her down with me. I wasn’t going to do that Ronja, honest, I really wasn’t! I just took his money because I need it right now. My parents didn’t have any money, just their flat which is where I live. But now I’m scared to go home alone. Maybe I’ll get killed too. Guess I shouldn’t have taken his money, but I’m hungry, I have run out of food and I don’t have a job. I have been trying to get one though, but so far, nothing. Can you help me too, please!”

“Sanna’s parents died in a car accident 3 weeks ago,” said Ronja, “so she is left alone now.” “Don’t worry Sanna,” said Jennifer, “we will protect you too.” Galyna had been there at the time too and she felt that Sanna was telling the truth. Jewel and the other cats agreed as they came out from under the sofa. “Cats!” exclaimed Sanna, “I just love cats!” She then got down on the floor and the cats came to her right away, though they acted just like normal cats for now.

Meanwhile, back home. “Cristy, please check out the car crash that killed Sanna Larsson’s parents,” I said. “On it Steve,” she replied cheerfully. Hmm, she’s cheerful again today, something must be going on. Just then Erika arrived with a plate of fresh donuts and Mandy brought fresh coffee along. Now I know that something must be going on. After we finished the donuts Erika wanted to show me something and she immediately went to a certain online store that sells clothes. Sigh. Then Mandy showed me some things that she said Mom would love.

Hmm, she might be right about that. She also gave me the correct size to buy, I kind of messed that up the last time. Sigh. Cristy just got back to me and apparently our faithful police officer, Johan Berg, was the first one at the scene of the crash that killed Sanna’s parents. The official report said the brakes failed. However, photos of the crash clearly show bullet holes in the driver’s door. The report says the holes were made by stones as the car rolled into the ditch. Amazing that he would actually write that and even more amazing that it would be accepted.

Now, is Dagmar involved in these murders? Or doesn’t she know what Johan is doing? He might kill everyone in the family except her, then marry her so he can get his hands on the family business. Then all he would need to do is kill Dagmar and everything would be his. But can we convince her of his plans? Either she doesn’t suspect him of any wrong doing, or she is involved with him in the whole plot to get their hands on the family business. That would really hurt Ronja, apparently her and Dagmar have been very close all their lives. One thing I do know, this police officer is laying a trap for Ronja and Sanna and we can’t let him win this time.

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.