The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 2. Arnold.

The rest of the Bad Girls team arrived around 8pm in 3 vans. Misty and her team are staying in a hotel on the other side of the city, so hopefully they won’t be recognized as being together. Not that it really matters, but it’s still our normal practice these days to have a backup team. I didn’t tell the girls yet, but the Black Wolves are also nearby. Something about this case smells of a larger criminal presence and I don’t want to take chances. Sky already knows that if things turn ugly she is to bring Roxie and her cat here for safety. I really hope that Roxie’s mother, Jenna, is still alive.

Apparently Jenna left our phone number with Roxie, just in case she didn’t get home as expected. I was wondering how she managed to find out about us. The electricity had also been turned off at the house, but we solved that problem easily and the electricity is back on once again. Anyway, shortly after the Bad Girls arrived, someone else arrived too. It was Arnold Clark and Malvina Morgan, who interestingly enough, had a key to the house. Our girls have keys to the many locks in the house that Roxie had in her possession.

“I wonder why all these vans are here?” asked Arnold. “Obviously some local young people are using the house for a party,” replied Malvina, “and I thought you had the electricity turned off?” “I did,” he answered, “I have no idea why it is working again. Anyway, these kids will regret using our house for their party.” “Take it easy Arnold,” she said, “we don’t want any of them getting hurt.” “They won’t get hurt if they leave peacefully,” he growled, as he took out his gun, “I hope you have yours too.” “Yes, I do,” she said, holding it in her hand. They went up to the door and found it locked, so Arnold used his key to let them in.

The girls had already seen them arrive, so they were ready to welcome their unwelcome guests! The two opened the door and came inside and were quite surprised to find out that all were women. Then the door slammed behind them! Malvina was punched in the stomach and tossed against the wall while Arnold was kicked in the stomach and thrown to the floor, hard. The girls quickly retrieved the guns and Sky took the keys from Arnold. “Well, well,” she said, “and how did you get a key to my friend’s house?”

“This is my house!” shouted Arnold, “I order all of you to leave!” That got all the girls laughing. Arnold tried to get up but Sky stepped on one of his hands causing him to squirm in pain. “You know, it is quite legal to shoot intruders,” said Sky, “maybe we should shoot you.” “This is my house!” he said again. “This house is owned by my friend Jenna Cooper,” said Sky firmly, “and you are in her house illegally.” “She sold the house to me you idiot!” he yelled, “Now let me up before I have you all arrested!”

Sky then let him get up, but she then took his house key and, holding it between two fingers, she flattened it completely. The look on Arnold’s face was priceless! Then she gave it back to him. “If you want to come back here,” said Sky, “then you will need proof that you own this house, but I have the original deed to the property so you have nothing. Bring Jenna back here and she can tell me herself that you own the house, then I will let you have it. But if you try to have us arrested then you will find yourself in jail for kidnapping of Jenna and torturing her daughter, plus a few other things. Now leave before I change my mind and have you shot for trespassing.”

Arnold and Malvina decided it was in their best interest to leave, and quickly too. Now, what they didn’t know was that Angel had hitched a ride with them, invisibly of course, hoping to find out where they live, or work. We all figure that they have Jenna hidden with them somewhere, so, following them should lead us to her. Hopefully it will anyway, it’s our best hope right now. It was actually a fairly short trip to a nightclub on the outskirts of the city. Quite a large building Angel informed everyone. Some of the Bad Girls were on their way to help if needed, at least with transportation if nothing else.

The club was called Dancer’s Club and they did indeed have dancers. But the club was owned by a man named Philip Dancer, so Tracy is busy checking on him right now. Angel wandered around for a bit, looking to see if Jenna was working there. Finally a new dancer came out and it was Jenna, so Angel wandered over to where she was and when she came close Angel said “Roxie”. That got Jenna’s attention and she came closer. “My friend’s and I are watching Roxie and she is safe,” said Angel, “but she wants her Mommy. Please come with me so you two can be reunited. We will keep you safe and take you home. Please trust me, for the sake of your daughter.”

“You don’t understand,” said Jenna, “if I try to leave, they will beat me terribly, they will never let me leave here.” “I can get you out of here safely,” said Angel, “just trust me, please.” Then Angel held out her hand and Jenna held it and jumped off the stage which started a bit of an uproar. But they started walking for the door until a rather large man stood in front of them.

“Where do you think you’re going girl,” he said to Jenna. “We are leaving,” said Angel firmly, “so get out of our way and you won’t get hurt.” “That’s funny little lady,” he said, “you leave, Jenna stays.” That’s when Angel kicked him and he went flying backward several feet, falling over a table and ending up on the floor, groaning. “Let’s go Jenna,” said Angel and they both walked quickly toward the door. But, another man stood in the way, and he had a gun pointed at Jenna…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.