The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 3. Rescued.

Angel had hitched a ride with Arnold and Malvina back to Dancer’s Club where she found Jenna working as a dancer. That made Angel quite angry with those two kidnappers but fortunately she was able to convince Jenna to trust her enough to come with her. Angel could have made Jenna invisible by holding her hand, but with such a large crowd watching she thought that might not be such a good idea. We don’t like the ghosts showing off their abilities unless necessary. However, just holding Jenna’s hand will keep her safe from being shot or hurt in any way.

Jenna was scared, until she saw how easily Angel handled the one big security guard with a single kick. However, when another guard pulled a gun on her Jenna was scared once again. Angel just sighed. “These guys think that a gun settles everything,” she said to Jenna, “but something like that just gets me more angry.” Suddenly the man yelled and dropped his gun because it was too hot for him to hold! Then Angel kicked him sending him backward about 10 feet and knocking over 3 other people in the process. “My, but he is clumsy,” said Angel, shaking her head.

Then Jenna screamed as another man grabbed her arm. Angel turned quickly and grabbed the man’s wrist, telling him to let go. Finally it was his turn to scream as Angel applied pressure to his wrist which she then broke. Then she twisted his arm once he let go of Jenna and there were two large cracks heard. Then she threw the man over the bar and he crashed against a bunch of glasses. She had to do this with one hand since she couldn’t let go of Jenna, however, Angel is quite capable of such things.

“Amerie, are you out there yet?” asked Angel. Jenna was wondering who Angel was talking with since no one else was around. “Do you need some help Angel?” asked Amerie. “No, we’re heading for the door now,” she replied, “hmm, guess we might, the security personnel are blocking the door.” Some of the Bad Girls got out of the vans and headed for the doors pushing their way in and clearing a path for Angel and Jenna. Angel could have handled them, but she thought it would be better to involve the others right now. After Angel and Jenna were outside they ran for the first of the two vans and jumped in.

The rest of the girls were right behind them and once in the vans they drove off quickly going back to the Balding House. “Sorry I’m not dressed very well,” Jenna apologized, “but this is what I have to wear when dancing, if it can be called dancing. I have clothes at home to change into.” “I’m sorry to tell you this,” said Angel, “but a collection agency took absolutely everything from your house. But at least Roxie is safe, and her cat Blackie.” “I, I, don’t know how to thank you women,” said Jenna, “who are you anyway?”

“Don’t you remember leaving the phone number for the Investigators with Roxie?” asked Angel. “She actually called you?!” asked a surprised Jenna, “That is so fantastic!” Then she stopped and looked worriedly at Angel. “But, I have no money to pay you,” she said, “I was just hoping that maybe you would look after Roxie for me.” “Don’t worry about minor details like that right now,” said Angel, “we have a financial backer that helps out in times like this. Reuniting you and Roxie is more important than money anyway.”

At that point they were back home again and there was a very tearful reunion between Jenna and Roxie once they got inside. After things settled down it was time for me to enter the conversation. The girls had gone to the stores and picked up some folding chairs, camp cots, air mattresses, blankets and other things they needed. “Hi Jenna,” I began, “this is Steve, I hope you are okay.” “Yes, now that I’m back with Roxie I feel so much better,” she said, “but I still don’t know what is going to happen to us.” “Well, don’t worry about that right now,” I said, “do you have any idea which collection agency would have taken all your belongings?”

“Yes, a man named Chuck Henderson,” she said, “he owns Henderson Collectors Company which in turn is owned by Philip Dancer from the Dancer’s Club.” “Hmm, that is interesting,” I said, “do you know why they are so interested in you, besides being a beautiful woman. They were also looking for Roxie and Arnold Clark said he owned your house.” “I own my house,” said Jenna firmly, “it was left to me when my parents died 3 years ago so we moved in here right away instead of renting an apartment.

After my husband died a year ago then Dancer tried getting my attention. When that failed then he tried different ways to intimidate me with kids throwing rocks at my house and breaking windows, to burning down my garage, getting me fired from my job as a massage therapist. He even got child welfare involved for not looking after Roxie properly, which is not true. That’s why the police were here, they want to take Roxie away from me.”

“Don’t worry about that,” I told her, “no one is taking Roxie away from her mother again. The girls will make sure of that. And your new ‘cousin’ will get your belongings back tomorrow if that company still has them.” “I have a new cousin?” asked Jenna. “That’s what she will pretend to be,” I told her, “it always works better that way and it makes people nervous when a family member shows up to help out. Her name is Kat and she knows how to deal with people. But, I would like to make a suggestion…”

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.