The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 4. Your Heart.

While everyone’s attention was on the reunion of Jenna and Roxie, I called Sky back home to pick up Kat and bring her back there to help out. She will be pretending to be Jenna’s cousin from Canada who decided to come and help cousin Jenna when she heard of all her problems. Some things are not adding up quite right and it seems there are several people in this game that are interested in Jenna. Do they all work together or are they working on their own? Why are they so interested in Jenna? Or is it the house they want? How did Jenna’s parents and her husband die?

“Jenna, I would like to suggest that you and Roxie come here where you will be safe,” I said, “that way no one will know where you are. My team can work on that end to find out what is going on and deal with it.” “I was going to ask if Roxie could go live with you for now,” said Jenna, “so that she will be safe and I won’t have to worry about her. But I want to stay here. I don’t like to run and I’m not afraid for myself.” “No Mommy, I want to be with you!” said Roxie, “I’m scared when you are not with me.”

“Well Roxie,” I said, “I have a 5 year old daughter who would love to meet you and have someone her age to play with. And we have lots of cats here too. Blackie could come with you as well.” “You have lots of cats?” she asked, “Like, lots and lots of cats?” “Yes, lots and lots of cats,” I said, “and they have a huge playroom that is built for cats and kids. You and Blackie would love it here, and Mommy could talk to you every day.” “Can she talk to me 2 times a day?” she asked. “Yes, 2 times a day,” I said, “even three times a day if you want.” “Can we think about it?” asked Jenna.

“Sure thing,” I said, “we can even leave it the way it is for now, but if it gets too dangerous, then please seriously consider my suggestion. We don’t want either of you being killed.” I then asked how her parents died. She said it was rather odd as her Dad had called the evening before and asked if they could all go out for breakfast the next morning and talk about something important. So they arranged to meet at their favorite restaurant the next morning at 8am.

Jenna’s husband, Mark, had to be at work by 10am, so this would give them lots of time to talk. Jenna thought it was a bit odd since her Dad didn’t seem to be his usual casual self, he seemed to be a bit tense. However, they never arrived for breakfast so Jenna phoned but there was no answer. That got her worried so they went over to the house right away and found them both in bed and they were dead. The coroner’s report was inconclusive as to the cause of death so she has no idea how they died.

She does know that both of them had complete checkups just a month before and they had no health problems at all. I asked Akila to check for that coroner’s report right away, and also the complete health information from their doctor. After the funeral Mark, Jenna and Roxie moved into the house. Then before Mark died in the accident he was quite agitated for about 3 weeks. Apparently a load of plywood fell off a forklift and killed him. Only Mark and the forklift operator were in the warehouse at the time of the accident.

The coroner had told Jenna that Mark was dead before the plywood hit him, but that is not what the final report said. I told this to Akila so she will be checking that report as well. Something is definitely going on. These sound like murders that have been covered up. It was the same coroner in each case so we need to talk with him, and soon, before something happens to him. Jenna did say that years ago her Dad had told her there is a secret in that old house and the secret was in her heart. He only said that on one occasion, but he was very serious at the time and told her to remember what he said.

But, she doesn’t know what he meant by “the secret is in your heart”. To her it made no sense since she can’t think of anything he told her that could possibly have any meaning to it. I asked her to try and remember something, anything, from that time and maybe up to 2 months prior to that time. There must be an important secret about that house that she knows about that her father told her. That’s why Dancer and others want her, they want that secret, whatever it is. It must be something that has value to it.

I told her that she and Roxie are not safe until we can find out the secret of that old house. The night passed quietly for our team at the old house with the ghosts and cats watching all night so the others could sleep. Sky had taken Kat over to the hotel to be with Misty and her team. After breakfast they will be checking that collection company and demanding some answers. Sky brought Rock along too, he will be playing the part of Kat’s “husband”. That should be quite interesting…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.