The Investigators, Inc. Mystery of Helene’s Murder. Chapter 4. Amnesia.

We had just been attacked by 12 men from Bobby Frank which ended with 10 of them dead and two arrested by the police. Catriona, one of our newest team members had said that these men attacking us can only mean that Bobby Frank must still be here in Europe and not too far away, but not likely in France. That made me think of our old ‘friend and enemy’, Koffman, who lives in Germany about a 5 hour drive from here. So, I decided to call him, and that’s when everything gets a bit fuzzy. As I was about to phone Koffman, I woke up, in a room that I didn’t immediately recognize and yet it seemed familiar.

There was a doctor looking at me, and a nurse, plus another woman standing at the foot of my bed. I knew them, I thought, yet their names escaped me. The nurse tried to put something in my mouth, so I grabbed her arm, pulling her onto the bed and then over the other side and onto the floor! The woman at the end of my bed was quickly at my side and held me down. Her strength was far greater than mine and I could not move at all, not even my legs. I heard the women talking but I did not understand a word they said. “Are you okay Lily?” asked Jennifer.

“Yes, I’m fine, just a little shook up,” she replied, “I certainly wasn’t expecting that.” That’s when Bridgette entered the room, Samantha had called her to help so Lily could rest a bit. “We should have Milena here,” said Bridgette, “she knows how to handle Steve when he goes wacko like this.” “That’s a good thought,” said Jennifer and she called Milena to come to my room at the clinic right away. When she arrived Jennifer told her what happened.

I was lying still right now since Samantha had given me something to calm me down, but not put me to sleep. “What happened anyway?” asked Milena. “While they were exercising Steve tripped, fell, and hit his head on the chateau wall,” she explained, “and, as you know, that part of the wall is stone. He keeps talking about being attacked and did we get them all, did the police come and he mentioned Koffman’s name too.” “It must be thoughts in his brain after knocking himself unconscious,” said Samantha, “he is jumbling things together from past events and thinking it just happened today.”

The rest of the day was quiet, and long, very long. The next morning after breakfast, about mid morning really, the door opened a little and a small head peeked inside. “Safe,” said Steffie and in she came with Erika and Mandy plus 4 cats, Snow, Storm, Jewel and Sir Night. The kids brought fresh donuts and nice, hot coffee. “These are the first donuts that Cassie made this morning,” said Mandy, “it wasn’t easy sneaking them out of the kitchen, it took all 3 of us to do it.” They all giggled as they told me what they had to do.

“Thank you for bringing them to me,” I said, “um, are you my children?” “You not remember us Daddy?” asked Steffie. “I’m sorry kids,” I said, “I don’t remember anything or anyone, not even who I am.” “Yes, Mom told us about your amnesia,” said Mandy, “but don’t worry, it likely won’t last long, I’m Mandy, this is Erika and that is Steffie.” Then Steffie gave me a hug, followed by the other two. Then they introduced the cats after I asked about them. When Erika mentioned Sir Night I spoke up.

“Sir Night, Celestine,” I said, “is she here too?” Mandy said she would send Celestine to visit me after they left, since I’m only allowed one visitor at a time. Makes sense, I think. When the girls left I asked if they could bring more donuts and Mandy said they would try. A little later Celestine came with 4 donuts, 2 for each of us, plus more coffee. “It’s kind of odd,” I said, “I don’t remember anyone, not even me, yet I remember you and when we met.”

“I must have made quite an impression on you,” she said giggling, “but we better not say too much about that to Jennifer.” I smiled. “I know she’s my wife, but only because I was told,” I admitted. So, Celestine began to remind me of some things, how I was married to Jennifer’s twin sister but she was killed, so I was going to marry Jennifer, but she too was killed before we could be married. Then an enemy of mine had kidnapped me and I was locked up and unconscious. When I woke up… I then interrupted her.

“I opened my eyes and saw Jennifer and thought I was hallucinating,” I began, “but she said no, it was her and she was now a ghost and a slave of Christopher, but she would help me escape. I told her she had to come with me or I wouldn’t go and we argued a bit but she gave in, telling me I always was stubborn. She was right, but she came with me and we eventually got married. It’s all coming back now.” Meowy!= “See, even little brain know how to work!” I look at Snow.

Meowy.= “Human Misty say you have little brain.” “Oooo,” said Celestine, “Misty is bad.” “Call her for me please,” I said. “Misty, Steve would like to see you,” said Celestine, “and if you were smart, you might want to bring some donuts with you.” Misty understood that tone, but, the donuts were gone. So, she went about her usual sneaky way and managed to get 3 donuts, then she ran as fast as she could to my room! “Hi Steve! Look what I brought, donuts!” said Misty cheerfully, “Two for you and one for me.”

“Why thank you Misty,” I said. The four cats looked at her with sad eyes. “Stop that you furry moochers!” said Misty frowning. They put their heads down and sniffed. Misty sighed and gave them each a piece. “Feeling better now Steve?” she asked. “Yes, my little brain seems to be functioning again,” I said, looking right at her. “Oh, ha, ha, that was just a joke,” she said nervously, “I didn’t really mean it.” “I believe you, I think,” I said. Then I started to feel odd again…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.