The Investigators, Inc. Mystery of Helene’s Murder. Chapter 7. Tobias and Al.

I am feeling much better after getting more blood from Sky, though I’m still not quite certain how that process works. I mean, she has different “blood” now, not like our human blood, but somehow Kat is able to make it work. She says that while her blood is entering my body, she has to make changes to it so my body can use it, plus she makes some changes to my body to accept Sky’s blood. She just said it was a rather complicated procedure, but it does work, obviously.

Anyway, I was talking with Aari and told him to be careful with Frank, if he is in hiding it might be difficult to get him out in the open where they can get at him more easily without losing anyone on his team. I also said that I would be sending Kat and Sky back as soon as possible, likely around their breakfast time. Perhaps the girls can be used to lure Bobby Frank out in the open, especially if we do things right. He thought that might work good since they had no idea where to find Bobby at the moment.

Meanwhile, the next morning, Aari, Carine and some of the Black Wolves came down for breakfast. After they sat down Aari noticed two men sitting by themselves in the far corner of the restaurant. He recognized them right away that they must be the two men Frank sent to watch them. But which one was which? So, Kitty, who was invisible again, went over to their table to listen to their conversation. “Hey Tobias,” said Al, “those Black Wolves have finally got out of bed.” “Yeah, they are a lazy bunch, that’s for sure,” said Tobias, and they both laughed.

Just then Al picked up his coffee cup, so Kitty decided to have some fun too, and she bumped the cup causing it to spill coffee on Al’s lap. He wasn’t too happy about that, but what could he do except blame himself for being clumsy. Kitty then went back to Aari and told him which one was Tobias. “Thank you Kitty,” he said, “was that coffee spill your handiwork?” “Aww, you guessed,” she said giggling, “they laughed at the Black Wolves, so I laughed back.” “Makes sense to me,” said Carine, “I would have done the same thing.” At that moment the waitress came to take their orders after which Aari asked her if she knew those two men at the far table.

“Yes, and I wish they would leave,” she said coldly, “actually I’m afraid of them. They work for a man named Bobby Frank who is a criminal, dealing in drugs and murder. The man with the beard is named Tobias, he is second in command of the Frank gang. Bobby Frank murdered my father last year. My father parked in a spot where Frank always parked and he showed up right afterward and got into an argument with Dad, but Dad wouldn’t move, so Frank shot him and laughed. My mother saw it but it traumatized her so much that she couldn’t be a reliable witness, so they had to let Frank go free since there were no other witnesses except one older man.

He was found dead the next day from an overdose of pills. My mother died about 2 months later from a heart attack. Bobby Frank was responsible for her death too. That’s what I believe anyway.” “Do you know where Bobby might be hiding right now?” asked Carine. “Sure, in their “Cave”, as he calls it,” she said, “it’s right beneath his hardware store, that’s where he lives.” She then gave Aari the address. “Bobby Frank murdered my cousin,” said Aari, “and we are going to show him that wasn’t a good idea.” “You better have more men than this,” she said, “because Frank has 30 men. There used to be more, but 9 of them are in prison right now and 3 were killed in a shoot-out with the police.”

When she said that the rest of the Black Wolves came into the restaurant. “I’m paying for them as well,” said Aari. “Wow, some of those guys are sure big,” said the waitress and she went over to give the men some menus. “Some of those Wolves are big,” said Tobias. “Bigger targets,” said Al. Aari then got up and went over to the table where Rock was sitting, then they both went over to talk with Tobias and Al. Kitty went along, invisibly, to protect them.

“Good morning Tobias, Al,” said Aari, “I see Bobby picked you two for following us. I know Bobby is still here, that fake vacation idea didn’t work so good, especially when too many men know about the plan.” “You trying to say something old man?” asked Tobias. “Yeah, money speaks and makes men speak,” said Aari, “tell Bobby he will pay for killing Helene, and he can’t hide from me.” Then they went back to their tables. After a few minutes Al found out what he was looking for and Tobias called Bobby to tell him.

“Guess who sold you out,” said Tobias, “Danny had $5,000 deposited in his account yesterday and Jensen knew about the fake vacation idea.” “Thanks for that Tobias,” said Bobby, “how many men do you see?” “There are 30 of them counting Jensen, plus his woman,” said Tobias, “that makes me nervous, he just might have more men hanging around the city somewhere.” “Yeah, and we only have 30 men now too,” said Bobby, “I don’t like this either.” “I wonder if Danny told Jensen where the “Cave” is located,” said Tobias, “that could be bad.”

“True, but this place is a fortress,” said Bobby, “they would never get in without losing a lot of men, so I think this is the best place to be for now. Get all the boys over here as quickly as possible.” “Shall do Bobby,” said Tobias. Then he and Al got up to leave, but first they came over to Aari. “Jensen, if you were smart,” said Tobias, “you would head back home right now.” “If you were smart Tobias,” replied Aari, “you would run away from Bobby as far as you could get, while you can.” “Me and Bobby are like brothers,” said Tobias, “I would never run away from him!”

The waitress arrived when he said that. “Murderers!” she exclaimed, “All of you are just horrible murderers!” “Watch what you say lady!” Tobias exclaimed, “Or that pretty face of yours might not be so pretty anymore.” Rock had come up behind the two men and he punched Tobias in the back when he said that. Tobias groaned and fell to his knees. Al went for his gun, but felt a knife in his back and a hand reached around and took his gun from his shoulder holster. Rock picked up Tobias and took his gun then told Al to take him out when he left, which he did.

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.