Nadia and Ana have been with us for 2 days now and Samantha has said it would be okay for Nadia to begin helping with work around the chateau as long as it did not include heavy lifting. Nadia was so happy that she could begin helping now, she does not like to just lie around while others work. Ana was already helping Erika and Mandi with their daily chores, as she too wanted to help. They are both very willing to work and very hard working.

Too much so in some ways, so I had to explain that everyone here shares the workload in equal ways, otherwise some don’t have enough to keep them busy through the day. However, I did mention that her workload would be more at times when some of the team is away on a case. I asked if she would mind sharing a heavier workload at those times. She was very happy to do whatever she could. But she was worried about something, so Jennifer, Celestine and I took her aside into our office so we could talk privately with her.

“I guess that I’m worried Papa Levi will come and you will give us to him,” she said with tears, “if you want to send me back with him, then fine, I will go. But please, please, let my little Ana stay here with you where she will be safe and have a good life.” “I will never let anyone take Ana, or you, away from us,” I said, “this Papa Levi can’t take you away from us. You have seen how many women are here and they are like soldiers. They have been trained to fight with their hands and feet, and also with knives and guns of many kinds. We can handle the likes of Papa Levi.”

“But, he has many men who are also trained to fight,” she said, “and they use guns and knives too. Some of your women may get hurt or even killed. They would maybe not like the idea of fighting for me and Ana.” “Cristy,” I said. “Yes Steve,” she said, “I am on computer.” “Good, my wonderful, best, computer girl,” I began, “I need two things.” “I already have all the information I can find on that creep Papa Levi,” she said, “I just sent it to your computer.”

“Oh, sorry,” I said, “I’m busy in a meeting and haven’t seen it yet. Anyway, part 2, please take a vote from the whole team to see if they are willing to fight Papa Levi to keep Nadia and Ana safe.” “Why?” she asked, “you know we will all fight, we don’t even have to think about that, it’s just normal.” “I know it,” I said, “but I want Nadia to know it too.” A few minutes later the results were in and it was 100% in favor of fighting if we need to do so. “I do not understand why you are so nice to complete strangers like us,” she said, shaking her head.

“You are not strangers anymore,” said Jennifer, “you are part of our big family now, and I hope you will want to stay with us always.” “Yes, yes, Ana and I would always like to stay here with you,” she said, crying. “Is there another reason this Papa Levi has to follow after you?” asked Celestine, “Did your husband give you anything, like a key, or a code of some kind that might unlock a safe. Even if it doesn’t seem like it is important.” “No, he never gave me anything,” she said, “everything I took was just necessary items from home. You may look through everything.”

“It’s possible your husband maybe hid something in your suitcases,” I said, “or in something else.” “Such as toys,” said Jennifer, “did Ana bring some toys with her?” “She only brought her little teddy bear that her father had given her for her last birthday,” said Nadia, “but I doubt she would ever let you take that apart to look for anything.” “We just have to do it the right way,” said Celestine, smiling. We had the cats check everything that Nadia and Ana had with them. Muffin had already allowed Ana to know that she can talk and understand her.

Meow, meow?= “Me can sniff little teddy bear toy please?” Ana laid it on the bed for Muffin and sure enough, there was something in that teddy bear, though Muffin wasn’t quite sure what it was. Finally she said it was a stone. Now it was Celestine’s turn. She talked so nicely with Ana, explaining what she would like to do and how it would help to keep them safe from Papa Levi. Ana smiled and gave her teddy bear to Celestine.

Then she watched closely while Celestine took the teddy bear apart carefully and felt around inside with her finger, until, out popped a very beautiful emerald! Celestine then put more filling in the teddy bear to make up for the space of that large emerald, then she expertly sewed him up again. Ana hugged her teddy bear tightly, then she hugged Celestine even tighter. They then came running into our bedroom to show me this beautiful green stone they had found. “We will have to let Alfred look at this,” I said, “he knows a lot about these kind of stones and he will be able to tell us a lot about it.”

That got Ana very excited, however, her mother told her it might have been stolen from someone so then they would have to give it back to the owner. Ana was a bit sad about that news, but I explained that if something she had that was worth a lot of money and someone else found it, then it would be right to give it back to her. Ana thought for a moment, then she agreed, after all, the person might need the money more than they do. The next day I sensed trouble and warned everyone to be alert.

Then a large limousine came driving up to the chateau. Two men got out, but Dawn spoke to them and said only one was allowed to get out and state their name and business. The man gave his name as Yury Chyzh and he was speaking for his employer Levi Adamovich who wished to speak with me. She said he could come in, with one man and both must be unarmed. Levi agreed and he came in with Yury. We sat in the library to talk. I had already sent Nadia, Ana, Jennifer, Kat, Muffin and Storm into hiding for safety reasons.

“You have some people that I wish to bring back home to Belarus with me,” said Levi, “and please do not insult my intelligence by saying they are not here. I speak of Nadia and Ilyana Kovalyuk. Nadia’s husband worked for me and unfortunately, he stole from me. He also owed me a great deal of money that I had loaned him and he gambled away.

For payment, he signed this agreement to let me use his daughter in a series of movies I intend to make in our country. i am a movie producer and own a studio where we make world class movies. This is a wonderful opportunity for Ilyana to become a famous movie actress.”

“In your porn movies using children,” I said, “well, that piece of paper means nothing in our country and I think what you are doing is just plain disgusting. We will not give you Nadia and Ilyana now, or ever. So, this visit is over, you may now leave and do not come back.” “Very well, then you leave me no other choice,” said Levi, and they left, went to their car and drove away back toward the city…

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.