Baldwin had been waiting for a while to make sure I was feeling good enough before calling a team meeting. I suddenly had a bad feeling about this, normally Baldwin would talk to me before calling a meeting like this. Tomorrow arrived and we were all in the library of our new chateau which looked so much like the original it was hard to believe that it was new.

Kat was so happy with it too, but there was still something under construction behind those high walls in the back yard. But that can wait. Baldwin said that Rock and Annelie had an announcement to make. “Annelie and I have been talking about this for a while now,” Rock began, “and we have decided that now since we are parents, it is time to change to a different and less dangerous job.

So Annelie, Krissy and I will be moving to Australia and Baldwin has given me a job there with one of his defense companies, doing much the same work that I was doing before I joined the team here. We are going to miss everyone, but we feel it is the best thing for our family.” “And I will always be available to help out with finding information if you need it,” said Annelie, “though I am sure that Jake will be able to handle most anything that comes along.”

Wow, this was certainly not what I was expecting at all. I had been planning to make Rock our new team leader until I was able to rejoin our activities. But they were right, being a PI in this team was a dangerous occupation, not a good thing when you have a family to look after. So they made the right decision and I told them that too.

Poor Muffin took it hard, but she hobbled over to Rock and he picked her up. Meow,meow.=You still very nice man, we not forget. Except for the word ‘still’, those were the first words that Muffin spoke to Rock as they were falling over the cliff. Rock and Annelie did not want a farewell party, they said it would just make things harder, so right after our meeting and brief good byes, Benson drove them to the airport where one of Baldwin’s jets took them to their new home in Australia.

And we were left with 2 less very good team members. It was hard to believe and I had a hard time getting to sleep. Kat and I talked about things for a while then she fell asleep, so I went down to the kitchen to make tea. Sigurbjorn was already there and had fresh tea ready. “Galyna was going to join me too,” she said smiling, “but there is plenty of tea for us all.”

“Good, because I just cannot sleep,” I said, “I am just too tense right now.” “That is not good Steve,” said Galyna as she entered the kitchen, “you are supposed to relax.” “Yes, I think Chung has been trying to tell you that every day,” said Sigurbjorn, still smiling. “I know, I try, but it just does not work,” I said, “and I have not had a massage in over two weeks now.” “I think Steve is hinting,” said Galyna.

“Yes, I agree,” she answered, “okay, let us go to the library and I will massage you, then maybe you can sleep. We can all talk there anyway.” So the 3 of us went there for a while and I got my massage which relaxed me so well I fell asleep. The girls laughed quietly, then they both carried me up to my room. “What happened to Steve?”, asked Kat. “He wanted a massage to relax him and he fell asleep,” said Sigurbjorn.

“Good, he needs to sleep,” said Kat. Morning came, nice and sunny and the smell of coffee woke me up. I was downstairs quickly but everyone else had finished breakfast except Kat, Jenny and Galyna, they waited for me. Galyna had made pancakes for everyone which was not so hard now without Rock in the house. And of course Benson and Jake stayed with Baldwin.

A few days later Benson and Jake went to town for some shopping. Jake was finally able to walk fairly well again. They had gotten out of the car and another car stopped close by and a man called out the window, “hey Jake!”. Jake turned around and the man in the car shot him 8 times. Benson returned fire hitting the man but the car sped away with Benson shooting at it.

Baldwin called me to tell me the news. Jake had died right away. He was wearing his vest, but two bullets hit him in the head. Tracy was so upset she could not stop crying. Jake was her only family. Galyna reminded her that all of us were also her family now and that we all loved her very much. In only one week we have lost 3 team members.

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.