We have to back up the story a bit to when Carmen was released from jail. Dimitri met Carmen at the jail and took her out to his car where 3 other men were waiting for them. Carmen knew all about Dimitri and she also knew enough not to say anything inside when he showed up to take her home, or wherever he was taking her. She was scared, actually, terrified would be a better word. She figured this was the end for her. Once they got home Dimitri somehow knew that someone had been in the house. “Maybe the cops were back here Dimitri,” said Giorgio.

“Maybe, but they’re usually messier,” he said, “whoever was here was trying to be neat.” “But the alarm system was still working,” said Nilo, “can’t walk around in here with that working.” “Check around anyway,” he told the men. He then slapped Carmen hard knocking her to the floor. “Who were they?!” he demanded. “I, I, don’t know,” she said, trembling, “no one ever tells me anything.” He then kicked her in the stomach and laughed. “Go sit on that chair and be quiet!” he told her. She got up slowly and went over and sat down. “Someone was here Dimitri,” said Giorgio, “they found the secret place in the floor.”

Dimitri went to Carmen and slapped her twice. “Who were they?!” he demanded again. “I don’t know, honest, I don’t know,” she said, “please don’t hit me anymore.” He just punched her twice and laughed some more. “It obviously wasn’t the cops,” said Dimitri, “or they would be all over this house right now.” Just then there was a knock at the door. Giorgio looked outside and saw a courier van parked out front. Then the doorbell rang. “Answer it, might be an important package,” said Dimitri. The men were ready with their guns out, just in case.

Giorgio opened the door and suddenly the door flew open, knocking him to the floor! That’s when Rock came inside and the men yelled, dropping their guns! Then Aari and some of the Black Wolves came inside. “Well, well, look who we have here,” said Aari, “Dimitri, aka the Lizard. I see you have been having your fun at the expense of this young woman. Typical of animals like you, and I think it would be smart for you to hide under a rock somewhere and stay there.” Aari then punched Dimitri twice in the stomach, then once to the side of his head which knocked him to the floor.

Carmen was watching this so Carine used the opportunity to become visible so she wouldn’t scare Carmen. She then went over to her. “Come with me Carmen,” she said, “I will take you away from here to a place where you will be safe.” Then she bent over and whispered that she was a friend of Kat and Jennifer. Carmen then got up slowly and went outside with Carine and into a waiting car. Kat and Jennifer were in the car, with Sky doing the driving. Carine then went back inside after telling them that Dimitri had been bouncing Carmen around. “Are you okay?” asked Jennifer as they drove away.

“Yes, it’s been worse,” she said with her head down. “I don’t think you have been completely honest with us,” said Kat, “perhaps it’s time to change that, so we can protect you properly.” They drove directly to their hotel where they could talk. She told them that things began to happen about 18 months ago. Vincent changed at that time and just kept telling her not to ask questions. That’s when people started coming around, important people, like CEOs of companies, people in government, top people in the police, fire department, wealthy people.

And always there would be beautiful young women that would come over at the same time. They would go with the men into the round room, which used to be their bedroom. Carmen wanted a round bedroom, she thought it would be fun, and it was for about a year, then they moved out of that room and it was used for “other purposes”, as Vincent would say. Then Dimitri began coming around too and Vincent was always scared of him and was angry after Dimitri left. So, he then took out his anger on her. It wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on, but she was too scared to tell anyone.

Kat then asked her about the grave under the basement floor. The shocked look on Carmen’s face told Kat and Jennifer that she genuinely knew nothing about the grave. “Honest, I knew nothing about that!” she exclaimed, “I knew there was work going on, but Vincent told me he was putting in a secret vault under the floor for our valuables. Though I didn’t know what valuables he was talking about, we didn’t have anything much. The only item of value we have is the house, that took all of our money and we had to borrow the rest from some man that Vincent met accidentally one day. His name is Rufino Marchetti. I want to tell you something else too, but I’m afraid of Mr. Marchetti, if people don’t do what he says they end up dead.”

“Did you get all this Steve?” asked Jennifer. “Yep, and Melody is already working on the Marchetti character.” I said “Carmen, my name is Steve and I’m Jennifer’s husband, we can protect you from Marchetti, please trust us and help us so we can help you. Tell us everything you know so we can stop that man from hurting you and other people too.” “Steve, why is Melody working on this?” asked Jennifer, “It should be Cristy during the day.” “She came down sick this morning,” I replied, “plus 2 other girls as well. Samantha said it was just a flu.”

“Well, make sure you isolate yourself from the others for a while,” said Jennifer. I’m in my office where Samantha wants me to stay for a while and only the ghosts are allowed to visit me. Actually, Friskie is staying with me all the time, she is worried that being alone too much might affect me adversely and Samantha agreed, so she gave the order for Friskie to stay with me. Sigh. I’m the leader yet everyone gives me orders. I need a vacation. I mentioned this to Friskie and smiled. She didn’t seem to agree with me.

Anyway, my office is better than my room at the clinic though. Here I have lots of window space and a good view of the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately, with the ban on regular visitors right now, it also means a ban on donuts. I asked Friskie to get some donuts for us but she just frowned at me saying something about Samantha said no donuts. Sigh. Later, when Friskie returned from her break, she had two gifts for me. One was from Steffie and one from Misty.

I told Friskie she could leave again for an hour or so, that way I could nap. She seemed to not trust me for some reason, but she left. I opened Steffie’s gift, 2 donuts! I finished them quickly, then I opened Misty’s gift, 5 donuts! Good thing Friskie had brought some fresh coffee with her before. After that I needed a nap! Suddenly there was loud noise of rattling paper next to my ear which certainly woke me up quickly. “You interrupted my nap!” I exclaimed. “You got your daughter in trouble,” she said calmly, “that’s not nice.”

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.