Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Coffee And Thoughts For Thursday. #6
Good morning to everyone on this beautiful Thursday! The coffee is ready and it is time to sit and relax for a bit. It was so nice early this morning, sky was clear blue, the sun was shining and then…the clouds moved in and so did the wind. However, now it is a mix of sun and cloud. However, the wind remains strong which will make it challenging for pictures today. It is quite difficult to take a photo of an insect that is holding onto a leaf which is blowing back and forth in the wind.
But, sometimes it works, and sometimes it does not. On Tuesday I saw a beautiful dragonfly, all a nice shiny gold, even the wings reflected a gold color in them. I tried to sneak up behind it, but to no avail, it flew and I never found it again. I went back to that spot yesterday and got pictures of a different dragonfly, but that beautiful gold one was nowhere to be seen. I will try again today if the sun continues to shine.
Taking photos of insects can be quite fun, there are so many different species and some are quite colorful. Like that little green bee I have been trying to get. Thought I had it, but it just was not clear enough. So I am still trying. That is the one that stung me earlier. It also stung me twice last year. Not the same bee, but the same species. Then yesterday morning I spotted this little bug on a leaf. Aha, I have been trying to get its photo too.
So I slowly move in, and had to move a few leaves out of the way, amazingly it did not move. So I am right next to this little tree and something catches my eye, off to my right, just as I am about to take my picture. I move my eyes a bit to get a better look. I was horrified. There, sitting on a leaf, right next to (and I mean right next to) my cheek was a Bald-faced Hornet! These critters are huge and can be very mean. They have a large stinger and can sting multiple times. It can be bad, and painful.
So I move very slowly, hoping I do not disturb it. It sits there but crawls around a bit on the leaf. I get nervous. But hey, what an opportunity. I move my camera slowly over and take several pics of this hornet. The noise of the camera, though quiet, must have got its attention and it began to fly circles around me. Now what? Running is not a good option.
So like the nature photographer I am, I did the only reasonable thing. Faint. I laid down first so I would not hurt the camera. Whew, he left. So did I. In a hurry. Back down the hill and…stop Steve! That huge wasp was flying slowly back and forth across the narrow garden path. Great. Now what? Oh, what is this? Another tiny flying insect on one of the potentilla flowers. I have been trying to get a photo of that one too.
Suddenly my brain shuts down to the fact of this huge wasp flying around and all I can see is this other tiny insect. But I missed again. However, the wasp also disappeared. Somewhere. So I left in a hurry and came back inside for a break. Well, I hope you enjoyed our coffee time today, thank you for coming by! Have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. Back To Iceland. Chapter 7. Changing John.
“You know boss, I have been thinking,” said Brian, Harmon’s bodyguard. “That is a surprise,” said Harmon quietly, “what about?” “Well, if that guy has people watching our people,” continued Brian, “then he would need at least 2 to watch our people 24 hours, 12 hour shifts. That means he has 400 people out there, that is a big organization.” “And your point is what?”, asked Harmon.
“Well, how come we do not know about him?”, asked Brian, “The Company knows about every large organization around the world. And Mikkael maybe was working with this guy. Maybe he gave him the books ahead of time, or told him where they were just in case.” “All this is not making me feel better Brian,” said Harmon, “get to the point.” “Well, maybe this guy is lying and does not have the money or the books,” said Brian.
“We know he has Mikkael’s notebook,” Harmon reminded him, “call some more of our people and see if they are being watched.” Brian did so, calling over 80 of the people on the list and all said they were being watched. “Okay,” said Harmon, “that just makes me more nervous. If that guy finds out Steve has been killed, he will have us killed. If he contacts the directors, they will have us killed. Either way we are dead!”
“Maybe not boss,” said Brian, “I did some figuring. It’s the end of the month, so Mikkael would have a big haul in that safe of his. Plus he just finished the biggest deal for drugs we have ever had in Europe and all that money is in the safe too. There would be millions in there right now.” Harmon thought a bit. “Okay, maybe it would be worth checking that safe,” he said, “I am paying those cops guarding the place so there will not be any problems.
If that money is there, we take it and run to hide somewhere. Lots of places to hide around the world and we could live good too.” “Shall I get the car?”, asked Brian. Soon they were on their way. Meanwhile at the hospital…The police officer poked his head in the room and said there was a man wanting to come in. Rock took a look and saw it was John. “Let him come in,” said Kat. John came slowly into the room just as Chung was giving me an injection of some herbal remedy.
“Very ancient remedy,” he said, “very potent, maybe work good.” “Does it always work?”, asked John. Chung was silent, then answered, “half time.” He then left the room. “I am really sorry Kat,” said John, “I thought this would make me happy, but it does not.” “You are a hard man to figure out John,” she said. “Yeah, I am finding that out too,” he said, “I really wanted to help on this one.” “You did a good job,” said Kat, “I thank you for that.”
“Yeah, a good job,” said John looking at me lying in the bed dying, “then why is he lying there? Kat, stay away from Harmon. Your team cannot do things right now, it would not look good. But I am not limited like you, so I will get Harmon for you…and Steve. He will make it Kat, just stay with him.” Then off he went. “He really is a hard man to figure out,” said Baldwin shaking his head. All 3 cats were with me too, purring loudly.
Meanwhile…”Yeah, who is it?”, said Harmon answering his phone. “Remember me?”, said Jake, “you are one stupid man Harmon, killing Steve was the worst thing you could do. Now you die too.” “No, no, wait, you have it wrong,” said Harmon, “it wasn’t me, it was that John guy, he has been after Steve for years, you must know that. He threw the bomb through the window, he knew that would divert attention away from him and at me and that’s the truth. You can believe that can’t you?”
“Well, it sounds plausible,” said Jake, “but somehow I just do not trust you. Why are you heading to the lodge? I told you I emptied that safe already. Want proof?” Then Jake starting reading some facts from the other books found in the safe. Plus let him know how much money was in there from the record book with all the receipts.
“You will not be leaving this island alive Harmon,” said Jake, “I know Steve is still alive, barely, but if he dies, you will too. Now, I know you have money in investments and Steve’s widow needs money, so now you give me an additional $10,000,000 for the widow fund. That is on top of dropping all charges. I will be in touch.” Then Jake hung up. “How come he could get my number and we cannot find his?”, growled Harmon. “He has a big organization boss,” said Brian, “better not try fight him.”
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 