Rock turns back to Kat, tears flowing down his cheeks. “She is dead…DEAD!”, he called out. Everyone just stood there, looking around. Rock gets up, Kat knew what he was thinking. “Rock, no, settle down and remember our rules,” she said quietly but sternly, “there are others we need to find and we have to be careful about how we do things now.” Rock stopped, “yes, you are right.” Then he knelt down beside Annelie’s body. “Hey, our phones are not working,” said Jennifer, “just like out on the desert.”

“That is why their alarms did not work,” said Kat, “a couple of you go out to one of the cars and try to call Chung and Baldwin, drive off the property if you need to, but be careful!” Carine, Kristina and Brigetta went out. Once in the car their phones worked. “Chung,” began Carine, “do you have any security over there?” “Yes, 6 men are with me,” he said. “Bring them, and both ambulances, to the chateau,” she said, “it is bad, Annelie is dead, we do not know yet about the others, we just arrived.”

“We come right away,” said Chung. “Baldwin, where are you?”, asked Kristina, “you were supposed to be at the chateau.” “Things got busy at the security company,” he said, “is something wrong over there?” “Annelie is dead, we do not know about the others, we are going to start searching now,” she answered. “I am on my way, with more men too!”, he exclaimed. The girls went back inside. “Both are coming,” said Carine.

Kat went over to the big library table and noticed an envelope, on it was written, “you are too late”. She opened it and read the note inside. “You will find the other two ladies upstairs, and those horrible furry creatures. I will be nice and warn you about moving their bodies. Remember, never mess with the Stinger, I never lose! A moonlight swim is so nice this time of year.” “Steve is in the pool!”, yelled Kat. Rock and Benjamin ran out their and found my body floating in the water.

Rock jumped in and brought me out. Just then Chung and the ambulances arrived. Rock came carrying my body to one of the ambulances. “Quick, put him here,” said Chung, “Rock, put hand here and hit hard.” Rock did as he was told, several times. They were already pumping water out of my lungs too. “Yes, he is breathing now,” said Chung happily, “quick now, bring Annelie.” Rock was quick and had Annelie out there.

“This time we use these,” said Chung. Soon Annelie’s heart was beating again, though very weak, and they were giving her blood. Nyura and Brigetta were busy helping Chung. Baldwin and his men arrived next and went inside. Kat and the others had gone upstairs and found Lajla and Aurela tied together with explosives tied to them. They had been shot but were only wounded, one in the shoulder, the other in the leg. The cats were in the hall closet.

Meow.=He knock us out with some gas, we not able to fight or he kill human Steve, now we have bomb on each of us, if we move too much it go boom! Meow,meow.=Yes, me very scared, not like having boom boom on me. Meowr.=Me feel so embarrassed, getting caught like helpless kitten. Meow.=Yep, me feel same way, need to get bomb off soon or that end of 3 cats. “Lajla and Aurela have bombs attached to them also,” said Jennifer, “okay MC, you are the bomb expert, how do we get them off without going “boom!”?”

Meow.=I been training Storm too, he get good, now his chance to do big work. He can see me and bomb, he tell you what to do, then I help with other bombs. Meowr.=But me just learning, not do real bomb yet. Meow.=Now is big chance, I know you can do it. “I trust you too Storm,” said Jennifer, “we need you right now, just tell me what to do.” “No way,” said Angel, “you are too important Jenny, I will do it. And besides, Storm is my cat, this will be our chance to work together.”

“Okay Angel,” said Kat, “it is up to you and Storm, the rest of us will stay back.” It was a grueling half hour, but they did it and MC was free! MC was going to do Storm next, but he insisted that he do Muffin next. He had them both free in 15 minutes, then it was on to Lajla and Aurela. Meow!=This not good, have timer and time almost gone! Everyone go now! MC stayed, with Storm to help, but only seconds left…

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.