For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Well, we have Friskie and Steffie safely with us at Jazzy’s house, although I’m not sure that is particularly safe. I communicated this with Jennifer and she agreed that we need to send them home right away. At breakfast we had been talking about the best way to hurt Schultz and Koffman right now. “That’s easy,” said Jazzy, “hit their wallets, or bank accounts, or wherever they keep their money. Also, interrupt some of their money making schemes by stopping some drug shipments, gun shipments or whatever.
Hit their nightclubs, things like that.” “I know where they keep a lot of their money,” said Friskie, “I overheard them talking a couple weeks ago about their numbered accounts in Switzerland banks. I even memorized their numbers once they left the home office. I just sneaked in and got the numbers which they had left on the desk. I had to memorize them or they might find out I took the numbers and then hurt Steffie.” She then gave me the numbers and I smiled. “This will help a lot,” I said, “now we will start getting some distrust going between the two. I wonder which one has the most men?”
“That’s easy,” said Friskie, “it would be Koffman. Schultz mostly uses the Dogs to do his dirty work, then no one can pin the blame on him, the gang did it. He uses them for his extortion business, drug shipments, getting women for his sex business and any time he needs some muscle. He will likely be sending them after you and Jazzy now that you rescued me and Steffie. And those Dogs don’t have any rules but their own, they are cruel, enjoy killing and just generally love to hurt people.”
“Yes, that reminds me,” I said, “I have been talking with Jennifer and we agree that you and Steffie would be safer at our chateau than here. So, after breakfast Sky will take you home.” “We going home, like real home?” asked Steffie. “Well, we are going to live with uncle Steve for a while,” said Friskie, “until we decide what we want to do.” Steffie looked at her mom, then over at me, then she came over to me and wanted up on my lap, so I lifted her onto my lap. “Can we live with you uncle Steve, like forever?” she asked.
“You and your mom are welcome to live with us as long as you want to,” I told her. She once again produced her big smile and hugged me tight. “Now, you and your mom need to hold aunt Sky’s hands so you can go home and wait for me,” I told her, “and there’s lots of cats to play with at home too.” Wow, did she run fast over to Sky when I mentioned the cats! After they were gone I got in touch with Cristy and gave her the numbered accounts for Schultz and Koffman. Then I told her what I wanted her to do.
“Is that legal?” she asked. “Cristy, these are two criminals involved in murder and sex trafficking,” I told her. “Right, who cares about legalities,” she said, “I will get to work on it right away.” “Thank you Cristy,” I said, “and tell Misty I would like her to spend an hour a day with Steffie, helping to look after her a bit.” Cristy began laughing, loud and long. Then she reminded me that Misty knows nothing about kids and won’t want to do it. Then I told her to tell Misty she won’t have to help in the kitchen anymore if she does this. “YES!!” exclaimed Cristy, “I will let her know right away!”
Meanwhile, “But I don’t know how to look after kids,” Misty told Cristy in private. “Steve said if you do it then you won’t have to work in the kitchen anymore,” said Cristy smiling. “I love kids!” said Misty, “I’m the best babysitter around!” When the other girls heard the news there were cheers all over the chateau. Back to us. The Dog Dragons didn’t know that Jazzy’s three guards actually worked for Schultz, so when they came outside later that morning, the Dogs roared past on their motorcycles, shooting as they went by.
Two of the three were killed, the other was seriously wounded and was taken to hospital. Schultz was angry, but Klaus reminded him that they were not told about those 3 men, so it was not their fault. I wanted to send Jazzy back to our chateau as well, but she reminded me that she does not run and she hired us to protect her, among other things. Okay, she has a point. Anyway, later Cristy called and said the work was done, she opened a numbered account for us and took 30% of Schultz’ money and 20% of Koffman’s money, transferring it to our account.
She said they both had the same amount of money in their accounts which was interesting. Also, they didn’t have as much money as I thought they would have. But Jazzy said they may have other accounts elsewhere, or money might be tied up in investments of various kinds, including real estate. I then asked Cristy to check on real estate holdings by these two partners, and to get the other girls checking too. I then staged a fake hit on us by the Black Wolves since I figured the Dog Dragons are likely watching right now to see why the Wolves are here and giving them a hard time.
I don’t want them to think that the Wolves are working for us. So, early that afternoon the Black Wolves came along, stopping briefly in front of Jazzy’s house, shooting at the house, breaking several of the windows, then they left in a hurry. As they did, the girls rushed out the front door and shot at them, but of course, not hitting anyone. “That’s right Klaus,” said the man, “those Black Wolves attacked Jazzy’s house and as they took off, those Investigators came out shooting at them.” “I wonder who they are working for?” asked Klaus, “I don’t like it, someone else is getting involved and that could be bad for us.”
Next, Klaus went to visit Schultz and told him about the Black Wolves. “I don’t like it,” said Schultz, “who else is moving into our territory?” “Hey boss,” said Mendel, “did you move some money out of your Swiss account?” “What? No, I certainly did not!” he exclaimed. “Well, you just lost about 15 million euros from that account,” he remarked, “it was taken out yesterday, apparently by you.” “Well, I did not!” he exclaimed again, “Let me see that!”
He then called Koffman who told Schultz that he lost 10 million from his account yesterday as well. Koffman said he knew about the Black Wolves and didn’t like their involvement. “It means someone with a good deal of money is involved,” he said, “but as long as they go after the Investigators, that’s okay.” Then Schultz told him they also went after the Dog Dragons and told them to stay away from him if they want to stay healthy.
Koffman suggested hitting the Wolves fast and hard so they know it’s better to go back home to Canada. “Good idea, I will get the Dragons on it right away,” said Schultz, “a nice surprise attack should do the trick.” Meanwhile, back to us. “Those Dogs are planning a surprise attack Aari,” I told him, “time for you to surprise them instead.” “Good as done Steve,” said Aari, “they will regret not heeding our warning earlier.”
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Hi everyone and Happy Friday! It is a nice, sunny day here and quite pleasant for a winter day. The temperature is 12F (-11C) and it doesn’t seem to be so windy now like it was this morning. We might get a bit of snow tomorrow, though nothing serious. Actually, we haven’t even had one major snowstorm yet this winter which is rather unusual. It’s also rather nice.
This is actually nice weather for outdoor walking in the winter. It’s not so cold that you have to wear multi layers of clothing which is nice. It makes walking much easier as well. And, for someone like me who likes to take pictures while out walking, this weather is ideal too. Mainly because it’s much easier to use a camera with bare hands instead of trying to fumble around with heavy mitts on, which just doesn’t work too well.

That means taking the mitts off and hopefully taking the picture before my fingers freeze. It’s a perfect kind of day for a walk to the river. The path is still nice and hard from the snowmobile packing it down and people walking on it. The day of these pictures I’m showing today, it was a bit colder than it is now. The temperature was sitting at -20F with a light wind, still not too bad for taking pictures with bare hands.

I stopped in many places to get some winter photos of the snow among the trees. It was a cloudy day though and I’m not really a fan of cloudy weather for photos. Colors are much more vibrant when the sun shines. Anyway, I walked along the path and enjoyed the winter beauty. There wasn’t much bird activity that day though I did see a few chickadees in one spot along the path.
Once down at the river there was much more activity with the ducks swimming around. They were busy feeding, continually diving under the water to grab a passing minnow. They would spend their whole day on the river, then as the daylight was nearly gone they would fly to a spot down on the lake for the night. There are areas on the lake that never freeze, just like the river.

I’m not quite sure why they didn’t just stay at the river to sleep, they would save a lot of energy. But perhaps there are more dangers on the river. The snow is never as deep at the river, mainly because the wind blows it back into the trees. Then there is the walk back after spending some time watching the ducks, all were Common Goldeneyes that day, over 50 of them at that location.

It is so beautiful walking to the river, one of my favorite country pleasures, even in the winter. Though it is even nicer in the summer. Have a great weekend everyone and God bless!
Steve. ©2026 Steve McLeod.