It has been a couple of weeks since our last case, which was fast, furious and dangerous, sending 8 or our girls to the clinic with various wounds, some very serious. Some of those girls are out of the clinic now and slowly exercising their way back to health. It will take longer for some others. I was in the clinic for a while too since after a certain explosion, something went wrong with my head. I thought Dawn was Jennifer, and that Jennifer was Dawn.

Jennifer thought it was quite funny at first, and still does actually. But she did see it was more serious than mistaken identity that would only be brief. Misty said it was time for everyone to pray for me since nothing else was working. So, they did. Then Misty came up to me and punched me hard on the side of the head, then flipped me over her shoulder. “Do you feel any better?” she asked. “I was feeling just fine before,” I replied, “but I’m not so sure now.”

“Hmm, maybe I should have hit the other side of your head,” she said, “can I try again?” “No!” I replied emphatically, “Once is quite sufficient.” “Hmm, don’t you want to help further medical science?” she asked. “Not if it means dying a second time,” I said, and I disappeared. “Aha, there you are,” said Jennifer as she entered our bedroom, “poor Misty was just trying to help you.” “Poor Misty?” I asked, “What about poor Steve?”

Jennifer began to giggle, then chuckle, then outright laugh. Sigh. She decided to lie down with me. “At least I have my beautiful wife Jennifer by my side,” I said and I put my arm around her. “Did you just guess my name, or did you actually recognize me?” she asked. I looked at her and smiled. “I just noticed,” I said, “I do recognize you now!” “There, you see?” said Jennifer, “Misty did help you.”

“I think maybe it was the praying, not the punching that did it,” I said smiling, “now it’s time to deal with all this pressure, before I collapse.” “And how will you deal with that?” she asked. I just lay there silent for a while. “Is your hearing gone now?” she asked. “No, I, well, I, am just not quite sure how to do this,” I said to her, “but something has to be done. Please don’t be too upset if something odd happens very soon.”

“And what do you mean by that?” she asked, “No secrets allowed!” “Well, there might need to be one secret this time,” I said, “but only for a short time.” “I don’t think I like that idea,” she said, looking at me. “But it’s necessary,” I said, “please trust me on this one, or you won’t have much of a husband left.” “Maybe a little hint,” I said smiling. “You are bad,” she said, “I should slap you for that.”

Early the next morning just as it was barely getting daylight, Jennifer had a dream, and I was in it. “I have to disappear for a short time,” I said, “but I will be back. Everything will be fine, please trust me, I need to do this or I will definitely collapse. I need time to think without anyone around. Look after the girls, I love you all.” “No, No, NO, NOOOOOOO!” yelled Jennifer and she woke up screaming.

That was heard by Cristy who monitors everything and she hit the Red Alert Leader 1 button and the alert was blared all around the chateau, though not at the men’s chateau. They only hear the Code Red alerts. Anyway, everyone came running to our bedroom, though Sky was there first. Others came in soon and Sky sent them out to look around the property for me and they were to go in groups of 8, except the ghosts.

After everyone was gone, except for Sky and Kat, Jennifer slowly calmed down and told them what I had said to her. So Sky called everyone back inside. Sky is in charge of security this month, which is why she was giving orders and not Kat. Once everyone was back inside, Sky announced to everyone what had happened. “Cristy,” said Sky, “why are the guys not here yet?” “Because it was a Red Alert, not a Code Red,” replied Cristy.

“Please send them a Code Red Leader 1.” “Good as done!” said Cristy. Sky sighed loudly. The guys were just sitting down to eat breakfast with Rock looking forward to his 20 pancakes, dozen eggs and huge pile of bacon, just as the Code Red came through. Everyone was outside and on their motorcycles amazingly fast. Rock had managed to grab several syrup covered pancakes on his way! They made it to our chateau in record time too.

Meanwhile, I was walking along a sidewalk looking for a restaurant that was open so that I could have breakfast. I took a fairly large amount of cash from our safe because I knew they would be watching for me to use my credit card or debit card, then they could find me. There’s a restaurant up ahead, I hope they are open this early. It was open and in I went and sat down. I was the only one in there except for two waitresses that were sitting drinking coffee.

One of them came to me with some nice hot coffee and a menu. I ordered the breakfast special and she disappeared into the kitchen. She then returned with another cup of coffee and sat down with me. “It is such a beautiful morning and you sit here so sad,” she said, “I would say you need a friend to help bring a smile back to your face.” I smiled when she said that. “There we go,” she said with a big smile, “that looks so much better. You sound like a Canadian.”

“That’s right,” I said, “and you also sound like a Canadian, and a long way from home too.” “I could say that about you too,” she said. “But I’m a tourist,” I said, “you are obviously living here.” She looked at me. “It is not nice to lie to your new friend,” she said, “you are not here as a tourist, otherwise you would be happy. Every trail and every trial is lighter when sharing it with a friend. So, let’s be friends, okay?”

“Deal,” I said, “my name is Steve, what’s yours?” “Celestine,” she said. “A beautiful name and a beautiful mineral,” I said, “given to you no doubt because of your beautiful blue eyes.” “Yes, that’s right,” she said, “are you a geologist maybe?” “No, not even close,” I said, “but I do collect minerals as a hobby.” “And you’re married too, I see,” she said, pointing to the ring on my finger, “does that mean you are running away from your wife?”

“No, I am certainly not doing that,” I said, “but I have been under a lot of pressure and stress lately and needed time away to think.” “So, your wife knows you are here?” she asked after the other waitress brought my breakfast. “Um, well, no,” I said, “she knows I was going away, but I told her I couldn’t tell her where I was going, I just needed to be totally alone from everyone for a while.”

“Is that a hint?” she asked, “Like I said, things are better shared with a friend, and since you don’t know me and I don’t know you, then I can be an impartial friend and give you some impartial advice. If you want it.” “That might be a good idea,” I said…

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.