Pictures in my mind. They did not make sense. Kristina, Kat, Candace, Carine, the cats and I stayed at the old house, the others went back to the hotel for the night. We wanted to stay here tonight. There is no electricity in this old house, so we are using candles. Plus there is the light of a full moon shining through the mist, giving a haunting feeling to the house and yard. Something is not right. Rock and Annelie had brought us pizza and then left again. Now there is something I did not expect to see.

As they walked out to the car, they were holding hands. Annelie finally got through to him. Kat noticed it too and smiled at me. While we ate we also talked about the house and what might be going on here. But none of it really made much sense. And those pictures…suddenly one of them stood out, I saw something clearly that I had seen before, but just did not pay attention to it. On that first case both John and Lydia claimed to be heirs of this woman in the painting. John’s claim was easily dismissed.

But before we found out who the “ghost” really was, I had seen John out in his truck one time with a woman. They had been kissing, but then I saw her face, but I never paid attention to it until now. It was Lydia. She and John were working together, looking for the lost treasure. Because of John’s obvious false claim, no one really paid attention to Lydia’s claim, so she got the gold dishes. As was normal with all the women that John finds to work with him, she died in a fire.

I think John wanted all the gold for himself and killed her, starting a fire to make it look like that is how she died. I told the others what some of those pictures were that I keep “seeing”, and my thoughts on the connections. Everyone agreed with me. “Now, the fact John is still interested in this place means he believes there is still treasure to be found here,” I said, “but if there is anything, it rightly belongs to Carine now.” “That means it belongs to me,” said a voice in the shadows, “because Carine belongs to me.” Carine gasped, “it is Benji!”

That’s right girl, now get over here, you are my property,” he said. “She is no one’s property coward,” I said firmly. “Listen PI, there is a gun pointed at your head right now, so get out of the way,” he demanded. “What is the matter coward, do you always need someone else to fight for you?”, I asked him, “or are you willing to fight me yourself for Carine. If you win, then she is yours. But, just you and me, no helpers.” “Deal PI, but toss your weapons away,” he demanded.

“No Steve, I am not worth it, he will kill you,” said Carine with tears. “She’s right PI, why fight for that witch?” said Benji. “I am fighting for the beautiful woman she is, and that beauty comes from her heart,” I said, “something you would know nothing about coward.” I told Carine and Kat to stay behind me and I meowed orders to the cats. They disappeared under the couch. I toss my backpack aside and give my gun to Candace. Then I begin to walk toward Benji. “Don’t do it Steve,” cried Carine, “you don’t know Benji.” Then I felt a stinging on my arm.

I looked and saw that I was bleeding. Then the same stinging on my chest…and a second time. It happened fast. He had some kind of whip. It hit the side of my head next but I managed to grab it and pulled hard. Benji went to the floor. I ran over and kicked him hard and pulled the whip from his hands and tossed it to Kristina. But Benji was on his feet again and those hands of his were weapons enough. He threw them around faster than I could move.

Then a voice came that said, “his lower back!” Benji got behind me and 3 times hit my lower back, knocking me to the floor. Kat put her head down, she knew how much that would have hurt me. Kristina was about to move in to help but Kat shook her head, “no”. That voice was John! Benji went to stomp on my back but I managed to roll over and kick with all my strength and I tripped Benji. He was lying down but pulled a knife and stabbed my leg.

But I did something I learned from Rock and landed with one knee on his arm and the other on the hand holding the knife. He screamed in pain. I’m sure some fingers were broken that time. The fighting continued for a bit, but finally I had him in a position that I could use something else I learned from Rock. That left Benji lying on the floor groaning in pain. Kat ran over hugging me tight. Carine came over too, “I, I don’t…” “Just start by giving him a good hug,” said Kat smiling. So that is what she did. But in the shadows by the fireplace, a man with a gun, pointed at Carine and I. Three shots rang out…

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.