We kept looking around after finding Stinger’s rifle and note. We finally found his tent very well concealed under the pines and covered with pine branches. He obviously left the area on a motorcycle, and in a hurr,y. No way to catch him now so we call Benjamin to come back and pick us up. He had stayed close to the area but far enough away to stay safe. The ladder dropped down and we climbed back into the helicopter. “Benjamin, how did Stinger manage to shoot through that window?”, I ask him.

“No idea Steve,” he answered, “this is one of Baldwin’s special choppers, it is built like a tank and with bullet proof glass, I just do not understand it. He ordered it especially for our trip today so we would be safe.” “But yet we nearly died with it,” I replied. Benjamin landed at the chateau, we now have a special helicopter pad on the property. I told everyone not to say anything about our trip until I come into the library. The cats, Kat and I go off to our bedroom and I turn on the scrambler so we can talk safely. I brought Storm with us too.

“Okay cats, I want to know first of all what you think of our new team members,” I said, “are they trustworthy?” Meow,meow.=Me think all okay, no bad thoughts about any, though something seem not quite right with human Lajla. Meow.=Me agree with Muffin, not think human Lajla bad really, but something odd with her. Meowr.=I new, not sure I should say something. “Yes, you are new Storm, but I want to know your opinion too,” I told him.

Meowr.=Okay, me agree too, human Lajla hide something, like she is spy. Others okay to me also. “Hmm, that is interesting,” said Kat, “but who is Lajla spying for? Is she working for John? She could not be the only traitor though since Candace was killed before she came here.” “True,” I said, “I do not think she is the traitor, but if she is a spy, then that would make her bad, but you cats said she was not bad.”

Meow,meow.=Still not think she bad, but maybe she is good spy. Meowr.=Oh, that is good thought. Meow?=But how she can be spy and not be bad? “Hmm, that is something to think about,” I said, “now I notice that none of you have talked with any of our new team members, is there a reason for that?” Meow,meow.=We be really careful right now because so many killed, just not want to take chances. The other two said the same thing.

“What about Aurela?”, I asked them, “she is not really a team member, what do you say about her?” Meow.=Me think she is very nice, she little mixed up maybe, but she is trustingable. Meow,meow.=Yep, me say same thing, she make good additive to team. Meowr.=Yep, me too say too, she not bad. “Good,” said Kat, “that is what I have been thinking as well. Actually I like all of them, they will add different strengths to our team.”

“Yes, I agree with all of you,” I said, “now we go and name the traitor.” The cats look at each other with ears straight up. Even Kat looked a bit puzzled as we all went down to the library. I whispered to the cats and off they went. “About time you came back,” said Baldwin impatiently, “no one will say anything.” “I told them not to,” I said, “I know who the traitor is now.” Everyone looked around. “Where is Shirley?”, I asked, “I wanted everyone here for this.”

“She got sick suddenly after breakfast,” explained Baldwin, “so she is at the clinic.” “Oh, sorry to hear that,” I said, “okay then, Baldwin, are you sure you are the only one that knew when Lajla and Meja were coming? You did not say anything?” “That is right, I wanted to make sure it was kept secret, I did not even tell Shirley,” he answered. “But you do talk to yourself a lot, perhaps you mentioned it then?”, I asked again.

“Possibly, I would never remember that,” he said, “but I see what you are saying, someone could have heard me.” “Yes, and it was your company that did the bullet proof glass in here which was not finished, putting Kat (or Jenny really) in danger.” Baldwin frowned. “This morning you ordered a helicopter for us, one of your ‘tanks’ and yet we were given a different one, so Stinger was able to shoot and kill Joshua which almost killed all of us,” I continued.

Baldwin looked right at me with his mouth open. “Hey now, that was one of my best choppers, number 10,” said Baldwin sternly. “It was number 9,” said Benjamin. Baldwin just stared. “Why…that is impossible,” he said quietly. Just then the cats came into the room. Meowr=You right, it not securing lines but listen lines. Baldwin looked at Storm. “Now, now, wait a minute…”, he said. Annelie and Kat did not want to, but they took out their guns. “It is obvious now who the traitor is,” I said…

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.