Now back to us at Baldwin’s house. Meow.=Maybe we get in window, or try break in. “No M.C., this house will have a very good security system, there’s no way to break in without getting caught,” I said, “but I see it does need a numerical combination to get in.” “Hey, does that mean the combination we have?”, asked Kat. “Well, we can certainly try it,” I said, “but if we’re wrong, the lock will freeze up and the house will blow up in 10 minutes. And if that happens I imagine the gate won’t open for us either, which means we would be trapped here and trying to explain to the police why we are here.”

“Hmm, I’m sure John would love that,” said Kat, “he would have us in jail and laughing all the way. So, what do we do?” “Simple, we try the combination we have and hope it works,” I said, “and if it doesn’t work, we run…somewhere.” Meow,meow!=Wow, that be big explosion! Meow!=Yep, biggest fireworks yet! “Umm, let me remind you two, this isn’t a fun fireworks,” I said, “and get ready to run fast.” Meow,meow=Lots of trees at back, we hide there, maybe even climb over wall. “Somehow I don’t think I could climb over the wall,” I said, “but you 3 could, so that’s what you will do, and get away from here. Then call Rock for help.”

“Do you think I would leave you Steve?”, asked Kat. “Yes, this time you will,” I said, “you can be more helpful by not getting caught with me.” Kat just looked at me, then said, “Hmm, I guess you might be right, but I don’t like it.” Next I punched in our password and waited. There was some humming, then silence. So I tried the door and it opened! “Whew, my heart can start beating once more,” said Kat. The cats suddenly vanished as they looked around the huge room that we entered. This is actually just the entry of the house.

“And I thought our chateau was nice,” exclaimed Kat. Then a large man appeared in one of the doorways…it was Baldwin! “Welcome Steve and Kat to my little home by the sea,” then he laughed with his usual boisterous laugh, “the look on your faces right now, especially you Kat! Just priceless!” “I don’t believe it!”, exclaimed Kat. “Neither do I,” I said, “you’re not Baldwin, you’re John!” “Ah, but John no longer exists,” he said, “it’s Baldwin now and no one can prove me wrong.” John had several bodyguards with him, he wasn’t taking chances.

Then one of his men pulled a gun and shot at me. Kat was quick and shot back, killing the man, but the other guards had their guns on us quickly enough, and two showed up behind us taking our guns and holding us. “Thank you Kat for your quick reaction,” said John. Kat was a bit puzzled. “He wanted one of us to kill that man, now he can have us charged with murder and off to prison we go,” I told her. “Precisely,” said John, “now you will get to enjoy what I have enjoyed, but I will use my influence to make sure you stay there for a very long time.”

“But you have forgotten one very important detail.” We all looked on the stairway on the right side of the room. Another Baldwin was standing there about half way up the staircase. “Don’t worry dear Kat,” he said, “I’m the real Baldwin.” “Kill him!”, shouted John to his men and they fired several shots at him, but he just stood there laughing. “You can’t kill a man that’s already dead,” said Baldwin, “your bullets just go right through me.” And he pointed to the bullet holes in the wall behind him. The men holding Kat and I had loosened their grip while all this was going on.

I nodded to Kat and then yelled out, “Meow!” Thwock!, Thwock! At the same time Kat and I pulled forward then back went our heads right in our captors teeth. They yelled, but we had them knocked out very quickly, I grabbed the gun from one and shot another guard. There was another Thwock! while Kat went sliding across that polished marble floor, then on her hands as she swung around and kicked John right on his knee! Wow, what a loud crack! John screamed…a broken knee like that is extremely painful! Then another Thwock!, but this one hit John on his lower back!

John screamed again and then fell to the floor yelling out, “I surrender, I surrender!” I pointed my gun, ready to shoot, but Kat was back beside me and pulled my arm down. “You can’t shoot him now Steve,” she said, “you know that you can’t.” She was right, but it sure wasn’t easy to hold back, good thing Kat was there to help me. Meow,meow?=Me could do it, what they going to do to cat? “No Muffin, you will listen to this Kat and you and M.C. won’t do anything,” she said looking somewhat sternly at them. But this isn’t over yet.

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.