Our team of 4 guards, with Gabriel and Josephine, arrived at the grandparents home and found the garage and 3 other small buildings had been burned down. The girls went into the house first to look around, but nothing seemed to be wrong, so they let Gabriel and Josephine come in and check next. Muffin and Storm went around sniffing, getting accustomed to the different scents at the house.

Then Muffin growled as she sniffed under the couch. Someone had put a bomb under the couch and it was set up in a way that when anyone sat on that spot, it would set a timer and the bomb would detonate one hour later. Very nice, these people. I told them to look around more carefully now, there could be other little “gifts” left in different places. However, they couldn’t find anything else.

They did put scramblers throughout the house, in every room they would be using, just in case some listening devices had been left behind. Tony and Camille must have hired some professional help to get these things done. That means they don’t mind spending some money and that’s not good for us. I told Katresa to ask if we could send 3 more to help out, this is looking more dangerous than I had anticipated.

The grandparents said we could send as many as we like, they have 8 bedrooms! I was going to send Sky and some of her team, but Jennifer didn’t like that idea. She wanted the Bad Girls here to look after things, meaning me. So she went instead and took with her Engla, Roxette and Nicole. She also took her own cat, Jewel, along as well. Unknown to me, Jennifer had a quick meeting with the remainder of our team.

“Just because Steve is a ghost,” said Jennifer, “doesn’t mean you girls can relax. You are to guard Steve just like normal, got that? Don’t leave him alone, no matter what he says or how much he complains, got that?” “Don’t worry Jennifer,” said Sky, “we will all watch him closely. He is a ghost now, remember?” “I know that,” she said, “but I still worry about him. He’s a bit clumsy yet and doesn’t think sometimes, and gets into trouble too often.”

Jennifer and her team then left, heading off to the grandparents house right after breakfast the next day. I didn’t want them going and arriving during the night. Cristy had found out where Tony worked and he was quite high up in that tech company, which meant his income was around 300,000 euros per year. Not too bad really. Cristy was having some difficulty trying to find out what that company actually did though.

That is rather strange. Anyway, Misty will pay him a visit at his office, something he likely won’t be happy about. That’s okay, right now he shouldn’t be happy anyway. Meanwhile, over in Milan. “That’s the building Misty,” said Brandy. “Good, and his office is on the 8th floor,” said Misty, “so, let’s go girls!” In they went and over to the elevators. No one else was waiting, so they got on and up they went.

There was Misty, Kitty, Kristina, Astrid, Sapphire and Sigrid, as well as Sunny and Tracker. The cats would be checking the office for signs of children, any children. “I’m sorry,” said the secretary, “but you cannot see Mr. Mancini without an appointment. He is a very busy man.” “Yes, I’m quite sure he is busy doing nothing important,” said Misty, looking sternly at the secretary, “and we will not take up much of his time.”

But Tony’s office door was locked and the secretary said, “I told you, now leave and I won’t call for security.” “You have no way to call your security people,” said Misty smiling, “open the door Kristina.” So, that is what Kristina did, by just turning the door knob, which broke in several pieces as she did so. Then she pushed open the door and the girls walked in with a somewhat hysterical secretary following them and apologizing to Mr. Mancini.

Tony called for his security people, but no one answered. “I’m so sorry,” said Misty, “but it seems your internal security systems are not working today. But I don’t plan on taking up much of your time. My name is Misty, I was a good friend of your sister-in-law, you know, the one that was murdered along with her husband last year.” “That was an accidental death, Miss,” he said, “now leave here or I will call the police.”

“Go ahead,” said Misty, “that will not stop me and my friends from finding the murderers. And we may not need to look very far either.” Misty was staring right into Tony’s eyes at that point, something that Misty is very good at doing. “And what is that supposed to mean?” said Tony indignantly, “It was ruled an accidental death.”

“But you and I know that it was no accident,” said Misty, “and then you dare to abduct their children, knowing that the grandparents are the rightful guardians of the children. And you are trying to sue them over some false claims of mental health problems.” “They are not the rightful guardians!” shouted Tony, “We are, that is what they wanted if anything should happen to them!”

“Not according to their will that was found in a hidden safe at their flat,” said Misty casually, “which is now in the hands of the grandparents’ lawyers. I would say that you and your wife will be in serious trouble very soon. I would also suggest that you produce those children alive and unharmed very soon also, because I have a very bad temper and very little patience. Good day Mr. Mancini.”

Then the girls walked out, went down the elevator and out the building. At that point everything in the building began working again. Tony then called his wife. “I don’t like that Tony,” she said, “my sister always said she had powerful friends, but she never produced any or mentioned any names.” “That’s just great,” he said, “how come you didn’t tell me this before now?”

“My sister was always making up stories about this and that,” said Camille, “it was hard to know what was true and what was false.” “Well, it seems this one is true,” he said, “and that could mean big trouble for us.” Meanwhile…”Patience my dear,” said a male voice, “he will soon be coming out of the house…”

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.