Soon we are back on the jet heading home. “Okay Baldwin,” I said, “time to catch you up to date with things on our side. I couldn’t tell you before since you were supposed to be dead and I didn’t want to be caught talking to a dead man.” Baldwin laughed and said, “yes, that would be difficult to explain for sure!” “Yep, so Annelie didn’t betray us,” I said, “she pretended to do so in order to bring John out in the open to try and kidnap Kat, that is Jennifer, who he could use to draw me out in the open to kill me.” “Except things didn’t go quite right,” added Jennifer, “so I pretended to kick Annelie, and Rock jumped in to try and get John, but he got away from us.”

“Right, and Annelie was arrested, which we had arranged with the police so she could be kept safe from John and also keep her cover safe,” I said, “so John would still think she betrayed us and maybe he would still work with her. But, someone came along and broke her out of jail.” “Yes,” said Jennifer, “and we don’t know who did it, and Annelie has only been able to tell us she’s okay, but nothing else so far.” “So you still have some contact with her then?”, asked Baldwin. “Yes,” I said, “somewhat like Muffin’s collar, she has an emergency button on her shoes, as long as they don’t take them from her.”

“Right,” added Jennifer, “and hopefully she will be able to turn on her transmitter so we can locate her. But so far there has been nothing from her.” “Okay,” said Baldwin, “now some news for you Steve. Kat is alive, but barely, and the doctor says she won’t live, there’s nothing more they can do for her. That’s why we were in such a hurry to leave for home. That bullet was close to her heart and then being buried so long, it was just too hard on her body. Hopefully we will get there in time.” “Then it’s up to you 2,” I said to the cats, “well, maybe all 3 of us. But you need to get up close to her and purr loudly for her.”

Meow,meow!=Yep, just like I do for you when you die and you come back to life again! Meow!=I help lots too and purr super loud! “Did Muffin actually bring you back to life Steve?”, asked Jennifer. “Yep, I was declared dead, but Muffin laid down on top of me and purred,” I said. Meow,meow!=Doctor say my purring start his heart purring again! Jennifer picked up Muffin and hugged her, then hugged M.C. too. “Well, then,” she said, “do it again for Kat!” We did get to the hospital in time and that purring, with me holding Kat’s hand seemed to change things for her and she started breathing better and her heart starting beating normally and on it’s own again.

A week later she was awake and actually eating and getting stronger. But still no word from Annelie which wasn’t good. If whoever kidnapped her found that transmitter in her shoe, she might have been killed and we will never know. Then a phone call came with bad news. John’s men had taken him from the hospital before he could be taken to the prison hospital. That’s not good at all. He’s going to be mad and out for revenge. And he’s also going to stay in a safe location so we can’t get at him. Where would that be? Hmm, I wonder…that is something he might do, not thinking we would look in such an obvious place.

“I’m going back to England,” I said to Baldwin. “What for?”, he asked. “To find John,” I said, “he started this affair at the Golden Wing Inn, and I believe that’s where he will be hiding. It’s too obvious, which makes it an excellent hiding place.” “You might be right,” said Baldwin, “but let me send Rock and his men instead, it’s too dangerous, you need to stay here right now.” “I would like Rock to come with me,” I said, “but I’m going too. This is really between him and me anyway.” “You’re stubborn Steve,” said Baldwin, “but you’re right, take Rock and his men.”

“Just 2 other men besides Rock and the cats,” I said, “and they can arrive there ahead of Rock and I, to look things over.” So they left on a commercial flight and Rock and I took the jet, along with Jennifer, who insisted she was coming too. Kat also insisted when she found out I was going, she wanted Jennifer along to protect me. It’s now 3 weeks since John escaped custody, but I can’t imagine he’s feeling too well yet, and it must be hard for him to get around. Still, John is a strong man and he doesn’t give up, not in anything. As we were driving there we got a text from Rock’s men saying that John was indeed at the Inn and was actually getting around on crutches. Amazing really. When we got there, Rock’s men said they overheard John say they were going out to the castle to meet someone.

To Be Continued.

Photos of Mr. Cat are kindly supplied by his human Nina.

Previous chapters of this story, and other stories, can be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.”

©2021 Steve McLeod.