“You helped my back!” exclaimed Misty. “Sorry to disappoint you,” I said, “but Sky brought Kat here to work on your back, or you might be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Now, I heard a little story, though I’m sure it’s not true, that you left the clinic in disobedience to Samantha. Something like that can get you 3 months of inactive duty.

However, since I’m sure you didn’t mean to do that, it was just the pain that was messing up your thinking, so, I talked it over with Samantha and your inactive duty time will only last until you can safely leave the clinic. With a promise that you will obey Samantha from now on. Does that sound good?” “Yes Steve,” she said quietly, “guess I messed up everything, huh.”

“No, you didn’t mess up anything,” I said, “except for you. I want you walking around normally and able to fight again. After all, I need you, you’re my favorite, important pretend wife.” “Aww, thank you Steve,” she said, smiling. “I hope you are listening to yourself,” said Samantha behind me, “how do you expect these girls to obey me when their Leader doesn’t?” “Hmm, she has a point,” said Misty, “we learn by example more than by words.” She smiled again.

“Now, get undressed and into bed,” said Samantha looking at me. “Why me?” I asked. “You were feeling pain before,” said Samantha, “we need to find out why, it’s important. It could mean you can still be killed, and we don’t want that.” “Nice to have someone to talk with,” said Misty, “so, tell me about your kidnapping.” I did, which took about 5 minutes. “We have all day to talk Steve,” said Misty, “you need to streeeeeeetch things out a bit when you talk.”

“Oh,” I said. Misty sighed. Then Cristy peeked in the door. “Good, no one here,” she said and she came in, quickly closing and locking the door. “Donuts!” exclaimed Misty, “You’re the best twin sister ever!” “Ahem,” I said, “I’m here too.” “Oh, I didn’t know you were here Steve,” said Cristy, “I only brought 6 donuts.” “Two each!” I said happily. They sighed and each tossed me a donut. “Better eat quick,” I said, “almost time for Samantha to check on us again.” Scritch, scritch.

Cristy opened the door and Muffin, Storm and Snow came in. The cats were excited when they saw donuts. “They can only have one quarter of a donut each,” I said, so we each gave them a piece. The girls sighed again. They’ve been doing that a lot lately. Then Jennifer arrived with 3 donuts, not knowing that Cristy was here too. And the cats. Oh well. Then Akila arrived with 4 donuts, thinking that only Misty and I were here. She didn’t bring one for herself, she had eaten hers in the kitchen.

She had hacked into Eloise’s phone who was using a code to talk with someone, supposedly her neighbor that had come visiting once. She tried to tell Jacques some things about us, like cats that could disappear and kill people. Hopefully Jacques won’t believe these things. Then she mentioned a woman who could shoot lightning from her fingers. Glad she didn’t mention any names. After that message Jacques told her to stop taking her drugs and get more sleep.

Good, he didn’t believe her. She did tell him we found the hidden laptop and book and he was quite angry about that. He told her to try and get them back, especially the laptop. Apparently there was a lot of information on it that could put him in jail for a long time. Akila hadn’t had enough time to check it out yet, but she will get Cynthia and Melanie to help with deciphering the laptop.

She did discover that Jacques had actually killed a government official recently, a murder that has been on the news lately. Amazing that Jacques would do it himself and then keep a record of it. He had been trying to buy information from this official and he kept saying no. Finally he told Jacques he was going to the police, so Jacques stabbed him. Hmm, that’s what happened to Marcel. These people like using knives.

I communicated this to Kat and Carine. Carine is back with Aari again and I also sent Kristina to be with him as well. It’s nice to have 2 ghosts with each team. We still have Sky, Angel, Jennifer and myself. Jennifer is presently checking me like Kat had shown her to do. After the examination and consulting with Kat, then Kat said there was nothing to worry about. It’s just that some things are taking longer to work because of the way I became a ghost, if that’s what I am.

I’m still not sure if anyone is really. Though I must admit, Angel’s ability to change into a lion is quite convincing. Meanwhile, back in Paris at a certain building where Jacques had an office. “I’m sorry, Ms. Kat,” said the secretary, “but Mr. Garnier is busy and doesn’t want to be disturbed. However, I can make an appointment for you, shall we say, 3 days from now?” “No, that won’t do,” said Kat firmly, “I wish to see him now, and I will.”

She then went to the door and with one kick she smashed it open! One of Jacques’ bodyguards had his gun out right away as Kat and 4 others came in the office. But he dropped his gun quickly enough yelling it was too hot to hold. “Sorry Fabien, but your panic button won’t work for you today,” said Kat. “We shall see about that,” said Jacques, “and I don’t know who this Fabien is that you want to see.” Kat smiled.

“Nice try Fabien,” she said, “but I know you prefer to use your middle name of Jacques, but we both know your first name is Fabien. Now, I am here because you have killed a couple of my friends, Clarisse and Marcel. I don’t like it when people kill my friends, it makes me angry.” “Clarisse is very much alive,” he snapped, “as for your friend Marcel, I don’t even know him.”

“You are a liar Fabien!” exclaimed Kat, “Clarisse is dead, the real one, and you know it, just as her mother is also dead. You had them killed, along with Marcel who was Clarisse’s boyfriend, which you also know. That PI you tried to kidnap now has them locked up in his detention center.” “And how do you know all of this?” he asked, “Do you work for him too?” Kat sneered. “I work for me,” she said, “that PI is on a different side than me, but I do have inside knowledge.”

Right about then, another bodyguard pulled out a knife from his back and threw it quickly at Kat while she was looking at Jacques. But she just reached up and caught the knife, by the blade, between her thumb and index finger. She shook her head. “Little boys shouldn’t play with knives,” she said, “it’s a good way to get hurt.”

She then turned and threw the knife back and did it so fast that no one really saw her do it. But they all saw the man drop to the floor, dead. “I can have you charged with murder,” said Jacques. “No, that was self defense Fabien,” she said, “but you made a big mistake trying to kill me. Now you will feel the wrath of the Kat!” Then she and her girls turned and walked out…

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.