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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
I am still with my kidnappers and something is wrong. I have been trying to communicate with Jennifer, or Kat or Sky or someone, but I get no answer. That can only mean I’m not getting through to them for some reason, and that is not good. That kind of spoils my plan for allowing myself to get kidnapped so we can find out what is going on.
Now my team will lose track of me and it won’t be easy to find me. After all, they could have taken me anywhere. Although, we did put a tracker on their car, so, if that is working then they will know where we are. If it is working. But what if there is something in this car that is preventing me from communicating? It might also prevent that tracker from working over long distances, and no one is supposed to follow us.
Well, it seemed like a good plan at the time. We are now driving through Paris late at night, though I don’t know exactly how late, these guys won’t tell me the time. They just keep saying I’ll find out when we see Jacques, whoever he is. Obviously he is the leader of this mismanaged bunch. Sometimes I think they are working against each other.
At least I still have the use of my abilities, so I could escape if things get bad. I must ask Kat why I could feel those punches. At first, at Eloise’s flat I was pretending they affected me, but in the car they really did affect me. Hmm, I wonder if it is this car that does something to me. But, my electrical ability still worked fine. Oh well, I won’t worry about it right now.
I imagine Jennifer is worried right now though, especially if she has been trying to communicate with me. Hey, we’re stopping in this parking lot and there are two vans waiting for us. Identical vans. That means they want to fool anyone who might be following us. Except no one is following. But now we won’t have a tracker on them either. Hmm, if they take me outside, I will try calling Sky.
Meanwhile, with Sherry and friends. “They are stopping beside those two vans,” said Jackie, “that means they want to try and fool us. But how do they know we are following?” “It’s just in case someone is following,” said Sherry, “they put Steve in one of those identical vans, then the vans head in different directions.”
Back with us again. “Get out here PI man,” said Emilien, “your time with us is over.” I got out, looked up and said, “Sky.” “You called me Steve?” said Sky as she appeared next to me smiling. “Hey, where did she come from?” asked Andre. A big man then grabbed me and literally threw me into one of the vans! But suddenly a huge lion came running up to the van and pushed it over!
I then came jumping out just as that big man began to run away, so I tossed a lightning ball at him. He screamed and fell to the ground, dead. Sky, Sherry and Jackie were taking care of the other men, but a couple men took off in the other van. I tossed another lightning ball, a bit bigger this time, and it hit the van causing it to explode.
We could now hear sirens approaching so we all went to our car, which became invisible just before the first police arrived at the scene. We stayed and watched but Angel decided to hang out with the police for a while, invisible of course, to hear what she could from the police. Through her I could also hear what was going on, something that is necessary, just in case any of these police officers are working with the criminals.
However, from what we could hear, everything was okay, so I called Angel back to us and we drove away. Once far enough away from the action, Angel made the car visible again. Sky then filled me in on this man named Jacques, who is not a very nice guy.
Meanwhile, back home. Misty comes into the library and salutes Jennifer. “Request permission to take my team and go help rescue Steve,” said Misty. “Permission denied,” said Jennifer, “and stop saluting me please.” “But I need to do something to help Steve, I can’t just sit around and do nothing all night worrying about him not knowing if he is alive or alive or where he is or what is happening to him or if he’s being tortured or beat up or starved or…
(this went on for quite a while, making it her longest sentence on record, according to Cristy)…and I can’t just sit and bite my nails and worry and pull my hair and bang my head against the wall and I’ll just go crazy!” “I think you have already arrived,” said Jennifer, “but I need you and your team here for security. Now, if I give you an order that will help Steve and all of us, would you obey it?”
“Of course I would, right away, even sooner!” said Misty smiling. “Good, I hereby make you the leader while I go and lie down and try to sleep for a while,” said Jennifer, “you will not disturb me for any reason, got it?” “Yes Jennifer, I can do that, for sure!” she said happily. Then Jennifer went off to bed. Misty sat down. “Cristy, how come the ghosts get tired and need to sleep?” asked Misty.
“I have no idea,” she replied, “I’m not a ghost.” “Oh, right,” she said, “I was just wondering.” “I’m going to bed too,” said Cristy. “Wait, you can’t, we need you on the computer,” said Misty, “besides, I’ll be all alone.” Cristy called Tracy to take her place, then she went to bed. “Hey, Steve is calling!” exclaimed Tracy, “He was rescued!” “Yes!” yelled Misty, “I knew we could do it!”
Meanwhile, at the hotel where they were keeping Clarisse. Everyone was sleeping peacefully, or at least, that’s what Clarisse thought. She got up and dressed, then she went for the door quietly. But, Kristina was there and was only pretending to be asleep. “Going somewhere Clarisse?” asked Kristina. Clarisse then tried to punch Kristina, but she was barely phased by the hit.
Then she turned on the lights and pushed Clarisse onto the bed. The lights woke up the other two girls who asked what was going on. “It seems Clarisse was going out for a midnight stroll somewhere,” said Kristina, “now, tell us why Clarisse.” “I don’t have to tell you anything,” she said coldly…
To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.
These men that took me said we would be going on a little drive. I would hate to go on a long drive with them, because this little drive is getting to be very long. I asked once where we were going and the man sitting beside me punched me in the stomach twice. His life expectancy has dropped considerably, though he doesn’t yet know it. He will find out if he punches me again.
Good thing I’m a ghost or these punches would likely hurt. Actually, they do hurt, something that puzzles me. I tried to communicate with Jennifer, but for some reason I don’t think it’s working, she isn’t answering anyway, and that is odd. I just heard the man in front ask the driver how much longer it will take to reach Paris and he said about an hour.
Well, at least I know where we are going. I wonder if this has anything to do with Claud #2. That’s where he lives, however, these men haven’t mentioned the name of their boss yet, or anyone other than the men in this car. It’s actually quite a large car, a kind I have not seen here in France before. But I’m glad it’s big, gives more stretching room, although they don’t let me stretch.
“Hey, I think we’re heading for Paris,” said Jackie, “what do you say Fluffy?” Fluffy say we get to Paris in 47 minutes, 39 seconds at this speed. “Carolyn really helped Fluffy,” said Jackie. “Yep, he has more life now, that’s for sure,” said Sherry, “love you Fluffy!” Fluffy love Sherry and Jackie too.
Meanwhile, back home. Now that I have been kidnapped, Kat and Jennifer are back to being leaders of the Investigators again. That is how our chain of command works, then if something were to happen to them, which is unlikely now that they are ghosts, then Aari would take over as leader, then Sky is after him. Kat and Jennifer managed to calm the cats after explaining some things to them about our plan, then they went back to the library where they would hold a meeting with everyone.
But, when they got back, they first asked Cristy where the car was located now. “Car? Um, right, the car,” she said, “um, well, it’s like this, um, I don’t know.” “What do you mean, you don’t know?” asked Kat and Jennifer together. “Well, um, it kind of disappeared from radar, so to speak,” she replied, “just a few minutes ago actually. I have tried to pick it up again, but nothing yet.”
Kat and Jennifer looked at each other and Jennifer tried communicating with me right away, but I didn’t answer. “Steve isn’t answering Kat,” said Jennifer, so Kat tried. But still nothing. “Where is Sky?” asked Jennifer. “I think she’s in the library upstairs,” said Trixie. “Would you please get her for me?” asked Jennifer. Trixie ran upstairs and Sky appeared in front of Jennifer. “Looking for me?” she said grinning.
“Don’t grin, this is serious,” said Jennifer, “we lost Steve.” “What do you mean, lost Steve?” she asked, “How can we lose him?” So Kat filled her in and Sky tried to communicate with me now, but still nothing. “Are Sherry and Jackie still watching Eloise’s flat, or did they follow Steve?” asked Jennifer. “Um, well, they might have followed Steve,” answered Sky.
“Cristy, contact them please,” said Kat. “Um, I tried already, but no answer,” she said. “What about the car tracker?” asked Jennifer. “Well, that’s our newest car,” said Cristy, “and for some reason it didn’t get a tracker put on it.” Kat and Jennifer just looked at each other. “Sky, go to Sherry and Jackie please,” said Jennifer. “Did you forget?” she asked, “I need a position to go to them.”
“Oh, that’s right,” said Jennifer, “I’m not thinking clearly at the moment. We lost Steve and it’s my fault and I’m worried sick now.” “Hey, don’t worry sis,” said Kat, “we will find him.” “Remember, he’s one of us,” said Sky, “so he’ll be okay.” “Well, he’s only sort of one of us,” said Kat, “not exactly like us.” “What does that mean?” asked Sky. “I’m not quite sure,” said Kat, “but things could still maybe happen to him.”
“What do you mean, things?” asked Jennifer, very worried now. “Well, um, we can’t be killed,” she said slowly, “but, well, I’m not sure about Steve, exactly.” That’s when Jennifer fell to her knees sobbing. Galyna was there and she went over to help Jennifer, as did Victoria. Then Carolyn came into the library and asked what was going on. Sky told her the bad news.
“Who’s driving the car?” she asked. “Sherry is driving, why?” asked Cristy. “Then she has Fluffy with her,” said Carolyn, “just do this.” “Fluffy is our tracker!” yelled Cristy, “We have them again, now if we could just stop them so Sky could go to them.” “Simple,” said Carolyn, “get ready Sky, now we tell Fluffy to stop the car, like this.”
Meanwhile, back with Sherry and Jackie. Me Fluffy, me stopping car, hold on! Suddenly the car came to a screeching halt. “Wow, good thing no one was behind us,” said Sherry. “No kidding,” added Jackie, “why did you stop us Fluffy?” “Get this car flying Fluffy!” yelled a voice in the back seat. Both girls screamed! Fluffy get car flying fast! Those tires were screeching and the car took off fast all right.
“Sky, Angel, why are you here?” asked Sherry. “Just drive fast and catch up with that car,” said Angel, “about 2 blocks away will be fine, then I can watch them.” “I hope no police are around,” said Sherry. “Don’t worry, they can’t see us,” said Sky, “just keep this car moving, we can’t lose that other car, Steve is in trouble. And where are your vests?”
“In the back,” said Jackie. Sky got them out and tossed them in the front for the girls. “Fluffy, take over driving,” said Sky. Fluffy drive now. The girls put their vests on and Sherry took over driving again. Then Sky filled them in on the problems. “I still can’t communicate with Steve,” said Angel, “that’s not good.” “Um, why can’t you communicate with Steve?” asked Jackie. “Some questions are best not to ask,” said Sky quietly. Sherry and Jackie looked at each other.
Meanwhile, back to me and my kidnappers. “We’re almost there,” said Dion. “Good, Jacques will be happy to see we got the head Investigator man,” said Emilien. “I’ll be happy to get away from this idiot,” said Jules, and he punched me again. That one really hurt, so, enough of that. I quickly reached over and touched his chest. He gave a slight moan and bent over. “Something wrong with your man here,” I said.
Emilien turned around and looked. “Andre, check him,” said Emilien, while he pointed a gun at me. “He’s dead,” said a shocked Andre. “He had a temper, that raises blood pressure and that causes heart attacks,” I said. “You could be right PI man,” said Emilien.
Meanwhile, back home. “Aari and his team are now in Paris,” said Cristy, “waiting for orders. Kat and the Wildcats have taken off and heading for Paris. I have Jazzy on the phone.” “Put her through please,” said Jennifer. Jazzy told her about a man named Jacques in Paris and he is likely the one that wants Steve for some reason.
“Perhaps he wants that book and the laptops that we took from him,” said Jennifer, “if that’s it, then we’ll make the trade.” “Since when can we trust a man like him?” asked Hannah, “We will have to fight to get Steve back.” Jennifer held up the rule book and Hannah smiled. “I know what it says,” said Hannah, “but sometimes we have to lay aside the rule book and follow our heart, like Sherry and Jackie did.”
She put her arm around Jennifer. “We will get Steve back,” she said calmly, “and remember, it’s not your fault. It was a good plan, it’s just that something went wrong.” Meanwhile, “Hey, they stopped,” said Angel…
To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 