“I still have a hard time believing this Steve,” said Candace, “are you sure that’s what the bomb with Anthony at that house was all about?” “Definitely,” I said, “I know it’s going to be hard for you, that’s why I said you should stay behind.” “And I would have been on that jet too,” she said looking down. “Sorry Candace,” I said, “this case is hard on all of us. It certainly didn’t turn out the way I thought it would.” “Well, you need me to find that tunnel anyway,” she said. “It will make things faster, that’s for sure,” I said. Meow.=We getting to big town now.

The time went by fast and we didn’t get much sleep on this bus, except for the cats, they can sleep anywhere. And maybe that’s a good thing too. The competition knows we are going to use that tunnel, so they will undoubtedly be waiting for us there. But how else do we get in safely? Just use the main entrance? Most likely that is being watched too. Poor Candace, she certainly didn’t expect this outcome at all. I didn’t either for that matter. Who would have thought that her organization and the competition were in the same building? That’s not what she was taught, the competition is supposed to be across the city.

But that’s just an empty building, I had that checked out already. Then came the bomb, which was meant to kill everyone, so they knew that Candace was part of the family, and there’s only one way they could know. Big brother Anthony not only works for the competition, but he is the competition. But how could she be there so long and not know that her older brother was in the same building? That just doesn’t make sense. And how did she not know that other building was empty? She is supposed to be so knowledgeable about the competition, but she doesn’t seem to know much. Or is she deliberately hiding things from us?

Perhaps leading us into a trap? That tunnel which no one knows about would be a perfect trap for us. Why would they be after me anyway? I don’t know them. And this is a very elaborate trap to kill me and the cats. If that’s what they wanted to do, they could have done it more easily and sooner than this. I still think they want to kill Candace and that was the whole purpose of all this, getting Anthony Jr. and Candace together to kill them both at once and get them out of the way. But out of the way of what? Is this the only way to get Anthony Sr. to sell out? But why would his son even need to do that?

Here we are, we get off the bus and look around for a taxi. There’s one by itself, I get Kat to go and talk with the driver. Who could resist talking with such a beautiful woman? It worked, she went to the passenger window which got his attention and I went to his window, which was open and…’thwip’, he was sleeping peacefully. I push him over while the others get in the back. We drive close to our destination and I let them out while I turned the taxi around and parked it on the other side of the street. Then I joined them. “The tunnel is in that building,” said Candace.

“We’re not using the tunnel, we will go in the main entrance,” I said, “but we need you to get us in to see your dad.” She looked puzzled again, seems to happen a lot. Off we went inside, her fingerprints were necessary to get us in the elevator to the top floor where her dad’s office was located. We get off and are met by two armed guards. I have no time for this, my gun was out already so I shot them both without a word. Kat had her gun out too, Candace got to the receptionist before she had a chance to call for help. Kat kicked open the office door and “Thwock!” “Thwock!”, two more guards down. I told Anthony not to move and brought him over to a chair to sit down.

“Here is your competition,” I said to Candace, “he’s the one who wanted you and Anthony Jr. killed.” Candace looked totally shocked. “She stood between me and the real Anthony Jr., my first son,” he said, “we had it going good, I ran the legal corporation, he ran the illegal part, because that’s where the money is, not here! This organization gives me a mere 300,000 euros a year, what’s that? I can’t live on that money! The other organization brings in millions each year for both of us. She was too naive to see that, too stupid, just an idiot! We had no room for her or that little brat, they had to go! But don’t think you will get out of here alive, my security people are already on the way and that elevator won’t work!” Then he laughed.

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.