Katharina fell back against the wall and down to the floor, motionless. Gisela held onto the counter, but she too fell to the floor. Katharina had my dart gun and managed to get Gisela in the throat with it. Both down, the two enemies. The cats heard Gisela’s men running to the kitchen. Muffin got ready and as they reached the kitchen doorway she fired one of the new ‘screamer’ rockets. It gives a very high pitched scream, enough to burst a person’s ear drums if too close. The men dropped their guns to cover their ears. The screaming only lasts about 20 seconds, but that’s long enough for a surprise attack. Just as it was stopping, the cats rolled out of their hiding place by the back entrance and each shot twice, taking down 2 of the men.

But one turned and ran toward the lobby entrance. However, I was standing there. He stopped and I didn’t wait for a response, I just shot. Then I ran to the kitchen. The cats were next to Kat, with their heads and ears drooping. Meow.=Bad Gisela kill Kat. I got down to check for a pulse, but just then my head began to pain once more. “My head”, I yelled, “I can’t take that pain!” I tried to shake that, then I noticed something. “There’s no blood,” I said. I checked and smiled to the cats. “She’s wearing my vest,” I said to them, “she’ll be okay I’m sure. Maybe she hit her head and knocked herself out.” Meow,meow!=She hit head on wall when she fall backward.

“That’s it,” I said, and I picked her up and carried her into the lobby and put her on the sofa that was there. My head started to clear as well which was certainly a nice thing. Meow!=Listen! I listen, but I can’t hear anything. Then it hit me, the thunder was in the distance, the rain had stopped and so had the wind. Meow,meow!=Boat can come now! “Yes, it sure can,” I said, “where’s my phone?” Meow,meow=Phones disappear, but I call human Baldwin. And she did, I told Baldwin he should be able to send the boat in soon and told a bit about what had happened. It took a couple more hours and the boat was here and we were soon on our way back home.

I called Baldwin from the boat to talk a bit more. “Gisela is dead, and all her men,” I told him, “so call the police to go clean up everything.” “I will do that Steve,” he said, “but what about Katharina, what happened to her?” “Well, it seems she got away from us again,” I said, “but it was Gisela that was the main problem with everything that was going on. She even wanted to kill Katharina too.” “I don’t believe it,” he said, “you let Katharina get away again. But, since you were out so much at the end, guess I can’t blame you for that one.”

“Oh, and I’m bringing someone back with us too,” I added, “there was a young woman hiding on the island that really helped us a lot in this. In fact, I wouldn’t be here if not for her.” “Great,” said Baldwin, “what’s her name?” “Her name’s Kat,” I said. Silence on the other end. “Kat? You really expect me to believe that story Steve?,” he asked. “Well, it’s my story, and I’m sticking with it,” I said, “and the cats are backing me up with that 100%.” Silence again, then he laughed his usual boisterous laugh. “Okay Steve, have it your way,” he said, “bring her along. Maybe she could help Calanthe with the business here.”

“Well, I think she’s going to need some time to relax after this,” I said, “all of us will.” “Good idea,” said Baldwin, “and I’m going to make sure you don’t take any cases for a while, until you’re fully rested.” “I think we all will agree to that,” I said, “but the first thing for you to do is to take me to Lena, wherever you have her hidden.” “Absolutely Steve, I will do that,” he said slowly and quietly. It seemed like a long time getting home but we finally made it and Baldwin was there with his new “car”. “What do you think of my new vehicle?”, asked Baldwin.

“I didn’t know they made these things so big,” I said, “how do you turn corners with this?” “That’s my driver’s problem,” he said and laughed. We were soon at the place to meet Lena, but I already knew where she was, just by the way Baldwin had answered me. We walked quietly across the well manicured lawn. “There she is,” said Baldwin, “I’ll leave you alone and wait in the car, take as much time as you want.” He went back while the cats and I stayed behind.

I got down on my knees, the cats sat down, one on each side of me. We bowed our heads and cried. After a few minutes we walked slowly back to the car. “I’m so sorry Steve,” said Kat. “I want you, Kat and the cats to stay with Calanthe and I for a while, until you get rested Steve,” said Baldwin, “we’ll have the doctor look at the medicine Kat gave you, he needs to check you anyway.” I agreed with him. Once we get settled in at the chateau Kat comes to talk with me and the cats. “Thanks for giving me a second chance,” said Kat, “I won’t let you down.” “I know you won’t,” I said with a smile, “it would be terrible to go chasing you again!” What a case, it was exhausting, a rest will certainly be good.

The End.

©2021 Steve McLeod.