We stopped and stared…it was the real estate agent. “How did you get in here?”, I asked him. “Oh, Baldwin warned me about your little alarm system, so I climbed over the wall,” he answered, “I have all the papers ready for you to sign for selling the chateau.” “Did Baldwin also warn you that I carry a gun?”, I asked, then I pulled it out and continued, “now leave very quickly unless you wish to be carried out.” He looked at me, then at my gun. “I don’t understand,” he said. “Oh, I think you understand completely,” I said, getting a little irritated now, “get out of here now, or I will shoot. And you can tell Baldwin to stay away as well.” He continued to look for a minute, then picked up his papers and briefcase and left. “I will be back,” he said sternly as he left. “Don’t push me,” I said, “I’m not in the mood for that sort of thing.”

I watched him until he was over the wall and drove away. Something isn’t right about this, Baldwin and I had a deal, I just don’t believe he would try to push things now. Makes no sense. I decide to call the police as I would like to check on Linnea’s body. They told me her body had been delivered to the funeral home and it would be ready for burial tomorrow. “Let’s go take a look,” I said, “I want to make sure that Linnea is actually dead.” “I thought you checked her at the hospital?”, asked Calanthe. “I did, but since she has shown up here I just want to satisfy myself once more,” I said. So off we went. I park out front and ask Calanthe if she wants to come in also. “No,” she said, “I’ll stay here, looking at dead bodies is not something I enjoy.” “Yes, some things about being a PI are not too enjoyable, but they must be done,” I said. “I don’t think I could make it as a PI,” said Calanthe. Hmm, just what Lena said.

I told Mr. Cat to stay with Calanthe and put him on top of the car. I whisper to him. Then Muffin and I went inside. Linnea’s body was lying in a coffin alright and she is definitely dead or she certainly does a good job of faking it. But I will be here tomorrow to make sure she gets buried. I come back out with Muffin. Meow.=Car keep driving by slow. Have very dark windows, can’t see who it is. Hmm, that means someone is watching, and I think I know who that might be. Meow.=That the car now. It drove right up to us this time and the back window opened. It was Baldwin. “Good day my friend,” he said, “checking on the body I see. I did so this morning, I wanted to make sure Ms. Linnea was truly dead.” “Don’t like dealing with me?”, I asked him. He laughed heartily. “No, no,” he assured me, “but I was curious since there is someone else in this “game”, as you put it.”

“By the way,” I added, “I was not impressed with you sending that agent over today with papers to sign for the sale of the chateau. We have a deal of 7 days, or did you forget that already?” “What?!,” he said, “I never sent him or anyone else over there, when I want to conclude our business then I will come in person.” “Hmm, then perhaps he was representing the other party and was hoping I wouldn’t notice when signing the papers,” I said, “guess I should go pay him a visit and find out who this other party is.” “Do you mind if I come along?”, he asked, “I would like to know as well.” Normally I would say no, but this time I decided to accept his invitation. I feel trouble coming up.

Off we went and arrived together at the agents office. Hmm, no secretary at her desk, so we just go into his office, he apparently is a loner in this business. We stood at the door of his office and there was the agent before us, but we were too late, someone had shot him. We looked around a bit but couldn’t find the papers he had wanted me to sign and the secretary was nowhere to be found. “Time to call the police,” I said, “would you like to stick around Baldwin?” “Actually I do have another appointment,” he said, “so I’ll leave this to you.” And with a big smile he left in a hurry.

To Be Continued.

Pictures 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.” and “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”

©2021 Steve McLeod.