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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
When our helpers arrived I didn’t quite expect what happened. Kat had sent a note along with Angel and she gave it to me. Sky was on one side of me, Misty on the other, and both wanted to see the note, so I let them read it with me.
“Steve, you are to let Lombardi, Spence, David and Vinnie go free. That’s an order! Our part was to free the family and we did that, except for David and Vinnie, and they don’t want to be rescued. Apparently they don’t want their children either so other family members will look after them. But, you are right, we can’t let Vinnie expose our team or it will be everywhere in less than 24 hours.
Angel has the plan and she will explain it to you. I can’t wait to get home and listen to your report, I’m sure it will be quite humorous! By the way, it was Rossana that told us to let them go free, the police will handle things. They already arrested Rossana’s boss for working with Lombardi.
Since this operation began before he took over his position, he didn’t know which police officers had infiltrated Lombardi’s organization, so he had to dig around until he found the names of everyone which he then sold to Lombardi and he had David pick up the list. See you back at the chateau guys! Kat.”
“She knows something,” said Sky and Misty together. “Yes, that seems to be quite obvious,” I said, “we could be in for a slight bit of trouble.” “What do you mean we?” asked Sky. “Yeah, what do you mean we?” asked Misty, “Kat mentioned “your” report, not mine.” “Or mine,” said Sky. I put my arm around Misty.
“Do you remember,” I began, “that stunning blue skirt and jacket, with matching shoes and purse? And that amazing summer, floppy brimmed hat you loved? Or perhaps that…” “You can stop there,” she said, “after all, it’s “our” report since we worked on this together.” I looked at Sky. She sighed. “Okay, I’m in,” she said, “we’re all going to get some inactive duty time anyway.”
“Yep,” said Misty. I just sighed. “Which one of you is in charge for this last part anyway?” I asked. Apparently it was Angel and she didn’t like the idea too much. Angel is not a team leader and doesn’t feel she is ready to be one either. She prefers her role as a team helper instead. Not everyone is ready to be a team leader and Angel is perfect as a team helper. She looked at me and smiled.
Then she gave me a big hug and a kiss. “And you thought my kiss was long,” said Misty. “Yep,” said Sky, “Angel has never kissed Steve before. This is quite amazing really.” “I wonder if Jennifer and Kat have little cameras watching us?” asked Misty, “they seem to know what’s going on.” Sky just looked at her, then at the buttons on her shirt.
“Nah, couldn’t be,” she said shaking her head. Anyway, Angel asked if I would take over, she had a headache and didn’t want to make a mistake. For some reason I believed that without question, forgetting momentarily that she was a ghost. Oh well. Down we went to the second level and found Lombardi in another, very large, office.
I went in first after unlocking the door and Lombardi actually looked genuinely surprised to see us. I guess they didn’t have any security cameras watching us. “Well, well, looks like the leader of the Investigators has caught up with us,” said Lombardi, “but don’t expect to leave here alive Steve.” “This guy has really lost his senses,” I said to Misty, “no wonder Raven decided not to join up with him.” We laughed together.
While we were doing this, Kitty went over and whispered something to Vinnie and slipped an envelope into her purse. I should also mention that while we were upstairs, Sky had removed the paralysis from Vinnie so she was able to talk with Lombardi before we came down. Lombardi didn’t let on, but he noticed when Kitty slipped that envelope into Vinnie’s purse.
“By the way Lombardi,” I said, “Raven sends his regards and thanks you for that nice shipment of goods you gave him. Also, you might want to leave this underground dungeon right away, or it might be your grave. It seems some nasty people are going to set fire to that building on top of this spot.” We then turned and left again, laughing our way out.
“Let me see that purse,” said Lombardi. “There’s nothing important in here,” she said nervously. “Then you won’t mind showing it to me,” he said, “now, hand it over!” She did so and he took out the envelope which held a nice thank you note from Raven, in his handwriting too, which Lombardi knew very well. This one was written by Cynthia. She has also become very good at copying the handwriting of other people.
There was also $10,000 “for this month’s payment”, the note said. “I hate being betrayed Vinnie,” he said, “I was wondering how you could know so many of those Investigators, unless you just made up the list, or maybe Raven made up the list and gave it to you? What about this list of cops that had infiltrated my organization? Another fake list?” He then took out his gun and shot her.
“You may as well stay with your wife David,” he said. “No, wait, I’m loyal, it was just my wife!” he exclaimed. “Then why didn’t you tell me before?” asked Lombardi. He then shot David. Lombardi, Spence and 6 other men came out, barely making it out the back door. They jumped into their car and off they drove. “So sad we had to let them go,” said Sky. “Yep,” said Misty. “Yep,” added Angel.
We were driving away as the fire department and police arrived at the restaurant. By that time the fire was burning on every floor. Lombardi did lose a lot of men, plus that big shipment of drugs, guns, women and young girls. There were also diamonds and other gems, gold and money. Lots of money. Which the police let us keep, plus the diamonds and guns and the 4 women.
Rossana thought we could perhaps help the women. She has been promoted to take over from her boss. Fortunately Lombardi believed our story that Raven was still alive, but he is not, Aoife shot the real Raven when he arrived that first night.
Aari and his boys took the shipment of goods from Lombardi and hid it in an old warehouse at the edge of the city. Well, I guess that concludes this case, except for giving our reports when we get home, but that’s not too important anyway. I wonder what our next case will be? Somehow I don’t think it will include me though. Sigh.
The End. A new case will begin shortly.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
While we were watching Misty fight those 4 guys, Lombardi, David and Vinnie got away from us. This will not be easy to explain, that’s for sure. I need to remember that I’m not Leader 1 right now, Kat and Jennifer are still in that position, which means I have to explain to them why I allowed Lombardi and friends to escape, basically right in front of us!
“Sky, check his office upstairs,” I said, “I will check and see if his car is still here. Misty, you stay here.” Sky and I were a bit worried at this point and we didn’t notice that Misty wasn’t worried. Sky returned and said there wasn’t anyone on the top 3 floors. I came running back and said that Lombardi’s car was gone! That means he got away from us and will be hard to find now.
What’s worse is the paralyzing effect on Vinnie will wear off in about an hour. Although I guess that is not too important now that we have the family safe in our care. “Why do you keep running around Steve?” asked Misty, “You’re a ghost now, you can blink and go there, blink and come back.” “Blink?” I inquired, “I don’t blink to do anything.”
“Well, whatever it is you do to disappear and travel around,” she said, rolling her eyes. “She has a point Steve,” said Sky, “why do you run around?” “I just keep forgetting, that’s all,” I said, a bit embarrassed. “Now what?” asked Sky, “Do we call Kat and tell her we let Lombardi escape?” “Um, no, let’s not do that right now,” I said, then I looked at Misty, “and why is Misty not worried like we are?”
She just looked at us and shook her head. “Cristy, you awake?” asked Misty. “Of course I’m awake,” said Cristy, “I’m awake 24 hours per day just so I can do your bidding. I mean, why would I want to sleep? Sleep just makes a person feel good and why would I want to feel good?” “I think she’s being sarcastic,” said Sky.
“Hush,” said Misty, “no, not you Cristy, I was talking to Sky. Anyway, it sounds like someone hasn’t had their morning coffee yet.” “No, I have not had my morning coffee yet,” said Cristy emphatically, “I was too busy trying to enjoy my 5 minutes of allotted sleep time!” “Ooooh, sarcasm too,” said Misty, “but this is important Cristy, otherwise I wouldn’t bother you, I would leave that to Steve.”
“It’s always important,” added Cristy with a sigh, “okay, what would you like?” “I need a fix on locator P23 and P24 please,” said Misty cheerfully. “When did we start calling trackers “locators”?” I asked Sky. “No idea,” she said, “must be something new.” “Good,” I said, “glad it’s not just me then.” “They appear to be on Level 2,” said Cristy, “and stop being so cheerful.”
“Thank you dearest sister,” said Misty, “now, go have your coffee and pancakes and tell the breakfast cook that’s an order.” “On my way!” said Cristy. “Um, I checked the second floor quite thoroughly,” said Sky, “and why are you shaking your head ‘no’?” “Level 2 is second floor…down!” said Misty smiling cheerfully. Sky looked at her.
“Cristy is right,” said Sky, “stop being so cheerful.” “Don’t pay any attention,” I said to Misty, “Sky hasn’t had her morning coffee yet.” Misty giggled. “I know what you told her,” said Sky, “you, you miserable male ghost!” “Oh, oops, I’m sorry Steve,” said Misty with her head down, “please forgive me for saying that. I haven’t had my morning coffee yet either.”
Then she gave me a hug and she turned and gave a hug to Sky as well, smiling. “We make a good team,” said Misty cheerfully. “Yep, I agree,” said Sky. “Except when I mess up,” I said sighing. The girls giggled. “Okay, now we call for some help,” I said, “we don’t want to mess up this time.” So, I communicated with Kat and she sent Misty’s team to help us, along with Kristina, Kitty and Angel.
“Sky,” said Kat, “you will stay right beside Steve and Misty the whole time, and that’s an order.” “I get the impression she knows something,” I said. “Yep,” said Sky and Misty together. “Misty, when this case is over,” I began, “you will join the ghosts.”
“Yay! Then we’ll all be…” she stopped, “um, that means I need to die and I don’t want to die, I have never died before, it might hurt, it might kill me or make me sick or maybe even worse. Can’t we think about this for a few years, like maybe 40 or so?” “Kat can do it quickly,” said Sky, “it won’t hurt you at all, there’s no problem, you will enjoy it.”
“Somehow I can’t imagine enjoying being killed,” said Misty, “let’s just forget the whole thing, okay?” “No arguing,” I said, “you won’t be a ghost, but you will look like you are a ghost. It will be fun, honest.” Misty sighed loud and long. Anyway, it didn’t take long for our help to arrive…
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 