Emily certainly knows how to use that rifle of hers, she hit that woman in the leg so that I could question her. Unfortunately the woman killed herself, I guess because she failed her mission. This organization is a hard one and doesn’t care about their own people or anyone else. That really bothers me, because that means they likely have killed all of the girls already. Samantha had been in touch with Jennifer and told her that Laura died from poison.

That is why there were no marks on her body, and that could also be the reason why those other people died and why they didn’t want an autopsy done. An autopsy would prove they were murdered and that would bring a major police investigation and they don’t want that attention because they could be found out. Perhaps they are planning to overthrow the government here in Maine, or maybe these people will be sent out to different places to assassinate certain key people in the state. These people are terrorists and must be stopped.

However, at the moment we don’t have enough evidence to alert the authorities although I have been in touch with the Governor and given him an update about the situation here. They must have a secret underground facility, perhaps accessed through the old lodge or that old house. Or maybe both places since they are really not that far apart and a tunnel could easily connect the two places. I’m angry enough right now that I would like to get our whole team together and destroy that village and everyone in it! However, that wouldn’t stop these people, it would just delay them a little while.

They would bring more people in and keep on working out their plan. It’s a good thing that I have advisors and counselors on this team, they keep me settled down so I don’t boil over. Sky had taken Valeria back to our clinic and has now returned. We have all gone back to the lodge in town where we are staying. It was time for a meeting. Kat, Jennifer, Aari, Misty, Sky, Carine, Celestine, Sienna, Victoria, Ivy, Rock and myself were in this meeting. Kat, Misty, Sky and Rock wanted to hit them hard right now saying we have been playing nice long enough.

But I reminded them that would mean death for the remaining women and we don’t want that. Inside though I agreed with them and wanted to get tough, now! Jennifer, Celestine and Ivy managed to settle down my anger. Jennifer has always had that ability and Celestine is just the same. Now Ivy has joined them. These 3 just have a way of getting through to me and making me calm and relaxed so I can think properly. Anyway, we have decided that Aari and the Black Wolves are next and Aari will be looking for his niece, Coral, and her friends.

I have already told Sheriff Pitt about the Black Wolves, so he doesn’t get alarmed seeing them riding through town on their motorcycles. Deputy William might not like it though, but we can’t tell him who they are, or he will spoil the fun. Soon Aari and the Black Wolves, who now number 27 including Aari and Carine, came riding through town on their way to the village. Mandar also sent 20 men to join them, so they have a total of 47. That should make quite the impression on those village people who are said to number 75, but I doubt there are that many of them.

The rest of us went down to the dining room for lunch. Meanwhile, the Black Wolves entered the village and stopped when arriving at the store. Aari, Carine, John and Rock went inside the store and, as usual, the store owner stood behind the counter with arms folded. Aari went to him and asked if he had seen a green SUV come through the village last week. “Nope,” was all he said. “Wrong answer,” said Aari, “so, let’s try it again.” He then asked the same question. “I already answered,” he said, “we don’t like strangers coming to our village, so you can leave.”

“You seem to be hard of hearing,” said Aari, “now, there were 4 women that came through here last week and one was my niece. They all disappeared, though I discovered that one was found dead in an old house at Old Lake. Fortunately it wasn’t my niece, but it was one of her best friends. Now, obviously they came through here and the way your store is situated, you must have seen them. So, where are the others? I want them back, right now, and alive. If not, my boys and I will destroy this village and everyone in it while we look for those women. Do I make myself clear?”

Meanwhile, though a hidden camera at the store, some men are watching. “Who are they Bart?” asked Clifford. “They are a criminal organization from Canada,” he replied, “and they number about 400 tough men.” “Just what we need,” he said, “they could spoil things for us and they will definitely be harder to deal with.” “All they want are those women,” said Alice, “why not give them to that guy. Then they will leave and those private investigators likely would too. We don’t need those women for anything, so far they have just been causing us trouble. I say get rid of them.”

“I agree, might be a good idea,” said Bart, “these guys look like they could take apart the whole village. They might even have more men close by, maybe in the city, waiting for a call.” Back to the store. That big guy was playing checkers again with another man. He got up and told Aari to take his kids and leave. Rock went over to him, punching him twice in the stomach and pounding him once on his back and he fell flat on the floor. Then Rock picked him up and tossed him outside.

He then picked up the other checker player, tossed him upward a bit and punched him in the stomach sending him onto the ground outside where he landed on his back, out cold. “Okay Rock,” said Aari, “take the boys and start searching those houses. Kill anyone that gets in your way. If the girls are not in the house, then burn it.” “Right boss,” he said, and began to head out the door. “Wait!” said a woman, “My name is Alice, I’m Pete’s wife. You won’t find the women in any of the houses. If you get them back, what guarantee do we get that you will go and leave us alone?”

“You have my word,” said Aari, “I just want my niece and her friends, alive. If they are dead, you will all die.” “I think you will find them at Old Lake Lodge,” she said, “sleeping in the upstairs bedrooms.” I had been listening to the conversation through Carine. “Okay Sky,” I said, “let’s go.” We got up and headed for the door, I didn’t want to disappear in front of Jameson’s men. However, Bert came along with a shotgun and told us to stop, but Ivy had her gun out quickly and shot him. Sky and I then disappeared and reappeared at the Old Lake Lodge in the upstairs hallway. Sure enough, the girls were there, one to a bedroom. But, like I thought, it was a trap…

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.