We went to bed early that night so we could get lots of sleep before heading to Old Lake and the site of Amelia’s property. Amelia is Coral’s friend, they met in high school and immediately became best friends. I hope she isn’t involved in whatever has happened to the girls. Meanwhile, that night. “Why are you phoning so late Billy,” said the man. “Just to let you know some important information,” he said, “seems the mother of one of them girls hired some private detectives to look for them.

There’s quite a bunch of them too. Remember to keep your mouths shut and get the word around. They won’t likely stay long when they don’t find anything, but they might be more nosey than the cops, so be careful.” “We know how to do our part,” he said, “I hate it when strangers come into our domain. Keep us informed.” “I’ll do that,” he said and he hung up. The night passed quickly and quietly for us, which was nice, it meant we all slept well.

Breakfast was ready for us early like I had asked. The owner’s wife again told us not to go out to Old Lake. But I told her that this kind of thing is our job, but we won’t take chances. I’m beginning to think we should have brought the Black Wolves with us. However, it still might be better this way, whoever is causing trouble out there won’t think we are anything to worry about. But if they have harmed those four women, they will have to do a lot of worrying, not us. They will not only feel the wrath of the Kat, but also the wrath of Steve this time.

I feel a lot better now and a lot stronger. This morning I will bring Misty and her team plus Kat and her Wildcats. Sky will stay behind with her Bad Girls as backup and to protect Sienna and Celestine. We also took four of the cats, Muffin, Tracker, Sunny and Boots with us. They can help sniff around for clues. We only took vans with us on this trip since the limousine is really just for Sienna. We drove on the country road up to the little village and I’m sure everyone in that village watched us drive through on our way out to Old Lake.

I certainly sensed heavy trouble in that little village, I wonder what they are doing? It wasn’t much of a road by the time we arrived at Old Lake. We stopped briefly to look around and see if we could tell if anyone had driven out there recently. Unfortunately it had rained 2 days ago so any tire tracks were washed away completely. We listened but heard nothing at all, not even any birds or squirrels. Kitty listened most intently, her hearing is better than anyone in our group, but she didn’t hear anything either. So, we continued our journey until Misty said we had arrived.

“Hey, look over there!” exclaimed Brandy, our photographer, “That must be the old lodge we were told about.” Sure enough, there was indeed an old lodge, once built for tourists and hunters to stay, there was even an old, faded sign saying, Old Lake Lodge. It was made of logs, like the one we are staying at, but it’s not as big. And it is a bit rundown. We drove to the lodge along its gravel driveway, at least it used to be. Once we were close to this lodge, it didn’t look quite so bad. Only one window was broken, on the main floor, and only one small pane of glass.

The door was locked, with a rather new lock at that. Nicole is our best lock picker at the moment and she had the door open quickly. In we went and we quite literally stepped back in time. The lodge was completely furnished and I’m sure everything was original to this building. Oddly, Coral’s mother said there was a house on the property, but perhaps that was just what she had been told. Only some of the furniture was draped with sheets, but the girls may have taken them off the other furniture.

There was one massive stone fireplace on one end of the main room as we came in the front door, there was a smaller one in the large dining room. Out back was a three walled shed well stocked with firewood. “That wood is quite fresh,” said Fridr, “likely stacked in there last year.” Astrid agreed, it definitely wasn’t any older than that. Now, who was out here last year stocking up on so much firewood so it would be nice and dry for this winter?

And why is the inside of this hundred year old lodge in such immaculate condition inside if no one has been living here for decades? Misty’s team checked the upstairs bedrooms and all but one were well furnished and the beds were made and ready to use. That also makes no sense. Finally I asked the cats if they had found anything. Meow, meow.= We smell human people in here, not long ago too. Smell our humans plus maybe 6 or more other humans. Smell something else too, not sure what is, but not nice smell.

“Well, we know our girls were here,” I said, “but where did they go?” “They didn’t stop at the Lodge where we are staying,” said Misty, “no one there saw them.” “Well, that’s what they told us,” said Kat, “I’m not sure I trust the owner of that place. One thing is certain, people in that village saw the girls come and go, if indeed they left.” “Yes, considering how they watched us drive through their village,” I agreed, “they would definitely have seen the girls drive through also. But I somehow doubt they will tell us anything.”

“Then we’ll make them tell us!” said Misty firmly. “Yes, we may have to get a little tough with them,” I said. It was now close to mid afternoon so I said it was time to head back and we would stop in the village at the store. Off we went and soon we were parked outside the small general store. Some of us went inside to talk with whoever was there, while the others stayed outside to watch.

The store owner stood behind the counter with arms folded while two more men sat at a small table in one corner of the store playing checkers. This is definitely an old time general store. I went to the owner and asked if he saw a green SUV drive through the village a few days ago heading out to Old Lake. “Around here we mind our own business Mister,” he said gruffly. He was now leaning on the counter looking right at me.

I then moved amazingly fast, grabbing his arms and pulling them which knocked his head down on the counter. Then I pulled him across the counter and slammed him against some shelves knocking canned goods onto the floor. “Look,” I said, “we are private investigators and were hired to find these 4 women. We are going to stay until we find them, and we better find them, alive and unharmed…”

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.