Misty did well on her first encounter with Tony and he is now nervous, which is what we want. His wife sounded a bit more than just nervous and that is even better. That will produce friction between the two of them and that will be good for us. Something bothers me though, I sense trouble almost constantly right now, but it’s not anything close, except at times. Like right now, for instance.

I sense that trouble to be on or at the edge of, our property. Our cameras don’t pick up anything though and they are working properly. So, I sent a team out to walk around the property, in particular along the southern edge. Carine went along since her eyesight is amazing and she would be able to see beyond our property and she could tell if anything was not as it should be in that treed area.

But, after spending two hours walking along our fence line, they could find nothing unusual, so they came back. After lunch I headed toward our front door. “And where do you think you’re going?” asked Dawn, fairly loudly, which I think she did on purpose. It brought several other girls to the front door as well, including Carine. “I was just going out to walk around our front yard for a while,” I said, “it is such a beautiful place, but I seldom get to see it.”

“You know you’re not supposed to go out alone,” said Dawn. I looked around. “I’m not alone,” I said, “there are 4 girls with me.” I smiled when I said it. Meanwhile, “Ah, it won’t be long now my dear,” said a male voice, “be ready.” I went out the door with my 4 bodyguards around me, but I stopped. As we come out the door, there is still a wall on our left, which blocks the south, but it is open to the west and north.

I sensed trouble very strongly now as Carine stepped into view from the south. She looked all around but could see nothing unusual, so she said it was all clear and we all came out into the open. Meanwhile, back with Jennifer. She sensed danger and it was with me, so she communicated with Sky right away and she hit the Code Red Leader 1 alert! “Where’s Steve?” Sky asked. “Outside at the front,” said Cristy excitedly.

Sky was then at my side as bullets came our way! Sky was able to shield all but one of us, that was Beryan, and she fell, rolling down the stairs. “Those trees!” yelled Carine as she pointed directly to them. “We’ve been spotted,” said one sniper. One of our helicopters, which is always with the guys at their chateau, was in the air quickly. The rest of the guys were on their way using their motorcycles.

Sky yelled at me to get back inside while she guarded the girls helping to pick up Beryan and take her to the clinic. Beryan was shot twice, but neither wound was serious, so there was no need to bring Kat back. Sky was a bit angry, with me, for being so stupid going outside even while sensing trouble! She reminded me that those girls can be killed, even if I can’t, and my transition period isn’t quite complete yet, so it might be possible to kill me too, even if unlikely.

She spent quite some time giving me a loud and stern lecture while we were in the library, so most of the girls heard it too. Finally Cristy came over to Sky. “I think he gets it now,” she said, a little nervously. Sky looked at her, then at me, then she gave me a big hug and apologized for getting so angry. She apologized to all the girls too. Right then Carine, Angel and four other girls returned. They found three platforms in the trees where snipers had been hiding, and some shell casings.

It would seem it could be the same snipers that killed Jacques and Pierre, though shell casings are not proof. I then called Jennifer and told her what we found out. The snipers had fled on small motorbikes, but the guys in the helicopter couldn’t see any on the highway or side roads of the area. But there were a few larger trucks and 3 vans, so they might have picked up the snipers and their bikes.

We now have scramblers in every room of this chateau, good thing we had a new shipment of them arrive yesterday. Meanwhile…”We are still getting nothing from that chateau,” said a man, “nothing but static and that means they discovered we were listening and they have a way of blocking us.” A large man sitting behind an equally large desk laughed heartily. “I didn’t think it would last too long,” he said, “but we learned something today.” “Um, I don’t get it,” said the first man.

“They are taking extra precautions right now with Steve,” said the large man, “that means they have a case they are working on, and it has to do with that older couple that visited with them, a visit we also could not hear. I want to know what that case involves because it is interfering with my plans. So, we may have to help them solve this case, so we can continue with my plans. Get busy with that my dear.” “Right away Sir,” said his secretary.

Meanwhile, back in Milan. One street over from where Tony and Camille lived, a black van stopped momentarily and the side door slid open, but no one got out. A short time later the same door opened again, but no one got out. The door closed and the van drove away. Oddly, no one reported seeing that van. A short time later, Camille’s car, which was sitting just outside their home, was reported by a neighbor to be engulfed with flames!

The fire department arrived quickly, which is when Camille discovered her car was on fire. She immediately called Tony and told him what had happened. “It was those people that were here earlier!” he exclaimed and he called the police to report the visit from Misty and her friends. The police found them at their hotel and talked with Misty and the others that were with her when visiting Tony. But there was nothing they could arrest them for, so they just warned them to stay away from Tony and his wife.

Misty told them she only wanted to find out who murdered Rose and her husband Grant and she thought Tony and Camille would want to help with that. The police told her to leave such matters in the hands of the police, but she reminded them that the police are not investigating the matter anymore. But she isn’t satisfied with their conclusions, nor is she satisfied with their conclusions about the disappearance of the children.

“What about the other children that have disappeared while under the care of the Mancini’s?” asked Misty. The police officer in charge then became quite stern. “Do not get involved in such matters,” he said, “or you will find yourself in over your head and in much trouble.” “I’m not afraid of trouble when I’m in the right,” said Misty confidently. The police then left and once in their car they reported the matter.

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.