I woke up to both cats jumping on me! Meow, meow!=Time to wake up, morning now! Barely, but there was a bit of daylight at least. I gave the cats their breakfast, at least they get something to eat. I wonder if Anna and her friends will come back to check on us? If not, it’s going to be a long walk out of here to the main highway. But we will need to be ready in case they do come back. I make sure the cats are ready for a fight now that they have finished eating. I tell them to stay out of sight and watch. They will let me know if anyone comes along. I decide to let Karin sleep a little longer and wake her up once the sun is shining. Oh, I’m so hungry, she says, I don’t suppose you found some food? Right, way out here? All I have is cat food. Sigh, I’m almost hungry enough to try it, she said.

Me too, I replied, if they come back to check on us, we will have a car to get out of here and get some food. They’ll be back, said Karin, I know Sofia, that is, Anna, well enough. She will want to make sure we’re dead! Okay, here’s one of my guns, if you’re sure you can use it. I know how to shoot, she says. But can you shoot someone if you have to?, I asked. She paused. I’m sure I can, she said finally. Hmm, I don’t think I will count on her help, it will be up to the cats and I this time. At least we have lots of water, there is a nice well out back. Hey, this water is like ice, screamed Karin. Helps wake you up, I said, and it’s nice for drinking. Are you sure it’s safe? I haven’t died yet, so it must be okay, I said. So Karin decides to drink some. At least we won’t die of thirst, Karin said, but I’m still hungry.

It’s now 9 am and still no sign of anyone. How long do we wait?, asks Karin. Not too much longer, but I don’t really expect those people to be early risers. Mr. Cat comes running over to us. Meow!=Car coming! Okay, back to your spot, and off he goes. A couple minutes later a car pulls up with Willie and that other guy, no sign of Anna however. Guess she didn’t want to come. I had closed and latched the trap door again, I wanted them to come right inside. They came walking in without even looking around, guess they didn’t really expect us to get out of that hole in the ground. They opened the trap door and…the look on their faces when they saw the pit empty! Out came their guns quickly. That’s when I showed myself and told them to drop their guns. Willie fired once, then “thwock” and he dropped to the floor. Muffin got him first try. Karin was aiming but shaking too much. I fired and the other guy fell backward into the hole.

Then I went over and pushed Willie into the hole as well and closed the lid. I didn’t want anyone to find them just yet. Fortunately they brought back our rented car, I said to Karin, makes things a lot easier for us. She agreed that was a good thing. At least if someone does find Willie and Chuck, they won’t be looking for us, she said. Chuck? How did you know his name? He’s a friend of Sofia, I mean, Anna. Why do people have to change their name? Off we went back to the main highway, but which way to go from there? I know we need to look for a country estate next so, hmm, that would mean flying again, therefore an airport. The closest airport is the one we passed before, said Karin, it’s a long distance to another one.

That’s the way we go then and we stop at that hotel to have something to eat. I wonder if they will be surprised to see us. Oddly the lady didn’t seem at all surprised, so she must be working for Katharina. When we were finished our rather late breakfast the lady told us about some nice country area with some large estates we might like to see. Hmm, why send us to the stone house knowing we would have to come back? Off we go, with the cats sleeping comfortably in the back seat. Stop over at that little spot, said Karin, it looks nice, and I need to talk. I stop the car and Karin looks at me. You checked me out didn’t you? I check everyone, that’s what a PI does, I said. I know that, she answered, yet you still gave me a gun. Yes, I trust you. For a PI you are a foolish man. She’s speaking very calmly now. I’m working for Anna too, she points the gun at me, now I have to kill you Steve.

To be continued.

©2020 Steve McLeod.