An older woman, the owner of the restaurant brought our food out and she talked to Muffin as well. Meow, meow.=She know my name! Yes, said Karin, she did Steve, this is getting scary. As we left the lady said that there is a lovely hotel not far up the road if we wanted a place to stop for the night. Then out we went to the car. This is very strange, I said. You mean very scary, said Karin. How does Katharina know so much about you if you don’t know each other? I don’t know, but things could get very dangerous now. I could drive you back to that last town where you can get a bus back home, it might be safer for you. NO, I’m staying with you, I feel safer being with you than being watched by Willie! Okay, our next case was about a hotel, someone knows me and what I have been doing.

There are two possibilities to all of this. What are they?, asked Karin. One possibility is that someone else, not Katharina is giving the clues, someone that does know me and knows about the cases. Perhaps that person is trying to help Katharina. It’s also possible we are being led into a trap by someone, but still, that person must know about me which makes this very strange. No, it makes it very scary, said Karin. And the other possibility? Maybe Katharina was never kidnapped in the first place. Perhaps she was scared enough that something might happen to her that she went into hiding and just made it look like she was kidnapped. That way she would hopefully be safe. And she is leaving us the clues so we can find her. But, that doesn’t explain how she knows about your cases, said Karin. That’s true, but Karl mentioned knowing someone that I have worked with before and that person does know about my cases, so she could have helped Katharina.

Oh my, you’re getting my brain going in circles now, said Karin, but I’m still staying with you and at least I can help you with the language. Very true, I said, so let’s get going to that hotel. Hey, time to wake up Muffin and Mr. Cat! Meow, meow=We just take short catnap. Meow=Yep, driving make us tired. We take the turnoff to that hotel which was a little farther than that lady had said. Hmm, looks like a busy place, I hope they have a room for us, I said. Let’s go see, said Karin. The cats stayed in the car while we went inside. I talked quietly to Karin on the way. They had one room left, which was the largest in the hotel, the man said. We signed in as a married couple which I thought might be better in case someone is following us, or perhaps is already here. We take everything inside, fortunately they didn’t mind the cats. You can have the bed, I’ll sleep on the sofa, which is quite big and comfortable.

Rats, I forgot my phone in the car, I said. I can get it, said Karin. No, I don’t want you going outside, it’s almost dark. Down I went and when I got to the car I looked around. I had this strange feeling I was being watched. Nearly every room in the hotel had lights on, but no one by the windows. I picked up my phone and made a quick call. I started back to the hotel, I still had that feeling of being watched. I shivered. Something just doesn’t seem right. But what is it? No one has been following us. But is someone leading us? I get inside, there is a woman at the front desk now. You are newlyweds?, she asked. Yes, married today, I answered. I make you special breakfast, 8 am, she said, then I give you directions to a nice big stone house, you would like to see.

Now how did she know? This IS getting scary. I get back to the room, Karin is already asleep, the cats were looking out the window. Meow, meow.=We watch, make sure you okay. Meow.=That right. Okay you two, I need you to watch out that window all night, take turns so you can sleep. This is important, I don’t want anyone going near that car. Okay? Meow, meow.=You can count on us, we watch whole night. Meow.=Yep, I help too, and do good job. Good and thank you. Plus, if you see anything, wake me up right away. Then I was asleep…. Meow!=Muffin, look, ghost! Both cats stared out the window, then Muffin jumped on me. Meow, meow!=Wake up, ghost by car!

To be continued.

©2020 Steve McLeod. (photos of Mr. Cat are supplied by my good friend Nina Zain and are copyrighted by her)