Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Steve’s Daily Pics #182.
Good morning everyone! It’s another lovely morning here, the sun is just beginning to shine on the trees, there is a barred owl hooting in the distance. Haven’t heard that owl for quite a while now, nice to know it’s still around. The loons are also calling down at the river, the Swainson’s thrushes are singing steadily with their flute like song, it’s just so beautiful listening to them. The sun is beginning to climb higher but suddenly fog is moving in. Thick enough to block the sun. How odd to get fog like that this time of the year. Speaking of odd, I woke up precisely at midnight to sounds on the deck. Muffin had been at the window because I heard her jump down. So I got up to see what was going on. Muffin was scared, sitting on the floor closer to the kitchen and staring toward the window. Hmm, so it’s not a cat, or raccoon, or a dog.
There are only 3 things that would scare her. That would be a wolf, a bear, or a person. I turn the light on and look. All is quiet, nothing out of place, which I found odd since there had been noises out there. I look out the windows and the door but could see nothing. So back to bed, until 3:38 when the noises were back and Muffin once again jumped down from the window. I moved a bit faster this time, got the light on and, sure enough, it was a bear, just a normal size and he wasn’t really doing anything except bumping into things which is what caused the noise. But it means they are getting hungry, there isn’t much for them to eat yet, the berries are not even close to getting ripe. It’s summer. Supposed to be cloudy with a slight chance of showers or thundershowers today.
And for today’s pics are 2 different colors of “bachelor’s buttons”, also known as “cornflower”, the one at the top is purple and the other a typical blue. A very easy to grow flower, really needs very little care and they provide some nice summer color in a flower garden. Well, I hope all of you have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
20/20 Investigations, Inc., Kidnapped, Chapter 4.
Meow, meow?=They call us amateurs? We not amateurs. We fight big crime organization and win, we pros now, we show them! Meow!=Yeah, we not amateurs, well, maybe me a little. Yes, you two, we will show them we’re not amateurs, not even you Mr. Cat! These people are not pros, tacking a note to the door like that is more like an amateur, not what a pro would do. Meow?=What pro would do? They would just come along and kill us. Meow.=Not comforting thought. Okay, now I need to check on some leads, first will be Katharina’s two friends if they will talk to me. I called the one but no answer, so I tried the other one. She answered her phone so I explained to her who I was and that I was trying to locate Katharina. Would you be willing to talk with me? She hesitated a bit but finally agreed and named a restaurant where we could meet.
Okay you two, I can’t take you to a restaurant with me but I have a job for you to do anyway. Meow, meow!=We ready for anything! Good, first is to put your backpacks on and get your slingshots ready. You need to be on guard all the time, don’t be afraid to use those slingshots if someone comes in here. I’ll make sure everything is locked. Plus I want you to check through the house thoroughly and look for the following things. Meow, meow.=Okay, that look easy. Meow.=Me ready too. Just let them try touch my Muffin! Then off I went to meet this young woman. I got to the restaurant and saw the woman right away, her long blonde hair was easy to see. Her name is Sofia and she brought her friend Karin along as well. Karin was the woman that didn’t answer her phone.
We had a nice lunch together talking about Katharina and her family, but when I asked about Karl both women said they were disgusted with him. Apparently he is not Katharina’s father and Hannah just married him a little over a year ago. He always hated Katharina from the beginning, said Karin. I asked them what kind of business he was involved with. No one knows for sure, except maybe Hannah, said Sofia, but he does have a lot of money. See that building over there? His office takes up the 10th floor. Hmm, that is interesting, maybe I should pay him a surprise visit, since I’m down here anyway. But I guess not right now, I’m trying to stay away from him. Of course, the kidnappers know I’m here now anyway so guess it wouldn’t make a difference. So, why do you think Karl wants Katharina back? Because of Hannah, he will do anything for her, he treats her very well, answered Karin. That’s true, added Sofia, it’s so different how he treats the two of them.
And Hannah knows it, but still doesn’t do anything about it, very strange. They also told me that Karl’s business associates were still in the house when Katharina went over to tell them to leave, and no one has seen her since. Now I need to talk with Karl, this info doesn’t match what he told me. Just then, oh, I have to leave, I told Sofia and Karin, trouble at home. Call me at this number if you can think of anything that might help me. Maybe we can meet again and talk some more. They both agreed. I paid for the meal and left as quickly as I could. When I got back there was no car and no sign of trouble anywhere outside. The front door was open however so I went in quickly without thinking… Next thing I know Sofia is gently slapping my face. Wow, what happened?
My poor head, I got hit hard. How did you two get here? We followed you in case you were in trouble or something. We saw your car out front and just waited for a bit, then another car came along and picked up 3 guys from the house and left. The door was open so we came in. They were carrying something when they came out, said Karin. Suddenly, my cats! Where are my cats? We never saw any cats, said Sofia. I started calling them and they came running down the stairs. Meow!=Have big news to tell! Meow, meow!=Yes, one man was Karl’s driver! Now we are getting somewhere. Coming here could put you in danger, I said, those kidnappers could come after you now. Maybe we should all stay together, said Sofia. I like that better than being alone, said Karin. She was definitely scared while Sofia was amazingly calm. Now, what did those men take that was so important?
To be continued.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 