We decide to move into the empty seats ahead of us, to make it harder for that man to listen to our conversation. Do you really think he is following me?, asked Karl. Is there a reason anyone should follow you? No, no, there isn’t, I’m just a normal businessman, said Karl. I disagree, but I’ll keep that to myself for now. Who were the last people to see your daughter? Well, just Hannah and myself I guess. I, I really don’t know for sure. She has her own house just outside of the city. But I use it sometimes for my business associates, so they have a place to stay that is nicer than a hotel. I thought perhaps you would want to look it over for clues, so you will be staying there, unless you would prefer a hotel. No, staying at the house would be a good idea since that is where she disappeared, it’s a good place to start.

Meow, meow.=He say disappear, that mean ghosts. Meow?=Ghosts? Not again, why he like to chase ghosts all the time? Meow, meow.=Not know, maybe it pay better. Meow.=Thought you said not get paid very often. Meow, meow.=Yes, that true, so guess it not matter how much we get paid if not get paid at all. I think. Meow.=Yep, I agree. Here, I will give you the keys to the house now, said Karl. And here are keys to the car in the garage, you may use that also. My driver will drop you off there. Actually I would prefer to take a taxi, just in case we are being followed. Once we are off the plane we can go our separate ways, but I will be in touch regularly. Oh, oh that’s okay I guess, yes, perhaps that would be better, might be safer for Katharina too.

True, it’s best not to mention me to anyone, and I mean no one. Well, my wife knows and so does my driver, but no one else. Good, it’s important to keep it that way. Did any of your business associates stay in the house recently? Yes, yes, but they left the day before Katharina was kidnapped, I took them to the airport myself. You can’t possibly suspect them, you just can’t. Wow, he really got scared now, I wonder what kind of business dealings he has? Oh well, I will check into that later. I ask typical questions about Katharina, what things she likes doing, any hobbies. I did find out she likes going for walks and every weekend she would drive out to a small village in the countryside to have lunch in a cafe there. Will have to check that one.

Karl also gave me a lot of useless information for whatever reason. I’m sure he’s holding something back, but I don’t know what. I’m sure he knows why Katharina was kidnapped, though he insists that he doesn’t. Perhaps a “business” deal gone wrong? Whatever, I’m not going to trust Karl more than is necessary. Then I heard the man that had been listening call for the flight attendant and saying his wallet and passport are missing. They were found on the floor under the seat next to him. He was complaining about how they got there. The flight attendant finally got him calmed down by suggesting they may have fallen out of his jacket pocket when he took it off to sleep for a while.

I also found out he is going to the same city as us, probably a coincidence, but maybe not. Will have to keep watching him anyway. Finally we reach our destination, that was a long flight, especially with that 2 hour layover in Paris. That man kept in sight the whole time we were there. We pick up our luggage and head off to find a taxi. We had already said good bye to Karl for now. That other man was following behind us. I whisper to Muffin and Mr. Cat and they go into action running through the crowd and expertly tripping our following companion and getting back to me quickly. I think we lost him for now and we are now in the taxi heading for Katharina’s house. I wonder what we will find…

To be continued.

(Previous chapters and stories can be found on my home page under 20/20 Investigations, Inc.)

©2020 Steve McLeod.