The girls had to literally carry Harley, she had been beaten too badly to walk on her own. That made me think that Summer must have had help getting to our room as well. But I wonder who would have helped her? A thought came to me and I’m sure it is the right answer too. I don’t think Harley was beaten quite as bad as Summer though, which also made me think my idea is correct.

We got back and put Harley in the same bed with Summer and the girls proceeded to clean her up. “I asked Summer if I could show you this,” said Jennifer, “she can’t wear clothes right now, it is just too painful. But the manager got me a nice light and soft blanket to use which is perfect.” She pulled the blanket down so I could see all the bruises and cuts, and something else.

“What would make these marks?” I asked Jennifer. “An old fashioned caning,” she said, “still popular in some parts of the world.” Jennifer then took me over to one of the big chairs and sat on my lap so we could talk privately. “It’s amazing she’s even alive Steve,” she said, “she suffered a lot with that beating. Someone must have brought her here.”

“Yes, someone is giving us a message,” I said, “they didn’t like us going to Harley’s house and exposing their fake ghost, so they want us to leave. People don’t seem to realize that this is the wrong way to get us to leave. We stay, and call in more help perhaps.” “Summer needs Kat,” said Jennifer through tears, “or she won’t make it. We can’t fail her now.”

“Cristy,” I said. “Yes Steve?” she asked. “I want Kat,” I said. “Hi Steve,” she said, “I’m right here with Cristy.” “Have Sky bring you here, immediately, please. A young woman’s life depends on your abilities, and I sure hope you can help her.” I was crying now. Kat and Sky showed up immediately alright, so Jennifer took them over to see Summer.

It didn’t take long for Sky to come back to me and sit on my lap. “Take me to that woman, Steve,” she said, “she needs to feel the same pain as Summer.” “I agree, but not yet,” I said, “I don’t believe that Miss Hanson is the leader, someone else must be. She just did not appear intelligent enough, but she is cold and stubborn.”

“And you said young woman,” Sky reminded me, “those are not women, they are just girls.” “I agree again,” I said, “but they are still young women. I need you to go back and bring a message to some of our team. I want more help. We need to keep these girls safe and…” “Why don’t I just take them back to our clinic?” she asked.

“Well, I don’t think you could carry them by yourself,” I said, “can you take three others with you?” “Hmm, that might be hard,” she admitted, “two is okay, but three, probably not. Once they can stand again, then I could take them back.” “That would keep them safer,” I said, “but right now it might be better to keep them here anyway.”

“Oh no! I will not allow you to use those kids as bait!” she yelled, “That is not going to happen! They have been through enough, or do you need to look at those battered bodies again?” Good thing no one else can hear us talking right now, Sky was getting a bit loud, and I don’t blame her either. She sat there staring, or maybe I should say, glaring, at me with a major frown too. Sigh.

“Yes, you are absolutely right Sky,” I said, “and I wasn’t thinking of using them as lonely, helpless bait. We would be watching over them in the hotel 24 hours a day. They would be completely safe, but others would not know that, since they do not know who we are or what we can do. Oh, Cristy, still there?” “Yes Steve, and listening intently to your conversation with Sky,” she said, “and I also say NO!”

That made everyone in the library back home go completely quiet. “Thank you Cristy, your vote is noted,” I said, “can you get me Aari please?” “How come you don’t call people yourself?” she asked, “Not that I mind helping out, but I’m curious.” “Because my communicator only works to you,” I told her, “not to anyone else.” Suddenly things went silent.

“Cristy? Cristy?” I asked several more times, “Sky, go check on things please.” She disappeared and I told everyone to turn off their communicators for now. Everyone knew what that meant, trouble. Sky then communicated with me the ghostly way and told me that Cristy cut us off since the communicators must be compromised. I asked her to check and see if they can communicate between themselves, because we can do that here.

She then told me they couldn’t, so the problem is on their end. I didn’t think the problem was with Cristy’s computer, however, so we reconnected. “I have some pics and information for you,” I said, “get back to me quickly with anything you can find.

Photo, Irene Laurel, loves spiders, especially poisonous ones, photo, Greg, works for Irene and Miss Hanson, photo, Greg’s friend Buddy, also works for Irene, photo, goes by the name Bulldog, works for Irene, photo, Summer Winters, someone had a cruel sense of humor, claims to be 21 and from America, photo, Harley Whitley, also from America, friends with Summer, also 21, photo, Manager Ben Harrison, also American, photo, Miss Hanson, no other info right now on her except she’s the girls’ landlady.”

“I’m on it Steve,” she said. “Oh, and I want Aari’s team in Australia, with Aari and 5 of his men here,” I said. “Actually, they’re already in Australia,” she said, “so they should be there quite soon.” “Well, someone was really thinking,” I said, “was it Sienna or Mandar?” There was silence. “You still there Cristy?” I asked. “Steve, sometimes you can be quite mean,” she said and hung up. What did I do?

Sky then reappeared on my lap and slapped me, hard. “What was that for?” I asked. “For being mean to Cristy,” she said, “she can’t slap you, but I can.” Then Jennifer joined us in the bubble. But then Kat came over too. “Well, have you been able to help her?” I asked. “Yes, I think she will be fine,” she replied, “I doubt there will be any scars anywhere.”

“That’s good,” I said, “it would be terrible for her to have scars all over her body, especially so young. What about Harley?” “Same with her,” said Kat, “she wasn’t nearly as bad as Summer. Someone was giving you a serious message.” “Yes, that’s what I figured too,” I said, “now to find out who is so interested in us. By the way, your new invention worked nicely.

When those guys were searching our room they didn’t find our guns or ID. A small, invisible backpack is ideal to hide things we can’t carry around with us all the time. Keep those inventions coming.” “I have something else I’m working on,” she said, “well, a collaboration effort with Carolyn, but no hints until it’s finished.” “Awww!” said Jennifer and Sky together.

“Can I see how the girls are doing?” I asked. “Yes, they both said that would be okay,” said Kat smiling. So we all got up and went over to the girls. Our girls pulled the blanket down. I smiled at the girls. “That looks a lot better now,” I said. “Yes,” said Summer, “what does Kat use, some herbs or something?” “I would say, or something,” I told her, smiling. Just then Jennifer whispered to me, “Danger near”…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.