We ordered our food, then talked a bit more about Jensen’s Jaguars. I think she bought my story about Tammy hiring them to deal with me because I wouldn’t leave. Helene wanted more information about Aari’s organization, she figured I must know more about them than she does. After all, that is my business as a PI. So, I told her enough without telling her everything.

I could sense trouble in our meeting, so I knew she was up to something. I thought she might use this opportunity to kidnap me to use for a trade, in order to get Kitty. This would be okay since it would give us what we need to fight her, legally. And since she can’t hurt me, there is really no problem. Helene, however, was more intelligent than I gave her credit for.

Sherry had driven us to our meeting today, which is normal, but she had to stay in the car to keep an eye on things. While she was waiting for us, there was a knock on her window. She looked to see 2 police officers standing by the car. She rolled the window down part way and the one officer told her she was parked in a no parking zone, and he pointed to a sign by the car.

Sherry looked and sure enough, there was a sign. “How did I not see that before?” she asked herself. She then told the officer she would move the car. However, he was not satisfied with that and wanted to see her driver’s license. She gave it to him and he gave it to the other officer. He then asked her to step out of the car.

When she asked why, he told her that a large supply of drugs was being brought into the city today, so all cars of a certain kind were being checked. He said it would not take long. So, she got out, immediately felt a pain, then everything went black.

Meanwhile, back inside with us. “Okay Steve,” began Helene, “let’s get serious for a few minutes. I want Kitty, preferably without bloodshed. So, I will pay you $10 million for her, the price that I paid Rico.” “That would mean you are actually paying $20 million for her,” I said, “you really want her, obviously you think she must be worth the money. But are you sure about that?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said, “and you know it too, that’s why you don’t want to let me have her.” “She does have some interesting abilities that are very helpful to us,” I said. “That reminds me,” she said, “how did you know I had my driver’s license in my purse? And how could you see it?” “Well, we could say it was just a lucky guess,” I told her, smiling.

“We could, but then I would have to say you are lying to me,” she said. “Well, I will stick with my lucky guess,” I said, “since I did have your name wrong. I thought it was Chambers, but really it’s Chalmers. So, I didn’t have it quite right, and I assumed you must be Helene, since you did show up in our last case with Ezra and Tammy.

As for finding out your name is really Chalmers, that was the work of another team member, certainly not me, I admit that I would never have thought about that myself. As for your offer for Kitty, well, she is not mine to sell. No one owns Kitty, so no one can sell her.” “You are a hard man to deal with,” she said, “I was really hoping we could do this the easy way.

But now I guess we will have to do this the hard way.” We were now finished our meal and Helene asked us if we would like dessert, but we both said no. We had already eaten more than we normally do for lunch. “Now, I could decide to keep you both as my, shall we say, guests,” said Helene, “until you hand over Kitty to me, or I could just keep one of you since I already have one of your girls. I believe she is your driver.”

Jennifer called Sherry right away, she answered and admitted to being caught by fake police officers. She admitted to being embarrassed by that. She wasn’t sure where she was, however, since she had been knocked out, but it looked like a hotel room. “It is a hotel room,” said Helene, “my room actually. And to make things interesting, I will keep you, Steve, and Jennifer can return home and decide what to do about Kitty.”

At that moment Bunker, Helene’s bodyguard, came into the restaurant and over to our table. “Please go with Bunker, Steve,” she said, “causing a scene in public is so childish. I will stay and talk with Jennifer for a couple of minutes and be right out.” As we walked out the door, I looked up and said “invisible Sky”.

Bunker looked up too. “What do you mean?” he asked. “There are no clouds,” I said. He then told me to get into the limousine. Sky got in with me and I put a bubble around us so we could talk. “They have Sherry already, now me,” I said, “I will need you available at all times Sky, protecting Sherry is most important. If they keep us separated then I want you to stay with her.” “I will do that Steve,” she said…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.