For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
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.
Good Morning everyone! Well, it’s true that technically it is no longer morning here, and probably not where you live either, yet I did try to get this post done this morning for a change. But things just didn’t quite work out the way I had planned. It happens. Especially to me it seems. But, I’m going to keep trying. One of these days it will happen.
Getting my post done in the morning, that is. Although it is much cooler today, the sun is still shining nicely, things are growing, there is some green showing in the trees suddenly, and on smaller shrubs too. And dandelions are out once again, our first wildflowers of the season. Some violas are also out showing off their beautiful bright colors.

Violas in the grass.
There are many birds back from the south once again, though it’s a little harder to get photos of them around here. I don’t like to carry my camera with me too far away from our building, it’s not exactly a safe area around here. The loons have been back for a while now, but a couple days ago one was nice enough to fly right past our building for all to see.

Song Sparrow in the grass.
Plus it was doing it’s typical laughing call as it flew past. There are many robins in the area now and I hear them singing at all hours of the day and night. I have heard them sing at midnight and at 3:25 in the morning. I suppose they must sleep sometime. Nice to hear them though.
There is at least one song sparrow around the building here too, I hear him singing every morning and see him scratching around in the grass, which is getting quite long now. One of my favorite birds, the white pelican, should be back by now too, though I haven’t seen any yet. But they spend most of their time at the river and I live too far from the river now to see them.

My first dandelion.
Hopefully one of these days. Grackles are back in large numbers once again. There are about 8 that stay around the building and area. I haven’t been able to get a picture of any yet. They don’t seem to be as friendly in this part of town. Lots of little plants are growing now too.
My neighbor has a friend over right now and they have been smoking heavily since earlier this morning. And that smoke fills my apartment. Good thing it’s warm enough to have windows open. It’s actually illegal to smoke in apartment buildings here, but people still do it.

New growth coming everywhere.
And complaining to the owners doesn’t help. Think I’ll go outside for a while and get some fresh air. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2025 Steve McLeod.