After our last case was over and we had been at home relaxing for a few days, it was time to do what I had mentioned before. That was to give some recognition to Cristy and Misty. So, we had a party, which was held indoors for safety reasons. “Okay everyone,” I began, “time for us to honor Cristy and Misty for their tireless work for our team. As you all know, Misty is now my permanent pretend wife…” I was then interrupted.

“And that’s the hardest job of all!” shouted Kat. Everyone laughed, a lot. It wasn’t quite that funny. “Ahem,” I continued, “and Cristy works nearly around the clock on some cases and never complains, well, not much anyway. (more laughter) Usually she tries to tell me that others do most of the work and she just kind of puts it all together.

But Cynthia, and others, have told me differently, like on our last case when checking through the financial records for Tammy’s company (“um, Steve, but”, said Cristy), how Cristy did so much work on those records (“yeah, but”) and she tried to tell me it was all Cynthia’s work (“yeah, but”) in finding the irregularities, but Cynthia said if it wasn’t for Cristy (“yeah, but”),

then she wouldn’t have found those irregularities by herself (“yeah, but”) and Cristy has been working with Cynthia a lot, teaching her how to find things and dig deeply for answers (“yeah, but”) and other girls as well, have told me how much Cristy has helped them learn more about looking for information (“yeah, but”), so, it is time to recognize these fantastic twins!”

Everyone cheered and clapped. They both sighed together and looked at each other. I then gave them each a nice pendant on a gold chain. The pendant was a heart with a diamond in the middle. The twins gasped when they discovered it was a real diamond.

Mandar and Sienna had contributed the pendants. “But Steve,” said Misty, “all of the girls deserve to be recognized, not just us.” “Yes, I agree, and they also will receive this same pendant,” I said. One by one I gave each of our girls one of these diamond pendants. Everything went so well that day, it was just what we needed.

Our guys were not left out either, they each received a specially engraved knife as their gift. The next morning I was up early. It was a beautiful day, but I felt uneasy, something wasn’t right, yet I didn’t sense any trouble. Perhaps I was just feeling odd again, Kat said it might continue that way for a while yet, but it would go away.

Now I know how Jennifer felt when we first met again while Christopher had me locked up. He always threatened to kill me if she didn’t do what he said. She didn’t want me killed so she obeyed him. She was going through this same thing, these odd, strange feelings that kind of mess me up from time to time. I’m so glad she believed me though and came with me back to our team.

I’m just a little too impatient, I guess, I want these strange feelings that come and go, to just go and stay gone. Sigh. At breakfast Jennifer knew something was bothering me. “What is it Steve?” she asked. Everyone went quiet when she asked. “I just feel uneasy,” I said, “perhaps we should go on Code yellow today.” Dawn was looking after security this week, so Jennifer told her.

The alarm went off, alerting everyone to be extra diligent today. After breakfast things began as normal with exercise classes and normal household chores. At mid morning several of us were having coffee and donuts in the library. “Jennifer, I sense trouble now,” I said. “I was just going to say I sensed danger,” she replied, “and not far away either.”

“Dawn,” I said, “change to Code Orange for the team and Code Red for the ghosts and they are to meet with me at the front door.” The alarm was sent out and all the ghosts came to meet with me. Meanwhile I had called Aari and told him to stay away with the guys for now, but to be ready at Code Red.

It wasn’t long before three cars came driving up to the chateau, the middle car was a limousine and all cars were black. A large man, dressed in black got out of the limousine and began to walk toward the chateau, but Dawn stopped him. “Stay by your car, state your name and business please,” she said. He stopped and looked over his shoulder.

“Bunker Sunderland, I represent Mr. Chambers and would like to talk with the leader of The Investigators,” he replied. Cristy was looking up this man right away. “Steve will be out in a couple of minutes,” said Dawn. I told Kat to keep her Wildcats hidden for now and the Bad Girls will do the same. But Sky will be coming out with Jennifer and I to talk with this Mr. Chambers.

Out we went and walked down toward the limousine. “Mr. Chambers wishes…” began Bunker, but I interrupted him. “He wishes to talk with me,” I said, “and I accept the invitation.” “I talk for Mr. Chambers,” he said, quite obviously upset. “If he wants to talk with me,” I said, “then it will have to be in person, or not at all.”

He went back to the limousine and a very beautiful, young woman got out and came over to us, with Bunker behind her. “I am Mr. Chambers,” she said, “though obviously not my real name, however, sometimes these things are necessary. I see you have a nice bench over by those shrubs, may we talk there?”

“I was going to suggest that myself,” I said, “I’m Steve, this is my wife Jennifer and this is our bodyguard, Sky. All 3 of us will be present as we talk.” “Very well,” she said, “am I guaranteed safety while I’m here?” “You are perfectly safe,” I said, “unless you try to kill me.” She smiled. “I am not that crazy Steve,” she said. We then went and sat down after she told Bunker to stay at the car, an idea he didn’t like.

“I will come to the point,” she said, “you took something that belongs to me and I wish to have it back please.” “Considering this is the first time we have met,” I said, rather puzzled, “I don’t understand what I could have taken from you.”

“Well, you took it from someone else who was holding it for me,” she said, “a man named Rico. I paid him 10 million dollars for this merchandise. You killed him, took my merchandise and now I’m out all that money and nothing to show for it. That wasn’t very nice.” “Well, number one, I did not kill Rico,” I said, “I don’t even know who did it. Rico did kidnap a friend of mine and we rescued her.”

“I don’t want Sienna Steve,” she said, “I want Kitty, she is the one that I bought for 10 million dollars. I assume you’re stalling because you want more money?” “I don’t want more money,” I said, “Kitty is not mine to sell. No person owns another person. She is a free woman and she is here by her own choice.”

“Well Steve,” she said, “we are both intelligent adults, there are two ways we can do this. Either you give Kitty to me, or I will take her by force one day. We will both lose lives needlessly doing it that way, so, be reasonable and give me Kitty now.” “Kitty is not for sale at any time, or any price,” I said.

“And we are willing to fight, and if necessary, die for one another,” added Jennifer. “Very well,” she said, standing up, “am I free to go?” “Yes, that was part of the deal,” I said. We walked her back to her car. “Good bye Helene,” I said, “uh, your name is on your driver’s license.” Now she was puzzled as they drove away…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.