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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
I decided to call Jennifer and Aari to see what they think about us heading back home where it would be safer for us. I know there is one problem with that, and it’s the funeral for Aoife’s father. She would really like to be present for that. But it would be hard to protect everyone. I suggested bringing her father’s body back to bury in our cemetery, but our lawyer reminded me it would require Aileen’s signature to do so.
That ends that thought. The lawyer was with us, though he was in the restaurant at the time, and he had the right papers that Aileen would need to sign. I wonder if we could forge her signature? Just as I was thinking about that possibility, I noticed Misty at the desk doing something. “What are you doing Misty?” I asked. She looked up right away and was very red.
Hmm, I caught her being bad. I walked over to her and looked at the papers she signed. I then looked at the signature we had from Aileen. It looked perfect. I looked at Misty. “That is kind of illegal,” I told her, trying to sound firm. “Um, um, I was just, um, practicing,” she said with her head down.
“Practicing on the legal papers?” I asked, “And where did you learn to forge signatures?” “Um, Colette, she is absolutely amazing,” said Misty, “she can copy any signature perfectly the first time, with just enough of a difference to make it realistic each time. Um, she has been teaching me. She won’t get in trouble for teaching me that will she?”
“I suppose not,” I said, “however, we can’t use that, it wouldn’t be legal.” The lawyer came back in at that moment and looked at the papers. “Great, you got her to sign them already,” he said, “I will get things moving and we should have the body on the plane by morning.” Then off he went, whistling as he walked out of the room.
“Why didn’t you stop him Steve?” asked Sky. “He seemed to be quite happy,” I said, “so I didn’t want to ruin his day.” But as he was getting into his car a shot rang out from a parked car across the street. That car then sped away, leaving our lawyer dead. I heard the shot and ran out of the room and I was soon beside the lawyer, but too late to help him.
I did take his briefcase though, it contained other papers that I didn’t want anyone to see. Sky then showed up with me. “Hey, you’re supposed to stay with Aoife and Misty,” I said. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay,” she said. She then took me back to the room with her. But the room was empty. “That’s impossible!” shouted Sky, “They can’t disappear that fast!”
“Check downstairs,” I told her and off she went. She found Aoife downstairs in the lobby, but she had been shot. She was still alive, but the wound was more serious this time. Someone had called the police and an ambulance. They said 4 men had taken Misty and they went out the side door. Sky was out there in a flash, but the men, and Misty, were gone.
Jennifer communicated with me, asking me what was wrong. She had sensed immediate danger. I told her what had happened, I failed again. I tasked Amerie and her friends with guarding Aasta, then I got a phone call. It was from Neil Moore. “Hello PI, we have your little friend here with us,” he said, “if you want to keep her alive then you will have to do what I say.”
“Yes, I noticed you took Chelsea,” I said, “but I don’t work well under threats.” “No PI, I have your little friend Misty,” he said again. “Sorry Neil,” I said, “but Misty is back at the chateau.” “Wait one minute PI,” he said growling, then turning to one of his men, “get me Morgan right away.” “What’s up boss?” asked Morgan. “Have you seen Misty at the chateau lately?” asked Neil.
“Yeah, just about 10 minutes ago,” he said, “but she stays inside all the time, no chance to pick her up yet.” Neil was about to explode, he hated making mistakes, he knew that Misty was necessary to make me cooperate. Then Kellen told Neil that a man named Mr. M. was here to talk with him about me and our chateau.
He went to the outer office to meet with this Mr. M. “What can I do for you?” asked Neil. “Well sir,” began Mr. M., “perhaps we can help each other. My sources tell me that you want to destroy Steve and his Investigators. I have also been told that you just kidnapped one of Steve’s important girls, one named Misty. I want her, and in exchange I can tell you how to easily get into that chateau.”
“There is not easy way into that fortress,” said Neil. “Oh, but there is,” said Mr. M., “you see, I have inside information and I can show you an easy way to get in.” Neil took out the floor plan of our chateau. “Perfect,” said Mr. M., “now, may I see Misty?” Neil told Kellen to bring her out.
“Very well,” said Mr. M., “let’s get started.” He then showed them a way inside that we had not fully protected. He also gave Neil the code to turn off the alarm system. “Now, what is to stop me from killing you now that I have this information?” asked Neil with a smile.
“I always come prepared,” said Mr. M. He had two young ladies with him, one on each side. “These are my bodyguards,” he said. One of the women moved incredibly fast, taking down two men with one kick and another kick took down a third.
Then a bright light flashed in front of Neil, Kellen and one other man, temporarily blinding them. Mr. M. grabbed Misty and out they went to his waiting car. Then I got a phone call from him telling me he had my precious Misty and wanting a certain reward for her safe return…
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Jennifer had called me to let me know that another message from ‘Major’ had arrived and she read it to me. “Hello dear Steve, thank you for your help. You don’t know it, but right now you are working for me and doing a wonderful job too. Do you remember Jud? Think of Carole Ann and that might help you remember.
Soon he will have someone very dear to you and he will have a lot of fun with her. I’m sure you know what that means. Bye for now. Major.” “If they are thinking of Sky or me, they will regret kidnapping us,” said Jennifer angrily. “I don’t think they are after you two,” I said, “if they have done their homework they will know that won’t be easy. But it could be someone else, like Aasta.”
“Or perhaps Misty,” added Jennifer, “you will not let those two out of your sight, understand?” “I will try to do that,” I said. “No, you WILL do that,” she said emphatically. Jennifer has a way of making things clearly understood. “Right, that’s what I meant,” I answered. Then I asked to talk with Kat. “I’m sure you know now who that Major is, correct?” I asked.
“I have a good idea,” she replied, “my half sister Livia.” “Yes, that’s the one,” I said, “and now that she’s working with Jud, that makes her even more dangerous, he is Carole Ann’s brother. There is also another brother, Allan, and I have an idea he might be in on this too.” “I will remember that name Steve,” she said, “and I request permission to chase after Livia.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk with you,” I said, “go stop her Kat, and take your Wildcats with you. Livia, Jud and Allan are smart and likely will not be staying together, so find out where they all are before you attack Livia. Hopefully then we can stop all of them, without losing one of them again.” “Okay Steve,” said Kat, “we will leave right away and I will stay in touch.
Jennifer says she senses danger right now, and it includes you, so be careful and remember, you are vulnerable. They just need to kidnap one of the girls and use her against you to force you to surrender.” Hmm, she is right about that, that does make me vulnerable. We need to be extra careful right now, it might be better for us to head back home.
I then talked to Aoife about her friend. “That was Brianna, she was a good friend,” said Aoife, with tears running down her cheeks, “she thought coming early to warn me would be safe. She didn’t know that mother had changed and began getting up early in the morning. I didn’t believe her at first, I just could not believe that my mother had changed so much. She was always such a kind, loving person.”
“Money can do that to people sometimes,” I said. I was sitting beside her with my arm around her shoulders. I communicated with Sky that if these people think Aoife is my real wife, then she is the prime target to kidnap in order to get me. Sky agreed with that and she also said that while we are here, Aoife and I will not leave the hotel room.
That should be fun. Now I’m really thinking we should go back home. Not long after this Cristy called and seemed to be quite excited about something. I can tell when she and Misty get excited. They talk fast. Incredibly fast. So fast I can’t understand them. Like right now. “Slow down Cristy,” I said, “I can barely make out what you’re saying.”
That was an understatement. I barely understood 3 words. I’m sure she can speak 30 words per second! Anyway, she said the gang over here is run by a man named Neil Moore. “Should I say it even slower for you?” she asked. “No, I understood you that time,” I said, “but perhaps you could clue me in, who is he?” There was silence.
“Cristy, are you still there?” I asked. “Yep, but how can you ask such a question?” she asked. “Am I supposed to know who he is?” I asked again. “Of course,” she said, “he is one of Carole Ann’s uncles.” “Oh, right, of course,” I said, “how could I forget that? Oh, Misty says hi.” “Hi Misty, um, what is she doing?” asked Cristy.
“Oh, uh, she’s helping guard Aoife and I,” I said. “You don’t sound convincing Steve,” said Cristy, “what is she doing specifically?” “Well, Aoife was lying on the couch with her head on my lap,” I said, “but she went to lie down on the bed.” “I ask about Misty and you tell me about Aoife?” she asks. “Well, it fits,” I said, “because when Aoife left, Misty took her place.”
There was silence. “Are you still there Cristy?” I asked. “How come I never get to lie down with my head on your lap?” she asked. “Well, um, you are never with us on a case,” I said, “Cases are stressful.” “That’s not fair,” she said, “my job is stressful too, a little.” “Hey, don’t cry,” I said. “She’s not crying,” said Misty.
“Look, when I get home you can put your head on my lap every day for a week,” I said. “YES!” she said cheerfully. “She got cheerful quickly,” I said. “She wasn’t crying Steve,” said Misty. “Yes she was,” I said, “I can tell.”
Meanwhile, “Here is a picture of the gal I want,” said Jud. “She’s at the chateau,” said Bob, “saw her there this morning.” (And in another place) “Get me one of these two women,” said Neil. “No problem, they are at the hotel in town,” said Kellen. “Don’t underestimate that PI,” said Neil, “he’s not totally stupid.”
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 