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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Bradley managed to outsmart the Black Wolves with their plan X to get him back to location M. We knew he was heading to this hidden location because we had a no fail listening device planted in their office at Intimate Jewels. I was trying to think how we might best follow him without being noticed. That’s when Steffie came along for another visit and told me about her mom being very good at playing hop, skip and jump. I looked at her. I knew the game but didn’t see how that would help us right now. Steffie then explained the game she was referring to, then it made sense.
Steffie giggled, so I tickled her and she laughed and laughed. I then asked Sky to allow Friskie to call her like I do, just in case she runs into trouble. Kat told me that Friskie has full use of her abilities now, but I still worry about her. After all, if she finds herself in a tight spot she might forget how to do something. Anyway, I asked Sky and she just frowned at me reminding me that she doesn’t like to do this very often. But I pleaded with her and she sighed. It ended up costing me though, so I sighed.
Friskie became our invisible listening device and then communicating what she heard to us, well, to Sky and Kat anyway. Then Friskie went with Bradley every step of the way, one of the benefits of being a ghost. Once at the location she sent the information to Kat and Kat called Aari. Kat, with her Wildcats, and Sky with her remaining Bad Girls, went to join Friskie who was just standing on the street right then, though still invisible. It was a rather large house, three stories tall, surrounded by a 6 foot tall steel barred fence with sharp points on top.
It had a matching gate and there was a circular driveway and a very nicely maintained yard and sculptured shrubs. Friskie then jumped over the fence and went around to the back of the house. It was equally well maintained, there was a large patio area and a very large swimming pool. The back of the house was almost completely glass on the main floor and the second floor. There was a deck on the second floor which ran the full length of the house. She looked inside and saw several handsome, muscular men sitting around drinking and laughing.
She also saw several security guards. Then she spotted Bradley coming downstairs and joining the men. She then jumped up onto the deck and looked through the glass wall. Inside was a very large room with a lot of camera equipment. Friskie understood what that was for and she wanted to go in there and destroy it all. However, the sliding doors were locked and she can’t walk through walls, so she had to wait. She could see several doors on the opposite wall, possibly where some girls are being kept.
Bradley probably lives on the top floor. She then looked around outside and found all of the security cameras so Sky could disconnect them easily. She then looked at her hands and did the same as Sky, but not even a tiny spark showed up. She sighed. Back at home. Misty was about to walk into the library, but something caught her eye. There was a plate of fresh donuts on the kitchen table and no one was in there. She couldn’t believe it, so in she went, then she looked back to make sure no one was following her, then she quickly grabbed the plate of donuts.
At least that was the plan, but the plate of donuts was gone! How could that happen? Misty was right there at the door. Aha, she thought, someone is hiding in the kitchen and she would find that person. She looked under the table, but as she was bending down a little streak of energy sped out of the kitchen. Finally Misty gave up looking and figured that Jennifer or Kristina came in while invisible and took the donuts. Misty didn’t think that was fair, but what could she do?
So, she shuffled her way over to visit me, without donuts. She did bring some fresh coffee though. She peeked in the door, “AHA!!” she exclaimed as she came in. She then slammed the door. “Oops, didn’t mean to do that,” she said, “I’m sorry.” “Now you have attracted attention,” I said, “and Samantha will come to check.” She sighed very loudly. “At least now I know why the donuts disappeared,” she said, “I was hoping to bring some to you, but little sneaker beat me to them.” Steffie giggled and Misty tickled her causing her to laugh loud.
“What are you trying to do?” I asked, “That’s more noise, we don’t have a chance now.” Then I donut disappeared from the plate. “Mmm, fresh donuts,” said Jennifer giggling. “AAAAAA!!” exclaimed Misty. “Oh, did I startle you Misty?” asked Jennifer. “No, I just thought it would be nice to scream,” said Misty calmly. Steffie came out from under the blanket again. “You scare me with your loud scream,” she said. Suddenly I started to breathe heavily and Jennifer told Misty to take Steffie to play with the cats.
Misty grabbed Steffie and off they went quickly. Samantha came running in next, she had met Misty and Steffie. Misty just pointed to my room and said “fast”. Samantha and Jennifer took me to the examination room and Bridgette joined them. Jennifer then called Lily and Cosette to come on duty at the clinic. They are both nurses and need to be here to look after the wounded girls now that Samantha and Bridgette are working on me. While Misty and Steffie walked past the library Steffie began asking questions.
“Why was Uncle Steve breathing funny Auntie Misty?” she asked, “Why he was changing colors?” “Shh, not now Steffie,” she replied, “let’s go play with the cats together.” Everyone in the library heard Steffie and they were now worried. That news travelled quickly to everyone at the chateau and Tracy called Dawn to let her know. Dawn then called Sky, so she and Kat, with their girls, pulled over and Kat communicated with Jennifer.
By that time I was breathing normally and everything seemed fine again. Samantha thought it could be a delayed reaction from that odd gun that was used on me and Abigail. Kat had already healed Abigail’s burns, so she won’t have any problems from that, which is good. Anyway, Sky and Kat continued with their journey with trusty Fluffy guiding them through the streets. Soon they were close by, so they pulled over and parked along the street, just far enough away that they wouldn’t be noticed.
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Kat came in to visit me in the clinic after I woke up. “Jennifer is rather sneaky,” I said, “she should be on Misty’s team. She would be a perfect fit, she’s a great sneaker.” “Well, you did deserve that,” she said, “you were rather jumpy and you need Samantha to look at you.” “Samantha is busy with the girls,” I said, “and they are more important than me. If she tries to waste time in here I will order her to leave.” “You seem to forget Steve,” she said, “Samantha out ranks you in the clinic. She gives the orders, you obey them, and that is an order from me. You are in the clinic, so that means what?”
“Okay, you and Jennifer are in charge,” I said, “I know the rules.” “If that is the case,” she said frowning, “then why do you keep disobeying those rules that YOU wrote.” She deliberately put the emphasis on the YOU, and she was right, I too often forget the rules that I wrote. “Now,” she said, “here is a copy of our rule book, you have lots of time to read it and I expect you to read the whole thing while you’re in here. It’s not big, and you can’t leave until you have read it, and when Samantha says you can leave.” She smiled.
“How about a little kiss for your former husband?” I asked, “I need one right now.” “I’m not sure I should do that when Jennifer isn’t here,” she said. “She won’t mind,” I said, “you know that.” So she did. “You sneaky sneak!” I said. Jennifer laughed. “I still don’t know how you can tell us apart from a kiss,” she said, still laughing. She then left to go visit the girls. A little later Misty looked in the door, then came in quickly and closed the door. “I just wanted to visit for a while,” she said.
Then she took a couple of donuts from her pocket, wrapped in foil. “They’re fresh,” she said, “but I could only get us 2 each, and that wasn’t easy, everyone watches me so closely now.” I chuckled. “You’re still the best sneaker of all,” I said, munching on my second donut. Just then the door opened and Celestine peeked in, then she came in quickly and closed the door. “Fresh, hot coffee,” she said, “plus 2 donuts for each of us, it was all I could get. I saw Misty coming this way, otherwise there would be three each.”
While we were talking the door opened and a little head peeked in. Then she came in quickly and hid behind the chair. When the girls left, Steffie came out and jumped on the bed. “Hi daddy!” she exclaimed, “Look, donuts!” Misty was about to come back in when she heard Steffie call me daddy and that caused her to stop in her tracks and listen carefully at the door. “Hey little girl,” I said, “what’s with this calling me daddy?”
“Well, Erika calls you daddy,” she said, “and Mandy too. I want to call you daddy too, I need a daddy.” “Yes, that’s true, they do,” I said, “but I adopted them, so that makes me their daddy.” “You can dot me too!” she said excitedly, “and mommy told me a secret too, wanna hear it?” “Okay, what is it?” I asked. Poor Misty, she had her ear right against the door trying hard to hear what Steffie said, but she couldn’t. Then a hand landed on Misty’s shoulder. “AAAAAAAA!!!” yelled Misty. “YAAAA!” yelled someone else as she was getting flipped over Misty and landing with a thud on the floor!
The door then opened and in came Misty, looking rather sheepish, and Jennifer, with a big smile. “Wow, did I have a great ride!” exclaimed Jennifer. “You must have sneaked up behind Misty and touched her shoulder,” I said. “Yep, sure did,” she said, “and, I caught this sneaker listening intently at your door for some reason. Now I see why.” Out popped Steffie from under the blanket. “I heared screaming and got scared,” she said, “so I hide under the blanket.”
“I see donut crumbs too,” said Jennifer, “you know donuts are not allowed in here Steffie.” “I just wanted to make dad, I mean, Uncle Steve, feel better,” she said, “so I bring donuts and hugs!” “Okay, you’re forgiven,” said Jennifer, hugging Steffie, “now, back to school for you.” Off she ran. “That girl is fast!” said Jennifer. “Yep,” said Misty, “almost as fast as a ghost. Um, I brought donuts too.” “And a kiss,” I said, “on the cheek though.” “I suppose Celestine brought donuts too?” asked Jennifer. She sighed.
“On another note,” I said, “we should maybe let our three guests go back home, we don’t need them anymore and they just might lead us to someone else. They must have more women hidden somewhere, if we watch them, we might find out where.” “Good thought,” said Jennifer, “I will get Sky to take them back.” I called Sky at that point. “Why are you dressed like that?” I asked. “Because I was in bed,” she said, “it’s night in Australia, night is for sleeping, remember?” “But you’re a ghost,” said Misty. “I still like to sleep,” she said.
I told her what we wanted her to do and Jennifer put them to sleep first, then Sky took them back and left them in the parking lot of the hotel. After an hour they woke up and called Hugh to pick them up. Hugh was not impressed with his brother for giving up his part of the combination for the vault. “So we lost what was in the vault,” said Bradley, “we still have our bank account which is more than the vault.” “I have news for you Bradley,” said Hugh, “somehow they found a way to clear out our account, there is nothing left. We are going to have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Yeah, Vanessa won’t be too happy,” said Bradley. “Vanessa is dead,” said Hugh. “Oh,” said Bradley, “that means we have to deal directly with Mr. Flynn. He won’t be happy at all.” “Well, at least we didn’t lose our merchandise,” said Hugh, “if that happened Mr. Flynn would be taking us out on his yacht for a one way ocean cruise. So we stay away from location M for a while. Those Black Wolves are tough and they will likely be watching us for a while.”
“Hey, that’s where I live too,” said Bradley, “I have to go there.” “You will stay away from there Bradley,” said Hugh, “stay in a hotel for a while.” “What do I use for money?” he asked. “Fine, you can stay with me for a few days,” said Hugh. “But I need clothes,” he said, “you and I are not exactly the same size.” “Okay, we use plan X to get you back to location M, then you stay there,” said Hugh.
Three taxis showed up and three men, all the same size got in, one to each taxi. The taxis let them off at a club, but one of the men went out the back way and into a waiting delivery truck. This went on several more times with Bradley finally making it back to location M. Aari had men following each of the taxis, but they lost Bradley. But, Steffie had already told me that her mom liked to play hop, skip and jump…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 