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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
After our ghost patrol returned, Kat gave me the information I wanted, but since it was so late I decided to wait until morning to digest all the information. Morning came very quickly, even though Kat allowed me to sleep an hour later than normal. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” I asked her.
“You mortals need more sleep than us ghosts,” she said smiling, “and I don’t want you collapsing due to lack of sleep. Jennifer would not be very happy with me. Besides, it’s only one hour and there isn’t much we can do early in the day anyway. Aari will be calling Manuela and setting up a meeting with her. He will let her know that he is very upset with Rico, and why.
So, he is very willing to help her against Rico in a fight, and that now would be a good time to attack Rico since Snakebite is out of action completely. She said that Snakebite was not just Rico’s right hand man, he was very intelligent and knew how to plan, and execute those plans, with precision. So, Rico should be a bit disorganized for a while. Rico doesn’t know how to run things on his own.”
“A certain question comes to mind right now,” I said, “can you guess what it is?” “Yep, how does she know so much about Rico and his mansion?” replied Kat, “That one is easy to answer, and Rusty is the one to ask her, without any prompting from me. She used to be Rico’s girlfriend, but one time she was away for three weeks and returned home 3 days early.
Well, she found Rico with not just one, but two, women. She was extremely angry with him because of this, understandably so, and she left him. She then went and started her own gang which she then turned into the second largest cartel in Panama.
They periodically kill one or two men from each side, but it never erupts into a full blown war, which Manuela realizes she would lose since Rico’s cartel is just too strong for her. But, with our help, it just might work. Oh, she also knows about his kidnapping of Sienna, which was Snakebite’s idea she figures, but she also thinks it was a stupid idea.
She thinks it will bring international police involvement, which would be bad for her too.” “She has a point,” I said, “it did bring us, though we are not exactly the international police, but we do work for them at times. Well Angel, will the trip be okay for you?” “As a lion the trip will be easy enough,” she replied, “it will still take some time to get there though.
It will be a good chance to test out our new saddlebags for the cats to travel in. Once there they can walk around and take all the necessary photos we will need.” “And hopefully they won’t be spotted by anyone,” I said. “If they are, I can rush in and pick them up,” she said, “this is one lion they can’t shoot. And I can keep disappearing and reappearing which should cause them to freak out a little.
It might also cause Rico to think his men are going crazy, or perhaps drinking too much on the job.” “Or maybe even dipping into the drugs too often,” I added, “now, you will take Storm, Ginger, Tracker and Moonbeam in the saddlebags. Plus Rascal should be able to make the trip with you on his own feet.”
“Sure he can,” said Angel, “Courage will be walking mostly, but we will be invisible and Rascal will be visible.” “No he won’t,” said Kat, “my new little invention will keep him invisible too, right Rascal?” Meowrrr.= Yep, we try already and it work great, answered Rascal. Soon they were off on their walking journey to Rico’s house.
Sky drove them as close as she dared go so they would not be seen in the car, then she turned around and came back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Aari had contacted Manuela and set up a time to meet with her. “Why do you want to help me?” she asked Aari as they met in a restaurant.
“I am from Europe and I came here looking for a supplier, a reliable one,” he began, “and I was told to see Rico. I made a sample purchase worth $100,000 and he said we could pick up the goods at what he called drop 8. We went there and all we found was a bag of popcorn. I don’t like when people cheat me.”
“That sounds just like Rico,” she said, “or more precisely, Snakebite.” “Well, Snakebite is no longer a threat to anyone,” said Aari, “and now would be a good time to strike with him out of the way, before he gets replaced.” “Yes, I agree,” she said, “but right now is his monthly meeting, so we will need to wait until that is over.”
“Why wait?” asked Aari, “All his top people should be there, it’s a great time to attack him.” “True, but we would have to find him first,” she said, “and each month they meet in a different place, with designated numbers 1 through 12, all beginning with an R, but they are never done in any particular order, otherwise it would be easy since I know where each one is located.”
“Well, this month’s meeting is tomorrow night at R7,” said Aari, “does that help?” She just stared at him. “Getting information like that would require having someone on the inside, and high up,” she said, “only 3 people ever know ahead of time where the meeting will be held.” “Well, Rico himself told us this time,” said Aari, “though he doesn’t know it.”
Manuela laughed. “How did you manage to get a bug in his office?” she asked. “Actually we didn’t,” said Aari, “but there are other ways to do things, and money talks louder than words at times.” Aari was being careful not to tell Manuela exactly how we find out information from Rico, just in case she might be willing to tell him, in exchange for a favor of some kind.
After all, their falling out was quite some time ago and she might not be quite as angry with him now. We must trust her to a certain extent, but not fully. She does know we want Sienna, or at least she could figure that out due to our asking about Rico’s mansion. Speaking of that mansion, Courage and the cats should be there by now…
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
While Rico and some of his men waited for Snakebite to return, Rico still had a hard time believing that Snakebite would turn on him. After all, he had been loyal since the very beginning. “Well,” said Calvin, “why not give one more test and see what happens.” “And what would you suggest?” asked Rico.
“We know where some of Manuela’s men gather every Tuesday night,” he began, “why not send Snakebite and some others over there to avenge our two dead comrades. If it goes well, then maybe he’s being framed by someone else in the organization. If Manuela’s men know they are coming, then obviously Snakebite is working for her.
Only we know of this plan and if we all stay in sight of each other, then obviously it is none of us warning Manuela, it would have to be Snakebite.” Rico and the others liked the idea and as soon as they stopped talking, Snakebite came back. Rico told him he wanted their two men avenged and asked Snakebite to kill every one of Manuela’s men at that gambling spot, and do it right away.
Fortunately that listening device Aari left behind in Rico’s jacket is working great! Aari and his team were waiting for Snakebite and his men. When they arrived and got out of their cars and began to cross the street, Aari’s team came out of the shadows wearing masks and began shooting. Snakebite quickly jumped into his car and sped off, leaving his men behind.
Well, actually, all the rest were dead by this time, we deliberately let Snakebite get away. He eventually made his way back to Rico and came running into his office. “We were ambushed!” he exclaimed, “They knew we were coming, the rest of the boys were killed, I just managed to get away.” “Are you wounded Snakebite?” asked Rico.
“Nah, not even a scratch,” he said laughing, “those guys can’t shoot straight!” “Yet they managed to kill all the rest of the men with you,” said the Doctor casually, “quite amazing.” “You know Snakebite, I never would have believed it,” said Rico, “but the evidence is quite clear.” “What are you talking about Rico?” asked Snakebite.
“Well, first you leave popcorn at the drop that should have been the drugs that guy from Europe paid for,” said Rico, “and he wasn’t too happy with that. Neither was I. And only you could have made that switch since I had that drop staked to make sure everything went right for our new customer. Now, look at these papers, copies of your bank account. What are these deposits I have circled?”
Snakebite looked. “I have no idea what that is,” he said rather nervously, “and I put drugs in that drop!” “And now Manuela’s men are warned ahead of time that you would be coming,” said Rico, “yet only those in this room knew those plans. So, you must have tipped Manuela so she could be ready for you. And of course, making sure that you get away unharmed.”
“Hey, wait a minute!” exclaimed Snakebite, “I’m being set up here! You know me, I’m loyal, more than anyone.” He was looking around the room while everyone was staring at him. “Eduardo, come in here,” said Rico, and in came a big man with 2 others. “Take Snakebite away and make sure he never returns,” said Rico, “if he does, you will not enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, back to us. “Well, that gets rid of Snakebite,” I said, “he had more brains than Rico, so we needed to get rid of him. Now, hopefully, Rico will start to make mistakes.” “And we need to start putting some pressure on Rico,” said Kat, “through Manuela. I found out she is very superstitious, so a ghostly visit might be in order.” “If we can get in her house,” I said.
“Well, she doesn’t have the same fortress that Rico has,” said Sky, “but it still won’t be easy. One good thing, she always sleeps with her window open, something about her superstitious beliefs, she hates being closed in.” “Best to hit her tonight,” said Kat, “we have to get things moving.” “Okay, let’s go,” I said. “No, not you Steve,” said Kat, “you stay here where it’s safe.”
“But you are my bodyguard,” I said, “and you will be going, that’s not good.” “My bad girls can look after you for a short time Steve,” said Sky, “and remember…” “I know, I haven’t forgotten,” I said. “Good,” said Sky, and she gave me a good bye kiss. “Wow, such a kiss,” said Amerie, “may I kiss your husband like that too?” “Go right ahead,” said Kat smiling.
Then off went our ghosts, with me just slightly nervous. “And I have permission too,” said Amerie. “Now wait a minute,” I said, “I’m your brother now don’t forget.” “You are also my boyfriend,” she said, “I find you, I claim you. You belong to me first of all. Well, almost first, I am first after Jennifer.” “Good that you remembered Jennifer,” I said, “or she might get upset.”
“No more talking for you,” she said. Everyone started cheering as Amerie kissed me, for quite a while actually. Sigh. Meanwhile, over at Manuela’s house, our 3 ghosts looked around and found her bedroom. But, there were bars on the window even though it was on the second floor. So, Sky jumped up and using her electricity she was able to bend the bars easily enough.
Then she came back down to get Kat and jumped up with her and Kat went into the bedroom. Next, Sky brought Angel up with her and they both came inside. Then Sky touched Manuela’s foot which woke her up. She looked at this glowing woman at the foot of her bed and was about to scream, but then she noticed this huge lion lying on her bed beside her and that made her freeze.
She could not even make a sound now. Then Kat’s head showed up and began to talk with her. “Manuela, I am here to help you,” said Kat, “now is the time for you to fight Rico and take his territory from him. He is getting scared, Snakebite betrayed him and is now dead. We can help you fight Rico and all he has will be yours.
We have mortal friends who will help you fight him, but they need to know how to get inside his house.” At first Manuela was too afraid to talk, but then a cat appeared next to this floating, talking head, and jumped onto the bed.
Meow.= you help my ghost and good things will happen for you. Manuela loved cats and always looked at them as good omens and she had read that people should always believe a talking cat. “I will help your ghost,” said Manuela, and she then gave instructions to Kat.
Rusty then went close to Manuela and put his leg, on which he had a ring, against her neck and she was soon fast asleep. The ghosts and Rusty quickly left, with Sky fixing the bars, then jumping down to join the others. Back with us again, Kat gave me the information…
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 