Well, it would appear that someone must be out at that mansion in the mountains, aside from the original girls and our girls. However, there is the possibility that one of the original girls is indeed the murderer. But why? They have all been best friends since childhood and have gone on many trips together the last few years since they all turned 18, which was 4 years ago. This is actually their sixth such vacation trip, though each time they do something different.

They all write their favorite vacation idea on a piece of paper, then they crumple the paper into a ball, put them all in a hat and one of them is chosen to pick the winning idea. I have now called Cristy and asked her to get the other computer girls busy checking out the backgrounds of the parents for each of these girls. Maybe there is a connection there somehow. I also want to know who owns that old mansion. That should keep all of them busy today. As the girls were walking back down the hall to the chateau, they met Jennifer.

“And what were you three up to?” she asked. “Just visiting with Dad for a little while,” said Mandy. “Oh, that’s what I thought,” she said. The girls kept walking and Jennifer arrived at my door and stopped. She stood there looking at the combination lock she had put on the door. “No, it can’t be,” she said to herself and she came into the room. She sat on the bed beside me and started to laugh. “I met the girls,” she said, “they had pretended they were visiting with you.” “They did visit me,” I told her as I munched on the donut she brought me.

She stopped laughing and stared at me. “Did Samantha let them in?” she asked. “No, they came in by themselves,” I said. “Steve, that’s impossible with that lock on the door,” she said, looking at me rather sternly, “how did they get in?” “Steffie,” I said. Jennifer sighed very loudly. “How does she do that?” she asked. “Same way she figures out all the other puzzles around this chateau,” I said, “for her a combination lock is just another puzzle. I think we should start allowing her to help us with some of the harder puzzles we encounter on our cases. I don’t mean taking her on a case though, just giving her the information and see what she comes up with. It might prove interesting.”

Jennifer looked at me, then she started to laugh. “She would be the youngest Investigator yet!” she exclaimed, “She is already a Junior Sneaker First Class on Misty’s team!” We both laughed again at the thought. “We also need to get better locks to use,” said Jennifer, shaking her head, “if a 5 year old can open it that fast, then it’s useless.” “I will let you say that to Sienna,” I said, “she was quite happy with these.” “Thank you, my dear, brave husband,” she said, rather sarcastically.

Then Cristy called with information about that old mansion. Apparently it is located in a government park and is listed this year for the first time as an attraction, but should be used at an individual’s own risk. They are allowed to stay overnight, for a maximum of 14 nights, if paid in advance. The girls did do that, but we did not. So, I told Cristy to get in touch with whoever is in charge and send payment for our girls. A little while later I got a phone call from the park management, they were curious about us being private investigators.

I told the man that we were actually on a case and looking for clues in and around the mansion. I didn’t tell him what the case was about, I just mentioned we were not allowed to talk about it, but if we could find the clues we were looking for, it would help a person in a court case. He actually seemed quite interested, or maybe intrigued would be a better word, but he did allow us to book the whole mansion for 2 weeks which was perfect. That way we would not be disturbed. He did say that no one, other than those other women, had shown any interest in staying at the old mansion anyway.

That is kind of interesting too. I then called Sky back to pick up Bear and Bomber so they could take a look at where that rockslide began. If it was a manmade rockslide they likely would have used dynamite and those two are the best to find out that kind of information for us. “You do realize how big those two are, right?” she asked as she stared at me. “Yes, but that is nothing for such an amazing, wonderful, strong and beautiful woman like you,” I said, hugging her. She looked at me. Then she took out a catalogue and pointed to something and smiled. “I will order it right away,” I said. Now she smiled and off she went with her two large companions and all their gear.

The guys would have to spend a night at the mansion too, then Sky would bring them back tomorrow. Meanwhile, back at the mansion. Angel, Misty and Galyna were interviewing the six remaining girls but they really didn’t learn much. The parents met at some kind of parent/teacher meeting when the girls were 6 years old. The parents have been friends ever since and all have excellent incomes. The girls like to pick vacations where they have to “rough it” a bit, because it’s so different than what they are used to living like at home. All of them live at home still, though all of them have jobs as secretaries.

Our computer girls discovered the same information, though a little more in depth, especially about the parents. All of them are successful entrepreneurs with no debt problems. Samantha then came and talked to Jennifer and I, telling us to look for a long, narrow, round instrument with a sharp point. “That is what was used to kill this woman,” she said, “it was pushed right through her heart.” I communicated this to Sky and Angel. It was now dark and the girls, plus our two men, have gone to bed. The next morning Bear woke up to the sound of Bomber’s watch alarm beeping.

“How can you sleep through that noise?” asked Bear as he shook Bomber. Then Bear noticed the blood. Bomber had been stabbed! Sky brought his body home right away, then she returned for Bear and his gear. “That rockslide was not natural,” Bear told me, “someone used dynamite to get things going. Because of all the rain, once that slide started it went fast and got big real fast. Steve, I don’t know how anyone could get in our room without us hearing them.” “You guys were tired being out in that fresh mountain air and all that walking around,” I told him, “so you just slept very soundly. It’s only natural, and you are not to blame for Bomber’s death.”

I knew it was bothering Bear a lot that someone could sneak in and kill his friend while he slept. I wanted to bring the remaining “adventure girls” back to our chateau, but they insisted on staying to help look for Julie’s murderer. They felt that leaving would be like abandoning one of their friends, something they would never do. However, I said they were coming back, it is too dangerous. Our girls would stay and look for the murderer.

After lunch Nicole needed to use the washroom facilities, just an outhouse, and there were 6 new ones that had been built by the park. Three other girls and 2 cats went along and Monika thought she heard a clunk. They opened the door and found Nicole, dead. There was a small flap at the back of the outhouse and someone had reached in with a rock and hit her on the head, nearly killing her. The “adventure girls” were put to sleep and brought back to us and Nicole was brought back at the same time. How could this killer get away? Another puzzle…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.