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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The police had moved everyone back across the street from Jazzy’s house just in case there was a second explosion, but it didn’t seem like anything was going to happen. However, there could be a delayed explosion meant to kill more people. The waiting was too much for Jazzy and our girls though, so they decided to go back and look more closely. The police tried to stop them but Jazzy told them it was her house, her property and no one was keeping her off of her property!
She was very adamant about that and she just pushed her way past the police who tried to hold her back. The two officers holding her however, suddenly felt their arms go numb and they couldn’t hold Jazzy any longer, so she and Kristina kept on walking. Then all the girls went walking back across the street with Carine who had been dropped off earlier by the Wolves before they headed out to intercept Koffman’s shipment. Everyone was looking into the hole in the ground which was half filled with broken rocks.
“What are we looking for?” asked one of them. “Not sure,” said Crystal, “some movement, I guess.” “Maybe we should help Steve,” she said again, “he hit his head.” “Oh, that’s a good…” began Crystal, but she stopped and turned to see who she was talking to, “SKY!!” Everyone turned to see Crystal and Sky hugging and they crowded around them. “Hey, hey!” yelled Sky, “Forget me, help Steve, he hit his head.” She then pointed over to…somewhere, but no one could see anything.
“Stop that you two!” yelled Sky, as she walked over to them, and they became visible. Some ambulance attendants came over to look at me. They cleaned up my forehead and bandaged a large cut. Carine communicated with Kat and Jennifer that I was okay, just slightly wounded, and the ghosts were okay. “I’m so glad the four of you survived that huge explosion,” said Jazzy. She could barely speak because she was crying so much.
“Yeah, it sure got windy suddenly,” said Angel, “it really messed up my hair, and I bet it’s as gray as Sky’s hair.” “What? My hair is gray?” asked Sky. Then she turned her head to look. “AAAAA! Look at my hair!” she exclaimed, “It will need to be washed 10 times to get it blond again!” “I know what to do,” said Kitty, “we’ll get a hotel room with a jacuzzi and just stay in it until we’re clean.” She stood there smiling at Sky and Angel who in turn looked at Kitty with a blank expression.
Then Sky and Angel suddenly yelled, “Yay Kitty, a perfect solution and a legitimate expense too!” I opened my eyes, after hearing the yells, to see Jazzy kneeling on the ground beside me crying. When she saw me open my eyes, she threw her arms around me hugging me tight. “I’m so glad you’re still alive Steve,” she said quietly. “Why don’t you come back to the chateau and stay with us for a while Jazzy?” I asked her. “I accept,” she said, “but be prepared, I might not want to leave.”
“That’s okay with us Jazzy,” I said, “you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Sky, time to head home, I think we’re done here.” “What? No jacuzzi?” she asked. “You don’t want to go home?” I asked. “I want to get clean,” she said, “it will take 3 days in our showers.” “Good point, we need to make some changes,” I said, “you girls are dirty.” “So are you, my brave, though somewhat stupid at times, husband,” she said giggling. “Ha, ha,” I said, “shall we go?”
She sighed but took my hand, then Jazzy’s hand and we were gone. “I wish I knew how you do that,” said a somewhat shaking Jazzy. “Strong tailwind,” said Sky smiling. Jennifer was hugging me as soon as we arrived. “I’m kind of dirty,” I said to Jennifer once she stopped hugging me. “That’s okay,” she said, “I’ll stick you in the shower and leave you there for a couple of days.” “Make that 3 days,” said Sky giggling. “Are you still here?” I asked, “I thought you three would be in a jacuzzi by now.”
Sky looked at me blinking, then disappeared. Soon…”Amazing that the Honeymoon Suite is the only one with a jacuzzi,” said Angel. “Who cares, at least we will get clean faster,” said Sky. “I think we need to change the water again,” said Kitty, “it’s getting hard to see.” The three of them were sitting under the water trying to get their hair cleaned quickly. The rest of the team were on their way home, but since they are driving, it will take them a little longer. The Black Wolves were closer so they will be home soon.
Dawn’s Night Owls and the Wildcats are also on their way home, along with 14 women from Koffman’s place. The Black Wolves are bringing another 6 women with them. Most of these women we will turn over to the police and they can get them back home, unless they have no family, then they will come here as a transition place until they figure out what they want to do. This was Sienna’s idea and she had another addition put on our chateau, or actually, on the addition she built for her house and offices.
She wanted to help these women who had no place to go. She is going to offer a training program for those who want to take it, and then give them a job in one of her many companies. Well, we had two girls wounded on this case, though not seriously. They won’t be in the clinic very long but they will be on recovery for a while before going back to work again. Then there’s me. Angel was standing next to me and took hold of my hand just before the blast, otherwise there likely wouldn’t be anything left of me.
Kat healed my forehead quickly, then Jennifer put me in our shower. We really do need to get more water pressure in this place. Jazzy will be staying with us for a while, apparently she wants to talk about some things. Well, that’s it for this case although there is still the matter of Koffman. He also wants to talk, so I will let him come and see what he has to say. I wonder when our next case will arrive?
This case is ended, but a new one will soon be coming! ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Something totally unexpected happened this time and even though Jennifer had warned me of danger, I still didn’t think something like this could happen. A plan like this had to be done well in advance and Koffman just didn’t seem like he could think like this, however, it might have been Schultz that came up with the idea and Koffman carried it out. Whatever, or whoever, thought of it, the plan was well executed and could have killed our whole team on this case, which would have been devastating.
Jazzy and all the girls just stood outside looking at the pile of rubble that was once a huge stone house. Koffman’s men had their van parked on the next street and ran over there after contacting Koffman. Kristina stood there looking, hoping to see some movement, or see Sky come out with me, but there was…nothing. She then communicated with Kat and Jennifer at the same time so that Kat could help Jennifer. In retrospect she wished that she had only contacted Kat and let her tell Jennifer.
Jennifer was in the library with 10 of the girls when she got the message. “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” she screamed. It was so loud that it was heard throughout the chateau and even in the pool area. When the girls at the pool heard it they grabbed guns thinking the chateau was being attacked and headed back into the chateau but stopped when arriving at the library. Jennifer was on her knees with her head on the floor, her long blond hair scattered about her head, and she was sobbing uncontrollably.
“What happened?” Misty whispered to Cristy. “No idea,” she whispered back, “but it must concern Steve.” “Then it must be super bad news,” whispered Misty again. Then she went over and helped Kat get Jennifer back on the couch again. Then Kat called Dawn. “Yes Kat, we are ready,” said Dawn. “I want Koffman, alive,” said Kat firmly, “do whatever you need to do, start to put some real pressure on him. You know the ‘customers’ that are with him, do whatever you want with them. Take any women that want to leave, take his money and whatever else he has on hand including gems, jewelry, drugs. In other words, you don’t need to be nice about this.”
Dawn knew that meant something went wrong with us at Jazzy’s so she asked about me. Kat told her it was most likely I was dead after a huge explosion destroying Jazzy’s house. Dawn broke down crying at the news but she told Kat they would do their part. Dawn had the remainder of her team, plus the Wildcats, with her. Also Rock, Bear, Oskar, Thomas, Cartier, John and Yves which were most of the big members of the Black Wolves, although right now they are wearing the name of Dawn’s team.
She finally has a name for her team, the Night Owls, silent, swift and deadly. They are all in position and ready to move in on Koffman and that’s exactly what they did. Dawn went in first, followed by Rock who kept everyone away from her, then the other men and lastly the girls came in. It was nice that Koffman was sitting at his usual table, that made him easy to find. The door guards tried to stop Dawn but she kept walking and Rock punched each of the guards once and they were knocked out.
The rest of the guys had their automatic weapons out and ready which kept Koffman’s men from doing anything. Koffman had some “customers” at the table with him but that didn’t stop Dawn from breaking up the party. They quickly disarmed the customers, then Dawn spoke firmly to Koffman. “If you want to live, as well as your friends,” she began, “then bring out all of the women who are here right now.” “Hey, I already kept my end of the deal with Steve,” he said defiantly, “he wanted 3 and I gave him the ones he wanted.” That’s when Rock put his big arm around the neck of one of the ‘customers’.
“Now, no more arguing, just do what I said,” she told him, “it certainly wouldn’t look good for you to have one of your ‘customers’ killed right in front of you.” “Kurt,” said Koffman, “bring out all the women.” He did so right away. “Oh, by the way Koffman,” said Dawn, “if any of your men called the police, you’re a dead man, and I do mean that.” “That would be murder young lady,” he said. “I’m willing to take that chance after what you did,” she said, “are you willing to take that chance?”
“No, I’m not,” he said, “but you can’t pin anything on me.” “You have great faith in your men Koffman,” she said, “but the ones you sent to kill Steve decided it was in their best interest to talk.” Kurt returned with 8 women. “Hey,” said one of Koffman’s ‘customers’, “I was going to buy 5 of those gals to take back home with me, so you only get 3.” Dawn just hit the man on the forehead with the back of her fist almost knocking him backwards off his chair, but Rock was in the way so it didn’t happen.
“You get none this time Mr. Rizzo,” said Dawn, “maybe you’ll do better next time.” Then she got a text saying that a certain shipment heading for Koffman’s had been intercepted by the Black Wolves. “Too bad Koffman,” said Dawn, “but it seems your next shipment of girls, drugs and guns has been intercepted. Guess you’ll have to wait a little longer Mr. Rizzo. By the way, where are your waitresses, I said all the women.” Koffman just looked at her.
Dawn nodded to Rock who went to the other side of the table and hit a man on the back of the head with his elbow causing him to bend over groaning and holding his head. “Well Mr. Moretti,” said Dawn, “you’ll have to wait for your drug shipment too. If I were you it would be wise to get a new supplier, Mr. Koffman here won’t likely be able to fulfill your orders for a long time.” Kurt then brought out the waitresses from the other room.
Then Dawn picked 3 of the guys and several of the girls to go into the next room and take up a collection for our orphan fund. They did the same in the main restaurant. Catalina and some others went downstairs to see what was in the safe. They came up after about 20 minutes with a lot of cash and some jewelry. “I have a feeling you will be visiting me more frequently from now on,” said Koffman. “Yes, we will be around from now on,” she said, “killing Steve didn’t solve your problems, it just made things a lot worse for you.
I always figured you for a much smarter man, but guess I was wrong.” “Who is in charge now?” he asked. “That would be Kat and Jennifer,” replied Dawn. “If I came to talk with them,” he said, “would my safety be guaranteed?” “That might depend on what you want to talk about,” she said, “but I will personally guarantee your safety.” “Are you in a position to do that?” he asked. “As one of the leaders of our organization, yes, I am,” she replied.
“Good enough for me,” he said. “But I would suggest waiting a day or two before calling,” she said, “and when you call, ask for Kat.” She then gave him our card which has our phone number on it. Meanwhile, back at Jazzy’s house, the team was still waiting for some movement. Emergency crews were still there as well, trying to figure out what to do. The police were keeping everyone away from where the house once stood in case there was a second explosion…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 