Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Nordic Family Mystery. Chapter 3. Something Strange.
We had two from the Black Wolves watching the front of Stellan’s house and two watching the back, plus there were two cats who made frequent trips on either side of the house. The houses are very close together and it takes a cat to walk between the houses. A small person could do it too, but a larger person would find it a tight squeeze. How did someone get into the house and drown Stellan’s wife? How did the person get into the bathroom without his wife knowing? If she saw or heard someone come in she could have called for Stellan, or screamed, or fought.
But there is no evidence that she did. Hannah pointed that out to me this morning. “There is something strange about these murders,” said Hannah. “I was thinking that too,” I said, “like why did the murderer break the pattern by killing Stellan’s wife first?” “Because if he, or she, killed Stellan first, then it would be more difficult to kill the wife,” said Helene, “she would likely look for more protection from us, someone living inside the house with her. Stellan likely won’t.” “Right now I imagine that Stellan is suspect number one for the police,” said Jazzy.
“Yes, he is the one person who could come into the bathroom and not scare his wife,” said Ivy. “Except it doesn’t make sense to set himself up to be the prime suspect so soon.” said Galyna, “Even his siblings will be thinking he could have done it, even if they don’t want to think that way.” “That’s very true,” said Valeria, “perhaps there is a tunnel from one of the other houses since they are so close together. Another family member could come in that way, and likewise not scare Stellan’s wife.”
Later I called Aari. “Okay Aari, what happened?” I asked. “We still can’t figure it out Steve,” he said, “those cats would have smelled any human scent as they walked around the house. No one went in or out of the house.” “I will send over the other cats to check for a tunnel in the basement,” I told him. “No point Steve,” he said, “this house and the houses on either side have no basement.” “You’re making this harder Aari,” I said, “I’ll send some of the girls over anyway, and a couple ghosts, to check around.” This is not going well. We have to convince the other siblings that we need to be inside their house to protect them properly.
Something tells me that won’t be easy. Right then Steffie comes in to my office. “I thought you and Auntie Misty were playing this morning,” I said. “We are,” she replied, “I just waiting for her to come so we can slide together.” That’s when Misty came crawling into my office. “Someone made these stairs longer,” she said. “Okay, here we go!” said Steffie as she pushed the small stone. “Wheeeeeeee! Yaaaaaaaaa!” Poor Misty. Hey, that’s it! “Cristy, check and see who lives in the houses on each side of Stellan, please,” I said. “On it Steve,” she said cheerfully.
It didn’t take her long and she had the information that I wanted. “The one on the left is temporarily empty because the people are away on vacation,” said Cristy, “the one on the right is empty and up for sale.” That’s the one we want, so I contacted Aari right away and told him to check it out. If they don’t find any evidence in that house, then they can check the other house. I told him those people are on vacation and won’t be home for another week. There was a brief silence. “Someone was there last night Steve,” said Aari, “the guys saw a man go into the house just before midnight, but didn’t think anything of it.
He turned lights on for a while downstairs, then went upstairs, likely to bed.” “That’s what he wanted anyone to see who might be watching,” I said, “the murderer knows we are watching the house. Sometime during the night he jumped across from one roof to the other and went in a window, then waited for whoever got up first. Or maybe deliberately chose the wife first. Killing Stellan while he was sleeping would have been too easy is my guess.” “You could be right about that,” said Aari, “the murderer might want more of a challenge.” Later Melody came to me with her findings.
“The family business is doing very well,” she began, “Stellan is the CEO and owns 50%, the next oldest brother, Leif, owns 20%, and is the manager which apparently is a position he enjoys. None of the other siblings works in the business, but the next two brothers own 10% shares each and the girls own 5% shares each. Stellan has tried to buy out the girls’ shares, but both apparently have said no. However, he has never pressured them to sell, just asked.” “He would profit by owning even 5% more in shares though,” I said, “any problems with the two brothers working together?”
“No, none on the surface anyway,” she said, “they both have their parts to do and they don’t interfere with each other since everything is going well.” Astrid, Sigrid, Engla, Angel, Friskie and Mac arrived and went in the back door, just in case neighbors were watching. They needed Mac to unlock the door and make sure there was no alarm system. Storm, Ginger, Tiger and Tiia were also along and they spread out sniffing around for clues. Tiger was quickly sniffing some old cigarettes left in an ashtray. Meow.= “These smoke recent, like last night maybe.” “Yeah, the guy was smoking when he arrived,” said Mac.
Meow.= “Not smoke by man, smoke by two human women.” Mac then took a closer look. “You’re right, they were smoked last night,” he said, “but how? Only that guy came in and only he left this morning. Friskie, are the girls in sight?” “Next bedroom,” she said. “Get there fast!” he exclaimed. She did so, very fast. “All okay here Mac,” she said, “what’s up?” “There might be two women hiding in here,” he said, “let the cats check closets for hidden panels and keep guns out.”
“Shall do Mac,” said Friskie. Angel and Astrid came into the living room just then. “Anything down there?” asked Mac. “The window in the bathroom was open,” said Angel, “so we closed it.” “That’s how they got in and out,” said Mac. “Who?” asked Astrid. “There were two women in here last night with that guy,” he said, “they must have used that bathroom window. I wonder if the sisters, or sisters-in-law, smoke?” “One sister-in-law smokes,” said Astrid, “the others don’t…”
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Nordic Family Mystery. Chapter 2. Kalmar.
The Karlsen family from the city of Kalmar have been hit with what looks like two murders, the parents of the family. There are also 6 children in the family, all adults now, with the youngest being a daughter who is 18. The oldest son, Stellan, is friends with Oskar so the two of them, plus the 3 men who went with Oskar, have met to talk about what has been happening. The guys have asked if the Karlsen family would like our help or if they will stay with just the police working on the case.
Stellan said the police don’t think there is anything to investigate, the deaths were both accidental and the notes were just a prank because someone saw the death reported and decided to lead the family and the police on some wild chase. I admit, that could be a possibility, so we had a leaders meeting to discuss this case. Everyone seemed to think that the prank theory is quite likely. “What about you Helene?” I asked, “You haven’t said anything yet.”
“I thought I was just here in more of a learning role today,” she said, “but, personally, I think the notes are real and Misty is right, the person was held up for some reason, possibly jail, so they were unable to do more until now.” “Yes, I agree with Helene,” said Jazzy, “and jail seems logical for why he didn’t do anything for the past 10 months. However, he also might have been away for work related purposes.” “Very true,” said Helene, “also, don’t overlook the possibility that the murderer could be a woman. You always refer to the murderer as a man.”
“I agree with that,” said Ivy, “perhaps a lover of a man in the family.” “There is also a family business,” said Aari, “maybe they put another business into bankruptcy. Or a disgruntled employee. We need to check every possibility.” “Agreed,” I said, “I hope you computer girls are listening closely so you can check on these things.” “Do we ever not listen Steve?” asked Cristy, frowning at me. “Never,” I replied smiling. Just then Oskar called and said the family would like us to help out, but they are not sure if they could afford our rates.
Apparently the family business is not doing so well right now. I asked Akila to check that out, just to make sure they are telling the truth. I told Aari to get the Black Wolves over to Kalmar, they will be the backup team. Dawn and her Night Owls will lead this case since Misty and her Sneakers led the last case. “Rats,” said Misty, “I was hoping to relax for a while.” “You can’t go anywhere until the bruises on your face disappear,” I told her. I think that was her loudest sigh yet. “I better have a talk with Steffie,” said Friskie, “before she puts you in the clinic. She really does love you though and is always thrilled when you play with her, you are definitely her favorite Auntie and her biggest superhero, right after Steve.”
“Wait, don’t talk to her!” exclaimed Misty, “These bruises are my fault, not hers, I love our play times together. Since I’m not going on the case, we can play again tomorrow.” “We will send all of our Nordic girls with you too Dawn,” I said, “they will be very helpful on the case. Plus I want you to take 6 cats with you as well, and the four cats for the men’s team.” So, Dawn will be taking Ginger, which is her cat, plus Tiia, Tracker, Tandi, Sunny, Moonbeam and Storm as the cat’s Leader. Yes, that does make 7, but the leader doesn’t get counted for the total.
There is an airport at Kalmar that can handle our jets, but the Black Wolves will go to Stockholm and head south to Kalmar later. The girls will go directly to Kalmar and I have already made reservations at the best hotel in the city. They gladly accepted our cats, though they won’t be allowed in the restaurant, which is unfortunate, they make great listening devices. Dawn will have Kristina, Angel and Friskie for her ghosts this time. Plus Carine is with the guys as usual. Nalle, Sigrid and Astrid, 3 of our Nordic girls from other teams, will join the Night Owls this time too.
There are already 3 Nordic girls on her team, Nakedra, Engla and Roxette. After our teams were gone I told Kat to have her Wildcats ready, just in case. However, they will stay here unless I need to send them to help. It doesn’t take long to fly there anyway. Dawn and 3 of her girls, plus 3 cats, are staying with the 3 siblings at the family home the first night. Everything seemed to be nice and quiet all night. Even the cats didn’t hear anything suspicious, so that was good. The oldest son and his wife lived in their own home and they didn’t want anyone staying with them. Stellan said he could handle any intruders, and he is a rather big man, so he could be right.
There were some of the Black Wolves watching the house from the outside though, just in case. In the morning Stellan called Oskar to come over quickly and Oskar told the Wolves who immediately went to the front door and knocked. Stellan let them in and sat down with them in the living room. He put his head in his hands. Nakedra, Macy and Jackie came next and Stellan told them to check the bathroom upstairs, which they did right away. There they found Stellan’s wife in the bathtub, dead. The police were called and ambulance and they took the body away.
Then came the usual questions for Stellan and our guys. Nakedra called to let me know what had happened. Another drowning, which seems to suggest a connection to the murderer and another drowning. Perhaps the murderer’s spouse? “Or perhaps the murderer was drowned,” said Helene, “but in a different sense of the word. Such as “drowned in debt,” either personal or in business.” “This doesn’t quite fit the pattern,” I said, “since this woman was married into the family, which is a bit different.” “True,” said Kat, “but family is still family and the murderer might want to get rid of the whole family.”
“Well, that means there are still 8 members of the family,” I said, “that is not a good thought.” “Since this murder took place soon after the last one,” said Ivy, “that suggests we are right about this person being in jail for the last few months. However, it must have been a more minor conviction for such a short sentence.” “Check on that Melody please,” I told her. “I’m on it already Steve,” she said. Just then I noticed Cristy standing in front of me with her hands on her hips.
“How come you don’t say please to me?” she asked, frowning once again. “This is for you as the best computer girl ever,” I said. Then I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her. “I didn’t think Cristy even knew how to kiss,” said Jennifer as she came into the library with donuts. “She doesn’t,” said Misty, also coming in with donuts. Jennifer then pointed to Cristy and I. Misty’s eyes got real wide and she dropped her plate of donuts.
Cristy then got up and returned to her computer with Misty staring at her. Then she bent over to pick up her donuts, but… “My donuts!” she exclaimed, “What happened to them?” Then she saw Venus and Morning munching on donuts, so she frowned at them. Meanwhile, in a flat located in Stockholm. “Yes, getting your wife first was perfect Stellan, next it will be your turn, and your large size won’t help you this time.”
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
