Something bothered me, why didn’t I sense trouble before we were attacked at that nightclub? Angel thought I was just being too focused on things and need to be more open especially when we go to places like that, then maybe I would sense trouble like I should. After all, I’m not quite used to this yet. I called Jennifer to ask if she had sensed danger. She did, but thought it related to them, since things are happening there right now too.

Engla and Mariia now have those headaches too, plus two of the children, Einar and Nicoles sister Sylvie. Apparently it’s not looking good for them. So, Jennifer, the kids and a couple of others will be going into hiding for a while. Two of our cats also came down sick and died. This must be related to what is happening here. The rest of my team has arrived now so we had a brief meeting while Enid got some food ready for them.

Enid had wondered why I wanted more people to help us, but after hearing how we were attacked, she understood. Kind of strange, she really did look genuinely shocked by our attack. I thought perhaps she had warned these people we were coming, but maybe she just didn’t expect them to attack us like they did. She was the only one who knew where we were going and in what order, though she may have told Viktor. I had deliberately told Enid (Vanessa), just to see what would happen.

So, it looks like she might be working with this one nightclub owner. However, these two smaller nightclubs might be owned by the same person. For that matter, Jazzy may own all 3 of them. Beryan is here now, my regular massage therapist, but I told her to relax and let Caleigh do it for now. Considering how sore my back is, those two girls might be kept busy. “I’m hungry,” said Caleigh, pouting a bit. “Me too,” said Angel. “Yes, same here,” I said.

“Enid said she would have some dinner ready for us soon,” said Beryan. “More fish!” said Angel, Caleigh and myself at the same time. That got Beryan laughing loud and long. Apparently she loves fish and could eat it every day. “You likely will be,” I said. She began laughing again until her stomach was getting sore. “Maybe you could ask for 3 hamburgers and fries,” said Caleigh, “oh, with some root beer too?” “You mean that you call out to have food delivered?” asked Beryan, trying hard not to start laughing again.

“Um, Sky helps us out by bringing food to us so Enid doesn’t know,” I said, “but I’m only supposed to call her in emergencies.” “Getting beaten is not emergency?” asked Caleigh. “But, it’s all over now,” I said. “I would still call it an emergency, my dear Steve,” said Sky. She was now sitting on the bed with 3 bags. “Wow, how did you pick up the food so fast?” asked Beryan. “A secret,” said Sky, “but I was listening to all of you talking and I heard everyone putting their order in for food. This is for Caleigh, this is for Angel.”

“And mine?” I asked nicely. “I’m not sure I should give it to you, maybe I will eat it myself,” she said, frowning at me, “why didn’t you call for help?” “It happened too fast,” I said, “I was unconscious before I could speak.” Angel and Caleigh backed me up on that one. “And I was doing things right,” I added, “Angel was with me and turned into a lion to protect me.” “Okay, I will accept that,” she said, and handed me my bag of food. Then she brought one out for herself.

“If you decide to go back to those nightclubs, then take me with you,” she said. “Actually I want you and your Bad Girls to come back with us later this evening,” I told her. “You wish to be beaten again tonight?” asked Caleigh. “Hopefully that won’t happen this time,” I said, “Sky and Angel will guard me and there will be more of us this time. But we need to start pushing back at these people or they will keep doing the pushing.”

I decided to send the clues to Cynthia for the inheritance and the old ones for the treasure. She is the best we have for solving puzzles and problems of all kinds, though Alizea and Amerie are also good and they will help her. Meanwhile, we will take a look at Matt and his Knight Riders as they visit Jazzy. They went walking into Jazzy’s nightclub, right past her door guards who tried to stop them. But Rock knocked out the one and Willie took care of the other, without even stopping.

The two men behind the bar took out their guns but the Riders already had theirs out so the bartenders laid down theirs on the bar. Matt went to a side door, which was locked so he called Rock over and he smashed his way through the double wide door. Jazzy was in the side room and her men were ready with guns out. Matt went over to her and told her not to do anything stupid that she can’t win. When she saw they were outnumbered then she told her men to put their guns away.

“I am here looking for just one man,” said Matt, “his name is Viktor Dahl.” “Means nothing to me,” she said. “Don’t play games,” said Matt, “he is a frequent player here, you know him well, he owes you a fair amount of money. He also owes me money, which is even more important. I know he is here somewhere, I had him followed.” “Follow me,” she said, and they went into a ‘preferred guests’ room. “Do you see him here?” she asked. Matt went over to Viktor. “You want something mister?” he said roughly.

Matt picked him up and punched him hard in the stomach, then dropped him back onto his chair. He then gave him a hard back handed slap, nearly knocking him onto the floor. “Now, you will talk nice,” said Matt, “you owe a lot of money and it should have been paid yesterday, where is it?” “I don’t even know you!” he said, “How can I owe you money?” Then Matt gave him the name of a nightclub in London. “You thought I wouldn’t find you here,” he said, “but I did. I find people no matter where they go.”

We had deliberately picked a nightclub where Viktor had visited a few times and he did have a large debt owed there, but Viktor disappeared before the owner could collect. So we made a deal with the owner to try and find Viktor for him. Now, if Jazzy tried to check Matt’s story, there would be no problem. And her man did check while Matt was talking with Viktor. “Checks out Jazzy,” he said, “Viktor owes $100,000 US, and it doubles if he goes past the due date, doubles again a week later if he lives that long.”

Then one of Jazzy’s men pulled his gun out again and shot Aaran in the shoulder. “Time to play boys!” said Matt, and the Riders quickly began taking the place apart. People were running and screaming, trying to get out of the room. People in the dining room got up and ran out quickly. “That was a big mistake Miss Nilsen,” said Matt, and the Riders went on their way.

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.