The night passed quietly and quickly for us and our breakfast was great. The cats enjoyed their pancakes even though they had to eat in our room. We were back in our room now and planning how to do this. Vlora and her Angels will check out one area that Katresa had told us about and the rest of us will go to the second location. This second spot is the most likely one to find her former parents. The first is the best location to find Sebastien.

I have a feeling that Sebastien and Katresa’s former parents are mixed up together in crime. We are taking all the cats with our group since we have the fewest people. So, we have Snow, Tiia, Jewel, Ginger and Midnight with us. I decided it was time to take Snow along once again and she was so excited by that. We were in an older section of the city and also close to the railway. There are some abandoned buildings here but we were interested in the houses with people, one house in particular.

We found the house quite easily even though Katresa could not remember the house number. But she did describe the house thoroughly. We left Katresa at home, I figured it would be too dangerous for her to come along. I left some of my personal bodyguards to protect her, along with some of the cats. And if any danger shows up, they can always go into our bedroom and lock themselves inside where they will be safe.

I added Katresa’s voice to the voice command system so she can lock the door just by telling it to lock, even if there is no electricity at the time. Aasta and Cynthia’s voices are also on the system. Well, it looks like there is someone home so it is time for us to move in and take a closer look. We spread out a bit but stayed within sight of each other. I told Jennifer to go around back and make sure no one escapes that way.

She was a bit hesitant on that one, but I told her this was our best chance to take them by surprise and get this over with quickly. She agreed and off she went. Besides, I can turn invisible now, so that will help to keep me safe if need be. However, when running around I need to stay visible since I get a bit dizzy if I run while invisible. That problem will clear up in time though. Everyone else went across the street, along with the cats while I stayed by the van. That was the first mistake.

I couldn’t see the house well from here however, so I decided to move further to my right. But as I did, I spotted several men coming along on their way to the parent’s house. That would put them behind my girls, which would not be good. So, I deliberately made myself visible so these guys would see me and come after me. They spotted me quickly and the chase began. This was my second mistake, and a fatal one it was, in one sense at least. I was just going to go around the houses, cross the street further back and head over to the house again.

But as I ran down a lane more men showed up coming the other way, which was the way I had wanted to go. So, I ran off between some houses, across another street and between two vacant houses. I had my silencer on and didn’t want to take the time to remove it, so I shot like that, which of course doesn’t make much noise. I should have been trying to attract attention, not be quiet. I managed to shoot 4 of the men, but there were still 4 more to go.

Unfortunately I was paying too much attention to the men in front of me but one came up behind me, hitting me on the head and knocking me out. They then turned me over and compared me to a photo they had. “Oh ho!” said one, “He is the one Sebastien wants. We will be in for a bonus today boys.” I was just coming to, but they were speaking in French so I did not understand them. Suddenly I heard a woman, also speaking French, followed by gunshots and all 5 men were dead.

The woman bent over me and said something in French. I just shook my head, still not quite awake. “Oh, an Englishman,” she said, “well, I can speak English too, though maybe not so good. Now, come, we must hide. More of Sebastien’s men will be here shortly.” She got me on my feet and we walked slowly to the street behind us. That is the wrong way to go. “You are hurt,” she said, “we must go faster or we will be found. Leave your backpack here and I will carry you.” “No,” I said weakly, “important.”

“Hmm, you think I am super woman of some kind,” she said, shaking her head, “okay, I will try. But if I cannot do it we will have to leave it.” I put my arms around her neck and she picked me up by my legs and she carried me that way on her back across the street, past some houses. Then we went along the railway until we came to an old abandoned house. We went inside and she set me down. “Well, you gave me a good workout today,” she said smiling.

“Thank you,” I said, still weakly. “Hmm, that hit on the head must have been a bad one,” she said, “oh, you are bleeding quite a bit, we must stop that.” “Backpack, bandages,” I said. They were in an outside pocket so she found them quickly. She took me upstairs and laid me down on some blankets in a corner of the room. She sat there too and put my head on her lap. “You are on my bed,” she said, “but because I share my bed, do not get ideas. I brought you here, I can throw you out.

Now, look, I have two bullets left, one for you and one for me. If Sebastien’s men find us, that is how it must be. He had me before and I escaped, I do not want to go back, it would be a horrible death for me. I saw what he did to another woman named Calico. She was friends with a young woman named Cricket. I think Sebastien got Cricket too, I have not seen her now for weeks. Too bad, she seemed like a nice woman. I did not really know her, I knew Calico.”

“Backpack, bullets, gun,” I said, still weak. She looked inside. “Well, well, you carry army with you,” she said smiling, “right clips for my gun and another gun. Maybe we can fight then, yes?” About an hour later I was starting to feel better, but my head was pounding so I could not communicate with Jennifer. “Thank you,” I said, “I owe you a lot for what you have done, I could never really repay you, but I would like to try.”

“You are alive, that is best payment,” she said smiling. “You are a very brave woman,” I said, “helping someone that Sebastien wants is dangerous.” “I am alone, I must be brave, if I want to be or not,” she said, “Sebastien wants me too. But you are important, I am not. I am just a bad girl, nothing more.” Just then some men came in downstairs, obviously from Sebastien…

To Be Continued.

©Steve McLeod.