Once we were back in our hotel room, I called a meeting of leaders, and a few others, to plan our next move. It was also time for Jennifer to try and explain to Cricket that she is a ghost. Or something like that. This should be interesting, because I doubt that Cricket will believe that Jennifer is a ghost. “Okay Cricket,” I said, “Jennifer will try to explain how she does these amazing things. Actually, Kat and Angel can do these things too.”

“Do you believe in ghosts Cricket?” asked Jennifer. “NO! I do not!” she said emphatically, “My parents used to scare me with ghost stories when I was a little girl and they laughed when I got so scared by them, and I would scream and cry. Then if I made too much noise they would lock me in the basement, in the dark, and I was terrified.” Cricket began crying at that point. I can see this is not going to be easy. Jennifer sat beside Cricket on the bed and tried to comfort her and apologized for bringing up the subject of ghosts.

Cricket also apologized for yelling at Jennifer, but seeing her parents this morning just brought back so many memories of things she wanted to forget. “Okay, now, how is it that you do all these fantastic things?” asked Cricket. Jennifer sighed and looked at me. Then Muffin jumped up beside Cricket. Meow,meow?= You believe me that I talk? “Yes Muffin, though if someone told me last week that some cats can talk, I would have called them crazy,” she said, “but I can see you talking, so I believe you.”

Meow,meow.= Well, human Jennifer is actually ghost, and so is human Kat and human Angel. Cricket just looked at Muffin. “You wanted to know how I could marry Sky since I didn’t divorce Kat,” I said, “that is because one day an enemy of ours came by and shot Kat 3 times, killing her. We even buried her in our cemetery. Not too long after that Jennifer and I found ourselves in love and were going to get married. But again, one of our enemies killed her and we buried her in our cemetery next to Kat.

Then I married Sky. Then about 9 months later, Kat returned, claiming to be a ghost. About 9 months after Jennifer died, she also returned, claiming to be a ghost. Then Angel returned after being killed before Kat and Jennifer. None of them can be killed, they can make guns too hot to hold onto, they can move very fast, disappear and can give protection to others by holding their hand, or just touching them. I don’t believe in ghosts either, except our own 3 ghosts.” I smiled at Cricket.

“We are not trying to make fun of you with this,” I said, “just explaining the strange things you see.” Cricket looked at our 3 ghosts, then at Muffin, then at me. Then she whispered to Jennifer who smiled and said “yes”. Cricket then came over, nearly diving onto me, giving me a big hug! Then she kissed me, on the lips yet! “You know,” she said, “in my whole life, you are the only man that I ever wanted to hug and kiss. Just as friends though, I hope you’re not mad at me for doing it.”

“No, I’m definitely not mad at you,” I said smiling, “it was actually very nice, thank you.” I have to admit though,” she said, “you guys are kind of strange sometimes, but maybe that’s why I like you so much, because I’m kind of strange too.” We all laughed at that point, then we got down to serious things. “Okay Vlora,” I said, “you and your Angels are new and not yet listed as part of the Investigators, so now you get a turn at Sebastien.

Kat and her Wildcats will also hit him and finally Aari and the Night Owls will really hit Sebastien hardest. Cricket led us to the Diamonds clubhouse, which was a large old house on the edge of the city. Kat went driving through their gate with one of our vans which is built like a tank. We only have 3 of those this time, Baldwin only keeps 3 at his Toronto office, so the rest are just regular vans. Kat got out and demanded to see Sebastien. 4 men had come over to her, with guns out.

Suddenly they dropped their guns and Kat killed one of them by just saying “die”. Then two other vans showed up with the rest of the Wildcats. All of them jumped out and Kat went for the door. Catalina tossed a package at the door, blowing it to pieces just as Kat got there and she just kept walking. Men were dropping their guns and the Wildcats were rounding them up and forcing them into rooms where they guarded them.

Sebastien was almost out the back door, but more Wildcats were waiting for him there, shooting his bodyguards. Kat then kicked him twice, just like last time. “You don’t learn easily,” she said, “now I want to tell you something, stay away from a certain young woman, you know who I mean, as she is my cousin. And I don’t like it when people chase her and try to kill her. If you go near her, then you and Liana will die.

Also, stay away from that PI man, he’s kind of cute and I like him. Hurt him and I kill you. That should be simple enough for you to understand. Stay in Montreal where you belong, it will be healthier for you.” Then the Wildcats went back to their vans and as they drove away Catalina pressed a button and 5 packages exploded in huge balls of flame and soon that large old house was completely engulfed in flames.

Sebastien lost a lot in that fire, in drugs and money, plus weapons. They barely had any weapons left now which put them at a real disadvantage against the Blackbirds. Right after lunch Sebastien went to his office, but he found it had been taken over by Vlora and her Angels who also told him to stay away from Cricket because she was her cousin as well.

The Angels also discovered that a large stash of drugs and money was kept at this office and they had it all piled in Sebastien’s office and suddenly a large fire roared to life in that office, destroying everything, including the building. Then Sebastien found out that Bruno and his gang had intercepted their drug shipment, the largest they have had, or would have had. Now Bruno has it. “I want that witch, Linda!” screamed Liana, “it is all her fault!”

“That will bring all those gangs after us,” said Sebastien. “I don’t care!” she screamed again, “I want her and I want to kill her!” Meanwhile, “Danger Steve,” whispered Jennifer, “it is aimed at Cricket and I would say it is Liana.” “Aari,” I said, “we need to stop Liana, permanently.” “Shall do Steve,” he said. At about 6pm Sebastien, Liana and 6 bodyguards arrived at Liana’s house (different than Sebastien’s house that was visited before).

As they walked up the front steps, two vans came to a screeching halt in front of the house, the side doors opened and gunfire erupted. Liana and the bodyguards were killed and Sebastien was shot in both legs. Then the vans drove off, heading back to Toronto. Once we were all together again, we boarded our jets and were soon flying toward home. Cricket came and sat between Jennifer and I.

“Hope you don’t mind me squeezing in,” she said smiling so brightly, “but I’m just so happy and so thankful and so happy!” “You have a new family now,” said Jennifer, “and lots of new friends.” “And I have learned that some cats can talk,” said Cricket, “and some ghosts are real. That is just so wild!”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.