While Kat and I were discussing this next part of the plan, suddenly Jennifer appeared in the room with us. “How did you get here so quickly?” I asked. I felt a tapping on my shoulder and turned around to see Sky behind me smiling. I should have known. “Now, what is going on Steve?” asked Jennifer, “I sensed danger and called Sky to bring me here quickly, because that danger centered on you.”

“Yeah, well, um,” I began, “there is no danger, at least not yet and hopefully there won’t be.” “Right, there won’t be,” she said, “whatever you have planned will need some changes.” So, I filled her in on our plan and she said a definite no to my participation in this plan. “Kat, Sky and myself will go on this one,” said Jennifer, “plus two of the regular girls.”

“They must be fearless and very pretty,” I said, “just in case there are guards around that they can entertain.” “Why do we need that?” asked Sky, “Why don’t we just go in and do our job and get out? I mean, who wants to entertain a bunch of jerks? How about if I stay behind with Angel and help to entertain Steve, I mean, look after Steve? Then Carine can go in my place.”

“Hmm, that sounds good to me,” said Jennifer, “you and Angel do make a good team. Now, Milena, Aasta, Amerie and Suzette will also be your bodyguards while we’re gone.” “Take Sigrid,” said Sky. “And Marlena,” said Kat. Trapper came along before the girls left so I invited him in for a surprise. I think he was more like shocked when he saw Kat and Kat and Kat.

Of course Kat and Jennifer are identical twins and Carine looks so much like them, except hair color, that they can make her look like one of them too. Changing her hair color is simple and quick with some hair coloring that Carolyn invented and with contact lenses they can change her eye color to match perfectly too. All three of the ghosts walked out saying good bye to Mr. Trapper in Kat’s little girl voice.

The other two girls were laughing as they walked out. “Um, Miss Kat sometimes talks in a normal voice and sometimes in a little girl voice,” said Trapper, “she’s kind of confusing at times.” I chuckled. “It’s complicated Trapper,” I said, “best to leave her alone. Remember she showed you her grave, well, it is true, she was killed and is buried in that grave.

Her twin sister Jennifer, my wife, was also killed by the same man and is buried next to Kat.” “Uh, yeah, I saw her grave too, and Sky’s, and Angel’s and Carine’s,” he said shaking his head, “but it doesn’t make sense if they are still alive. Did you just fake their deaths for protection, or something?” “No, each of them was killed and their bodies are buried in those graves,” I said, “unless they dug their way out afterwards.

It is kind of a puzzle how they got out and how they are walking around right now. I do know that a certain Dr. W. had a hand in it, but what he did I have no idea. And he is now dead.” “Uh, so, are they really ghosts or are they really alive?” asked Trapper. “That is a good question,” I said, “but they all claim to be ghosts and I am not going to argue.”

“Oh,” he said and then he left. After he was gone Sky and Angel came back in and discovered the girls laughing. “Considering the girls are laughing,” said Angel, “it must have been an interesting conversation.” “It was actually kind of ghostly,” I said, “poor Trapper, he is rather confused.” “Kind of like you sometimes big brother,” said Amerie giggling.

“She has a point,” said Sky. I then began frowning and called for Beryan, but she and some of the girls were out shopping for some things we needed, so I called Caleigh and she came right away. “You were quick,” I said. “I’m just in the next room,” she said, “it does not take much time to get here.” Meanwhile, Kat and the others were nearing their destination.

“I wonder why he has no iron gate across the road here?” asked Carine, “It seems like it should have had one.” “It likely did,” said Kat, “but for my father, a gate would show fear and cowardice. Those are not the qualities of a king.” “Hmm, quite a proud man,” said Jennifer. “That is an understatement,” said Kat, “he seems to be worse now than before. But that pride is what will finish him.”

They drove up to the front door, though only Sigrid and Marlena were visible inside the car, the others remained invisible. The two girls then went up to the door and knocked. A large man answered the door and asked who they were and what they wanted. “Didn’t Karl tell you we were coming?” asked Sigrid. “He does not like being called by his first name,” said the man.

“We always call our clients by their first name,” said Marlena, “he did not seem to mind when we talked with him yesterday. Will you let us come in?” He let them in and 5 other men were in the large room and were quite excited to see the two beautiful ladies. “His Highness is not available at the moment,” said another man, “he likely won’t be back for another hour.”

“We did come a bit early,” said Sigrid, “but we had nothing else to do and Karl said his servants would entertain us until he got home.” “We would be most happy to do that beautiful lady,” said one of the men. Suddenly Kat appeared in the room. “Where is my father?” she asked. “Hey, how did you get in here?” asked the first man. “I go anywhere I like,” she replied, “now, answer me, where is my father?”

“Hey, that’s his daughter,” said another man, “the one that claims to be a ghost.” “Yeah, just like His Highness claims,” said the first man. Our three ghosts caught that right away and were suddenly scared. Jennifer sent a message to me immediately, telling me to hide, and why. “My father will regret coming back,” said Kat, “and he will die for it.”

“You don’t seem to understand lady,” said the second man, “your father is a ghost like you, he can’t be killed, he can do whatever he wants.” “That’s what he thinks,” said Kat, “he can be killed and we will be the ones to do it.” There was a brief fight with Sigrid and Marlena taking guns from the men and soon all 6 men were dead.

The ghosts busied themselves with picking up the national treasures, including the most important, the crown and everyone was quickly back in the car heading back to the hotel. They were hoping to arrive before Karl came looking for me. But, Jennifer sensed serious danger before they were half way back. Would Sky and Angel be able to handle fighting Karl?

Back to us at the hotel. When I got the message from Jennifer, I put out a general call to all the team on the case and told them to leave the hotel immediately and go elsewhere. Where did not matter so much, but to go away from the hotel in smaller groups and stay away until they were contacted again. They were not to contact each other but wait to be contacted by one of the ghosts.

My bodyguards protested saying it was their duty to stay with me no matter what. I told them that did not apply right now and to obey orders and leave also. I told them that Karl was a ghost too and they would not be able to fight him. Sky disappeared briefly and told her Bad Girls to go somewhere, anywhere, but far away from here and do not try to contact anyone, not even back home.

They would be contacted when it was safe. Off they went, driving very quickly. Sky returned to the room where Angel was still waiting, after putting me somewhere safe. Soon Karl arrived and smashed the door right off it’s hinges. “Where is that idiot PI?” he growled…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.