Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 5. Who Killed Harley?
While Aari kept talking, a secret door opened behind him and a man stepped out with a gun and pulled the trigger. But Carine was holding her husband’s arm, so no harm could come to him. “My gun, it won’t fire!” the man yelled. So he took out a knife amazingly fast to stab Aari, but before he could do so, he suddenly fell to the floor. Sky was there, still invisible, and watching carefully all around. She touched the man on his chest, stopping his heart, so it will look like a heart attack. Deborah ran over to him to see what was wrong.
“He’s dead,” she said quietly, “but how?” “Well, don’t look at any of us,” said Aari, “none of us even touched him. Quite likely the excitement caused a heart attack.” “He’s too young for a heart attack,” she replied, “somehow you killed him, that is what I believe.” “You may believe what you want,” said Aari, “but none of us here killed him.” “He is quite right,” said Petruccio, who was a medical doctor, “it could very well have been a heart attack due to excitement.” “I agree with the doctor too,” said Norman. Deborah then said something to him in Italian.
“Quit speaking Italian!” he screamed, “You know I can’t speak a word of that language!” Aari laughed. “She just called you a repulsive, cowardly idiot,” said Aari. “How do you know what I said?” she asked, “You must be Uncle Major.” “I am not the man you seem to be infatuated with,” said Aari, “but I can speak 8 languages fluently, including Italian, Ms. Mariani.” “How do you know my name?” she asked politely, “No one here knows my real name, until now.” “Because I believe in doing my homework before I confront people,” he responded, “I know the name and occupation of everyone at this table.”
That produced a variety of reactions, including shock, horror and disbelief. So Aari went around the table naming everyone. Then he turned his attention to Norman once more and told him to stand up, however, he continued to sit with his arms folded. So Aari picked him up and punched him in the stomach 3 times, then hit his cheek knocking him down over his chair and onto the floor groaning. “You beat Harley to death!” said Aari firmly, “Just a young woman, unable to protect herself and you enjoyed beating her.” “Not just me,” said Norman weakly, “her father beat her too, we took turns, we couldn’t let her tell what she found out.”
“Everyone will find out now if I decide to tell what I know,” responded Aari, “unless you wish to pay for my silence.” “How much?” asked the banker. Aari just laughed. “Ten million euros,” he said, “in cash, you know where to find me. Now, I will say good bye for the time being, but I will not be leaving.” They then left and the group stayed behind to talk about the evening’s happenings. Their meeting room was the only room not destroyed, everything else was beyond repair as they looked around later. “We will have to start all over,” said the Mayor.
“What for?” asked the banker, “they will just destroy it again just like he said.” “Well, we could call the police to deal with them,” said Norman. “That would be perfect,” said Deborah sarcastically, “then those Investigators will let the police know all about us and we will end up in prison. And you will be up for murder dear Norman and that will put you in prison for a long time.” “What do you suggest Deborah?” asked Alodie. “I’m not sure yet,” she replied, “paying the Black Wolves for their silence is only half the problem. The other half are those Investigators.
What the Black Wolves know, they also know. Unfortunately they are law abiding citizens and that makes it hard to buy their silence. But their organization is too large to kill them all. I will need to think about this for a while. We can relax for a while anyway, I don’t think Steve will do anything just yet.” Sky was still with these people, watching and listening. She only left when they did, coming directly back to the chateau with everything she heard. “Well, this Deborah could end up being troublesome,” I said, “she knows Aari and she will keep at him until he is exposed.” “Yes, that is certainly not good news,” said Jennifer.
Suddenly Misty was standing in front of me, with her hands behind her back this time. “Misty and her Sneakers reporting for duty, my all time favorite Leader,” she said, “who is so brave, wonderful, insightful, wise…” “Misty,” said Jennifer. “Yes Leader Jennifer,” she replied, “the Leader that I look up to for courage, resourcefulness…” “Stop!” exclaimed Jennifer, “There is no need for the long list of praise for Steve and I. Though we appreciate it, others might not understand.” “Oh, right, I get it,” said Misty, “people might get jealous.” Jennifer sighed.
“Something like that,” she said. I then grabbed Misty’s arm and pulled her onto my lap and hugged her. “Thank you for all those words of encouragement,” I said. “Aww, you’re welcome Steve,” she said. Jennifer sighed loud and long. “Go get your team ready to leave right after breakfast,” I said, “make sure your backpacks are full.” “On it right away Steve,” she said. “Misty, wait until morning, they’re probably sleeping,” I said, “and they will need a good night’s sleep for this job, and that means you too, get to bed.” “On it Steve,” she said and started down the stairs.
Jennifer pushed that little stone and we heard Misty scream all the way to the bottom. “Steffie is a wonderful little girl,” said a satisfied Jennifer. I then grabbed her arm, but she was quick and threw me onto the bed and the tickle fight began. I lost again. She said if I won then she would let me go on the case. Sigh. In the morning before breakfast I told Jennifer that Sky and her Bad Girls should go visit with Harley’s parents. “That’s a good idea,” said Jennifer, “those Bad Girls would love to get involved in this one.” “Right, so we’ll leave right after breakfast,” I said.
“Hold it!” said Jennifer, “You are not going anywhere! Remember, you lost that tickle fight and that means you stay home. I’ll go along instead.” “Wait, you can’t leave me alone with no ghost protection,” I said. “Friskie is here and I’ll leave Angel behind too,” she said, “so that way you’ll be well protected. And if anything happens to you, then I will tear them into little pieces so it will take them months to put themselves back together again.” She then smiled and down we went for breakfast. Sigh. But will Friskie and Angel be enough to keep me safe?
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 4. Obscure Woman.
There is a meeting taking place at the newest ManWell Escorts location with Norman Wellhouse, a woman named Deborah and several other people including the city Mayor and some prominent business people. Suddenly there was a large booming sound in the building’s lobby area. “What was that Norman?” asked one of the men present. “Go check on that noise!” Norman yelled at two of his men. They quickly left the meeting room. Then, suddenly, the door to the meeting room flew off it’s hinges and Rock came storming into the room. He grabbed one man and threw him at another man!
Aari, Carine, Kristina, Kitty and Sky came in next, followed by Bear, Joseph and Mac. “Well, well, look who we find here,” said Aari, “Norman and his fellow sex traffickers. And this lovely woman must be Deborah. My name is Aari Jensen, I’m leader of the Black Wolves. I guess you have all heard of the death of a young woman named Harley Corner, the beautiful young woman murdered by Norman.” “I murdered no one!” he exclaimed, “I already said it was one of my men, the one she fought with today.” He was pointing to Kristina.
“You murdered her!” said Aari firmly, “You ordered your man to do it and that’s the same as killing her yourself.” He then gave Norman a hard backhanded slap, knocking him off his chair. “Get back on your chair you coward,” said Aari, then he turned to Bear, “tell the others to take this place apart.” “Shall do Aari,” he said with a big smile. “Are these all your friends and backers Norman?” asked Aari, but Norman said nothing. He then hit Norman again, knocking him off his chair!
“When I ask a question, I expect an answer,” said Aari, he then turned to the next man, “well, how about you? Are these all his backers or are there others?” “There’s more, please don’t hurt me!” pleaded the man as he sat there with sweat rolling down his forehead. “Yes, there is more,” said Aari, “I just wanted you to admit it. You decided to check on us Deborah, a very wise thing to do, unlike your boyfriend here.” “Boyfriend?! Ha!” she said, “That thing is no boyfriend of mine, but he is quite helpful to have around, most of the time. However, sometimes he does make terrible mistakes, like underestimating you and your gang.”
“Very true, he should have checked things out much better,” said Aari, “then he would have realized we are more than a minor disturbance, and yes, we have a rather large handful of men available to us Norman. As for being more talk than tough, what would you say now Norman?” However, Norman just sat there like before, not saying a word, so Aari calmly hit him a third time, knocking him to the floor again. “You don’t learn very quickly dear Norman,” said Deborah, “just answer the man and you will have fewer bruises on that pretty face of yours that you spend so much time with.”
“Or perhaps you would prefer to have Kristina give you some bruises like she gave Marcel?” asked Aari. “No, I would not,” he said quietly. “Now you are showing more wisdom,” said Aari. “Ha! More cowardice would be a better fit for him,” said Deborah, then she said “Uncle Major”, but in Italian. Aari, however, was too smart to answer her, knowing that would give him away. “I think Deborah was talking to you my darling,” said Carine. He then turned toward her. “I think you know my name, please use it when addressing me,” said Aari.
“I was hoping that I was,” she said, “you remind me of someone that I once knew.” “You are a bit too young,” he said smiling. “It was back when I was a little girl,” she continued, “a man just like you would come to visit my father. He would always carry me around on his shoulders and I called him Uncle Major.” “Sounds like a good memory,” he said, “too bad I was not part of it.” “Would you mind taking off your dark glasses so I can be sure?” she asked nicely. “I’m sorry,” said Carine, “but these type of lights bother my husband’s eyes terribly, even for a short time.”
That gave Wellhouse an idea and he lunged at Aari to try and knock his glasses off! But Carine moved lightning fast and kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall backward and over his chair and onto the floor once more! “Wow, I didn’t even see her leg move!” said Lucien, a prominent businessman. “Neither did I!” said Pascal, a government official. “Ah, Lucien and Pascal can actually speak,” said Deborah sarcastically, “may I ask one more question Mr. Jensen?” “Go right ahead,” he replied. “Why are you so interested in one obscure young woman?” she then asked.
“Perhaps because I have a soft spot for obscure young women,” he said, “also, my sister asked if I would help since I was visiting anyway. She is married to Steve of the Investigators.” “Interesting that you two chose different paths,” she said, “yet you still keep in touch.” “Well, I try not to hold it against my sister for marrying a private investigator,” he said chuckling. “And Steve doesn’t try to turn you over to the police?” she asked. “He has no quarrel with me here,” said Aari, “and he seldom comes to Canada on official business.”
While all this was going on, the Black Wolves were having fun destroying the new ManWell Escorts Club and making a lot of noise doing it. “May we leave now?” said another woman angrily. “Oh my, Alodie, you speak too,” laughed Deborah. She is another government official. Our girls at home are digging up information about each of the named people. “You may leave,” said Aari, “when I say you may leave, and not before.” “Do you realize how much money we spent building this new club?” asked Jean loudly.
“I don’t really care,” replied Aari, “we are just going to destroy it. And if you rebuild, we will return and destroy that one too. By the way, the two locations you have in London and the two in Paris are now closed for repairs too. I hear that all four locations have burned down. It’s so terrible how arsonists run around as they do these days.” While this talking was going on, no one noticed a secret door open behind Aari and a man stepped out with a gun and pulled the trigger…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 