I forgot to mention, we also had Kiara with us and she looked terrified right now. Erika was with me on the bed cuddling so I whispered something to her. She smiled and went bouncing over to Kiara and spoke softly to her. Kiara smiled and the two of them hugged for the longest time. Then they laid down beside each other with Erika talking non stop. That should help Kiara forget about her worries for a while.

It wasn’t too long and I didn’t hear Erika talking anymore. I looked over and the two of them were sleeping peacefully together. Mission accomplished. Now, if only I could settle down like that too. Just then Cynthia comes over and lies down beside me. “And what are you doing?” I asked. “Cuddling with my big brother,” she said, “I need a cuddle right now.”

“There you go with that ‘big’ word again,” I said, “either you have a very vivid imagination, or we need to get your eyes checked.” “My eyes are just fine,” she said, “but to me you are bigger than Rock. I do have a vivid imagination though. It was the only thing that kept me going some days.” “Yes, I guess that would help,” I said, “did you come over here because you needed a cuddle or because I did?” She giggled. “Maybe it was both,” she said.

“Well, I certainly do need it,” I said, “but you can only stay if I can run my fingers through that beautiful long hair of yours.” “That’s fine by me,” she said happily, “I love it when someone does that.” Meanwhile, upstairs in the chateau. Adamson’s men had arrived and came up to the door and, finding it unlocked, came inside. Although it was morning, we had shut many of the windows with our steel shutters making it much darker inside than it would be.

“Turn on some lights,” said Conrad. “I already tried, they don’t work,” said Gerald. “Probably turned off the electricity when they left,” said Conrad, “start looking around anyway.” Four men went into the library, a dozen went upstairs, some stopping at the second floor and the rest going on to the third floor. Conrad and some others went to look over the rest of the main floor. On the third floor 3 men stopped in to check out the smaller library.

One man looked behind the couch but didn’t see anything. “What are we looking for?” asked a voice. “People, you idiot,” he said, “what did you think we were looking for, apple trees?” “I was just asking a simple question,” said the voice, “no need to be sarcastic.” “Who said that?” he asked. “Me!” said Jennifer as she popped up from behind the couch. “Get out here lady!” he growled.

“Not until you ask me nicely,” she said, pouting. The man grabbed her arm and dragged her out in the open. “Hey, that is not nice!” she said angrily. The other two men had come over to take a look now as well. “So, what are you going to do about it lady?” the man asked. “Maybe I should kill you,” she said calmly. The men laughed. “You don’t have a gun lady,” he said, “how are you going to kill me?” “I just have to tell you to die, and you will,” she said.

That really got the men laughing. “That did it,” said Jennifer, “now, you die!” The man fell to the floor. “So, how come you men stopped laughing?” asked Jennifer. The two men pointed their guns at her. “Okay lady, come with us,” they said. “I don’t want to go with you,” she said, “now what?” One man tried to shoot her, but his gun wouldn’t work. “Silly man,” she said, “guns don’t work on ghosts.”

Suddenly they yelled and dropped their guns saying they were too hot to hold onto. Jennifer then kicked both men and she heard others from downstairs saying that they heard yelling from upstairs. The other men that were upstairs came running over and found Jennifer sitting nicely on a chair reading. “Stand up and put your hands on your head!” growled one man, “Or you will get shot.” “You’re as bad as your 3 friends, now you die.” The man fell to the floor.

One of the others checked him. “He’s dead alright,” said the man. “Now you will die,” said another and he tried to shoot, but nothing happened. Then they all dropped their guns because they were too hot. “You men are boring,” said Jennifer, “maybe your friends downstairs will be more fun.” She then disappeared. “Where did she go?” asked one of the men. Jennifer’s head appeared. “I told you I was going downstairs,” she said, “you should listen more carefully.”

On the second floor Jennifer stopped to see what some of the men were doing outside my bedroom. “There is just no way to open this door Conrad,” said one. “That’s because it’s locked, genius,” said Jennifer. The men turned. “Grab her!” yelled Conrad. “Not again,” said Jennifer, shaking her head, which then disappeared. “Hey, her head disappeared,” said one. “Oops, just a minute,” she said and bent down to pick up something off the floor and put it on her body.

“Ah, that’s better,” she said, and her head appeared again. “It falls off sometimes if I don’t attach it tightly enough,” she said. “Nice trick lady,” said one man and he tried to grab Jennifer’s arm, but she disappeared. “Where did she go?” he asked. She tapped his shoulder. “Boo!” she said, making him jump. She laughed at him. He was about to punch her when he suddenly fell to the floor, dead. “You mortals never learn,” she said.

This kept going on for some time until there were 15 dead men and the remaining ten went running from the chateau without their guns! The sped away rather quickly in their cars, even leaving one behind. Jennifer and the cats watched from the doorway, laughing. “Good job cats,” she said. Meowrrr= We not do much, you do most. “It was still a group effort,” she said, “and that’s the important part.”

The three cars that left did not make it far and two vans were across the road. The men jumped out of their cars and began to shoot. They had more guns in their cars which is what they were now using. But our team began shooting too. Five men were killed and 5 surrendered. The local police were called and they arrested the five, taking them off to jail.

Adamson was having his lunch when one of his men, watching the chateau, called to tell him what he saw. “Get those men out of jail, Earl,” said Adamson, “then kill them.” “Yes sir,” he said and called one of their lawyers. After lunch Adamson got up and told Earl he would be heading back home immediately and he can follow once he takes care of that last business. His limousine was waiting out front and he climbed in, but before the door closed, four other men climbed in with him.

It was Hoffman and three of his friends. Adamson looked and saw that the driver was not his usual man, but he drove away. “We will have a little talk Adamson,” said Hoffman, “then you will pay us what you owe us, today.” “You know I can’t do that,” said Adamson, “it will take me time to raise that kind of money.” “Then you will stay with us until you pay up,” said Hoffman, “and if you don’t pay, then you will quietly disappear…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.