We were not doing so well in our search of Giselle’s house, until, while in the little office her dad was using in the attic, Muffin was trying to reach something behind the desk. “Too far to reach little Muffin?” asked Amerie, “Let me try.” She moved that big old desk just a little so she could get her arm behind it. She then pulled out a small, and very old, book. It was almost like a diary, but yet it wasn’t. “It must have fallen behind the desk some time ago,” said Amerie, “it is covered with dust.”

She gave it to me and then went back to the desk and shone her flashlight behind it. “Hmm, something else, but this desk is too big and heavy to move,” she said. So, Jennifer went over and moved it for her. “You move that desk so very easy,” said a surprised Amerie. “Have you forgotten I’m a ghost?” said Jennifer smiling. “But you have not shown such strength before,” added Amerie. “I like to keep secrets until necessary,” said Jennifer.

Behind that desk was another book of a different type, and not so old, but just as interesting as the first book. I think we need Aari for this second book, but he won’t be home until tomorrow. He, Aasta, Jacquelyn and some of the other girls went to Mandar’s for Christmas. He took them all to some sunny island where they can lie on the beach all day. Sigh. Maybe I will ask to go along next year. Both of these books were rather cryptic though and I was wondering if they were somehow related.

But how could that be? Giselle’s father worked in a small office as a bookkeeper. However, this one book was not related to his office and actually had no identification on it at all. But there is still no evidence that Giselle’s father was working for a criminal organization of any kind. But Beau and Vivienne both ended up in crime, which is unusual. I had asked Matt to try and get some information from Beau while we were gone today, so he decided to try a different type of approach to Beau.

Matt pretended to be on his side and that someone had hired him to get Beau free so he could finish his job. “You don’t have to worry,” said Matt, “that PI and his team have gone somewhere, likely to the city to do some shopping, so they won’t be back for a while.” “Good, now I’m going to need a ride,” said Beau. “I wasn’t told anything about taking you anywhere,” said Matt, “just to get you free. We can take you to the city with us though, then you are on your own.”

“I don’t want to go that way,” he said roughly, “I want to go up to Paris. I’m sure that Pierre will give you more money if that is what you want.” “Who is Pierre?” asked Matt, “I talked with a woman, she paid me to get you out of here, not to take you on a trip across the country.” “What’s her name?” asked Beau. “She said to tell you it is Vivienne,” said Matt, “you would know who it is.” “That doesn’t make sense,” said Beau, “she died in an accident 5 years ago in Panama.”

“Then maybe it’s someone else,” said Matt shrugging, “anyway, you’re free and I have been paid. If you want to come back to the city with us, fine, if not, we will drop you off at the next town and you can take a bus.” “Okay, take me to the city,” he said, “I can get some money there.” So Matt and his Riders took him to the city and to one of the best nightclubs. He asked Matt to wait while he went to talk with Pierre. “Bring this guy in,” said Pierre, “I want to meet him.”

So, Beau went back outside, but Matt and the Riders were gone. “They are gone,” said Beau, “but there are some cops out there, that might have scared them off.” “Yeah, that could be,” said Pierre, “too bad, we might have been able to use them. We need to get rid of Vivienne too, since she is still alive. I took care of that other woman cop yesterday but we still haven’t found Marshal and Lyla.” “Hey, do you have a photo of Lyla?” asked Beau. “Right here,” said Francis.

“That’s her!” exclaimed Beau, “That’s Vivienne! But why would she want me set free?” “Well, maybe she wants you to get rid of Giselle,” suggested Francis. “How did she find this Matt guy?” asked Beau, “I have never heard of him, yet he has a lot of guys working for him,” said Beau, “even mentioned he has members all around Europe.” “If that’s true, he didn’t work cheap,” said Pierre. “This the guy?” asked Francis. Beau went over to look.

“Yeah, that’s him,” said Beau, “the Knight Riders, involved in thefts and drugs, possibly other things. Estimated to have more than 100 men. Sizable bunch.” “Yeah, and Vivienne paid them a lot to get you free,” said Pierre, “now, the question is, why?” “Maybe to kill Giselle?” asked Francis. “Maybe. She obviously doesn’t know how important Giselle is or she wouldn’t have been using her as some kind of sex slave,” said Pierre.

“Well, you hired me to kill Giselle too,” said Beau, “so I figured she was no longer needed.” “What?” asked Pierre, “I did not hire you to kill her!” “Sure sounded like you on the phone,” said Beau, “but when I shot the 3 of them, nothing happened, it was like I shot blanks…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.