The night was nice and quiet, the stone house was nice and cool even though it was hot outside. We left the next morning to go and see the coroner’s wife. We heard on the news that her husband died accidentally at home early this morning. We just talked to him yesterday and today he dies in an accident. Not a chance. That is too coincidental for me and Mac agreed.

Someone found out we had talked with him and it must have been someone at the hospital, or with the police, since the coroner was going to contact the police right after we left. I told Kat to be extra careful and never leave Emberlyn alone. I told her to call the rest of her Wildcats to come out and stay here too, except I might need two of them to stay with the coroner’s widow tonight if she will agree to it. I called Vicky and asked to come and talk with her and she agreed.

We arrived at noon, along with Hope and Kristy from the Wildcats. Vicky believed her husband was murdered, he did not fall down the stairs accidentally. Supposedly he tripped on some loose carpet at the top of the stairs, causing him to fall down the wood stairs, hitting his head and breaking his neck. She claimed there was never any loose carpet before the police investigation. During our talk I had mentioned Cliff Compton and Vicky remembered him and that he got out of prison a year ago.

His girlfriend had been waiting for him for the 8 years he was in prison. That was interesting, so I asked her if she had ever seen his girlfriend. She said yes and that she was a very pretty woman with short blond hair. I showed her a picture of Alice. “Oh, that’s not her at all,” she said, “he must have gotten a new girlfriend.” “Annelie, I need information about a woman named Sheila Gallagher,” I said, “everything as usual, but I need a photo fast please.”

It only took a couple of minutes and she had a photo for me. “Yes, that is Sheila,” said Vicky. I then called Cinnamon and asked her to get information from Emberlyn about Sheila. Apparently she had been living there since before she and Thomas bought their stone house. She had been a very nice neighbor and good friend for Emberlyn. She was waiting for her boyfriend Cliff, but then George and Alice came along and moved in saying they had bought the house from Sheila because her and a boyfriend were moving elsewhere.

“That means Sheila was killed Cinnamon,” I said, “and we need to find her body.” “I doubt Cliff will let us wander around his property looking for her grave,” she said. “The body won’t be buried on his property,” I said, “it will be on Emberlyn’s property. Or I should say, our property, now. So, once all you Wildcats are together, start looking. The cats will be a big help, especially Rascal.” We left after lunch to head back home, Kristy and Hope stayed with Vicky, so did Mac.

He will be joined by Harvey later who will also bring Tiger and Chester along. Those two are reliable for staying awake all night to watch the house outside. The two cats will be a big help to them as well, there will be one man and one cat at the front and back of the house. Sometimes it can be better to have just one person, it prevents the possibility of talking. Sky and myself need to get back home as we are both on recovery still, I just wanted to do this part to show that someone else was getting involved with that house which will hopefully prevent Cliff from causing anymore problems.

But that will also depend on why he wants that house. Cliff worked for a small gang which sold drugs and had a small protection racket going, among some other things. The police put an end to the gang finally and arrested 5 of the nine members, 3 were killed in a shootout and the leader disappeared. The police figured the gang had a substantial amount of money, though none was ever recovered. I wonder if they hid the money at that stone house?

That would certainly explain the interest in that house. I called Kat and told her so they could start searching the house, especially the part that has not been renovated yet. Maybe that’s why Cliff was getting so nervous and anxious to buy the place, before their renovations turned up the money. All of the gang members are out of prison now, though nothing has been said about the original leader. He may have taken the money and run off with it while the others were in prison. But somehow I doubt it.

I think the leader is back, but he is hiding. By the time we returned home both Sky and myself were feeling quite tired from our trip. We are definitely not ready for work just yet. I told Kristina to get her team ready and go to that town where the Knight Riders are staying. “If Cliff comes to town, follow him around, everywhere,” I said, “and make sure he knows it.” “Ooo, this could be fun,” said Kristina, “put some pressure on him.”

“Correct,” I said, “but leave Carolyn and Acadia behind. I want Carolyn and Melissa to continue working on that Nowhere antidote. I’m not sure that Acadia is quite ready for a dangerous assignment just yet.” Kristina agreed and got her team ready and off they went. “Hmm, you don’t trust me?” asked Acadia once Kristina’s team left. “I need you here to take Melissa’s place on my team,” I said, “so she can concentrate on working with Carolyn.”

“Hmm, sounds like a good excuse,” she said smiling. “And true too,” I said, “but yes, you, Sigrid and Sabina are not quite ready for dangerous assignments just yet. So, you are stuck with home duty for now. It won’t be for long though, you three will be practicing more with my team over the next week, so you will be kept busy.” “And here I thought we were going to get a mini vacation,” said Dawn sighing.

“Practicing is only in the morning,” I said, “afternoons you are free to relax at the pool.” “Oh, well, that doesn’t sound so bad then,” she said smiling. Sky and I then went to our bedroom to lie down. “How is your head?” asked Sky. “Sometimes it is fine, other times it feels like I have been hit by a truck,” I said, “like right now.” Sky called for Samantha who came promptly and gave me some more painkiller…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.