We were all walking around the back garden area, which was quite large, Jennifer was behind Sky and myself, far enough away so we could be private, but close enough to help if trouble arrived. The other girls were off by themselves, but could easily see us and come to help quickly if needed. Sky and I decided to sit on one of the many benches along the garden paths, so Jennifer and Jewel sat on one not far away. Suddenly Jewel looked back at the house and growled.

“Yes Jewel,” said Jenny, “I sense it too, but it is not danger I sense, nor trouble, yet it is troubling. Guess that doesn’t make much sense, does it?” Mew, meow.= Me feel same way, not know how to feel, just kind of str, stra… “The word you want is strange,” said Jenny. Mew, meow.= Yep, that it, strange. But why it strange feel? “I’m not sure little one,” said Jenny, “we must keep our eyes and ears open for now.” “And what are you looking at?” asked Dawn. “Oh, I didn’t notice you coming over here,” said Jennifer. “That doesn’t answer my question,” said Dawn.

“Oh, um, just kind of daydreaming, I guess,” said Jennifer, “this is such a beautiful house, I would like to have one like it, except much smaller. It would be so wonderful for a family.” “True, but you need a husband for that,” sighed Dawn, “and for me that does not look like a possibility.” “And why not?” asked Jenny, “You are still young, beautiful with a wonderful inner beauty as well. There are available men on our team.” “I know, but they are all much older than me,” said Dawn, “and none of them really interest me at all.” “Hmm, maybe you just need to point your heart in a different direction,” said Jenny.

“Shows, huh,” said Dawn, “I know, but it’s hard sometimes. I know you understand that.” Jennifer smiled, then Jewel growled again. “Is Jewel daydreaming too?” asked Dawn, “or are you two holding back information?” “Sometimes cats think they hear or see things and they growl,” said Jennifer, “even when nothing is around. Doesn’t Ginger do that sometimes?” “Only when she is sleeping, and dreaming,” said Dawn, “but Jewel is not sleeping, and don’t tell me she is daydreaming.”

“Who is daydreaming?” I asked. “I was,” said Jennifer, “but then Dawn showed up so we have been talking about different things, like cats and houses.” “Well, we want to go have a nap,” said Sky. So that is what we did and all was quiet for the afternoon. Then we had dinner and looked around a bit more. “I must ask Mandar why he has the top floor closed off,” I said, “and two of the towers are also closed off.” “Well, maybe they are not renovated completely yet,” suggested Samantha. “That is quite possible,” agreed Sky.

We are so relaxed in this place that we want to sleep more. Storm clouds were moving in again as well and about midnight the first storm hit us with heavy rain, strong wind and a continuous display of lightning, with a continuous roar of thunder. Shortly after it began we lost our electricity, but I noticed light coming in the room from under the door. That means someone is in the hall. Storm sat on the bed, staring at the door and growling. Jennifer sensed something and came out of her little bedroom, which was attached to ours, and went to the door. Sky and I had our guns out and the cats hid.

Then Jennifer pulled the door open quickly and she was immediately kicked by someone. However, it did not phase her at all and she kicked back, knocking her opponent against the wall. But, her opponent came back at her, kicking Jennifer several times but doing nothing to her. The opponent then pulled a gun, which didn’t work against Jennifer and she then kicked it out of her opponents hand. The opponent then ran out the door and down the hall and…disappeared. I then pressed the phone alarm and the other girls were in our bedroom amazingly fast.

“There is no electricity,” said Beryan. “Yes, likely because of this storm,” I said. Meowr.= Me not do it, honest. “No, I meant the thunderstorm, Storm,” I said. Meowr.= Ooooo, must be bad storm when called thunderstorm storm. Sky giggled. I decided there would be no point explaining that one. “Someone is in the house,” I said, “he, or she, tried to attack Jennifer but that didn’t work out too well. We will need to be watchful the rest of the night, then do a thorough search in the morning.” That meant sleeping in shifts the rest of the night.

“I sensed danger, that’s why I came out,” said Jennifer after the others left, “it was a woman and she can fight very well. I didn’t want to kill her, just stop her, but it didn’t work.” “That is why I didn’t shoot her,” I said, “I wanted to find out who she is and who she works for.” “And now she got away,” said Sky, rolling her eyes. “Yes, well, we did try,” I said. “Uh huh, now we have to stay awake the rest of the night,” she said. “No, you can sleep,” I said, “Jennifer and I will take turns watching.” Meow, meow.= No, you sleep too, Jennifer and cats take turns watching. That order.

“Good for you Muffin,” said Jennifer. The night passed quickly and without any more ‘fun’ happenings. The electricity was back on by morning too, which was nice, that way we got to have a hot breakfast. And coffee. Very important for starting the day right. “There must be someone living either upstairs in that top floor,” I said, “or perhaps in one of the towers.” We had not yet been in the basement, so that is where we went first.

“There might be a way into the towers from down there,” I said, “then from the towers into the top floor.” Amazingly we did find a door which led to a spiral staircase and up into one of the towers. This tower had been renovated completely, just like the rest of the house. At the top of the tower was a door which led into the top floor of the house, or at least part of it. However, there was no evidence of anyone living up here.

There was an interesting little book on a table beside a large old chair. “It is a diary,” said Sky, “and it is in English too. It is a bit dusty up here.” She blew the dust off the diary. “Maybe we can learn something from that diary,” I said, “so we will take it with us.” Back down we went to the basement, then up the stairs to the kitchen. But the door to the kitchen was now closed, and locked…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.