Poor Jennifer, she was devastated after being tricked by Granger. She was angry too, though there really wasn’t much she could do at the moment. She called Kat and told her what happened. Kat was outraged by the news, but not with her sister, with Granger. However, she realized that rage won’t help at a time like this, they need level heads to think this through. She and her Wildcats were not far away, so they would be at the castle fairly quickly.

Matt and the Knight Riders were also fairly close, but a little further away so it doesn’t look like they are working together. Jennifer called Rock and he too was angry at what happened. Although Rock could have sent Matt and his team, he decided to send Kristina and her team since it would be more what would be expected. After all, it only makes sense to send some of our own team out to help us too. But the Knight Riders will still be called into action if they are needed.

Two of the Riders will come out though, Aari and Mac, because Mac will be pretending that he is my cousin, and Aari is a friend of his who wanted to come along to help also. They will still come out as Knight Riders, however, so that Granger can see who they are and look them up. Hopefully that will make him realize that he doesn’t want to anger this gang of ruthless criminals. Right now Jennifer and the girls are waiting in our room, trying to think of some way to deal with this.

Then there was a knock at the door. It was the waitress. “My boss has said that you all must leave the hotel immediately,” she said, “or he will call the police to throw you out. Please don’t be mad at me, I have to do what I’m told. Please don’t hurt me.” “I wouldn’t think of hurting you,” said Jennifer, “but we will not be leaving until my husband is returned, alive. I will come down and let that coward know.” She went down with Nicole, and the owner, Emerick, was in the restaurant having a drink with another man.

Jennifer went in to talk with him. “You coward!” she yelled, “Sending your waitress up to do your job! Now, listen closely (she had lowered her voice to normal now), we will not be going anywhere until my husband is returned, alive, by your boss Granger Williams. Three of my friends were shot and are in serious condition, that is attempted murder, and you are an accessory to those attempted murders. You are also an accessory to kidnapping, and don’t try to tell me you are innocent.

I know the law, as a PI we need to know the law. Now, if you wish to call the police, then I will do the same, only the ones I call will be actual police, not like the ones on Granger’s payroll. If you want us out of here quickly, then tell your boss to give me back my husband, alive. Until then, we stay and we will take this place apart if we have to in order to find my husband. You and Granger better understand that. Also, more people will be coming from The Investigators to help out.

Also, my sister will be coming with some of her gang to help out. We are on opposite sides of the law, but we are still sisters, and she wants to help me. So, don’t get in our way, or you could find yourself in prison for a very long time, if you live long enough to get there.” Then she went back up to our room. Meanwhile, Granger heard everything from his office below the restaurant. He has microphones all over the hotel, including our room, but we have our new scramblers working so it is safe for us to talk there.

“Interesting events unfolding,” said Conrad. “Yes, I didn’t expect a criminal gang to show up and help out,” said Granger, “I wonder what they are called? Tell the miserable hotel owner to find out for us.” “Shall do,” said Conrad. Then Tom and Glen came into the office. “We got that PI safely tucked away in cell 2,” said Tom, “his wrists are chained to the wall and he is asleep on that little pile of straw in the corner. There are rats in there too, so they should keep him company.”

They all laughed at that. However, as I was lying on that straw, something woke me up. It was something brushing against my face. I opened my eyes and lying on that straw beside me was Sky. I wish I knew if it was really her or not, my daydreaming left me doubting things. “Still don’t believe it is me, do you?” she asked. “All this problem with daydreaming makes me doubt,” I said, “and yet, you look so real.” I touched her hair and face.

“You also feel like you are real,” I added, “so from now on I will believe it is you and not a dream.” She smiled. “Good, I’m glad,” she said, “and don’t worry about Granger and his men, I will stay with you the whole time you are here. But you may not always see me. There is a camera and microphone in here, but don’t worry, they can’t hear us and on their camera it still looks like you are chained to the wall.” I checked my hands and arms.

“But how did you get me free?” I asked. “That is a secret Steve,” she said, “and no rats will join you in here either, I made sure of that too. Now, I want to go and talk with Jennifer briefly, then I will be right back. You will be safe while I’m gone, so don’t worry. The two guards in the corridor are sleeping peacefully, and Granger isn’t planning to talk with you for a while.” She then disappeared and I continued to lie still like she told me to do.

Back in our room. Jennifer was sitting in a chair thinking, Dawn and the other Bad Girls were in the room too. Suddenly Sky was standing next to Jennifer’s chair, so Jennifer went invisible so she and Sky could talk. “I am staying with Steve for now,” said Sky, “and I wanted you to know. I can’t communicate like you do, so I have to come and talk. I will keep Steve safe, so don’t worry about him. Also, I am not back to take Steve from you. You are his wife now and it should stay that way.

Steve loves you and told me that to let me know it can’t change, even though I think he still loves me too. I would like to stay with The Investigators too, if that is okay with you. If you would prefer for me to leave once this is over, then I will do so, no hard feelings.” Both of them were crying at this point. “I would love to have you stay with us again Sky,” said Jennifer, “so please, don’t go away, please.” They hugged, then Sky said she should be getting back to me.

“Kat will fix it so you can communicate with us,” said Jennifer, smiling. “That would be great,” said Sky, and off she went. “Why did you go invisible?” asked Dawn. “Sorry, that is a secret for now,” she said, smiling and wiping away tears. “Something happened,” said Katresa, “why can’t you tell us?” “I will tell you when the time is right,” she said, “but for now, Steve is fine, so now we need to figure out how to get him free.”

Back to Sky and myself. “Why can’t you take me out of here?” I asked. “Well, I’m not quite sure how to get you through that big steel, locked door,” she said, smiling, “but I’m working on it…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.