I had called Kristina before we went down for lunch to ask who was on the computer for us today. She said Pacca and then I told her I wanted her to take her team and start looking for that stolen loot. “It can’t be too far from where they stole it,” I said, “Brink didn’t have enough time to go far. We know where he was shot by the police and he was likely on his way back to their meeting place, so start looking in a circle from that spot. I will call Rossana and make sure the police don’t get in your way.”

“Okay Steve,” she said, “we will get on it first thing in the morning.” It was already too close to nightfall over there for them to start looking today. I called Rossana and she said the police would stay away from them so as not to attract attention. Trapper just might have men around there looking, or at least watching, the area too. I then called Pacca. “I need more information about Timothy,” I said, “who has been visiting, any letters or taped phone calls, anything you can find.

I am thinking more and more that this could be a trap, so before we make an attempt at getting into that fortress, I need to know these things. By nightfall, or sooner, please, our nightfall, well, definitely sooner if possible. Thanks Pacca, you’re a gem.” “Flattery doesn’t help get information faster Steve,” she said, “but thanks anyway.” We were now coming down for our lunch at the hotel restaurant when the owner met us and said that Trapper and some of his men were having lunch and asked us to wait a bit. I said we had things to do and could not wait.

However, I sent Sabina back to our room with Samantha, Galyna and Kitty, then asked the owner to send 4 lunch specials up to our room. He was happy with that and had the food sent up to our room right away. The rest of us went to the restaurant which wasn’t very busy. The owner had told us that when people see Trapper and his men, then they will go somewhere else. He also told us that Trapper was not very happy that I had hired Sabina and paid off her debt. “Please, you will not cause any trouble, yes?” he said. “We do not plan on causing trouble,” I said, “but Trapper better not either.”

“Yes, that is good, okay,” he responded nervously. We all sat down at 3 larger round tables in the middle of the room. I then noticed the food being sent up to the other girls. We brought 3 of the cats with us so they could check our food and hopefully no one will complain about them. There were some other hotel guests at 2 tables on one end of the room, then Trapper and his men at 2 tables on the other end of the room, with us in the middle. A nice arrangement. At one table there were 4 hotel guests, all men, and they seemed to keep their eyes on us a lot.

Perhaps they were just looking at the girls, that does happen sometimes. Jennifer said they gave her an odd feeling, but she did not sense danger with them. However, she did sense trouble with Trapper and his men. After we began eating Trapper decided to come over and join us. He grabbed a chair from an empty table and tried to force it between Jennifer and I. “It will have to be on the other side,” I told him. He was not too happy about that, but he did it. “I hear you hired Sabina,” he said casually, “you must have a special way of talking. I have tried to hire her for the past 6 months, I even offered to pay her debt, but she always said no.

Then you come along and hire her within just a few hours, seems like you have enough women now. How about selling Sabina to me? I will give you $5,000 for her.” This Trapper guy sure does like to talk, but he isn’t going to like how I talk. “Well, I don’t own Sabina, or any of these women,” I told him, “they all work for me. Apparently Sabina doesn’t want to work for you, but maybe I offered her a better wage too.” “Why not let me talk to her,” he said, “I can make her change her mind.” “You were not able to change her mind talking to her for 6 months,” I said, “anyway, she works for me now and that is the way it is going to stay.”

It was easy to tell that Trapper was not very happy with what I said. “Decisions like that can be dangerous,” he said, “why not be smart and make a deal.” “I already gave my answer,” I told him, “and I also don’t like threats, so I suggest you don’t make any more and just keep to yourself from now on.” “You don’t like threats,” he said, “but you don’t mind giving them.” “That’s because I can back up my threats,” I said, “so I will now consider this conversation over.” He turned to Aasta who was sitting next to him. “How about you babe, want a new job?” he asked, touching her cheek.

“A beautiful flower does not hang around with a skunk,” she said smiling, “and if you touch my cheek again I will break all your fingers.” Jennifer almost burst out laughing. “Time to leave Trapper,” I said. When he heard his name that really got him angry, but he never said anything, he just went back to his table. Those 4 men on the other side of the room then left and went outside. “They carry guns,” said Jennifer quietly. “Hmm, that is interesting,” I said. Yet she still did not sense any danger with them. I imagine Trapper will step up the daily patrols after talking with us.

I think he wanted to find out what we were doing here, aside from how we managed to hire Sabina. I wonder if he knows that Sabina was in the mansion before? That might be one reason he wants her. Of course, she is very beautiful, so that could be the main reason. When we got back to our room, I asked Sabina about her friends that had been in the mansion with her. She said the man was found dead, murdered, just 2 days after Trapper and his men arrived. His girlfriend just disappeared so Sabina figured she ran to hide somewhere else.

Sabina was unable to go anywhere because of her debt to the hotel owner. Trapper and his men then left again but returned about 10 days ago. She said he has about 20 to 25 men. After he came back, the body of the woman friend of Sabina was found in the exact same spot where her boyfriend had been found. The police are not investigating because they are afraid of Trapper and his men. Pacca then called with some information for me.

It seems that Timothy has a woman visitor that comes in once a month, always the second day of the month. There is also a man that has been coming to visit every 2 weeks for the last 3 months. She said the woman is from Panama, but is now living in France, her name is Lena. The man is from England and his name is Ted. Hmm, not very helpful yet, but Kristina had something interesting for us. They got a letter telling us to stop looking for Acadia or we would start to die, one by one, beginning at home. The first one would die at noon…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.