Phoenix was on her feet quickly after Dawn had knocked her down by kicking her back 3 times. However, Phoenix had gotten up with her side to Dawn, so Dawn quickly moved behind Phoenix and once again kicked her back, knocking her down and causing her to scream. But Phoenix bounced back onto her feet again, hitting Dawn, then kicking her stomach which knocked her to the ground. Then Phoenix kicked her stomach twice more! Then Kat appeared about 10 feet to the side of Phoenix.

“Phoenix, you pathetic bird!” yelled Kat, “Now you will feel the wrath of the Kat! I’m Kat and you will not like my wrath!” Then Kat split into two of her and said, “I’m Kat, you pathetic bird!” Then she split into three of her and all of them repeated, “I’m Kat, you pathetic bird, fight me if you dare!” “Good trick, but you Investigators are the pathetic ones,” screamed Phoenix, “and I am going to destroy you for killing my wonderful brother, Toledo!” “Actually Phoenix,” said Kat smiling, “it was me that killed Toledo and now it’s your turn.”

“You killed my Toledo?!” she asked, “For that you will die!” She then went after Kat hitting and kicking! But even though she did actually hit Kat, Kat still didn’t move, she just stood there smiling at Phoenix. “That’s impossible!” screamed Phoenix, “No one can just stand against my powerful kicks!” “That’s where you’re wrong,” said Kat, “now it’s my turn.” Then Kat began her kicking going right for the head of Phoenix, knocking her flat on her back.

But, Phoenix was back on her feet quickly and that’s when Kat 2, which was Jennifer, joined the fight. She, too, kicked Phoenix in the head, knocking her to the ground, groaning loudly. Just then everyone heard sirens and looked down the lane to see the police coming toward them. When Kat turned back to look at Phoenix, she was gone! She quickly ran to the front of the building but there was no sign of Phoenix anywhere. Unfortunately, all the team that was here had gathered to watch the fight, so no one was out front anymore.

The police had now stopped out back and had gotten out of their car. There were just 2 of them so Jennifer went over to talk with them. Jennifer asked if she could talk with the 2 of them alone, so they walked with her off to the side. That’s when Sky and Kitty came up behind the two officers and touched the back of their necks with their rings. The officers were soon asleep and the girls put them back into their car and put the 6 dead bodies of the gang members into their trunk, with their legs hanging out, and they tied the lid shut.

This drug we use for such times puts people to sleep but also makes them completely forget all that happened for the period of two hours prior to being put to sleep. “Hey, look what I found in the building,” said Misty, “a full bottle of whiskey.” “What are we going to do with that?” asked Dawn. Then they looked at each other and smiled. “What do you have there?” asked Jennifer. “We took their pants off,” said Dawn. “Looks better, since they have been drinking,” said Misty. Jennifer went to look.

“You two are bad,” she said, shaking her head. Everyone left and about an hour later more police arrived, including the chief. After some time they managed to wake up the original two officers and they had a rather hard time explaining what had happened, especially since they were slightly drunk and they couldn’t remember anything, not even why they came there in the first place. Meanwhile, “We checked the country house,” Aari told Kat, “but no one is out here. It definitely is Phoenix’s house though.” Kat told Aari to wait out there for a while just in case Phoenix, or any of her men, shows up.

Kat and the others then went back to the haunted house again. Some of the team had stayed over there and checked on that “door” that Muffin had found. “It’s not actually a door,” said Rock, “it’s more like a steel roof for an underground room.” “Well, we can’t dig it up,” said Kat, “so let’s go back inside and see what we can find.” “Hey Kat,” said Misty, “I found an old diary in that bookcase. It has some interesting things in it, like clues. Listen, ‘Hidden down beneath our feet is a place where ghosts do sleep. In a step there is a key which opens the way for you and me.’ What do you think?”

“I think it’s telling us how to get into that room down below,” said Kat, “check each step on that staircase and see if one of them opens.” About half way up the staircase Audrey noticed something, a wooden button, which she pushed and she heard a click sound. She then was able to lift the step and inside was a key. “Found it!” she exclaimed excitedly. But, what did the key fit? There was no door or lock into that room. “Got it!” said Misty, “Here’s another clue.

“Once you find the hidden key, keep it close and soon you will see, a lock in a book, but hard you must look.” Dawn and Misty looked at each other and started going through all the books on the bookcase. However, no lock was found, so they were somewhat dejected, sitting on the floor surrounded by the books. “Looking for this?” said Macy smiling. It was a metal book with the outline of a key on the “cover”. Dawn put the key flat on the outline and pushed. The key pressed into the book and it opened. Inside was an odd shaped piece of wood and nothing else, so Misty went back to her old diary for the next clue.

“A piece of wood you have found, it is not square or even round, put it in the rightful place, hurry now, above the face.” “Face? What face?” said Misty and Dawn at the same time, as they looked around. “Try that clock face next to you on the wall,” said Macy. Dawn put the piece of wood in the spot and there was a click and the clock moved. She then opened it all the way revealing an envelope. “Aha!” said Dawn holding up the envelope.

“Aha!” said Misty as she grabbed it from Dawn’s hand, holding it away from her. “Aha!” said Macy as she grabbed the envelope from Misty. She was about to run with it, but as she turned, Jennifer was standing there smiling and her hand was held out. “Rats!” said Macy, Misty and Dawn at the same time. Jennifer unfolded the paper that was in the envelope. “Well, well,” she said…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.