After things settled down about Kari she was able to tell them she heard 2 people talking downstairs, a man and a woman, but it was hard to tell what exactly they were talking about. “They were not talking loudly,” she said, “but I heard the woman say, ‘Mitch, we need to get things done faster before…’, then they seemed to move further away, or just talked more quietly.” Kat noticed that Sunrise looked a bit shocked when she heard what Kari said. Kat then looked at Cassie.

“Mitch is Sunrise’s brother,” said Cassie. “I, I know he doesn’t like me,” said Sunrise, “but…I never thought he would try to kill anyone.” “Where is Hope?” asked Kat. Some of the girls began to run back upstairs but stopped half way when they saw Hope standing at the top of the stairs. But they quickly realized something was wrong and began going up again. Hope then fell onto the stairs. The girls picked her up and carried her downstairs and Samantha looked at her. “Upstairs now and look around,” said Kat, “except Sunrise, Cassie and Samantha. Cats, you stay here too.”

The girls went quickly, straight to the bedroom where Hope, Fridr and Candace were sleeping, then they spread out checking each room carefully. “How is Hope?” asked Kat. “Aside from being very sore, she will be okay,” said Samantha, “but someone did punch her a number of times, obviously after we all came down here. She probably did not wake up with the rest of us, so someone took advantage of that to attack her before she could fight back.” Rascal then nudged Kat and pointed with his long tail to his backpack. Kat smiled and pulled out a scrambler and turned it on.

“Good boy Rascal,” she said, “now, as I was going to say, this Mitch is a coward! And he will regret doing this.” In the morning Kat asked where Mitch lived. “He and his girlfriend live on the other side of town,” said Sunrise, “at 205 Pine Street. I still find it hard to believe he would try to kill someone, although, his girlfriend certainly would not be afraid to do it. He was fine until he met her.” Kat was not sure just how much she should believe about Mitch, though it is possible that his girlfriend might be the instigator and he just goes along with what she says. That, however, does not make him innocent.

Meanwhile, back at Mr. Tucker’s establishment. “You might want to get down here right away Mr. Tucker,” said Weller, “big trouble here.” Tucker was there quickly and he was furious when he discovered they had been robbed. It was okay for him to rob others, but it was an unforgiveable crime for someone to steal from him. Weller gave him the note which read, “Good morning Tucker, though I suppose you may not think so. I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for your donation to my Knight Riders organization. I do hope you have a wonderful day Tucker. Matt Knight.”

“Pete, find out all you can about this Matt Knight and the Knight Riders,” said Tucker, “too many new people showing up all at the same time. I just do not like that, too much of a coincidence. Weller, try to contact that Mandar guy and ask him to join me for breakfast.” “Shall do,” said Weller, and he called the hotel where Mandar said he would be staying. Mandar showed up within half and hour, with the same four people as yesterday, and his cat. “Do you always take your cat everywhere?” asked Tucker.

“Most certainly, my good man,” said Mandar, “where I go, she goes, or I go elsewhere. I have never been refused. Now, you must want something or you would not be inviting me to breakfast.” “Straight to the point,” smiled Tucker, “okay, someone robbed a good deal of money from me last night, and you mentioned this Kat woman likes to steal, do you think she could have done it?” “It might be possible,” said Mandar, “except she is not stupid, or foolish. You said she gave you a good deal of money yesterday to pay off a debt, well, to take it back the same night would make her a prime suspect, so it would be foolish of her to do it. I say she did not.”

“Okay, have you ever heard of someone named Matt Knight?” asked Tucker. “Of course,” said Mandar, “he is the leader of another motorcycle gang in Europe, a brutal and dangerous group of men! I mentioned that the Wildcats were annoying, but the Knight Riders, they are just plain dangerous and scared of nothing. However, they are a European gang, nothing for you to be concerned with.” Then Weller handed the note to Mandar who read it right away. Mandar slammed his fist on the table and turned red with anger.

“What is he doing here?!” he exclaimed, “I would love to get my hands on Matt Knight! But he always seems to go into hiding just as I close in on him, but one of these days I will find that rascal and I will crush him!” Then one of the young women that came with Mandar got up, came over and began to rub his neck and shoulders. “Now daddy,” she said, “calm down, he hasn’t done anything to you this time.” “Thank you my dear,” said Mandar, “you always know how to calm me down.” “That is why I’m here,” she said cheerfully and kept rubbing his shoulders.

“I would say that someone from your organization must have tipped off Knight about your money,” said Mandar, “how many people knew about it?” “Well, the six guards, Weller and myself,” said Tucker. “And perhaps Mitch, if he has been talking with his sister,” said Weller. “Now we have something,” said Mandar, “can you check that man’s bank account? Perhaps see if he has been paid any large sum of money in the last 2 or 3 days.” Tucker was on the phone right away.

“Molly, can you talk?” he asked. “Yes, I am on my break,” she said. “Can you check Mitch’s account and see if there is a large deposit in the last 3 days?” “Easy enough,” she said, “yes, just yesterday there was a deposit of $25,000.” “Thank you Molly,” he said. “Also, my girlfriend told me that Mitch is very interested in that old house that Sunrise inherited, seems he wants to get it from her, any way he can.” “Good girl Molly,” said Tucker, “see if you can find out why he wants that old place and I will have a nice bonus for you.” “I will do my best Mr. Tucker,” she said.

“Mitch deposited $25,000 yesterday,” said Tucker, “and he is overly interested in that old house.” “There is your main suspect,” said Mandar, “you might want to check on that old house too, there must be a reason for his interest in it. Now, I must go, I am already late for my business appointment in Miami. Good day gentlemen.” Mandar and friends then left.

“He is rather odd,” said Weller, “but Pete said the guy is worth tens of millions and has quite the organization of at least a hundred men at his disposal.” “Now that is interesting to know,” said Tucker, “now, get over and have a little talk with Mitch. I want some answers from him.” Just then Tucker’s phone rang. “Great, just what I need,” said Tucker, “good morning sir, how are things today…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.