Kendra was still curious about us, more so because no one used my name, though I did introduce Jennifer. We don’t have Jennifer, Kat or Angel on our official PI website anymore, since they are supposed to be dead. Kendra decided to call the police and put them onto Kat and her Wildcats, mainly to see if she can find out more information about me and the girls, and hopefully Matt, since I obviously knew him. So, the police showed up while Kat and her Wildcats were still eating breakfast.

All of them were there now since the restaurant was nearly empty at this time. “Daddy,” said Kat phoning me, “some policeman is here asking me lots of questions and I’m getting all confused.” “Tell the nice policeman I will be right down,” I said. “Okay Daddy, thank you!” she said excitedly. I came down right away and asked to talk with the captain away from the girls. I explained things to him and he understood and he thought I was so nice in taking such a large group of such girls on a major vacation like this.

I told him they are generally very good and obey me well. He asked about Matt so I told him what I knew. The captain called Kendra and told her there was no way those girls could have killed Eddie and his friends. They were all big men and each had broken necks and brain hemorrhaging. He told her about Matt Knight but said no one like him was in town right now, but if they did the killing then they likely left in a hurry afterward. Tony, Kendra’s main man, looked up the Knight Riders right away.

“Whoa, look at those guys,” he said, “those are big boys, tough characters, all have spent time in prison. I wouldn’t want to meet up with those guys, even with a gun.” “They could easily have killed Eddie and his friends,” added Kendra, “but I think they are still around the area!. They would be just the type Mandar would hire to get his kids back. Men like that certainly wouldn’t be scared to do any job.” “Yeah, that’s for sure,” said Tony, “he probably just had those girls look around for Eddie so he and his men would not be noticed ahead of time.”

“Now that makes more sense,” said Kendra. Just then Jimmy and TJ came into the living room. “What are you two doing out here?” screamed Kendra, and she quickly closed the drapes, “Don’t you realize that someone could be watching this house? And it wouldn’t look good to see you two walking around freely! That might get them suspicious!” “I doubt they are watching the house,” said Jimmy, “and I don’t care if they are, it won’t change anything.”

“Maybe Kendra is right Jimmy,” said TJ, sounding nervous, “let’s go back upstairs, okay?” “No, I am staying here,” he said firmly, “I feel claustrophobic in that little room upstairs, I need to breathe. I really want to go outside and walk around in the fresh air.” “No Jimmy, we can’t do that!” she exclaimed, “I just don’t like this whole thing, why did mom have to get killed anyway?” “It had to look realistic sis,” he said shaking his head, “you agreed to this whole thing.” “Not to having mom get killed!” she exclaimed again, “You never told me about that part.” She started to cry.

“Oh, not again,” said Jimmy, “all she does is cry, cry, cry. That’s another reason I needed to get out of that room!” “We should have left her behind,” said Kendra, “we likely didn’t need her anyway.” “Or you could have killed her too,” said Jimmy, “kill her now if you want, makes no difference to me, I never did like her anyway, she always wants to act like a girl.” “Well, what do you expect Jimmy,” she said, “I am a girl.” “We can’t kill her now,” said Kendra, “your dad is expecting both of you, if he doesn’t get both of you then we won’t live long enough to enjoy that money we get.

He will likely hire those Knight Riders to track us down and they won’t be too gentle when they catch up with us!” “Will you please stop calling Mandar ‘dad’,” said Jimmy, “I hate him almost as much as I hated mom. But at least Mandar had money. By they way, I think you should contact Mandar and tell him you decided to increase the ransom to one billion for each of us. He can certainly afford it, he wouldn’t even know it was missing.” “Hmm, I like that idea,” said Kendra, “okay Tony, get in touch with Mandar and let him know about the change, and tell him he only has four days left.”

“Right, I will head into town and get that done,” he said, and off he went. “Why can’t he do it from here?” asked Jimmy. “Mandar just might be able to track us down too easily that way,” she said, “this way he only knows the general area, especially now that Eddie is dead and his man didn’t pick up the photos, so we are still somewhat safe. But once we have that money, we are out of this place for good.” A little later. “A man named Tony should be arriving in town shortly Steve,” said Jennifer, “and this is what he looks like, and what he is driving.”

Two pictures show up on my phone. I show them to Kat. “Pick him up for me please,” I said, “and bring him to me, alive preferably. However, if he is resistant, then eliminate him.” “Right Daddy,” she said, smiling. We all laugh. “Dawn, you make sure Steve is safe,” said Kat, “he is your responsibility now.” “Got it Kat,” she said. Dawn, Aasta, Melanie, Melissa, Sabina and Cynthia were in the room with me, plus several cats. Jennifer arrived shortly anyway and came into the room.

“I have some interesting news, Steve,” she said, “this is not a kidnapping case at all, it is just a sham. Those two kids are in on it, actually, the boy, Jimmy, is the one who planned the whole thing, including the killing of their mother. Although it seems the girl wasn’t involved, she just kind of went along with things. I think she was too scared to say no or maybe she would end up dead too, and apparently, she would have been right about that. She’s just caught in a trap and she is scared, very scared.” “Hmm, I actually was thinking this might be possible,” I said, “the whole thing seemed too planned, from the inside.

I will have Kat protect TJ, and I do not want Kendra to escape, so we will make sure…” I got no further and Jennifer interrupted me. “What do you mean, ‘we’, Steve?” she asked, “We do not need to go along, Kat has enough girls to do the job and if she wants more help then that is why we have Matt and his Riders here, remember?” “Yes, I realize that,” I said, “but surely you don’t expect me to stay sitting here while the others go into the danger zone.”

She just looked at me. So did all the other girls. “Jennifer is right Steve,” said Dawn, “we have been doing our part, now it’s time for their part. Remember, you are still officially on Recovery.” “Okay, you girls win,” I said, “we stay behind and make sure no one goes out there to help them.” “That’s better,” said Dawn, “and I will sit on you, if I have to, so you don’t go anywhere.” She was smiling when she said it. Soon Kat returned with Tony, slightly unconscious…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.