I had disappeared and Mac had been knocked out by some kind of drug mixture. While our team was talking about this there was a knock at the door and Kitty answered. Standing before her was a little boy who handed her an envelope and said it was for her. She took it from him and off he ran down the street. “A little boy handed me this envelope Kat,” said Kitty, “he said it was for us, there’s no name on it.” Kat took the envelope and opened it.

Inside was a note which read, “Hi to you Investigators! You think you’re so smart and can solve any crime or mystery, but let’s see you try and solve the mystery of the Little Haunted House. If you want your beloved leader back, you will need to solve the mystery and you don’t have much time. Very soon your leader will not recognize any of you, he will just be mine to use as I will.

The haunted house began with Charlie Little who had a daughter who wanted to slaughter, who had a daughter who tried to slaughter, who had a daughter who will succeed to slaughter. Okay pathetic Investigators, you have just 3 days to find your leader after which he will be forever mine.”

Kat was angry, as were the rest of the team with her. Kat then sent a copy of the note to Cristy and said to find out who that daughter is, and soon! Cristy was also angry when she read the note and she called Misty to her room at the clinic. Misty was more than angry, she screamed as loud as she could. “Pathetic are we?? We’ll show those people who is pathetic!!” said Misty, “You can do this Cristy, find that nasty woman!!” Then off she went to see Jennifer.

“Misty reporting for duty, leader Jennifer,” she said. “Misty,” said Jennifer. “Yes Jennifer?” asked Misty. “You’re saluting again,” said Jennifer. “Oh, right, forgot,” she said and slipped her hand down. “Now, I know you want to go…” began Jennifer, but was interrupted by Dawn. “Dawn reporting for duty, leader Jennifer,” she said. “Dawn,” said Jennifer. “Yes Jennifer?” she asked. “You’re saluting just like Misty,” she said. “Oh, yeah, I saw Misty do it so I thought that’s what we are supposed to do now,” said Dawn, then she slipped down her hand.

“Okay, both of you,” began Jennifer, “I know you want to go and help look for Steve. But it would take a day to get there and there is only 3 days to look for Steve. I want to go more than either of you, but someone needs to stay here also. The rest of the team can do just fine without us, I mean, would it really help if we were there?” “Wouldn’t hurt,” said Misty. “Might help,” said Dawn. “Okay, let’s sit down here,” said Jennifer and they did, one on each side of Jennifer.

She put her arms around them and said to breathe deeply, which they all did. “Do it again,” she said and they did. “Do it again,” she said and they did. “Now, once more,” she said, and they did. “Well, what are you sitting here for?” she asked, “Go have your teams ready in half an hour.” Misty and Dawn called their teams and said to be ready in half an hour to go look for Steve and the girls. Dawn then came back to Jennifer. “I need a name for my team,” she said, “don’t worry, we’ll get Steve back.” Then off she went.

The two teams were soon in the air flying over the ocean. After they were gone Sky appeared at the chateau with Kristina. She then took Jennifer back to our hotel with her. “I just knew you wouldn’t listen to me and stay home,” said Kat. “Would you be any different big sis?” asked Jennifer. Kat smiled. “Of course not,” she said, “and we are going to find Steve. First thing we need is to find out who this daughter is that was mentioned in the note.”

“I’m sure Cristy will have that information for us soon,” said Jennifer, “though it is possible she has changed her name. She could be married, or she might have deliberately changed her name to something else.” ‘Yes, and I’m thinking it might be this Phoenix Blackwood who owns the haunted house,” said Kat, “for now, at least, she is a good candidate. Sky and I went to check out her house, but it’s completely empty, so obviously it was just meant as a decoy for us.”

“Well, she must live somewhere in this town,” said Jennifer. “Maybe not,” said Angel, “she might live in the city since it’s not far from here, just a half hour drive.” “Hmm, yes, that would make things harder,” said Jennifer. Then she called Hannah and asked her to check for Phoenix or her boyfriend Zackary as possibly living in the city and also check for any police records for either of them and maybe other names they might have used in the past.

Meanwhile, “I thought those new listening devices would still work even if there was interference from something,” said Phoenix. “They are supposed to work,” said Colin, “but they might have something too strong blocking it.” “Useless. USELESS!” she screamed, “And what about Steve?” “He’s fighting strongly,” said Dr. Pointer, “it will probably take 5 days instead of 4 to control him.” “Their blocker is too strong,” she said, “Steve is too strong! Useless. USELESS!”

She then left the men and went to another room, stomping her feet as she went. As for me, I was lying down, my eyes were open but I could not see clearly. I tried talking, but nothing came out. I tried thinking. “Jennifer…need help…drugs…controlling.” Jennifer received the message as everyone was talking and she said to keep quiet.

“Steve just communicated with me,” she said excitedly, “it was weak, he was drugged, they are trying to control him, he needs help.” “Tell Steve to call Sky,” said Kat, “just tell him to say Sky, keep it simple for him to understand.” So that is what she did. I understood, but couldn’t say a word so I communicated with Sky, but that didn’t help. Sky communicated back and said to say Sky, even a whisper, but say Sky. I kept trying, but…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.