Sky called me again wanting to talk. I decided to sit in my car where it would be safe to talk and asked Cynthia to come with me. I told Jennifer to stay on the steps to watch. Cynthia opened the door and looked inside, then suddenly shut the door, pushed me down and fell on top of me! There was a loud explosion! Someone had planted a bomb in my car, but how?

We have very secure locks on our vehicles. Jennifer came running over, as did Amber, Aasta and Kat. “You okay Steve?” asked Jennifer. “Yes, I am fine,” I said, “what about Cynthia?” “She will need new clothes, those are ripped apart badly,” said Aasta and she ran over to another car to get some. “My back feels like it is torn apart,” said Cynthia, trembling a bit.

“Just lie still,” said Kat, “while I put some of my special cream on those scratches. It will feel cool at first, but it will help, honest.” Kat began rubbing Cynthia’s back. Cynthia had some bad gashes on her back, not scratches, but Kat did not want to worry her. “It does feel cool, almost very cold,” said Cynthia, “but it feels better already.” “Just do not move around yet,” said Kat.

“But Steve, he is under me,” she said, worried that she would hurt me. “Steve is fine,” said Jennifer, “and he gives you something softer to lie on instead of that hard ground.” Sky was busy yelling at us to try and get someone’s attention. Finally I answered her. “What was that explosion?” she asked. “Someone put a bomb in my car,” I said, “but Cynthia spotted it and kept me safe. But she was hurt so Kat is putting some of her special cream on her cuts.”

Sky understood right away that we did not want to worry Cynthia. “Now, you will be fine,” said Kat, “but please do not move until Jennifer says it is okay. I need to get back to Muffin.” “Are you okay Steve?” asked Cynthia, “I mean, really?” “Yes, I am really okay,” I said, “do as Kat told you. Now Sky, what did you want to tell me?” “Guess who just got back from their leave?” she asked. I thought a moment, then remembered.

“Cal and Burk!” I said, “What perfect timing.” “That is what I told them,” said Kat, “Cal knows that Cramer Winhouse, he and Mr. B. are not exactly on good terms. Winhouse does have a large and wealthy organization, too much for us to handle on a straight on war. We will need to do some hit and run, or maybe just go straight for Winhouse, but that might be difficult, he is well guarded.”

“Hmm, I wonder if Mr. B could give us more info about that guy?” I asked, just kind of thinking out loud. “I will get in touch with him,” said Sky, “or I could maybe ask Cal to do that.” “Let me talk with Cal for a minute,” I said. We talked and Cal said he would be happy to call Mr. B. When Cynthia was ready to move we stood up and she changed her clothes. Then she stared at the chateau.

“Looking at something?” I asked. “Yep, look at the roof line there,” she said, “now come inside and look at a painting of this place done a hundred years ago.” We went in and looked, sure enough, the chateau had a new addition since that painting was done. “That means a secret door,” I said, “Cynthia, take Rock and the guys, help them find that door. Amber and Aasta will take your place until you return.”

She took the guys up to the third floor and found the door and how to open it very quickly. Rock then told her to come back to me, which she did. Inside that secret area the guys found Crystal, Roxette, Candace and Amandine. The 4 of them acted like they were terrified of our team, but once out Galyna gave them a needle as well to put them to sleep. Then Dawn yelled that vehicles were leaving.

We went outside and Catalina was all set to throw one of her bombs. I looked at that distance and knew she did not have a chance of hitting them. Her first throw landed just in front of the armored truck and exploded as it drove over the bomb, knocking the truck on its side. Then she threw another bomb which landed in the back of a jeep, exploding on impact, killing the 2 occupants.

Four men got out of the truck and began shooting, but our team easily eliminated them. Just then one of our helicopters landed in the yard and Kat took Muffin onto the chopper and off they went. We brought the thin man with us and I told Catalina to warm up this chateau, which she did, and it was soon burning very nicely.

“Winhouse will get you for that,” growled the man, “this was one of his favorite winter houses.” “Well, I think he might need to renovate the place now,” I said smiling. Then Galyna quickly gave him a needle so we would not need to listen to him all the way home. It was nice to see Cal and Burk again.

Cal filled me in on what Mr. B had told him about Winhouse. Sky had taken Cynthia away for a while and when they came back I could not believe the transformation. “Cynthia will have a new responsibility when you go to Miami,” said Sky…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.