“How come I never heard of you before?” asked Wickers. “Look me up, you can find me easily,” said Matt, “we mostly just travel around Europe, but when that PI heads over here I usually follow as there is often some profit in it for me somewhere. I hear that he is a bit angry right now, seems someone made the mistake of killing his wife, plus some kids he had been protecting.

Bad advertising for a PI when he loses his clients like that. I did rescue a baby from him though and brought her along with me. Hopefully, when I find the parents, I might get a reward.” “Where is the baby?” asked Wickers, “I am her father, and I will gladly reward you for returning her to me.” “In the van here,” said Matt, “my wife is looking after her.” She brought the baby to Wickers.

“That is my little Maggie,” he said quietly, “stop by at 11am and I will have another $300,000 for you.” “I will be here,” said Matt, then he and his men left. Wickers then went back to his office, quite happy that M was taken care of and that Matt and his gang were willing to help him out against us. Plus he got his baby back as well. He called one of his waitresses to come and look after the baby for him and then Ray came to see him.

“Take a look at who just came in,” he said, “alone and no weapons on him.” Wickers looked on his screen and smiled. “Well now, I never thought he would do something like that,” said Wickers, “tell him I will be right out.” I just sat waiting, it was only a few minutes and Wickers came out and sat down with me. “You are brave or foolish,” said Wickers, “I wonder which it is.”

“Probably neither one,” I said smiling, “but it did seem like a good way to get your attention. As you know, someone decided it would be a good idea to kill my wife. Personally, I think that was a foolish decision. I can take down your whole organization quite easily, I have the team to do it.” “You have 12 women on your team,” said Wickers, “not enough to take me.”

“I know,” I said, “you have the mayor over there, you have the police chief over at that table, I think most of the city counselors are in here tonight too, kind of odd, you must have a free giveaway of some kind tonight.” “I do have surprises for my customers now and then,” he said smiling. “I enjoy surprises too,” I said, “so I brought along some of my own for you.”

Then I said very loudly, “YOU MURDERED MY WIFE WICKERS!” It got very quiet suddenly. Then Jennifer appeared next to Wickers which made him jump a bit. “Sorry to startle you Wickers,” she said, “I thought murderers were more calm than that. You murdered me Wickers! And I will not let you forget it!” She then disappeared and reappeared sitting on the bar.

“Over here Wickers,” she said, “you are a murderer Wickers! You murdered me and I have come back to haunt you!” Ray was about to grab her but she disappeared again and reappeared standing on the other side of Wickers which really made him jump. “Yes, I am a ghost Wickers,” she said, “you cannot catch a ghost.” Then she laughed a hysterical kind of laugh.

Then someone else was laughing too and Mandy appeared standing on our table. “You murdered me too Wickers,” she said, “and buried me in that little cemetery behind the church, along with your stolen gold and jewels. But I am a ghost now too and I also will haunt you Wickers!” “Get that kid!” yelled Wickers, and 4 of his men tried to grab her but she disappeared and reappeared standing on the mayor’s table which made him jump, spilling his drink all over himself.

“He murdered me Mayor,” said Mandy, “and you know all about it. You knew he used me in his porn videos starting when I was 12 years old and continuing for 3 years!” She then disappeared again when Wicker’s men got too close and Jennifer appeared, kicking two of the men knocking them to the floor. Then she disappeared again and reappeared next to me.

“You cannot catch a ghost,” she said to Wickers, “nor can you kill a ghost, because we are already dead!” Mandy then reappeared standing on our table laughing loudly. “You killed me Wickers,” she said, “you killed my mother first, 3 years ago, then you took me to work for you in your pornography and sex trade. You are an evil man Wickers, so is the mayor and the police chief and any other officials in this city.”

Wickers was so mad now that he tried himself to grab Mandy, but she disappeared just in time and Jennifer appeared giving Wickers a good kick to his stomach and he fell to the floor groaning. Mandy’s laugh then filled the room once more, then all was quiet.

I got up to leave. “Do not try to stop me from leaving,” I said, “it will not be possible.” I then walked out with 2 of Wicker’s men trying, unsuccessfully, to shoot me. For some reason their guns would not work…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.