Rock came out to the van and talked with Clarence again, then he turned to go back into the restaurant. Clarence turned around and said, “The color pink has been eliminated from our gang.” “Good,” said Alfred, “I prefer black anyway.” “You guys are talking in code, right?” asked Hope. “Well, you must remember,” said Alfred, “we are on opposite sides.”

“Yeah, that is true,” she replied, “but sometimes you guys do not seem to be such bad types. You are actually very nice.” “Thank you Hope,” said Alfred. “May I keep my head on your shoulder?” she asked. “Yes, that would be okay,” said Alfred, “especially since you asked so nicely.” Shortly after Mr. M and his men came back out and drove away.

“Now he looks like a scary man,” said Hope. Alfred and Clarence laughed. Then Uncle Matt came out with the others. “Um, what is going to happen with me now?” asked Hope nervously. “Your friends will be coming out in a minute,” said Uncle Matt, “we will make sure you get back to your friends safely.” “Thank you very much sir,” said Hope. Matt smiled.

“Everyone calls me Uncle Matt,” he said, “I would prefer that to sir.” “Okay Uncle Matt,” smiled Hope and she joined the other girls in the big truck and off they went back to the old house with Matt and team following behind them. Once back, Matt turned around and headed into town again, but they did not stop there. Instead, they kept going to the next town.

“Well, did those guys treat you okay?” I asked. “Yes, they were actually very nice,” said Hope, “especially Alfred, well, and another guy named Clarence. They both had families that were killed by gangs.” “Yes, that is true,” I said, at which point Jennifer gave me a little kick. Oops, have to be careful here. “How did you know that Steve?” asked Hope.

“Well, I like to know as much as possible about other groups or gangs,” I said, “lack of information can be costly.” “Oh, yeah, that makes sense,” she said, “um, I want to apologize too for the way I have been acting and trying to monopolize you and just generally acting like a foolish, stupid little girl. I apologize to you too Sky throwing myself at Steve like that.”

“Apology accepted,” I said smiling. “That goes for me too Hope,” said Sky, hugging Hope. Jennifer then gave me that ‘look’. Wow, just like the real Sky. So I went over and hugged Hope too. “Um, do you think it would be possible to, um, well, you know,” she began, “like, um, to maybe, if I might come back with you guys? I can do a lot of things to help out, cleaning, cooking, accounting…”

“You are an accountant?” asked Jennifer, “that is something we need.” “Do you know anything about guns?” I asked. “A little,” she said quietly. I took the clip out of my gun and tossed it to her. She began to tell everything about the gun including exact dimensions of every part. Then Aari tossed her his assault rifle and she did the same with that, then tossed it back.

“Can you shoot, reasonably straight?” I asked. “Reasonably,” she replied. We all went outside and I set up a target with some old plywood. “Um, that is too close Steve,” she said. I looked at her. Okay, let me see, since she is acting smart I will put it where we would normally put it for our target practice. I then returned and Candace gave her gun to Hope.

“I will put 6 bullets around the black spot in the center,” she said, and she shot, “now 4 in the center.” Amber ran to look and sure enough, Hope did what she said. “You have not been telling me everything,” I said and laughed. “I am a member at our local gun club,” she said, “I do not own a gun but I rent one there to use.” As we settled down for the night I lay there thinking about things.

There is a lot of interest in that stolen money and yet no one has found it after much searching. Yet they still keep looking. I would like to know more about this woman named Mike and why everyone is so scared of her. She must have a large gang, but where are they located and is she here now with her gang? Annelie then called and gave me information about Mike.

Apparently she is dangerous and is estimated to have at least 50 men in her gang, all hardened criminals. I am now hoping that she is not here. “Steve,” said Jennifer, “there is trouble near, we need to move fast!” I called everyone to get ready and we all went downstairs, cats first to check that no one had come inside. I put in an alarm call to Matt.

I then let the cats out through the secret door I had made for them. “We are in great danger Steve,” said Jennifer, “we cannot go out the front though!” “Then we go out the back,” I said. “No,” said Jennifer, “there is danger all around.” Now what? Next, flames began leaping up the back walls of the old house…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.