We all stopped as Storm stood there next to the house, looking underneath and growling. This part of the house had no basement, just a crawl space about 2 feet high. I called the rest of the team over to us. Meowr.=Me smell human people under here. There were rotted out broken areas all along this side and we were at one such spot.

It was obvious that something, or someone, used this spot to go in and out, though it was not too well worn, so it must be a secondary way of getting in and out. Before we thought it was just being used my animals of some kind. Could there be another entrance to the mine tunnels under there? I decided to send Storm, Rusty and Ginger underneath to look around before any of us went under.

Hope was rather nervous right now thinking we might all get shot. Ever since learning that Pinky and her family had all been killed, she really has become very nervous thinking she will be next. I tried to reassure her that we will protect her, but she reminded me Patty was killed out here even though we were protecting her too. I could not deny that, but we do have more people now which helps.

Anyway, the cats came back out and said they found a wood “door” laying on the ground. Aari, Ginnifer, Kera and Candace went underneath to investigate and used our powerful flashlights so they could see properly. Aari said it was definitely a door, and well used, but it was locked on the inside. At least we now know how they get in and out when they cannot use the basement entrance.

But how do we get inside without them knowing we are coming? Or how do we get them out? If we broke our way in they would be ready for us, so that would be suicide. So, the only thing we can do is wait for them to come out. I decided to call Uncle Matt and let him know of the new development, and he said they would look after things for us.

We had the basement door locked so they cannot get inside the house that way. That night, around midnight once again, our ghostly friends began their party again. These are sure noisy ghosts, not like our ghosts at all, and they likely started up their party again to keep us in our rooms, so we played along. Outside, 4 men came out from under the house.

They just got out and they stopped when they heard a strange noise. Suddenly the area was flooded with light from a flare that Rascal had shot from his backpack. The 4 Creepers were now surrounded by Uncle Matt and his boys. Miles crawled underneath with Rascal, opened the door on the ground, which had been left unlocked so they could get back inside more quickly.

Miles dropped an envelope inside and closed the door, crawling back out quickly. A man inside spotted in, saw that it was addressed to Bear and took it to him right away. Inside the envelope was a note which read; “Bear, we have your 4 Creeps, if you want them back then you and Buck meet me at the restaurant in town at 11am. You may bring 2 bodyguards with you. If you do not show, you will lose 4 more Creeps, how many can you afford to lose? Uncle Matt”.

“We cannot do that”, said Buck, “it is a trap!” “We have already lost 2 men,” said Bear, “if we lose 4 more that will leave us with only 6 men. You know he will kill those 4 if we do not show.” “We have the 2 cops as well,” said Buck, “we can set a trap for that Uncle Matt and be rid of him!” “Those 2 cops have already shown they are useless against Uncle Matt and his boys,” growled Bear, “they just laugh at them.

And we do not know how many men that Uncle Matt really has at his disposal. Those are tough, hardened criminals we are up against, it is just too risky to attack them, we will have to meet him. The fact he wants to meet at the restaurant shows he does not want trouble.” Then Buck filled him in on the other developments that happened while he was away. Bear said he had nothing to do with killing his family.

“I wanted to get away from that woman,” he said, “but I would never kill her and the kids. I bet it was Mike, she has been wanting a share of this deal and I kept telling her there was nothing to share. But she does not believe me.” “She is as dangerous as this Uncle Matt,” exclaimed Buck, “things just keep getting worse for us.”

Meanwhile, I called Annelie and asked her to check on something for me. “Go back a hundred years if necessary,” I said, “but check records for this whole area, and further afield if you have to, and get back to me as quickly as possible.” “You ask for a hundred years and you want quick,” she said, “what do you think I am?” “The best!” I told her. “Ha! Flattery does not work with me,” she said, chuckling, “by the way, all are safely tucked in for the night…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.