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The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 5. Packing Up.
After breakfast Kat, Rock, Misty and her team went over to Henderson Collectors Company to see about getting all of Jenna’s furniture and other belongings back. They arrived bright and early asking the man at the desk to see the owner, Chuck Henderson. The man didn’t even look up from his computer, he just said, “He’s busy, come back tomorrow.” Rock picked up his monitor and slammed it face down on the man’s desk. “What do you think…” the man began to yell, until he saw the size of Rock standing in front of him. “Um, what was it you wanted?” he asked.
“We want to see your boss,” repeated Kat, “and we want to see him now. Where is his office?” “I’ll call to see if he can see you now,” said the man. Rock reached across the desk, grabbing the man and bringing him around to their side. “Show us the way,” said Rock firmly in his deep voice. “Um, yeah, sure, right away sir,” he said, “it’s right up these stairs, first door on the left.” “Lead the way mister,” said Rock. “Oh, yeah, okay,” he said nervously and off they went. “Oh, his door is locked,” said the man, “that means he doesn’t want to be disturbed.” Rock picked up the man and kicked the door open and in they all went.
“What is going on here!” shouted Chuck, “Get out now or I will call the police!” “You sit down over there,” Rock told the man he was holding, then he pushed him onto a chair. “We have some business to talk about,” said Kat, “and you will listen. My name is Kat and I’m Jenna Cooper’s cousin from Canada. I heard she was having some trouble, so I’m here to help her out and I brought a few friends with me. Now, you took all of her furniture and other belongings and I want them back, right now, and you better still have every last item you took or you will pay the full price for anything that is missing. Do you understand that?”
“Um, yes, but, it was taken to pay off a debt that Mrs. Cooper had with a man named Philip Dancer,” he said nervously, “so you will have to talk with him before I can release anything to you.” “Do you still have everything?” asked Kat. “Uh, yes, we do, right Merv?” he asked the other man. “Yep, it’s all in building number 4,” he replied. “Did you get that Misty?” asked Kat. “Yep, backing up right now,” she answered. “Now, get your men over to building 4 and start loading our trucks,” said Kat.
“Now see here lady,” said Chuck angrily, “I told you what to do, you will get nothing until then!” Rock reached over and dragged Chuck across his desk and held him up so they could see face to face. “I don’t like the way you talked to my wife,” he said frowning at Chuck, “now, get your men over to that building, we are taking everything that belongs to Jenna, and we’re taking it now!” Rock and Kat took the 2 men out to that building and they called several other men to come over and help. Jenna had a lot of furniture in that old house, plus other things. Good thing the girls had brought 3 big trucks with them.
“I think we should have brought those big, huge moving trucks,” said Misty, “might not get everything in these trucks.” “Well, Mr. Henderson has a big truck over there he will lend us if we need it,” said Kat. “Mr. Dancer isn’t going to like this,” said a very tired Chuck. Rock had pitched in to help so things would move along a little faster since not many men were at work today. Apparently when they picked up the stuff Dancer had sent some men along to help. Fortunately they managed to get everything on the three trucks and off they went. That’s when Henderson called Dancer to tell him the news.
“Great, that’s just great!” he exclaimed, “Jenna has some rich cousin to come and help her with a bunch of her friends. It must have been some of those friends that took Jenna away from here yesterday.” “They actually got away with Jenna?” asked Henderson, “I never thought that would be possible.” “Neither did I, but they did it,” he replied, “and the main woman was an amazing fighter too, she took down big Ben with one kick!” Chuck then told Dancer about Rock. “He could easily take big Ben,” said Chuck, “his strength is amazing. Even his wife was carrying things that it took 2 men to carry out of that house!”
“Maybe it’s the same woman that was here,” said Dancer, “I don’t like this at all.” “Maybe you should call the big man,” suggested Chuck. “Oh sure, and tell him we lost Jenna and all the stuff we took out of that house?” asked Dancer, “I’m not that crazy! We’ll handle this ourselves. I will make Jenna’s cousin regret coming here to help!” While the others were outside loading the trucks, Kitty had come inside the office and planted a few listening devices around, including in Henderson’s desk phone.
Fortunately that is the one he used to call Dancer, so we could hear both sides of the conversation very clearly. That meant our team was warned that Dancer was going to try something, and likely soon, so the girls and Rock would be ready. Misty and her team parked the trucks and went back to their hotel for the night, planning to return in the morning…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 4. Your Heart.
While everyone’s attention was on the reunion of Jenna and Roxie, I called Sky back home to pick up Kat and bring her back there to help out. She will be pretending to be Jenna’s cousin from Canada who decided to come and help cousin Jenna when she heard of all her problems. Some things are not adding up quite right and it seems there are several people in this game that are interested in Jenna. Do they all work together or are they working on their own? Why are they so interested in Jenna? Or is it the house they want? How did Jenna’s parents and her husband die?
“Jenna, I would like to suggest that you and Roxie come here where you will be safe,” I said, “that way no one will know where you are. My team can work on that end to find out what is going on and deal with it.” “I was going to ask if Roxie could go live with you for now,” said Jenna, “so that she will be safe and I won’t have to worry about her. But I want to stay here. I don’t like to run and I’m not afraid for myself.” “No Mommy, I want to be with you!” said Roxie, “I’m scared when you are not with me.”
“Well Roxie,” I said, “I have a 5 year old daughter who would love to meet you and have someone her age to play with. And we have lots of cats here too. Blackie could come with you as well.” “You have lots of cats?” she asked, “Like, lots and lots of cats?” “Yes, lots and lots of cats,” I said, “and they have a huge playroom that is built for cats and kids. You and Blackie would love it here, and Mommy could talk to you every day.” “Can she talk to me 2 times a day?” she asked. “Yes, 2 times a day,” I said, “even three times a day if you want.” “Can we think about it?” asked Jenna.
“Sure thing,” I said, “we can even leave it the way it is for now, but if it gets too dangerous, then please seriously consider my suggestion. We don’t want either of you being killed.” I then asked how her parents died. She said it was rather odd as her Dad had called the evening before and asked if they could all go out for breakfast the next morning and talk about something important. So they arranged to meet at their favorite restaurant the next morning at 8am.
Jenna’s husband, Mark, had to be at work by 10am, so this would give them lots of time to talk. Jenna thought it was a bit odd since her Dad didn’t seem to be his usual casual self, he seemed to be a bit tense. However, they never arrived for breakfast so Jenna phoned but there was no answer. That got her worried so they went over to the house right away and found them both in bed and they were dead. The coroner’s report was inconclusive as to the cause of death so she has no idea how they died.
She does know that both of them had complete checkups just a month before and they had no health problems at all. I asked Akila to check for that coroner’s report right away, and also the complete health information from their doctor. After the funeral Mark, Jenna and Roxie moved into the house. Then before Mark died in the accident he was quite agitated for about 3 weeks. Apparently a load of plywood fell off a forklift and killed him. Only Mark and the forklift operator were in the warehouse at the time of the accident.
The coroner had told Jenna that Mark was dead before the plywood hit him, but that is not what the final report said. I told this to Akila so she will be checking that report as well. Something is definitely going on. These sound like murders that have been covered up. It was the same coroner in each case so we need to talk with him, and soon, before something happens to him. Jenna did say that years ago her Dad had told her there is a secret in that old house and the secret was in her heart. He only said that on one occasion, but he was very serious at the time and told her to remember what he said.
But, she doesn’t know what he meant by “the secret is in your heart”. To her it made no sense since she can’t think of anything he told her that could possibly have any meaning to it. I asked her to try and remember something, anything, from that time and maybe up to 2 months prior to that time. There must be an important secret about that house that she knows about that her father told her. That’s why Dancer and others want her, they want that secret, whatever it is. It must be something that has value to it.
I told her that she and Roxie are not safe until we can find out the secret of that old house. The night passed quietly for our team at the old house with the ghosts and cats watching all night so the others could sleep. Sky had taken Kat over to the hotel to be with Misty and her team. After breakfast they will be checking that collection company and demanding some answers. Sky brought Rock along too, he will be playing the part of Kat’s “husband”. That should be quite interesting…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
