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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Phoenix was on her feet quickly after Dawn had knocked her down by kicking her back 3 times. However, Phoenix had gotten up with her side to Dawn, so Dawn quickly moved behind Phoenix and once again kicked her back, knocking her down and causing her to scream. But Phoenix bounced back onto her feet again, hitting Dawn, then kicking her stomach which knocked her to the ground. Then Phoenix kicked her stomach twice more! Then Kat appeared about 10 feet to the side of Phoenix.
“Phoenix, you pathetic bird!” yelled Kat, “Now you will feel the wrath of the Kat! I’m Kat and you will not like my wrath!” Then Kat split into two of her and said, “I’m Kat, you pathetic bird!” Then she split into three of her and all of them repeated, “I’m Kat, you pathetic bird, fight me if you dare!” “Good trick, but you Investigators are the pathetic ones,” screamed Phoenix, “and I am going to destroy you for killing my wonderful brother, Toledo!” “Actually Phoenix,” said Kat smiling, “it was me that killed Toledo and now it’s your turn.”
“You killed my Toledo?!” she asked, “For that you will die!” She then went after Kat hitting and kicking! But even though she did actually hit Kat, Kat still didn’t move, she just stood there smiling at Phoenix. “That’s impossible!” screamed Phoenix, “No one can just stand against my powerful kicks!” “That’s where you’re wrong,” said Kat, “now it’s my turn.” Then Kat began her kicking going right for the head of Phoenix, knocking her flat on her back.
But, Phoenix was back on her feet quickly and that’s when Kat 2, which was Jennifer, joined the fight. She, too, kicked Phoenix in the head, knocking her to the ground, groaning loudly. Just then everyone heard sirens and looked down the lane to see the police coming toward them. When Kat turned back to look at Phoenix, she was gone! She quickly ran to the front of the building but there was no sign of Phoenix anywhere. Unfortunately, all the team that was here had gathered to watch the fight, so no one was out front anymore.
The police had now stopped out back and had gotten out of their car. There were just 2 of them so Jennifer went over to talk with them. Jennifer asked if she could talk with the 2 of them alone, so they walked with her off to the side. That’s when Sky and Kitty came up behind the two officers and touched the back of their necks with their rings. The officers were soon asleep and the girls put them back into their car and put the 6 dead bodies of the gang members into their trunk, with their legs hanging out, and they tied the lid shut.
This drug we use for such times puts people to sleep but also makes them completely forget all that happened for the period of two hours prior to being put to sleep. “Hey, look what I found in the building,” said Misty, “a full bottle of whiskey.” “What are we going to do with that?” asked Dawn. Then they looked at each other and smiled. “What do you have there?” asked Jennifer. “We took their pants off,” said Dawn. “Looks better, since they have been drinking,” said Misty. Jennifer went to look.
“You two are bad,” she said, shaking her head. Everyone left and about an hour later more police arrived, including the chief. After some time they managed to wake up the original two officers and they had a rather hard time explaining what had happened, especially since they were slightly drunk and they couldn’t remember anything, not even why they came there in the first place. Meanwhile, “We checked the country house,” Aari told Kat, “but no one is out here. It definitely is Phoenix’s house though.” Kat told Aari to wait out there for a while just in case Phoenix, or any of her men, shows up.
Kat and the others then went back to the haunted house again. Some of the team had stayed over there and checked on that “door” that Muffin had found. “It’s not actually a door,” said Rock, “it’s more like a steel roof for an underground room.” “Well, we can’t dig it up,” said Kat, “so let’s go back inside and see what we can find.” “Hey Kat,” said Misty, “I found an old diary in that bookcase. It has some interesting things in it, like clues. Listen, ‘Hidden down beneath our feet is a place where ghosts do sleep. In a step there is a key which opens the way for you and me.’ What do you think?”
“I think it’s telling us how to get into that room down below,” said Kat, “check each step on that staircase and see if one of them opens.” About half way up the staircase Audrey noticed something, a wooden button, which she pushed and she heard a click sound. She then was able to lift the step and inside was a key. “Found it!” she exclaimed excitedly. But, what did the key fit? There was no door or lock into that room. “Got it!” said Misty, “Here’s another clue.
“Once you find the hidden key, keep it close and soon you will see, a lock in a book, but hard you must look.” Dawn and Misty looked at each other and started going through all the books on the bookcase. However, no lock was found, so they were somewhat dejected, sitting on the floor surrounded by the books. “Looking for this?” said Macy smiling. It was a metal book with the outline of a key on the “cover”. Dawn put the key flat on the outline and pushed. The key pressed into the book and it opened. Inside was an odd shaped piece of wood and nothing else, so Misty went back to her old diary for the next clue.
“A piece of wood you have found, it is not square or even round, put it in the rightful place, hurry now, above the face.” “Face? What face?” said Misty and Dawn at the same time, as they looked around. “Try that clock face next to you on the wall,” said Macy. Dawn put the piece of wood in the spot and there was a click and the clock moved. She then opened it all the way revealing an envelope. “Aha!” said Dawn holding up the envelope.
“Aha!” said Misty as she grabbed it from Dawn’s hand, holding it away from her. “Aha!” said Macy as she grabbed the envelope from Misty. She was about to run with it, but as she turned, Jennifer was standing there smiling and her hand was held out. “Rats!” said Macy, Misty and Dawn at the same time. Jennifer unfolded the paper that was in the envelope. “Well, well,” she said…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Aari and the Black Wolves had just finished attacking Phoenix’s house which was now completely engulfed in flames. Her men that had been in the house had come out shooting, but they didn’t hit any of the Wolves. The Wolves, on the other hand, were better shots and killed 8 of the 11 men that had been inside the house. Colin, one of the top men in the organization, and two other men with him, had surrendered to the Wolves and were brought over to Aari. “Who are you and what do you want with us?” asked Colin in a demanding tone. Aari gave him a hard backhanded slap, causing the man’s lip to bleed.
“I ask the questions,” said Aari firmly, “you answer them. That is how this works, unless you would prefer to join your dead friends. You killed my youngest sister Fridr and I want to know why you did that. Good thing I was already nearby when I got the word about her death.” “Look Mister,” said Colin, “I didn’t kill anyone, you have the wrong people. These guys were with me the whole time, so they, too, are innocent.” “Kind of strange,” said Aari, “but I never mentioned any timeline for Fridr’s death, so how do you know your friends were with you the whole time?
You work for that woman that calls herself Phoenix, when really it’s Rose Colman, so that makes you just as guilty as the one who actually shot Fridr. Now, you are going to start cooperating or my friend Bear will start having some fun with you. Do you understand that?” “Yeah, yeah,” he said sarcastically, “but I still don’t know anything, so you’re wasting your time. If she’s your sister, how come she’s a cop and you’re obviously not?” Aari slapped him again.
“I ask the questions, remember?” said Aari, “Okay, now, where is your boss? The one called Phoenix. I want her, and I’m keeping things simple for you to understand.” “Look Mister,” said Colin, “Phoenix would kill all of you before you could lay a hand on her. Do you understand?” Aari just nodded to his boys and they all pulled away from the house when they heard sirens blaring. However, they also took the three captives with them and went to a small park which was empty at the time. That’s when Bear and Oskar started to work on two of the men, while Burk was tasked with Colin.
After a while Bear brought his man over to Aari who was sitting on a bench watching things. “He wants to make a deal,” said Bear. “What kind of deal?” asked Aari. He motioned to Aari that he wanted to write something, so Aari gave him a note pad and pen. He wrote that each of them have a listening device on them, under their belt. Bear checked, and sure enough, there it was. He then dropped it on the sidewalk and stepped on it, crushing it to pieces. Oskar and Burk checked their men also and found the listening devices behind their belts as well, and they destroyed those also.
“Okay,” said the man, “Phoenix is at her country house. I’ll tell you where for my freedom and some money to get away from here.” Aari called Trapper over and asked for an envelope. “There’s $20,000 in here for you,” said Aari, “but if you cross me, I will hunt you down.” Aari then showed him the money and the man told Aari how to find the country house. “Remember, you better be telling the truth,” said Aari. “I am Mister,” he said, “just please let me get a head start if you plan on letting these guys go free.” Then Aari called Cal and told him to give this man a ride, which he did, taking him to the bus depot where he was able to get on a bus right away.
Then Cal returned to the others. Then Aari took out a gun and shot Colin and the other man. “Tie them up and put them in those bushes over there,” said Aari, “that way they can’t warn Phoenix in time.” Aari had just shot them with our dart guns, so the men are just asleep and will wake up in about three hours. But it will then take them a while to untie themselves too, giving our team lots of time to find Phoenix, hopefully, providing she is actually at her country house.
Meanwhile, “Well, what happened to the sound?” asked Phoenix, “Even our trackers on those men are not working! Useless! USELESS!” “They must have found the devices,” said Barry, “those people are not stupid and those Black Wolves sure found your house fast, they did better than the Investigators.” “I will deal with those Black Wolves too!” yelled Phoenix, “But those Investigators are first! They not only destroyed my nice house, but all of Dr. Pointer’s valuable instruments.”
“Well, I should be able to replace everything fairly quickly,” he said, “once we have another place for me to continue my valuable work to make you totally invincible, my dear Phoenix. And we shall accomplish that too and everyone will have to surrender to you.” “You are such a wonderful man, my dear Doctor!” she said, giving him a big hug. “Hey Phoenix!,” said Captain N as he came running into the room, “One of my contacts just informed me that there is some new activity at an old building on the other side of town.” “And what is so exciting about that news?” she asked sarcastically.
“He said the activity is several young women with guns,” said Captain N, “and he has never seen them around before. Maybe that’s where they are hiding Steve since they certainly haven’t taken him out of town yet.” “Now that makes sense!” exclaimed an excited Phoenix, “By hiding him in such a place, they wouldn’t even need to use many guards! We have him! Get some men together, call that gang “The Serpents” and get them to come along. I will have Steve back in my control very soon.” Then she began her weird laugh while rubbing her hands together.
“Barry, take Dr. Pointer back to the haunted house for safety,” said Phoenix, “we will join you there once I have Steve again.” “Right,” said Barry, “I will have him there in no time.” Phoenix went off to the building and waited for Captain N to show up. She didn’t have long to wait either and they met about 3 blocks from that old building. Then they split into 2 groups, one to come at the back, one at the front. Phoenix went with the group at the back since she figured if they were going to run, it would be out the back of the building, and she wanted to be ready to take me from them.
“Phoenix is with the group at the back,” Charlotte told Kat. Charlotte is one of our snipers. Emily, another sniper, was aimed at the group out front. “Don’t waste bullets on Phoenix,” said Kat, “try convincing the others it would be safer to go elsewhere.” “Shall do Kat,” said both girls. Suddenly one of the Serpents fell, then another, then another. The same thing was being repeated at the front of the building. That’s when the whole gang decided to get out of there, and quickly! “Cowards!” screamed Phoenix, “Useless! USELESS!” Then Sky appeared in front of Phoenix.
“Remember me you pathetic bird?” asked Sky, “It’s time for you and me to continue our fight, if you dare.” Phoenix began kicking Sky, but each kick went right through her. Then Sky began to kick and the fight was on, kicking, hitting, tossing each other around! Then Sky stepped aside while Phoenix kept her eyes on her. But suddenly Misty was kicking Phoenix and knocked her to the ground. Phoenix screamed and attacked again. Unfortunately Misty wore out quickly, but then Dawn kicked Phoenix in the back three times, knocking her down again…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 