Well, another night, another day. Wearing a surgical mask and dark glasses seems to be working. Sky can look at me this way without getting angry. But how long will I need to do this? Honey will be okay but she will be in the clinic for some time yet. Kerstina told Sky what happened, so she knows about Agata’s death too.

It was not easy for her, but Kerstina felt it would be better for her to find out now, rather than to try and explain later why she had not been told. That in itself would have made Sky very angry. Carmen must have known about Sky’s temper and capitalized on it. There are 5 different drugs in that mixture that was used on Sky, powerful drugs, but one of the 5 remains unknown and it seems to be a key drug.

But what is it? Without knowing, an antidote cannot be made. I spend the day with Sky but go back home at night, it is better for both of us according to Kerstina and Galyna, so that we can relax for a while. No one on the team knows that I am no longer a team member. Mr. B put me down as permanent inactive, which just simply means I am out since my present mental health status is such that I am a danger to the team.

I could be voted back in at some point once that changes, but I would be just a team member, not the team leader. After supper Beryan was massaging my back in my bedroom, Kat and Jennifer were there as well, reading. Then Galyna came to the room so I said she could come in. “You want to talk Steve?” she asked. “Um, actually, it was me that wanted to talk,” said Jennifer, “we can go into the next bedroom here.”

“Fine,” said Galyna. “Kat, is there something I should know about?” I asked. “Jennifer has said nothing to me, my dear husband,” she replied. After a little while Galyna and Jennifer came out. “I had nothing to do with this Steve,” said Galyna, “I suggested recovery, not kicking you off the team. And I will be talking with Mr. B about this.”

“That is not…”, was as far as I got. “Steve, I will do what I think best,” she said, “and my advice was obviously not taken into consideration. It is my duty to question why this was done.” She then left. “Steve, you just got more tense than ever,” said Beryan, “you need to relax more.” “Please do not mention that to anyone,” I said, “or you will not be allowed to massage me anymore.”

Oddly, that seemed to get her quite upset. Jennifer just discovered this from Annelie, even Kat did not know until now. “You will not spread this around to the other girls, please,” I said, “or to Sky.” Beryan left a while later and went to her room which she was sharing with Aoife. Catalina, Cinnamon and Aasta were visiting with them. Another knock at the door and this time it was Mac.

I said he could come in. He came over to me and dropped 5 shell casings into my hands. “I found the spot,” he said, “two people were there, one was a woman, the shooter was a man. He had a good view of the pool where Honey and Agata were sitting. There were 10 other girls out there at the time. Honey and Agata were targeted, no doubt about that.”

“And the woman was Carmen,” I said, “you will need to tell this to Rock since he is team leader now.” “Steve has been kicked off the team,” said Kat casually. Mac just stared at her, then at me. “That true?” he asked. “Well, kind of a harsh way of saying it,” I said, “but yes, it is true. Apparently my mental health status is too unreliable.” “That is not right,” he said, “I would still work under you right now, you have my full trust.”

“Thanks Mac,” I said, “much appreciated.” He then left and I called Mr. B, the other one, not ours. I let him know what we found out. “Well, well, so Carmen is still in the area,” he said, “I am on my way, just about an hour out, so I will check into this. She just might still be in the area. I wonder how many Carmen’s are around?”

“Hopefully we are down to the real one now,” I said. I was just getting ready for bed when Annelie called and said there was a phone call for me about the reward and he would only talk to me. “Hi Steve,” he began, “you do not know me, but I know you well. I worked for Carmen 8 years, I developed that drug she used on your wife. You will never figure out that drug because of one drug used in that mixture which is found in only one place in the world.

I can give you that formula, and the antidote for it, but I need money to get away from Carmen. I can also tell you where to find her. Deal or not?” “Deal, if you are telling the truth,” I said, “but I will need to know where to send the money, I cannot carry it around. I will also need to check the information first, I am sure you understand.” “Okay, fine with me,” he said…

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.