When Burk had heard Carmen was apprehended and that she was alone, he frowned. “What is wrong Burk?” I asked. “It is about Carmen being alone,” he said, “she would not be alone, someone would go with her, it is part of her emergency escape plans.” “Maybe she had to change those plans at the last minute,” I suggested.

“Perhaps, but she has a rare blood type,” he said, “they should check her blood to make sure it is the real Carmen. She mentioned one time about making a double, but just laughed about it. That was 3 years ago and she said nothing more about that. Still, it would be best to check.” “I agree,” I said and got in touch with Rossana right away and she said they would check her out.

We are now back home and I am in bed, relaxing, just like Kat ordered me to do. Really, I am so stiff and sore that I could not do anything else anyway. Then Kerstina called. “Steve, that dead woman is not Sky,” she said, “her DNA does not match at all.” That means Sky is still with Carmen! I am sure that Carmen will use Sky as a shield if she ever gets cornered.

She might also want to put a high price on her head for me to pay for her safe return. But if I was able to pay, would Carmen really set Sky free? I think Carmen will never let Sky go free, after all, Sky is her ticket to freedom. Unless…I wonder if it would work? Just then the door to my bedroom opened and in walked Jennifer. She closed and locked the door.

“Locking the door?” I asked, “Why is that?” “I do not want us to be disturbed while we talk. We have some things that must be talked about.” I was lying on the bed so I told her to lie down beside me, which she did. “I assume that Dr. Kerstina called you about Sky,” she said. “Yes, she did,” I said, “so there is still a possibility of rescuing her, but it will have to be done carefully so others do not get killed trying to rescue Sky.”

“I agree, we need to have a well thought out plan,” she admitted, “now, do you know what Kat has been calling you lately?” “She calls me ‘my dear husband’,” I said, “why?” “Kat can do that, because she is your wife,” said Jennifer. “She was my wife, you mean,” I said, correcting her. “No, she is your wife, present tense,” said Jennifer, “but we will leave that for now.

I wish that I could call you ‘my dear husband’, but alas, I was only married to you for two weeks, and I hated it too. So foolish of me. I would like to have something I could call you, except just by your name like everyone else.” “Well, you could call me ‘dearest Steve’, ” I said, “Sky would be okay with that, and so would I.”

“I like that dearest Steve,” she said, “and now to the point of my visit. You cannot do what you are thinking, trading yourself for Sky. Do you not care about everyone else? I know how much you love Sky and you want her back, but would she like a trade where she never sees you again and that she would also know you are working for the enemy, voluntarily?

Think of your team and of Honey and Agata and their loss. Think about Kat, after you convinced her to stay with your team. Think about little Muffin who has been with you since the beginning.” “And what about you?” I asked. “I did not want to mention myself,” she said, “but yes, me as well.” “How did you know what I was thinking?” I asked. “I know you dearest Steve,” she said, “and we ghosts know things.”

“Providing you are a ghost,” I said smiling. “Do you remember while we were held by Christopher?” she asked. “Yes, of course,” I said, “my memory is not that bad.” “Hmm, sometimes I wonder,” she said, “you wanted me to make some promises to you. Have I broken any of those promises?” “No, not even one,” I said, frowning a bit. “You also made some promises to me,” she said, “have you kept your promises to me?”

“No, if I had, we would not be in this predicament now,” I admitted. “You wanted me as a counselor to you so Galyna could concentrate on the others,” she reminded me, “and now you plan on trading yourself for Sky, without saying anything. You are being very bad.” “You’re right, I’m sorry Jennifer,” I said, “it will not happen again. But how else can we get Sky back?”

“Careful planning,” she said smiling, “now listen to me.” I did listen but was not so sure it would be a good idea, however, perhaps we should try it anyway. “Annelie, how much money do we have left?” I asked. “Do you mean, ‘we’ or ‘you’?” she asked. “Let’s try for both,” I said. “About $5 million each way,” said Hope, “plus the remaining 20 million in our ransom fund.” I then held a meeting about using our funds for this plan.

Poor Baldwin, he always seems to be eating when I mention money, and he nearly chokes. Everyone voted in favor. “Okay, Annelie, get the word out there is $10 million for anyone who can tell us where to find Carmen,” I said, “I know this is unusual, but we need to work fast, someone must know where she is, or where she might be going.” “Right Steve,” she said, “I will do so immediately.”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.