“You are a good security man Bouncer,” I said, “I was glad to have you on our team, especially since you were Rock’s brother. You must have been paid a lot to betray your own brother like that, and us as well. You were on those missing portions, caught fooling with our security system, hoping that would lead to my death. It did not work though.” 

He was planning to jump through the big window, forgetting that it is bullet proof glass, but Rock grabbed him and the fight was on. Bouncer is actually just a bit bigger than Rock even though he is younger, but I am sure that Rock is stronger. However, Bouncer was getting the best of Rock. I am sure Rock was not trying as hard as he could, it had to be difficult for him to fight his younger brother like that, knowing he had betrayed us. 

Those two were quite close while they were growing up. It was hard for me to watch. Finally Bouncer smashed Rock’s head against Baldwin’s big oak desk, and Rock was down. ”Take him Kat,” I said. ”With pleasure Steve,” she said. I could tell she was burning with anger right now, I have seen that look in her before, years ago. 

But the cats were afraid for their human ghost Kat, and they positioned themselves in different parts of the room, all 8 of them. Suddenly those slingshots were in motion, just as Bouncer was ready to grab Kat. One by one those steel balls hit his head, his legs crumpled and he fell to the floor, dead. Unfortunately Tandi is not as accurate as the other cats and her ball hit Bouncer’s shoulder and it ricocheted right at me. 

The speed it was coming could still have killed me had it hit my head, but Aasta spotted it and jumped in the way just in time. Her lifeless body fell limp to the floor. Poor Sky, she screamed and bent over Aasta, crying hard. ”Please, don’t die Aasta,” she pleaded, “I need you, please fight, please!” I know why Sky was having such a particularly bad time with this. She is thinking about how badly she was teasing Aasta just a short time ago. I picked up Aasta and carried her out to a car which Mac had gotten ready. 

He moves fast when he wants to. Kat and Dawn came along too. Amber, Galyna, Crystal, and Kristina took Sky in another car and followed us to the clinic. I did not hold out much hope for Aasta though, but I sure prayed she would live. It seemed to take hours to get to the clinic, even though it is only about 15 minutes and Mac told me after that he got us there in just 7 minutes. I did not know he could drive like that. 

He was going to take Aasta from me, but I said no. The others surrounded me as I carried Aasta in to Dr. Kerstina and Li Jing. No one said anything except to tell the doctors what had happened. An emergency operation was in progress right away. Annelie had already called ahead so they had everything ready by the time we arrived. Sky and myself sat together in the waiting room, I am not sure which of us was crying the most. 

I was already thinking to myself that if Aasta dies, I would shut down The Investigators. Then I would spend whatever time it took to track down this enemy of ours who had dared to come into our midst to cause death and misery to us all. Aari arrived in a few minutes with Alfred, John and Clarence. He had already lost his wife, a daughter and a son. He still has two sons who have followed a criminal path. 

Aasta is his youngest child, just 18, and the only one of his children who wanted to stay on the right side of the law and join our team. Aari was so happy about that. He came over and sat beside me. ”No matter what happens Steve,” he said, “I am so glad she joined your team and that you were willing to help her like you did. She always looked up to you as her hero.” He then broke down crying. 

I sure do not feel much like a hero right now. Her big hero forced her to give up her life, just so I could live a bit longer. Who came up with that stupidity? Me, that’s who. I owe Candace an apology. She was right. I am a stupid fool. Maybe I should have all the girls come up to me each day for a month and say “You are a stupid fool, Steve.” 

Instead of saying “I love you Steve.” How can they love me when I use them to shield me? How can I say I love them when I do such things to them? Major will likely think… Major. That is it! That is who has the patience and money to infiltrate Baldwin Corp., and The Investigators, a plan that also requires intelligence and planning. I should have thought about that before… 

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.