Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 3. Rescued.
Angel had hitched a ride with Arnold and Malvina back to Dancer’s Club where she found Jenna working as a dancer. That made Angel quite angry with those two kidnappers but fortunately she was able to convince Jenna to trust her enough to come with her. Angel could have made Jenna invisible by holding her hand, but with such a large crowd watching she thought that might not be such a good idea. We don’t like the ghosts showing off their abilities unless necessary. However, just holding Jenna’s hand will keep her safe from being shot or hurt in any way.
Jenna was scared, until she saw how easily Angel handled the one big security guard with a single kick. However, when another guard pulled a gun on her Jenna was scared once again. Angel just sighed. “These guys think that a gun settles everything,” she said to Jenna, “but something like that just gets me more angry.” Suddenly the man yelled and dropped his gun because it was too hot for him to hold! Then Angel kicked him sending him backward about 10 feet and knocking over 3 other people in the process. “My, but he is clumsy,” said Angel, shaking her head.
Then Jenna screamed as another man grabbed her arm. Angel turned quickly and grabbed the man’s wrist, telling him to let go. Finally it was his turn to scream as Angel applied pressure to his wrist which she then broke. Then she twisted his arm once he let go of Jenna and there were two large cracks heard. Then she threw the man over the bar and he crashed against a bunch of glasses. She had to do this with one hand since she couldn’t let go of Jenna, however, Angel is quite capable of such things.
“Amerie, are you out there yet?” asked Angel. Jenna was wondering who Angel was talking with since no one else was around. “Do you need some help Angel?” asked Amerie. “No, we’re heading for the door now,” she replied, “hmm, guess we might, the security personnel are blocking the door.” Some of the Bad Girls got out of the vans and headed for the doors pushing their way in and clearing a path for Angel and Jenna. Angel could have handled them, but she thought it would be better to involve the others right now. After Angel and Jenna were outside they ran for the first of the two vans and jumped in.
The rest of the girls were right behind them and once in the vans they drove off quickly going back to the Balding House. “Sorry I’m not dressed very well,” Jenna apologized, “but this is what I have to wear when dancing, if it can be called dancing. I have clothes at home to change into.” “I’m sorry to tell you this,” said Angel, “but a collection agency took absolutely everything from your house. But at least Roxie is safe, and her cat Blackie.” “I, I, don’t know how to thank you women,” said Jenna, “who are you anyway?”
“Don’t you remember leaving the phone number for the Investigators with Roxie?” asked Angel. “She actually called you?!” asked a surprised Jenna, “That is so fantastic!” Then she stopped and looked worriedly at Angel. “But, I have no money to pay you,” she said, “I was just hoping that maybe you would look after Roxie for me.” “Don’t worry about minor details like that right now,” said Angel, “we have a financial backer that helps out in times like this. Reuniting you and Roxie is more important than money anyway.”
At that point they were back home again and there was a very tearful reunion between Jenna and Roxie once they got inside. After things settled down it was time for me to enter the conversation. The girls had gone to the stores and picked up some folding chairs, camp cots, air mattresses, blankets and other things they needed. “Hi Jenna,” I began, “this is Steve, I hope you are okay.” “Yes, now that I’m back with Roxie I feel so much better,” she said, “but I still don’t know what is going to happen to us.” “Well, don’t worry about that right now,” I said, “do you have any idea which collection agency would have taken all your belongings?”
“Yes, a man named Chuck Henderson,” she said, “he owns Henderson Collectors Company which in turn is owned by Philip Dancer from the Dancer’s Club.” “Hmm, that is interesting,” I said, “do you know why they are so interested in you, besides being a beautiful woman. They were also looking for Roxie and Arnold Clark said he owned your house.” “I own my house,” said Jenna firmly, “it was left to me when my parents died 3 years ago so we moved in here right away instead of renting an apartment.
After my husband died a year ago then Dancer tried getting my attention. When that failed then he tried different ways to intimidate me with kids throwing rocks at my house and breaking windows, to burning down my garage, getting me fired from my job as a massage therapist. He even got child welfare involved for not looking after Roxie properly, which is not true. That’s why the police were here, they want to take Roxie away from me.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I told her, “no one is taking Roxie away from her mother again. The girls will make sure of that. And your new ‘cousin’ will get your belongings back tomorrow if that company still has them.” “I have a new cousin?” asked Jenna. “That’s what she will pretend to be,” I told her, “it always works better that way and it makes people nervous when a family member shows up to help out. Her name is Kat and she knows how to deal with people. But, I would like to make a suggestion…”
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Balding House. Chapter 2. Arnold.
The rest of the Bad Girls team arrived around 8pm in 3 vans. Misty and her team are staying in a hotel on the other side of the city, so hopefully they won’t be recognized as being together. Not that it really matters, but it’s still our normal practice these days to have a backup team. I didn’t tell the girls yet, but the Black Wolves are also nearby. Something about this case smells of a larger criminal presence and I don’t want to take chances. Sky already knows that if things turn ugly she is to bring Roxie and her cat here for safety. I really hope that Roxie’s mother, Jenna, is still alive.
Apparently Jenna left our phone number with Roxie, just in case she didn’t get home as expected. I was wondering how she managed to find out about us. The electricity had also been turned off at the house, but we solved that problem easily and the electricity is back on once again. Anyway, shortly after the Bad Girls arrived, someone else arrived too. It was Arnold Clark and Malvina Morgan, who interestingly enough, had a key to the house. Our girls have keys to the many locks in the house that Roxie had in her possession.
“I wonder why all these vans are here?” asked Arnold. “Obviously some local young people are using the house for a party,” replied Malvina, “and I thought you had the electricity turned off?” “I did,” he answered, “I have no idea why it is working again. Anyway, these kids will regret using our house for their party.” “Take it easy Arnold,” she said, “we don’t want any of them getting hurt.” “They won’t get hurt if they leave peacefully,” he growled, as he took out his gun, “I hope you have yours too.” “Yes, I do,” she said, holding it in her hand. They went up to the door and found it locked, so Arnold used his key to let them in.
The girls had already seen them arrive, so they were ready to welcome their unwelcome guests! The two opened the door and came inside and were quite surprised to find out that all were women. Then the door slammed behind them! Malvina was punched in the stomach and tossed against the wall while Arnold was kicked in the stomach and thrown to the floor, hard. The girls quickly retrieved the guns and Sky took the keys from Arnold. “Well, well,” she said, “and how did you get a key to my friend’s house?”
“This is my house!” shouted Arnold, “I order all of you to leave!” That got all the girls laughing. Arnold tried to get up but Sky stepped on one of his hands causing him to squirm in pain. “You know, it is quite legal to shoot intruders,” said Sky, “maybe we should shoot you.” “This is my house!” he said again. “This house is owned by my friend Jenna Cooper,” said Sky firmly, “and you are in her house illegally.” “She sold the house to me you idiot!” he yelled, “Now let me up before I have you all arrested!”
Sky then let him get up, but she then took his house key and, holding it between two fingers, she flattened it completely. The look on Arnold’s face was priceless! Then she gave it back to him. “If you want to come back here,” said Sky, “then you will need proof that you own this house, but I have the original deed to the property so you have nothing. Bring Jenna back here and she can tell me herself that you own the house, then I will let you have it. But if you try to have us arrested then you will find yourself in jail for kidnapping of Jenna and torturing her daughter, plus a few other things. Now leave before I change my mind and have you shot for trespassing.”
Arnold and Malvina decided it was in their best interest to leave, and quickly too. Now, what they didn’t know was that Angel had hitched a ride with them, invisibly of course, hoping to find out where they live, or work. We all figure that they have Jenna hidden with them somewhere, so, following them should lead us to her. Hopefully it will anyway, it’s our best hope right now. It was actually a fairly short trip to a nightclub on the outskirts of the city. Quite a large building Angel informed everyone. Some of the Bad Girls were on their way to help if needed, at least with transportation if nothing else.
The club was called Dancer’s Club and they did indeed have dancers. But the club was owned by a man named Philip Dancer, so Tracy is busy checking on him right now. Angel wandered around for a bit, looking to see if Jenna was working there. Finally a new dancer came out and it was Jenna, so Angel wandered over to where she was and when she came close Angel said “Roxie”. That got Jenna’s attention and she came closer. “My friend’s and I are watching Roxie and she is safe,” said Angel, “but she wants her Mommy. Please come with me so you two can be reunited. We will keep you safe and take you home. Please trust me, for the sake of your daughter.”
“You don’t understand,” said Jenna, “if I try to leave, they will beat me terribly, they will never let me leave here.” “I can get you out of here safely,” said Angel, “just trust me, please.” Then Angel held out her hand and Jenna held it and jumped off the stage which started a bit of an uproar. But they started walking for the door until a rather large man stood in front of them.
“Where do you think you’re going girl,” he said to Jenna. “We are leaving,” said Angel firmly, “so get out of our way and you won’t get hurt.” “That’s funny little lady,” he said, “you leave, Jenna stays.” That’s when Angel kicked him and he went flying backward several feet, falling over a table and ending up on the floor, groaning. “Let’s go Jenna,” said Angel and they both walked quickly toward the door. But, another man stood in the way, and he had a gun pointed at Jenna…
To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.
