Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Mysterious Journey. Chapter 6. Ronja.
There was no sleeping for me that night, though I tried. Kat said I did sleep a little but I was tossing and turning during each time I slept. In the morning everyone tried to persuade me to eat breakfast, but I just could not. “Eat Steve,” said Kat, “do it for Sky…do it for me. I still love you, and you know that. Please eat.” I gave in and ate some donuts and had my morning coffee.
“Remember Steve,” said Kat again, “when they bring Finkle back, stay calm. We can have him in prison for life, that is better than killing him.” “Yes, I know that,” I replied, “but I do not want him to know that. I want info from him so we can stop this organization “That reminds me Steve,” said Rock, “Hawk said he knew about this organization, so he might have info that will help us find them.”
“That is good to know,” I said, “but Finkle might have something more to add to his info, something more up to date.” It was about 10am when the guys arrived with Finkle. They brought him into the library. “Sit down Mr. Finkle,” I said, “we need to have a nice, calm conversation.” “He said sit!” Mac told him firmly and pushed him onto a chair in the corner of the room, close to the doors.
“What do you want to talk about?” Mr. Finkle asked nervously. “I could have you in prison for a very long time,” I said calmly, “and I have been told that inmates do not really like cops that have gone bad.” He was sweating now. “See Rock over here?” I asked him, “He can crush your arm with his bare hands and it sounds horrible, plus it is very painful. You would end up losing your arm.”
Rock just looked at him with a smile. “Now look here,” said Mr. Finkle, as he stood up, “I am a police officer and you are holding me unlawfully and threatening me too.” “No threats,” I said, “just merely stating some facts. But those facts could become reality if you do not cooperate.” Rock then punched him in the stomach and he fell back into the chair and was out cold.
“I held back Steve, honest,” said Rock, “he must have a weak stomach.” Mac revived him and Finkle was now very worried. “I think it should be my turn next,” said Kat, “have you ever met a ghost Mr. Finkle?” She was walking toward him as she said that and suddenly his eyes were amazingly wide open since Kat had disappeared right before his eyes. “Wha, wha,” he said stammering, “where did she g, go?”
“I am right here behind you,” said Kat and she touched his shoulder. He jumped to his feet again, staring at Kat. “Sit!” said Mac, and pushed him back onto the chair. Kat came back to me. “She is a ghost Mr. Finkle,” I said, “she can do things like that.” “I, I, do not believe in ghosts,” he said, sweating terribly now, “Look, what is you want? I will pay ransom, or whatever it is you want, just say it!”
“You could not pay me enough money, Finkle,” I said, “you are a murderer and that means life in prison.” “What?” he gasped, “I have never killed anyone in my life!” “You killed my wife through your men,” I said firmly, “that makes you a murderer. You told them to give her a slow acting poison so she would die after she got home.”
“No, no, I never did that!” he exclaimed, “it must have been Wayne and his men, they do not work for me, they work for, um, for someone else.” “Who?” I asked, “Who do they work for and where can I find him?” Rock then moved closer, smiling at Finkle and cracking his knuckles. “No, please, do not let him touch me, please!” he pleaded. “Who, Finkle, tell me who!” I demanded.
“I, I cannot, she would have me killed!” he exclaimed. I nodded and Rock went over to him and picked him up, starting to squeeze him. “Stop!” he yelled, “Her name is Ronja Erickson, but I have no idea where to find her, I have never met her, honest. She always sends a man to give me my orders, or to pay me.”
Meow,meow.=Me think he tell truth now, not sure if he tell truth about poison. Meowr.=Me agree, he telling truth. Meow.=Yes, he tells truth about this part. “Mr. Finkle, you may go now,” I said, “but if we meet again, you will not like it. Take him to the village, he should be in time to catch the bus.” Rock, Miles and John took him away.
“I am already trying to find out info about that woman Steve,” said Annelie. “Well Hawk,” I said, “what info can you share about this organization?” “They are quite big, in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Ireland and trying to get a foothold here too. They are tough players, never back down for anyone and will step on anyone that gets in their way.
I knew the leader was a woman, but did not know her name. She is ruthless. Whatever they are looking for must be very important to keep after it for so long. Might not be money, or jewels though, but perhaps information. “I do not know why I did not think of that before,” said Engla…
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Mysterious Journey. Chapter 5. Sky.
After all this I decided to call Rock. “Hey Steve,” he said excitedly, “we found that old shack, but we just got here so have not had time to look around yet.” “That is good news Rock,” I said, “but be careful, you are likely being watched so make sure that Team 6 is standing guard while you look around.” I then told him what had happened and our guess was right that Engle’s father, and perhaps her mother too, were involved with a criminal organization.
Annelie had checked it out already and it is quite a large organization located in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Plus they are trying to get into the UK as well. We are likely looking for stolen goods that was then stolen from the organization, that is why Engle’s family was killed. Then she was adopted by another family from that organization to hopefully find out where that old shack is located.
I guess they found out that much, but no more, before killing the family. “Hey, do you think that Engle might be working for that organization?” asked Rock, “Maybe that is why she came to you, hoping you would remember where to look for this place.”
“I thought about that,” I said, “but the cats are convinced she is okay, and I have not seen anything from her to make me distrust her. I think she is okay as well. Why else would they be looking for her?” “Hmm, that is a good thought,” he admitted. I then told him where to find the hiding spot we had found years ago. He looked in that spot and found the tin, but it was empty.
So, they continued looking around. Everything was quiet until Mandar showed up with Sky and her team. Sky was definitely not quiet! She came into the library and sat down beside me. “I know, I failed,” she said angrily, “getting captured twice in one day, I am no good and we failed because of it!” “Do not be so hard on yourself,” I said to her, “all of us can make mistakes, and we learn from them.”
“Yes,” said Aasta, “and we did learn something anyway, we found out that a criminal organization is behind all of this.” “Who asked you?! shouted Sky, “Just shut up!” It suddenly went very quiet in the library. “I would like everyone to leave please,” I said calmly, “except for Nelson.” Sky put her head down while everyone left.
“That was uncalled for,” said Nelson, “Aasta was right in what she said. We now have information we did not know before.” “I know,” she replied quietly, “I do not know what came over me. I need to be put on inactive for a while.” “Yes, we will do that,” said Nelson. “I also want you and your team to have a complete checkup,” I said, “Crystal, Aoife and Aubrey will take you to the clinic.”
They went and Li Jing did find a mysterious substance in Sky, but not the other girls, so Sky remained in the clinic for further study. Obviously Sky was given something, likely in her food, but why we do not know. Perhaps just to cause strain among our team. We will have to watch our food from now on. Unfortunately, Tiia and Snow are not good at smelling out poisons or other things in food like the other cats.
But Mandar had brought Tandi and she was well trained to find anything in food that should not be there. Li Jing called again later and told me the bad news. This is some kind of new substance that works in stages, the final stage just before death is uncontrollable anger. I just sat there, stunned by the news. Kat came over and hugged me.
“It will be okay Steve,” she said, “Sky is tough, she will pull through.” “Thanks Kat,” I said quietly, “but we both know that will not happen. And here I am in this wheelchair and I cannot do anything to stop that organization.” “Wrong Steve,” said Mandar, “we will stop them and they will not come back again.” “Annelie,” I said, “call Rock and tell him to get back here right away. This is more important.”
She did so and Rock could hardly believe what she told him. He never said a word to his team except to say they were heading home. I sent another jet to pick them up since they were not able to leave anyone to guard their jet, we could pick it up at a later time. On the jet Rock told them what was happening. “We will destroy them,” said Mac firmly, “the top guy is mine.”
“I want that Finkle character,” said John. “Not if I get to him first,” said Rock. “I will go with Mac,” said Miles, “and take out the number 2 man.” “Hey, us girls want in on this too,” said Kristina. “There will be plenty of action for all of us,” said Hawk, “I know this group, they are big, and they like to let people know it.”
They got home late, but I was waiting for them. “Mac, John, Miles, Hawk,” I said, Finkle is in London somewhere, find him and bring him back, alive and able to talk.” Nelson gave them some money and off they went…
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 