We made it to the jets in good time and Alicia, Mandar’s nurse had everything ready for us. Mandar’s people, most at least, were left to guard the jets to make sure there were no sabotage attempts. They took Dawn into the medical room and went to work. Dawn needed blood and mine was the right type so I was hooked up and donated.

Afterward I they brought me back out and Beryan continued to massage my back. “Why was Dawn not wearing a vest?” I asked Sky, “we always carry extras now.” “She did have a vest on Steve,” replied Sky, “but you did not have one, so while you were “out”, she took hers and put it on you, just in case one of the men made it past her, or in case she had been killed. Our leader was the guilty one this time for not wearing a vest.”

She looked at me very sternly when she said that last part. She was right, I completely forgot and my forgetfulness could have killed Dawn. That was a hard one to think about and I just remained silent. Sky went back into the medical room to see if she could help. “Even leaders can make mistakes at times,” said Karen as she came to relieve Beryan, “do not be too hard on yourself, Dawn will survive and be just as healthy as always.”

Then she bent over and kissed me on the cheek. Then she wiped the tears off my cheeks. “You are never to kiss the leader without permission from his wife,” I said. “But I am not a member yet,” she replied, “so I can be a bit reckless for now.” She giggled. The way she said that, and then her giggle, I know… but it cannot be, it is just all the excitement and stress, wondering if I will walk again or not.

I cannot move my legs, or even feel them. “Move your hands down my legs,” I said to Karen. She did so. “Can you feel that?” she asked. “No, nothing,” I said, “not a thing. Do not tell that to anyone just now, not even Sky.” “That is not nice,” she said, “I will say nothing to anyone, but only if you promise to tell Sky when she comes back.” “Okay,” I said, “deal.”

She kissed my cheek again and then Sky came back. I told Sky about my legs, she was very concerned about that. “By the way,” she said, “you are now on the inactive list. I talked it over with Bridgette and Mr. B and he made it final.” “You mean Mr. N.” I said. “Oh, right, see what you have done?” she said, “and Muffin is on the inactive list too, her heart rate and blood pressure is way to high so she must relax only.” Then she put Muffin beside me.

Meanwhile, back in town. “Now, my good man,” Mandar said to Matt, “where did you dispose of Dawn’s parents?” “What is that to you?” he snarled. Then Rock picked up his desk and tossed it through the window. “They are my parents too, remember?” Rock roared. “Oh, oh, sorry, I forgot,” he said shaking badly.

“Try looking in Dead Man’s Swamp,” said one of the young guys, “that is where they all go.” “There are others too?” asked Mandar. “Yeah, every month for the past 6 months they bring out a different woman,” he continued, “and she ends up in the swamp.” “You brat!” yelled the teacher and he ran over grabbing the kid by the neck, choking him.

Mandar was nearby with his cane gun and with one shot the teacher fell to the floor, dead. Then Rock picked up Matt and was ready to toss him out the window too, but he was screaming, “No, NO!, I will take you out there! The sheriff killed them, then we buried them in the swamp. But your parents were killed by Chloe, because she hated Dawn for being so beautiful.”

Rock then dropped him onto the floor and turned his back momentarily. The sheriff always sat on one certain chair because he kept a gun under it. He quickly grabbed the gun and shot the mayor 3 times, killing him. Rock turned quickly, grabbing the sheriff’s arm and breaking it in two places which caused him to scream and drop his gun.

“Well,” said Aari, “I think now would be a good time to call the police. I hope the rest of you enjoy your time in prison, but I rather doubt that you will like it.” “You men are cops!” exclaimed the banker. “No, my good man,” said Mandar, “but some of these people are private investigators who came looking for the man that Chloe wanted to kill for some reason.”

The banker laughed nervously. “Money,” he said, “Ohio promised her a lot of money if she could bring him here. But the rest of us were not supposed to get involved.” “We had it made,” said the man who owned the grocery store, “then she had to get involved and ruin everything.” “Good thing she did,” said Mandar angrily, “she put a stop to your vile business!”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.