Aari had joined me in my office for a little talk about Elizabeth before I go and talk with her. She is now with us at the chateau where I think she will be safer for a while. Plus, we need to have some answers to questions I have for her if we are going to continue working on her behalf. I won’t endanger the lives of our team without knowing what is going on and Elizabeth has been keeping secrets from us and that is something I can’t tolerate. We almost lost 6 of our girls already because of this case, plus more might have been killed right here at our chateau if bullets had been used instead of darts.

Nikolas and Andressa just don’t seem to have the organization capable of attacking us in such a manor, however, so I am now wondering if it was someone else who attacked us. I asked Aari to check this out with Andressa, so off he went and I went downstairs to talk with Elizabeth. Once in the library Jennifer introduced me to Elizabeth, then the 3 of us, plus Hannah and Galyna went back to my office where we could talk privately. “It took us a little time Elizabeth,” I began, “to find out more about you. I would say that you are a very important woman, it’s no wonder that Nikolas and Andressa are interested in you.

Well, I guess it’s the information you have access to that they are really interested in. That information could be quite valuable to the right people. Unfortunately, your children are the ones who will be paying the price. I hope you realize that no matter what your answer is, you will not likely get your children back again alive. I know that is saying it rather bluntly, but it’s the only way to say it so that you will understand the gravity of the situation. I know you have a top level security clearance within a large military alliance which gives you access to a lot of important secrets which our enemies would pay quite well for such information. Am I correct so far Elizabeth?”

“Yes, you are totally correct Steve,” she said, “unfortunately, because of my position, I was unable to tell you more at the beginning. Does this mean you will not be looking for my children?” “Well, that part is up to you Elizabeth,” I said, “I need complete honesty from you if I am going to ask my team to risk their lives to save your children. But even if we do rescue them, Nikolas and Andressa could just kidnap them again, which would just put you back in the same position.” “Yes, I understand that,” she said, “but I will be putting them into hiding somewhere for now to keep them safe.”

“Perhaps the best thing for you and your children would be a change in your career,” said Jennifer. “I have given that some thought,” she replied, “but there really isn’t much available that I can do.” “Not much available?” asked Galyna, “Or not much available that would give the same income?” “Well, income is a major consideration,” she admitted, “I do have 3 children to raise and everything is so expensive.” “When I first talked to you, Elizabeth,” I said, “you told me that you couldn’t afford to hire us. Now, I must ask about your income, even an approximation would be okay.”

“It’s around 400,000 euros per year,” she said. “And how much are your children worth to you?” asked Hannah. Just then Samantha called and said she needed Kat right away or we would lose Dawn. I then communicated with Sky to bring Kat back to the clinic, then take Kristina back with her. We also have our sniper girls working with the Black Wolves to help secure that building they use, plus there are 2 snipers on the Wolves team. “Please don’t let me stop you from doing your job here,” said Elizabeth with a worried look.

“You’re not,” I said, “I have already been in touch with my team and Kat is back here to help. We have a very sophisticated communication system here. Now, about Hannah’s question?” “I want the very best for my children,” she said, “and that does take money.” “Sometimes the ‘very best’ is not always the best thing,” said Hannah. Then another call, this time from Wisty who said it was private, so Jennifer put a bubble around her and I. “Okay Wisty, what’s up?” I asked. “They just found the body of Elizabeth’s oldest son in their swimming pool,” she said, “but he was already dead when he was put there. Nikolas is sending us a message I guess.”

“No doubt about it,” I told her, then I contacted Aari who had just left Andressa. I told him what had happened. He then called the snipers and told them to watch for anyone at that building, even someone close to a window, and let Nikolas know they are watching. He then went back to Andressa with Oskar. “Can’t you give me a little peace and quiet?” she asked angrily. She was sitting on a chair at the small table and Aari just went to her and slapped her hard, knocking her off the chair and onto the floor. “You are an idiot if you think you can play around with me and win,” said Aari, trying hard to stay calm, “killing that boy will not help you live longer.”

“What? Hey, I had nothing to do with that,” she said, “that’s my idiot brother that killed Elizabeth’s oldest boy! You can’t blame me for that one!” “Then explain how you knew it was the oldest boy,” said Aari. “Well, well, that’s because it was going to be that way,” she explained, “if she didn’t cooperate then we would kill the children, from oldest to youngest, a week apart. But, because you kidnapped me, then I guess Nikolas decided to start early to pressure Steve to quit the case.”

“You and your brother forget, our two organizations are not the same,” said Aari, “I kidnapped you, not Steve. Now, I will give you a choice, hand over those other 2 children, or you will die for the death of that boy. Now, here’s a phone, call your brother.” Meanwhile, back to the building where Nikolas and his men are trapped. “I don’t see anyone out there Nikolas,” said Johann, “I say they are just bluffing.” Just as he said that a bullet came through the window, killing Johann. That got Nikolas scared, so he ran to his office and closed the blinds on his two windows.

That’s when Andressa’s call came through to him. She explained the deal, but Nikolas didn’t like it since that would not give them anything to bargain with. “Look, just get me out of here,” she said loudly, “I have another idea that will work better.” “Tell him to remember what just happened to Johann,” said Aari, “and closing the blinds in his office won’t help him either.” She repeated that to him which terrified him even more. “How did he know that, how??” he asked nervously, “it just happened.” Kitty was with Aari too, but invisible, and she told him after Sky communicated it with her. Maybe this will shake them up a bit…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.