Sky was getting a bit upset after I mentioned Dawn being with me, I mean, with us. “It did not take long for him to find a woman to help him,” said Sky frowning. “Do not worry Sky,” said Nelson, “he has the cats with him too.” “That is a good thing or he would be in big trouble!” exclaimed Sky. Several of the girls who were in the library with them began to laugh.

“Hmm, anyway, he has found a hidden door but cannot open it yet,” she continued, “he also said that there have been 2 murders in that house this year, which have not been solved yet. I really do not like this, it must be a trap.” “I am sure Steve will not take chances Sky,” said Nelson, “especially with that taxi driver with him.”

“Hmm, oh, he also said that although the house looks terrible on the outside, it is very nice inside,” she added, “filled with nice furniture too.” “I hope they do not find Chloe murdered too,” said Galyna. “Oh, yes, that would not be good at all,” said Sky. She then answered my text.

Meanwhile, back to us at the haunted house. I was about to give up figuring out how to open the door when it suddenly opened. I looked down and Storm had jumped onto a small box next to the door and it sunk down about 2 inches, which opened the door. “Good going Storm,” I said, and we went inside, “Sure you want to join us?”

“Naturally,” she said excitedly, “I have not had so much fun in a long time.” The door closed once we all got inside. “That is okay,” I said, “there is always a way to get out with these doors.” “You have had experience with hidden doors before?” she asked. Meow,meow.=Yep, lots of times, right from very beginning of PI business.

“I still cannot get over the fact that she talks,” laughed Dawn, “it is so cute. Too bad Storm does not talk.” Storm just tilted his head like he did not understand what she said. We began walking down the tunnel, or maybe I should say, tunnels. There were a lot of them, going in every direction until we were thoroughly lost.

“Um, I thought you cats were supposed to mark the tunnel so we can find out way out again,” I said. Meow,meow.=We did, but we go in circles so many times so now we not know where we go. “Sigh,” I said, “we might be in here all night. Rats, I forgot to book a room at the hotel anyway.” “You do not want to stay there,” said Dawn, “this old tunnel is better than that hotel. But if we get out in time you can stay at my place, I have an extra bedroom.”

“Thanks,” I said, “but I do not think my wife would like that too much.” Meow,meow.=It okay, remember she say so if us cats with you. “Oh, yeah, that is what she said,” I said, “in that case, I accept, if we get out of here. Finally we got down another tunnel which led to a room, and once inside the door closed. We were trapped. “There must be a way out,” I said.

Meow,meow.=Hear that lady? You can come out with us before you turn into Skinny. Dawn and I looked in the corner where the cats were looking at a woman that was tied up. Could it be Chloe? I went over to check on her, she was dead. “Cheryl!” exclaimed Dawn, “she is one of my girlfriends. I have been trying to contact her all day.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” I said. Poor Dawn broke down crying and sat on the floor. I sat down beside her and tried to console her. Muffin came and sat beside her too and began purring. After a while, when she had stopped crying, she just sat staring and thinking. “Strange the things you think about sometimes,” she said, “Twice Holly, my other friend, missed our weekly lunch date and the very next day they found a man murdered. Just a coincidence, I know, but why think about that now?”

She looked at me. Now I was the one staring. “Perhaps it is not a coincidence,” I said, “sometimes things happen in odd ways. Did Holly and Cheryl have an argument recently?” “Yeah, a big one,” replied Dawn, “I have never seen them argue like that before. That was just yesterday, uh, do you think she might have…?”

“I cannot say for sure,” I said, “but things like that have happened before. Do you have a photo of Holly?” “Yep, lots of them,” she said and showed me several. “Her hair goes down to her waist, apparently she decided when she was 12 that she wanted to have long hair like that.

Muffin’s ears went straight up when she saw the picture! I showed Dawn a couple pics of Chloe at 14. “Wow, she looks just like Holly, only younger,” said Dawn, “and look, she has the same scar on her arm that Holly has!” “Well, this would explain why Chloe has not shown up yet,” I said. Right then the door opened and Chloe was standing there looking at us…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.