Now, back to our new enemies for a bit. “Finkle,” said Wayne, “Ronja would like you to go into hiding for a while, just in case that PI group decides to follow you and you end up leading them to her.” “Uh, wait Wayne,” said Finkle, feeling a bit nervous, “I know what that means, I have been part of the organization long enough to know that I will never be heard from again.

But listen, maybe we can make a deal and I will disappear to South America, never to be heard from again. Then you will be safe and I will be alive.” “What kind of deal Finkle?” asked Wayne, “I am only interested in money, you know that. If you can pay me enough, then we have a deal.” Finkle knew two things about Wayne, one, he was greedy and always needed money, and two, he prided himself on keeping his word.

“I have saved up some money,” said Finkle, “I will keep some to live on and give the rest to you and that will be $400,000 in US money.” Wayne smiled as he thought about all that money. “Okay Finkle, we have a deal,” but you have to leave right away so Ronja thinks I have done my job.” So they made their deal and Wayne took Finkle alone and made sure he boarded the right plane on his way to South America.

Then Wayne called Ronja and told her that Finkle was no more of a threat. Ronja smiled to herself as she listened to how Wayne did it. She loves to hear about the different ways her men deal with traitors, and others. Now, back to us again. Crystal and Catalina came to my bedroom so Kat and Dawn could go talk with Nelson and Mandar for a few minutes.

Once in the library Nelson closed the doors. Rock and Annelie were there also, plus the cats, except for Muffin who stayed with me since she is now on the inactive list too. “Okay girls,” began Nelson, “I know you do not train to work with anyone outside of our team. But you also work with Mandar’s teams now and then. Do you remember Kera?” They both said yes.

“Well, she is one of Mandar’s top female security team members,” he said, “she wants to join our team and Mandar told her that was fine. We do not have time to follow the regular tests and voting to bring her into our team, but I want her to join us right away. Are you okay with that? She will be working with you two helping to guard Steve.” They both said that was fine.

“Good,” he continued, “we have information that someone has put out a contract on Steve. We do not know who, but likely not Ronja or anyone from her organization. We need to try and find out and stop whoever has been hired to do this. That is why I want Kera to join you. Then the rest of the team can look after other things. We are on Code Red from now on.”

He then opened the library doors and called Kera in to join everyone. He told her the news and she was quite relieved, since she was not sure how the girls would react to her joining this way. The cats had already checked her out and given their full approval. Plus Annelie had checked her past, thoroughly, like she always does and found nothing in her past that was wrong.

Then Nelson called Miles, Hawk and John into the library. He then told them to go to London and see if they can find out who has the contract to kill Steve and then silence that person, one way or another. They picked up what they needed and off they went. “If anyone can find out, they can,” said Mandar, “now my dear Annelie, do we yet know where to find this Ronja person?”

“Not yet Mandar,” she said, “she is much like Toledo, she does not stay in one place for very long.” “Hmm, a person that does not trust others,” said Mandar, “that is her weakness. Very good to know that.” When the girls returned to my bedroom, I was asleep and I slept well for about 4 hours, then I woke up sweating and in terrible pain. Beryan was called back in and she began to massage my back again.

“Steve,” asked Beryan, “be honest with me, how do you feel exactly?” “I am not sure I could describe it,” I said quietly. “Try anyway Steve,” she said, “any little detail would be helpful.” “Well, the pain just shoots right through my back, kind of zigzag like,” I said, “but my head also is in pain now. Not like a headache, just pain. And I feel hot, then cold, then hot again.

Sometimes I cannot see. Sometimes I am totally blank, not knowing where I am or who I am. But it is not like the ‘nowhere’ disease, it is different somehow.” “We need to take him to the clinic right away,” said Beryan. Kat pressed the alarm, Code A1, Code A1. “Mr. N, we need to take Steve to the clinic,” said Kat, “fast!”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.