Crook just stared at Mac, trying to figure out who he was. “Carver!” he exclaimed, “I, I did not recognize you at first. You look different without your beard. And, you are supposed to be dead, everyone thinks that.” “Well Crook,” said Mac, “do not believe everything you hear.” He then pushed his way in, followed by Miles. “Uh, what can I do for you guys?” asked Crook.

“We just want to have a little talk,” said Miles, “you know, business like.” “Oh, sure, no problem,” he said, “but I got nothing to offer you guys.” He looked away at a bottle sitting on the table. Then he felt the telltale point of a knife against his back. “Hey, what is going on here?” he asked. “You know that when Carver holds a knife, you do not move, not even a tiny twitch,” said Mac.

“Yeah, I am not moving Carver,” he said, a little nervous now. “We are a bit upset with you Crook,” said Miles, “you killed a friend of ours today, and shot his wife too.” “He is your friend?” asked Crook, “but he works for some outfit called The Investigators.” “No he does not,” said Mac, “and you know that too. He and his wife owned that little hotel and were honest, hardworking people.

Until you came along. But you were supposed to kill his wife, not him, and his wife is still alive and will be just fine. Except now she is a widow, thanks to you.” “Hey, this is what I do for a living, just like you,” he answered. “No, I never killed innocent people,” replied Mac, “only guys like you.” “What?” he exclaimed, “Who put a hit on me?!” “No one Crook,” said Miles, “this one is for our friend.”

“Look, I will share the money I got for the job with you both,” he pleaded, “then I will head back home and forget about working for Craig anymore.” “Share?” asked Mac, “We will take it all.” “Oh, oh yeah,” he said nervously, “take it all, it is under the mattress. Crazy place I know, but where else do I put it in this place?” Miles checked it out. “Just $20,000?” he asked, “You expect us to believe that? Where is the rest?”

“Okay, under the dresser,” he said, “but you gotta leave me something to get home with.” “This looks better,” said Miles. “No need to worry Crook,” said Mac, “where you are going, you will not need any money.” Crook’s legs buckled and he fell to the floor. Mac and Miles left with the money and returned home right away.

“There is $50,000 here for Carine, Steve,” said Mac, “not much considering what she lost, but Crook insisted we take it, with a little persuasion.” “At least he will not be hurting anyone else,” I said, “that is one plus. But Benson was a good man, he is dead because of me.” “No Steve,” said Kat, “he is dead because of me, remember?” “Okay, my beautiful wife,” I said smiling.

“Did someone call me?” asked Sky as she entered the room. “Yes, Steve was just talking about you,” said Kat smiling. “I doubt that Kat,” replied Sky, “but that is okay.” “Well, now we just have to find Craig and put a stop to him,” I said. Meanwhile the next morning. “Hey boss,” said Butch, “look at this in the paper.” “Do you still read the paper?” asked Craig, “Get up with the times Butch.” “I prefer newspapers,” he said, “but you will want to see this.”

Craig looked. It was a story about the death of Crook, which the police figure was a professional hit. In another article Williams was arrested for illegal gambling, possession of a large amount of drugs for trafficking purposes, murder and attempted murder. “What?” exclaimed Craig, “Crook did not kill that woman, he killed her husband and wounded her. And Williams is being charged for it.

They found the rifle used for the killing under the bed in the room off the basement and it had his finger prints on it. That idiot, he would have to handle that rifle.” “But Crook never brought it back to us boss,” said Butch. “Hey, that is right,” said Craig, “they are framing Williams because Crook is dead!”

Now, back to us. “Kat, how did you survive getting hit by that car?” asked Sky, “And I want the truth.” She stared at Kat. “I just moved really fast to get out of the way,” she said. Meow,meow.=Or maybe it cause she is ghost. “Now Muffin,” said Kat, “how many times do you need to be told, there are no ghosts.”

Meow,meow.=Yep, me know that, but there is one Kat ghost. Maybe. Everyone laughed. “Well, maybe you are right Muffin,” said Sky, “but we will keep it our secret, okay?” Meow,meow.=Okay, me keep secret, if everyone does. “We will Muffin,” I said, “Kat will be our secret weapon, a ghost investigator.” “Of course, some of us know better,” whispered Sky to Kat. They smiled at each other.

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.