Well, we are back home and I am looking at a new grave in our cemetery. Some of the others are with me too. The remaining people from Georgia’s organization, including her husband Robert and Phil are being tried on many criminal offenses and will be spending years in prison after all the evidence we found. Fortunately we had a search warrant with us or some of this evidence might not have been usable. I am glad that case is over though. 

Back at the clinic I was visiting our latest patient. ”Is it a nice spot Steve?” she asked. ”Yes, I am sure you will like it,” I said. ”It is just so hard to believe how messed up my family was. But I am glad that mom had nothing to do with any of that. She and I were always close as I was growing up.” She then began to cry. I sat on the bed and wiped the tears from her face. 

“Thank you Steve,” she said. ”Just trying to help my girlfriend,” I said. She smiled. ”You look very tired,” she said, “you have too much weight on your shoulders and it is wearing you out. You are our leader, plus you are married, plus you are an older brother to most of us girls and even sort of a boyfriend to us as well. 

You need to share the burden more. You know, we would like to help our older brother too instead of you just helping us all the time.” ”You might be right Amber,” I said smiling, “I am definitely tired these days so maybe it is time to make some changes. I am just glad you did not actually die.” ”They should have let you know about their idea though,” she said, “so you would know I was not dead.” 

“They wanted a real reaction,” I told her, “so those two men would be convinced. Guess I am not very good at acting. Well, I better go so you can rest too.” ”Make sure you get some rest,” Amber reminded me, “um, do I get a kiss before you go?” ”That can be arranged,” I said. ”Thank you,” she replied. ”I should slap you!” said Sky. ”Oh, uh, I did not know you were here,” I said, “I was just…” 

“I know,” she said, “but you almost left without kissing Amber, that is what you would have been slapped for. And next time you want to talk with your girlfriend, you should turn this button to the off position so we cannot hear you in the waiting room.” Amber giggled. Sigh. 

It was dark now as we left with Mac, Dawn and Kat as our bodyguards. We just got outside and Kat said to get down quickly. They all had their guns out fast as well. ”What is it?” I asked. ”Not sure,” said Kat, “but someone is out there.” I immediately called Rock to send a team over here to guard the clinic. Matt arrived soon with John, Sten and Team 7. 

We then left for home. For the next 2 weeks everything was quiet, rather strange really. Amber was home now but still on recovery time until Kerstina says she can be back on active duty. I kept getting more tired each day, so Kerstina gave me a complete checkup, but found nothing wrong. She concluded it must be too much stress, something that Galyna agreed with. 

The next day I was relaxing outside in the sun, Mac was nearby, as was John and Miles. Most of the girls were swimming in our new, and much larger, pool. My phone rang so I answered it and said hello, but then said nothing more and after a couple of minutes I hung up. Mac had been watching and went into the house, “be right back,” he told me. 

He found Kat in the library and asked her to come out. ”Steve got a phone call, said hello, then said nothing,” he told her, “I know those kind of calls, someone said to be quiet and gave him instructions.” Kat sat beside me. ”What was the phone call Steve?” she asked, “You look worried.” ”Nothing important,” I said. 

“Give me your hand Steve,” she said, and I did, “I know you are not telling the truth, now tell me, what is the problem?” ”Come with me,” I said. I told the others to wait there for us. Back in our bedroom I took out a large envelope. ”Hide this in your room, show no one,” I said, “if something happens to me, open it, there are instructions.” 

“This is why you have been so tired,” said Kat, “ever since that night at the clinic, now, tell me.” We went to her room and she hid the envelope. I sat on her chair. ”Sit here, like you used to do,” I said, “and I will tell you a story.” After I was finished I just looked at Kat. She gave me a big hug. ”Steve, we can help you,” she said, “we all want to help you.” 

“I’m scared Kat,” I said, “I do not want anyone hurt.” ”Oh my, every time I turn my back, there you are kissing one of the girls,” said Sky. ”You tell Sky, or I will,” said Kat. So, I repeated my story and Sky was furious. ”Why did you not say something before?” she asked. ”I did not know until today what was going on,” I said…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.