“Joe!” she called, but no answer. ”If you are calling your man behind that big tree,” I said, then whistled and !Mac came out, “your man Joe is dead, as is your man behind this bush back here.” John came walking out. ”You were not planning on letting me leave here alive,” I said, “you wanted to hurt Amber even more.” Suddenly an arm was around Georgia’s neck, choking her. 

“Where did she come from?” he said backing away. ”I am a ghost,” said Kat, “I come and go as I please.” The driver turned to run but our vans came in fast from both directions and stopped him. Bouncer came out and put that guy to ‘sleep’ rather quickly. Kat then told Georgia to stand up, then kicked her twice, knocking her to the ground. 

“Never cheat on a deal,” I told Georgia, “but know that you are only alive right now because my boss prides himself on keeping his word in a deal. You are very much like your brother Toledo.” ”You knew Toledo?” she asked, rather surprised. ”You see this woman here,” I said, “she was my wife until Toledo killed her, that is why she is now a ghost.” 

“I do not believe you are a ghost,” Georgia sneered, “prove it!” ”Touch my hand,” said Kat. She reached over and touched Kat’s hand. Then she jumped back. ”You are cold!” she screamed, “you are a ghost! No one could be so cold on a hot day like this! Ghosts are bad luck, I touched her, now I will be cursed with bad luck!” 

She put her head in her hands for a moment, then looked up and Kat was gone. ”Where did she go?” asked Georgia. ”Like she said, she comes and goes as she pleases,” I replied, “now, I see your driver is waking up, get out of here before I change my mind about you. Your stuff will be back in the house in one hour. I would suggest getting a better alarm system in such an important place, and not that idiot that was living there. 

We were looking around inside the house while he was out back with his barbecue. Oh, in case you are wondering, it was not us who burned down the house across the street from Amber’s house, must be someone else who does not like you.” She and her driver then left in a hurry. While they were driving away she called someone. 

“Stan, get Walter, now!” she said. ”Done,” he replied. ”Then wait by that hotel,” she continued, “and wait for those two to come out, and do not miss them!” ”Done,” he said again. Later that day, after returning all of Georgia’s stuff to the house, Mac came around to our room and said that while in the house, Tiger and Rusty found something else which he and the others brought back with them. 

“Well, well, this is certainly interesting,” I said, “we will give this to the state police, that will finish the local police force here. Amazing she could get all of them to agree to working for her.” ”Money, Steve, money,” said Mac, “it does things to people.” 

Right then Amber came in and asked if her and Adoncia could go outside for just a few minutes, apparently Adoncia has been begging her to go out for some fresh air. ”Okay, but Kat and Dawn go with you,” I said. ”Okay with us!” said Amber excitedly and she ran to get Adoncia. Down they went to the side door that we always use and suddenly Adoncia bolted for the door and out she went with Amber trying to catch her. 

Adoncia got outside, stopped, then fell to the ground. Amber got outside next and immediately fell to the ground. I had also sent Mac and John to go behind them to watch. The alarm came from Dawn right then and I sent Miles, Kera, Charly, and Catalina down to help. The rest of us went down more cautiously. I also called Rock to come close and be ready. 

“That old building on the other side of the parking lot,” said Kat to Mac and everyone went over. We arrived right then and found Charly kneeling beside Amber. I ran outside before Sky could stop me. ”Crazy man!” she said, running out behind me. Kat and Dawn were first to get behind that old building just as a man came out the back door. 

He turned, but they saw his gun and both shot, killing the man. Kat brought back the man’s phone and showed me a text on it, “I told Adoncia to bring Amber outside and I would give her freedom and $50,000. The fool believed me! You can get them both easily.” It was from Georgia. I change my mind, she is not as smart as her brother Toledo. 

Kerstina said that Amber was still alive, but she needed to operate quickly. I called Rock and he took Kerstina and Amber back to our jet and his team stayed there to guard them. Adoncia was dead. She was part of the trap that Georgia had set for us initially. ”We do not have to tell Amber that, do we?” asked Sky. 

“No, better to leave things as it is, at least for now,” I said, “it would be too much for Amber to find out her sister was working for Georgia. But now Georgia has made a fatal mistake, trying to kill my girlfriend.” ”I am with you, my dear husband,” said Sky, “I am with you.” Everyone was in total agreement…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.