It is now day 5 since we arrived at this haunted house, and back home Sky is reading my latest text. Or is she? Sky was in the library with Annelie, Galyna and Nelson and reading to them my text I sent to her. Snow comes in when Sky had finished reading and flopped onto her lap lying as flat as she could. “Well, you do not look very happy Snow,” she said, “is Tiia not playing with you enough?”

Meowy.=Tiia play with me lots, she very nice to me. “Then what is the problem?” asked Sky. Meowy.=Mommy Muffin said she would say hi to me every day when human Steve phone you. It now 5 days and she not say hi even one time to me. “Well, that is probably because Steve is not phoning me,” she explained, “he has been texting me instead. He did not want anyone to hear him talking since he and Muffin forgot to bring some scramblers with them.”

Meowy.=But Muffin could ask human Steve to write hi to me in test. “Yes, I suppose she could,” replied Sky, “but sometimes they get so busy that they forget.” Then there was silence from Snow. Suddenly her ears went straight up. Meowy!=No, that wrong, they bring scramble things and listen finder things too! Muffin pack 3 scrambles, I help get them from closet.

Sky, Annelie and Galyna stared at Snow. Even Nelson put down his donut and looked at her. Then Sky scooped up Snow and ran to the bedroom. She soon came sliding back into the library. “Snow is right,” said Sky, “3 scramblers are missing.” “Trouble!” exclaimed Annelie. Nelson was already on the phone, calling Rock. “Come on Rock,” he said to himself, “you should be awake by now.”

“Hi Mr. N.,” said Rock sleepily, “what is up?” “Trouble Rock,” he said, “get to that house and look for Steve, it looks like he has been missing for days. And find that taxi driver too!” “We are on our way!” yelled Rock. They were at a larger town about an hour away but at the speed they were traveling, they cut that time in half.

On the way he told Kat to take her team, consisting of Crystal, Kristina and Sigurbjorn, plus Rusty, and go find the taxi driver. They arrived at the taxi office, which was rather small, but it was a small town. They went inside. “Are you the owner here?” asked Kat. The man, likely in his mid 50s and overweight, was sitting behind a desk reading a newspaper. He did not even look up and just said, “yep.”

“I want to talk with one of your drivers,” said Kat, “a young woman named Dawn.” “Do not have any women drivers,” he said without looking up. Kat grabbed his newspaper, crumpled it and tossed it aside. “Now, I want you to look at me when you talk,” she said, “or I might just crumple you next time.” He looked at her and noticed the other 3 girls too.

Just then another man came into the room. He was young, dirty and also overweight. “Whoa,” he said, “you ladies looking for a ride?” “No, we want to talk with Dawn,” said Kat, “one of the other drivers. I am sure you know her.” The young man looked at the owner who shook his head. “Uh, I do not know any Dawn,” he said, “no woman driver here.” Then he turned to leave, but Sigurbjorn had moved in front of the door he came in by.

Kat then walked behind the desk, smiled, then gave the owner a hard backhanded slap. “I have no patience with liars,” she said, “so we will start over.” The young man then took out his phone, but Crystal kicked it out of his hand, then told him to sit down, which he did immediately. “Now, I want to talk with your driver,” said Kat, “the woman named Dawn. Answer wrong and I will hit you harder next time.” He said nothing.

“Maybe this young guy will talk to us,” said Crystal. She then took out her gun and pointed it at him. “Where is Dawn?” she asked. “I, I do not know,” he said shaking, “she has not been around for 5 days. But her car is out back, nobody has touched it.” Sigurbjorn and Kristina went to check on it, it was car 3, the keys were hanging on a hook on the wall.

“You cowardly idiot!” said the owner. “I am not going to die for a lousy $50!” he exclaimed. “Smart choice,” said Kat, “that just might keep you out of prison, unlike this character here who will spend a lot of time in prison for his part.” “What for?” he demanded, “Because I did not answer your question?”

“For your part in kidnapping, withholding evidence and possible murder,” said Kat casually, “and we have the best lawyers in the country who will put you there.” Rock and the others pulled into the driveway of the house and were shocked by what they saw. Or maybe by what they did not see! The house was gone, completely!

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.