As Sky and I began to walk over to the round table where our “friends” were sitting, chief Winters came in the back way and sat at the table as well. That left two empty chairs between him and the new man, who also had a couple of men standing next to the wall behind him. Hmm, must be someone important, I thought to myself. Anyway, Sky and I seated ourselves on the empty chairs. Scott Wagner, the Shining Moon owner, didn’t seem to like us doing that.

“This is a private meeting,” he said, almost growling, “so please leave.” “Oh, but we are part of your meeting,” I said, “so we will stay for now.” I then turned to the new man and held out my hand to him. “My name is Steve McCann,” I said cordially. He actually shook my hand, which I wasn’t really expecting. “I’m Vincent Pryor,” he said, “my friends here haven’t told me about you.” “I’m very surprised about that,” I said, “considering that I have been here for 3 days now helping my girlfriend, Miss Ivy Peterson.

Apparently her family has been killed, but the bodies have not been found yet and chief Winters doesn’t seem too interested in finding out what happened. That’s when I decided to come and look into the matter myself. I have very good resources at my disposal, as your friends here have discovered. You must be from The City Club.” “Yes, I am,” he said, “I’m curious, did these people tell you about us?” “No, that is something I had to find out myself,” I told him, “these friends of yours have not been very helpful to me, however, they are about to discover something tonight.”

Just then a large man, likely in his 40s, came over to the table and seemed to be rather irritated. “Hey Scott!” he demanded, “Where is my escort? I have been waiting for half an hour for this new gal and I have already paid you $500 for her!” Scott then said something quietly to the man beside him and he left momentarily. “Why don’t you go sit down,” I told the man, “you are interrupting our meeting. Sky, maybe you could help the man.” She got up without saying anything, stomped on his foot, which made him yell, then punched him in the stomach and pushed him onto an empty chair at the next table, which was unoccupied.

He just sat there groaning and Sky sat down again. It was easy to tell that Vincent enjoyed the short show. “Try something like that again,” said Scott, “and I will have you thrown out of here.” “And who is going to do that Scott?” I asked, “Take a look around you, have you not noticed all my girls that came in with me?” At that point Scott’s man returned with a very frightened young girl. She certainly didn’t look 18, though that doesn’t mean anything. The large man stood up again. “About time,” he said smiling, “you and me are going to have some fun tonight honey.” Sky looked at me.

“Cool the man’s enthusiasm a bit,” I told her, “he’s interrupting again.” She smiled, got up and gave the man a quick double punch to his stomach. Then she pushed him back onto his chair and told him to sit still. “I don’t think this young woman likes working for you Scott,” I said, “I’m sure she would much prefer working for me. So, I’m willing to pay you $10,000 for her.” He just looked at me angrily. “Try $25,000,” he said, “and we might be able to talk.” Hmm, how strange, I thought, it worked for Mandar, but then, Mandar was dealing with Koffman who had more sense than Scott.

“I could just take her from you,” I told him, “but I’m trying to be nice and make a deal. I will raise the offer to $15,000, but no higher.” “Forget it McCann,” he said. “He accepts your offer,” said Vincent. “Misty,” I said, “get the money for Scott please.” She left and returned quickly with the cash. I counted out the 15 bundles of $1,000 each and was about to slide them down the table. “I will take that,” said Vincent, “Scott owes me a considerable amount that I loaned him for the Shining Moon, so this will be a small down payment, since he seems to be short on cash at the moment.”

“Have you checked his bank account lately?” I asked. “Yes, we went to his bank this afternoon,” he said, “but he had just a little over $2,000.” “I wasn’t thinking about the bank here,” I said, “I was thinking of his account in a London bank.” Vincent looked over at Scott who was beginning to look a little nervous now. “He never mentioned another account,” said Vincent. “How strange,” I said, “he has just over $500,000 in that account.” “He told you that?” asked Vincent.

“No, I had my people check around,” I told him, “as I mentioned, I have good resources available in every area. You do pay your friends here remarkably well considering they don’t seem to do much. Paying Scott $15,000 a month seems a bit much, considering he owes you money.” “We pay him $5,000 per month,” he replied, “the same as these other people.” I then told him what each deposits into their accounts in London each month. “The only person I don’t know anything about yet is Mrs. Winslow,” I said, “obviously she is not using her real name. But I will soon know more about her. Cristy?”

“Sorry Steve, it’s Melody,” she replied. “Good, thank you,” I said, “did you get the photos?” “Yes Steve, nice and clear too,” she said, “Hannah is going to check them and get back to you.” “Thank you Melody,” I said, “oh Misty, please go over to the young lady and let her know she doesn’t need to be afraid of us.” She smiled and went to her. “Do you only have women working for you?” asked Vincent. “Nearly all women,” I said, “mostly women rescued from places like this, including Sky here.

But all are now highly trained in different ways. All the women in here are amazing fighters, they all carry guns and know how to use them extremely well. Please remember that Scott.” “Sky doesn’t seem to carry a gun,” said Vincent. “I don’t need a weapon,” said Sky, “I am a weapon.” “That I can believe,” said Vincent. “Now, chief Winters,” I said, “what about those men and my cats?” “There are things more important than cats,” he retorted, “like this meeting you have interrupted.”

He then just leaned back on his chair and smiled. “I will give you just 20 minutes to get those two men here,” I said, “and with my cats. So, call them now. If those cats are hurt, then you and those two men will be hurt also. If those cats are dead, then the three of you will join them.” “You’re just a no good criminal!” mayor Dean blurted out, “Killing Winters would be murder!”

“Well mayor Dean,” I said, “since I’m a criminal, do you think I’m worried about murdering someone? Don’t expect your boss, Mr. Pryor, to help you considering you have been stealing from him, though I admit he might want you alive temporarily.” “Do you mind if I move over to that table and make a phone call?” Vincent asked me. “Not at all,” I told him, so that is what he did. Chief Winters also made a phone call after Mrs. Winslow told him to do so.

While the phone calls were happening, Misty brought the young woman over to me. “Steve, this is Chelsea,” said Misty. “Nice to meet you Chelsea,” I said, “please don’t be scared, no one is going to hurt you anymore.” She gave me a weak smile. I asked Misty and Kitty to take her out to the limousine and stay with her. After they left, Vincent returned to our table…

To Be Continued. ©2025 Steve McLeod.