Right now Andressa is on the phone with Nikolas, trying to convince him to make a deal for her release, by releasing the remaining two children. Nikolas had killed the oldest boy, which was definitely not a smart move on his part. He will have to be brought to justice for that, not to mention kidnapping the children. And also kidnapping our girls and trying to murder them, plus attacking us at the chateau. Although, that last one didn’t actually fit somehow. I just don’t see Nikolas and his sister being able to carry out such a coordinated attack on us. It was very well executed and used very advanced technology.

I think Aari is right, those two are attempting to play a very dangerous game that they are not equipped to play. After finding out who Elizabeth really is, I don’t think we want to get involved in this game either. I don’t think Elizabeth understands the gravity of the situation either, but maybe when she finds out her oldest boy is dead that will wake her up to the dangers involved.

Meanwhile, back with Aari and Andressa. “Nikolas wants to know how you knew about what happened, when it just happened?” she asked. “I told you we are not an organization to be fooled with,” said Aari, “now, do we have a deal or not?” She just looked at him. “Don’t ask stupid questions right now,” she said to Nikolas, “just release those brats so I can get out of here.” “Where is he so we can deliver the kids to him?” he asked. “Where can he bring them?” she asked Aari.

There was one thing Aari knew, those children can’t be close by since the one boy was put in their pool at their home, which is in London. They didn’t have time to get the boy back to London from the building in Germany. “Just tell us where to pick them up,” said Aari, “he can leave them on a sidewalk somewhere if he wants and we’ll get them. We just need 10 minutes warning for where they will be. Oh, and we will let you go once we have the children in our possession. We will take you back to your building and allow you to go back inside without being hurt.”

She then told all of this to Nikolas and he asked her where they should leave the children. “Use drop K8,” she said, “and remember to call me back here 10 minutes before you drop the brats there. And please don’t try anything stupid, my love, a successful trade will get these people away from us.” “Okay, if that’s what you want hon,” he said, “it will be done. I don’t see how he can get to London in 10 minutes though, unless you are already there.” “You have a point, maybe we are,” she said quite pleasantly, then she hung up. “Well, you have your warning,” she said.

Then she told him where to pick up the children in 10 minutes. It was indeed in London. Aari called Richard and asked for 2 black vans, with drivers, to pick up the kids. Sky came and picked up Jennifer and the two headed off to London arriving at Mandar’s office building. The vans were waiting and off they went to the pickup spot. The first van drove slowly past the two children who were standing outside of a photo studio. The second van stopped, then drove away quickly, and the children were gone!

“I don’t know Nikolas,” said a man, “the kids ducked down under the window so I couldn’t see them. But the van stopped, the door opened, but no one came out or got in. Then the door closed and the van drove away. I checked, but those kids are gone.” “That’s just great,” said Nikolas, “I just hope the right people got them or those Black Wolves are going to be a big headache for us.”

Meanwhile, as the van was driving away, Jennifer and Sky were trying to comfort the two little children who were crying and wanting to be back with their mother. Jennifer explained that they were taking them to be with their mother now. Then the boy, who is 6, told Jennifer they were with their mother already at the picture building. Jennifer and Sky looked at each other. Then Jennifer communicated with me all that the boy had told them. “Elly Wardlaw,” I said, and Elizabeth looked at me right away. “Oh, uh, she’s, um, my sister,” said Elizabeth. She seemed a bit unsure of what to say, which was odd. “No, Elizabeth is your sister,” I told her, “you are Elly Wardlaw.”

I then asked Wisty to send me a photo of Elizabeth’s sister and she did so right away. “The resemblance is amazing,” I said, “you two could be twins, yet you are two years older than Elizabeth. Now, perhaps you would like to tell me the reason for this deception.” She took out a tube of lipstick and began to apply it to her lips. A rather odd thing to do at this moment. “There is no deception Steve,” she said calmly, “but you never should have taken this case, you are definitely out of your league.”

Since Jennifer had to go with Sky to London, I was here without a ghost to protect me, though Galyna and Hannah have their guns with them and I do have my electrical ability. And this woman had been checked thoroughly for weapons. However, we were not at all ready for what happened next. She took that lipstick tube and pointed it at me and some kind of pulsating force hit me hard. Elly told the girls not to try anything or she would kill me immediately! I kept trying and trying to say Sky’s name, but nothing came out. Finally, however, I managed to say it clearly, “Sky”, though it wasn’t loud.

Sky showed up though, right in front of, and facing, me. I fell to the floor and Sky turned in anger, shooting a bolt of electricity at Elly, killing her instantly. Then she touched me and took me to the clinic where Kat was still helping Samantha. “Steve needs Angel,” said Kat, “maybe bring Carine back here too.” So that’s what Sky did and Angel was soon giving me some strength, but just a little at a time since I am not a ghost. Angel truly is.

So, only Kristina and Friskie are now with Nikolas so they can be our eyes and ears for a while longer. We need our ghosts to join Jennifer in London to help rescue the real Elizabeth. I don’t think Elly was working for Nikolas and Andressa though, she was working for the people who attacked our chateau. But who are those people? Hannah was searching Elly’s purse and discovered something hidden in the lining of the purse. Kat and Jennifer are now in charge while I recover, so Hannah told them what she had found…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.