Well, we waited a couple more days and everyone got to meet Loon which was good. We will have a meeting when we get back about letting him into The Investigators. I like him and think he will fit in with us quite nicely. I also invited him to join us on this case, providing he was willing to follow our rules. He was more than happy to do that.

He already knows how to fight and use a variety of guns and is good with a knife as well. He is also great at picking locks, something we need on our team now that MC is not here. Annelie has given him a whole new identity already too and three names to choose from. He picked Cooper Miles and I imagine we will end up calling him Miles most of the time and he was fine with that too.

Annelie is going to keep teaching Tracy to take her place, and now Sky wanted to join in on that too. She was a bit discouraged at first about being confined to a wheelchair since she is so active. But I told her she can be just as helpful, or maybe more so, now that she is in a wheelchair. We need people that can be at home too, for helping us, organizing things and getting help to us quickly when needed.

I wanted Rock to get back to Australia right away, but he said that things are a bit slow right now so it is a good time for taking some time off. I think he is just worried about me. Later I found out that Sky had asked him to go along with us for that purpose. Sigh. And before we left she also had a talk with Crystal and Kate.

“Make sure you do not let Steve out of your sight,” she told them firmly, “I mean that, I am trusting you two to watch him and bring him back in one piece!” “You are worrying too much Sky,” said Kate, “but we promise to watch him the whole time.” “Maybe I am,” said Sky, “but he just got over this virus and with all his other problems, yes, I am worried. Crystal, you are married to Steve, remember that, please.”

“Okay Sky,” she said smiling, “if that is the way you want it, then it is done. But what if Steve says no?” “He has no say in this,” said Sky, “this is my choice each time.” We were soon in the air flying to Canada. We will pick up Cynthia, Tiffany and Felina in Toronto and then fly to Vancouver. Once there we will meet Cynthia’s friend Aubrey and get more information about this case.

Mac, John, Frank, Aari and Miles came along, plus Clarence asked if he could help us so he is here too. We also have Aasta, Crystal, Kate, Cinnamon and Catalina. And all 4 cats came along this time too. Since this is a murder mystery, I thought perhaps they would be quite helpful in finding clues for us. We did not time things too well and it was already quite late by the time we arrived in Vancouver.

So we checked into our hotel and would meet Aubrey in the morning. She came to meet us at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. She had been living with her parents but had to move out and she was now living in an apartment with 2 other women. It is not working out too well though since she does not know these women and they are not getting along very well. But right now she has nowhere else to go.

Aubrey had told her dad not to borrow money from the man who had shown up one day. This man had heard that her dad wanted to buy a house but was unable to borrow from the bank so he offered him a good deal that her dad could not refuse. “Such good deals seldom are good,” I said to her.

“Yes, but he really wanted to buy a certain house,” she said, “and it was such a nice place. But I did not have a good feeling about signing the house over to the man if dad died for any reason. It just did not seem right.” “How did he find out your dad wanted to buy that house?” asked Aari. “Apparently he knew the owners of the house,” said Aubrey, “at least, that is what he told us, but they had never heard of the man. His name is Joshua Whitaker.”

“Did you get that Annelie?” I asked. “On it right now Steve,” she said. “Can I ask a question Steve?” asked Miles. “Go right ahead,” I told him. “Is that guy really big?” he asked. “Yep,” answered Aubrey, “he even said he weighed 300 pounds.” “You know him Miles?” I asked. “I know about him,” he said, “but we have never met.”

“Good, that might be helpful for us,” I said. “When dad got back from signing the papers he had a black eye and a big bruise on his cheek,” said Aubrey, “he told us he had fallen down the stairs at the man’s office, but it looked more like he had been hit.”

“Hmm, too bad he did not go to the police right then,” I said. “No proof of anything though,” said Aari, “that is how those guys work, through fear.” “Hmm, a little fear might be a good idea,” said Kate. “Not yet,” I said smiling, “perhaps later…”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.