It is quite amazing how Vincent was quick to leave the safety of the Shining Moon and go check on that other house that Jennifer told him about. But, I guess all that City Club wealth was just too much for Vincent, so he had to go and check. He did wear a bullet proof vest, but that wouldn’t have protected him from our snipers, they would have shot him in the head. But, I had told them to leave Vincent alone, not because I was trying to help him, but the police were quite adamant that we leave him alone.

However, we could do what we wanted with the town leaders, and there were many involved in ruling this town. The judge was working with them, and all the lawyers, the six doctors in town plus the top people in the hospital. They will all find themselves in prison for messing around with health records of Ivy and many others. They helped to erase the life history of all those children we rescued too, plus the women we rescued. Our home team did an amazing job uncovering all of this for us.

It was sad though, a whole town taken over by these people, and it included the main business people in town as well. They were able to do what they wanted, charging exorbitant prices in stores and in construction. If people complained, the construction company would deliberately knock out a wall in their home, then charge them an outrageous price to fix it. And if people tried to leave town, their bodies were added to the cemetery. It’s amazing how much damage they did in just a couple of years. I guess Ivy’s family were just too scared to tell her about what was going on here.

It has hit Ivy very hard. She feels responsible for the deaths of her family. Big brother Steve is feeling kind of helpless at the moment. Sky is feeling a bit better since she didn’t really miss much of a fight, and she got to go with Jennifer to visit Vincent and Winters. Sky was the power behind the deaths of the two men. Winters was not killed by our snipers though, he was killed by his own sniper, on orders from Veronica, apparently. They don’t seem to have much loyalty in that group. When Jennifer, Sky and Kitty returned, Ivy and Dawn were sleeping on the bed and I was back sitting in that big armchair with Celestine on my lap this time.

She was trying to convince me that I was not responsible for what happened to Dawn and Ivy, so I need to stop thinking I was responsible, stop beating myself up, so to speak. But it was hard. Jennifer smiled when she saw Celestine curled up on my lap with her head against mine, just like with Dawn, except this time I needed the hug. Jennifer took another picture, so did Sky. Then Celestine got up and Jennifer sat curled up on my lap. Sky took a picture, so did Celestine.

Aari and the Black Wolves went to check the spot the Curator told us about. They found the grave, marked just like the Curator said. He believed that if he didn’t mark the graves, then something bad would happen to him. Apparently he was quite superstitious, which was helpful to us. There were several other marked graves in that small ravine, so I called the police in the city about an hour and a half away. We had talked with them extensively before coming here. They sent out a team who could properly handle the bodies.

They were indeed Ivy’s family, so we set about the process to bring them home with us to bury in our cemetery. Meanwhile, Vincent wasn’t too happy at the moment, even though he found most of The City Club’s property. He had all of their financial books (they still did things the old fashioned way, which in some ways, is safer), plus all other legal papers and not so legal papers, all the guns and drugs. But, some minor items were missing, such as all the money and all the gems and jewelry. That added up to quite a large amount.

Alfred looked at the gems and jewelry and he assured me that none of it was stolen. That was certainly a surprise. He thought perhaps they had a deal with some mines in different countries where they could pick out their own gems of emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds. Then they cut them and made expensive jewelry to sell. There must be something illegally done somewhere along the way, but perhaps not. Maybe they actually had one legitimate business operating, but I still had doubts. The missing money was with Veronica and mayor Dean.

They have an apartment on the top floor of the town municipal building. Back to us again. We went down to the restaurant for dinner, well, most of the team did. Ivy and Dawn didn’t feel like going to the restaurant, so Jennifer and I stayed in the room with them. Celestine, Misty, TJ, Chantelle and Chelsea stayed with us too and we ordered room service. Our girls brought the food up to us since the hotel is short on staff right now. Chantelle, TJ and Chelsea had their lives erased, just like Ivy. The night passed quickly and quietly for us which was very nice.

We stayed in our room for breakfast too, while all the others went to the restaurant. Sky informed me that Vincent had come in with some men, so I went down to talk with him and let him know where he could find his money. He thanked me and left with his men after eating. He found the remaining group members having a meeting in the mayor’s office, they were talking about what to do after finding out that Winters, Scott, the Surgeon and the Curator were all dead.

That’s when Vincent came in with his men and he told the mayor (who had been shot before, but only wounded) not to call the police, since they were all dead. Vincent then shot the fire chief (who also was only wounded before) and the councilor, plus 3 other men who had joined the meeting. The mayor then stood up with a gun pointed at Vincent, but Veronica shot the mayor thinking that would put her in favor with Vincent, however, he just said thank you and shot her. Then he and his men recovered their money and decided to head back to New York City with all of their property.

However, they were met by the police before they left the state and all were arrested. Then a very large number of police, plus state and federal authorities came to the town. As they were coming into town, we were leaving, heading back to the city where our planes were waiting for us. Soon we were over the ocean, heading home once again.

It seemed like there was unfinished business, but it was necessary to let the police take over and finish things this time. We were awarded the gems and jewelry as a reward for our part in taking down the City Club and freeing this town, although I’m not so sure that town is truly free yet, it might take some time. It was good to get back home and relax once more, with 3 new additions to our “family”.

TJ is 16 and Chelsea is 15 so they won’t be joining the Investigators just yet, but Chantelle has expressed an interest in joining, if she can pass the tests. I guess now we can start our Christmas preparations, since everyone will be staying home this year, a new tradition beginning for us. But will something interrupt our Christmas plans?

This Case Ends, but another one is coming. ©2025 Steve McLeod.