Carmen had just told Jennifer about one of Vincent’s friends, a man that scared her terribly and he always stared at her with his cold, dark eyes. She hated whenever he came over, but Vincent kept telling her she was crazy and that his friend was really a very nice guy. But she didn’t think he was nice at all and she still didn’t like even thinking about him. She also never told the police about that man either. His name is Dimitri Santoro. Jennifer then left but she told Carmen not to worry, she would be back again. Plus, we would get her out of jail and ensure she was found not guilty of Vincent’s murder.

“But, how do you get in and out of here,” she asked, “when the door is already locked?” “Just close your eyes,” said Jennifer, and soon Carmen was asleep. She will remember talking with Jennifer, but she will think that Jennifer left with Kat. I asked Cristy and Wisty to start digging and find out what they can about this Dimitri Santoro. Later Kat called and told me that her interview with the yacht club president was quick and meaningless. That meant he wouldn’t talk to her and he told Kat to mind her own business. Kat just reminded him that this was her business and she would be back.

Then she told me the man’s name which was Toby Moretti. I asked Trixie to check on his past, very quickly. Then a thought came to me and I called Mac. “Ever hear of a man named Dimitri Santoro?” I asked him. “Yeah,” he said, “he’s known as The Lizard, cold and dangerous.” “Is he possibly a killer for hire?” I asked. “Yeah, he sure is,” said Mac, “and hard to find, he hides under rocks.” “Find him Mac,” I said, “he could be our killer and that means Carmen is in danger too, though right now she might be safe in jail.” “If he wants Carmen,” said Mac, “she isn’t safe anywhere.”

I didn’t like that little bit of information, but I understand what Mac means. Santoro could have friends in jail that would be willing to kill Carmen for him. That’s not a good thought so I relayed that information to Kat and Jennifer. Kat and her team will be checking out the yacht next, but that will be after dinner. It’s quite amazing that Vincent could be killed on his yacht without anyone seeing, or hearing, anything. He had been shot in the side of the head while he was sleeping. At least, that’s what it looked like.

Apparently nearly everyone on the yacht, which was 41 people, saw Carmen come onto the yacht around 2am and she was red hot angry. Carmen and Vincent went to his cabin while all the guests decided to leave. Only 3 men stayed behind, Vincent’s bodyguards, which he always had at these parties. They claim that Carmen came out of the cabin around 4am, tossed something small overboard, then left the yacht. They said Carmen looked very happy when she left, so they figured Vincent had given her some shopping money to calm her down.

They claimed that Carmen had a horrible temper and Vincent always calmed her down with some shopping money. Aari and the Black Wolves are trying to track down these 3 bodyguards, plus some of the guests from that night. Rossana gave us a list of the guests but Aari is trying to find some of the lesser known guests. He doesn’t want to stir up trouble with some of the more prominent guests just yet, they will be saved until later if we need them. I was getting a bit tired, so I decided to lie down for a while before dinner. Guess I fell asleep so Erika and Steffie came looking for me because I was late for dinner.

They came running in and jumping on the bed saying “Daddy, wake up, it’s time to eat!” I barely opened my eyes and I tried to say something, but nothing came out, not any sound whatever. Steffie thought I was playing, but Erika knew better and pressed the alarm button. Soon I was on a stretcher and being carried down to the clinic. Angel communicated with Jennifer right away and soon she was beside me, having been brought here by Sky. Sky then took Frisky back with her so Jennifer could stay here with me for now. Samantha told Jennifer that it was likely just a relapse from what happened to me in the desert.

My body still wasn’t fully recovered from that and I really shouldn’t be doing any work at all right now. “The stress is just too much for him still,” said Samantha, “he needs more time to recover fully.” Jennifer came back in to the room with me and told me what Samantha had said just now. “You need to let us work on this one Steve,” she said, “while you relax so that recovery will be complete. You have trained us all very well, we can manage one case without you.” She was smiling so nicely.

“In other words,” I said, “I’m not really necessary anymore.” “No, that is not what I said,” she scolded, “you are very necessary, but if you don’t relax and sit this one out, then you may do some permanent damage and that would be worse.” “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I said. “Now, you will listen to Samantha, right?” she asked. “Yes, I will do my best to obey her,” I said. She frowned at me. “I will do whatever she tells me,” I clarified. “Okay, that’s better,” she said, “I will let the kids bring you one donut each day while you’re in the clinic.” “Only one?” I said, trying to look sad. “Okay, 2 then,” she said, “but don’t let Samantha catch you.” I smiled. “Thank you!” I said cheerfully.

She then told the kids the same thing and she better not catch them disobeying the rules. Misty came along right then so Jennifer told her how many donuts she could bring me and she held up her fingers forming a 0. Misty slouched over and shuffled away. The next morning Sky brought Friskie home and took Jennifer back with her. Four of the girls were in the kitchen making donuts and one of them had just finished a batch of donut holes, that’s what the kids love to call them.

Anyway, Melody had just finished piling them up nicely on a plate, then started on the next batch. Misty was waiting and she managed to sneak in, hiding behind the table. She quickly grabbed the plate and dumped the donut holes into a bag and she was suddenly gone. Down the hall she came to the clinic, then carefully listened at the door. Then in she came. Erika and Steffie popped up on the other side of the bed. “We smell donuts!” they exclaimed. “Hey, not so loud,” said Misty, “and they’re donut holes.” “YES!” said the kids together.

“Jennifer told me that I could bring you donut holes, but not donuts,” said Misty. “How strange,” I said, “but I’m glad.” All three of them were sitting on the bed with me now. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. Meanwhile, back with the teams. One other thing that Carmen mentioned to Jennifer before was that Vincent mentioned to her several times that their future was in their house, but he never told her what that meant.

Kat and Jennifer figure it means Vincent had something valuable hidden in the house and Aari agreed with that. So, Sherry drove by the house slowly with Kat, Jennifer and Sky, who then jumped out so Sherry wouldn’t have to stop, in case the police were watching the house still. Since the ghosts were invisible, they can easily go in and look around the house without being disturbed. They each have their cats along as well, plus Mac, just in case they find a safe hidden somewhere.

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.