As Rock and the team entered the nightclub, Al and two men came out with shotguns. “Get out of here whoever you are,” said Al. “Put away the scatter guns,” said Rock, “we are too spread out for you to hit many of us, and then you would die before getting a second shot. I just want information, and I know you have the answers.”

“What do you want?” said Al, “information is not free around here, I need to eat.” “Looks to me like you should be eating quite well,” said Rock, “but I will pay for honest information. I want Scorpion and Butcher, where are they? Give them to me. The police will be here shortly and will close you down for good if you do not help us.”

Al had to think for a bit and while he was thinking, Kate walked up closer holding Rusty and whispering to him not to worry, he was safe while she was holding him. He trusted Kat so was calm as could be. “Stay back gal,” said one of the men. “Sorry to inform you, but your guns are useless against me,” said Kat, “you see, I am already dead, and you cannot kill a dead woman.”

Al looked at her. “Is she okay?” he asked Rock, “or some kind of nut case?” Rusty growled when he said that. Kat continued to walk closer. “She is right,” said Rock, “she really is dead, and buried. Now, what about Scorpion and Butcher?” “You are asking a lot,” said Al, “Scorpion is not dead yet, he still has a big organization to help him. And Butcher is not finished either, he has Freda and Reggie to help him.”

“Freda and Reggie are dead Al,” said Rock, “so she cannot help Butcher anymore. And Scorpion’s organization is a lot smaller than it was.” Crystal had been holding Storm, but let him go while the talking was going on, and he walked behind the men and sniffed around at some curtains along the back wall of the place. Then his ears went straight up and he pointed to the curtains.

Rock spotted that and yelled, “come out here you two, I know you are hiding behind those curtains!” They both did come out, but Butcher was just ahead of Scorpion, with a gun pointed at his head. “I will give you Butcher if you let me go,” he said. Rock thought for a moment. “Okay, that is a deal, but only if Butcher stays alive,” agreed Rock.

Al and his men put their weapons pointing downward and Scorpion disappeared behind the curtains again. Rock then took Butcher and the team left. “Do you think Scorpion will get away?” asked one of the men after the team had gone. “Sure,” said Al, “he is taking the tunnel to the sewer, then come up down the lane a piece. Lots have used that escape route over the years and no cop has ever caught them or found out about the tunnel.” They all laughed.

But the team planted a listening device and heard everything. Scorpion came up, further down than usual, but he wanted to make sure he could get away. No one was around, so up he came. “Hi Scorpion,” said Kat, “remember me?” He turned and tried to shoot, but nothing happened. “You guys just never listen,” she said and she quickly went over and with a couple of kicks she had him subdued.

Meow.=He not so smart bad man. Kat laughed, then called for Rock and the team came to pick up Scorpion. Then they handed Scorpion and Butcher to the police who safely locked them up until their trial arrived.

Meanwhile back home… Galyna came walking down the hall and spotted Muffin listening at the door of Margaret. She frowned, but Muffin put her paw to her mouth signaling to stay quiet. Galyna listened too, but could only tell that Margaret was talking to someone, and she must be using her phone, after promising she would only use it with permission.

Meow,meow.=All over, me have big news. Galyna picked her up and they went to see Sky and Nelson. Mac and Clarence were there as well. Meow,meow.= Have big news. Human grandmother on phone to someone name Ransom. But she not real grandmother, she kill real one and take place. She work for Ransom, want to kill or kidnap my human.

Scorpion man work for this Ransom man too. Ransom son of not real grandmother person, same with Scorpion. She say Ransom is smartest in family. They need to kill human Karalyn too so fake grandmother can inherit her insurance money. Butcher is another son too.

“Well, well, quite the family affair,” said Nelson, “guess we need to lock up this grandmother.” “Maybe not,” said Mac, “we need to find out where this Ransom guy lives. Better to leave her alone for now and she will lead us to him. But we will need to watch her closely.” “I like that idea,” said Nelson, “now to get hold of Rock…”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.