When the alarm came through from Catalina we all went upstairs quickly, but I told everyone to stay in the hall and just took Rock with me into the living room. I did not want any visitors to see how many of us there were on this case. Although I know that John would know, but there might be someone else snooping around. Catalina and Cinnamon had their guns pointed at the two men that had come indoors.

“And who is this?” I asked Jackie. “They claim to be friends of John,” she replied, “but I have never seen them before.” “And what do you have to say about that?” I asked the men. “Well, we have not seen John since he got married,” said one man, “we live in California and were driving around the country on vacation and decided to stop in and see John.”

The answer seemed logical enough, but somehow I did not believe them. “There is someone else in the car out there,” said Jackie. Rock and I went to check it out. Once we were outside, the car, a limousine, started to leave. Rock tossed a little “stopper” right in front of the car and it exploded causing the car to stop abruptly. We then went down the steps to the car.

“Well, being a waitress around here must pay well that you can afford something like this,” I said, “now, who are your friends inside Lily?” “Ask them,” she said, rather annoyed. Rock went around to talk with the driver while I talked with Lily. “Get out,” he said firmly. The driver started to roll up the window but Rock just smashed it to pieces and grabbed the man by the neck.

“You want to come out through the window?” he asked. “No, no, wait,” he said very nervously and opened the door. “Okay Lily, time to talk and tell me why you are here,” I said. “Figure it out yourself,” she said, “I just wanted to go for a drive.” Just then Rock smashed her window and she screamed, quickly sliding over to my side. I quickly opened the door and pulled her out.

“Now, we are going inside and talk,” I said. “And what if I refuse to go inside?” she sneered. “Then I will have to get rough with you,” said Kat who had come out to join us. Lily glared at Kat and Kat gave her a good hard slap almost knocking her off her feet. “Who are you working for Lily?” I asked, “it certainly is not John.” “Of course not, he is dead,” she said.

“He is very much alive,” I told her, and she looked genuinely shocked to hear that. “Kenaston said he was dead, so it would be safe for me to come out here,” she exclaimed. “Hmm, nice to know that Kenaston is still alive,” I said. “Oh,” was all she replied. “Rock, go drag those other 2 out here,” I said to him. “With pleasure,” he said and did exactly that.

He was soon out the door, dragging those two men by their arms, down the steps and over to the car. He then dropped them. “Now, all of you get out of here and do not come back,” I told them, “it can get deadly when you start playing with the big boys.” They all got in the car and left in a hurry. “Why did you let them go Steve?” asked Rock.

“They did not know anything that would help us,” I said, “Kenaston just wanted to snoop around a bit. I imagine that Lily is his girlfriend too.” “Go where the money is,” laughed Kat. Meanwhile, “Why did you send some people here?” asked John. “I did not send anyone,” replied Toledo, “who was it?” “I have no idea,” said John, “we could not see from here, except the 2 men that came inside, but I did not recognize them, so I thought you had sent them.

By the way, you had said that woman Kat was dead, but she is here now.” “Kat? Steve’s old wife?” he asked, “she is dead, I checked it out myself three days after she was buried and she was still in that casket, dead as could be. But it does not take much to make someone look like someone else these days. That must be what they did.”

“I will send you a picture of her,” said John, “then tell me it is not her.” “Yeah, looks like her, but that means nothing,” said Toledo, “it is just one of his girls made to look like Kat. I thought you were going to kill that gal anyway.” “I tried, twice, but my gun would not work both times,” he said.

“It is because she is a ghost,” chimed in Herman. “Stop with that ghost story,” said John. “Then why did your gun not work?” he asked, “tell me that.” “Quit arguing you two,” said Toledo, “we have work to do. Have they found that book yet?”

“No, not yet,” said John, “I still do not believe there is a book, it was just a story her aunt told her when she was a kid. We are wasting our time.” “You better not be wasting my time John,” said Toledo, “or you will be 6 feet under like that Kat woman.”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.