Page 10 of Ghost

“Hey, Gator. This is mybuddy Ray from Seattle,” Elias explained. “We’ll take a round ofbeers and hot wings.”

“Yeah, the detective I’vebeen hearing about,” Gator said as he reached out his hand over theshiny bar top. “Good to finally meet you, man.”

“Gator, the infamousalligator wrestler,” Ray said as he shook the man’s offered hand.“Pleasures all mine.”

They sidled to the bar, and Ray easilydowned half his beer bottle in one swig when it was set down infront of him.

“Take it easy. I’m notcarrying your seven-foot ass back to the truck if you getshit-faced.” Elias chuckled before downing his own beer in the samemeasure.

“Shut up. It would take ahell of a lot more than half a beer to knock me on myass.”

“You gonna explain thesituation about this town, or will I have to wait you out?” Eliasasked.

“Not yet.”

“Understood. I’m a patientman. After lunch, we’ll swing by the station, pick up a few boxeswe dug out of the old storage shed, and take them back to the lakehouse. Julia, Gunner, and Stryker are bringing out the boxes Sophiahad stored in the house and the one that the prison sent over withFather Jones’s belongings after his death.”

“There are records datingback to the fifties,” Brick explained.

“That’d be during mygrandfather’s tenure as sheriff. My father took over in the lateseventies and retired when Elias took over a couple yearsback.”

“Imagine it’ll beinteresting going through your family’s notes,” Roman said. “Whereare your parents now?”

“They retired out inFlorida,” Ray said. “That was always their plan after my fatherfinally hung up his badge. And yes, I’m eager to look through thefiles.”

He’d honestly loved listening to thestories his father and grandfather used to tell him when he wasyoung about cases and interesting happenings around town. Rayremembered sitting in awe of them and all they’d done and seen. Atleast until the shine wore off when he became an adult and learnedthe way of the world.

“I figured. It’d be a walkdown memory lane, but you have years of experience to draw on thistime. Be like looking through new eyes,” Elias said.

“So, what are you gonna doabout your conference in Vegas?” Roman asked.

“I’ll have to attend that,but I’ve got some vacation time that my captain has been houndingme to use up. I’ve sent him an email, and if it checks out, I’llcome back to Marshall after Vegas and pick up wherever we endoff.”

“I appreciate you doingthis for me and the help you provided when we were searching forKyle,” Brick said. “If there ever comes a time when you need help,you’ll have it.”

Ray didn’t imagine Brick was in thehabit of handing out IOUs, and he took the offer with the samedegree of seriousness as it had been given.

“Thank you.”

“Here you go, guys, fiveorders of wings and another round of beers,” Gator said as he beganhanding out their lunches.

The conversation died down as they duginto their hot wings, but Ray’s mind circled back around to Ghost,as it increasingly did. He wondered if Ghost was still out walkingin the forest or had come back into the house now Ray was gone. Hewas still worried about Ghost’s reaction to him.

Flashes of thoseunforgettable crystal-clear blue eyes made his senses spike, andthe hair on his arms stood up. I am soscrewed.

***

Ghost

The team gathered throughout the lakehouse’s kitchen and living room, searching through stacks of boxesfull of paper. At least two dozen boxes were already stored in therenovated shed on the property, and another dozen boxes had arrivedtoday when Brick and the others returned from town. The plan was todivide all information regarding Sophia and her family, JerichoMiles, his family, and Father Henry Jones.

Ghost couldn’t help but be hyperawareof Ray’s location at the kitchen table, as he took notes when teammembers brought any interesting paperwork for him to review. Ghosthad to admit Brick was placing great faith and trust in thedetective by giving him the lead on this case.

From what he’d been told, not only didRay grow up in Marshall, but he’d been the sheriff’s grandson. WhenRay’s dad took over as sheriff, Ray had molded himself into a goodson—star quarterback on the high school football team, modelstudent—and he’d been scouted by several high-level collegesoffering full rides. But Ray had had different ideas as to hisplace in the world. He’d immediately signed up for the Marines theday after graduating high school and shipped out almost the sameweek. Ghost had the distinct impression that Ray had been runningfrom something, but perhaps he’d been simply patriotic.

After over a decade spent serving inthe Marines and receiving multiple medals and promotions, Raydecided to change things up and took a position in Seattle as adetective instead of his expected position as sheiff in hishometown. Ray recommended his Marine buddy Elias Cooper instead forthe position, then walked away. His career as a detective had seenRay receive awards for bravery and a promotion to the rank oflieutenant.

The man was a mystery to him. Abovethe surface, Ray appeared calm and in control, but to Ghost, moreinteresting things were happening underneath that strong,unshakeable image. Ray was a man with secrets he was unwilling toshare. Ghost knew what it was like to appear one way on the outsidewhile concealing a crucial part of himself from the rest of theworld. It was the only way to survive. He knew what it was like tohave a secret so deep it festered.

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