Page 38 of Ghost
“I could eat,” Ghost said.The others echoed that sentiment.
“Thanks, deputy,” Eliassaid before hanging up. “Mr. Cross’s truck was found a few milesfrom the town limits. It was empty. To answer your question, Ghost,he could have gotten spooked when you started looking into JerichoMiles’s death.”
Julia and Rick, Spencer’s partner,brought over platters with eggs, turkey bacon, toast, whole wheatpancakes, and fresh fruit and set them on the table with a stack ofplates and utensils.
“Dig in,” Rick said, andthese men didn’t have to be told twice. All discussion stoppeduntil most of the food was eaten—which didn’t take long.
“That was great, thankyou,” Brick said.
Thanks and compliments came from theteam sitting around the table.
“We’ll go out and have alook at Mr. Cross’s house,” Brick said. “Will the truck be broughtinto the station?”
“Yes, we’re having ittowed,” Elais said as he stood. “I’ll meet you at the vet’s housearound ten.”
Brick nodded, and Elias walked out thefront door, likely on his way to the station. Ray took Ghost’sempty cup and refilled it with coffee.
“Thanks,” Ghost said. Itfelt so good having Ray beside him.
It’d been one hell of a night. A nightGhost wouldn’t likely forget for a long time, if ever. They’d gonethree rounds before both passed out from exhaustion, and Ghost wassurprised he was walking straight this morning. He was enjoying thelooks and touches Ray was giving him. That thought brought upanother. What would happen when Ray returned to Seattle? Hecouldn’t stay at Fire Lake forever. Before he could get too caughtup in that thought, the back door opened, and Shaw walked in withanother man. This had to be Detective Rocko Owens, the man who’dhelped track Ghost down and Ray’s former hookup buddy.
He was strikingly handsome. His blondhair was cut high and tight, and his green eyes scanned the room,like the other team members, looking for threats. He was tall,muscular, and tanned; no secret there. The man lived in Florida,the Sunshine State. Ghost noticed the tattoo on his left bicep. Ithad a skull wearing a beret with a knife in the background, and abanner that read, “RANGER AIRBORNE.” A military veteran made sensegiven how he behaved, always on guard.
Normally, Ghost wouldn’t have beensure how to act around this man, but after recent events with theteam, he didn’t have an ounce of uncertainty. By the look onRocko’s face, the man didn’t feel quite the same.
“Hey, have you eaten?”Julia asked the new arrivals.
“Yes, thanks. We’re good,”Shaw said.
Ray stood and placed his hand onGhost’s shoulder. “Ghost, this is Detective RockoOwens.”
Rocko stood beside the table, lookingunsure if he should sit or stand. Ghost knew too well what it feltto be the outsider, and it sucked. He stood, and everyone at thetable quieted as he crossed the kitchen to stand in front of Rockoand held out his hand.
“Thank you for helpingtrack me down, Rocko.”
The relief on the man’s face wasevident as he took Ghost’s hand and shook it.
“I’m glad I could help insome way, and I want you to know how sorry I am for the confusion Icaused.”
“It all worked out. We wereable to shut down another one of those damn Noah Groupcompounds.”
“Thanks,” Rocko said with agrin. “You’re letting me off easy.”
“What’s the use in makingit difficult? Welcome to our strange and crazy world of mutants theNoah Group created and continues to hunt. We need everyone we canget to stop them from taking over and hurting anyone else. We’reall in this together.”
“I see what Ray was talkingabout; youareoneof a kind.”
“And he’s all mine,” Raysaid as he came up behind Ghost and wrapped his arms around hiswaist.
Rocko put his hands up in mocksurrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Brick laughed, then grew serious. “Wehave thirty minutes before we move out. I want Spencer, Shaw, andRocko to head to the station to check out Mr. Cross’s vehicle forany clues. Rocko, see if you can pick up a trail we can follow.Ray, Ghost, Conor, and Gunner are with me to search his house.Stryker, Harris, Woodley, and Jason, I want you to have anotherlook around that barn that got the veterinarian upset in the firstplace.”
“Oh yeah. Did you everreceive that picture I sent you?” Ghost asked Ray.
“Sorry, what picture?” Rayasked.
“The one I took in the barnbefore falling through the hayloft.”
