Page 40 of Ghost
“I wonder what those wallshave seen?” Ghost asked.
“Considering the localveterinarian was concerned about us snooping around the old Milesfamily barn, and his call caused us to be shot at,” Ray summed up,“I’d say they’ve seen their share of shady shit.”
“Well, let’s look aroundand see if he’s left anything behind that’ll be useful,” Brickordered. “Gunner and Conor, have a look in the garage and aroundthe exterior.”
“On it,” Gunnersaid.
They stepped out of the SUV as Eliaspulled up in his cruiser.
“Cross kept a spare key inhis office at the vet clinic,” Elias said while holding up a key.“Saves us having to break in.”
“We could have picked thelock, but have it your way,” Brick said, sounding disappointed, asif Elias had taken the fun out of it.
The team leader was one of a kind, andRay had quickly figured out why Brick held the position. He wasalways in control, but carried an edge that reminded all those whocame in contact with him how badass he was. The SEAL could hand youyour heart still beating and never look back or wonder whether he’dmade the right decision.
He was intelligent, skilled, anddeadly, and held a firm sense of duty, especially the differencebetween right and wrong even when that line grays. Ray would, andhad gone to battle with Brick without question. He brought outexcellence in others and trusted them to get the job done. Ifanything, people wanted to prove Brick’s belief in them waswarranted. The perfect Navy SEAL team leader.
“Cameras,” Gunner saidwhile pointing up at the corner of the house.
“There’s another one on thefar side,” Elias added.
“Hmm, was he concernedabout people breaking in here in Marshall?” Ghost asked. “Notexactly the hotbed of criminal activity.”
“Says the man who was shotat and kidnapped,” Conor joked.
“Good point.”
“Maybe he was watching forsomeone specific,” Ray said. “The man might haveenemies.”
“The Berry family,perhaps,” Brick added.
“Could be,” Rayanswered.
The group split into respective teams,and Elias, Brick, Ghost, and Ray entered the house through the backdoor and directly entered the kitchen area. Ray immediately noticedthe stale air that permeated abandoned places and homes of elderlyindividuals who tended to use only a few rooms of their homes,leaving the rest to collect dust.
“He lived here?” Rayasked.
“Yes. Though it appears abit…” Elias said.
“Barren,” Brickprovided.
“Yes, exactly,” Elias saidas he opened the fridge.
Ray glanced over, noting it containedmilk, butter, coffee creamer, eggs, and a half-full jar of dillpickles. He scanned for the date on the side of the milk carton,which expired two weeks ago. Pickings were slim around here. Hewalked to the cupboards and opened the first one he came to. Insidewas as empty as the fridge. Only a couple plates, bowls, andglasses.
“Being a bachelor is onething, but this surpasses that,” Ray said.
“I was thinking the samething. Let’s take a look around,” Brick ordered.
The group separated. Ray and Ghostheaded toward the living room, which appeared to be in the samestate as the kitchen. Furniture was arranged around the room in anormal fashion. The couch, wall unit, television, side tables,coffee table, and chair all sat in place, but Ray had the distinctimpression no one had sat there for quite some time.
“This place is giving methe creeps,” Ghost said. “It feels dead in here.”
“Makes you wonder where theman spent his time.”
Ghost opened one of the side tables tofind it empty, and Ray opened the other with the sameresults.
“This is getting strangerand stranger,” Ray said.
