Page 41 of Ghost
He could hear Elias and Brick down thehall looking through the bedrooms. “This place isempty.”
What the hell is going onhere?
Ray went to a door set at the back ofthe living room. Opening it, he found a closet with a couple ofcoats hanging that looked like they’d never been worn. A thicklayer of dust lay on the fabric, but Ray noticed the rod holdingthe coats was clean, not a speck of dust.
“Look at this,” Ray said toGhost.
Ghost came over to look inside. “Acloset?”
“Yes, or that’s what itappears to be.”
“What do youmean?”
“Whatcha got?” Brick askedas he entered the room.
“Just a suspicion, butsomething’s not right about this closet. The coats are new butcovered in dust, and the rod is dust-free as if the coats had beenslid aside regularly.”
Ray pushed the coats aside to get abetter look inside. He felt around the walls for anything thatstood out but found nothing. Ray turned and ran his fingers alongthe inside frame of the door, where his fingers caught on aswitch.
“What do we havehere?”
Ray flipped the switch, and the wallat the back of the closet popped open, leading to a set of stairsand a light turned on.
“Holy shit,” Ghostgasped.
Ray pulled out his Glock, as did Brickand Elias. No telling who or what was down there.
“Ghost, I want you to stayhere for now,” Ray said. Ghost didn’t have a weapon and wasn’tmilitary-trained. At that moment, Ray decided he’d make it hismission to teach his lover how to use a gun and protect himself.Then it occurred to him that Ghost could, in fact, fry someone’sbrain, but it still put Ghost out of commission, leaving him unableto protect himself. So that ability was more of a last-ditch effortwhen all else failed.
“But—” Ghost began, but wascut off quickly.
“No buts. Wait until weclear it.”
“Fine.” Ray chuckled atGhost’s pouting tone.
Elias stepped forward and took thelead as the local lawman.
“Sheriff’s office. Ifyou’re down there, announce yourself now,” he ordered.
Nothing.
“This is Sheriff Cooper.I’m coming down. Don’t shoot anyone.”
Elias led the way down the stairs withRay on his heels and Brick covering the rear. This situation wasn’ton his bingo card for today, but Ray could roll with it. He’d spenthis life pivoting and changing directions. Why stop now?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ghost
Ghost watched as the three descendedinto the hidden basement. The back door opened, and before Ghostcould worry, Conor announced themselves.
“It’s us. Where iseveryone?”
“Some down below, and theothers in the living room,” Ghost answered.
“Looks like you guys didbetter than we did,” Conor said.
“Ray found a secretentrance to the basement,” Ghost explained.
