Page 52 of Ghost
“We began thisinvestigation looking into if the priest actually shot Jericho andwhat happened with Sophia’s baby,” Ray began tosummarize.
“Now we know that Sophiawas likely pregnant when Jericho shipped out and sent away by herparents,” Ghost added.
“And that child is eitherStryker’s father or mother,” Conor said.
“Then, thanks to Ghost, wefound out the town vet and the Berrys were up to something dubious,and they tried to scare Ray and Ghost off by shooting at them,”Gunner mentioned.
“Then Cross turned up dead,and we found all that information in his hidden basement,” Eliassaid. “This led us to the company the Cross and Berry familiescreated to buy up land in Marshall.”
“Likely to control thefreshwater spring and water in the area,” Shaw said. “With that,they could force all the ranchers and farmers to pay for the neededwater, which is currently freely shared by Bryan’s familyranch.”
“Also, if someone didn’twant to sell, they suddenly had accidents,” Ghost said. Theknowledge that this had freely been happening for generations stillstunned him.
“Paving the way for thelocal government to sell off the property,” Ray said.
“Which was Mayor Cross,”Harris added.
“What we still don’t knowis why the priest shot Jericho or if he even did,” Ray reminded thegroup.
Everyone sat quietly, processing theinformation. Ghost couldn’t help but feel like they were missingsomething, but he didn’t know what it was. Then it hithim.
“Do we know where Sophia’sparents sent her to have the baby?” he asked.
Ray and Spencer began flipping throughfiles as Harris tapped away on his computer.
“There’s a record of hersocial security number being recorded in Florida in 1952. Sophiawas born in 1933, so she would have been nineteen years old, andJericho would have left for war before that,” Harrisannounced.
“Were there any homes forunmarried mothers in Florida then?” Ghost asked.
“The Florence CrittentonHomes for unwed pregnant women was located there and required womento put their babies up for adoption before they returned to theirhometowns,” Spencer said.
“We need the fifty-twoFlorence Crittenton Homes records,” Brick ordered.
“On it,” Spencersaid.
Brick looked over at Stryker. “We’llfigure this out. I swear it.”
With Stryker’s nod, everyone went backto work. Only a handful of boxes left hadn’t been opened, and Ghosthoped they had all their answers before they hit the bottom of thelast box.
“I may have a plan,” Ghostannounced. “Here’s what we do.”
***
Ray
Jake shuffled in his chair as Rayfaked looking through some papers in a file. He wanted the man tosquirm.
“We’ re releasing you,” Raysaid as he closed the file.
“What?” Jake asked, hisshock evident.
“You’re free to go. Yourbelongings will be returned to you at the front desk.”
Ray stood and made a move toleave.
“Wait. Have you arrestedsomeone?”
“No, but it’s been decidedthere isn’t enough evidence to prove you killed Cross. Thank youfor your cooperation. If we need any further information, we’ll bein touch.”
