CHAPTER SIX
“Julia? Honey, we need you at the bike shop,” said Skull staring at the beautiful young woman.
“At the bike shop? Me? Skull, I have a lot of talents but building or painting motorcycles is not one of them.”
“No, but ghosts are a specialty for you,” he frowned.
“Oh.”
Julia left with Skull asking him questions as they drove back toward the bike shop.
“Is he doing anything?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just standing there looking at the shop. The customers couldn’t see him, but we damn sure did. He’s hard to miss.”
“Why? Is he moaning? Crying?”
“No. He’s got a hole in his chest that if I had to guess is a shotgun wound.”
“A shotgun,” she whispered. “Get Cruz, Wilson, or Doc there too.”
“Already done, honey,” he said pulling up to the shop.
Julia got out of the ATV and turned to see Razor, Gunner, and Bryce on the other side of the road, attempting to speak to the ghost.
She slowly walked across the street, standing next to the three men. They turned to her, happy she was there.
“We can’t get him to speak to us,” said Razor. “He acts as if we’re not even here or that he can’t hear us.”
“Hello,” she said softly, smiling at the ghost. “My name is Julia. I can see you and hear you. Can I help you?”
The ghost didn’t move, didn’t speak, and made no indication that he could do either of those things. She started to take another step forward but Skull gripped her arm, shaking his head.
“We don’t know what he can or can’t do, honey. I’m not risking your life for one that’s gone,” he said calmly.
“Thank you, Skull,” said Joseph walking up to his wife. “He’s right. We don’t know why he’s here.”
Noah joined the group, standing next to Julia. He held out a hand, knowing that their gifts together were more powerful than when apart. Taking his hand, they both dropped to their knees, clutching their chests.
“No! Stop!” said Joseph.
“It’s a-alright,” said Noah. “We just feel his pain in the chest.”
“It’s not okay, you’re in pain!” He was panicking as his wife’s face turned ashen.
“We want to help you,” said Noah. “Let us help you.”
The man just stood there, looking off into the distance as if he didn’t see them or hear them. Yet, they all knew that he could or should be able to do so.
“The pain – the pain is strange,” said Julia, sweat pouring from her forehead. “It’s from so many places, not just the chest.”
“Enough!” said Joseph. “Stop!” He pulled Julia’s hand from Noah’s, hugging his wife, but also reaching out for his friends hand.
“Are you two okay?” asked Skull.
Julia nodded, looking at Noah with a pained smile.
“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” whispered Noah. “He didn’t acknowledge us, didn’t see us. How is that possible?”
“I don’t know,” said Skull, “but let’s see if AJ can find any information about him.”
It took nearly an hour for Noah and Julia to feel normal again. The pain in their chest was profound but considering what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the man’s chest, it made sense.
Seated together in the cafeteria for lunch, they slowly ate, wondering what had happened to the poor man. When AJ walked in, they waited expectantly, hoping he had good news for them.
“Well?” asked Joseph.
“I almost gave up and then suddenly a police call came in. Suspicion of foul play at a small house in Barataria. Gun shots were heard earlier this morning and a woman thought it was her husband out hunting. When he returned, he said he wasn’t hunting he’d gone into town.”
“What’s the address?” asked Joseph. AJ handed it to him and he nodded at Ben and Adam to tag along with him. He kissed Julia, smiling at his wife. “Stay here with Noah. No more holding hands until we figure this out.”
Noah and Julia smiled at him, nodding.
Barataria was a short drive from Belle Fleur. It was easy to find the house with the sheriff’s deputies standing around outside the small shack, and that was putting it mildly.
The weather-beaten building was tilting somewhat to the left, the porch nearly collapsed. The roof couldn’t possibly be sound and the old truck was doubtful as a running vehicle.
“Joseph, Ben, Adam, how are y’all doin’?” asked the sheriff.
“Obviously better than what you’ve found,” said Ben.
“And how did you know we found something?” he smirked.
“AJ heard it on the radio but we also think he, uh, visited us this morning,” said Ben. The sheriff, all too familiar with the happenings at Belle Fleur just nodded.
“Well, he’s been dead a few days at least. I have to hand it to him, he’s creative.”
“Creative?” frowned Joseph.
“Balanced the shotgun on a wobbly table, stabilizing with duct tape. Used a ruler filed down to fit in the trigger hold and was able to kill himself.”
“Are you sure?” asked Adam.
“Positive. You can look if you don’t believe me,” he said waving toward the door. All three men nodded, stepping toward the door and looking at the gruesome sight. The man lying back in the chair was definitely their most recent ghost.
“Do you have a name?” asked Joseph walking back toward the lawman.
“Casimir Costello. Unemployed pipefitter. Wife and kids left him three months ago. They live in up near Baton Rouge now. Folks said he’s been living in the shack rent free for about two months now. He promised the owner he’d fix it up but never did anything to it.”
“Thanks, sheriff,” said Joseph nodding at Ben and Adam to leave. When they got in the car, Ben spoke the same words Nine and Gaspar always spoke.
“Ain’t this some shit.”