CHAPTER NINETEEN
“So, we have one ghost safely and happily transitioned,” said Luke, nodding at the others. “That leaves three more. What do we have on Edie Rose?”
“The accounting team is working through all the bills left behind and we’re still looking into anything and everything that may have caused her to do this.
For the time being, we’ve paid of the house her mother and grandmother are living in and made sure there was enough in an account to pay their utilities for the next ten years. ”
“When do we think we’ll have the numbers on the medical bills?” asked Cam.
“They said to give them a week to review it all. We’ve got a lot of different things going on, so we want to be sure we get this one right.”
“Good,” nodded Eric. “We’re still working on all the active commissions for Morgan. Javier and Chelsea are back from their honeymoon but couldn’t offer any insight into what she was working on.”
“What about Clementine?” asked Hex.
“This one is puzzling,” said Luke. “She was the all-American mom. She baked for the kids school bake sales, she was in a book club with the women in her neighborhood, she made lap quilts for hospice patients. This woman, by all accounts, was a saint. So, why did she kill herself?”
“Not just that,” said Milo, “but why did she kill herself in such a horrible way? She could have taken pills or shot herself. Are we certain this was a suicide?”
“We can get the reports from the coroner and the police but it looks like it was. Her prints were on the tools in the shed, the hatchet, as well as the hammer and screwdriver used to nail it to the walls.”
“Do you know what this feels like to me?” said Griff.
“It feels like someone who thought they should be punished in their death. Think about it. She could have taken an overdose. She could have jumped off a bridge, driven her car off a bridge. She could have shot herself. Instead, she did something that would cause the maximum amount of suffering and pain. That’s someone seeking penance in death. ”
“So, you think she did something wrong? Something to deserve the penance?” asked Hex.
“I don’t think she deserved that but I’m saying I think she thought she deserved it. The question is, what would be so horrible, terrible that she believed she needed to kill herself?”
“Why can’t these damn ghosts just speak to us?” asked Luke staring off across the property. There was another storm coming and they knew that it could slow their progress.
“Luke, y’all come have some dinner,” said Ajei standing in the doorway with some of the other medical staff, including Shep. “You’ve done enough for today. You’ll figure this out but you won’t do it on an empty stomach and exhausted.”
“She’s right, Luke. You guys have to take care of yourselves,” said Shep. “I know this is stressful and I know that you guys want to figure this out but you can’t do that if you get sick.”
“You’re right,” he said kissing his wife. He looked at Shep and shook his head. “I’m not kissing you for the advice.”
“No problem. I think I’ll pass on that,” he smirked.
Dinner was always an event at Belle Fleur. Mama Irene started the tradition of making sure everyone was together when possible. It was the time of day to truly break bread together, talk about the day’s events and just reconnect with the family. Tonight was no different.
They made sure to put the cases on the shelf and only talk about Belle Fleur. Discussions surrounded the possibility of flooding due to all the rain, the animals restlessness not going away, and Mardi Gras creeping up on them quickly.
“You know we’re going to have the parade of boats again,” said Ajei. “Your grandmother insists on that every year and we’re not going to disappoint her.”
“I know, I know,” said Luke. “In fact, I think I’ll put Carl and Adam in charge of it this year. They both know how she likes the floats to be decorated and we can put out word for the parade among the other families in the area.”
“I’m glad you’re agreeing to all of this,” smiled Ajei. “It makes all our lives easier when you do.”
“I thought Mardi Gras happened in the city,” said Shep.
“It does,” said Ben, “but it also happens in the rural areas. In fact, most people go to New Orleans and miss some of the most beautiful traditions in the smaller towns. We love our celebrations out here. In fact, we try to avoid the city if at all possible.”
“You know, probably a crap time to bring this up, but I had a roommate in bootcamp that died at Mardi Gras,” said Shep.
“That’s terrible,” frowned Ajei. “We probably heard about it. How long ago was that?”
“Maybe twelve years ago,” he said shrugging. “We all told him not to come down here. He was just a kid but heard that it didn’t matter, he’d be able to get liquor and women. I think the women were definitely his priority.”
“How did he die?” asked Carl.
“Alcohol poisoning. Literally drank his body to death. We were shocked. So much so that the drill instructors gave us three days off. No one ever does that during bootcamp.”
“That sucks, Shep,” said Eric. “Sorry, brother.”
“Hey, can I ask y’all something?” he said staring at the men and women.
“You can ask whatever you like. You’ve been vetted, you’ve signed the NDA, I think we can trust you,” smirked Luke.
“I wasn’t immune to hearing the stories of REAPER, Steel Patriots, REAPER Patriots, all of you.
Most recently of course, were the real life in front of my eyes stories of Voodoo Guardians.
” They all nodded, waiting for the question.
“What is it that makes all of you so much better than the others? I mean, all Special Forces teams are cream of the crop. They spend more time training, more time learning to stay alive but you guys are on another level. How?”
“It’s a great question,” said Luke. “I’d attribute it to all of them.” He nodded toward a group of tables with the retired seniors. His father, Nine, Trak, and Wilson were deep in conversation while Tailor and Alec were laughing and joking, as usual.
The other men and women were talking, laughing, telling stories and just seemingly enjoying themselves. But he saw what Shep saw. Men and women in their seventies, eighties, and even early nineties that were in peak physical form. His own mother still looked like she was in her thirties or forties.
“Your parents started all of this, I know that. But the things they’ve survived are unimaginable. Is it magic? Is it training? What is it?” he asked genuinely curious.
“I’d say it’s all of the above,” said Eric. “You know that SEALs, Rangers, Delta, Green Berets, MARSOC, all of them have programs that are the toughest to get through. The ongoing training is extreme and we, our fathers, carried all of that back with us, and added to it.
“But I think it goes beyond that. We have a relationship here that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
“I definitely get that,” smirked Shep.
“It’s true. We truly love one another, care for one another like family because we are family. We can thank Matthew and Irene for that,” said Eric.
“How so?” he asked.
“They made sure that we all knew we belonged to them. We were their children, their grandchildren. It didn’t matter what your last name is, or what the color of your skin is. You are their children. To have that kind of love envelop you is more than most men could possibly ask for,” said Cam.
“It’s true,” nodded Ben. “Luke, Adam, Carl, me, Violet, and Lucy were adopted by Gaspar and Alexandra. But you would never hear that word from grandma. We belonged to her from day one and I can tell you that made a difference for all of us. Their capacity for love, adoration, and devotion is beyond anything I’ve seen in my entire life. ”
“Remarkable,” whispered Shep. “Do you think they somehow brought you all together?”
“Oh, that’s a definite,” smirked Joseph. “My father would tell you that they ensured he was guided to this very place. He thoroughly believes Irene played a role in him meeting my mother, which by the way, happened in Virginia.”
“Not here?”
“No, not here. They are also responsible for bringing my great-grandfather to this place as a ghost. They brought Yori as well, Hiro’s grandfather.”
“So, did you know about these strange powers your grandparents possessed before they, uh, passed?” said Shep.
“We knew they were special,” said Luke. “We always knew they were special. Even though they’ve technically passed, they’re still here, with us. They’ve also done a beautiful job of training Aunt Claudette and Uncle Gabriel to take their places.”
“I have to say, your grandfather took me on a long walk the other day. It was the most remarkable conversation of my life. I felt as if I were speaking to the Dali Lama, a shaman, the Pope, and a Chief Rabii all in one.”
“Well, that pretty much describes my grandfather,” smiled Luke.
“Shep, this is a lot to take in, a lot to understand,” said Ajei. “I wouldn’t think too hard on it. Everyone is willing to talk to you about our history, as long as it’s not shared with anyone outside the property.”
“Oh, I would never,” he said shaking his head.
“I hope you didn’t misunderstand my intentions.
You have to remember, I’m always trying to figure out what’s happening in our minds.
To meet people who are able to give so much, sacrifice themselves, their families, everything to help others, is not something I see every day. It’s a beautiful thing to work with.”
“We think so, too,” smiled Kate taking a seat next to Cam. “Nice to see you again, Shep.”
“Nice to see you, Kate. You know, something just occurred to me. All of your suicide victims were missing something in their lives. Casimir, as we know, was missing the stability he wanted for his family. The lottery ticket was going to provide that but with his wife leaving him, it seemed like the nail in the coffin. Forgive the reference.”
They all nodded at him.
“What about the others?” asked Luke.
“That’s what we need to find out. What were they missing in their lives that made them want to end it? We figure that out, we can help our three remaining ghosts.”