CHAPTER ONE
“Well, first cases are done for Legacy,” smirked Cam. “I’m feeling pretty good about this semi-retired thing.”
“I feel the same way,” said Eric. “It’s like less pressure, less stress somehow and yet I still feel busy every day and like I’m contributing to something. It’s a good feeling.”
The others nodded, trading jokes and jabs as they relaxed in the big auditorium. The different groups had to split their scheduled times for the meeting spaces until a new auditorium was built for Legacy.
“Luke? You okay?” asked Cam frowning at his friends expression.
“I’m not sure. I mean, I feel fine but I don’t. I can sense it. The animals are restless and I think the ghosts are as well.”
“Maybe something with the weather?” asked Hex.
“Could be,” said Luke, “but I haven’t heard anything about any big storms or hurricanes coming in.”
“What do Martha and the others say?” asked Eric.
“I haven’t spoken to them,” he said looking around the room. “Honestly? I haven’t seen them in a while. It’s like they’re hiding.”
“What the hell?” muttered Cam. “Let’s go out to the sanctuary and see what’s going on out there.”
The men loaded up into boats and took the short ride to the animal sanctuary island. Like all things on their property, it had been Matthew’s forethought to ensure the animals had somewhere safe to grow, heal, or simply be animals.
Connected to the most southern point of Belle Fleur by a narrow strand of road, the island was only open to the residents of Belle Fleur and the occasional zoology or animal husbandry students at nearby universities. The island was strictly forbidden to any other visitors.
At the point of connection on land, were armed guards, twenty-four, seven. At the point of connection to the island, there was another guard shack manned twenty-four seven.
Next to the island connection were two long docks to allow for easy access by the residents of Belle Fleur.
“Morning, Mr. Robicheaux,” said the guard tying off their boat.
“Morning, Charlie. No need for the mister, you know that. It’s just Luke.” The man smiled at him and nodded. “Charlie, is everything going okay out here? Anything strange happening?”
“Animals are awful quiet and skittish,” he said rubbing his jaw. “I can’t figure it out. Even Semu hasn’t been up here to see me, like she’s worried or scared of something.”
“Have you walked the island?” asked Cam.
“More times than I care to count. There’s nothing out there.”
“Thanks, Charlie. We’re gonna take a walk around,” said Eric.
The men split up, walking around the island in opposite directions, hoping to meet at the back of the island. The animals were exactly as Charlie had described. Somewhat skittish, not coming forward for petting or hugs. More than that, there was something that really bothered Luke.
“Dad?” Luke spotted his father seated on a bench in front of one of the enclosures. He was leaning forward and before he could get to him, Trak and Nine had arrived out of nowhere.
“What’s going on?” asked Cam. “Is he okay?”
“Alvin said he was ill,” said Trak.
“I’m not ill. Not like you think. It’s something happening with the animals. They’re scared of something and it’s making me feel sick.”
“Can’t they tell you?” asked Luke.
“They’ve tried. They just keep telling me that something is wrong but they don’t know what it is.”
“Well, that’s not comforting at all,” frowned Eric. “In fact it’s fucking scary as shit. Did Alvin say anything else?”
“No,” said Trak. “Only that the animals are frightened.”
