“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.
