CHAPTER ELEVEN

"So, the old man was cold as ice," said Nine.

"Colder," frowned Ghost. "It was as if he were talking about a stranger."

"Maybe he was," said Bree. "He said that he worked all the time, and she'd learned to be independent. I would suspect that they lived very independent lives, living more as roommates than father and daughter."

"That's not right," frowned Nine. "I've got a daughter. I worked a lot as well. I found time to spend with her, to be with her. I can't imagine that kind of relationship."

"It's what was right for them, Nine. It might not be perfect, but Tracy was thriving in her environment. She had learned valuable skills."

"None that helped her live," said Ghost.

"You're right. But maybe there weren't any skills that could have helped her live. Maybe even the most experienced person would have failed, given the circumstances."

"I know you're right, Bree. It just feels wrong," said Nine. She kissed the cheeks of each of the senior men and nodded.

"Come and see me if you get in a funk." She stopped at the door and turned to look at all the men. "I mean it. Come and see me."

Bree left the men alone with their thoughts, but the thoughts weren't good ones. There was something drastically wrong with the entire series of events beyond what they were seeing.

"Where now?" asked Gaspar.

"I still feel as though some of those students knew more than they were letting on. I didn't get that feeling with the professor, but maybe someone else needs to talk to him," said Ghost.

"No. I agree with you," said Trak. "I don't think he had anything to do with this, but the students bothered me. These weren't children. They were young adults still making fun of others, bullying."

"Well, that might actually be the way they operate," frowned Miller. "I'm not sure we can change that. What about the other murders that were mentioned?"

"I'm still trying to connect them," said Code, "but there's nothing similar about any of them. A drowning, a kid who fell into an old well, another who got lost in the swamp and couldn't find their way out. Nothing is similar."

"Yes, they are," said Trak. "Those are all things one would fear. Drowning. Did the victim know how to swim?"

Code searched the files, shaking his head.

"No. He didn't know how to swim yet went out sailing by himself.

"Falling into a dark hole. Any normal human would fear that," said Trak, staring at the men. "Getting lost in the swamp. We may not fear that, but many people would. How old were these victims?"

"Twenty-four, twenty-one, and twenty-two," said Code.

"College-aged," said Miller, frowning. "Maybe it is time that we all go back to school. Perhaps take on jobs as substitute professors."

"Usually, they would use graduate students, but we might be able to weasel our way inside a classroom or two," said Gaspar. "What about searching the neighborhood behind the woods? High-class homes, kids and adults who are bored as shit with too much money and time on their hands make for suspects."

"We'll do a door-to-door just to ask if anyone has seen anything suspicious," said Ghost. "How is Sterling doing?"

"There's a ballgame scheduled for this evening. He's not sure he wants to attend," said Rafe. "I think we should all go with him. Show solidarity."

"I agree," nodded Ian. "Maybe make a big family outing."

"Then let's go to the ballpark."

"You folks don't have to do this," said Sterling, stepping out of one of almost a dozen vehicles. "I was gonna come back sooner or later."

"Sooner is always better, Sterling. They need to know that you're innocent, and we stand by you. We're all here for you, honey," said Kari.

"Y'all are something else," said Sterling, shaking his head in gratitude. "Well, let's go. There's a field to get ready and umpires to speak with."

While Antoine, Gabe, Tailor, and Alec got the field ready, the others opened the gates and allowed the families inside.

"Mr. Sterling! Mr. Sterling!" yelled Edith. She leaped into his arms, hugging him fiercely.

"Ah," he laughed. "It's okay, honey. I'm back now."

"I knew you would come back. I knew it!" she said.

"We all knew it," said Harry. "I told everyone."

"I want to thank you all for what you did for me. That was very brave of you, but promise me you won't ever do something so foolish again. If them people had seen you, well, I would never forgive myself."

"Nothin' was gonna happen to us, Mr. Sterling," said Harry.

"Still. Make me a promise," he said with a serious expression.

"Yes, sir," the three nodded, echoing his request.

"Alright, we got a ballgame to play. Go get warmed up." The children ran off toward one of the coaches as he waved at Sterling, giving a knowing nod.

"Excuse me," said a woman. "Excuse me! Are we letting this accused felon be around our children?"

"Ma'am, I am not an accused felon. All charges were dropped because it was impossible for me to have committed the crime that happened," said Sterling calmly. She only folded her arms under her overfilled breasts, her Rolex gleaming in the sunlight.

"Still," she huffed. "I'm not sure…"

"If I were you, I'd be very careful what my next words are," said Kari. "If you think for one moment I won't bring charges of harassment, defamation of character, and just plain old ugliness against you, I most definitely will. You'll never have a child involved in any activity in this city or this state ever again. Ever."

"That shit makes me so hot," whispered Miller to Gaspar. His older brother could only laugh, nodding at him.

"I-I'm only concerned for the children," said the woman.

"The children? The children were never in danger. Never. A young woman was kidnapped, beaten, raped, and crawled out of those woods, and Sterling tried to help her. That's what happened. You should be damn grateful he's the kind of man that would help and not run away. Your children are in the best hands possible, and you should be thanking God he's still here willing to coach your little tax deduction."

The woman's face was so red the men thought she might pass out from lack of oxygen. She took two steps back when a man came walking toward them.

"Tiffany! What the fuck are you doing?" She said nothing, still standing with her arms folded, staring at Kari. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Sterling? I'm sorry. We love your work with the kids. Tiffany was just spooked by all of this."

"I understand," he said, nodding at the man. "But y'all have known me a lot of years. I've never done anything to hurt any child or, for that matter, man or woman. It's not within me. If y'all really cared about this, you'd help us find who took that young woman's life."

"Anything we can do, we will, Sterling," said the man. He turned to his wife, gripping her elbow. "Let's find a seat. Our son is about to play ball."

The couple quickly left the field, climbing into the stands. Kari turned to Sterling, giving him a wink and a smile.

"That, my dear friend, is how it's done. Don't take shit from anyone, Sterling. You don't deserve it."