CHAPTER NINE

"The whole semester is based on overcoming fears, working with them in a private practice, finding ways to control them," said Ghost. "I didn't get a sense that the professor was involved, but there damn sure were a few young men I'd like to get my hands on."

"I'm not sure it's them either," said Victoria. "It felt more like just old-fashioned bullying and teasing. It's not right, but I don't think it was anything other than that."

"I trust your opinion, little one," said Trak. The professor walked out and saw the men standing with the young woman.

"I'm sorry about that. I have a few young men that have more money than common sense. Or at least their parents have the money. I suppose they think it gives them the right to make others feel lesser."

"We understand," said Ghost. "Listen, just out of curiosity, Tracy was someone we knew. Is there anything you can tell me about her?"

"I wish I could. She was a lovely student. A sweet, kind young woman. She was diligent, never late on an assignment, tried to help her fellow classmates. She was the full package. I suspected that she might have continued with a master's degree and possibly even her PhD. It was a shock for everyone here at the university."

"I know that she didn't drive or have a car. Did you find that to be unusual?" asked Ghost.

"Not really. We have decent transportation to and from the dorms and into the city. A lot of kids would just rather rely on that. Plus, if it rains, it floods. No one wants to risk losing their car in that. It wasn't the norm, but it wasn't unusual."

The two men looked at one another and nodded. That's when Victoria decided to take over.

"I enjoyed your lecture. I was wondering what made you focus on fears and phobias," she smiled.

"Excellent question, young lady. Are you interested in psychology?"

"I'm interested in many things," she laughed. "Dad and Uncle, uh, Joe, always follow me around. They're very protective."

"That's good," laughed the professor. "In today's day and age, a little extra protection is always good. To answer your question, I suffered from debilitating phobias as a child. I stuttered. I had a fear of speaking because of the stuttering. I feared crowds. I feared darkness. I was what you kids would call a mess."

"You weren't a mess, sir. Lots of kids have fears like that."

"You're very kind, but my fears went well into my twenties. It wasn't until I took a class from a psychology professor that I was able to pinpoint all those fears. As you can see, I've overcome my stuttering issues, and although it's not my favorite thing to do, I don't have such a great fear of speaking in public any longer. I still don't like crowds. I find myself skimming the edges of the crowd."

"And the darkness?" she asked shyly.

"I admit I sleep with a nightlight. It took my wife twenty years to get used to that light," he laughed. "I'm very grateful she loves me so much."

"Did you ever figure out what caused your fears?" asked Ghost curiously.

"Yes. I was a bed-wetter as a child. My father liked to humiliate me in front of the neighborhood children."

"That's awful!" said Victoria. He smiled at her.

"Yes, dear. It is awful. I learned after his death that he suffered from the same condition well into his teens. His father beat him every time the sheets were wet. We learn from our parents, but it doesn't mean we have to follow them."

"We've taken enough of your time," said Ghost. "Thank you."

"Listen, I may not know everything in this world, but I know that the three of you weren't here to sit in on my class. If you're trying to find who killed Tracy, I hope you do. Someone in the faculty lounge said they heard there were several other unsolved murders that were similar to this one."

"In New Orleans?" asked Trak.

"I don't know. I didn't hear the rest of the conversation. She was a good kid and didn't deserve what happened to her. No one deserves that."

As they wound their way through New Orleans, headed to the interstate that would take them home, Victoria was painfully quiet in the backseat.

"You okay, little one?" asked Trak.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. I was just thinking. Other than why we came out here, I've enjoyed getting out and into the city. I was wondering. Do you think we could visit Café DuMonde? I've heard the hot chocolate and beignets are really good." Trak nodded, smiling at Ghost.

"They're some of the best in the world," said Ghost. "We've got time."

He found a parking spot along the river, and the three of them walked toward the massive café. It was busy, but then again, it was always busy. Trak ordered for them, and Ghost found a seat for the three of them. The crisp fall breeze was welcomed. Signs of the upcoming holidays were all around them. Even St. Louis Cathedral was already stringing lights and putting up greenery. Albeit fake.

"How are you doing?" asked Ghost.

"Surprisingly well. Maybe it's because I know that you guys wouldn't let anything happen to me."

"Never, little one," said Trak, touching her hand. She smiled at him, squeezing his big hand.

"After I met you all, I wished all the time that one of you could have been my father. I'm so grateful that Mo and Ophelia adopted me. They're amazing. I just wish I'd been born to them or one of you."

"In a lot of ways, we are," laughed Ghost. "Like Matthew and Irene, we think of all you kids as ours. It doesn't matter if you were born to us or not."

"Why aren't more people like you?" she asked quietly. Both men stared at her. "I mean, I'm smart. Really smart. But human emotions and behavior aren't my strong suit."

"Oh, I don't know," smirked Ghost. "You seem to be doing pretty well. And to answer your question, I think more people are like us. We just don't know it."

"Did you have good parents?" she asked the two men.

"I did," said Ghost. "I was lucky to have two parents who loved me very much." She looked over at Trak, who had a sad expression.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that," she said quickly.

"It's alright, little one. It was a million years ago. My father left. I don't really remember him at all. My mother was an alcoholic and addict. She was viciously abusive and killed my little sister."

"Oh," she whispered with tears in her eyes.

"I hated her for so many years. I couldn't find a way to forgive her, even though I needed to. Lauren and all these men helped me to see the way. Eventually, she found her way back to us in spirit form and apologized. She was sick. I knew that, in here," he said, tapping his head. "I just needed to let my heart know that it needed to forgive her as well."

She took a bite of her beignet and sipped her cocoa. Then she looked up at the two men.

"I should forgive my parents, shouldn't I?" she said.

"No one can tell you to do that," said Ghost. "You have to do it in your own time when it's right for you. There are no manuals on how to parent, Victoria. Hell, there aren't any manuals on how to be good human beings. Most of us come with at least some common sense, and then our folks add on the rest. Teachers, counselors, coaches, they all help. I imagine it would be difficult to forgive your folks. What they did to you was pretty terrible."

"No more or less terrible than what Trak's parents did to him." Trak squeezed her arm, letting her know that he appreciated her understanding. "What if there was something going on with Tracy's parents? I mean, for your daughter to die and all you do is handle the funeral and leave, that doesn't feel normal. If it were my child, I'd want to find out who killed her and what happened. If I hadn't seen her in a while, I would want to know who her friends were, was she dating, did she have a job? But all this, it just doesn't feel normal to me. Is it normal?"

"I don't know if it's normal or not. I'm not exactly the expert on talking about normal and abnormal," said Trak, "but it definitely feels odd. You might be right. Maybe someone needs to go to Tacoma."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that trip," she smiled. "But thank you. This day was perfect as far as I'm concerned. I enjoyed spending time with both of you and felt safe the entire day. Can we do it again soon?"

"Any time you want, little one. Any time you want."