CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"They're mummifying these victims?" screeched Ian.

"Someone is. Maybe not all of them, but those three and Gus, they did. Maybe they discovered something about them they didn't like," said Addie.

"I think I might have an answer for two of them," said Code. "Ruth Snow and Maxine Pine were both breast cancer survivors. They went to the circus together, celebrating their decision to not have breast augmentation."

"They needed them to look perfect," whispered Ghost. "They're trafficking these women."

"Maybe Carrie fought them. Maxine said she fought them," said Lauren. "Carrie looked younger than the other two."

"She was. She was only twenty-four. I can't find much on her, but I'll keep looking," said Code.

"What do we do now?" asked Kat.

"I think we send team four tomorrow to see the monkey competition and see what we can find. Again, stay together, and do not let the monkeys take you out of there."

"I still say…" started Trak.

"You cannot take Alvin on the leash!" yelled Gaspar, shaking his head. "Holy hell, has my mother corrupted you?"

"Your mother is a wonderful woman. Wiser than you believe. Alvin is a good soul. I appreciate his need for meat now and then."

"Dear God, we're all going to hell," muttered Nine. "No Alvin right now. Okay?"

"Okay," shrugged Trak. They watched him walk away and stared at one another.

"Did anyone feel as though that might have been too easy?" asked Ghost.

"Way too fucking easy. He's got something up his sleeve," said Nine. "I've known him too long to not know that he's planning something. Was there anything else strange?"

"Only the workmen who came in and made us leave the building. It was open for tours. They said they had to get it ready for the competition tomorrow," said Mary.

"Well, there's nothing more we can do tonight. We need to find out what they have planned for the finale of the competition tomorrow, then figure out a way to examine those mummies," said Ian.

"We could send Cruz and Wilson in with the portable x-ray equipment. They should be able to extract enough DNA from the corpses to prove who they are," said Ace.

Cruz and Wilson nodded at the man, standing to grab their gear. It would be dark soon, and the circus would be closed once again. They still didn't know where the two women had gone to, but hopefully, they weren't too late.

"Let's try to enjoy a meal together," said Nine. "If anyone catches a glimpse of Gus tonight, let us know. We need to try and figure out what the fuck is going on."

As with all their meals, the food was exceptional. With the heat and rain, tonight's meal was a cold one. A variety of cold salads, cold grilled chicken and steak to add to it, fresh fruits, frozen fruit treats, and ice cream.

Gaspar stared at his parents seated at a table by themselves. Since his father's announcement, they seemed to distance themselves a bit, and none of them were sure why.

"You gotta talk to them, Gaspar," said Jean.

"Why me?"

"You're the oldest, dumbass," grinned Miller.

"That's not my fault. I don't know what to say. It just all feels awkward. I mean, our father is an angel," he said in a whisper.

"You don't have to whisper it, stupid. We all know," said Luc.

"I'm not stupid. Say it again, and I'll beat the shit out of you. What about Mama? Aren't y'all at least a little bit curious?"

"Oh, I'm fucking crazy curious," laughed Baptiste, "but I can wait. Finding out about Pops was hard enough. Who knows what we have in Mama."

Irene and Matthew walked toward the boys with a smile on their faces.

"We're headed back to the cabin. It's awful hot this evening. Probably just enjoy a movie inside the air conditioning," said Matthew.

"Okay, Pops," said Gaspar. "Hey, Pops? You know we love y'all, right? It doesn't matter if you're an angel, a demon, a gargoyle, or anything else. You're our Mama and Pops."

Matthew smiled at the boys. Irene grinned at her eldest son.

"We know. And we know how difficult this must have been for all of you to hear. We didn't mean to keep anything from you. We just wanted to protect you, and selfishly, we wanted to keep you here close to us."

"That's not selfish, Pops," said Rafe. "The older Ian and Kate and their kids get, the more I understand why you did what you did. I want them close as well." Gaspar looked at his brother, then back at his parents.

"That's why you did all of this, isn't it? You knew that one day we would feel the same way. We would want our children and grandchildren close."

"It's a difficult thing, letting go," said Matthew. "It's what saved me. Your Mama couldn't let me go, so she fought for me. If that ain't love, I don't know what is. You're fine men. All of you, and your sisters and wives are fine women. Not a day goes by that Irene and I don't know how very lucky we are."

"I think we're the lucky ones," said Ian. "I owe you everything, Matthew."

"You owe me nothing, son. You've paid your debt a million times over. All of you have paid your debts a million times over. It's why I'm still here. I needed to pay my debts at a greater level. I needed to know that my life made a difference on earth, or in between. None of you owe Irene or me anything at all." Matthew kissed his forehead as he did with all the men when he left them. He never missed one man or woman. It was as if he and Irene needed human touch more than anything. Especially with their children. As they started to walk away, he turned back to all of them.

"Oh. Gus is innocent. You just have to prove it."

"Right. Thanks," smirked Gaspar. "That should be easy."