CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

After enjoying a lovely meal with their friends, the couples were happy to have just a bit of relief from the heat. Although the rain brought humidity, it also cooled the outside temperatures enough that they were able to sit around a small fire.

The team at G.R.I.P. had developed an amazing device that kept the mosquitoes away, so no one was eaten alive by the pesky creatures.

"I remember! I remember!" yelled Gus, running toward them.

"What did you remember, Gus?" asked Erin.

"I died! I remember. I died because Sean and Patrick were mad at me."

"Why were they made at you, sweetie?" asked Grace.

"Because I heard a confession from Nozo. I didn't know who he was when he confessed to me. I didn't know they were related. He recognized me and told his dad that I was his priest. I could see that they were freaked out by that. I told them I wasn't a priest any longer, but they didn't care."

"What happened, Gus?" asked Jean.

"They told me I had to go on one more run for them. So, I picked up that load. I went across the street and ate, then came back and picked up my load. But when I stopped at a truck stop for gas and food, I noticed a strange mark on my trailer. It wasn't mine at all. They switched out the trailer. I didn't have a sticker for the state of Utah on my trailer and this one did.

"I left the truck stop, and it really bothered me. I stopped on this dirt road and backed up the trailer. I unhooked it and left it because I couldn't afford the gas with the load of whatever it was to go all the way back to them. When I got there, my real trailer was full of circus equipment.

"They were mad at me. Really, really mad at me. They kept asking what I did with the trailer, and I told them I left it on a road, but I couldn't remember the name of the road. He shot me. Patrick shot me."

"Gus," started Ian.

"I know," he said, looking at them. "I left those people there, and they died. It was my fault."

"No, Gus. It wasn't your fault. You had no idea of what you were carrying. You thought you were doing the right thing."

"I killed them," he whispered.

"No. Sean and Patrick killed them. I think they wanted you to take those people across the border. They wanted you to be the one at risk, not them. If you were successful, then so be it. They'd get their money and find another way to get rid of you."

"What did they do to me? Why am I in that exhibit?" he asked.

"We're not positive, but we think they shot you, and then they mummified your body. That way, they wouldn't have to bury you and risk someone finding your body. They could create an entire exhibit around you," said Ghost.

"They killed those other women. They were innocent. I'm not, but they were."

"You're innocent, Gus. I promise that you are, and we're going to prove it. I'm glad you remembered everything. If we can get photos of the trailer you were driving and the one left behind, we can prove it wasn't yours," said Ian.

"The police took a lot of photos," said Code. "I'll start going through them."

"I found it!" yelled Ace, coming toward them. "Oh, hi, Gus."

"Hello," he smiled. He looked at the journal in his hand and suddenly remembered it all. "You found Nozo's confession."

"I did. He confessed that his father hired someone to train the monkeys to bring the women into the tent and out the back, where they waited for them. They would drug the women, keep them drugged, then send a large group over the border to be sold. Although they weren't selling drugs, they were buying large quantities to keep the women sedated and unable to escape." Gus nodded at the young man.

"When I figured out that Nozo was related to them, I confronted them. I told them I was going to report them," he frowned. He looked up at the men and realized how silly he'd been. "I shouldn't have done that. Right?"

"It probably gave them the upper hand, Gus, but it's alright. We're going to figure it out," said Ghost.

"You know, maybe this was supposed to happen. I wouldn't have wanted to live with knowing what I'd done. I couldn't have. I think this is the way it was supposed to happen. When I finally got clarity, I found someone that could help me prove what they're doing. I did that, didn't I?"

"You did, Gus. You've helped us to prove your innocence and their guilt," said Nine. "You did real good for an ex-priest with no training."

The other men all smiled at him, and he stood a little prouder, a little taller.

"I'm not stupid, am I?"

"No. You are definitely not stupid," said Gaspar. "In fact, Gus. You might be one of the smartest men I know."

"I think I have to go now," said Gus. "Not go, go. But go back to the circus. Will you come by and see me?" Ghost nodded at him.

"We will."

When he was gone, they all stared at one another. Ace stepped forward again, holding out the journal.

"This will prove their guilt, not just for the trafficking, but they were killing animals that couldn't be trained for what they needed. Monkeys mostly. I'm not sure where they've buried the bodies, but once they discovered that the women weren't perfect or had things on their bodies, tattoos or piercings that could identify them, they got rid of them. There are more bodies somewhere. Maybe not mummies, but something."

Once again, the men shook their heads, disappointed at the depths of horror humans could actually creep to. Trak stood, taking his wife's hand.

"Now, can I take Alvin to the circus?"