CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

"Where are the two women you took earlier in the week?" asked Nine.

"We didn't take any women," grinned Patrick.

"Listen to me, asshole. You are the Tolivari brothers." The men's faces dropped, frowning at the man. "I know what and who you are, and soon the whole world will know. You're going to tell me where those women are, or I'm going to burn down everything you own."

"Tell him," nudged Sean. Patrick glared at his brother, shaking his head.

"Where the fuck are they?" asked Whiskey. The brothers stared up at the man as he moved behind them, gripping their necks with such ferocity they could barely breathe.

"Okay, okay," gasped Patrick. "They're in a trailer at the back of the fairgrounds."

"You left them in a metal trailer in this heat?" growled Nine. "So help me God, if they're harmed, I will bring that damn alligator back."

Nine, Ian, Gaspar, and Ghost waited patiently as Whiskey, Cruz, Wilson, and Gabe ran toward the back of the property. A few moments later, they heard them asking for more men to come to the trailer.

Ghost stood up, glaring at the men. They seemed to shrink in their seats, watching as men raced out of the room.

"How did you know?" asked Patrick.

"Magic," said Nine. "A ghost told us. Father Gus Presley. A fine man that you decided to frame for those murders."

"He left them out there," said Patrick.

"He left a trailer that he thought had equipment in it. You knew that the trailer would be searched at the border. You never thought he'd notice the differences on the trailer."

"He was an idiot. A half-wit that couldn't remember a damn thing most days. We only kept him around because he delivered our victims right to us," grinned the man. The others frowned at him, confused. "Told you he was an idiot. We gave him the free tickets for the community, and our next bitches walked through the gates."

Before Gaspar or any of the others could move, Patrick felt a tightening around his throat. His face was turning purple, his eyes bugging out.

"Stop it! What are you doing?" yelled Sean.

"We're not doing anything," said Nine. "Gus is."

"Gus is dead! Stop!"

"Gus? Don't do this, brother. He'll get his judgment," said Ghost. Gus stared at the four men, then down at his hands around the man's neck. Slowly, he released it, stepping back into the shadows.

"Well, I guess that answers the question of whether or not a ghost could kill someone," said Ian. But they weren't done yet. Whiskey burst through the door with Jean and Antoine on his heels. They spun the men around, slamming fists into their guts and noses.

"Should I ask?" said Nine, raising his brows.

"The women are alive, barely, and there were more," said Jean. "But there were at least ten dead monkeys in that trailer. Those poor women will never be the same."

"You're going to die," said Nine. "It might not be today or tomorrow, but you're gonna die. Painfully. Slowly. And no one will care."

"They're all yours, sheriff," said Gaspar.

"Actually," he frowned, "I was just told that there is no more room at the inn. I think Alvin needs to have his dinner."

Trak placed Alvin inside one of the empty trailers. Then they shoved the brothers inside. They walked away, trying to make sense of everything that happened. Both women said they were dragged to the back of the tent by the monkeys. They'd been shocked at how strong they were, tugging and pulling. When they arrived, the two men drugged them and carried them away.

Every day, they were given bottles of water and two pieces of fruit, which they realized later were laced with the same drugs. It would take weeks, if not months, for the effects of those drugs to finally leave their system.

After interviewing the other circus owners, performers, and vendors, no one knew what the brothers were doing. The circus competition was officially closed, and there were no winners.

Four hours later, they opened the trailer where Alvin was with his evening meal. Barely a scrap of clothing was left, but Alvin looked satisfied.

"You know, I just might have to get the department one of them," said the sheriff. "Right handy to have around."

"Told you," smirked Trak. He placed the leash on Alvin and walked away with him toward the parking lot.

"Strangest damn thing I've ever seen. A Navajo with an alligator as a pet. I believe I've seen it all, boys."

He waved his hat, leaving the men as he followed the women to the hospital. Animal control was taking care of the dead animals, while the parish confiscated all of the equipment belonging to O'Noth. Nine looked at the others.

"We need to find Gus."