CHAPTER THREE

"Don't you think it's weird that stuff has been missing, but we're not catching anything on cameras or motion detectors?" asked Nine as they walked toward dinner.

"I think it's seriously fucking weird. Could be an animal, but what would an animal want with scrap fabric. An entire box of scrap fabric," he said, shrugging.

"We'd still catch that on the cameras. Maybe someone is fucking with our equipment," said Nine. "I don't know. I'll get with the tech boys later and see what they can find out."

Summer menus at Belle Fleur tended to be light and fresh. The best produce from the gardens, along with fresh fruit, homemade breads, freshly churned ice cream, and much more. It was a welcome refresh instead of hot, big meals every day. It gave the cafeteria crew a deserved break from the heat of the kitchens and the heat outside.

"Gaspar! Nine!" called Mama Irene and Claudette, walking toward the two men.

"What's wrong now?" frowned Gaspar, rolling his eyes at his mother. She usually had something crazy to ask him, so today he was prepared for just about anything.

"Don't be fresh," frowned Mama Irene. "Gaspar, someone stole my garden tools and an entire basket of peppers and tomatoes."

"What? When?"

"This afternoon. I thought maybe someone brought them up here, but they're gone. Just gone."

"Okay, Mama, I'll look into it. It seems we're having an issue all over the property with this. Are we certain that none of the animals could have done this? Maybe Semu. Does she like objects in her enclosure?"

"She likes soft, plush things. Blankets and pillows. It's not the animals, Gaspar. I can't figure out who it is."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do." Irene and Claudette walked away, only bringing Franklin to their table. "Please don't tell me the ghosts are missing things as well."

"No," smirked Franklin, "but we all agree there's an odd presence here. We can't quite find it or figure it out."

"What does that mean? Is it a ghost?" asked Nine.

"We're not sure. It could be a ghost, or it could be something more sinister."

"Are ghosts sinister?" asked Gaspar.

"Ghosts can be mean. But sinister, we usually think of as bad spirits," said Franklin. "I know that doesn't seem like a big difference, but it could be."

"If you hear anything else, Franklin, let us know." The man nodded, then turned to leave but turned around. "Is something wrong?"

"No. I just wanted to say thank you for accepting all of us. Now that we can eat, we're here all the time, and just the taste of fresh food is almost more than I can bear. But if you all had not accepted us, we would have gone unseen for maybe hundreds of years. It couldn't have been easy to open your arms to a bunch of ghosts having meals with you and your families." Gaspar chuckled, nodding at the man.

"I can't say it's been easy, Franklin. I damn sure never expected to be able to see and speak to ghosts. Funny thing is, I can't imagine my life without all of you now. Just being able to ask you and Martha, and of course, Marcel, about the history of this place has been amazing."

"Don't forget to ask Genevieve questions as well," he nodded. "That's a smart young lady there. She was very close to her father and knew a great deal about the property. Young Adele has been quizzin' her somethin' fierce." The men all laughed, and Gaspar smiled to himself.

"Quizzing people, especially about history, is a specialty of my beautiful little sister," smiled the man. "I'm glad you're here, Franklin. I don't know if you can control it, but don't leave any time soon."

"I'll do my best, young Gaspar. I'll do my best."

"Do you ever wonder if maybe one day they'll all be like Marcel? We'll suddenly be able to not just touch them and shake their hands, but they'll live normal lives?" asked Nine.

"That could prove challenging for Grip, Doug, and Miguel," grinned Gaspar. "But it has been nice to give Tony a hug again."

"Let's finish lunch and head to the General Store and see how things are going out there. That should get us back here by dinner," smirked Nine.

"We're just now having lunch!"

"I know. Man has to have a plan," he grinned.

After spending a solid two hours at the General Store and buying several items for themselves and their wives, Nine and Gaspar returned in time for dinner, then enjoyed an early night around the fires on Belle ?le.

"We'll get with comms in the morning to see if they've found anything," said Nine.

"Ian and I are gonna head into town and visit this circus exhibit," said Ghost. "Something about it just feels weird to me." Gaspar nodded.

"Sounds good. Everyone, have a good night."

Despite his best efforts, Ghost and the others always seemed to be wide awake by 0530. Not a moment later. He always tried to be quiet when he woke, usually making himself his first cup of coffee and then going for a run. If he didn't run, he'd spend some time reading or checking e-mail messages.

By 0700, Grace was up and getting ready for her day. Moving around the cabin, he grabbed his running shoes and headed out to the porch to lace them up. A moment later, he realized he should grab a rain jacket and went back inside.

"Babe, I'm going to put your coffee on the porch for you. Don't forget it."

"I won't," he grinned. He loved that she understood and fed his caffeine addiction. He smiled, watching as she set it on the side table beside his chair, then grabbed his jacket and went back outside.

It was gone. She'd just set down his coffee mug, and it was gone. Years of having to refill cold coffee or heat it up, years of mugs that wouldn't keep it warm. Finally, he finds a good mug, and it's gone.

"Grace? Did you take my coffee?" he asked.

"I would never take your sacred juice," she smiled. "It was in the thermal mug on the porch, right where I left it for you."

"It's gone."

Grace walked out onto the porch, and sure enough, the mug was gone. It would be hard to miss. She had it made special for him by the girls at the General Store. The mug alone cost almost fifty dollars, but what made it special was the Gray Wolf logo on it. All the men had one, but Ghost's mug had his name on it.

"I don't know what happened to it," she frowned. "You went in to use the restroom and grab a jacket, and I filled it for you and left it right there."

"Please don't tell me this is how my day is gonna start," frowned Ghost. He looked across the path to see Gaspar pacing back and forth on his porch. "Did you lose your coffee mug as well?"

"No. I lost my belt. I stepped outside to finish getting dressed because Alexandra is on the phone. Then I went back in because I forgot my wallet. I came out, and my belt is gone."

"My coffee mug is gone," frowned Ghost.

"Oh, oh. Damn," smirked Gaspar.

"Shut up, asshole. Somebody is stealing our stuff. But everyone on the island belongs here. Do we have more ghosts?" asked Ghost.

"Only one way to find out," said Gaspar. He cupped his hands over his mouth. "MAMA!"

His mother's head popped out her front door, and she smiled at him, giving him a wiggling finger wave.

"You called, or should I say screamed?" she frowned.

"Sorry, Mama. But are there any new ghosts on the property? Franklin said there was something strange, but maybe not a ghost."

"I'm afraid that's what I'm feelin' as well. It isn't a ghost, but yet it feels like it might be," she frowned.

"We need to find out what is happening. Ghost's coffee mug was taken this morning," he said, nodding to his friend.

"Oh. Oh, no," said Mama Irene with a serious expression.

"It's not like I'm gonna kill someone. Not immediately anyway," frowned Ghost. "I have other mugs." Irene and Gaspar both looked wide-eyed at him with a skeptical glance.

"Brother," murmured Gaspar. Ghost just raised his hands, slapping them against his thighs.

"Fine. I want my fucking mug back, and if I don't get it, I'm gonna be pissed."