CHAPTER SEVEN

"Pops, we really need some help with this," said Miller, staring at his father. He felt hopeful that Matthew would help if he could, but none of them truly understood their father's powers and abilities yet. "Gus doesn't feel evil, but he doesn't remember anything right now. Is that possible?"

"It's very possible," said Matthew. "Something could have affected him before he died, inhibiting his cognitive abilities. Or they were impaired before death, and since he hasn't fully transitioned one way or another, he's still behaving as he did in life."

"Could he have been hit on the head?" asked Trak.

"It could be that. It could also be what Noah suggested. Dementia or Alzheimer's in conjunction with something else. Drugs. Violence. Any of it."

"Pops, can you just tell us if he's evil? Should we worry about him?" asked Gaspar.

"I don't sense evil," said Matthew. "But I'm not sensing good either. It's as if I cannot read his soul at all. He is confused, which is confusing me."

"No offense, Matthew, but that doesn't exactly give me the warm fuzzies," smirked Ian. "If he's dangerous, we need to know about it. He's been on the main property and didn't know it, didn't remember it."

"That is troubling," frowned Matthew. "I'll go out and speak with him. See if I can find out anything else for you."

"Thank you, Matthew," nodded Nine. "Archie, I know this is a lot to ask, but can you and Eagle Feather keep an eye on him?"

"It's not too much to ask at all," said the ghost. "I'm happy to help in any way that I can."

"Oh, no," muttered Charity.

"Oh, no? Oh, no, what?" asked Gaspar. He heard thundering footsteps coming down the hall and Noah sticking his head in the room.

"We need assistance," said the big man. "Come. Now!"

They ran out of the office and into the grove of Belle ?le, where their newest ghost was turning in circles. Naked. His arms were held out wide, his head held to the sky as Matthew approached him slowly. Archie and Eagle Feather came from the other side, Grip and Franklin standing by.

"Gus? Son, I need you to look at me," said Matthew.

"I'm free. I'm free," he laughed. "It feels wonderful to be free."

"Yes. Yes, it does, but there are ladies present. We should probably get you dressed, and then you can be free another time."

Gus stopped, breathlessly staring at those around him. He looked down at himself, then the pile of clothing at his feet. Muttering to himself, he stared at them, then hit the sides of his head. In a flash of light, he was clothed, seated on the ground.

"It's alright, Gus," said Noah softly. "It's going to be alright."

"I'm mad. I'm crazy as a loon," he whispered. "I'd tell you all to kill me, but I'm already dead, so you can't."

"No. You're confused," said Archie. "You're not crazy, sir."

"Come with me," said Matthew. "Let's take a walk." He waved Gus toward the gardens, and the man walked away with him, Archie, Grip, and Eagle Feather following.

"Franklin? Have you ever seen anything like this?" asked Miller.

"Not in all my years on this earth," he frowned. "We can all feel things from the other ghosts, and I'm feeling pain, confusion, hatred, love, all of it from that man. He's got a powerful secret, but it's buried deep. I think he might have been sick before he died, but he's been in this transition period a long time, so it never fully took for him."

"What do you mean?" asked Nine.

"I can answer that," smiled Julia. "Gus died, but he never moved on. He was stuck between the worlds, much like our ghosts. But that means they are stuck exactly as they were on earth. We need to find out more about Gus when he was alive." Wilson hugged his daughter, kissing the top of her head.

"Well done, honey."

"Can we pinpoint when Gus first started taking things on the property?" asked Ghost.

"As far as we know," said Code, "the first time was last Thursday."

"Last Thursday," muttered Miller. "That's when the circus fair came to town. Does anyone think that could have anything to do with this?"

"I don't know how. He was a truck driver, not a circus or fair guy," said Gaspar.

"He could have driven equipment or something for the circus. Possibly even animals," said Miller. "Can we see if he ever worked for them?" They all turned, staring at Code, who had his laptop open in the grove.

"He's a bit of a mystery," he frowned. "Because he was independent, it doesn't always show what his cargo was."

"Maybe we need to confront him once we feel he's in a good place," said Nine.

"I'm in a good place," said the man, frowning. "I'm so sorry. Terribly, terribly sorry. I don't think I've ever done that before. I can't remember. Why can't I remember?"

"We're not sure, Gus. But we're going to try and help you," said Nine.

"Gus, we've been able to gather some information about you and your death," said Trak. "We know this conversation will be difficult for you, but what do you remember about the last load you carried in your trailer?"

"My last load? It was circus equipment. I picked up a load from El Paso."

"Did you inspect it?" asked Angel.

"I-I'm not sure. I remember pulling into the yard where they load the equipment and walked across the street to get something to eat. I don't remember walking back," he frowned.

"Gus, were you becoming forgetful when you were living?" asked Wilson.

"I suppose some," he nodded. "It was silly things. I'd walk into a room and forget why I was there, or I forgot to pay some bills one month, then the next month paid them twice. Just random things."

"You could have had the beginning symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer's, Gus. I know it seems impossible. You weren't that old, but it can happen very early on," said Wilson empathetically.

He frowned, staring at the men around him.

"Why did you ask about the last load?" asked Gus. Angel took a deep breath and turned to Trak, who nodded for him to tell him.

"Gus, your last load was people."

"People?" he laughed. "No. I didn't haul people. I didn't have a bus, and my trailer wasn't heated or air-conditioned. No. I didn't haul living things ever."

They stared at the man, waiting for the words to truly sink in, for him to perhaps make some connections.

"People?" he whispered.

"The entire trailer was filled with men, women, and children, Gus. They all died, and you were nowhere to be found. You're still wanted for their murders." He stared at all of them, shaking his head.

"Never. I would have never done such a thing. I mostly hauled for the O'Noth Circus. They were based out of Arizona. I wouldn't have done such a thing."

"Gus, is it possible you don't remember? There could have been a reason that you made the decision to carry that load. Maybe you were forced to do it. Is it possible that you needed the money?" asked Nine.

"Never. Never! I'm telling you I wouldn't do it. You know why?"

"I know why," said Code. "Because a woman that you knew, who was pregnant, attempted to come across the border and died in a van in the desert. She'd married a Mexican man, who wasn't a nice person. He was involved in drugs and prostitution. She was your sister."