Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

The wind and debris…”
The agent was now totally confused but followed the sensitive because she made him feel safe.  She stopped at the edge of the lake and started digging through pieces of old boats.
“I know you’re here somewhere…”
“Watcha doing?” Whit asked her.
“Looking for Ren Patel.  Come on, agent, I could use your muscles.”
“I bet you tell that to all the agents,” Whit said, waving over his men.  “Help the lady shift that stuff.”
“Simpson and Boullé lifted up what looked like part of a fishing boat.  Under it, a Pelican case bobbed in the slimy shallows of the lake.  They used an old harpoon they found to drag it to shore.
“Careful,” Mia said as they lugged it away from the water’s edge.  She knelt and opened the case.  Before she lifted the top off, she turned to Ren.  “You shouldn’t look.”
“It’s either here or at my funeral.  At least here I don’t have cotton shoved up my ass.”
“K.”
“Who’s she talking to?” Boullé asked Whit.
“I assume Ren,” he said.
Mia lifted the lid, and although his body was no longer in the resting position that the guardsmen put him in, his body was still intact.  “Is this him?” she asked the others.
The three nodded.
“Time to take him home, gentlemen,” Mia said.
“We have to look for the other bodies.  How did you get here by the way?” Whit asked.
“I was dropped off,” Mia lied.  “I’m looking for my husband and Murphy.”
“Your husband is in St. Kitts trying to rent a boat to return here.  He’s looking for you and Murphy.”
“I left Murphy with him.”
“Mia, he was very brave.”
Mia frowned.  “What are you telling me?”
“I was below decks interrogating Anders when we were attacked, so I only have a hearsay report.  But while the others were fighting the tentacles of the kraken, Murphy went for the source.”
“Murphy doesn’t have the power to do all this,” Mia said, waving her hands around.
“Patience,” Whit said.
Mia wanted to gut him at that moment but held still.
He continued, “Before we were picked up by Bob, Ted had abandoned a case, like that one, full of C4 just inside the tree line.  We think that Murphy lured the beast there and exploded the C4.”
Mia thought a moment.  “He could have been blown into the water or through the veils.”
“Or not survived,” Whit said.  “Mia, he’s not indestructible.  Sure, he’s dead but… Do you see any other ghosts around?”
“Besides Ren Patel?”
“Ren’s here?”
“He’s a bright guy.  It didn’t take him long to understand how dead works.”
“Must be because the case protected his body.  Do you see any other ghosts?”
“No, but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t feel any absence.  Wouldn’t I feel it if he was gone?” Mia asked.
“Babe, I can’t answer that for you.  Tell you what, help us search, and we’ll get you on the boat and get news to Ted that you’re alive.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Whit scrutinized her for a moment before asking, “Interesting outfit.  You had time to shop?”
“It’s not something I would choose,” Mia confessed.
“Is that gold in your hair?” he asked.  “It looks like a crown.”
Mia put her hand to the top of her head.  She had forgotten the hairdressing in her rush to leave.  “It’s someone’s idea of a joke.  I’m sure it’s not real,” she lied.  “My clothes weren’t suitable for the audience I had.”
“Let me guess.  Ancient cargos and a hoodie?  You’re in the Caribbean, babe; you should be in a bikini and…”
Mia put her finger to his lips.  “Shut up.”
“Are you taller?” he said.  “With those boots, you’re almost normal size.”
“Are you looking for a black eye?” Mia asked.
“I’m just in the position of asking the questions,” Whit said.
“How about answering some?”
“Go ahead.”
“Did Seaman Douglas and Brothers make it off the island?”
“Yes, they did.”
“Good, I liked them.  You may want to see if you can recruit Douglas. He’s unflappable when it comes to the paranormal.”
“Mia, all these young guys are.  It’s because of being raised on videogames.  Most of them wouldn’t be shocked if a dragon flew by.”
Mia smiled.  “Would you?” she asked.
“Probably, but I’m a skeptic,” Whit said proudly.  “Any more questions?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“You may want to figure out how to transport Ren to…”
“Too late,” Mia said, squinting.
Whit looked behind him.  There wasn’t any sunshine but muted light behind the clouds.
“He just crossed over,” she said.  “I didn’t even have to call for the light.  It just came.  I’ll consider that a good omen,” she said.  Although, she did worry why she was no longer pulled by light.  It didn’t appear to want her anymore.
~
Ted was arguing the price of a POS boat when his satellite phone rang.  He looked at it and saw that the US government was calling.  He answered it.
“This is Agent Martin. I’m looking for Theodore Cooper…” Whit’s voice drawled.
“Cut it out, Whit, I’m busy.”
“I found something you lost.”
Ted’s heart skipped a beat.  “Mia?”
“She’s standing right here jumping for the phone.  OUCH! Damn, Mia, that hurts,” Whit said before Mia said, “Ted, Ted, is that you?”
Ted smiled and sniffed.  “It’s me, Mighty Mouse.”
“Where are you?” she asked.
“St. Kitts.”
“I know the hurricane just went through there.  Is there any place to stay?” she asked.
“Mason got us rooms at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort.”
“As soon as I can get off this ship, I’m heading there.”
“Your passport is in my duffle,” Ted said.
“I’m playing the shipwrecked card.  See you soon.”
Ted heard her hand the phone to Whit.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get her through customs.”
“How is she?”
“Better now she’s heard your voice.  Did Murphy show yet?”
“No.”
“The island looks like a nuke landed