Page 7 of Dog Days of Summer

“She’s in the hospital for observation, but she’s going to be fine,” Jackson told him.

The man collapsed on the floor, nodding his head, tears of relief flowing down his cheeks.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Jackson turned to the spirit who was the hero of the night.

He wished he could tell Welborne who had really saved him. But, of course, he could not.

He’d wind up behind the bars of a nut house if he were to do so.

But Herbert seemed to know that. For him, the reward was in knowing he was able to help.

It wasn’t long before police and agents flooded in, this time aided by Rangers. And while it would take the experts time to figure out just exactly what all the pieces of metal and chemicals might have created, Robert Welborne was fine and would be reunited with his wife and children.

And many lives had probably been saved.

Jackson called the McFadden brothers in to represent the Krewe and he and Angela were free to handle their bit of paperwork on the case—explaining of course, the logic of finding the first cabin and then determining that the woods would be a great place to hide and continuing their search.

It was close to the truth.

It was morning. But they showered together as they so often did after such a trek, found the energy to make love, and then crashed heavily into sleep for several hours.

Adam reported the next day that the police had managed to force Thompson to give him the names of the two conspirators they were missing.

All the men would be locked up. For a long, long time, Jackson imagined.

And Angela had been right. The plan had been to bomb the great party planned for the meteor shower.

But that afternoon, Angela wanted to return to the forest. She wanted to find their newfound friend, Herbert. Several of those they had met over the years knew about Krewe headquarters; Angela wanted to make sure Herbert knew he was always welcome.

“You know,” Jackson told Angela. “I feel guilty. We’re known as weird—‘ghostbusters’—but I feel really guilty on this one because all the true honor belongs to Herbert.”

“And it’s okay, Jackson. Um, I mean, Herbert couldn’t help without us, right? On this one, you and Herbert get to share the honor! And,” she added gravely, “Just so long as we get to continue as we are! Helping is helping. Right?”

He grinned. “Yeah, next time . . . “

She laughed. “We investigate, too! Party on, as Garth would say!”

And she was right. Their help did deserve so much honor.

And all he could give any of their spirit friends was their most sincere thanks.

They found Herbert. He was happy, proud to know they had trusted and needed him. For a few moments, maybe even hours, the world—at least their world—was good!

They sat that night watching the beginning of what would become the great meteor show in the middle of August.

“The Dog Days of Summer!” Angela said.

“Oh, Mom!” Corby groaned. “And what’s the matter with dog days? We love our dog!”

They all laughed.

And they watched the sky.

The night was beautiful.

The sky was beautiful.

August. The Dog Days of Summer. When horrific events had occurred through history, and beautiful moments of humanity occurred as well.

But that was life, through all the days of the year.

But for that night . . .

The world was as beautiful as the sky!