The Ghost Job by Greg van Eekhout

Author:Greg van Eekhout
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

15

A Proper Haunting

We’re too late.

The only lights at school come from the glaring red and blue of fire engines and police cars. Their reflections wriggle like neon snakes in the pools of water outside the auditorium.

Inside, sprinklers soak the seats and carpet. Firefighters splash over the flooded stage in rubber boots and shine flashlights, casting their beams over glittering bits of shattered glass.

“We already lost Nicholas,” says Vanessa in a strained whisper. “If we lose Eddie, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

I know what I’ll do. I’ll poltergeist Slate’s house to splinters. And then I’ll come for Maddie.

“Hello?” creaks a voice.

“Eddie!”

We find him cowering in the orchestra pit under the piano.

Vanessa is all over him, checking for broken bones as if he has bones.

“I’m okay, I’m fine,” he says, getting up. He’s not injured, but I can tell from the look in his eyes that he’s been through a rough time.

“What happened?”

“People came for the Redeemer. There were three of them, real bruisers. But I took care of them. First I killed the lights. Then I set off the alarms. When that didn’t scare them off, I turned on the fire sprinklers. They were still trying to make off with the device when I blew out the stage lights and gave them a meteor shower of glass. They freaked out and fell off the stage, along with the Redeemer. I was very brave and resourceful.”

“Yes, you were,” Vanessa assures him.

“It’s over there.” He points to a mess of toppled music stands. Beneath them, the Redeemer sits, still on its cart. “It doesn’t seem broken, but there’re probably a lot of delicate little parts in there and stuff. By the way, I am very happy to see you two.”

“I’m sorry we weren’t here to help.” I feel the closest thing to a stomachache that I’m capable of. People came into our home. People who knew Eddie was here with the Redeemer.

Vanessa and I fill him in on everything that happened at the amusement park, including our suspicion that Maddie is behind this robbery attempt. And maybe also working with Slate.

Eddie runs a hand through his hair. “I guess we can’t trust anyone.”

“That’s not true,” Vanessa says. “We can trust each other.”

We spare a moment for a quick group hug, but we can’t stay here. Whether or not Maddie’s a threat, the people who came for the Redeemer will definitely come back.

“Maybe it’s time we found a mausoleum,” Eddie suggests.

I give it some thought before dismissing the idea. “I don’t want the Redeemer around a bunch of ghosts we don’t know. Possessing a device capable of restoring the dead would make us a target.”

“What about a warehouse?” Vanessa says. “Something down by the docks where people stash stolen goods and contraband, like in movies.”

Eddie raises a finger to object. “Ever seen a place like that in a movie where people aren’t getting murdered? Probably as many ghosts by the docks as there are in a cemetery.”

Frustrated, Vanessa sighs. “Well, we can’t take it to my place.

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