Page 56 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

“I do not like the way he handles business. He’s losing control, and he’s becoming increasingly erratic. He’s terrified he’ll be killed if he can’t deliver what he promised. The cops have been sniffing around more, too, and his influence only goes so far. I don’t want to kill Jake, and Mr. Covington will punish me severely if I disobey. I don't want to go back to him.”

“You didn’t seem to mind messy when you were playing with Andrei’s entrails.”

“I enjoyed that very much, yes. He was a bastard, and what he did to people, I do not approve of,” Sasha replies with a look of disgust on his face.

“Oh okay, so some light money laundering is okay, a dash of murder, a sprinkle of torture and dismemberment. All good. You draw the line at, what, rape? Why?” I still don’t buy what Sasha’s selling.

His expression goes dark as he nods. “Among other things, yes. My job is to hurt people that deserve it, and I enjoy it very much. Seeing young kids get hurt that have done nothing wrong? I don’t like it. Andrei has been out of control for a long time, and he got what was coming to him. I wish I could have been the one to do it.”

“So, you’re one of the good bad guys.”

He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. “You are impossible. Listen, I just wanted to let you know what Mr. Covington was planning, so you can be prepared. Take it or leave it.”

“Well, we’re aware and can take care of him, so don’t worry about that. You can leave now, thanks.” I motion towards the door he’s still standing in front of.

“You cannot.” He looks at me pointedly, considering his next words. “Please, let me help you. I have access to financial records, copies of bank transfers, access to shell corporations. I know where bodies are hidden on this property. I’ve been keeping records for years, just in case. He’s insane, spends all day talking nonsense. I don’t want to go down with him.”

He pauses, looking like he’s considering his next words carefully. “He thinks you and Jake are… ghosts?”

I gape at him. Sasha winces and scratches his head. "Is possible there was a translation issue. I am not so good with… metaphors. Or English apparently. I’ve lived here many years but mostly am around other Russians."

"No, you heard right. I'm a ghost. So is Jake."

I’m still in shock, trying to process what he’s told me. Mr. Covington is threatening to kill Jake. Fuck! I have to find him. My timeline for Operation Jake’s Dad Is Cancelled has just moved up significantly. I can’t lose Jake; it’s not an option. I will do anything to keep him safe. We got lucky this time that he sent Sasha and not someone who would actually try to follow through. He knows we’re ghosts, I just hope he doesn’t actually know how to kill us. My mind spirals and I forget that Sasha is still standing there until he reaches out a finger and pokes me in the cheek.

“Are you sure you’re a ghost? Why are you solid?”

I sputter and bat his hand away. “I’m a battery,” I say distractedly.

“What does that mean?”

“I charge dude, I don’t know! Stop talking, I need to think.” I rub my temples. “I don’t need this shit right now.”

“I can help you,” Sasha says when I remain silent, thinking. I don’t know if I have the capacity to travel off this property, and I don’t want to try it only to get stuck somewhere. I also don’t know if I’ll be able to lure Mr. Covington back here myself after the way we ambushed him last time. Having Sasha would be a great help, as long as he’s not a double agent or something.

“Are you a spy?” I ask, glaring at him.

“No, I’m not a spy, or secret agent, or police, anything like that. I just want to help. I’m too old to deal with all of this. I was brought into the family when I was a small boy. I never had a choice before. But now, I just want to lay low. Maybe take up painting.”

“With people’s blood?” I ask dumbly.

He smirks. “I like you.”

“I have a boyfriend. How old are you anyway?”

“Thirty-two.”

“Holy shit, you’re ancient. No wonder you’re ready to retire,” I tell him with all the sarcasm I can muster.

“Please. This place looks old, surely it must need some maintenance. Put me to work, I promise I will make it worth your time.”

I sigh. He’s cute when he begs, and right now he looks a lot younger than his thirty-two.

“Okay, you can stay for now. But you’re staying in the basement. There are a few rooms down there that probably used to be dungeons. It’s cold and it leaks a lot, so you’ll probably have to sleep in a mud puddle.”

“This is acceptable. I’ve slept in worse conditions,” he says.

Fuck. I really shouldn’t warm up to this guy, but he’s part of the same family that abused Jake so badly. He probably has slept in worse conditions.