Page 59 of Hot Ghost Summer

“No,” I protest. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“You don’t?”

“No.”

“So, you don’t want me to write down, clearly and explicitly, what to expect when you cross the line?” There’s that self-satisfied smirk again.

“No.” I pout, folding my arms across my chest. “Anyway, you were saying something about me being right—let’s go back t’ that.”

“With pleasure.” The screen flicks off the rules, and Hollis—thankfully—continues on as if I’d never interrupted.

“We need to go back to Plot Forty-Seven and finish setting up the instruments for telemetry, but there’s something I didn’t account for last time: the lack of Wi-Fi signal on site. So, while you do all the work, I’ll be connecting the cameras to a network on my phone.

“This means that as long as my phone stays within a five-meter range, I can see through them. My phone will have to remain in the site office—where there’s a signal—but I’ll be able to provide you with assistance in the building itself.”

He turns to me then, with a serious expression, and says, “This job is dangerous, Theo, and I take safety seriously. Too many ExorSquad employees have died already. These rules are not me being strict. They’re to ensure you come back home.”

My mouth opens, then closes. I don’t know what I expected him to say, but it definitely wasn’t that. He hates me, doesn’t he? Is convinced I killed him. So why would he go to all this trouble? Too many emotions churn uneasily in my stomach.

“Right, well.” I stand and push the chair in. “I still think you should have a rule. Make it fairer.”

Hollis studies me for a moment. “And what should my rule be?”

My answer is firm and immediate. “You’re not allowed t’ blow my stuff up anymore.”

He cocks a small smile, and the words appear on the screen.

Rule Four: Hollis will no longer cause items to explode.

“A truce, then?” He holds out his hand. “You follow the rules, and I’ll leave your possessions intact.”

This time, when my palm slides against his, it’s solid. Cold, but solid. Comforting in this unseasonably hot weather.

“Deal,” I say with a smile.

“Theo?”

I still haven’t let go of his hand. “Yeah?”

“Go and put some clothes on. You’ve got work to do.”

nineteen

Reset

Theo

“This is nice, eh?” I squint up at Hollis’s phone. “We should go for walks more often.”

Panning the camera around, I show him where Pymmes Brook finally diverts into an underground culvert as we leave the towpath and enter Cockfosters proper. The last time I walked this route—from my flat to the Bowen’s Plaza worksite—it was dark out, and I’d gone to retrieve his body. But this afternoon, the sun is shining and there are enough leaves still on the trees to provide decent shelter from the heat. It’s nice. Like, almost date nice.

I spin the visor of my cap to hide my face, in case Hollis can read my thoughts or something, and reset the shoulder strap of the ExorSquad bag. It didn’t feel that heavy when I set off, but one gadget he made me check has been chafing on my kidney ever since. So, when the blue-painted security fence comes into view, I give a quiet sigh of relief.

Do you remember everything we talked about this morning?

Hollis’s question flashes up on his phone screen.

Set up the cameras on the ground floor first, so I can monitor as you take the readings.