With the renovation of Marrick's tower placed on hold indefinitely, Asher found himself curled up on his overpriced couch, in his shoebox apartment.
He was still in a suit and had barely managed to kick off his boots. And just when he finally gave in to his exhaustion, a ghost mail struck his face. Literally.
Asher sat up.
A ghost mail at this time couldn't be anything good.
He hesitantly opened it.
Notice:
Unfulfilled Soul Contract: Dominique Tates
Union records reveal that Broker Asher Knox has yet to secure the required signature on Contract #Tates. Self motivated delay will be considered a breach of broker protocol.
Deadline: Undefined, but not infinite.
Client Threat Level: Escalating
Reminder:
Failure to fulfill a union mission results in termination of broker status.
Termination of broker status results in termination of life.
Recommendation:
Secure contract compliance by any means necessary
Exercise caution; Tates is not dormant, only waiting
The Union watches.
So does Tates.
A knot formed in his belly. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
Dominic Tates had no intentions of crossing over or signing his contract. Instead, he wanted Asher to assist his immoral intentions.
It left Asher with a deadline... and no way out.
He felt a headache coming in.
Getting off his couch, Asher changed into a casual outfit and headed out.
The streets hadn't changed much in the past few weeks. While his life had made a complete turnaround.
They would still be unchanged, if his luck ran out and he ended up back in the gutter. Or worse, dead.
~Is that him?~
Asher kept walking. The spectral voices trailed him. Annoyingly loud in the belief that they had the sidewalk to themselves.
~The reason the tall, malignant ghost came by these parts? Yes, that's him.~
That was new piece of information. Tates had come by his apartment? Asher didn't need further explanation of the ghost mail claiming Tates threat level was escalating. He was literally stalking Asher now but didn't have the decency to show himself.
Whatever Tates was planning, it couldn't be good. Asher needed to figure a way out, or the broker union may not get to him as fast as Tates would.
He didn't regret purchasing the stadium. Tates already had it out for him even before then.
~Poor guy. He likely won't survive the week.~
That did nothing to ease Asher.
~What could he have done to get on his bad side?~
~I doubt he did anything terrible. Most likely just at the wrong place, at the wrong time. The ghosts down by the ruins say that malignant ghost has done this many times now.~
~He's terribly obsessed with that stadium. I wonder why.~
~I've heard rumours...~
Asher stopped walking.
"What rumors?"
The two wandering ghosts engaged in the conversation jumped. They stared at Asher in horror and then at each other, and back at Asher again before pointing a finger at themselves as though asking if Asher was referring to them.
Asher didn't have the patience. "If not? Is there anyone else here?"
~You can hear us?~ The first asked in shock.
~You can see us?~ The second asked.
Asher sighed. He wasn't sure his contract allowed him to fraternize with wandering ghosts.
He tapped his airpod, clearing his throat. "Yes? I can barely hear you."
Then he began some stretches. Jogging in place.
The wandering ghosts exhaled visible sighs of relief.
~Gave me a scare. He's pretty annoying, isn't he?~
~He is. No wonder the malignant ghost is out to get him.~
~He must have stumbled into the stadium recently.~
~I heard from other wandering ghosts in those parts, the malignant ghost is attached to the stadium because there's someone he's promised to meet there.~
Asher paused in his step. His thoughts spinning.
That was it! That was Tates grievance! And the reason he wouldn't budge from the stadium even when it wasn't his location of death. He was tied to the world of the living by a promise...he was waiting for someone.
And the irony of it was, if he signed the contract, he would have to cross over when his grievance was precisely dependent on him lingering long enough to fulfil the promise.
Asher wasn't sure how he felt about this new information. It didn't make Tates any less of a menace, but it did put things into perspective.
The wandering ghosts carried on with their chatter. Asher was tempted to express his gratitude, but it was probably best he saved them another scare.
And saved himself another warning from the union.
When he was a good distance away, Asher pulled out his phone and dialled Rick.
"Mr Knox?" Rick's voice was hoarse with sleep. "Did something happen at the office?"
Asher checked the time. 2AM in the morning was definitely not working hours, or the usual time anyone would be calling their secretary. Especially not after such a long day at work. He didn't even know if Rick was paid enough for this.
But he didn't have the luxury to be considerate of Rick's position.
"There's something I need you to do for me." Asher began. "I'll double your overtime pay. And the car you've been badgering me to get so you don't have to ferry me everywhere... I'll do that too. I'll also move into the hotel suite."
Rick was wide awake when he spoke next. "Who do you want me to kill?"
"No one." Asher assured quickly, shaking his head at Rick's first guess.
"There's a man... Dominic Tates. He passed on five years ago. I need to know if he has any living relatives...or anyone well acquainted with him." Asher said.
He waited for Rick's response, and when it didn't come immediately. He frowned.
"Rick?"
"That's all?" Rick asked in a doubtful tone. "You woke me up just for that?"
"Well...yes." Asher replied. "Can you do it?"
"Can? I'm your secretary, Mr Knox. It's my job to make sure everything is possible." Rick reminded. "If you ask me to hang the moon, just give me a time and a date."
Asher ended the call with a roll of his eyes.