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ExorSquad HQ was highlighted across the screen.
Fuck.
I took a deep breath. Might as well start putting Barth’s advice into practice.
I put it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Ryan! What the fuck have you been doing? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days and you keep sending me to that bloody answerphone that pings at me over and over again!” Ted’s voice came through, full to the brim with frustration and stress.
I grimaced a little and Popty looked a little sheepish, tendrils twisting like shy hands. “I didn’t get any messages. Are you sure you called the right number?”
“Stop trying to be a smartarse, you imbecile. I just got off the phone with the client and they haven’t heard from you at all and it also turns out that you set up a fucking website for the place you were supposed to help exorcise?!” Ted hissed down the line.
I ran a hand over the back of my neck. It had started to sweat. “Look, I was going to call them, but things got dicey here. I’ve been handling a lot of ghost problems.”
“Gerald is not fucking happy. I—”
“Ted, dear boy, is that our absent employee?” I heard from the background, and my stomach dropped to my arse.
Ted cleared his throat and audibly tried to compose himself. “Yes, sir.”
“Transfer him through to my office, would you?”
“Of course. Right away.”
He waited a few seconds, presumably for Gerald to leave.
“Watch what you say when you talk to him,” Ted warned me quietly. “He’s on edge right now. Things at the office are tense as fuck. Things have been happening… I can’t say too much.”
I was oddly touched by the heads-up.
“You know, you don’t have to go down with a sinking ship, Ted. Trust me—I know a pirate who told me so,” I said.
“I don’t even want to know what you mean by that.”
“I’m serious, though. Let Gerald stew in his own mess. If you need help, you can ask me.”
“What?” Ted snapped. “Like we’re friends?”
He was being sarcastic and flippant, but I didn’t react. “You got any better ones over there?”
Ted was silent for a long moment. “He’s waiting. I’ll transfer you now.”
He didn’t wait for my response before the line was ringing again.
“Ryan,” Gerald said, voice even.
“Hey, boss. Long time no talk.”
“Indeed. You’ve been having quite the adventure, it seems.”
“Every job is an adventure; it’s part of the thrill of working here.”
“Your charm leaves much to be desired.”
“I’ve never had any complaints, sir.”
“Until now, it would seem. The clients who hired us are not pleased with the quality or speed of your work. It seems you’ve left them quite in the dark about the whole process.”
