Early the next morning, Asher stood before Freedom Stadium Ruins. George and Rick in tow.
They had spent hours trying to convince Asher to forego his idea. He wouldn't hear of it.
Other than those two, he had yet another company. Arthur Beck of Beck, Ronin & Co.
Or as he had come to understand, Knox Holdings inheritance lawyer.
One or both of Marrick's lawyers was a snake. Asher knew that.
But he needed a lawyer. And between the muddle headed Greaves, and slightly paranoid Beck, the latter seemed the most suitable choice.
And Greaves was retired, so he wasn't really an option either way.
The real estate agent was chubby and much too sweaty for the morning hours. He guided them through the ruins, going on and on about the resale value of the property. The excitement in his voice was unnecessarily exaggerated and almost suffocating.
But Asher couldn't blame him.
In his eyes, he had hit the jackpot. Asher was probably just another ignorant rich kid who had no idea what he was getting himself into, purchasing a haunted property.
The last three buyers had been unable to make any good use of the property, and had ended up selling it even cheaper than they originally purchased it.
Along with spending a good fortune facing law suits and compensating construction workers that had gotten injured in the series of 'unexplained' accidents on this site.
Now, compared to it's original price listing five years ago, it was halved by nearly three times.
"Are you sure about this?" Arthur Beck asked, glancing around the sublevel they had just entered.
Every part of the stadium screamed 'haunted'. Even with the reassurance of daylight.
"I mean, the property itself is a solid buy." He continued. "But, there's a reason it's been abandoned for five years. Despite being resold three times."
The agent must have heard Beck's reservations, he was quick to intervene. "I'll be honest. There's been rumors of ghosts and what not. But we aren't about to believe in such tales now, are we?"
An iron pipe crashed to the ground behind him. The agent jumped three feet high, with a high pitched squeal.
Rick cleared his throat to hide his laughter.
Realizing it was just a pipe, the agent coughed awkwardly. Straightening his coat.
Asher exchanged a glance with Beck who had an almost pleading expression. He must have dealt with Marrick's haunted property long enough to be wary of such 'tales'.
"I'll take it." Asher decided. "At half the price."
The agent's eyes widened. "Mr Knox, the price is already..."
"I'm taking a risk here. I have to make sure any losses incurred on my end are ultimately minimal." Asher interrupted. "Unless of course, you have a better offer. Then I will be willing to let it go..."
"I'll speak with my employers." The agent was quick to say. "We'll have a satisfactory offer ready for you in 24 hours, Mr Knox. But I implore you to be amenable."
"5 hours." Asher said. "That's all the time I can spare. Once your decision is made, my lawyer will take care of the rest."
Beck had gone pale.
"In his office, of course." Asher added. "Not anywhere around here. And he won't be a part of any further on-site inspections."
Beck released an audible sigh of relief.
Asher's gaze lingered briefly on the iron pipe. An accident? Not nearly.
He turned and headed back out. A subtle smirk on his lips.
When Asher got back into his car, Dominic Tates was already waiting. His expression was murderous, eyes glowering, fiery enough to burn a hole through Asher's head.
Asher hesitated for only a moment before he got in beside the malignant ghost.
"What do you think you're doing?" Tates demanded.
Pulling out his phone, Asher lifted it to his ear.
"What do you mean?" He replied cluelessly.
"What makes you think I'll let you buy off my territory?!"
"This is the business of...a particular category of people. The other category has no grounds to... interfere."
Tates eyes darkened. "Do you really think I won't kill you? Like all the other trespassers?"
Asher shrugged. "Something tells me, you don't want to get in any more trouble with our mutual friend."
"Why else would you need me for cover?"
Tates fumed. "Don't you think I'll let you get away with this. Anyone you send to my property will join...my category of people."
With that, he was gone. Taking with him the ghostly chill.
Asher finally released a breath he had not realized he was holding. He had taken a risk to confirm two things.
First, demolishing the residence of a haunting ghost was a danger to them, in some way.
Second, Tates was on his last straw with Mr. Top Hat. Which meant, he was just as desperate if not more desperate than Asher.
He hid it well. But Asher knew better now.
If Tate wanted to commit a murder with his help, he would have to find himself another broker, and another haunting residence while he was at it.