Hex stared at the old man sat across the street at the bus stop; he cocked his head to one side and said:
"That man smells wrong."
Wraith felt worn out for mystery. They had just finished a gruelling 18 hours getting rid of a poltergeist in Wormwood Scrubs prison for a measly £1,000 in used £20 notes. He opened the door to his car but Hex stood his ground. "Boss, you got to listen to me I have never smelt anyone like that before. It's like he's a reflection or something."
Taking a slow deep breath, Wraith looked up at the first of the morning light. It's that funny kind of blue which always relaxed him. It reminded him that no matter how much horror and filth he had to fight with, there was a beautiful universe out there, one which he always secretly thought held something special for him. "Ok, ok but you stay in the car."
Hex gave a grunt. "I thought we were partners in crime boss?"
"We are." Wraith replied walking towards the old man. "But I don't think the old man looks like he's ever saw a talking dog before. Stay in the car and catch some shut eye. You earned it." Hex had been the one who had found the poltergeist's lair. It had been hiding in the chimney systems.
Hex sneezed a bit of soot out of his nose in agreement then hopped into the car, pulled the door shut with his teeth and jumped onto the passenger seat. He circled twice before settling down to dream of dinosaur bones and Lassie.
"Good morning Mr. Macabre. The old man called out as Wraith approached. My Name is Abdel Fattah Al Gosaibi. But you can call me Del." The old man then stood up and firmly shook Wraith's hand and said with a warm smile. "How may I call you Wraith?"
Wraith always regarded himself as being a cool player. He needed to be with some of the nightmare things he had to deal with. But this charming old man threw him for a spin. "Who are you Del?" He asked. "How do you know my name?"
Del gestured to the seat in the bus stop. Wraith sat down and gathered his thoughts.
"Good questions. But first let me tell you what I am." He then reached into his waist coat pocket and brought out a business card and showed it to Wraith.
Wraith read the card several times. His mind filled with wonder as he read what Del did for a living. This was something very new to him. He looked back up to that funny blue, shook his head in wonder and said:
"You have got to be kidding me...You're a time travelling salesman."