Dread crawled up Ein's spine, his mind racing to figure out how he could explain the situation. But as he looked to the coffee table, Adriel's body was no longer there.
Avery let go of the door, and it swung close behind him, the click deafening in the silence of the room. His eyes drifted around the place, taking in its plainness. Then his gaze settled on Ein with a smirk.
"Is this a bad time?"
"It is," Ein said, hoping he'd leave.
"Too bad," Avery said in his chipper manner, squeezing past.
"Is my apartment a guest house?" Ein muttered with forced casualness, following him into the living room.
"Yeah, with a rude, reclusive host," Avery shrugged, turning around with his hands on his hips.
"Are you here to criticize me?"
"Where's the keychain I gave you?"
Ein stared at Avery with a blank look. "What keychain?"
The ghost stirred, hastily explaining, "The birthday gift! The panda keychain Avery gave you. Remember?"
"Ah, that?" Ein scratched his brow. "Don't know. I don't carry it around."
Avery hummed and tilted his head inquisitively. "Mhm... You see, a funny thing happened. Turns out a body disappeared from the morgue a few days ago. You know who?"
Ein's heart sank, but he controlled his expression. "Who?"
"Adriel Byers."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
Avery clicked his tongue, leaning against a dresser by the wall. "A panda keychain was found in the morgue."
The ghost gasped, running to check the pockets in Ein's jacket. "Did it fall out?"
Ein walked across the room to make Avery turn away from the parka hanging by the door. Adriel went digging through it like a robber in a hurry.
The shuffling noise drew Avery's attention to the jacket. He glanced over his shoulder, and Ein sent the ghost a glare.
Adriel finished his search, yelling across the room, "It's not here! The keychain is gone!"
"And you think I did it? Stole the body?" Ein asked Avery, distracting him from the paranormal activity by the door.
"Ein," Avery's upbeat demeanor turned serious. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"What the hell would I do with a dead body?" Ein countered, fighting the urge to ask the ghost where the body had gone.
Was it in the bathroom? The closet? Why had the ghost moved it in the first place? It's not like he knew Avery was coming. Or did he see the text messages and move the body as a precaution?
"I don't know. All I know is that the body of your target is missing and they keychain I gave you was at the scene," Avery said.
He seemed to be waiting for Ein to either pull out the keychain to prove it wasn't him, or to confess and explain what happened. But Ein could do neither, so he kept beating around the bush.
"And your first thought is that I took it?"
"Can you blame me? You've been acting strange again," Avery replied, crossing his arms. "I know you don't like people poking around your business, but maybe talk to someone. If not me, then there are some underground therapists who can help guys like us."
The ghost chortled sarcastically, slapping the wall, "Ha! What a great idea! Confess all your crimes to a stranger? Sure, sounds safe!"
Avery furrowed his brow lightly, casting a glance in Adriel's direction. He must've heard the slap on the wall, at least somewhat.
"Oh, he heard me?" the ghost approached Avery from behind, flashing a wide grin at Ein. "I wonder what his reaction would be like if I threw a pillow at him? Should I try? Then you can gaslight him into believing he's the insane one."
Avery glanced around, "You sure your heater's broken? It's a bit toasty in here. Feels like someone's breathing down my neck."
"Look, if I was going to steal the body, I wouldn't have waited until it's in the morgue," Ein tried to rationalize. "I would've taken it on the night of the job. You know I don't do stupid shit."
"And how do you explain the keychain?" Avery pressed, his expression like that of a fisherman struggling to reel in a fish that keeps slipping off the hook.
"Is that the only panda keychain in the entire country?" Ein countered.
For a good while, Avery scrutinized Ein like a hawk, his gaze penetrating and relentless. Then, like a switch being flipped, his upbeat demeanor was back. He leaned back and smiled.
"Alright then! Let's call it a silly coincidence."
"Uh..." the ghost clasped his hands, taking a few steps back, "this guy's creeping me out. Is he planning something? He looks like he's planning something."
Ein felt like laughing. A ghost unnerved by a living person? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
"Mind if I use your bathroom?" Avery pushed himself off the dresser, stretching his arms.
Bathroom? The body wasn't hidden in the bathroom right?
Sweating, Ein waited to see if the ghost would panic. There was a brief pause, and Adriel raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. Alright, the body wasn't in the bathroom.
"Sure, go ahead," Ein stepped aside, letting Avery pass.
Avery smirked, passing by with a carefree gait, hands in pockets. As soon as the door swung shut, Ein turned to the ghost, gestured with his hands in a mute interrogation.
"What?" Adriel blinked, at a loss.
Ein gestured at the coffee table again, silently mouthing "The body?"
"Oh, yeah, I moved it," Adriel mentioned, grinning proudly. "It worked out perfectly, didn't it?"
Ein felt his temples throb. He waved his hand in question, "Where?"
The bathroom door clicked, and Ein quickly lowered his arms and turned away.
"I'll be on my way now," Avery announced. "See you tomorrow."
"Leaving already?" Ein asked.
Avery flashed a smirk over his shoulder. "Wouldn't want to catch your cold."
The moment the front door closed, Ein whipped his head towards Adriel for an explanation.
Having read his mind, Adriel chuckled, waving his hand in a 'calm down' motion. "Relax. It's in a better place," he assured, trailing to the kitchen leisurely.
Ein exhaled and followed, shaking his head.
The magnets on the fridge were moved around, forming an X.
"Seriously?" Ein muttered, staring at the masterpiece.