Page 37 of Trapped with the Covert Ops Soldier

“How do you know that?”

“The other ghosts told me.”

“Other ghosts?” Smitty asked slowly.

“Yeah, all the ghosts in the mine and at the bottom of the lake.”

Abby felt the blood drain from her face. “What?”

“They’re loud too. Always bugging me to make sure you’re okay.” He shook his head. “It’s not your time to die, buttheGhost wants what you found.”

“I don’t understand. What did I find?”

“The door. To the mine. That’s where you got the dynamite you’ve been throwing into the lake. Old dynamite.” JD rolled over, got to his knees, then rose to wobble on his feet. “You’re lucky the ghosts haunting the old mine like it when you throw dynamite into the lake. You remind the living that they exist. That they still have secrets.”

“I didn’t find the door to the mine. That mine has been inaccessible since it collapsed.”

“You sure there, missy?”

“Absolutely. I’ve been lighting the dynamite I found in my grandmother’s garden shed and tossing it into the lake to detonate it safely. She also had some really old Cuban cigars in there.”

“That ain’t the only reason, is it?”

“JD, you talk like a fortune cookie. Could you get to the point?”

He leaned toward her and grinned, showing off his yellow and black teeth. “It feels good to destroy somethin’, don’t it? Maybe a little too good, eh?”

“That’s it,” Smitty said, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. “Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to tell this ghost friend of yours that Abby didn’t find the mine entrance, that her dynamite has nothing to do with any mine. Then you’re going to make yourself scarce. Disappear. You’re not going to bother Abby with any more ghost stories. Got that?”

“I got it, boy.” JD winked at Smitty.

Smitty released the drunk with a groan of disgust and pushed him away.

JD stumbled a few steps, then stopped and gave Smitty an evil grin. “Better be careful, boy or you’ll end up a ghost yourself.” JD nodded at Abby. “She’s the only thing keeping you from it.” He laughed and weaved his way down the alley.

Abby glanced at Smitty. “What did he mean by that?”

“I’ve got no fucking clue.”

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