Tate went back to help unload the van, sending Derek back over. 

“How's it going?” he asked.

“Your people know what they're doing,” Zac said. “All I've gotta do is point and shoot. I like this job.”

 Derek grinned. “Glad to hear it. You really saved our butts, we've been planning the for ages and if we didn't have a camera guy, we'd be filming the whole thing on our phones. That would not make for great content.”

 Zac was there because their butts, and the rest of their anatomy, might well need saving. Probably by Skye, but he was there to help. 

“Happy to help,” Zac said. “Just stand there and tell the world who you are and why you're doing this.”

 Derek barely waited for Zac's thumbs up to launch into what was probably a well practiced introduction. “Hey, spooky friends! I'm Derek Chambers, lead investigator of LSPI, which most of you know stands for Liminal Spaces Paranormal Investigations. We have an exciting show for you tonight: the Fairmount Hospital! Shut down ten years ago under questionable circumstances, this building was in service for over ninety years. That's nearly a century together of activity and history to explore, and I just can't wait to get started!”

 Zac nodded and lowered the camera, checking the playback. “Looks good. Concise. Send Amy over next?”

“Sure will. Wait 'til you see this place! I took a peep when I cracked open the door and man. It's wild.”

 Zac grinned. “I'm actually pretty excited,” he said. “You don't get a lot of chances to explore old abandoned places like this, and not worry about getting caught.”

“True that," Derek nodded. "It's a definite perk." 

Zac was, partially, trying to match the persona of a happy go lucky temporary worker, and partially telling the absolute truth. He was curious about this place after all he'd heard about it. 

 The red headed woman ran over at Derek's wave. This was the psychic. Zac mentally checked his shields, just in case. He couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary about her, but he wasn't really all that psychically sensitive so she could be basically Professor X and he wouldn't know it.

“You're really efficient,” Amy said.

“Hm?” Zac looked up from the camera, once again adjusting light levels, this time making sure Amy's pale skin glowed, rather than look washed out. 

“Yeah. The last guy our company sent spent like half an hour just getting the intros exactly perfect. It was good for the final cut, sure, but we wanna get in the building, y'know?”

“I get it. I'm really curious about this place," Zac said.

"Is that why you took a last minute job while you were babysitting?" Amy guessed.

"Yeah, I couldn't resist. But don't worry, I am a good cameraman," Zac promised.

“I'm sure you are,” Amy grinned, "You have a very competent aura."

“Thanks,” Zac said, “You ready?”

 She nodded and did a little dance over to the trellis. “Ready!”

 Zac hit record, and Amy gave her introduction. “Hello lovely, spooky friends! I'm Amy, psychic investigator for LSPI. I know you're hoping I can tell you how many ghosts we're going to see tonight, but from out here all I can really say is that there is definitely something stirring in that big, old place. Here's hoping some amiable spirits are willing to make contact with us.”

 Well, she wasn't wrong about the activity. Zac wasn't sure how 'amiable' any ghost in a site referred to as a 'active kill zone' might be though.

“That's it for me,” Amy said. “I'll send your sister over, then Bob.”

“Sure,” Zac said. Hey, an opportunity to have a brief word with Bob away from the group. Perfect. “Should I have Skye record me, or no?”

“Well, we don't do a full intro for the camera dude because you're basically supposed to be our viewer's stand in," Amy explained. "But we will mention you're here, in case you get caught on Skye's cam or you say something our audio picks up. We account for everyone who might be visible as best we can. Is that cool?”

“Fine with me, I was just wondering if I needed to break out the tripod.”

 Truthfully Zac had every intention of making certain no sign of him appeared on any surviving footage. He was feeling a little exposed by the past few days, and a stint as an anonymous camera operator sounded almost relaxing.

 Skye ran over after Amy tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to Zac.

“Everything good?” she asked. “What's your read on these folks?”

“I like them,” Zac said. “They seem very... earnest.”

“That's my feeling too,” Skye said. “Tate's hilarious, and Nora's full of the coolest stories. Amy and Derek seem fun.” She paused. “Gotta say, I damn near had a heart attack when Bob showed up, though.”

 Zac nodded. “It seems the same is true for him. His heart was racing.”

“How do you know that?” Skye asked.

“I could hear it," Zac grinned.

“Really? Your hearing is that sensitive?” Skye asked.

“Yes," Zac said. A heartbeat had to be really loud and fast to hear, and the person had to be relatively close, but he could hear it.

“Wow.” Skye crossed her arms and leaned against the trellis, “I do think it's probably a coincidence him showing up. I asked Nora, they use him a lot when they go into the bigger sites, and a quick search on their YouTube channel shows him several times.”

“That's good. So he's likely not a plant for the Initiative?” Zac asked.

“Unless they're aiming to grab a bunch of ghost hunters and taking a really long time about it,” Skye said. “But our perimeter is in place and no one's spotted anyone who shouldn't be in the area. So if the Initiative does make a move, well, they're in for a fun time.”

“Good to know,” Zac glanced around. He didn't see any 'perimeter' but he trusted Skye's word. “Let's do this introduction thing. Do you know what to say?”

“Yeah, Derek coached me real quick," Skye said. "Not sure they'll be allowed to keep it, but hey, maybe we can keep a copy for my parents. Show 'em the job isn't all blood and violence, right?”

“They might enjoy that," Zac agreed.

 Skye straightened up and tugged her hoodie into place. “Let's do this.”

 Zac hit record. 

“I'm Skye. I'm a temporary intern for LSPI. I'm so excited to get to go on tonight's investigation! I really hope we catch something exciting on camera!” She waved to the camera and Zac shut it down. 

“I'll send Bob. Or have one of the others do it so he doesn't try to jump out of his skin,” Skye mused. 

 Zac nodded. “I'll keep an eye on him, so you can focus on whatever's in there,” he added.

“Thanks," Skye paused, and rested a hand on his arm briefly. "I'm not sure I've said it, but I really do appreciate having you at my back. My usual partners are okay, but they're all so scared of me it's distracting.”

 Zac wasn't sure what he could say to that. He patted her hand and she skipped off to help the ghost hunters set up.

 Bob walked over, looking half reluctant to approach a man he'd had a part in kidnapping and torturing, half reluctant to be anywhere near the girl who had literally scared the piss out of him just by entering a room. 

“Bob,” Zac said neutrally.

“Zac.” He looked over his shoulder. “Kid sister?”

“We look enough alike, and it's the easiest way to explain bringing her along," Zac explained.

Bob had played along with their cover. It earned him the courtesy of an answer.

“Why is she here?” Bob asked. “And why are you here?”

“I'm here to provide a believable reason for her to be here.” Zac tilted the camera. “She's here to make sure ghosts don't eat anyone's faces off.”

 Bob looked up at the hospital. “It's dangerous?”

“So I'm told," Zac said. "The phrase 'active kill zone' was thrown around with alarming frequency."

“And you're still going in?” Bob squeaked.

“If we don't, these people could be hurt, or killed," Zac replied. "I don't want that."

“They're nice people,” Bob said. “Really, they are. You could warn them.”

“Do you think they'd believe us? We're strangers. Skye's a kid.” Then a thought struck. “They might believe you, though. You've worked with them before.”

 Bob crossed his arms, obviously considering it. “I'm not sure. I'm their token skeptic. If I suddenly start going on about real ghosts eating faces-" Bob stopped and turned towards the door. "Is that likely to happen?”

 Zac shrugged. He didn't really know what they would be facing. He'd only rarely encountered any ghosts, and those were faded echoes of their past lives. More of a spiritual photograph than an active spirit.

“They'll think I'm pranking them. And.” Bob frowned. “She can keep the ghosts off, right? I mean, she's Death.”

“She's confident she can, yes," Zac said.

“Then, I think... I think we should let them check the place out. You don't know how badly they've wanted to go in there, to tell those people's stories. A lot of folks died in that place, you know," Bob added.

“I'd gathered. I recall something happened a few years ago, but I avoid places like hospitals so all I heard were the wild rumors the students spread," Zac admitted.

“Yeah, that makes sense," Bob said. "Ask Nora about it, she's got all the newspaper records and stuff.”

“I'll do that,” Zac said. “I have to ask. You are only here at their request? No one else's?”

“You mean, um.” Bob shook his head. “No. I'm not... I haven't exactly ripped up my membership card but I'm not taking any calls from, um, them either.” He took off his baseball cap and scratched his hair. “I still think the Hidden are dangerous, and you folks have way too many advantages, but I don't wanna tangle with that little girl again if I can help it.”

“That's rational," Zac said.

"Can I ask you for a favor, though?" Bob asked.

"It depends on the favor," Zac replied.

"Don't tell them," Bob twisted his cap in his hands. "I like these people. They're fun, and they pay well, and it's nice to hang out with them after a job and grab a few beers. If they knew about the Initiative, about what I helped them do to you, they'd hate me forever."

That was a relief to hear, actually.

"If you keep our secrets, we will keep yours," Zac said.

 Bob replaced his cap with a nod of acceptance. “So, should we do this intro thing?”

“Yeah, just stand there and let me hit the button," Zac pointed.

“Right," Bob went to stand where Zac indicated.

 Zac waved for Bob to start.

“Hiya folks, I'm Bob. I'm a contractor and home inspector, on the job twenty two years. I'm here to make sure no one falls through the floors and to remind these fine folks that sometimes the lights flicker because the wiring is bad.”

 Zac shut off the camera and nodded. “That looks good. Let's rejoin the others, I'm curious to see inside this place.” He paused. “You said you aren't answering the Initiative's calls. That means you won't be making any calls after this, either, right?”

“You mean I won't tell the Initiative I saw you, or the Reaper?" Bob asked. "Hell no. They might decide LSPI is involved with the Hidden or sheltering dangerous creatures. I don't want them getting dragged into all that, they're nice folks.”

 He sounded genuine. His heart rate remained steady and he gave none of the physiological tells of someone who was lying.

“That's all right, then.” Zac said. "Shall we go?"

“Yeah.” Bob shrugged. “It's gonna be a little tough to pretend that thing is just a little girl, though.”

“Do not call her a thing,” Zac said, keeping his voice mild but letting Bob see the threat in his eyes. 

“Right. Sorry," Bob ducked his head and looked away.