“He didn’t. We both got caught and the prick traded me to get himself cut loose. The DOPS didn’t need any trained baboons on the payroll, so they took the deal and here we are all together. The three amigos.”

The Missile shook and ground against something hard. Coop’s spine felt like it had grown teeth and was digging its way out of his doomed body. He was glad he was strapped in.

“So who wants to play Truth or Dare?” said Phil.

“Shut up, Phil,” said Coop.

“You’re very chatty for a ghost,” said Morty.

“I’m just a people person. Let’s talk about you, Morty.”

“No, thanks.”

“How much longer?” said Coop.

Morty looked at the GPS. “Another five minutes.”

“Do you have intimacy issues, Morty? Coop has massive ones.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” said Morty. “You should have seen him and Giselle at work. You’d never think she broke his heart and stomped all over it.”

“Morty . . .” said Coop.

“Giselle?” said Phil. “Dish, girlfriend.”

“Not another word.”

“Sorry,” said Morty.

“Don’t listen, Morty. I’m his therapist. Tell me everything.”

“Phil talks big now, but wait until we get inside,” said Coop. “He’s not bad at his job, but you’re going to see another side of him.”

“Really? He gets worse?”

“I’ll let you be the judge.”

“I’m right here, you know,” said Phil. “I can hear every word.”

“How much longer?” said Coop.

The Missile trembled. The grinding din from outside grew louder. They had to cover their ears. Then there was what sounded like a minor explosion. The Missile lurched forward and stopped. The drill on the front wound down. The digging arms retracted. Morty hit the outside lights. They were in a dark, open room, full of old furniture, paintings, and crates.

“Holy crap,” said Morty. “I think we’re here.” He checked the GPS. “We are. We’re in Babylon’s cellar.”

“I knew he wouldn’t bother with a lot of curses down here. Now we just have to get to his safe and get out. Everyone know what they’re doing?”

“I get you out of the basement and stay here, keep the Missile warmed up till you come back,” said Morty.

“Right.”

“And I make sure you don’t screw everything up,” said Phil.

“You sure you don’t want me to come along?” Morty said. “There might be more locks.”

“Not according to the blueprints,” said Coop. “Coming from the bottom of the house, we’re bypassing most of the worst traps. All we have to worry about is the room with the safe.”

“I’m not so sure about that, Coop,” said Phil. “The more the merrier, I say. Let’s bring ol’ Morty along. Nothing personal, but you can be a grumpopotamus.”

Morty said, “That’s not what Giselle says. She says—”