"Sir, thank you."
The soul avoided the sunlight and gave Shade a slight bow from within the shadows. Shade shook his head, indicating it was nothing.
Mia looked at the soul, but Shade did not notice the cat's reaction.
"I don't know whether you remember, but we actually met once at the church. I didn't notice the problem with you at the time. Otherwise, perhaps—"
"There are no 'what ifs' left for me."
The soul spoke with a bitter smile. Compared to the souls Shade had encountered in the graveyard, whose stories involved love, family, and grudges spanning half a century, Mister Freeman seemed more like a person.
"I know I shouldn't remain here. I should leave. But I'd like to ask you to help me with something."
He bowed again. Shade considered it for a moment.
"Tell me what it is first. I won't casually promise things to people."
"I secretly saved some private money. I don't know if you're married, but men with families all have this habit."
He smiled awkwardly and continued explaining.
"There's about 50 pounds. I've been saving it for ten years. I originally planned to use it to buy things behind my wife's back—things she'd consider a waste of gold pounds. Things like a Handmade Brass Battleship Model from Kasonlik, or collectible commemorative stamps. The money is hidden in our old home, in a hollow beneath the attic floorboards."
The hollow where he hid the money was probably too small, which was why Shade and the priest had not discovered it during their inspection that morning.
"Please take the money to my family. It's very important to them now. You can keep half and give them the other half."
He gave Shade an unnatural smile, clearly worried that Shade might pocket it all. But