The pavement and stray rocks crackled underneath the tires of the van pulling in. On any other day, children would be playing outdoors, there’d be joggers going by, people would be moving their lawns, anything. Anything for a perfect summer afternoon like this. But instead, the only thing that could be heard was the base of the radio emanating from the van. Though, it was short-lived as the engine cut, pop music being replaced by the whirring of the engine cooling down. Ever since the rumors spread, neighbors had been avoiding the dingy house. There were hopeful souls, some who believed he had left or been busy. But most accepted readily that he was most likely gone. For days it was just simple whispers, but today there was confirmation. On the side of the van, in blue text, read, “New Tomorrow Cleaners.”

“Christ,” Teddy said, throwing open the door. “What a pig sty.” The house itself was a two-level White House with an attic to crown the once beautiful home. The walls of the house were stained with grout and marked by age, partially caused by the leaking storm drains. Creeping up the walls were the overgrown bushes that once complimented the porch of the house. Though, it may have been good the porch was covered, as the wood of the porch was littered with dirt and cobwebs.

“The other team is gonna hate this.” Tanvir shook his head with a slight smirk. He had stepped out from the other side, allowing for the third member to follow.

“Another squatter case?” Jeremy asked, shutting the door.

“You don’t know?”

“Course not! No one ever tells me.” Teddy flicked his lighter to life, touching it to the end of a cigarette balanced between his teeth. He answered, “pretty simple. Dude hadn’t been seen for weeks, car hadn’t moved, mailbox was overflowing, nothing. Neighbor had called for a welfare check and they found him dead in the basement, heart attack supposedly.”

Jeremy blinked, “is it bad?” To which Teddy chuckled,

“Bad? Jerm, you know the answer. Two weeks! We lucked out this time but there’s still a ton of blood and bile. The humidifier gave out too so we’re gonna have a real picnic down there.”

“Ugh…” Tanvir cringed, “I’ll get the masks then.”

“Please do. I’ll show you what the scene looks like then we can get our equipment.” Teddy took a long drag of his cigarette and then dropped it to the pavement. Then, ground it in with his steel-toed boot.

Tanvir retrieved the jumpsuits from the back of the van. They threw them on over their work shirts with the crinkle of a vinyl bag. While Jeremey and Tanvir zipped them up, Teddy had simply put it over his pants and tied the sleeves around his waist. It was a common thing he did and likely not as he was allowed to do, though the others never cared enough to tell him otherwise. The reality was that this wasn’t anything new, they’re seen far worse. Popped cadavers, melting, maggots, all of it. At most all, they’d have to do was clean up the blood, disinfect, and dispose of whatever down there, easy job by all standards. Yet, on this hot day, the three still dreaded the idea of being down there in the humid basement, thick with the stench of fermented death. Even with the body gone, the new circulation of...