Shivering and wet, the four kids piled into Murray's room, down in the very lowest floor.

"I didn't even know you could get a room that was this far down," Jonathan said, plopping down on the couch next to Nancy.

Murray shook his head, pouring a bottle of vodka into a clear glass. "You can't," he said. "Nobody can. Not unless they know somebody and know exactly how to convince that somebody to get them a room in the damn basement."

"Who are you?" Mike asked. "How do you know my sister and Jonathan?"

For the first time, a smile cracked Murray's face. "Good question," he said with a subtle glance at the teenagers sitting on the couch. "It's always good to question the Man. In their case, they were looking for a way to put information out into the world. I helped them with that, then watered down some vodka for them and lent Nancy my guest bedroom. And Jonathan slept on the pull-out in my study." He grinned wickedly at them, prompting both to share a glance and roll their eyes.

"What's funny?" El whispered in Mike's ear.

"I have a feeling Jonathan didn't actually end up sleeping on the pull-out," Mike whispered back.

"Oh," El mouthed, though she still seemed confused.

"Oh is right, little lady," Murray said, reclining into his seat. "Oh is very right. Now. Let's get down to business." He stared at Jonathan. "I've been trying to find a safe way to contact your mother for weeks," he said. "No luck. Not until I heard about this place."

"This place?" Nancy repeated. "What's so special about this place?"

"Nothing," Murray replied. He took a long sip from his cup before slamming it down on the table. "Absolutely nothing. That's why it was perfect for what I wanted to do."

"Which is…" Jonathan prompted.

"Send a coded letter. From "Mary Bowmen." I had everything planned out. I'd tell her I was a reporter in Hawkins looking for insider information on the alleged government cover ups. Mention that there was a cute little town called Smarton on the way. She'd have figured it out. She's smart. Unlike you shitheads. You've messed up everything."

Nancy rose to her feet. "Can you stop throwing accusations like a child and tell us what this is all about?"

"Fortunately for you, I can," Murray finally conceded. He nodded at her. "I can see you're still the spirited one. Good for you."

Nancy didn't respond, only raising an eyebrow and returning to her seat next to Jonathan.

"Now here's the thing. You remember all those Russians that invaded Hawkins last summer?" He waved his hand in their direction. "Of course you do. Well, rumor has it they're up to something nasty. Again. Nothing major. More of a revenge mission. They're looking for all of those responsible for their failure in your town."

"So...like us?" Mike asked, his expression turning sour.

"Uh, yeah," Murray replied. "Like you. Especially your mom," he said, pointing at Jonathan, "and you." He moved his finger to rest on El's forehead. "Anybody else involved is just an added bonus."

He began to pace around the room, still sipping from his glass. "You were safe in Hawkins," he muttered. "All of you. I don't know what Joyce was thinking. Nobody could do shit to you guys. Not without drawing further attention to that hellhole. Luckily, you Byers dropped of the grid when you moved away. And now look what you've done."

"I thought we got rid of the Russians," Jonathan said, shooting Murray a confused look.

If looks could kill, the withering glare that the bearded man sent back would have vaporized Jonathan on the spot. "Yes, Jonathan," Murray drawled. "We got rid of every single Russian on the face of this planet. Do svidaniya, comrades."

"That's enough," Nancy said with an eye roll. "So you're telling us that whoever is left of the people that were in Hawkins last year have been watching us. And now that we've left the safety of our homes, they're tracking us?"

Murray nodded, tapping one finger to the side of his head. "Bright girl. And now, because they have eyes on you, they'll have seen me. So thanks a lot." He sighed deeply. "The only thing we can do now is hope they somehow missed the fact that you and your brother skipped town. Lay low, don't leave the hotel, and don't come back to this room once you leave."

He looked Jonathan and El up and down. "You two...it would probably be best if you went back to Hawkins after this. I don't want anybody finding Joyce and jeopardizing everything I've been working for."

"What are we going to tell her?" Jonathan asked.

"Leave that to me," Murray said, tilting his head back to force the last of the alcohol in his cup into his mouth. "Now, you kids had better get back to your rooms."

He grinned suddenly, shattering the somber atmosphere that he'd created. "Let me guess," he said slyly, looking pointedly at Mike's arm around El. "You guys are just friends, aren't you?"

"Let's go," Nancy said, yanking Mike's wrist and rising off the couch. "He's right, it's getting late." She looked up and offered a derisive smile at Murray. "Always a pleasure talking with you Murray."

"Pleasure is right," the man said, eyeing her and Jonathan. "You should be thanking me."

"Goodnight," Jonathan said firmly, following the rest of them out the door and slamming it shut behind him.

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Yikes.