Jayne Castle: Ghost Hunter

That stopped her. "You do?"

"Yes." He raised his brows. "But that doesn't mean anything will actually change much in the executive offices."

"Why not?"

"Because," Cooper said with an air of great patience, "although you can change some aspects of how the Guilds function and how they are perceived by the public, at their core, they are fundamentally different from mainstream corporate entities."

"Why?" she demanded.

"The Guilds are a cross between business enterprises and emergency militias. That mix requires a management style that is different from that of mainstream businesses. It also requires more emphasis on discipline, tradition, and a degree of secrecy that true corporations can't maintain."

"This is ridiculous." She sat back in the seat and flattened both hands on the table. "I don't know why I'm bothering to argue with you. Talk about a waste of time. If you want to keep the Aurora Springs Guild mired in outdated traditions, that's your problem, not mine."

"True," he agreed. "You gave up any right to comment on the subject when you threw my ring back in my face, didn't you?"

She stiffened. "I didn't throw it back. I just sort of set it down on your desk."

He shrugged. "We each have our version of events. Want some fries?"

She was suddenly and uncomfortably aware of the fact that she had not eaten dinner. That would put her last meal at shortly before noon, she reflected.

She looked at the fries, mouth watering. "No, thank you."

"Suit yourself." He ate another fry.

She cleared her throat. "Those things aren't good for you, you know."

"I've heard that." He smiled his unreadable smile again. "Worried that I might get fat?"

She felt herself redden. It was impossible to imagine Cooper Boone putting on weight. He was as hard and lean and tough as a ghost-leopard.

"I was thinking of your arteries, not your waistline," she muttered, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.

"Seeing as how you decided not to marry me, you don't have any long-term interest in my cardiovascular system." He paused, a fry halfway to his mouth, and gave her a polite, questioning look. "Or maybe you're hoping that the grease will do me in?"

She gripped the edge of the table with both hands. "Never mind. I'm here on business. Mind if we get to it?"

"No. Got to tell you, I've been damn curious ever since I got your call. Should I be touched that you kept my personal phone number all these months?"

"It was still in my address book," she mumbled, deliberately offhand.

Actually, it was still locked into her memory, along with so many other small details about Cooper, such as his bird-of-prey profile and the way he wore his dark hair brushed straight back from his high forehead.

"Okay, so much for the warm reunion," he said, biting off the end of the fry with strong, white teeth. "On to business. Why did you track me down here tonight?"

She took a steadying breath. "I need a hunter."

A dangerous light came and went in his eyes. "Is picking up hunters for an evening of fun and games a new hobby for you?"

She could feel the heat rising in her face and prayed that the weak illumination provided by the small candle on the table concealed her blush. It was no secret that a lot of women found ghost hunters extremely attractive prospects for occasional flings and one-night stands. Bars such as the Trap Door were popular stops for bachelorette parties and groups of single females out on the town in search of a little excitement.

Because of the nature of their work-they were, in essence, primarily expensive bodyguards in the tunnels- hunters tended to be in great shape physically. But it wasn't just their macho swagger and their rakish khaki-and-leather attire that drew the attention of women. Rumors abounded that ghost hunters were especially good in bed after they had de-rezzed a ghost. The hormone thing, Elly reflected.

"Here in Cadence I prefer to date outside the Guild," she said smoothly. "In fact, none of my friends know that I'm from a Guild family, and that's the way I intend to keep it."

"Ashamed?"

"Of course not," she shot back, infuriated by the accusation. "It's just that when I left Aurora Springs I was determined to make it on my own without the help of my family or Guild connections. Oh, never mind, I don't have time to explain. The important thing right now is that I need a hunter I can trust. I would also prefer one who is not affiliated with the local Guild."

"You trust me?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Got to say, that comes as something of a surprise, given our personal history."

"You and I certainly had our issues, Cooper. But I never, for a moment, doubted that you could be trusted. My father told me once that your word was good amber. I have no reason to believe otherwise."

The phrase good amber was an old one in the Guilds. Down in the catacombs everything depended on the quality of the tuned amber that was used to focus psi energy. Amber was necessary to navigate the endless, ancient tunnel complex. Badly tuned amber could lead a man or an entire excavation team astray, dooming those who relied on it to wander forever in the labyrinth belowground. Good amber was amber that could be relied upon when the going got rough.

"Tell me why you need a hunter," he said.

"I have to go into an off-the-charts area of the catacombs tonight, as soon as possible. It's a sector that I am reasonably certain has been cleared of illusion traps, but when it comes to ghosts, well, you know how they are. Unpredictable. I'd prefer to have a hunter along."

He put down the fry he had been about to eat. "Are you joking?"

"No."

"What the hell is this all about, Elly?" His eyes went hard and cold. "I can't believe that you've been foolish enough to get involved in illegal excavation work. But if that's the case, tell me now. I'll take care of it."

She had vowed that she would not allow him to push any of her buttons tonight, but this was too much.

"And everyone wonders why we broke up." She spread her hands. "This is a perfect example of why marriage between us would have been a disaster."

He blinked. "What did I say?"

"You honestly don't know, do you? You haven't even got a clue. Never mind." She sat forward determinedly. "We don't have time for this. Don't worry, I'm not going to involve you in anything illegal. This is a straight search-and-rescue job."

"Who needs rescuing?"

"A friend of mine."

"Why not hire a professional SAR team?"

"The person who is lost would definitely not appreciate having a formal team sent in after her."

"In other words it's your friend who is involved in some illegal excavation work," Cooper said.

"Stop jumping to conclusions. Bertha Newell works under a legitimate private license. Years ago she applied for and received a permit to excavate a sector of the catacombs that neither the university nor any of the large exploration firms wanted to be bothered with."

"So this Bertha Newell is a ruin rat? How did you get involved with her?"

"I'll explain later."

"If I turn you down, you'll try to find another hunter, right?"

She straightened her shoulders. "No. If you don't come with me, I'll go down alone."

"Like hell you will."

"Well, not entirely alone," she amended quickly. "I've got a friend who will go with me."

"A hunter friend?"

"No."

Cooper exhaled slowly. "Looks like I don't have much choice. If something happens to you down there in the catacombs, I don't want to have to face your parents with the news."

"I am aware," she said through her teeth, "that I have placed you in a somewhat difficult position."

"But you're going to do it anyway."

"I don't have any choice, either. Bertha may be in very serious trouble."