After Dark by Jayne Castle

at the other end of the hall, blocking some of the light. “What do you think you’re doing? For God’s sake, get out of there. Zane says he’s got a knife.”
    Without warning fresh ghost energy sizzled in the hallway, inches away from Emmett. A poisonous green glow announced the new UDEM. Smaller this time, Emmett noted. The intruder was weakening. Or maybe he was distracted with the task of trying to escape.
    â€œLook out,” Lydia shouted.
    Zane bounced up and down behind her. “Holy shit, another ghost! Watch this, Lydia.”
    Emmett concentrated briefly and then swatted the new ghost with a pulse of psi energy.
    â€œMan, that is so dissonant,” Zane crowed. The fear that had underscored his words a moment earlier had been replaced with excitement. “Did you see what Mr. London did?”
    Emmett did not hang around to catch Lydia’s response. This far from the ruins, it was harder to conjure a ghost than it was to banish one. The use of so much psychic energy drained the body’s resources quickly.
    The intruder had wasted a lot of his strength on the task of summoning the second UDEM, strength that he should have saved for crawling through the window. There would never be a better opportunity to take him.
    Emmett shot through the doorway into the bedroom.
    The ghost-hunter had one leg through the open window. The dark outline of his body was clearly visible against the night sky. He scrabbled wildly, trying to find leverage.
    Emmett seized one booted foot and yanked hard. The hunter tumbled back into the room and landed on the carpet with a heavy thump.
    The man stared up at him through the eyeholes in his stocking mask. Moonlight gleamed on the knife in his hand. Emmett circled warily, watching for an opening. The hunter rolled once and surged to his feet.
    He made no move to close with Emmett.
    â€œStay back, you sonofabitch,” he warned. He shifted toward the door of the bedroom. “Just stay outta my way and nobody will get hurt.”
    He was tightly wound, Emmett thought. Not in full control. Maybe having two of his ghosts neutralized in quick succession had made him nervous.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Emmett moved toward him, staying just out of range of the knife. “What the hell is this all about?”
    â€œNone of your business.” The hunter made a short, brutal, slashing motion with the knife. “Get back, damn it.”
    â€œTalk to me,” Emmett said quietly. “Or you’ll end up talking to the cops and to the Guild.”
    The hunter laughed, a harsh bark of sound. “The cops can’t hurt me, and the Guild can’t touch me.”
    He was at the doorway now. He eased through it, into the hall, never taking his eyes off Emmett.
    â€œYou were the one who summoned the ghost here last night weren’t you?” Emmett kept his voice casual, almost conversational. “Why the warning to Lydia?”
    â€œShut up . I’m not answering any of your stupid questions.” He risked a hasty glance over his shoulder, apparently checking to see that the path was clear.
    When he turned back, Emmett had a ghost waiting for him. A big one.
    Green energy pulsed in front of the intruder, filling the room with the strange light that was the hallmark of a dangerously intricate ghost.
    â€œOh, shit ! No one said anything about this.” The hunter whirled and fled down the short hallway.
    He collided with the small table there, staggered, righted himself, and dashed into the foyer. He was clearly in the grip of panic. He did not even bother trying to neutralize Emmett’s ghost.
    The problem with ghosts was that although they could be maneuvered, it was impossible to make them move quickly. The hunter could easily outrun the UDEM Emmett had summoned.
    In the meantime, it was blocking Emmett’s path. He zapped the energy pattern. The ghost winked out, enabling him to plunge through the doorway and out