Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle Page B

“She probably wouldn’t believe she ran into a blue, anyway.”
    â€œSomething else,” he added quietly.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œIt’s okay to tell her that I’m from Aurora Springs, but I don’t want her to know about my connection to the Aurora Springs Guild.”
    Elly wrinkled her nose. “It’s not just a connection. You’re the Guild boss.”
    â€œI don’t want her or anyone else here in town to know who I am. From now on, I’m Cooper Jones.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s complicated.”
    â€œLet me guess,” she said. “Guild business?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGosh, what a stunning surprise.”
    He ignored that and went out into the hallway to get the utility vehicle. The blue was more than just routine Guild business. It was a potential public relations disaster, one that could threaten the future of all of the Guild organizations.
    As far as the public was concerned, blues did not exist, and neither did hunters like him, who could de-rez them. Ever since their founding, the Guilds had gone toextraordinary lengths to keep the secrets of the blues buried deep in the archives. The effort had paid off. Over the years, the unusual blue ghosts and those who could summon them had receded into the realm of myth and legend.
    There was a good reason for concealing the truth, he thought. People were inclined to get nervous when myths and legends came to life.

Chapter 8
    BERTHA STIRRED AND OPENED HER EYES. ELLY EXHALED A sigh of relief.
    â€œBertha, it’s me, Elly. You’re safe.”
    â€œElly?” Bertha’s voice was hoarse. Her gray eyes were dazed. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œMy friend, Cooper, and Rose and I came looking for you. You’re okay. You had a brush with a ghost, and you must have hit your head when you went unconscious.”
    Bertha screwed up her face. “Can’t remember . . .”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.” Elly patted her shoulder. “You know how it is after an encounter. You’ll be all right in a day or so. That’s all that matters.”
    Cooper de-rezzed the engine and got off the vehicle. His face was hard and taut. “Let’s get her into the sled.”
    â€œNo problem,” Bertha said, sitting up cautiously. She put a hand to her head. “Got a headache, but that’s all that’s wrong. Be right as tuned amber tomorrow.”
    Cooper helped her to her feet.
    â€œI think you should go to the emergency room,” Elly said.
    â€œNo,” Bertha replied. “No doctors. I’m okay, I tell you. Got some supplies in the sled. Just need to clean up the mess and put a bandage on my head.”
    They got Bertha into the back of the sled. Elly climbed in beside her and opened the first-aid kit. She was relieved to see that Bertha’s wound, although bloody, was not as bad as she had feared.
    Cooper started to get into the driver’s seat. She saw him hesitate, and then step down from the vehicle.
    He walked swiftly to where the blue vortex had been whirling a few minutes earlier. She watched him lean down to pick up a small, narrow object that was lying on the floor. Sliding it into a pocket, he loped back to the sled.
    Before she could ask him what he had found, he was rezzing the engine.
    She could question him about whatever it was he had picked up some other time, she thought. Right now she had to focus on cleaning Bertha’s wound.
    TEN MINUTES LATER, SPORTING THE BANDAGE THAT ELLY had applied over the disinfected wound, Bertha managed to stagger up out of the cellar and into the darkened back room of her shop. She swayed a little, but she stayed on her feet.
    â€œNeed to sleep it off,” she mumbled, rubbing her temples with her thumbs.
    â€œIf you won’t go to the ER, you’re going to come home with me,” Elly said firmly. “I’m not leaving you here