Illusion Town by Jayne Castle Page B

last night and tore the place apart.”
    For the first time Runner looked startled. “One of the bikers? He managed to find your place?”
    â€œThat’s what it looks like,” Hannah said.
    â€œHard to believe. Most folks from out of the zone would have a tough time finding your shop. GPS and the mapping systems are no good around here.”
    â€œI know,” Hannah said.
    â€œShit. Think it was someone local?” Runner asked softly.
    â€œNo,” Hannah said. “I don’t. But I suppose we can’t rule out that possibility, not entirely.”
    â€œWe don’t have time to deal with the problem now,” Elias said. “But we’ll find the guy when we get back. Hannahsays she’ll know his prints if she sees him again. Meanwhile, I’d appreciate it if you kept an eye on her place.”
    â€œNo problem,” Runner said. “I’ll put the crew on a round-the-clock schedule. With five of us taking turns we can watch this place all day and all night. He probably won’t come back, though.”
    â€œYou never know,” Elias said. “But if he shows up, don’t try to stop him. If he’s involved with the gang, he’ll be dangerous. The bikers hit us with some serious ghost fire last night. I think they may be ex-Guild men.”
    â€œDon’t worry about my crew.” Runner sliced the air with one hand, dismissing any hint that he and his team couldn’t handle the intruder. “Just take good care of my sister.”
    Elias smiled. “The thing about being a scone connected to a family that runs a mining empire is that I have access to all kinds of high-end security.”
    â€œOkay.” Runner looked at Hannah. “See you when you get back to the surface.”
    â€œTell any potential clients that I’m closed for business for a while but that I’ll be back soon,” she said.
    â€œYou got it.”
    Runner gave Virgil one last pat and then loped off down the alley.
    Elias looked at Hannah. “Potential clients?”
    â€œIn addition to finding things online for my regular clients, I run a little side business. I give a friends-and-family discount to folks here in the DZ. Most of them couldn’t afford my regular fees and commissions.”
    She locked the back door and led the way to the frontof the shop. She hoisted her day pack and her sleeping bag and went out of the front door. Elias followed her.
    She paused on the shop step to rez the lock.
    â€œFor all the good it did last night,” she grumbled.
    She went down the steps with Elias. They headed toward the sleek Cadence parked at the curb.
    Elias had just gotten the passenger-side door open for her when she heard the high-pitched whine of a small, underpowered, fuel-efficient, environmentally correct engine.
    The little vehicle braked to a sharp halt in front of the shop. Hannah turned to watch the driver extricate himself from the vehicle.
    â€œHannah, wait. I’ve been trying to get hold of you,” Grady Barnett called. “I’ve been very worried. What is going on?”
    â€œJust what I needed to make this day perfect,” Hannah said.

Chapter 12

    Elias gave the new arrival an assessing look. “You know this guy?”
    â€œOh, yes, I know him. Grady Barnett. That would be Professor Grady Barnett to you. He runs a para-psych research lab at the edge of the DZ. He’s the expert I hired to prepare the para-psych profile that I was going to send to the genealogist.”
    Virgil hunkered down on Hannah’s shoulder. He didn’t growl but he watched Grady with deep suspicion.
    â€œVirgil and Grady have a history,” Hannah whispered to Elias. “They don’t like each other very much.”
    â€œI trust Virgil’s instincts,” Elias said.
    â€œSo do I,” Hannah said. “Now.”
    Grady was in his mid-thirties. He had curly brown hair, shrewd gray eyes, a very square