Ghost Hunter Read Free

mean by that?”
    â€œLet’s just say this incident isn’t one of the Guild’s better kept secrets, Dad. I’m amazed you managed to hush itup this long.” She turned back to Cooper. “But now that everybody’s talking, I wouldn’t be surprised if the story hits the tabloids this afternoon or tomorrow. Better warn that nice little man in that broom closet downstairs that you like to call your public relations department to brace himself. He’s going to be a little overwhelmed when the local media starts calling.”
    â€œWhat, exactly, did you hear?” Cooper asked. His voice didn’t sharpen, but his eyes did.
    I definitely have his attention, Elly thought. But it didn’t take parapsych senses to figure out that this was probably one of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for situations.
    She was committed now, though. There was no turning back.
    â€œEveryone is saying that the reason Palmer Frazier disappeared for several days a while back was because he needed time to recover from the psychic injuries he received in a duel with another hunter. They’re also saying that’s why he resigned from the Guild Council to—How did your PR department put it? Oh, yes, to pursue other interests in Frequency City.”
    â€œI see.” Cooper looked thoughtful.
    She wanted to scream, but she clamped her back teeth together, instead. She would not lose it here in front of this overcontrolled man. She had her pride.
    â€œThey say that you were his opponent, Cooper, and that you won.”
    Cooper continued to look meditative.
    â€œThis is most unfortunate,” John murmured.
    â€œCertainly struck me that way, Dad,” she said. “According to the gossip that’s going around, the only witnesses allowed were the other members of the Guild Council. That means you were there.”
    John winced uneasily. “Now, see here, my dear—”
    She switched her attention back to Cooper. “Guess what,Cooper. Gossip flows through the Guild Hall as quickly as it goes across the campus. In fact, the news is all over town. And this is a small town, in case you’ve forgotten. Do you know what that means? It means I can’t even go grocery shopping without people talking about me behind my back.”
    â€œThis will all blow over in a month or two,” John announced in forceful tones. “Frazier is fine. It was his decision to leave town and move to Frequency City.”
    â€œHe would hardly want to hang around Aurora Springs after he’d been humiliated by losing a duel and being forced off the Council,” she shot back.
    Cooper studied her with a considering expression. She knew that he was trying to decide just how much of the truth to reveal.
    â€œI regret that there has been gossip and that it got back to you,” he said slowly.
    â€œFor heaven’s sake, you could have been seriously injured or even been killed.”
    Cooper’s brows drew together above the rims of his glasses in a slightly baffled expression. “There was no danger of anyone getting killed.”
    â€œA sanctioned ghost-hunter duel is a formal ritual,” John said quickly. “It’s used only as a last resort to deal with challenges to the existing power structure of the organization. The strongest hunter wins. The members of the Council witness the results, and that’s the end of the matter.”
    â€œYou make it sound so simple,” she retorted, thoroughly exasperated. “But everyone knows ghosts are terribly, terribly dangerous. Sure, hunters have some immunity, but one miscalculation, and we’re talking a major disaster. When you’re dealing with high-energy ghosts, there’s always the possibility of serious psychic trauma.”
    â€œNothing went wrong,” Cooper said quietly. “The issue that had arisen was formally settled according to Guild Law. There should have been no