JCastle - H1 Bridal Jitters by aka Jayne Ann Krentz Harmony Series Page A

aloud. Of all the bad luck.
    This was just what   they did not need   for their first time   out as the   new
    firm   of Gage & Burch;   a nearly impossible assignment.   She was the one who
    had taken   the   call   yesterday   morning from   Mac.   He   had   certainly   not
    mentioned   anything about a waterfall.   She reminded herself that waterfalls
    fell into Sam's area of expertise. She   had to admire him for projecting   an
    image   of professional confidence,   but she seriously   doubted that he'd had
    any experience with waterfalls. Few people had. She had read about them,   of
    course.   They were described in the textbooks as unique cascades of unstable
    dissonance-energy manifestations--ghosts--that could block entire corridors.
    Unlike   most   UDEMs, they   did not   drift aimlessly   through the underground
    tunnels of the Dead City. Instead, they were anchored in one place,   forming
    impenetrable   walls of seething psi energy that could fry anyone dumb enough
    to get   too close.   Little was   known about   them because   so few   had   been
    discovered.   Those that had   been found had been   de-rezzed by teams of very
    expensive,    highly    specialized   experts,    not   by    small-time   security
    consultants.   Sam would be on his own with this one. Her name was now on the
    newly repainted door of the office, but that didn't mean she could help   him
    with the waterfall. This was a job for a ghost-hunter. A really, really good
    ghost-hunter. All she could do   was cheer him on. Ewert   gave Sam a look   of
    mingled desperation and ag- BRIDAL JITTERS
     
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    gressive   demand. "Think   you can handle   it, Gage? This   project is already
    running behind schedule.   I've had one   delay after another   in the   tunnels
    during the past month. I can't afford any more."
    "I'll   take a look,"   Sam said. "I can   give you a firm   answer as soon as I
    examine it."
    Ewert planted his   hands on his   desk and glanced   at the   khaki-and-leather
    clad man who lounged against the wall. "Leon, here, doesn't think any single
    hunter can deactivate it. He tells me I'm going to have to contract with the
    guild   for a team   of specialists. Trouble is,   my budget won't stretch that
    far."
    "It's big," Leon   drawled. "More   ghost energy than   I've ever   seen in   one
    place and I've been working underground for damn near fifteen years."
    Virginia glanced at him. Leon Drummond was the Ewert team's ghost-hunter. He
    was working on   a standard   guild contract.   He had   made it   clear that   he
    resented   having   a private   consultant   brought in   to handle   the watenall
    problem. Leon was everything that gave   ghost-hunters a bad name, as far   as
    Virginia   was concerned.   He was   arrogant, macho, ill-mannered,   and he had
    poor taste in clothes.   His oversized belt buckle   was studded with so   much
    amber that if he ever fell into the river, she was pretty sure that he would
    sink like a stone.
    "Like I   said, I   can   give you   an answer   after   I've had   a look   at   the
    waterfall," Sam said calmly.
    "Suit   yourself,"   Leon muttered.   Ewert leaned   wearily back   in his chair.
    "Leon will   take you   to   the site.   I can't   allow   anyone else   into   that
    corridor   until   the waterfall   is cleared.   Too dangerous.   For God's sake,
    don't do anything stupid. If   you and Miss Burch   can't handle it, just   say
    so. My insurance won't cover any lawsuits."
    Sam   nodded   as   he   got to   his   feet.   "We'll keep   that   in   mind. Ready,
    Virginia?"
    26 Cnarmea
    If nothing else,   this was going   to be interesting,   she thought. Not   many
    people   got an opportunity to see a real ghost-energy waterfall. In spite of
    her misgivings, anticipation rose within her.
    "Ready," she said.   With a shrug,