Guild Boss (Ghost Hunters #14)(26)

“But how many are available for an illegal operation in the Ghost City?”

Anger sparked through her. “To be clear, Mr. Jones, I’m not available for off-the-books contracts. I have a reputation, or at least I had a reputation, for integrity as well as talent.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

“That is very good to know.”

“I was just thinking out loud. You’re an independent and you were—are—one of the best, if not the best, in town. In addition, your family doesn’t live here. If I needed a weather channeler for an off-the-books project, someone whose disappearance might not be noticed for a while, I’d pick you in a heartbeat. You’re not affiliated with Roxby’s and you are known to work with small-time operators. If you got into trouble in the Ghost City while channeling for an anonymous independent prospector—well, accidents happen in the Underworld.”

The temperature of the balmy desert night seemed to plummet. Lucy shivered. Otis hurried toward her and made anxious little noises. She picked him up and held him close. He offered her the toy dust bunny to pat.

“If I hadn’t been able to get that text off to Veronica, it would have been at least another day or two before she or my landlady noticed I was missing,” she said. “Are you telling me you’re starting to believe that I was kidnapped?”

“I think there are questions that need to be answered,” Gabriel said. “After we find the thief who stole that Arcane Society artifact, I’m going to reopen your case. As the new Guild boss in town, I’ve got every right to do that.”

“Thank you.” She hesitated. “What made you decide that my story might be accurate?”

Gabriel fell silent for a moment. Then he shrugged.

“Damned if I know,” he said. “Intuition. Something just doesn’t feel right about this whole thing.”

She stifled a sigh. Gabriel might be a romantic when it came to his vision of a proud and noble Ghost Hunters Guild, but he certainly wasn’t inclined toward romance in other areas of his life.

“I see,” she said. “Thanks.”

Okay, so she couldn’t project a lot of enthusiasm; nevertheless, she was grateful.

He looked at her. “I didn’t know about what had happened to your career until I arrived here in Illusion Town, but I realize that I was responsible—”

“No,” she said, stricken. “Maybe I’ve been a little pissed because you dumped me into the hands of those medics who whisked me away to some clinic where I was given more drugs, but—”

“A little pissed?”

“Let’s just say that I’ve been experiencing conflicting emotions since that night,” she said. “I’ve tried to be mature and realistic, but I’ve been running scared for two months, looking over my shoulder because I’m afraid the kidnappers may come looking for me, even though that seems unlikely now. The thing is, only my friend Veronica believed my story. My own father thinks I was hallucinating. My career is in ruins. Tonight I had to watch my ex get engaged to one of my friends. Yes, it’s all for the best but—”

“It wasn’t much fun.”

“It was embarrassing. On top of that, everyone at the reception treated me as if I were a delicate invalid. You heard the Roxbys and Dillon Westover and Cassandra Keele and Tony and Emeline tonight. They’re convinced I’m suffering from some kind of severe psychic trauma. All because of what happened to me that night. Yes. Okay. I’m a little pissed.”

“You’ve got a right to be angry, Lucy. I should have stuck around to make sure your case was properly investigated.”

She straightened her shoulders. “That was not your job. You did what you were supposed to do. You saved my life. You were not responsible for what happened afterward.”

Gabriel’s eyes burned in the green shadows. “I should have followed up. Should have stayed on top of the case. You save someone’s life, you have a certain responsibility.”

That did it. Now she really was pissed.

“That is pure, unadulterated ghost shit,” she declared in what she hoped were ringing tones.

Responsible. He felt responsible. That’s why he had come looking for her two months after he had rescued her; why he had offered her the contract. It was infuriating.

“As soon as I handed you over to your dad and those medics, I left to carry out another mission,” Gabriel continued.

“I understand,” she said coldly. “Lots to do. Track a serial killer in the Rainforest. Get ready to vault up the next rung on your career ladder.”

“Organizing a new Guild operation from scratch requires a great deal of time and attention.”

She groaned. “I know. I may be a trifle bitter, but I’m moving on. Honestly.”

“Look on the positive side,” Gabriel said.

“There’s a positive side?”

“If I hadn’t come looking for you today, you might never have had the opportunity to tell me just how pissed off you are at me.”

She blinked, thinking about that. For some reason her spirits lifted. “You’re right. There is, indeed, an amber lining here. Plus I can definitely use the money from that contract you’re offering. Things have been a little tight lately, and now I’m going to get a bill for a lovely cake. Do you have any idea how much a big engagement cake costs?”