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don't have time to explain. The important thing right now is that I need a hunter I can trust. I would also prefer one who is not affiliated with the local Guild."
    "You trust me?" he asked.
    "Yes."
    "Got to say, that comes as something of a surprise, given our personal history."
    "You and I certainly had our issues, Cooper. But I never, for a moment, doubted that you could be trusted. My father told me once that your word was good amber. I have no reason to believe otherwise."
    The phrase
good amber
was an old one in the Guilds. Down in the catacombs everything depended on the quality of the tuned amber that was used to focus psi energy. Amber was necessary to navigate the endless, ancient tunnel complex. Badly tuned amber could lead a man or an entire excavation team astray, dooming those who relied on it to wander forever in the labyrinth belowground. Good amber was amber that could be relied upon when the going got rough.
    "Tell me why you need a hunter," he said.
    "I have to go into an off-the-charts area of the catacombs tonight, as soon as possible. It's a sector that I am reasonably certain has been cleared of illusion traps, but when it comes to ghosts, well, you know how they are. Unpredictable. I'd prefer to have a hunter along."
    He put down the fry he had been about to eat. "Are you joking?"
    "No."
    "What the hell is this all about, Elly?" His eyes went hard and cold. "I can't believe that you've been foolish enough to get involved in illegal excavation work. But if that's the case, tell me now. I'll take care of it."
    She had vowed that she would not allow him to push any of her buttons tonight, but this was too much.
    "And everyone wonders why we broke up." She spread her hands. "This is a perfect example of why marriage between us would have been a disaster."
    He blinked. "What did I say?"
    "You honestly don't know, do you? You haven't even got a clue. Never mind." She sat forward determinedly. "We don't have time for this. Don't worry, I'm not going to involve you in anything illegal. This is a straight search-and-rescue job."
    "Who needs rescuing?"
    "A friend of mine."
    "Why not hire a professional SAR team?"
    "The person who is lost would definitely not appreciate having a formal team sent in after her."
    "In other words it's your friend who is involved in some illegal excavation work," Cooper said.
    "Stop jumping to conclusions. Bertha Newell works under a legitimate private license. Years ago she applied for and received a permit to excavate a sector of the catacombs that neither the university nor any of the large exploration firms wanted to be bothered with."
    "So this Bertha Newell is a ruin rat? How did you get involved with her?"
    "I'll explain later."
    "If I turn you down, you'll try to find another hunter, right?"
    She straightened her shoulders. "No. If you don't come with me, I'll go down alone."
    "Like hell you will."
    "Well, not entirely alone," she amended quickly. "I've got a friend who will go with me."
    "A hunter friend?"
    "No."
    Cooper exhaled slowly. "Looks like I don't have much choice. If something happens to you down there in the catacombs, I don't want to have to face your parents with the news."
    "I am aware," she said through her teeth, "that I have placed you in a somewhat difficult position."
    "But you're going to do it anyway."
    "I don't have any choice, either. Bertha may be in very serious trouble."
    "All right," Cooper said.
    She felt her spirits lift. If anyone could help her find Bertha tonight, it was Cooper Boone. "It's settled, then. You might as well meet the third member of our team."
    He did not look pleased. "Someone else is involved in this thing?"
    "Yes." She opened the large tote, reached inside, and gently lifted out a ball of shapeless gray fluff. "This is Rose."
    Rose batted her baby-blue daylight eyes. The second set of eyes, the ones she used for hunting at night, remained discreetly hidden in her tatty fur.
    Cooper looked at the small beast. "You've got a pet