Ghost Hunter

'Never heard of psi-bright,' Bertha said.

'It's a wild herb that is native to the tropical zones,' Elly said. 'It was discovered about a hundred years ago by botanists on the Second Tropical Expedition. It has some unusual pharmacological properties. For a while researchers thought it might prove useful in the treatment of certain types of parapsych disorders. But in the end the research was abandoned because it was extremely unpredictable as a drug.'

She stopped talking and looked at Cooper.

'What's the matter?' he asked.

'According to the newspapers, the new drug on the streets, the one they call enchantment dust, or chant, is derived from psi-bright,' she said slowly. 'In fact, there was another overdose reported in the papers this morning.'

She picked up the newspaper on the kitchen table and handed it to him without another word.

Cooper removed a black case from his pocket, opened it, and unfolded his glasses.

He studied the paper's masthead and saw that he was looking at a copy of the Cadence Star. The story of the overdose was front-page news.

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN OLD QUARTER

The body of Bonnie May Stevens was discovered in her Old Quarter apartment at approximately two a.m. this morning. Her roommate, who declined to give her name, reported the death. Police records indicate that traces of a white powder were found near the deceased. A spokesman for the department said that an autopsy and an analysis of the powder would be done as soon as possible to determine the cause of death.

The roommate suggested to journalists that Stevens had a long history of drug use and prostitution. She added that Stevens appeared to have been badly beaten, perhaps by one of her clients, shortly before her death. 'She was roughed up real bad,' the roommate said. 'I think somebody killed her.'

Detective Grayson DeWitt, the head of the new Drug Task Force, will be in charge of the investigation into Stevens's death.

'We've taken a few of the biggest dealers off the streets in recent weeks,' DeWitt told reporters. 'But we're not going to stop until we nail the drug lord who is manufacturing and distributing the chant.'

Anyone with information pertaining to the death of Stevens is urged to contact the Drug Task Force unit of the Cadence Police Department immediately.

*****

A picture accompanied the article. It showed a lean, square-jawed man in his early thirties standing on the steps of the Cadence Police Department building. He looked so resolute and photogenic in a flashy, hand-tailored silver gray, pin-striped suit that Cooper assumed he was an anchor for one of the local television stations.

The caption informed him that the man in the picture was Detective Grayson DeWitt.

He lowered the paper, took off his glasses, and looked at Bertha. 'You're sure you can't remember where you got this?'

Bertha shook her head. 'Sorry. It's all a blank. I'll tell you one thing, though. Nothing I hate more than drug dealers.'

'I think we're going to have to go with the theory that you discovered that psi-bright around the time you got fried by the ghost,' Cooper said.

Elly watched him very intently. 'You think Bertha stumbled into a drug ring, don't you? And someone tried to kill her.'

'I think it's a very real possibility, yes,' Cooper said.

Bertha's expression tightened in alarm. 'If I take those herbs to the cops, they'll want to know where I found them. I can't tell them because I don't know. They might not even believe me without concrete proof. No one trusts ruin rats. That Detective DeWitt has made a lot of high-profile arrests lately. What if he decides to throw me in jail for the possession of psi-bright?'

'It's worse than that, I'm afraid,' Cooper said quietly. 'Whoever tried to silence you the first time will probably try again if he discovers that you made it back out of the catacombs.'

'Ghost-shit.' Bertha slumped in her chair. 'What in green hell am I going to do?'

Alarmed by the change in the mood of the room, Rose tumbled off the windowsill and bounced onto the table. She nuzzled Bertha's big hand in a comforting manner.

'Don't worry, Bertha,' Elly said. 'It's going to be okay.'

Bertha raised her head. 'How do you know?'

'Because you're in good hands,' Elly said calmly. 'Cooper, here, will take care of everything.'

Bertha straightened slowly. She turned her shrewd, seen-it-all eyes toward Cooper. 'And just who are you, Cooper Jones, that you can take care of everything?'

'I hadn't planned on telling you, but under the circumstances, I think you should know,' he said. 'I'm the head of the Aurora Springs Guild. And I'd take it as a favor if you kept that information to yourself.'

'Well, damn,' Bertha said, brightening. 'You mean this is Guild business?'

'Yes, ma'am,' Cooper said.

'Then there's some hope at the end of this damn tunnel, after all. What happens next?'

'I'm going to make a call,' Cooper said.

Chapter 10

WITHIN TEN MINUTES A DARK COASTER WITH HEAVILY tinted windows pulled into the alley behind St. Clair's Herbal Emporium.

Cooper made another phone call to check the IDs of the two hunters inside and then bundled Bertha into the backseat.

'You'll be okay at the Guild safe house, Bertha,' he said. 'I'll let you know as soon as we've got this thing under control.'

She nodded brusquely. 'I appreciate this, Mr. Boone.'

'Trust me, you're doing the Guild a favor by cooperating,' he said.

'Yeah?' Bertha smiled slightly. 'They say the Guild never forgets a favor.'

'That's true. I don't want you making any phone calls, but if you remember anything that might be useful, let one of these gentlemen know. They can get the message to me.'

'Sure, but I wouldn't be too hopeful, if I were you.'

Bertha heaved a sigh. 'I'm not likely to ever remember what happened in the few minutes before the burn.'

'You never know.' Cooper stepped back and motioned to the driver. 'Take good care of her,' he said to the man. 'Ms. Newell is a friend of the Guild.'

'Yes, sir, we'll make sure she doesn't come to any harm.' The man behind the wheel inclined his head. 'By the way, Mr. Wyatt said to tell you welcome to Cadence.'

'Thanks.'

He waited until the big car had turned the corner at the end of the alley and vanished into the fog. Then he went back upstairs to Elly's small apartment and stopped in the kitchen doorway.

'Bertha's off to the safe house,' he said. 'She'll be fine.'

'That's a relief.' Elly paused in the act of squeezing an orange. 'It's obvious she stumbled into something very nasty last night.'

'I think so. By the way, I didn't see any other vehicles parked in the alley. Where's your car?'

'In a private garage at the end of this block. Those of us who have shops and apartments on Ruin Lane rent space there.'

'I see. Think there's any room for the Spectrum?'

'No. There's a waiting list.'