Free Harmony 01 After Dark by Jayne Castle

department, I have a grave responsibility. I couldn't take the risk of sending you out with the team after what happened. I had to keep your best interests in mind."
    "If you were really that nervous about my para-psych profile, you wouldn't have had to send me back out into the Dead City right away. You could have let me work in the labs for a while until everyone was convinced that I wasn't going to freak under stress."
    Ryan's frown of earnest concern darkened into annoyance. He glanced hastily around the restaurant, clearly uncomfortable, searching for an excuse to get himself out of what had become an awkward situation.
    "Policy is policy," he said stiffly. "What you've got to remember, Lydia, is that your para-psychological health is the most important element in the equation. You went through a brutal experience. Got to allow yourself plenty of time to recover."
    "I'm fully recovered, Ryan."
    "Tell you what," he said a little too heartily. "Give yourself another six months and then reapply to the department. I'll make sure your application gets special consideration."
    "Gee, thanks, Ryan. But six months from now I won't need my old job. I expect to have my own full-time consulting business up and running."
    He looked slightly disconcerted. "You're going private?"
    "That's right. I'm already working at it part-time."
    "I hadn't realized—"
    "Two months ago I registered as a private consultant in para-archaeology with the Society." Her eyes gleamed. "Mr. London here is my first client. Isn't that right, Emmett?"
    He had to hand it to her, Emmett thought. She had backed him rather neatly into this comer.
    " Lydia and I signed a contract two days ago," he said.
    "I see." Ryan frowned at Emmett and then looked at Lydia. "What about your job at Shrimpton's?"
    "As soon as I build my private business into a full-time enterprise, I will, of course, resign my position at Shrimpton's. In the meantime, I need the money. I was pretty well wiped out financially after losing my job at the university, you know."
    "I see," Ryan started edging back. "Well, that's great. Just great. Say, the department occasionally uses private consultants and outside experts. Maybe we'll have occasion to call on you one of these days."
    "I will, of course, be happy to consider contracts with the university," she said with grand aplomb, "but bear in mind that the private sector commands very high fees. Just ask Emmett."
    Emmett managed not to choke on the swallow of wine he had just taken. He shot her a warning look across the top of the candles. Don't push your luck, lady.
    "Worth every penny," he said aloud, with what he thought was commendable gallantry under the circumstances.
    Lydia rewarded him with a triumphant smile that outshone the candles.
    Ryan studied him with wary curiosity. "What do you collect, Mr. London?"
    Emmett saw Lydia's mouth open. But he'd had enough of her reckless conversation. Beneath the table, he brought his shoe down on the toe of one of her sexy little black evening sandals with enough force to get her attention. Her eyes widened, but she closed her mouth.
    Emmett looked at Ryan. "I'm into tomb mirrors."
    "Tomb mirrors." If the amused condescension in Ryan's voice had been any thicker, it would have dripped onto the table. "Well, that's very interesting."
    "Got a room full of 'em at home in Resonance City ," Emmett continued expansively. "Had the walls lined with real mirrors, put the tomb mirrors on little stands in front
    and then lit the whole gallery with green lights. Really impresses guests."
    Across the table, Emmett caught Lydia's attention and knew that she was torn between irritation and laughter. She knew even better than he did that tomb mirrors were among the most common and least valuable Harmonic artifacts. They were also among the most commonly faked. Reproductions and frauds abounded in the shops near the Dead Cities. Only novices and the most unsophisticated private collectors bothered to acquire them.