Ghost Hunting 101

☆Three☆

T/W:

***

"What's the big deal?" Lennox asks Nolan after he's informed the entire team about Avery Greer's offer.

"Do you want us to lose any credibility we'd gained over some ridiculous video blog?" Nolan asks irritably. "Reputation takes years to built up and only minutes to destroy."

"Maybe we'd convert her," Lola says.

"Or maybe she'd completely tarnish everything we've accomplished over the last few years," Nolan snaps.

Lola, Sid and Lennox all share a Look. Clearly, Avery Greer had rattled Nolan a great deal. Normally, Nolan was a fairly easy-going guy. Not much got under his skin. It was one of the reasons he was such an amazing paranormal investigator.

"You got a thing for her?" Lennox teases, grinning cheekily at Nolan, who merely scowls.

"You're missing the whole point," Nolan says.

"Which is?" Sid asks.

"Oh my God." Nolan stares at Sid, who's struggling not to smirk.

"She could ruin us," Nolan says quietly. That simple statement causes them all to hesitate.

"We have to think about us first, as a team," Nolan continues. "Not to mention those people who really need help. If they start to doubt our credibility, we're screwed."

"We understand that, Nolan," Lola says quietly. "And we know how much this society means to you."

"Which is why we need to be cautious about who we allow to represent us."

"Even negative publicity is still publicity," Lennox adds.

"Normally I'd agree with that," Nolan says. "Except what we do is usually met with such skepticism and most people find what we do laughable and it wouldn't take much for everyone to start doubting our professionalism."

"It's one person, Nolan," Sid says. "Avery Greer isn't planning on bringing in an entire filming crew and airing these episodes all over the country, is she?"

Nolan shrugs. He doesn't know what Avery has planned. He cringes somewhat, realizing he didn't hear the whole story. All he could think is: she's going to destroy everything we've worked so hard for.

"You didn't ask, did you?" Sid asks. Nolan shakes his head.

"I think we should call Avery back," Lola suggests. "And tell all of us what she has in mind. If you still feel uncomfortable with it, Nolan, we'll follow your lead."

Nolan nods. What Lola is saying is reasonable enough. That is, if Avery Greer will even speak with him again.

"All right," Nolan agrees. "I'll see if Avery Greer is willing to make a case for herself."

***

"How'd it go?" Everly asks when she stops by Avery's place later on in the day.

"It was a total bust," Avery reports.

"They didn't want you to do it?" Everly asks. Avery shakes her head.

"Nolan Wright may be hot, as you say, but he's also highly unreasonable. The minute I told him who I was and what I was thinking, he immediately shut me down."

"Probably because he's a big phony and he can't risk that getting around. He'd be ruined."

"I don't know," Avery says. "I think he's more just protective of what he does."