by Kathi Daley
Harper
A Hathaway Sisters Mystery
by
Kathi Daley
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Katherine Daley
Version 1.0
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
I want to thank the very talented Jessica Fischer for the cover art.
I so appreciate Bruce Curran, who is always ready and willing to answer my cyber questions; Jayme Maness for helping out with the book clubs; and Peggy Hyndman for helping sleuth out those pesky typos.
And, of course, thanks to the readers and bloggers in my life, who make doing what I do possible.
Thank you to Randy Ladenheim-Gil for the editing.
And finally, I want to thank my husband Ken for allowing me time to write by taking care of everything else.
Books by Kathi Daley
Come for the murder, stay for the romance.
Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery:
Halloween Hijinks
The Trouble With Turkeys
Christmas Crazy
Cupid’s Curse
Big Bunny Bump-off
Beach Blanket Barbie
Maui Madness
Derby Divas
Haunted Hamlet
Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies
Christmas Cozy
Alaskan Alliance
Matrimony Meltdown
Soul Surrender
Heavenly Honeymoon
Hopscotch Homicide
Ghostly Graveyard
Santa Sleuth
Shamrock Shenanigans
Kitten Kaboodle
Costume Catastrophe
Candy Cane Caper
Holiday Hangover
Easter Escapade
Camp Carter
Trick or Treason
Reindeer Roundup
Hippity Hoppity Homicide
Firework Fiasco
Henderson House
Holiday Hostage
Lunacy Lake – Summer 2019
Zimmerman Academy The New Normal
Zimmerman Academy New Beginnings
Ashton Falls Cozy Cookbook
Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries by Henery Press:
Pumpkins in Paradise
Snowmen in Paradise
Bikinis in Paradise
Christmas in Paradise
Puppies in Paradise
Halloween in Paradise
Treasure in Paradise
Fireworks in Paradise
Beaches in Paradise
Thanksgiving in Paradise – Fall 2019
Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery:
Romeow and Juliet
The Mad Catter
Grimm’s Furry Tail
Much Ado About Felines
Legend of Tabby Hollow
Cat of Christmas Past
A Tale of Two Tabbies
The Great Catsby
Count Catula
The Cat of Christmas Present
A Winter’s Tail
The Taming of the Tabby
Frankencat
The Cat of Christmas Future
Farewell to Felines
A Whisker in Time
The Catsgiving Feast
A Whale of a Tail – Spring 2019
Writers’ Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery:
First Case
Second Look
Third Strike
Fourth Victim
Fifth Night
Sixth Cabin
Seventh Chapter
Eighth Witness
Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mystery:
Finding Justice
Finding Answers
Finding Courage
Finding Christmas
Finding Shelter – Spring 2019
A Tess and Tilly Mystery:
The Christmas Letter
The Valentine Mystery
The Mother’s Day Mishap
The Halloween House
The Thanksgiving Trip
The Saint Paddy’s Promise – March 2019
The Inn at Holiday Bay:
Boxes in the Basement
Letters in the Library
Message in the Mantel – Spring 2019
Family Ties:
The Hathaway Sisters:
Harper
Harlow – Spring 2019
Haunting by the Sea:
Homecoming by the Sea
Secrets by the Sea
Missing by the Sea
Betrayal by the Sea – Spring 2019
Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery:
Murder at Dolphin Bay
Murder at Sunrise Beach
Murder at the Witching Hour
Murder at Christmas
Murder at Turtle Cove
Murder at Water’s Edge
Murder at Midnight
Seacliff High Mystery:
The Secret
The Curse
The Relic
The Conspiracy
The Grudge
The Shadow
The Haunting
Road to Christmas Romance:
Road to Christmas Past
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Family Ties
Chapter 1
Harper Hathaway glanced at the San Francisco skyline as it faded into the distance with the conviction that of all the Hathaway sisters, she was going to go down in family history as having made the biggest mess of her life. Not that making a mess of her life had been what she’d set out to do fourteen years ago, when she’d fled her hometown of Moosehead, Minnesota, feeling lost and alone in a sea of family and friends. She’d recently graduated high school and had been expected to come up with a plan as to what to do with her life, which at the time seemed pretty overwhelming. Despite a family who loved her, a boyfriend who wanted to marry her, and a grade point average that would have landed her a spot in almost any college in the country, she’d had absolutely no idea who or what she wanted to be. So, after weeks of sleepless nights and angst-filled days, she’d hitched her wagon to the first opportunity she stumbled upon and joined the Army after a recruiter made a cold call to a young woman who actually was looking for a life of meaningful adventure in addition to a career.
Looking back, things had worked out all right. At least for a time. Yes, she’d missed her family, and those first years overseas were some of the hardest she’d ever known, but she seemed to have a skill set and personality type that fit well with the lifestyle presented to her, and she’d risen through the ranks at a speed that at times had left her downright dizzy. When time came to re-up after her first tour, she hadn’t even considered other options and happily signed on the dotted line. By the time her second contract was complete she was on the fast track to a career with Special Forces, but by the time she’d completed her third contract, she’d seen enough death and destruction to last her a lifetime. She knew in her heart she was ready to try something different and had considered go
ing home to Moosehead, but then she met Eric Palmer, a scuba-diving instructor with a taste for treasure hunting, a bit of wanderlust, and big dreams for the future. Deciding to follow the man and his passion, she moved to San Diego, became a certified scuba diver herself, and followed Eric from one exotic locale to the next. Not only had they traveled the world in search of the ultimate dive site, but they’d joined salvage operations along the way. For a brief period in time, she’d really had it all: an exciting life that challenged her both physically and intellectually, a fiancé on the same life path that she had grown to love, and a bright future limited only by what she could imagine. Then, six months ago, her perfect world came tumbling down when her fiancé was killed while diving on a wreck in Cozumel and she’d lost her will to continue down the path they’d chosen to walk together. So, one hundred and sixty-nine months, two weeks, and eight days after she’d left her home in pursuit of a new life, she found herself returning to Minnesota the same lost and lonely mess she was on the day she’d left.
As she veered from the freeway onto the narrow coastal highway that would take her north, she felt her mood lighten. As a teen, she’d felt stifled in such a small town, but now that her life was such a mess, she realized that after fourteen years out in the world, a large farm perched on a private lake seemed like the optimal place to regroup and heal. As she navigated the narrow, winding road that hugged the rocky shoreline, she tried not to think about what she had lost. She knew in her heart if she was going to ever be able to move forward, she had to find a way to stop looking back at what might have been.
After she had driven for several hours, the open coastline gave way to the dense forest of the redwoods. Without the crashing waves to set the mood, her mind began to wander and the fatigue she had been holding at bay began to creep into her consciousness. Deciding that what she really needed was a diversion, she reached forward to switch on the radio. She was momentarily distracted as she searched for a station, which was probably why she hadn’t seen the dog that darted onto the road until a split second before it ran in front of her. She slammed on her breaks and turned the wheel hard to the left. She somehow managed to guide the vehicle to a stop, but not before she lost control of it and slid into a drainage ditch that bordered the road. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute by the time she came to a full stop.
“Oh God.” She put her hand over her chest. She wasn’t hurt, and while the car was going to need to be towed, she didn’t think it was badly damaged. She put her hand on the latch and opened the driver’s side door. Taking a deep breath to steady shaky knees, she slowly climbed out. She was pretty sure she was fine, but the dog… Oh God, the dog. She looked around the area and didn’t see a dog, injured or otherwise. She didn’t think she’d hit him. She slowly made her way up the embankment and looked around. She couldn’t see the dog, but after a moment she heard him whimpering from the other side of the road. The sun had set and the sky was beginning to grow dim, so she pulled on her jacket, grabbed the flashlight she kept for emergencies, and jogged across the road. “Are you okay?”
The yellow Labrador, which was really no more than a puppy, continued to whine, so she walked slowly forward. “I won’t hurt you,” she said in a soft voice. “I just want to help.” The pup didn’t move, and he didn’t attack either, so she took a few more steps. Not only had she grown up on a farm but her mother was a veterinarian. She’d lived around animals her entire life and generally knew how to calm them. She could see that this one was scared, but he also seemed to want her to help.
“I’m going to come closer,” she said in a soft voice.
The dog watched her warily but didn’t move toward her. When she was within a few feet of him, he moved away. She took a few more steps. He moved a few of his own. She supposed at some point he must have realized that she was going to continue to follow because he limped down the embankment and into the dense forest. He hadn’t gone far when she noticed something blue. A car. The dog had led her to a car that must have veered off the road. There was still steam coming from its engine compartment, so she had to assume the accident had recently occurred.
She made her way toward the car as fast as the steep terrain would allow, slipping only once on the muddy ground. When she reached the car, she headed directly to the open driver’s side door and looked inside. There was a man in the seat who was still buckled in with a large gash on his head. He appeared to be unconscious. She looked into the interior of the vehicle and found a woman in the passenger seat. She likewise appeared to be unconscious. Taking a quick peek into the rear of the vehicle, she saw a baby strapped into a car seat.
“A baby,” she said a little too loudly. She must have startled the dog because he began to bark aggressively. “It’s okay,” she said in a gentler voice. “I’m going to go around to the back and open the door so I can see what needs to be done. Okay?”
The dog stopped barking but didn’t move from the position he had taken up near the open driver’s side door. When she arrived at the back door, Harper assured the dog once again that he could trust her. She opened the door and gently ran her hands over the baby, who was awake and appeared to be unharmed. She unstrapped the car seat, lifted the baby out, and cradled the whimpering infant in her arms. “It’s okay. I have you now. It’s okay. I’m going to get help.”
She walked back around to the front of the vehicle to check on the driver. She felt for a pulse, and he opened his eyes. “The baby,” he gasped. “You need to hide the baby.”
“Hide the baby?”
“Hurry. You must leave now. Don’t trust anyone.”
She froze in indecision. The man had lost a lot of blood. She had to wonder if he was delirious. She looked toward the woman in the passenger seat and realized for the first time that she had a gunshot wound in her chest. “The baby’s mother?”
The man nodded. “Dead. Now hurry. Take the diaper bag. It is up to you to keep the baby safe.”
She looked down at the infant in her arms. He or she appeared to have drifted off. She didn’t feel right about leaving the man and woman in the car and was trying to make up her mind about the options available to her when she heard another car on the road. She wasn’t sure why she made the decision to hide. Instinct, she supposed. One minute she was contemplating the idea of calling 911 and the next she was heading toward the cover of the trees with the baby cradled snuggly in her arms and the long handle of the diaper bag draped over her shoulder. The puppy, who seemed to have settled down now that she had the baby, trailed along behind her.
After a few minutes of searching for an adequate hiding place, she found an outcropping of rocks that, combined with the darkening sky, seemed to provide a sufficient amount of cover. She tightened one arm around the baby, caressed the puppy with the other, crouched down as low as she could manage, and watched as a man in a highway patrol uniform hiked down the embankment, walked over to the car, said something to the driver, took out a gun, and shot him. The pup began to growl. She shushed him and then watched as the patrolman walked around the vehicle and shot the woman in the passenger seat, although, according to the driver of the vehicle, she was already dead. The accident hadn’t appeared to have been serious enough to be responsible for the woman’s death, so Harper had to assume she had died from the bullet wound to her chest. After he shot the woman in the passenger seat, the officer opened the back door and stuck his head inside. She held her breath when she realized that he must be looking for the baby. After rooting around in the rear of the vehicle for a moment, he took several steps away from it and looked around.
Her heart pounded as she continued to crouch behind the rocks, calming the puppy and whispering to the baby. It was a cold day in February and the blanket in which someone had wrapped the baby wasn’t all that heavy, so Harper unzipped her jacket, slipped the baby inside, and then scrunched down even smaller and waited. The puppy climbed into her lap, providing an extra layer of warmth for the baby as the man in the uniform continued to search the imm
ediate area. The tall, thin man, with dark hair and a crooked nose, took several steps in her direction, pausing only a few yards from the rocks where she was hiding. If not for her military training, she was certain she would have screamed or fainted or both. The baby let out a tiny cry, so she tightened her arms around the bundle she’d nestled to her chest and prayed the puppy would remain quiet and the baby would go back to sleep.
After a few minutes, the man headed back toward the vehicle for a second look, opened both the trunk and the engine compartment, rooted around, circled back toward them, and then pulled out his phone and spoke in a deep voice. “Agent Beaverton is dead, as is the witness. The baby is gone and there is no sign of the ledger. There is a car in the ditch just off the road. I assume that its driver found our target and went for help. I’m going to see if there is ID inside the vehicle. The driver can’t have gotten far.”
Harper watched as the man turned and headed back toward the road. After he’d driven away, she scooted out from behind the rocks and let out a long breath of relief before the puppy, the baby, and she slowly made their way back toward her car. It was almost completely dark now and getting colder by the minute. She knew she needed to get help, but her car was disabled, and a quick search of her vehicle confirmed that the man who had shot the occupants of the vehicle carrying the baby had taken her purse and her phone, as well as her vehicle registration.
“Okay, this can’t be good,” she mumbled. She supposed it made sense to stay with the vehicle. Someone would come along eventually. Of course, the man who had been with the baby had said not to trust anyone, and it had been a man in a highway patrolman’s uniform who had shot and killed him in cold blood. Maybe waiting with the car wasn’t the best idea. She’d been heading toward a small town she knew was just north of her position when the accident occurred. The town was still quite a way off, but she’d driven this road before, and she seemed to remember a rundown little motel connected to a gas station and a small eatery not all that far up the road. Staying in a motel so close to the spot where her car had been disabled might not be the smartest thing to do given the fact that there was at least one man she knew of looking for the baby she’d tucked beneath her jacket. Still, staying with the car was probably the worst thing she could do, so she began to walk along the side of the road with the baby in her arms and the puppy trailing along beside her. The baby hadn’t been very active since she’d plucked it from its car seat. This, she had to admit, worried her. Had it been hurt in the accident despite the lack of blood? He or she had been strapped into a high-quality infant car carrier that appeared to have shielded the tiny thing from the worst of the impact, but she supposed the infant could have sustained internal injuries. She didn’t have a lot of options at this point, so she hiked the diaper bag more firmly over her shoulder and continued to walk, praying all the while that a solution to her dilemma would present itself before it was too late.