Ghostly Holiday (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 11)

by Lily Harper Hart

“And how did she take that?”

  “She freaked out. She said we couldn’t have the group without her because she founded it. That wasn’t true, by the way. The group was in operation years before she joined. She said that we couldn’t keep her group and that we were trying to steal from her and stealing wasn’t allowed. She was ranting and raving so loudly I thought someone would call the police.”

  “How did that end?” Harper asked.

  “She basically stormed out of the group when she realized we weren’t going to change our minds,” Kasey replied. “She hasn’t spoken to any of us since, at least to my knowledge.”

  “Well, that’s interesting,” Jared mused.

  “Especially since she said she was working on behalf of a support group when she started hanging around Ally,” Harper added, earning a curious stare from Jared. “That’s what Ally told me. In fact, Ally also told me that Shana was telling her to let Zoe go even though she’s only been missing for a few days.”

  “You didn’t mention that,” Jared said. “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”

  “Because Ally is messed up, and when I asked Shana about it, she said that wasn’t remotely what she said to Ally,” Harper replied. “How was I to know that Shana was probably lying? I don’t know her all that well and she seemed perfectly rational.”

  “What if she’s not, though?” Jared was thoughtful as he got to his feet. “What if Shana is the one who took Zoe? She might’ve made an enticing target because she was alone in front of the coffee shop.”

  “Still, that was a gutsy move,” Harper argued. “She could’ve been caught.”

  “Maybe she didn’t care in the moment. Maybe she decided that she needed a child to take the place of her lost one and Zoe fit the bill.”

  Kasey held up her hand to get their attention. “Listen, I don’t want to get Shana in trouble if she’s innocent or anything. I feel kind of bad that you’re looking at her.”

  “You won’t feel bad if we find Zoe and she’s okay,” Jared said, gesturing for Harper to move toward the door. “We thank you very much for your time, Kasey. We’re sorry for bothering you. Have a good time on your date.”

  Kasey was incredulous. “That’s it? You’re not going to tell me what’s going on?”

  “We don’t know what’s going on yet,” Harper replied as Kasey followed them to the front door. “You might have given us a very valuable clue, though. You have no idea how thankful we are for it.”

  “Okay, well, keep me posted.”

  “We’ll definitely do that,” Jared promised. “You’ve earned an update or two.”

  THE HOUSE WAS BUZZING with activity when Jared and Harper returned. At first, because they weren’t gone very long, everyone was upset. They assumed the trip had been a waste of time. Then Harper explained what Kasey had told them about Shana, and the entire room broke into pandemonium.

  “You can’t be serious.” Zander was aghast. “You think Shana is behind it? But ... she’s like the go-to person for missing children in the area. She can’t be a kidnapper.”

  “Maybe that’s exactly why she’s a kidnapper,” Jared offered, grabbing his phone from his pocket and striding toward the bedroom. “I’m going to try and get a warrant. Fill them in, Heart. Hopefully we’ll be able to move on this tonight.”

  Harper nodded as she watched him go, thoughtful.

  “He calls you ‘Heart,’ huh?” Pam’s amusement was obvious. “I thought I heard him say it earlier, but I wasn’t sure because we were in the restaurant and everyone was talking at once. That is the most adorable thing ever.”

  Harper’s cheeks burned under Pam’s scrutiny. “It’s just something he started doing.”

  “That made Harper go gushy,” Zander teased, poking her stomach before sobering. “Seriously, though, do you really think it could be Shana?”

  Harper held her hands palms out and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve always thought she was a little off, but I convinced myself it was because she was trapped in a state of perpetual grief. The things Kasey told us were ... weird.”

  For lack of anything better to do, Harper launched into the tale. When she was done, everyone was rapt.

  “Wow,” Shawn said finally. “That sounds odd. Did you know that about her? I mean ... that she was a narcissist.”

  “I don’t know her well enough to make a clinical diagnosis,” Harper replied drily. “Seriously, I’ve only ever seen her around town and at gatherings. I’ve barely talked to her. Although ... .” She trailed off, something occurring to her.

  “I know exactly what you’re thinking,” Zander surmised. “She came around after Quinn disappeared. She wanted to sit with you, offer prayers and a shoulder to cry on. You were a mess and your mother chased her away.

  “We weren’t living in this house at the time,” he continued. “We were in apartments. We didn’t move in together until months later, when I was certain you wouldn’t come out of your funk without an intervention.”

  “And you definitely got me out of my funk.” Harper graced him with a heartfelt smile. “You were the one who saved me from the self-doubt.”

  “Yes, I’m a hero,” Zander agreed. “I remember thinking it was weird the night Shana showed up, though. Quinn wasn’t your child, so I didn’t know how she expected to help. She kept claiming she had expertise to give. I was so worried about you, though, that I couldn’t focus on her. Now I’m suspicious.”

  “Yes, well, that makes two of us.” Harper chewed on her bottom lip. “Shana went out of her way to ‘help’ Ally. She told her to move on. When I questioned her about saying that to Ally, she denied it, said Ally was making it up. What if Ally wasn’t making it up, though? What if that’s part of Shana’s game?”

  “How would that be part of it?” Shawn asked.

  “If Shana really is a narcissist — and from the things Kasey said, it sounds entirely possible — then she would get off on manipulating the emotions of others,” Harper explained. “I’m not an expert on personality disorders, but narcissism is an ugly one. Shana is definitely an attention whore.”

  “I always thought she was that way because she needed a hard outer shell to ease the pain she was feeling inside,” Zander said. “Maybe it started that way and she somehow turned into another person. I mean ... people do strange things when they’re grieving, right?”

  Harper nodded, her mind busy. “I can’t remember her before Chloe disappeared. I just remember seeing her everywhere — on television, in the newspapers, on the radio — in the aftermath. Chloe’s disappearance shook everyone because, before that, we assumed Whisper Cove was a safe place.”

  “Whisper Cove is a safe place,” Zander said. “No place is without danger, though. That’s impossible in this day and age.”

  “I think it was always impossible,” Shawn offered. “We just didn’t hear the stories back in the day because there was no internet to disseminate them.”

  “That’s probably true,” Pam agreed. “Do you think Jared will get a warrant?”

  Jared returned from the bedroom before Harper could answer and she turned to him with hope in her eyes. It was quickly dashed.

  “The judge says we don’t have enough for a warrant,” Jared volunteered, grim. “I tried arguing with him, explaining the nature of the situation, but we need more to go on.”

  “So, what are you going to do?” Harper asked.

  “I’m going to stakeout Shana’s home. Maybe I’ll be able to see Zoe through the window or something. That would be enough to enter the house without a warrant. It would be just cause.”

  “Do you think she would be stupid enough to allow Zoe near the windows?”

  “No, but I can’t do nothing.”

  Harper took in the serious set of his jaw and nodded. “Well, then I’ll go with you.”

  “No.” He immediately began shaking his head. “That’s not necessary. It’s cold out. I’ll be there half the night. Mel is going to relieve me after midnight.”

 
; “I want to be with you.” Harper was firm. “Zander and Shawn will entertain your mother and make sure there’s pot roast for us when we get back. Isn’t that right?”

  “I guess.” Zander didn’t look thrilled with the prospect. “I think you should stay here with us and eat the pot roast now. You’re not a cop.”

  “No, but maybe Jessica will be at Shana’s house,” Harper pointed out. “Maybe she’ll remember what happened to her and give us something that leads to the evidence we need. That’s a chance I’m not willing to pass up.”

  Zander let loose an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I’ll save some pot roast for you. Just make sure you actually watch the house for signs of Zoe and don’t spend the entire night fogging up the windows.”

  “Why would you care how foggy the windows get?” Jared asked.

  “Because car sex is gauche.”

  Jared smirked. “Good to know. I don’t think you have to worry about that, though. I’m determined to find Zoe before Christmas. This just ... feels right. I think we’re going to find the answers we need this time.”

  Harper hoped he was right.

  “I’VE NEVER BEEN ON a stakeout before,” Harper said as she glanced out the window and stared at Shana’s house. Jared picked a spot on the street that was hidden by a thick cropping of trees. They could see the windows of the house clearly, but it would be difficult for Shana to see them thanks to the darkness.

  “What are you supposed to do on a stakeout?” Harper asked.

  Jared snickered. “You’re supposed to sit quietly and watch the suspect for signs of suspicious activity.”

  “We don’t even know our suspect is home,” Harper pointed out. “I mean ... the lights are on, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

  As if on cue, a shadowy figure moved past the nearest window. It definitely belonged to an adult, which was something of a bummer for Jared, but he straightened as he watched the shadow move toward what looked to be a stove.

  “Her windows have some sort of protective coating on them or something,” he complained. “It makes seeing inside difficult.”

  “We could always sneak up to the house and get a closer look.”

  “Not legally.”

  “Okay, well ... .” Harper tapped her bottom lip and shifted gears. “I could sneak up to the house and look through the windows. You’re a police officer. You can’t break the law. I’m a rule breaker so I can do whatever I want.”

  Jared rolled his eyes. “If I see you breaking the law, I have to arrest you.”

  “That’s not what you said when you grabbed my butt on Main Street last week. You could’ve been arrested for lewd and lascivious acts for that one.”

  Jared narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits. “That was an accident. I reached lower than I meant to. I was trying to hug you.”

  “Right. You were still breaking public decency laws. When I mentioned it, you said no one saw so it wasn’t a big deal.”

  “I wish you would stop bringing things up that I say when I’m trying to get away with something.”

  Harper snickered, genuinely amused. “So ... do you want me to sneak closer and get a better look?”

  Despite his law-and-order attitude, Jared honestly considered it. Ultimately, though, he shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s watch for a little bit before I okay you breaking the law. I would prefer to handle this by the book.”

  “Such a cop.” Harper leaned over and kissed him, her eyes sparkling. “This is fun, huh? We’ve never been on a stakeout together before.”

  Jared grabbed the thermos of coffee his mother packed before they left the house and twisted off the top. “You get excited over the oddest things. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve been excited about you since the moment we met. I didn’t want to tell you that, of course, because I had a reputation to uphold, but I’ve always been infatuated with you.”

  His heart simply melted. “I felt the same way about you.”

  “You thought I was a quack.”

  “I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in real life. I still think that. Sometimes, when I wake up before you, I watch you sleep and marvel that you’re mine.”

  Harper was absurdly touched by the words. “I feel the same way.”

  He gently slipped a strand of hair behind her ear before pouring coffee into the thermos cap and handing it to her. “I love you, Heart. You can’t serve as a distraction tonight, though. We actually have to be diligent and watch the house. No fogging up the windows, as Zander would say.”

  Harper giggled as she sipped the caffeinated goodness. “I’ll try to refrain from ripping your clothes off.”

  “That’s only a rule while we’re on the stakeout. Once we get home, you can resume all bad behavior.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Eighteen

  Under different circumstances, Harper and Jared might have enjoyed their time together. They talked, Harper asking questions about Jared’s childhood and him responding with anecdotes that made her giggle.

  When the temperature dropped low, rather than start the engine and warm up the truck – which would’ve potentially drawn attention to them – they snuggled closer. Harper rested her head on Jared’s shoulder and they shared each other’s warmth. Harper almost dropped off, in fact, was just on the cusp, when there was a loud knock on the window that almost caused her to jump out of her skin.

  Even Jared, who was usually calm under pressure, jerked so hard he slammed his chin against Harper’s head.

  “Ow!”

  On the other side of the window, Mel hunkered down with his hands on his knees and laughed at the scene.

  “That’s what you get for groping on the job,” Mel said.

  “Shh.” Jared pressed his finger to his lips and turned the key far enough to engage the battery and roll down the window. “Don’t yell,” he hissed. “Voices carry when it’s cold like this.”

  “The lights are out.” Mel inclined his chin toward the house. “Did you miss that?”

  Jared made a face. The last thing he wanted to admit was that he’d become distracted when he was supposed to be working. “I … it must have just happened.”

  “Yeah, it happened when you kissed her forehead and readjusted to make sure she was snuggled as closely as possible. I’ve been here for five minutes. I’ve been watching both of you.”

  “Ugh.” Jared spared a glance for Harper and found her smiling. “You think this is funny, huh?”

  “I think we would both fail as spies.”

  “I can live with that.” He gave her a quick kiss before fixing his full attention on Mel. “You’re early. How come?”

  “Because I thought maybe we could do a quick perimeter check of the house together once the lights were off.”

  Jared was convinced he’d misheard his partner. “On what grounds?”

  “On the grounds that a little girl is missing and this is literally the only thing we’ve got to go on. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I can’t be the only one who wants that little girl home with her mother.”

  “No.” Jared shifted back to Harper. “Are you okay if I leave you here to do a search with Mel?”

  Harper nodded without hesitation. “Go. I’ll stay here.”

  “I’ll start the engine so you can warm up.” He reached for the key but she stopped him.

  “No. You’re right about that drawing attention to us. Go with Mel. I’ll be fine. I’m in no danger of freezing to death.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” He gave her another kiss. “I’ll be right back. It shouldn’t take us long.”

  “I’ll be waiting with Christmas bells on.”

  “Ho, ho, ho.”

  HARPER WASN’T THE nervous sort. Most people left alone in the middle of the night, surrounded by trees and looking for a kidnapper, would’ve been antsy. That wasn’t how she operated. She rec
ognized ghosts, talked to them, and understood that they weren’t to be feared … except for the occasionally nutty one that had been alone so long it had gone around the bend. She’d faced down death more times than she could count. Fear very rarely got a foothold in her world.

  Despite that, an eerie sense of dread settled over her as she watched the darkness for hints of movement. Mel and Jared disappeared to the east, but her eyes kept darting to the west for some reason. It wasn’t that she necessarily saw movement as much as it was an inner feeling.

  Some thing wanted her to look in that direction.

  No, not some thing. Someone.

  Before she even realized what she was doing, Harper pushed open the passenger side door and climbed out. Her hat was blue, so it covered up a decent amount of her blond hair as she zipped her coat and took two steps forward.

  “Hello?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Is someone out there?”

  She waited so long, staring into nothing, that she convinced herself that she had imagined the previous feeling that overtook her. She was close to turning around and climbing back into the truck when the sensation that she was being watched barreled into her with enough force that she almost toppled over.

  She slowly adjusted her sightline to the left, her heart dropping through her feet when she caught sight of the ghost. At first, for one fleeting second, she thought it was Jessica. She hadn’t seen the recently-murdered woman since their previous interaction – and she was starting to get worried – but hers wasn’t the face staring back at Harper this evening. No, the girl looking at Harper was from the past.

  “Chloe.” Harper couldn’t believe her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  The ghost looked exactly like she had in life. She was a lovely girl, a teenager who would’ve one day grown into a knockout of a woman. She wore jeans and a simple T-shirt, a spring jacket instead of a winter coat. Her long hair was in disarray, and her makeup was smeared halfway down her face. Clearly, in death, Chloe never learned that she could change her appearance. Now, years later, she looked exactly like she had when she shuffled off the mortal coil.