Wicked Ghosts_A Harper Harlow and Ivy Morgan Mystery

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Now that sounds like something I want to do.”

  “I thought it would.”

  IVY WAS LOST IN a dream. It wasn’t one of the happy ones she and Jack designed for their entertainment. It was exactly the opposite, in fact. She was lost in a dark forest, the moon hidden behind a bevy of clouds, and she could hear someone breathing heavily as footsteps crashed through the underbrush.

  Ivy took an instinctive step back, taking shelter next to a grand pine tree as she turned in the direction of the noise. Her eyes widened as she stared at the tree, the distinctive widow’s crook stretching into the night. She’d almost convinced herself that she was alone, that she’d overreacted for no reason, when she made out a dark shadow. Ivy’s heart lodged in her throat as a figure, hair streaming and tears coursing down her face, stepped into the small clearing. It was Tabitha … and she was gasping for breath.

  “Tabitha?”

  The woman didn’t so much as look in Ivy’s direction. Apparently the dream wasn’t interactive. Tabitha was too busy gauging her surroundings – with eyes that looked clouded rather than keen – and Ivy licked her lips when Tabitha leaned over and tugged off her easily recognizable pink boots.

  “I’ll come back for you,” Tabitha gasped out, her chest heaving as she talked to the boots. Ivy had a feeling she was trying to remind herself of the location more than anything else. “I can’t run in you but … I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

  Ivy watched, interested, as Tabitha shoved the boots under a bush and glanced over her shoulder. Ivy followed the track of Tabitha’s gaze but could see nothing in the darkness that threatened to swallow them both whole.

  “I need to keep running.” Tabitha swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I need to keep going. I … .” She broke off as she jerked her head to the side, the unmistakable sound of a branch cracking and echoing through the night air. “He’s coming.”

  “Who?” The question was out of Ivy’s mouth before she could think better of it.

  Tabitha didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Instead she tore off into the trees, this time on bare feet, and left her boots behind. Ivy focused her eyes on the spot where she heard the noise, leaning closer when she caught sight of a second figure moving through the murk. This one was tall – almost as tall as Jack – and it moved with deliberate precision. Ivy couldn’t make out any features, and even though she knew it was a dream, her heart hopped in her chest and fear made her shrink back rather than move forward.

  The man – and Ivy was sure it was a man because of his tall frame and broad shoulders – didn’t speak. He hummed, though. It was a tune Ivy didn’t recognize, but for some reason it reminded her of the theme from Jaws.

  The man moved in the direction Tabitha fled, never once looking at Ivy. He continued after the woman as Ivy gripped her hands together, her breath coming out in ragged bursts. She opened her mouth to call out, although she had no idea who she was calling out to.

  She didn’t get a chance, though, because a pair of hands grabbed her from behind and caused her to jolt. Ivy slapped out wildly, fighting her attacker with everything she had. A sob wrenched free from her chest as she tried to scream, but it was cut off by the hand moving around her throat. Nothing but more gasps escaped, though, and Ivy was sure she was about to pass out from a mixture of fear and lack of oxygen.

  “IVY!”

  In their bed, Jack shook Ivy’s shoulders as she thrashed beside him. He’d been fast asleep when her whimpers woke him. He knew she was dreaming and tried to offer comfort, but when she began slapping back – as if she was fighting off an assailant – he understood he had to wake her.

  “Let go,” Ivy cried, sucking in a breath. “Let me go.”

  “Honey, it’s me.” Jack released her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her to him and holding tight. “It’s me. You’re okay. You’re safe. Come back to me, Ivy. I’m right here.”

  At the sound of his voice, Ivy went limp. Her back and neck were sweaty and tears slid down her cheeks as she listened to the steady beat of his heart. “Jack?”

  “Yes, honey.” Jack steadily stroked her hair, letting loose with a relieved sigh when she burrowed closer. “It’s okay, Ivy. I’m right here.”

  “I saw Tabitha in the woods,” Ivy said, her voice cracking. “She was running. She had on her boots and then she kicked them off. Someone was chasing her.”

  “Did she know who it was?”

  “I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t talk back. It wasn’t like when you and I share dreams.”

  “No, I would imagine not.” Jack shifted as close as he could, pressing Ivy’s frame against his, letting their bodies meld together. “What happened in the dream?”

  “I … .”

  “If you don’t want to think about it, you don’t have to.” Jack brushed his lips over her cheek. “It’s okay if you want to forget it.”

  “I don’t think I can forget it.”

  That was exactly what Jack was afraid of. “Tell me, honey. Tell me what you saw. Remember that I’m right here, though. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  Ivy knew that was a promise he might not be able to keep no matter how vehement he was when uttering it. “I woke up in the woods. At first I thought I was alone. Tabitha mentioned the moon disappearing when she was in the woods, and I think she only thought that because she was drunk and stoned. The moon was there, but the clouds obliterated it.”

  “Okay.” Jack kept his hands busy moving over her back. He wasn’t sure if he was helping, but it was instinctive and he didn’t know what else to do. “Then what happened?”

  “She was talking to herself, trying to remind herself where she was leaving the boots,” Ivy replied. “She put them next to the widow’s crook. I don’t think she was having an easy time running in them. They would’ve been slippery and uncomfortable.”

  “I would imagine running barefoot was uncomfortable, too.”

  “Yeah, but she wouldn’t have slipped barefoot and she probably thought she could make up time.”

  “Okay.” Jack rolled a bit so he could position Ivy on top of him, tucking in the covers on both sides to make sure she stayed warm. Her hands were cold when he pressed them to his chest. “Tell me the rest.”

  “There’s not much to tell.” Ivy sounded steadier now, Jack’s warmth seeping into her heart and soothing her. “She kicked off the boots and put them under a bush. Then she heard something and took off into the bushes. I watched the spot where I heard a noise and then a man stepped into the clearing. He was … humming.”

  “Humming?” Jack didn’t know what to make of that. “What was he humming?”

  “I don’t know. It reminded me of the Jaws theme.”

  “That sounds creepy.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Jack pressed his lips to Ivy’s forehead. “Did he look in your direction?”

  “No. He didn’t see me.”

  “Did he have a gun?”

  “I … .” Ivy racked her brain. She hadn’t even thought to look for that. “He had a rifle,” she said after a beat. “It was a hunting rifle of some sort. I’m not good at identifying guns. He had it tucked in at his side and he followed Tabitha.”

  “What can you tell me about his demeanor?”

  “He was calm. He wasn’t in a hurry. He seemed to be having a good time.”

  “He was hunting her.”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” Jack wrapped his arms as tightly around Ivy as he could manage without suffocating her. “You don’t have to talk about it any longer. I think that’s good for tonight.”

  “I couldn’t see who it was.”

  “Then you’ve done your part.” Jack rested his cheek against her forehead. “Can you go back to sleep?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “How about we pick a location – a warm and sandy one – and make sure we dream together for the rest of the night? How does that sound?”

  I
vy didn’t consider herself a weakling, but she was profoundly grateful for the offer. “That sounds good. We can sit in the sun and drink piña coladas.”

  “And you can wear a coconut bra.”

  Ivy giggled despite her remaining unease. “You’re a pervert.”

  “I can live with that.” Jack stroked her back. “Close your eyes. Pick the spot. We’ll go together this time.”

  “We’ll be together,” Ivy murmured. Even though she didn’t believe she would be able to sleep, she was already drifting off.

  “We’ll definitely be together,” Jack agreed. “That’s the way it’s going to be forever.”

  “Forever.”

  “And ever. Sleep, honey. I’m right here with you.”

  Ivy let loose with a sigh. “You always are.”

  16

  Sixteen

  “I’ll cook breakfast.”

  Jack remained concerned the next morning as he followed Ivy into the kitchen after they showered and dressed. She’d been unusually quiet – something he wasn’t used to – and he was reluctant to leave her for the day.

  For the first time since waking, Ivy cracked a smile. “Are you worried I’m going to sneak morels into your omelet?”

  Jack thought it was probably wise to play along with the game. “Well, you are sneaky.”

  “I am, but Max took the last of my morels yesterday because I worried they might go bad. If I want more, I have to pick them fresh.”

  “Oh.” Jack didn’t like the sound of that one bit. “You’re not doing that today, right?”

  Ivy tilted her head to the side as she regarded him. “What if I said I was?”

  Jack saw no reason to lie. “Then I would use my handcuffs and keep you with me for the day.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit ridiculous?”

  “Do I think my love for you is ridiculous? Not even a little. I think my love for you will last until the day I die and I want you to be with me when that happens. By the way, I know we joked about it, but I want to be the one who goes first.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “No. We’re going together or not at all.”

  Jack smirked. “Fine. I can agree to that.” He leaned over and stared into her sea-blue eyes. “Do you want to talk about the dream?”

  Ivy heaved out a sigh. She was hoping he wouldn’t bring it up, but she should’ve known she wouldn’t get that lucky. “I don’t know what there is to talk about. I told you everything I saw.”

  “You were afraid, though. You were shaking.”

  “It was a nightmare.”

  “And I’m worried,” Jack admitted. “You were shaken and I don’t like that a bit. I’m worried that you’re going to head out to the woods again looking for your ghost – or clues to whoever chased Tabitha – and you’re accidentally going to cross paths with a murderer.”

  “What are the odds of that?”

  “For a normal person, I would say slim to none. You’re not normal.”

  “Uh-huh.” Ivy rolled her neck until it cracked. “I don’t know what you want me to say. It was a nightmare. It upset me. It’s over and done. If you must know, I feel a little foolish for having such a bad reaction to a dream.”

  “Well, I don’t want you to feel foolish. It would be foolish to feel foolish.”

  “Oh, well, that makes me feel better.” Ivy rolled her eyes as Jack poked her stomach. “I promise I’m okay, Jack. There’s no reason to get worked up.”

  “I’m not sure I believe that, but we’re going to cook breakfast and take a break from conversation rather than risk getting into a fight. We’ll go at it again once we’re done eating.”

  “Fine.” Ivy’s expression was full of challenge. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’M JUST SAYING THAT I don’t think it’s a good idea for you two to be on your own today,” Jared said, following Harper up the front walk that led to Ivy’s cottage. When Harper told him he had to drop her at Ivy’s house before joining Jack and Brian for more investigative fun, he was flustered. He tried arguing that she should spend time with Zander – who was obviously feeling neglected – but she wouldn’t hear of it.

  “Why not?” Harper asked, stopping halfway up the walkway. “What is it you think we’re going to do?”

  “I honestly don’t know,” Jared replied. “All the ideas I’ve come up with are bad ones, though. Can’t you just … go wine drinking with Zander or something?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Jared knew he sounded petulant and yet he didn’t care.

  “Because Zander and Shawn have already left and Shawn and I had a talk last night about the whole bromance thing,” Harper replied. “He wants a chance to talk down Zander on his own. He says that I tend to swoop in and handle things before he even has a chance and he wants to at least attempt it on his own this time.”

  “That sounds like something you just made up on the spot.”

  “Would you like to call Shawn and check my alibi?” Harper’s blue eyes filled with liquid fire. “I can sit here and listen to you question my motives, if you like.”

  Jared recognized danger in her tone. That didn’t stop him from tackling the issue from a different direction. “I’m afraid to leave you and Ivy alone. My heart hurts just thinking about it.”

  Harper was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that my heart hurts,” Jared repeated. “Since you’re my heart – in more ways than one – I’m sure you can understand that. I don’t want you two running around the woods on your own. I won’t stand for it.”

  Harper’s mouth dropped open. “You won’t stand for it?”

  “That was smooth, man,” Jack interjected. He stood in the open doorway, his eyes wide, as his gaze bounced between faces.

  Jared hadn’t even heard him open the door so he was a bit startled. “How long have you been listening?”

  “Not long. I thought I heard an echo because Ivy and I were having the same argument inside. I came to check.”

  “You and Ivy have been arguing?” Harper’s shoulders were stiff when she turned to Jack. “Are you being as big of a turd as Jared?”

  Jack ran his tongue over his teeth as he debated how to answer. “Can you define turd?”

  “You,” Ivy answered, pushing him out of the way with her hip and focusing on Harper. “Come inside. I’m cooking omelets and hash browns.”

  “Oh, yay.” Jared brightened considerably. “I hear you’re a good cook. Jack raved all afternoon yesterday about how you’re a goddess in the kitchen and the … um … dining room.” Jared caught himself before he said something ridiculously stupid.

  Ivy wasn’t an idiot, though, she knew exactly what he was going to say. “You guys really are having a bromance, aren’t you? You were worried about us, but we very clearly should have been worried about you.”

  “Don’t push things,” Jack warned, narrowing his eyes. “We’re not done talking about how you’re going to spend your day either. We’re simply having a moratorium over breakfast.”

  “I didn’t agree to that,” Harper said, discarding her shoes by the door and sidestepping Jared when he tried to rest his hand on her shoulder. “I want to fight about this now.”

  “I’m with Harper,” Ivy said, moving to the counter so she could continue mixing omelet ingredients. “I want to fight now.”

  “Oh, well, good,” Jack drawled. “There’s nothing better than a screaming match to aid digestion.”

  Ivy stuck out her tongue and blew a wet raspberry in his direction.

  “Is it any wonder I love her more than life itself?” Jack drawled, turning his attention to Jared.

  Jared shrugged. “At least she’s still engaging with you. Harper is pretending she can’t hear a word I say.”

  “Oh, I hear you,” Harper shot back. “I just wish I didn’t. I believe you were in the middle of telling me you wouldn’t stand for me going out into the woods
. Why not pick up the thread right there?”

  “Yeah, I’m not dumb enough to fall for that,” Jared muttered.

  “That was an absolutely ludicrous thing to say,” Jack noted. “Women don’t like it when you issue edicts rather than make requests.”

  “Says the man who threatened to handcuff me to him,” Ivy supplied.

  “Handcuffs, huh?” Jared was intrigued. “We could both do that. Then we’ll know where they are all day.”

  “If I thought I could make it work, I’d handcuff her to me for the rest of my life,” Jack said. “We fight too much, though. She’d gnaw off my arm while I was asleep to get away … and then she’d beat me over the head with whatever was handy before making her escape.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t let you get off nearly that easy.” Ivy vigorously whisked eggs as she kept her back to him.

  Despite the anger wafting through the room, Jack couldn’t help but smile at the way her hips swayed back and forth. She didn’t wear a skirt today, instead opting for cargo pants and a basic T-shirt, but she looked absolutely adorable.

  Jack shook his head when he realized where his mind was drifting and forced himself to focus on the problem at hand.

  “I don’t think I’m being unreasonable by asking you to stay out of the woods,” he started. “That’s a fair request given everything that’s going on.”

  “You didn’t ask,” Ivy snapped. “You told me what I would and wouldn’t be doing. There’s a big difference between the two.”

  “Huge,” Harper agreed, scorching Jared with a hateful glare. “I mean when I hear ‘I won’t stand for it’ I often confuse it with ‘would you please?’ How about you, Ivy? Do you feel the same way?”

  “I think they’re both buttheads,” Ivy replied without hesitation. “I don’t care how they phrase things. They’re both jackholes.”

  “Hey!” Jack extended a warning finger. “We’ve had multiple talks about you using my name in a derogatory manner.”

  “We did,” Ivy conceded. “I said I wouldn’t do it unless you were being a complete and total jackhole.”

  “Oh, I can’t even talk to you when you get like this,” Jack complained, leaning back in his chair and glaring at the ceiling.