Ghostly Fears

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Does he reward this sort of behavior?” Jared was legitimately curious.

  “No. He will reward her for being quiet for an extended period of time. If she’s gone, she’s quiet. That’s all my father cares about.”

  Harper felt sick to her stomach. “Let’s check the last room and then rendezvous with the others. I think we need to check the grounds, too.”

  Jared nodded. “I’m right there with you. That’s definitely next.”

  9

  Nine

  The initial search of the house came up empty. Harper wasn’t surprised. That didn’t mean she was done looking, though.

  “We need to search the grounds.” She was adamant as she bundled up in the guesthouse, tugging a knit cap over her ears to protect her from the cold and grabbing the gloves she brought with her. “It got down to the twenties overnight. If she was outside and exposed ... .”

  Jared cocked his head as he watched her. He sensed she was determined. In truth, he wasn’t opposed to looking for Madeline. That didn’t mean he wanted Harper turning this into a thing.

  “You heard Richard,” he noted as he grabbed his own knit cap. “She’s known for taking off when she wants attention. That’s probably what happened here.”

  “Except she never gets the attention she wants when she does this. Oh, and this is different. I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with Jennifer ... and we can’t overlook anything if that’s the case.”

  “Harper, how could this possibly have anything to do with Jennifer? She’s been gone ten years.”

  “Yes, but we’re all here searching for her. Byron wants answers. Perhaps someone took Madeline to distract us from looking into the past.”

  Jared ran his tongue over his teeth, conflicted. He had a specific opinion about Madeline, but he wasn’t sure his girlfriend was in the mood to hear it. As if reading his mind, Harper stopped flitting about the room and gathering her bulky outdoor things and regarded him with unreadable eyes.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Jared replied hurriedly.

  “You’re thinking something.”

  “I am thinking something,” he agreed. “I’m thinking that ... I love you very much.”

  She made a face, but Jared didn’t miss the way her lips curved. Essentially she believed he was being ridiculous but always enjoyed hearing him proclaim his love. He understood the reaction because he often felt the same way. “What else are you thinking?”

  He opted for honesty. “I don’t think you’re going to want to hear it.”

  “Try me.”

  “Okay.” He sucked in a measured breath. “I think Madeline has always been jealous of Jennifer. Whether it’s rational or not, she’s always been in her shadow. Jennifer disappeared and, to this day, Byron is determined to find her. Things didn’t go well for Madeline, probably not even close to what she planned.

  “In her head, she was probably picturing extravagant shopping trips and a partner, a besotted lover, who would dote on her because of her youth,” he continued. “Instead she got a man who very clearly loved his first wife, never got over her death, and mostly cared about himself. What little time he had on the side was now dedicated to finding his missing daughter, a girl who was set up to be Madeline’s nemesis.”

  Harper blew a raspberry, catching him by surprise. “If Madeline had issues with Jennifer, they were her issues. Trust me. Jennifer never went out of her way to be friendly with Madeline. That means Madeline used Jennifer to get close to her father. I’m not blind.”

  “And yet you still seem to think she’s in potential danger despite everything you know about her personality.”

  “I don’t like the timing,” Harper corrected. “The timing is what throws me. Why would she take off and do this ridiculous crap when there’s a house full of people to give her the attention she obviously craves? I can see doing it when it’s just the family. There are outsiders in the house, though. She’ll finally get the attention she believes she deserves.”

  Jared wanted to argue with the sentiment, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. “Okay, I get that,” he conceded after a beat. “However, how could this possibly have anything to do with Jennifer?”

  “I’m not saying it has anything to do with her in the sense that someone took Jennifer and now, ten years later, someone has returned to take Madeline. Like ... it’s a serial killer for girls who were of a certain age together.”

  “That’s good, since you’re their age.”

  Harper hadn’t thought of that. “Anyway ... .” She shook her head to dislodge the thought and focused her full attention on Jared. “What if someone actually did something to Jennifer? I’m talking someone in the house. Maybe nerves are frayed or on display and causing Madeline to disappear is simply a way to direct attention elsewhere.”

  Jared stroked his jaw as he considered the suggestion. “I guess that’s possible,” he supplied after a beat. “I don’t know how probable it is, though. It seems as if you’re grasping to me.”

  “Maybe I am,” Harper conceded. “That doesn’t change the fact that I have a feeling.” She gestured toward her stomach. “There’s a big ball of anxiety sitting in there — I’ve felt this way since we first got the news — and I can’t shake the feeling that something bad might’ve happened to Madeline. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  He let loose a sigh. She was too earnest to deny. “Then we’ll look for her. I was going to look anyway because I feel it’s my duty. I thought maybe you would stay here, stay warm. I guess not, huh?”

  “No. We’re a team. We do everything together.”

  “Fair enough.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss before straightening her cap. “Did I mention how cute I find you when you’re all bundled up like this?”

  “No.”

  “Well, you’re adorable.” His smile was whimsical. “You’re like an exotic little snow bunny.”

  “Winter is almost over. You probably should’ve brought this up sooner if you want to take advantage of it.”

  “Oh, I’ve taken advantage of it. You just didn’t realize it at the time. Besides, as much as I like you in the cap, I like you in a hammock better. I’m ready for spring.”

  Harper managed a smile at his enthusiasm. “So am I. It’s still a bit off, though. Right now, our biggest concern is finding Madeline.”

  “So that’s what we’ll do.” It was as simple as that. Jared gestured toward the door. “Come on. Richard said he would meet us at the stables and facilitate an introduction to the staff down there. We probably shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

  “Good idea.”

  RICHARD WAS ALREADY WAITING in front of the massive stable when Harper and Jared arrived. He didn’t look agitated, as if he was angry because they were late. Still, Jared offered up a sincere apology.

  “It took us a few minutes to find our hats and gloves. I want to make sure Harper doesn’t catch a chill.”

  Richard smiled. “Of course. Don’t worry about it. I should’ve told you that the stables are heated, though. She’s unlikely to get a chill in here.” He pulled open the door and, sure enough, a blast of warm air smacked Harper directly in the face.

  “Oh, wow. Neat.” Harper was all smiles as she stepped through the door and found herself in another world. “Oh, my ... will you look at this?” She hurried to the closest stall, where a black horse of majestic beauty looked at her from over the door. His stall was three times as big as others she’d seen at area horse barns. “This is amazing.”

  Jared smiled as he watched her reach a tentative hand up to pet the horse. The animal made a snorting sound but accepted the attention without complaint. “I didn’t know you liked horses,” he noted. “There’s a place over on the east side, close to the lake, that allows horse rides on the beach. We should go this summer.”

  “Okay.” Harper was happy at the prospect. “I do like horses. I’ve only ridden a few times, but it’s been g
reat fun each time.”

  “Then I’ll definitely make it happen.” Jared watched her for another moment and then focused on Richard. “Did Madeline spend a lot of time down here?”

  “Actually, she did,” he confirmed as they walked down the hallway toward the office. “She loved the horses. I think they were the one thing my father willingly gave her because he wasn’t much of an animal person.”

  Harper was understandably confused. “I don’t understand. If your father doesn’t like horses, why does he have like ... ten of them?”

  “Because he likes being important. Having horses is something important people do. I’m sure he read that in a magazine or something at a certain point. That’s why he got the horses. It’s also why he’s on the waiting list for a Tesla, even though he doesn’t really want one.”

  Sadly, Harper understood exactly what he was saying. “Image is very important to your father.”

  “Image is everything,” he corrected. “That’s why he married Madeline in the first place. He knew people would talk, but he didn’t care. To him, it’s better to be the center of attention — even if it’s for negative reasons — than to be ignored.”

  “That makes me feel sorry for him,” she admitted. “It’s too bad he couldn’t get out of his own head long enough to try and find some happiness. I mean ... I know he loved your mother. To tune himself out to the possibility of ever loving another, though, seems like the exact opposite of what she would’ve wanted.”

  “I think people tried telling my father that over the years, but he wouldn’t listen.” Richard was rueful. “He’s not always easy to deal with. He’s ... set in his ways.”

  “We can’t really focus on him right now,” Jared noted. “We need to focus on Madeline. If she’s in trouble, we need to find her. If she’s simply taken off because she wants attention ... well ... at least we’ll know.”

  “There is that,” Richard agreed. “Believe it or not, as much as I don’t like Madeline, I don’t want anything bad to happen to her. That’s more for my father than her, of course, but it’s still true. As much as my father dislikes putting up with her, the guilt he would feel if something actually happened ... well ... let’s just say I don’t think he would get over it.”

  Harper understood what he was saying. “Yeah. I understand. Madeline is the girl who cried wolf. She’s taken off a bunch of times because she’s desperate for attention. The problem is, if you always assume that’s what she’s doing, the one time she might need real help you’ll be less likely to go to her aid.”

  “I don’t happen to believe that’s on me,” Richard argued. “She’s the one who keeps doing this.”

  “I understand.” And, because she did, Harper let it go. Still, she pointed toward the door at the end of the hallway. “What’s down there?”

  “It goes to the attic and doesn’t open. I don’t even know where the key is. There’s no way she’s up there … where it’s dusty and mice might live. Trust me.”

  LEE TRAVERS WAS THE HEAD of the stable. He was a horse man with a lot of history in the area. Due to Byron’s dislike of animals — and apparently anything that caused a normal person to smile — Harper couldn’t help wondering why Lee would take on a job for a man who had no skin in the riding game. It became apparent why this was the perfect job for Lee within a few minutes of questioning him.

  “I have complete autonomy over the horses,” Lee explained. “I can enter them into whatever shows I want. If I think there’s a real chance of them placing, I call Mr. Jessup so he can attend, but I don’t mind him taking the glory.”

  “That’s good,” Jared encouraged. “We’re actually wondering about Madeline, though. She appears to have gone missing.”

  Lee exchanged a quick look with Richard, something unsaid passing between them.

  “We’re well aware that Madeline takes off occasionally because she’s looking for attention,” Jared added. “We’re not idiots. However, it does seem unlikely that Madeline would want to take off now because there are so many people in the house lined up to give her the attention she craves.”

  “I didn’t even consider that,” Richard intoned. “That’s true, though. Why would she take off now?”

  “Maybe she wanted everyone to search for her,” Lee suggested. “That seems right up her alley.”

  “Perhaps,” Jared conceded. “I’m a police officer, though. It’s my job to make sure she’s not in trouble.”

  “I understand. I don’t know what to tell you, though. She hasn’t been out here.”

  “Do you monitor this place throughout the night?” Jared queried. “I mean ... do you keep the doors locked? Is someone always watching the horses?”

  “Oh, well ... not always,” he conceded. “We don’t have anyone in here overnight unless one of the animals is sick. As for locking this place, we don’t because someone would have to basically swim over from the mainland and even when the weather is great, that doesn’t happen.”

  Jared understood what he was saying. “So, it’s possible she could’ve visited.”

  “It’s possible,” Lee acknowledged. “I think it’s unlikely, though. There’s nothing down here to benefit her. There’s not even any furniture, other than a few chairs. No television.”

  Jared nodded, contemplative. “If she was going to leave the island, how would she do it? I’m guessing she would have to take a boat, right?”

  Richard stirred. “Not necessarily. She has access to the ferry captain. She could’ve called and demanded he facilitate a ride back to the mainland for her.”

  “Has she ever done that?”

  “Yes.”

  “In the middle of the night?”

  “I’m not sure,” Richard hedged. “I guess it’s possible.”

  “Can you get the ferry captain on the line for me?”

  “I can, but we have another option that will probably be easier,” Richard replied. “The garage is behind the house. All the vehicles are kept there. If one is missing, the garage manager will know it.”

  “You have a garage manager?” Harper was flabbergasted. “How is that a full-time job?”

  Richard chuckled hollowly. “You’ll have to ask my father.”

  TONY DELUCA WAS IN OVERALLS and working on the engine of a Bentley when the trio entered the garage. He glanced up, a rag in his hand as he wiped off a piece of equipment that Harper didn’t recognize. He seemed surprised to find visitors darkening his door.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked automatically.

  “Maybe,” Richard replied. “We’re looking for Madeline. Have you seen her?”

  The laugh Tony let loose was long and drawn out. “Why would she possibly be hanging out here? This isn’t exactly a hot spot of activity.”

  “No, but we’re trying to ascertain if Madeline left the island,” Jared interjected. “My understanding is that you maintain the vehicles, as well as keep track of them. Do you happen to know if any of the vehicles are missing?” A quick scan around the massive garage told Jared that some sort of detailed list might have to be utilized to ascertain the answer.

  “There’s nothing missing,” Tony automatically answered.

  “Are you sure?”

  He nodded as he placed the car part on a workbench and wandered over to a computer resting on a large desk in the corner. “Every vehicle Mr. Jessup owns is listed right here. Besides that, though, I know this garage backwards and forwards. I would know if Madeline left, and her cars are still here.”

  “She has more than one car?” Jared queried. “Can you point them out to me?”

  “Sure.” Tony pointed toward a Mercedes and an Aston Martin, both blue in color. “Those two belong to her.”

  Jared immediately headed in that direction, reaching for the door on the Mercedes so he could search inside. “How often does she take out a vehicle?”

  Tony held out his hands and shrugged. “Not very often. If she wants to go out, most of the time she takes the limo so someone else i
s responsible for driving. She insists on it for her hair and nail appointments.”

  “She thought others would covet the life she was leading if she was in a limo,” Harper surmised.

  “I’m guessing that’s true, too,” Jared confirmed, feeling under the vehicle seat. “There’s nothing in here. This car is pristine. You could eat off every surface.”

  “Please don’t do that.” Tony’s grin was tight. “I’m the one that has to keep all the vehicles cleaned.”

  “And apparently tune them up, huh?” Jared arched an eyebrow and stared at the part Tony had left behind. “I’m guessing you have this place set up so you know if someone enters the garage.”

  “That’s correct.” Tony bobbed his head. “I’m responsible for all the vehicles so I lock the doors every night. Mr. Jessup is usually in by seven or eight unless he has a specific function. If that happens, Carlos knows the code to get into the garage.”

  “And who is Carlos?”

  “The chauffeur,” Richard replied. “He’s the standard driver for my father and Madeline.”

  “Is he housed on the island?”

  “Actually, he’s not. He was for a few years, but then he got married. He lives a few miles from the ferry, with his wife and twin sons.”

  “Does he come to the island every day?”

  “Um ... I don’t think so.” Richard looked as if he was concentrating. “I think he does in the summer because it’s more likely someone will want to leave on a whim. Not in the winter, though. There are days the weather is too rough for the ferry. There are also days when there is absolutely nothing going on.”

  “That doesn’t seem like a full-time job,” Jared noted. “How does he make enough to keep working for your father?”

  “If my father likes an employee, he makes sure to pay enough that no one ever wants to leave. That’s why he has a renowned chef, mechanic, horse trainer, and landscaper on his payroll even though he doesn’t have enough work to keep them busy. Basically most of these people are working part time but getting quadruple wages.”