Ghostly Deceits (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 3)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like I’ve been here long at all,” Alice replied. “Other times it feels like I’ve been here forever.”

  “I understand that,” Harper said. “I know time has no meaning when you’re floating. I can help you move to a better place if you’re interested. I might need your help first, though.”

  “And why would you need my help?”

  “I’m looking for a body.”

  Alice dubiously glanced around the mausoleum. “I think you came to the right place.”

  Harper chuckled and nodded, encouraging Alice to get comfortable as she tried to elicit answers from her. Instead of pushing the situation, Jared made his way over to Harper’s side and wordlessly sat on the arm of her chair. He was content letting her do her thing without intruding.

  “How did you die, Alice?”

  “I was suffocated in my sleep.”

  Alice was so matter-of-fact Harper thought she must’ve initially heard the woman wrong. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Harper asked.

  “I was suffocated in my sleep,” Alice said. “I remember it quite clearly. One moment I was asleep – I really relished sleep in those days because the baby was colicky and refused to sleep for more than an hour or two in a row – and the next moment I couldn’t breathe.

  “I didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late,” she continued. “I fought for a few moments, but the hands … those awful hands on top of the pillow … they cut off my air supply early and weakened me. I never really had a shot.

  “I think I knew it was coming,” she continued. “I kept having dreams about being chased. I could never see the face of the man following me, but I think it was death.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Harper said, meaning every word and swallowing hard. That explained the dream. It was Alice’s nightmare and fear manifesting while she slept. It was strong enough to remain behind and infiltrate Harper’s head decades after the fact. “I’m sure that was a hard way to go. Do you know who killed you?”

  Alice shook her head. “I have an idea, but no proof.”

  “Who?”

  “I would rather not say,” Alice said. “It was a long time ago. While I don’t know exactly how much time has passed, I know it’s been a long time. I’ve seen the grounds change. I’ve seen the fashion change. I’ve seen the house change. It’s a hotel now. Nothing is static.”

  “Did you live in the house?”

  “I did,” Alice said. “I was the lady of the house.”

  Harper frowned and glanced at Jared.

  “What?” Jared asked, sensing the shift in her mood. “What did she say?”

  “She said that she was smothered in her bed by a pillow over her face,” Harper replied. “She said she knows a lot of time has passed because the house and grounds have changed. She also says she used to live here.”

  Jared frowned. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I’m fairly certain that Josh’s father was an only child. That’s why it was such a relief when Josh came home. He’s an only child, too. He’s the only heir. I don’t believe there ever was a sister. Maybe Thorpe is her married name, though.”

  “Are you Linden’s sister?” Harper asked.

  “No,” Alice said, shaking her head. “I’m Linden’s wife.”

  “But … .” Harper turned back to Jared, her mouth agape. “I’m so confused.”

  “Now what?”

  “She says she’s Linden’s wife.”

  “That can’t be right,” Jared said. “Janet and Linden have been married for decades. She’s Josh’s mother.”

  “I’m Josh’s mother,” Alice clarified.

  “What do you mean?” Harper asked, leaning forward. “How can you be Josh’s mother?”

  “I gave birth to him,” Alice replied. “I believe that’s how one becomes someone’s mother. Didn’t your mother explain about the birds and the bees to you?”

  “There’s no reason to get snippy,” Harper chided. “I’m trying to understand. Josh calls Janet his mother. She’s been the lady of this house for a very long time. I don’t understand how you’re Josh’s mother when Janet has been pretending to be his mother for most of his life.”

  “It’s not a complicated story really,” Alice said, her ethereal fingers busy as they played with a gold chain around her neck. “I married Linden two months after our high school graduation. We were childhood sweethearts and we were very excited to get married. Janet Marcil was my best friend. She stood up for me at our wedding.”

  “Oh, well, this sounds like it’s going to a creepy place,” Harper said, reaching for Jared’s hand. He willingly gave it and then sat back and waited for Harper to get all of the information so she could relay it back to him.

  “I always knew Janet had a crush on Linden,” Alice explained. “She was very happy for me, though. She was Josh’s godmother. She doted on him and loved him like he was her own.”

  “How much time did you have with Josh before you died?”

  “Three months,” Alice replied. She pulled her necklace out and revealed a golden locket, just like the one Jared found on the beach. She opened it and showed Harper a photograph of a tiny infant. “They were the best months of my life. I loved that baby.”

  Harper nodded, her stomach churning. “Did you love Linden?”

  “I loved Linden, too,” Alice confirmed. “There were times I worried Linden could never love me the way I loved him – his eye wandered at times – but I think he truly loved me when it came down to it. I didn’t have a lot of choices once the marriage was proposed by our fathers, so I made do.”

  “You’re saying it was basically an arranged marriage,” Harper said, her mind busy.

  “Not exactly,” Alice clarified. “I loved Linden and chose to date him in high school. I had a feeling we would get married, and I was fine with that. Once we graduated our fathers took over and told us when we would marry. It was a marriage of convenience, but I like to think it was a marriage based on love, too.”

  “Were you having problems with Linden when you died?”

  “I was on top of the world when I died,” Alice replied. “I was exhausted but happy. That’s why I didn’t react to the pillow over my face until it was too late. I couldn’t believe anything bad could happen when I was that happy. I tried to fight it … but I was too weak for some reason.”

  “Did Linden kill you?”

  “I don’t know who killed me,” Alice replied. “I only have an idea who might have killed me. There’s a difference. I will not cast aspersions on someone long after my passing ceased to matter.”

  “You shouldn’t say things like that,” Harper said. “You’re Josh’s mother. Your passing means something to him.”

  “Are you even sure Josh knows I’m his mother?” Alice challenged. “I’ve seen him throughout the years. He was a handsome boy and he’s grown into a fine man. He does not look out here to find his mother, though.”

  “Well, I don’t care,” Harper sniffed. “That’s not fair. You’re his mother and he has a right to know where he came from. You have a right to claim him, too.”

  “Claiming him is not as important as his happiness.”

  “And that’s why you’re his true mother,” Harper said, hopping to her feet. “Okay. We’ve got a lot going on and we have to prioritize. I don’t think it’s a coincidence we have two ghosts running around the same piece of property.”

  “You don’t?” Jared was flummoxed. “How do you think Alice’s murder play’s into Hal’s?”

  “I have no idea yet, but we’re going to find out,” Harper said, dusting off her hands. “We’re all going to have jobs to do, including you, Alice.”

  “Me? What do you want me to do?”

  “There’s a body on this parcel of land,” Harper explained. “I’m not talking about one of the bodies that belongs in this mausoleum. A man named Hal was killed yesterday – he believes he was murdered, but can’t remember how it happened. We can’t f
ind his body. I need you to find it.”

  “Where should I look?”

  “Wherever someone would go to hide a body,” Harper answered. “We’re in the corner room on the east side of the building looking out at the lake. You’ll find us there when you discover where the body is.”

  “Okay,” Alice said, unbothered by Harper’s bossy attitude. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to find out why everyone in this family has been covering up your existence for thirty years,” Harper said. “There has to be a reason, and when we find that reason we’ll probably be able to put all of the past pieces and current pieces together to solve the Stokes family’s ultimate jigsaw puzzle.”

  “I love it when you get feisty and motivated,” Jared said, grinning. “I would hate to be the person standing between you and your answers when this is all said and done.”

  “Me, too.”

  Nineteen

  “I don’t understand any of this,” Jared said forty minutes later, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it on the floor in front of the bathroom. Despite his best efforts to cover himself with a rain slicker, the storm remnants were strong and he was soaked to the bone. “Why would the Stokes cover up Alice’s death?”

  “Forget covering up her death. They covered up her entire existence,” Harper said, appearing in the space between the bathroom and bedroom wearing nothing but her panties and bra. “Why would Linden erase his wife’s memory?”

  “I … um … what did you say?” Jared lost his train of thought as he looked Harper up and down. Her hair was wet and snarled from the elements. Her eye makeup ran down her face. She was still beautiful, and he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering when he saw her.

  “Are you even listening to me?”

  “Honestly? I can’t when you look like that,” Jared admitted sheepishly. “I keep having flashbacks to when I was sixteen and was desperate to see a girl in her underwear. If grownup me could go back and whisper something in the ear of teenage me it would be not to worry because it’s going to happen, and it’s going to be marvelous.”

  “Ha, ha,” Harper intoned, although she couldn’t help but laugh at Jared’s honesty and self-deprecating humor. “You’re good for my ego.”

  “You’re good for my everything,” Jared said. “Come here.”

  “No way,” Harper said, dodging his hands when he reached for her. “If we touch one another right now we’re going to lose the whole afternoon.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Jared reached for Harper’s narrow waist again, but she was expecting the move and easily sidestepped him.

  “We have serious things to discuss,” Harper said. “We have a dead body somewhere in this house.”

  “I know,” Jared said. “It’s terrible. If you don’t stop running from me, though, I’m going to have to wrestle you down and no one wants that. Well, wait, I might want that.”

  “Jared, we have to talk about serious things.”

  “I know we do, Harper,” Jared said, his face full of faux concern. “I just need to do one other thing first.”

  “Fine,” Harper said. “Once we’re done, though, I’m in charge and I’m going to mean business.”

  “Good,” Jared said, his hand already at Harper’s hip. “I love it when you use your stern face.”

  “WHAT are you doing?” Jared murmured a half hour later, refusing to open his eyes as he cuddled behind Harper. “You need to take a nap with me.”

  “I can’t take a nap,” Harper replied. “There’s too much going on. We’ve already lost too much time.”

  “Shh,” Jared said, blindly kissing her cheek. “You’re sleepy. You want me to hold you so we can take a nap and then figure out what to do over dinner. You’re very sleepy and need rest. Shh.”

  “I can’t take a nap when I need information,” Harper countered. “Go to sleep. I’ll handle everything we need and then I’ll join you.”

  “Something tells me that’s not going to happen,” Jared said, although he couldn’t force his eyes open to see what Harper worked on with her cell phone as he draped an arm over her hip. “I need you to sleep with me.”

  “Just give me five minutes to text Zander a few instructions and I’ll be right with you. I promise.”

  THE NEXT time Jared woke he was more aware of his surroundings. He had no idea what wore him out so completely before – other than spending quality time with Harper – but he was aware and ready to take on the day when his eyes popped open about two hours before dinner.

  Unfortunately for him, Harper was now dead to the world. Jared smiled as he looked her over, carefully taking the cell phone clutched in her hand and jolting when Zander’s face appeared in the window.

  “What are you doing?” Zander asked.

  “What are you doing?” Jared shot back. “Were you sitting on Skype waiting for her to wake up?”

  “Is she asleep?”

  Jared moved the phone so Zander could get a gander at his drooling best friend. He was laughing when Jared pulled the phone back up to his chest.

  “She’s going to kill you when she finds out you did that,” Zander said. Jared couldn’t help but notice that Zander was purposely keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Harper. “I’m going to laugh so hard next time I talk to her.”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Jared prodded. “Were you waiting for Harper to wake up so you could talk to her?”

  “You happened to pick up at the exact same moment I placed a call,” Zander replied. “I thought it was on purpose.”

  “It was an accident,” Jared said. “I didn’t want to wake her, but I was curious what she was working on while I slept. I have no idea why I was so exhausted, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”

  “It was a heady mixture of rain, sex, and heat,” Zander supplied. “That’s what Harper and I decided while you were asleep anyway.”

  “I see,” Jared said, tamping down his irritation. He found that he missed Zander, and it was a surprising revelation. That didn’t mean the man didn’t irritate him, or that he wouldn’t enjoy a bit more privacy when the three of them were together under the same roof. “What did she have you looking up?”

  “Oh, she wanted to see what kind of information I could get on Alice Thorpe,” Zander said.

  Things clicked into place for Jared. “Did you find anything? This whole situation is weird and she’s obsessed with finding out why no one talks about Alice.”

  “This whole situation is weird,” Zander agreed, leaning back in his desk chair. “I wasn’t sure where to look so I called for help.”

  “Who?” Jared asked, genuinely confused. “Is Eric there? You’re not letting him see Harper drooling in her sleep, are you? She won’t like that. She’s going to be ticked off enough that you saw her.”

  “It’s not Eric,” Zander answered, smiling as his uncle Mel pushed himself into the frame. “I need someone who could look at old police records and my options were limited.”

  “Oh,” Jared said, fighting the urge to laugh when he saw his partner. “Hi, Mel. How are you?”

  “How are you?” Mel asked. “I hear things aren’t going great for you on your vacation. I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to having time alone with Harper without this one bothering you.” He affectionately tousled Zander’s hair. “It sounds like you might have trouble.”

  “We might,” Jared confirmed. “The problem is that I won’t know if we have trouble until we find a body and we can’t find a body without help from ghosts.”

  Mel made a face. He waffled on whether or not he believed Harper could see and talk to ghosts. He was convinced she was special. It was the ghost aspects that threw him from time to time.

  “Harper provided us with names to run. Which one do you want first?” Mel asked.

  “Hal Baker,” Jared sad, rubbing his thumb up and down Harper’s bare arm as she blissfully slumbered. “He’s the one who is missing and presumed dead. He has
to be our focus.”

  “Hal Baker is sixty-one years old,” Mel supplied. “He has ties to this area, although they’re kind of muddy. He went to high school in Harbor Beach, which is up in the thumb but not terribly far away.”

  “You’re saying he was familiar with Harsens Island?” Jared asked.

  “We can’t prove that,” Mel cautioned. “He was familiar with Michigan. We can’t put him on Harsens Island specifically.”

  “Still, it seems like too much of a coincidence to ignore,” Jared said. “One of the other mystery actors said that Hal was offended because he was put in a room in the basement. The level used to be quarters for the help a really long time ago, but when they turned the house into a hotel they upgraded those rooms.”

  “Is that Cara?” Zander asked, making a face.

  “How did you know that?”

  “Because Harper didn’t like how she was throwing herself at you,” Zander said. “You were out like a light so you missed that part of our conversation.”

  “Harper has nothing to be jealous about,” Jared said. “She should know that. I told Cara I was happy with my blonde.”

  “I know,” Zander said. “Harper was almost giddy when she told me that part of the conversation. Sometimes I forget she’s still a girl and can’t help herself from reacting to things like a normal woman.”

  Jared rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Harper has nothing to worry about. Do not fan any flames about stuff like this. I don’t like it.”

  “You should like it,” Zander argued. “Harper is basically telling you she’s jealous and wants you. This is the girl version of ‘marking your territory.’ It’s the same thing you do when you put your hand on her waist when another guy approaches Harper to talk to her.

  “You’re saying she’s yours,” he continued. “Harper being jealous is saying the same thing, just in a girly way.”

  “I’m not sure I followed that,” Mel said.