Ghostly Wrecks (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 6)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “You look beautiful.” Jared whispered the compliment as he kissed the tender spot behind her ear, causing Harper’s blood to heat up as she widened her eyes.

  “Thank you. I … um … thank you.” Harper’s cheeks burned as she averted her gaze. “Do I smell okay? I scrubbed as hard as I could when I was in the tub and yet I’m not sure I feel clean.”

  Jared leaned forward and ran his nose up Harper’s bare neck, causing the hair there to stand on end as he inhaled deeply. Once they made up after her bath, Zander wrestled Harper’s unruly hair back into a loose bun, letting the tendrils wisp and curl in the humidity and giving Harper a sexy look that made Jared believe he might very well go weak in the knees.

  “You smell like … saltwater.” Jared smiled. “Why do you smell like saltwater?”

  “It’s my new perfume. It’s called ‘Adrift.’”

  “Hmm.” Jared pursed his lips. “I like it. It’s very simple … and primitive.”

  “Primitive?”

  “I definitely want you to shiver my timbers later.” Jared cracked a wide grin as Harper playfully swatted his arm. “Zander told me about your pirate aversion, by the way. I don’t get it. Who doesn’t like pirates?”

  “I like pirates fine,” Harper replied, linking her arm through Jared’s as they walked through the parking lot. “I really like the ones in those steamy romance novels you find close to the checkout stations at grocery stores.”

  “I don’t believe I’m familiar with those kinds of pirates.”

  “They’re all hot, sweaty and ready to claim a lot of booty.”

  Harper’s smirk was so adorable Jared seriously considered turning on his heel, marching her back to the truck, and driving to a private spot on the beach so they could plunder one another to their hearts’ content. He managed to control his urges, though. She got dressed up and he wanted to show her off, after all. They could play randy pirate games in a few hours.

  “You’re going to have to show me one of these books that you’re talking about because I don’t believe I’m familiar with it,” Jared teased, holding open the restaurant door so Harper could step inside. “I’m dying to read one with you now that I know they exist.”

  “Perhaps next time we get a picnic day.”

  “Yes, we’ll take a pirate book next time we go hammocking.” Jared brightened considerably. He’d never been in a hammock before Harper gave him an afternoon of rocking and delight and now he was obsessed with sprawling around in hammocks whenever an afternoon opened up.

  “We could do that.” Harper took the opportunity to scan the already packed dance floor, widening her eyes when she realized exactly how many police officers could fit in one large room. “Holy crap.”

  Jared followed her gaze, amused. “Yeah. It’s … I’m not sure I recognize the bulk of these people. They’re from a bunch of local departments.”

  “You’re new.” Harper tapped her bottom lip as she glanced around the room. “I’m glad I didn’t bring my stash of pot.”

  Jared snorted and poked her side, genuinely amused. “Your sense of humor is probably my favorite thing about you – other than the way your butt looks in that dress, of course – but you might want to rein in your inappropriate drug humor tonight. I’m not sure the rest of these guys will find you nearly as funny as I do.”

  Instead of being offended, Harper grinned. “Good point. I’m glad I didn’t bring Zander. He’d already be in cuffs.”

  “Yes, that would be a real downer – especially when you’re smoking hot and I would rather have you focused on me than him, Heart.”

  Harper leaned closer, her hormones going awry as she lowered her voice to a sultry purr. “I’m looking forward to playing that pirate game – perhaps sooner rather than later – but I want dinner and a dance first. I’m not going to let you distract me no matter how charming you think you are.”

  “Oh, Heart, I’m going to charm your pirate boots off later,” Jared teased. “Food and dancing sound good, though. I would suggest a walk on the beach later, but it’s supposed to storm tonight.”

  As if on cue, lightning flashed on the other side of the windows. The restaurant, which happened to be owned by one of Harper’s former high school classmates and friends, was set on stilts and had open windows on three sides so guests could look out on the lake. It also boasted a beautiful balcony, which Harper and Jared ate lunch on at least once a week. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the balcony was bound to be a lost cause if the storm lingered.

  “I love a good storm,” Harper enthused, brightening when she saw the lightning illuminate the windows.

  Jared opened his mouth, impulsively ready to tell Harper exactly what he loved. He didn’t get the chance – which he was ultimately thankful for due to the fact that it would’ve been a wasted moment – because that’s when Tina Dobson, the main secretary for the Whisper Cove Police Department, made her presence known.

  “Jared, you came!” She was bubbly when she threw her arms around his neck, purposely ignoring Harper’s presence and attempting to box her out with a swish of the hips. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”

  Harper took an involuntary step back as she looked the petite brunette up and down. The girl – and she couldn’t be older than twenty-three, so Harper easily considered her a girl – was the exact opposite of Harper. She was short and tanned, dark hair and eyes offsetting a pretty but pinched face. She also had breasts that would’ve been a better fit on a porn shoot rather than at a police department.

  “Hey, Tina.” Jared was uncomfortable with the girl’s attention so he carefully extricated himself from her unwanted embrace and forced a weak smile. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

  “Well, I am part of the department.” Tina’s smile was so wide it threatened to swallow her entire face.

  “Yes, a very vital part.” Jared instinctively grabbed Harper’s hand and tugged her closer to his side. “You know Harper, right?”

  Tina reluctantly flicked her eyes to Harper, as if she struggled with a terrible chore, and sighed. “Yes, I know Harper Harlow. Everyone in Whisper Cove knows Harper.”

  “Yes, I’m very popular.” Harper tossed out the joke knowing it would come across as lame, but Jared chuckled all the same.

  “Because you hunt for ghosts,” Tina muttered, her expression derisive.

  Harper never bothered to hide what she did for a living – even from Jared when they first met and he wasn’t sure what to think about the company she ran with Zander – but she felt her hackles come out to play when Tina wrinkled her nose. “Yes, well … .”

  Jared held Harper close to his side as he regarded Tina, his expression unreadable. “Harper performs a service and she has a good reputation in the community. I don’t think she needs to put up with any attitude … including yours.”

  Tina’s mouth dropped open. “But … .”

  “It was nice to see you, Tina.” There could be no confusion regarding Jared’s tone. Tina was clearly being dismissed. “Harper and I are going to look around and then grab a dance. I hope you have a good time tonight.”

  “I SEE YOU have a fan you haven’t told me about.” Harper kept her silence regarding Tina’s overt flirting for as long as she could – which was exactly long enough for Jared to pull her onto the dance floor and start swaying.

  “Who? Tina?” Jared did his best to appear blasé. “She’s a secretary. I don’t see her very often.”

  “You visit the office every day.”

  “And yet I’m not there for very long before the various sundry activities that make Whisper Cove such a dangerous place to live call me away.” Jared adopted a teasing tone because Whisper Cove was mostly quiet, except for the pesky murders that popped up now and then. His partner, Mel Kelsey, boasted the longest tenure on the police force, which was admittedly small, and he was often known to nap at his desk.

  “Okay.” Harper forced a smile as she rested her hand on Jared’s shoulder.

&nb
sp; Hoping she would drop the issue, Jared pressed himself tighter against Harper’s lithe body. “Dinner is supposed to be served in about twenty minutes. That gives us time to dance, mingle a bit, eat, and then get out of here so we can play pirates.”

  “Uh-huh.” Harper didn’t consider herself a jealous person by nature, but that didn’t stop her from searching for Tina in the crowd. She found the young woman exactly where they left her, a drink in hand as she glared toward the dance floor. “How often does she hit on you?”

  “Oh, geez.” Jared rolled his neck as he heaved out a sigh. “She doesn’t hit on me, Heart. She’s a flirty girl who likes attention from anyone who will give it to her. She flirts with Mel, too.”

  “Oh, please.” Harper snorted as she dragged her attention away from Tina and focused on Jared. “It’s fine. I’m not … jealous.”

  “You sound jealous.”

  “Yes, well … .” Harper felt a bit queasy when she realized he was right. “I’m sorry. That’s not fair. She simply caught me off guard.”

  “And she was derogatory when it came to what you do for a living,” Jared supplied, his eyes twinkling. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t flattered that you feel the need to mark your territory with pithy remarks and girl glares, but you have absolutely nothing to worry about. There’s only room for one woman in my heart … and that happens to be you.”

  Harper’s cheeks flushed with color, pleasure washing over her. “I feel a little stupid about this. Can we forget it?”

  Jared smiled and then shook his head, causing Harper to frown. “You need to claim your booty later.” He laughed as she scowled, planting a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Come on. Let’s enjoy our dance and then get something to eat. I don’t want to waste my time at a work party when we could be swashbuckling and stuff.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” Harper sidled closer, resting her head on Jared’s shoulder.

  He basked in her warmth, pressing his eyes shut as they swayed in tandem. He was happy to do this – just this and nothing else, if it came to it – for the entire night. It was a sobering thought and yet it filled him with contentment. That feeling only lasted for a few moments because he felt Harper stiffen in his arms, and when he opened his eyes he found her gaze focused out the window, staring at the lake even though the clouds made it appear as if darkness had already descended.

  “What … ?”

  “Watch,” Harper prodded, gripping his shoulder so tightly her knuckles turned white.

  Jared stared out the window, confused. “Watch what?”

  “Watch.” Harper was breathy and Jared could feel her heart pounding against his so he continued to follow her gaze.

  When a bolt of lightning split the sky, Jared realized what Harper was looking at and his heart jumped into his throat. “Oh, my … .”

  “We have to help.” Harper was already moving toward the glass doors that led to the balcony.

  “Harper, wait!” Jared called to her as he swiveled, searching for a familiar face in the crowd.

  “What’s going on?” Mel asked, appearing at Jared’s side. “Did Harper see a ghost?” As Zander’s favorite uncle he was well aware of Harper’s abilities. He waffled back and forth about whether or not he believed she was capable of communicating with the dead, but Jared had no time for games.

  “There’s a boat down there,” Jared said, pointing. “It’s crashed into the rocks. Call for emergency vehicles and get more cops out there.” Jared strode toward the door Harper disappeared through seconds before. “Get help, and get it now!”

  HARPER WIPED her hand over her brow to push the rain out of her face as she descended the wooden stairs that led from the balcony to the beach. She knew halfway down that the heels she wore wouldn’t be effective when trying to walk during the rain deluge so she paused long enough to slip them off, dropping them behind the stairs when she hit the bottom so she could reclaim them later if need be.

  Harper didn’t know a lot about boats, and the one tipped on its side as the waves ravished it seemed small as she closed the distance. Between the keening wail of the waves, the echoing thunder, and the sound of her heart beating in her ears Harper wasn’t sure she could pick out individual noises.

  Then she heard what she thought was a whimper, followed quickly by a groan. Harper dislodged any worry she had about her own safety in that moment and managed to climb on the largest rock before hopping to the deck of the small boat.

  “Harper!”

  Harper glanced over her shoulder, locking gazes with a worried-looking Jared. “I hear something,” she yelled out, unsure if he could hear her. “I … hear someone. I think it’s a child.”

  “Wait for me,” Jared barked, his dress shoes causing him to slide as he tried to climb the rock Harper used to reach the deck. “I … be careful!”

  Harper nodded and returned to her search, hopeful Jared would be safe from the elements but knowing someone else who needed help was close. She saw hair first, a smattering of whitish blond locks plastered to a small head. Harper scurried in that direction, widening her eyes when she caught sight of the child cowering close to a seat cushion, her back toward a buckling railing.

  “Hi.” Harper knew it was a lame greeting, but she couldn’t figure out what else to say as she studied the girl’s features. She appeared to be about thirteen or so, if Harper had to guess. Her face was ashen, features drawn, and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears. “Help is coming.”

  The girl’s lower lip quivered as she stared at Harper, perhaps trying to ascertain if Harper was really there to help. “My mom and dad … I don’t know where they are.”

  “Were they on the boat with you?”

  The girl nodded. “I can’t find them. I was looking right before … I don’t know how we got so close to the shore. We weren’t supposed to be here. At least, I don’t think so.”

  “Okay, well … .” Harper shifted closer to the girl. “My name is Harper. I’m here to help you. I’m sure they’ve called for an ambulance and there are a lot of police officers coming to help. Everything is going to be fine.”

  The girl looked understandably dubious, shrinking back when Jared appeared at Harper’s elbow. “Who’s that?”

  “This is Jared,” Harper replied, remaining calm. “He’s a police officer. He’s here to help, too. He won’t hurt you.”

  Jared forced a smile. “Are you okay?”

  The girl didn’t answer so Harper had no choice but to do it for her. “She says her parents were on the boat, but she doesn’t know where they are. I was about to look.” Harper bit her lip as Jared ran his hand down the back of her head, a quick soothing gesture that both of them needed.

  “Okay, I want you to stay here with her,” Jared ordered. “Help is coming. I’m going to find the parents.”

  “But … .”

  Jared offered up a firm headshake. “You stay here. Do you understand? I won’t be far away.”

  Harper nodded, resigned.

  “I won’t be far away,” Jared repeated, pressing a kiss to her forehead before focusing on Harper’s young charge. “I’ll find your mother and father. I’m going right now. Were they the only ones on the boat with you?”

  The girl seemed unsure whether or not she could trust Jared but reluctantly nodded. “Please find them.”

  “Honey, I’m going to find them right now. I promise.”

  With those words, Jared disappeared and Harper was left with nothing but a frightened child, a raging storm, and her own terror. It wasn’t the night she envisioned when they left the house, but sometimes fate finds you, not the other way around.

  3

  Three

  Harper rode in the ambulance with the girl, helplessly meeting Jared’s gaze from a great distance away as he continued to search for the missing parents. All she could do was lamely wave as she climbed into the back of the emergency vehicle. He nodded, understanding washing over his features as he blew her a kiss, and then re
turned to his search.

  The paramedics used a lot of buzzwords as they talked to the girl and Harper could tell she was close to melting down as they poked and prodded her shaking body. Harper gripped her hand and forced her to focus on anything but what the paramedics were doing, faking a smile to focus the girl’s anxiety. “I’m sure your parents will be right behind us.”

  The girl didn’t look convinced, gasping when one of the paramedics gripped her bruised knee.

  “Be careful,” Harper snapped, causing the familiar paramedic to roll his eyes before conversing in low tones with the other. Harper kept her blue eyes focused on the girl as they headed toward the hospital. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  “You don’t know that.” The girl sounded sad, resigned even. Harper almost thought she was already convinced that her parents were dead.

  “I guess that’s fair,” Harper conceded, licking her lips as she rolled her neck. She could feel Zander’s expertly placed bun dripping at the back of her head and figured she must look a mess given the circumstances. She idly swiped her fingers under her eyes, hoping she removed any errant eyeliner and mascara so she could cut down on the “raccoon” effect before choosing a different tactic. “What’s your name?”

  The girl shifted on the gurney, her eyes briefly taking on a far-off quality as she stared into nothing. “Um … .” She didn’t readily answer.

  Harper understood that the girl wasn’t trying to be purposely rude or evasive. She simply felt caught. “Your parents told you not to speak to strangers, right?”

  The girl licked her cracked lips and nodded.

  “I understand that,” Harper supplied. She did understand that. It only made things more difficult. “Your parents raised you well and they want you to protect yourself. We’re the good guys, though.” Harper gestured toward the paramedics and herself. “We want to help you. We’re going to need your name to do it.”

  “I … .” The girl pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. “What if Mom and Dad are mad when they find me at the hospital? What if they’re mad that I left … that I went with you?”