Ghostly Business

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Were you stabbed in the back?”

  “I ... don’t know. Why does that matter?”

  “It just stands to reason that you would’ve seen your assailant if the attack came from the front. You’re pretty clear on your movements right before it happened. That leads me to believe you would remember what happened if you could.”

  “I just remember it being fast, and while the initial blow was painful, I didn’t feel much after that.” Patty flashed a sad smile. “I was still alive when I hit the ground, although I knew I was dying. I had this floating feeling that’s really hard to explain. I could see myself but not really. It’s weird.”

  “I understand.” Harper found she was sympathetic to the woman’s plight even as she hated the things she’d done. “Then what?”

  “Then nothing. I could smell gasoline and knew what was coming. Then I faded out. I didn’t wake up until a few hours ago, and that’s when I found your boyfriend and the others going through the house. I was surprised at how quickly they found the tunnel. I guess that means everyone in town knows what’s going on.”

  “Does that bother you?” Harper was genuinely curious. “I mean ... will it upset you to know that people are gossiping?”

  Patty snorted. “Please. The people in this town have been gossiping about me for as long as I can remember. This is hardly a new thing. If I was worried about that, I never would’ve started the business. I just would’ve let the house go.”

  “That was your legacy, though. Your father left you that house.”

  “He did, but my father was a practical man. He would’ve understood if I had to let it go. He always warned me as a kid that there was a chance we might have to take off in the middle of the night. He was a matter-of-fact guy and I simply knew that was part of our lives.

  “I was afraid at the prospect, don’t get me wrong, but I knew it could happen,” she continued. “I just didn’t want to let the DDA win. It felt personal at a certain point. I guess that was my downfall.”

  “I’m so sorry this happened,” Harper lamented. “In fact ... .” Whatever she was about to say died on her lips when Zander grabbed her arm and gave a vicious tug. Her eyes flew to his face, expecting to find some sort of admonishment on his lips. Instead, he was rigid and staring at a spot over her shoulder.

  Slowly, Harper swiveled so she could study the woman who had appeared in the trees between them and the house. Her back was to them and she seemed focused on what was happening beyond the woods. She obviously had no idea she was being monitored from behind.

  “Natalie,” Patty said on a shaky breath. “She’s okay.”

  Harper briefly slid her eyes to the ghost and found legitimate relief reflected from the depths of her eyes. Whether Patty was doing the right thing for these girls — and that really wasn’t up for debate — she obviously cared about them. That was enough to placate Harper, at least on a small scale.

  “I’ll talk to her,” Harper muttered, cutting through the foliage and stepping lightly so as not to draw attention to herself. She made it to the spot directly behind Natalie without being heard and then softly called out to the woman. “Don’t run, Natalie. I just want to talk to you.”

  The younger woman, who barely looked eighteen, jolted at the sound of the voice and turned to run from the clearing. Harper immediately held up her hands in surrender.

  “Please don’t go,” Harper pleaded. “I swear I don’t want to hurt you. I just have a few questions. You can leave as soon as I ask them.”

  Natalie slowed, although her dark eyes were full of fear as they darted between Zander and Harper. “I didn’t do anything. This isn’t my fault.”

  “I know.” Harper forced a smile she didn’t really feel. Natalie was like a feral cat, ready to run and not willing to trust potential help. “It’s okay. I just ... have a few questions. I don’t believe you killed Patty.”

  “The fire killed her.” Natalie’s face was blank. The way she hovered close to the eastern line of trees told Harper she was ready to bolt. It wasn’t a matter of if as much as when. She wouldn’t hang around forever. “She was a nice woman who helped me and she died. I feel horrible about it. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now, though. All my money is in that house.”

  “That poor girl,” Patty clucked, shaking her head. “She’s really been through it. She was ready to move out of her house before graduation because her stepfather was sniffing around. She didn’t want to fall victim to him so I took her in.”

  “And made her a victim in a different way,” Harper muttered under her breath, ignoring the dark look Patty cast in her direction. “Natalie, it’s okay. I know you didn’t hurt Patty. Someone did, though. It wasn’t the fire that got her. Someone stabbed her and then set the fire to cover it up.”

  “Really?” Natalie’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Who would do that?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Harper licked her lips and risked a glance at Zander. He was close enough to lend a hand should she need it, but he’d wisely kept his distance from Natalie. There was no doubt the young woman would run if he moved any closer. “Were you there last night?”

  Natalie hesitated. “I rented a room from Patty. She was kind to me. I worked at the restaurant and ... I just rented a room from her.”

  Harper knew that was a bald-faced lie but calling the woman on the deception was unlikely to make things better. “If you need to get into your room and get your stuff, I can help you.” Her tone was calm, measured. “My fiancé is one of the detectives looking into Patty’s murder. He can get you into the house.”

  “The police?” Natalie shrank back, her eyes flooding with fear. “I don’t want to deal with the police.”

  “I get that. I really do. You’re going to have to if you want your stuff back, though. I don’t see a way around it.”

  “I don’t want to talk to the police.” Natalie was adamant. “I don’t understand why any of this happened. I mean ... Patty was a good woman. She took care of us. Who would want to kill her?”

  The way she phrased it piqued Harper’s curiosity. “How many girls lived with Patty?”

  Natalie must’ve sensed danger because she took an exaggerated step back. “I really don’t think we should be talking about this. I’m going to go.”

  “Wait.” Harper was feeling desperate. “If you run now, you’ll always be running. You need to stay. I swear I will do my best to help you. You can trust Jared ... and me ... and Zander. We want to do what we can for you.”

  Bitterness tinged the corners of Natalie’s eyes. “You can’t help me. Patty was the only one who could and she’s gone now. I know this might be hard for you to believe, but I loved her. She’s gone now, though, and there’s no reason for me to stay.”

  “There’s no reason for you to go either. Things will only get worse if you flee.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance.” Natalie stepped into the trees, increasing the distance between Harper and herself. “There’s nothing for me here now. Just let me go.”

  With those words, she disappeared into the foliage. Harper could hear her steps on the ground and debated about giving chase. In the end, she knew it would do her no good to further traumatize the young woman. It was best to let her go ... at least for now.

  “She’ll be back,” Patty reassured her on a sigh. “She has nowhere else to go.”

  Honestly, that didn’t make Harper feel any better.

  8

  Eight

  “We need to be careful this time,” Mel admonished as he and Jared walked up the front steps to the Keller & McKinley Real Estate agency. “We can’t be accusatory. If we do, this guy is going to clam right up.”

  They talked about their failure to secure actionable information from Mike Todd and how they could improve on that with their next round of interviews. Odds were, no matter how they approached it, the interviewees were going to have attitude given the establishment they’d been frequenting the previous
evening. There was little they could do about easing their discomfort, but questions were necessary.

  “I didn’t plan on being accusatory last time,” Jared argued. His mind was still on Harper, but he was doing his best to focus on the here and now. “It just sort of happened.”

  “Yes, well, these guys aren’t going to talk to us if they feel we’re judging them.”

  “I don’t think they’re going to talk to us regardless,” Jared admitted. “I think they’re judging themselves, which is the reason they fled the way they did in the first place. There’s really no excusing what they were doing.”

  Mel slid his partner a sidelong look. “Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I really feel that cheating on your spouse is unnecessary.” Jared was matter-of-fact. “I mean ... if you don’t want to be with someone any longer, then you should tell them, not run around on them.”

  “I see you have some strong feelings on this.”

  “I do.” Jared bobbed his head. “My mother dated a guy once. I wasn’t in the house any longer. I was actually in the Academy at the time. She liked him a great deal, thought they had a future. Then she went out to pick up takeout one night and found him on a date with another woman. He acted as if he wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was a crying mess.

  “I hated the way he made her doubt herself,” he continued. “My mother has always been one of the strongest people I know. It was unfair how things shook out for her and I honestly hated that guy for everything he did. I mean ... everything. I wanted to hunt him down and punch him, but my mother insisted I stay out of it.”

  “That’s probably wise since you might’ve lost your position at the Academy over it,” Mel said dryly.

  “I know that now. I was running on emotion at the time.”

  Mel took a moment to study his partner’s sturdy jawline. “What’s going on with you and Harper?”

  Jared balked. “Nothing is going on. Why would you ask that?”

  “Because you’re off, and that usually only happens if things are off with Harper.”

  The statement, although correct, irked Jared. “Nothing is off with Harper. She’s perfect.”

  “Uh-huh.” Mel was understandably dubious but now wasn’t the time for some huge personal discussion when they had a murder to solve. “Are you ready to do this?”

  “Yeah. I’m totally ready.”

  THE SECRETARY AT THE FRONT DESK appeared nervous when she realized who was calling on her boss. Within five minutes, though, both detectives were seated across from Brian McKinley’s desk, coffees in their hands, and the door was shut to cut down on eavesdroppers.

  “I can’t say this isn’t a surprise.” Brian’s nerves were on full display as he ignored his coffee and steepled his fingers. “Not that I’m not thrilled to see you — I’ve always said law enforcement in Whisper Cove is woefully underappreciated — but what can I do for you? I have a full afternoon of showings starting in thirty minutes.”

  Mel pasted what he hoped was a congenial expression on his face. “This is just a formality. I want you to know that. We simply have to tick your name off our list.”

  “And what list is that?”

  “The list of people who had vehicles parked outside of Patty Porter’s house last evening.”

  A muscle worked in Brian’s clenched jaw. “I’m sorry, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I was home last night.”

  “That makes it easy,” Jared offered. “We’ll be able to talk with your wife and confirm your alibi. Still, your vehicle was there. We have it on video. Is it possible someone else was driving?”

  “I don’t see how.” A chill pervaded the room as Brian regrouped. “I’m the only one who drives my car.”

  “You have a son,” Mel noted. “Your namesake. How old is he these days?”

  Brian balked at the question. “He’s fifteen. He just got his learner’s permit. He’s certainly not driving, if that’s what you’re insinuating. He’s too young ... and I would’ve known if he left the house.”

  “Then how do you explain your car being behind Patty’s place?”

  “It wasn’t there. It was in the garage.”

  “Except we have video saying otherwise.” Mel leaned back in his chair. Despite his best efforts to not be aggressive, there didn’t seem to be a way around it. He was certain the conversation would dissolve into angry theatrics — and soon — but he had to push forward. “Were you aware what was going on at Patty’s place?”

  The muscle was back and quivering. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. If you think I was involved in anything ... illicit ... then I’m afraid you’ve got me confused with someone else.”

  Mel opted to change tactics. “You and Jessica have been married for about sixteen years now, correct?”

  “We have.”

  “How are things going there?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Brian’s temper flashed hot and fast. “Why does my marriage have anything to do with an accidental fire? I mean ... I barely know Patty. I’m familiar enough with her to wave if we’re crossing on the street but that’s not enough to make me want to set a fire.”

  “I don’t believe we accused you of setting a fire,” Jared noted. “You’re the one who came up with that.”

  “Oh, I’m not an idiot.” Brian’s glare was dark when it landed on Jared. “Whisper Cove is a small town. Only one thing happened last night. That has to be your top priority.”

  “It’s most definitely our top priority,” Mel agreed. “That’s why we can’t overlook the fact that your vehicle was parked outside.”

  “It wasn’t!” Brian slammed his hand on his desk, causing Jared to arch an eyebrow.

  “You might want to calm down,” the younger detective chided. “You’re going to draw attention to yourself. Given what was happening at Patty’s place, that’s probably not what you want.”

  “You listen here.” Brian jabbed a finger in Jared’s direction. “I know exactly what you’re accusing me of and I won’t stand for it. If you even think of spreading any rumors I’ll sue you so fast your heads will spin.”

  “That’s certainly up to you,” Mel replied, not missing a beat. “We all have free will in this. Denying you were there isn’t going to get you anywhere, though. Right now, this is an informal interview session. If we have to make it formal, we’ll take you down to the department and do things there. Is that what you want?”

  Incredulity flooded over Brian’s round features. “Is that a threat?”

  “No. We have a job to do, though. We can’t simply ignore the fact that you were there last night because it’s uncomfortable for you.”

  “I wasn’t there,” Brian gritted out.

  Jared cleared his throat to get the man’s attention. They were about to lose the interview anyway so he figured he had one more shot to try to break through the man’s defenses. “I get that you’re worried about your wife finding out. I think we’re well beyond that now. If you were to cooperate, there’s a chance that it could remain private. If you dig your heels in this way, though, it will most definitely come out.”

  “Okay, that was definitely a threat,” Brian growled. “Now I’m going to issue a threat of my own. I would never cheat on my wife. That’s not who I am. We have a good marriage. If you put doubts in her head, I’ll sue you for alienation of affection. I’ll sue you for slander ... and libel ... and whatever else I can dream up. I won’t just be suing the department either. I’ll be suing you personally ... and I happen to know what cops make. You can’t afford it.”

  “You’re probably not going to want to take that tack with us,” Mel offered, pushing himself to a standing position. “There’s no way to keep this secret now. The rumors are flying through town. People know what Patty was doing in that house.”

  “I would like to add that we didn’t tell you what Patty was doing,” Jared added, joining his partner as he shuffled toward the door. “We didn’t spell out what was happen
ing. You just seemed to magically know. That’s ... intriguing.”

  “You did mention it,” Brian snapped.

  “No, we didn’t.” Mel shook his head and sighed. “You’re just making things worse, Brian. Jessica is going to find out, and probably not from us. Everybody knows now. You might want to head this off and own up to what you did before others can ruin things for you.

  “That being said, we’re not interviewing you for setting a fire,” he continued. “Patty was murdered and the fire was set to cover up the act. This is bigger than a simple fire and accidental death. There’s no hiding from it.”

  “Get out,” Brian ordered. “Don’t come back without a warrant.”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged.” Mel opened the door and then stilled. “By the way, Barry Watkins was there last night. I know you guys don’t work in the same office, but you were in the same location when a fire broke out and are in the same line of work. Were you aware he was there?”

  Something akin to surprise flitted across Brian’s face, but he shuttered quickly. Mel couldn’t decide if Brian was surprised to hear that Barry was there or simply surprised that more than one person in attendance had been tracked down. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Fair enough. We’ll be back with a warrant.”

  THE SECOND INTERVIEW WENT AS POORLY as the first.

  Jack Trent, the owner of a local construction company, started freaking out the instant Mel and Jared walked through the front door of his office.

  “What do you think you’re doing here?”

  Jared glanced around and was relieved to find that Jack was the only person in the office. “We have a few questions regarding your movements last night. We want to know why you were parked outside Patty Porter’s house.”

  This time they decided to immediately dive into the nitty-gritty because dragging things out was getting them nowhere and eating up unnecessary time.