Ghostly Business

by Lily Harper Hart

  Honestly, Harper had considered just that. “I’m sorry.”

  He wanted to be stern, but he couldn’t hold out in the face of her misery. “Oh, you’re forgiven.” He tickled her ribs and nipped in for a kiss. “Just call me if you see Natalie again.”

  “It was honestly a three-second thing. I think the only reason she even talked at all is because she didn’t see Zander and me at the start. It was already too late by the time she realized we were there because we were sitting in our canvas chairs so our heads were kind of obscured by the bushes.”

  Jared cocked his head to the side. “Canvas chairs?”

  “We were out there a long time and Zander doesn’t like sitting on the ground because ... you know ... bugs.”

  “I do know.” Briefly, Jared pressed his eyes shut. “Is there anything else? Please say no. I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

  “That’s it.” She flashed a genuine smile for his benefit. “What do you have?”

  “Quite a few things actually. Do you know Brian McKinley, Jack Trent, and Brett Lane?”

  Harper nodded without hesitation. “Yeah. They’re all local.”

  “They were also all at Patty’s place last night.”

  Harper stilled, her burger halfway to her mouth. “Wait ... .”

  “McKinley and Trent are threatening legal action if that information gets out. Lane was more easygoing, although it’s obvious he would rather his wife not find out what he was up to.”

  “I should say so.” Harper was outraged. “I happen to know his wife. Not well, but she’s always sweet and friendly. She’s on bed rest because she’s in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy. Are you telling me he’s paying someone to help him get his rocks off while she’s stuck in bed?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

  “But ... why?”

  “He says he’s stressed.”

  Harper’s eyes turned into dangerous slits of death. “Is that supposed to be a legitimate excuse?”

  “According to him, yes. He says that he’s stressed to the limit and he needs a way to relieve it.”

  “Do yoga.”

  Jared had to bite back a laugh at her outrage. She would clearly take it the wrong way if he even hinted at the amusement he was feeling. “I suggested that ... or a massage.”

  “A massage would just make him think about doing what he did.”

  “Weirdly enough, he said the same thing.” Jared’s gaze was contemplative as he studied Harper’s furious features. “Do massages make you think of sex?”

  “It depends. The massages I get at spas are all done by women and are pretty clinical, so no. The massages I get from you are a different story.”

  “Good to know.” He poked her side, hoping to get her to ease up. It didn’t work. She was clearly furious on Sheila’s behalf. Honestly, he couldn’t blame her. “Just for the record, I will never be so tense I need someone else to help me relieve it.”

  “You bet you won’t.” She gripped her hamburger tighter, flattening it. “I don’t understand what’s wrong with him. Quite frankly, I don’t understand what’s wrong with Brian and Jack either. Their wives aren’t as sweet as Sheila, but it’s not as if they deserve this betrayal.”

  “The reactions were ... interesting.” Jared returned his focus to his meal. He figured it was best to let Harper stew and get it out of her system. “Lane was the only one who didn’t threaten us.”

  “Do you think that’s because he actually believes what he’s doing is okay?”

  “No. I wouldn’t say that. I think it’s more that he understands the realities of the situation. He said he was fairly certain he wouldn’t be able to skirt questioning. He’s asked that we come straight to him when we want answers. He’s also said that if his wife finds out, he hopes they can work things out. In a weird way, I kind of respected him for his response.”

  Harper rolled her eyes. “Just for the record, I’m never going to understand anything like that ... so don’t bother trying to explain yourself if it comes to that.”

  “Just for the record, I love you more than anything. I’m never going to want anyone but you.”

  The answer warmed her. “What do you say we take these burgers to bed and eat them there? I want a bit of time for just you and me, away from everything else.”

  “I want the same thing.” He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “I know that this case stirs up emotions in both of us, but you are the only one I’m ever going to want ... and you’re never going to be alone. I promise.”

  “I know. I feel the same way about you.”

  “Then let’s eat in bed and talk about something other than ghosts and brothels, huh? Those conversations will still be here in the morning.”

  “You read my mind.”

  HARPER’S SLEEP WAS UNEASY. She was plagued by heavy dreams, ones where she was caught in Patty’s house and someone was chasing her. When she woke, she was more drained than when she fell asleep ... and Jared immediately recognized something was wrong.

  “What is it?” he tugged her close and lent her a bit of his warmth.

  “I ... don’t ... it’s fine.” She recovered quickly and shook her head, rubbing the sleep out of the corners of her eyes. “I’m totally fine. It was just a weird dream.”

  Jared didn’t believe her. “Tell me about it.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “I still want to hear.” Impulsively, he pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Let me share it with you.”

  The plaintive way he said it had Harper readjusting her attitude. He wanted nothing more than to share a life with her, keep her safe. She wanted that, too, so she had to embrace his efforts.

  “I was in Patty’s house, going up the stairs. Someone was behind me. I could sense them but not see them.”

  “Were you alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you think you were channeling someone from inside that house?”

  The question threw her. “I ... don’t know. I mean, I’ve never really done that before.”

  “That’s not true. You had vivid dreams about what happened to Lucas, the boy who died trying to help Rain. You felt what he felt in those dreams and were haunted. I think it’s possible that’s what’s happening here.”

  Harper was taken aback. “Like I’m suddenly empathic or something?”

  “I don’t know if that’s the correct word, but I do think it’s possible you’re starting to pick up on the emotions of these ghosts. I considered it a few weeks ago and then let it go. Now, though, you’ve been a little out of sorts. Maybe that’s because you’re somehow channeling Patty.”

  “But ... I was feeling weird before I even saw Patty.”

  “Saw her, yes. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t around. I’m not saying it’s definite but ... I just want you to be careful. I haven’t had you nearly long enough. I want you to stick with me forever.”

  Harper couldn’t wrap her head around what he was suggesting. Even though she wanted to fight the suggestion, part of her thought — well and truly — he might be right. What if she was starting to channel the ghosts she’d worked so hard to keep at arm’s length? “It was just a dream,” she said finally. “It wasn’t anything more. I don’t want you worrying about me when you have a job to do.”

  “No offense, Heart, but it’s already too late for that. You’re my everything. If something is going on with you, I want to know about it.”

  She could hardly argue with him when he was being so earnest. “I’m fine. I don’t think that’s what’s going on. If something changes that makes me think otherwise, though, you’ll be the first to know.”

  He would have to accept that. He knew it. Still, he fervently wished he could anchor himself to her side for the foreseeable future. That wasn’t a possibility, so he would have to come up with something else.

  “How about we get some breakfast?” He flashed a bright smile. “Caffeine can only help this situation
.”

  She managed a legitimate smile. “Now that right there is something we can agree on.”

  11

  Eleven

  Harper couldn’t shake Jared’s suggestion that she was somehow channeling the emotions of the ghosts she communicated with. On the surface, it seemed ludicrous.

  Of course, it also seemed ludicrous that a simple girl from Whisper Cove, Michigan, could communicate with ghosts.

  She needed to chew on the possibility and see if she could find a way to prove (or disprove, for that matter) the notion. Unfortunately for her, she had no idea how to go about it.

  She showered and dressed after Jared left for work — he graced her with a smoldering kiss and made her promise to contact him should she stumble across Natalie a second time — and then made her way to her car. To her utter surprise, Zander was waiting for her ... and he didn’t look happy.

  “Tell me you weren’t going to leave without calling me,” he demanded.

  She was taken aback. “I ... what are you doing here?”

  “What does it look like? I’m waiting for you.”

  “It kind of looks like you’re posing for a magazine. Are those new khakis?”

  “They are.”

  “Well, they make you look smoking hot.”

  Zander preened under the compliment. “I know. I am smoking hot. It’s not the pants.” He watched her for a beat, and when she didn’t move to praise him a second time, he sobered. “Where are you going?”

  Harper sensed trouble. “Why do you care?”

  “Because you’re my partner and you haven’t been to the office for several days in a row. I think it’s time you put in an appearance and scared the underlings into working instead of flirting.”

  Harper scowled. “I’m not scaring Molly and Eric,” she said, referring to the two co-workers who had toiled at Ghost Hunters, Inc. (GHI, to those in the know) for the past few years. “They know how to do their jobs and they don’t need me to push them. Besides, if anything new came in they would’ve call me.”

  “Unless they’re afraid to bother you.”

  “Oh, they’re not afraid to bother me.” Even as she said the words, Harper wasn’t sure they were true. “I mean ... they’re not afraid of that, right?”

  Zander merely held out his hands and shrugged. “I can’t answer that for you. I can say that they’re a little leery about bothering you after the whole Rain thing. They figured we needed some relaxation after almost being killed. Of course, I was the only one actually hurt in that scenario and you got all the accolades for saving Rain, but I’m not a complainer so I won’t bring it up.”

  Harper pursed her lips. In truth, he’d done nothing but bring it up since it happened. “You were my hero that day.”

  “Nice save. You’re still not running around without me.”

  “Since when is that the rule?”

  “Since I decided I’m in charge of things, at least for today.”

  The snort Harper let loose was disdainful. “Oh, please. You fancy yourself the boss every single day.”

  “And rightfully so.” Zander put on a big show of being unperturbed by her tone, although it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he felt the exact opposite. “You’re still not running around without me. You’re stuck with me.”

  Harper wasn’t used to Zander being so demanding when it came to her time. Er, well, her work time. Personal time was another story. He had no problem coming up with a schedule that shorted Jared on a weekly basis. This, however, was different.

  “Did Jared send you over here?” Harper queried, her suspicion piqued.

  Zander’s expression never changed. “Why would you possibly ask that?”

  “That wasn’t a denial.”

  “It doesn’t warrant a denial. It’s a ludicrous statement. Like I’ve ever done what Jared wants me to do.”

  He had a point, which only served to make Harper more annoyed. “Listen ... .”

  “No, you listen.” Zander wagged a finger to silence her. “There’s a killer on the loose and you’re determined to find out who it is. That means I’m sticking close to you. I’m a hero, after all. I’ve proven it multiple times now. You’re just going to have to suck it up.”

  “Jared did send you.”

  Zander refused to confirm that. “Where are we going?”

  “Ugh.” Harper made a growling sound deep in her throat. “We’re going back to Patty’s house. I have a few questions for her and I figure our best shot of finding her is there.”

  “And then?”

  “And then we’ll see where the day takes us.”

  Zander rolled his eyes. “I hate it when you say things like that.”

  “Why do you think I say them?”

  HARPER AND ZANDER DIDN’T BOTHER UNPACKING their chairs this time, which turned out to be a good decision. They were only in the small clearing five minutes before Patty blinked into existence ... and she didn’t look happy.

  “And just where have you two been?”

  “And a happy hello to you, too,” Harper drawled. “You’re always a welcoming presence.”

  Patty ignored the sarcasm. “Did you find out who killed me yet?”

  The woman’s eager question was enough to throw Harper for a loop. “I thought you didn’t care. That’s basically what you said yesterday.”

  “No, that’s not what I said.” Patty’s voice ratcheted up a notch, which didn’t matter because nobody else could hear her. “I said that I didn’t know who killed me, not that I didn’t want to know who killed me.”

  That wasn’t exactly how Harper remembered it, but she opted against pushing the matter and making things worse. “I need to know where your girls might be. We have to talk to some of them.”

  “I told you that I don’t know. Everything was kept as anonymous as possible for obvious reasons.”

  “I think there’s more to it than that.” Harper refused to back down. “There’s something you’re not telling me and for the life of me I can’t figure out what it is, or why it’s so important to you to keep it a secret.”

  “I’m not keeping secrets.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Harper folded her arms over her chest. “We want to help you. Well, we want to find out who did this and make sure he or she can’t do it to anybody else. You kind of deserve a little punishment ... although probably not to this degree.”

  “Well, thank you for that,” the ghost drawled. “There’s little I love more than being judged.”

  “I’m not judging you. I’m simply trying to do what’s right here. There’s no fixing this so we need to do our absolute best and move on. We can’t do that without you.”

  “Fine.” Patty’s eyes flashed hot. “What is it you want me to say? I’ve already told you everything I know.”

  “Not everything.” Harper was adamant. She’d been thinking about this for the better part of the morning and there was an obvious question she’d missed the day before. “You told me how you recruited your first girls. You told me how you got Natalie. I know that you were sending out feelers at various high schools, but I’m guessing you didn’t get a lot of girls that way. Where were you recruiting the bulk of your girls? I’m guessing there’s a lot of turnover in this particular business.”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “I’m not going to tell you again.” Harper struggled to maintain her temper. She couldn’t help feeling that Patty was being purposely belligerent. “We need information and the girls are our best shot right now. All the men are lawyering up and threatening lawsuits. The girls are more likely to be honest.”

  “Isn’t that the truth.” Patty waved her hand in front of her face, as if trying to cool down. “Fine. I don’t want you making a scene when I tell you, though. If you talk to those girls, then you have to do it real quiet like. They aren’t going to want their business spread around the campus.”

  “The campus?” Harper’s brow wrinkled. “Are you saying you picked them up at a
college?”

  “Kind of.” Patty’s smile was impish. “Honestly, it was a stroke of genius on my part. I needed girls who weren’t afraid to break from the mold, which means I needed creative types. What’s the best place to find creative minds?”

  Harper finally caught up. “The art school. You were getting them at the art school.”

  Patty bobbed her head. “Genius, huh?”

  Harper could think of a few other words to describe it. Still, she had a place to start.

  JARED AND MEL DELVED INTO THE footage from the fire hoping to make out faces in the crowd. They had license plates — and were certain they’d managed to track down at least some of the individuals inside Patty’s house that night — but they wanted more.

  “Before we upend lives, I would like to make sure we’re on the right track,” Mel admitted as he stared at the footage. “I mean ... I don’t want to ruin six lives when only one person is guilty.”

  “I get that.” Jared reclined in his chair and linked his fingers behind his head, thoughtful. “I honestly do. The thing is ... I only care about hurting the wives and children. None of these guys deserve respect in my book.”

  Mel slid his eyes to his partner. “You don’t think it’s possible to come back from a sexual mistake?”

  “This wasn’t a sexual mistake ... and no. A mistake would be having too much to drink and losing your head at a party. Going to a brothel shows premeditation. These men actively went out to cheat on their wives.”

  Mel’s lips quirked. “And you’re such a good guy you would never even consider cheating on Harper. In fact, the idea makes you sick to your stomach.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Because I was the same way the first two years of my marriage. Trust me. You’ll get over that. Eventually you’ll need the daydreams to keep you sane.”

  Jared scowled. “Please. You would never cheat on your wife ... and daydreams aren’t the same thing.”

  “Yeah?” Mel was intrigued despite himself. “Who do you daydream about?”