“When did you see him?” Eric challenged.
“At the college the other day,” Molly said. “He was talking to Harper and his body language said that he was hot for her.”
“It did not,” Harper scoffed.
Eric scorched Molly with a look. “When did you become an expert on body language?”
“I know when a guy is interested,” Molly shot back. “This guy was interested in Harper. A girl can always tell these things.”
“That’s not true, is it?” Eric turned to Harper, a worried expression on his handsome face.
“A woman can always tell,” Harper said, fighting the urge to roll her eyes at the triumphant look on Molly’s face. “As a woman I can unequivocally tell you that Jared Monroe is not interested in me.”
“You can’t say that,” Zander said. “You refuse to see what’s right in front of you. He clearly finds you attractive … just like you find him attractive.”
“You don’t find him attractive, do you?” Eric was starting to get desperate.
“Not in the least,” Harper said.
Eric looked relieved, if only marginally.
“That is such a load of crap,” Zander said. “You might not be in love with him, but you’re dying to see what he looks like without his shirt on.”
“Lies!”
“I’m not the one lying,” Zander said, his voice climbing to an almost shrill level. “You can’t stop yourself from checking out his rear end every time you’re around him. I know because I’ve been checking it out, too, and my eyes keep meeting your eyes there.”
“That is ridiculous,” Harper said.
Eric opened his mouth, and for a second Harper was worried he was going to blurt out a date invitation right then and there to head off another second of “hot cop” arguing. He never got the chance, though, and Harper would be forever thankful for the sound of someone clearing their throat at the front of the office.
Jared Monroe had his hands in his pockets as he shifted from one foot to the other by the front door. “I … um … your door was open.”
Harper felt as if she’d been hit by a bus. All the air whooshed out of her lungs and her panicked eyes sought out Zander’s for reassurance. He was too busy silently laughing to offer her any help, though.
Harper forced herself to her feet, her cheeks burning as she tried to decide how much of their childish argument Jared had overheard. “I … can I help you?”
Jared licked his lips. He looked as nervous as Harper felt. “Can I talk to you in private for a few minutes?”
“Sure,” Harper said, glancing around doubtfully. The office consisted of exactly one room and there was nowhere the two of them could go to avoid prying ears. “Maybe we should go outside?”
Jared looked relieved at the suggestion. “Sure.”
Harper started to follow and then shot a quick look at Zander over her shoulder. “You can hold the fort down, right?”
Zander nodded, and when he was sure Jared’s attention was focused elsewhere he mimed kissing an invisible person in front of him. Harper’s cheeks grew even redder, but she refused to comment on what Zander was doing. Instead she followed Jared outside of the office – and toward what she was sure was certain doom.
JARED had no idea why he was so nervous but entering Harper’s place of business put him on the defensive. It gave her a position of power. He believed that right up until the second he walked into the office and no one noticed him. Then he heard what they were arguing about and he couldn’t stop himself from listening for a few minutes. He couldn’t believe this group was considered professionals in any field.
He wordlessly led Harper to the small patio next to the office building and gestured toward the wrought iron table. Harper took one of the chairs and Jared settled in the other. He had no idea how he was going to start the conversation, but Harper didn’t give him a chance to get his bearings.
“You found Annie’s car, didn’t you?”
Jared balked. “How did you know that?”
“I’m guessing,” Harper said. “Did you think I was messing with you? Did you think a ghost told me? Did you think I was even crazier than you originally thought?”
Jared pinched the bridge of his nose to calm himself. He deserved that. He’d been condescending the night before. He’d treated her like a child. Now he was the one in the awkward position and she deserved her moment in the sun to gloat. “I … I’m sorry,” Jared said, the words sounding lame to his own ears.
“What are you sorry about?”
She wasn’t going to make this easy on him. Jared didn’t blame her. “I’m sorry you believe I think you’re crazy.”
“That’s not an apology,” Harper scoffed.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say.”
“I’m not sure what I want you to say either,” Harper said.
“Can we please start over?”
“I guess.”
“We found Annie’s car right where you said it would be,” Jared said. “The keys were under the car.”
“Did you find anything else?”
“Like?”
“Her bag,” Harper said. “She was carrying a bag. Was it in the Explorer?”
“There was a bag in the backseat,” Jared answered. “There was a textbook, a few notebooks, and gum inside.”
Harper frowned. “What about an iPad?”
Jared shook his head. “Was there supposed to be an iPad inside?”
“Annie said there was,” Harper said, racking her brain as she tried to remember the bulk of their conversation the previous evening. “I don’t know what type it is or anything.”
Jared glanced around the small patio. “Can’t you just ask her?”
Harper made a face. “She’s not here right now.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s not my shadow,” Harper said. “She’s not hanging around me twenty-four hours a day. I found her last night. She followed us to the police station. I haven’t seen her since I left the station.”
Jared considered the statement. “Do you think she’d be at the house if we went back?”
“We?” Harper’s eyebrows nearly shot off her forehead. “Last night I was crazy and now we’re working on this together? When did that happen?”
“I’m not saying we’re working on this together,” Jared cautioned. “I’m not even saying I believe all of … this. I am saying I was wrong to dismiss you outright and I’m willing to listen to whatever you have to tell me. I … that’s the best I can do right now.”
Harper tilted her head to the side, considering. “I guess that’s fair,” she said. “I can’t ask you to believe me before I give you a reason to.”
“Are you willing to go back to Annie’s house with me and see if you can talk to her?” Jared couldn’t believe he was asking the question.
“Are you going to arrest me if I do?”
Jared rolled his eyes. “Will you please let that go? I did not arrest you. I took you in for questioning.”
“It cost me two hundred bucks to get my car back this morning,” Harper said.
“If I write you a check will you come with me?” Jared’s frustration was growing by leaps and bounds with each heated word. Unfortunately, his attraction to the annoying woman sitting next to him was growing at the same rate.
“I … yes,” Harper said, sighing as she gave in. As much as she wanted to give Jared a hard time, she wanted to help Annie more.
“Thank you,” Jared said, surprised to find that he meant it.
“Do you want to go now?”
“Can we?”
“Sure. I need to tell Zander he’s on his own for dinner and I’ll pick up something on my way home,” Harper said.
An idea occurred to Jared and before he had a chance to think better of it a suggestion was on the tip of his tongue. “We can eat dinner together.”
Sixteen
Harper thought Jared was joking when he suggested they have a meal toge
ther, but after an hour of fruitless searching at Annie’s house the duo gave up. Instead of driving Harper back to her office, though, Jared stopped at a local seafood restaurant on the lake.
Harper was floored. She didn’t find her voice again until they were both seated with drinks in their hands.
“This is a nice place,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t give away her nervousness. “I … the food here is good.”
“So I’ve heard,” Jared said, his eyes scanning the menu. “I love seafood. I’m thinking I’m going to get this shrimp Pomodoro pasta dish.”
“That’s really good,” Harper said, nodding. “I’ll probably get that, too.”
“You can get whatever you want,” Jared said. “I’m buying.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Consider it a peace offering,” Jared said.
After the waitress took their orders, Harper found herself searching for a conversation topic that wouldn’t leave her feeling exposed. She decided that focusing on Jared was the way to go. “Why did you decide to take a job in Whisper Cove?”
Jared shrugged. “I grew up on the west side of the state, over by Kalamazoo,” he said. “I like that area, don’t get me wrong, but I always had the idea of working in a busier city going through my mind when I became a cop.”
Harper snorted. “That doesn’t explain how you ended up in Whisper Cove,” she said. “Annie’s murder notwithstanding, we’re usually not a very happening place.”
“It’s not a great time to be a cop,” Jared admitted. “Most of these local municipalities are cutting back. Whisper Cove had a job opening and it was close to the area I wanted to be in. The pay was good and the area was beautiful … I decided to take it and see how things would work out.”
“Did you buy a house?”
“I thought the Whisper Cove gossips would be all over that,” Jared said, smirking. “I’m renting a house on the south side of town right now. It’s a small ranch and I’m not in love with it or anything. Until I decide if this place is the right fit, I’m happy there, though. It’s only a few blocks from the lake.”
“Do you like the water?”
“I love the water,” Jared said. “I like the sound of water as it’s rushing into shore. I always thought it would be cool to live by an ocean, but I’m not sure if that will ever become a reality. What about you?”
“I love the lake, too. I go there every chance I get.”
“Do you think you’ll always stay in Whisper Cove?”
“I don’t know,” Harper said. “This is my home. I have a house here. I can’t see myself leaving. Even though Whisper Cove is small it’s only a half hour away from big box stores and malls. I’m pretty happy here.”
“What about Zander?”
“Oh, Zander will never leave,” Harper said, chuckling. “His mother would kill him.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Jared said. “Do you think you’ll always live with Zander?”
“Oh … I don’t know,” Harper said. “He’s my best friend.”
“I know,” Jared said. “I can tell how close you are. If he wasn’t gay I would think you were a couple.”
“If he wasn’t gay we could never be friends,” Harper corrected. “I would have to kill him for all the macho stuff he spouts.”
“Why is it okay for him to spout it because he’s gay?” Jared was genuinely curious.
“Because he’s … Zander,” Harper said, her expression rueful. “I can’t explain it. He’s always been Zander and he’s got a way about him that lets everyone in his life make excuses for the things he says and does. He’s so charming people can’t help but love him.”
“That has to be hard on you, though,” Jared said. “Eventually one of you is going to fall in love and want a permanent relationship. What happens then?”
Harper licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. “I don’t know,” she said after a moment of consideration. “Anyone in my life would have to understand that Zander is always going to be there. He’s always going to be a huge part of my life.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Jared said. “I would imagine your close bond with Zander is … daunting … for anyone interested in pursuing a relationship with you. Do you do that on purpose because of Quinn?”
Harper’s heart rate increased and her face flushed with color. “What … who … why … ?”
Her face was so red Jared was worried she was going to pass out. He fanned his hand in front of her. “Drink some water,” he instructed. “I’m sorry I asked that. It’s none of my business. I didn’t realize you would react like this.”
Harper took three huge gulps of water and then set the glass back down on the table, her hand shaking. Instinctively Jared reached across the table and placed his own hand on top of hers.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s okay,” Harper said, although she avoided meeting Jared’s pointed gaze. “I didn’t realize you knew about Quinn. It took me by surprise.”
“I didn’t until earlier today,” Jared said. “I … Mel told me. We were talking about me taking you into custody and he was explaining about your relationship with Zander and it kind of spilled out. Don’t be angry with him.”
“I’m not angry,” Harper said. “I … it’s public record.”
“That doesn’t mean you want people prying into your business,” Jared said. “I can tell you’re still messed up about it. You must have loved him very much.”
Harper’s eyes widened. “I cared about Quinn,” she said. “I did. He was nice … and friendly … and he got along great with Zander.”
“That’s good.”
“I wasn’t in love with him, though,” Harper said, her voice small.
Jared swallowed hard, confused how to proceed. “Mel made it sound like you fell apart when Quinn died,” he said. “The way he talked … I thought … he said you spent months out there looking for Quinn’s body so you could put him to rest.”
“I would’ve done that for anyone,” Harper said. “The idea of people wandering around aimlessly instead of moving on to their final resting place is troubling. I don’t like it.”
“Final resting place?”
“I guess it depends on what you believe,” Harper said. “There’s something else beyond the … wall … between here and forever.”
“How do you know that?”
“I … it’s just a feeling,” Harper said, deciding now wasn’t the time to admit she had a few another special ability besides talking to ghosts. “Unhappy spirits are the ones who stay behind. Murdered souls and tortured ghosts who were yanked out of their lives before they were ready to go often stay behind. Sometimes they need help to move on.”
“And that’s what you do?” Jared asked.
“That’s what I try to do,” Harper clarified. “It doesn’t always work out how I would like, but most of the time we accomplish what we set out to do.”
“You couldn’t find Quinn when you went out there looking for him, could you?”
“How do you know I was looking for Quinn’s spirit?” Harper asked.
“Because you strike me as someone who wants happy endings even if those endings lead to this … other place,” Jared said, internally marveling at how normal the conversation seemed despite the surreal nature of the words. “Why do you think you couldn’t find him?”
“The truth?”
Jared nodded.
“In my head I picture Quinn’s last hours being those of virtual torture,” Harper explained. “Everyone agrees that any injuries he sustained in that accident would have left him in dire straits. He was strong enough to crawl out of the car window and then he died somewhere in the brush.
“He was alone and he was probably scared, but he was also in tremendous pain,” she continued. “I’m guessing he knew he was dying and when it finally happened it was a relief because it meant he wasn’t in pain any longer.”
“
If you believe that, why did you look for him for so long?” Jared asked.
“Because I had to be sure he wasn’t wandering around lost somewhere,” Harper said. “I didn’t love Quinn when he died. We’d been dating about six months and I cared for him a great deal. I could’ve loved him eventually. I figured I owed him a few months of my life to make sure he wasn’t holding on here when he could be in a happier place.”
“That’s a nice sentiment,” Jared said. “I still believe part of you must have loved him to expend that much effort.”
Harper shrugged noncommittally. “Maybe,” she said. “I don’t know. I know that losing him was hard. Zander never left my side, though. I believe Quinn is in a better place so I can live with his death.”
“What about Annie?” Jared asked.
“Annie will move on soon,” Harper replied. “She’s ready, but she wants to help us find out who killed her. She doesn’t want her murderer to kill someone else if she can stop him before it happens.”
“Does she have any idea who hurt her?”
“No,” Harper said. “She’s worried she was raped, though. I’m worried, too. I think that might be the reason she’s having so much trouble remembering.”
“Why do you think that?” Jared asked, buying time so he could decide how much to tell her.
“She was found nude on the beach,” Harper said. “Someone trying to hide semen and other fluids would dump a body in the lake as a forensic countermeasure. Annie doesn’t have any ties to Whisper Cove.”
“Maybe her killer does,” Jared suggested.
“That’s a possibility,” Harper conceded, nodding. “Or maybe her killer has ties to Harsens Island, or New Baltimore, or Harrison Township. Just because Annie’s body washed up on our beach doesn’t mean she was killed in our waters.”
“That’s some pretty smart thinking there,” Jared said, smiling.
“Zander and I watch a lot of television.”
Jared snorted. “I’ll bet,” he said. “Can I ask you a few questions about seeing ghosts?”
“Yes.”
“When you saw the first one, were you scared?”
Ghostly Interests Page 12