“She said to get here as soon as possible,” Jared replied, furrowing his brow as he scanned the crowd for signs of his girlfriend. Even though he logically knew she was fine – she’d called him ten minutes before, after all – he wouldn’t be able to ease his worry until he actually saw her. “She also said one of the tour patrons tripped over a body.”
Mel made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat. He was used to Harper Harlow’s special brand of drama. He’d known her since she was a child, after all. As Zander’s uncle, he was familiar with both of them. That didn’t mean he was keen for whatever theatrics he was about to bear witness to. “Are we sure it’s a real body?”
Jared arched an eyebrow. “I don’t see why she would lie.”
“I’m not saying she’s lying. I’m merely suggesting that perhaps she and Zander got worked up during a cemetery tour and thought they saw something that wasn’t really there. It would hardly be the first time it happened.”
Jared forced himself to remain calm. He often had to remind himself that Mel didn’t gaze through the same adoring lenses when looking at Harper. To Jared, Harper was an absolutely delightful ball of energy who was not only full of love but also worthy of everything he had to offer. To Mel, Harper was the girl who used to run around causing mischief with Zander and still managed to wreak havoc a couple times a year when the mood struck.
“I think Harper knows what a real body looks like,” Jared pointed out. “She’s seen more than her fair share of bodies.”
“She has but … I just don’t want to spend the rest of the night filling out paperwork,” Mel groused. “I hate this time of year. We spend half our time patrolling for tricksters and the other half convincing people they’re not really being haunted.”
Jared licked his lips as he regarded his taciturn partner. “You’re a regular ray of sunshine sometimes. You know that, don’t you?”
Mel shrugged. “Am I wrong?”
Sadly, Jared couldn’t find footing to argue. “No, but I really wish you wouldn’t cast aspersions on Harper. She’s a good woman and she wouldn’t have called if she really didn’t find something important.”
Mel didn’t bother to hide his eye roll. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. The fact that you’re whipped for your blonde isn’t reason enough for me to assume she and Zander aren’t being dramatic. I want to see this body for myself before I believe it.”
“Fine. When you do see it, though, you’re going to owe my girl an apology.”
“We’ll see.”
MEL UTTERED A low curse when he caught sight of the young woman on the ground. She was clearly dead, her blue eyes glazed and sightless as they stared at the moon. Her arms were open, as if offering something to the night sky, and her body was contorted in such a way he knew it was impossible that she purposely put herself in that position.
“She’s dead,” Zander announced helpfully as Jared pulled Harper in for a quick hug.
“Thank you, Zander,” Mel drawled, annoyed. “I never would’ve guessed that without your astute observation.”
Zander offered his uncle a “you’ll pay for that later” look before planting his hands on his hips. “I’m trying to be helpful.”
“Well, you’re not doing a very good job of it,” Mel muttered, carefully kneeling next to the girl and using a short branch from the nearby bush to dig in the underbrush. “We need to call this in to the medical examiner’s office.”
“How do you even know she’s dead?” Gary called out from the spot Harper forced him to stand once he recovered from the ordeal of tripping over a dead body. “You haven’t given her CPR.”
Jared smoothed the back of Harper’s hair before releasing her, his eyes briefly pinning Gary before focusing on his girlfriend. “Are you okay?”
Harper forced a smile and nodded. “It was a good night other than Zander being a pain and … well … this.” She gestured toward the body. “I wouldn’t have even seen her if Gary hadn’t decided to walk off in a huff. He walked away from the trail and tripped over her.”
“You’re welcome,” Gary barked.
Jared arched an eyebrow and pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. It wasn’t a humorous situation and yet he couldn’t stop himself from being amused … at least briefly. “Start at the beginning.”
“Okay, we were on the tour and we were almost done,” Harper started.
“And then Gary turned into a tool and made a scene because he thought we were faking Randy’s obnoxious responses,” Zander added. “Frankly, I blame him for all this.”
“Yeah, because I’m the one who killed her and then tripped over the body to create an alibi,” Gary deadpanned. “You’re such a … twink.”
Zander’s mouth dropped open and Jared had to hold up a hand to keep the man from screeching and causing a scene.
“We don’t have time for this, Zander,” Jared warned, keeping his voice low. “We have a murder in a cemetery that’s been very busy over the past few days. If you want to be loud with your buddy Gary, you need to do it someplace else.”
Zander had the grace to be abashed. “Fine.” He flicked his eyes to Gary. “I’ll meet you at high noon on Main Street.”
Harper widened her eyes and ducked her head to hide her smile as she regrouped. The movement forced her to focus on the dead girl on the ground, which was instantly sobering. “How do you know she was murdered?”
“Because her neck is broken,” Jared replied gently. “If it wasn’t, she wouldn’t be in that position. Do you see those bruises on her skin there?”
Harper followed Jared’s finger and swallowed hard as she nodded.
“Someone strangled her, Heart.” Jared calmly ran his hand over his girlfriend’s slender back. “This wasn’t an accident. I’m sorry if you thought it was.”
“I knew it probably wasn’t an accident,” Harper conceded. “I guess I was hopeful because … well, just because.”
“I get that.” Jared brushed a quick kiss against Harper’s forehead before stepping away and studying the bush to his right. “Some of the branches are broken here. We should probably call out the state police tech team to have a look while we’re at it. They might be able to get a footprint or something.”
“Oh, that wasn’t like that at the start,” Zander offered. “Gary did that when he realized he tripped over a body. He was screaming like a girl when he clawed his way to freedom.”
Zander looked so proud of himself for the proffered tidbit Jared had to look away to keep a straight face as he dug for his phone.
“I’m going to call for the medical examiner,” Jared said. “I believe you should start with an apology to Harper, Mel.”
Mel’s eyebrows hopped. “Excuse me?”
“You said you thought she was being dramatic. She obviously wasn’t being dramatic.”
Mel scowled as Harper narrowed her eyes and shot a dark look in his direction. “You just couldn’t let it go, could you?”
“Not when you’re maligning my girlfriend, no.”
Mel growled. “I’m sorry, Harper. I didn’t mean to malign you.”
Harper waved off the apology. “That’s okay. I’m used to it.”
“What about me?” Gary challenged. “Does anyone want to apologize to me?”
Harper ignored him and focused on Zander. “We should probably calm down the tour participants. They might be freaking out.”
Zander brightened. “Good idea.”
JARED FOUND HARPER leaning against the hood of her car, Zander tucked in close at her side, an hour later. The medical examiner remained busy with the body and the bulk of the tour patrons had departed save for Gary and Colin, both of whom refused to leave.
“You don’t have to stay, Heart,” Jared said quietly as he moved to stand in front of her. “There’s nothing you can do here.”
Harper tilted her head to the side as she regarded him. “You look tired.”
“It’s still early.”
“You still look tired.”
/> “You definitely do,” Zander agreed, shifting so he could study Jared for an extended amount of time. “You’re starting to get crow’s feet. You’re too young for that. See, Harp, this is another reason you shouldn’t move in with him … other than the eggplant kitchen, I mean.”
Jared pressed the tip of his tongue against the back of his teeth. “I don’t have crow’s feet.”
“Ignore him.” Harper straightened. “Do you know who she is?”
Jared reluctantly dragged his eyes from Zander and nodded. “Mel recognized her. He said her name was Maggie Harris. She’s twenty-five and … .”
Jared didn’t get a chance to finish because recognition dawned on Harper’s face and she finished for him. “She worked at the bank.”
Jared widened his eyes. “You knew her?”
“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone.”
“I guess.” Jared shifted his gaze to where the medical examiner toiled. “We have to make notification after this. It’s probably going to be a bit before I get home. You can leave now, though. I’ll have reports for both of you to sign in the morning but it’s pretty straightforward.”
“We can wait,” Harper offered.
“You don’t have to. I’m not sure how long I’ll be.”
“Still, I don’t want to go home without you,” Harper persisted. “We can wait.”
“Speak for yourself,” Zander shot back. “I’m not waiting. Shawn is already at the house and he ordered pizza.”
As if on cue, Harper’s stomach growled at the news. She was too loyal to choose pizza over Jared, though. “Oh, well, I’m still waiting for Jared.”
Jared considered messing with her, but the idea of Harper sitting outside in the dark and waiting for him to come to her was something he had trouble swallowing. “I think you should go home, Heart.” Jared was firm. “Waiting for me isn’t going to do you any good, especially since I have no idea how long all of this will take.”
Harper wasn’t quite done arguing. “But … .”
“No.” Jared leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “I insist you go home and eat your weight in pizza with Zander and Shawn. I prefer knowing you’re safe.”
“I can make sure she gets home safely,” Colin offered as he popped up next to Jared and caused him to jolt. “That’s the entire reason I’m still sticking close.”
“Um … .” Jared kept his arm around Harper’s waist as he glanced around, confused. “I … you … who are you again?”
“Colin Thompson.” Colin rubbed a hand over his short brown hair and kept his shoulders squared. “I’m here to protect Harper. Who are you?”
Even though they were at the scene of a murder, Harper couldn’t stop herself from smirking at Jared’s obvious discomfort. “This is Jared. He’s Whisper Cove’s newest police officer.”
“He’s also Harper’s boyfriend, Colin,” Zander added. “I know that’s the last thing you want to hear but … there it is. They’re even moving in together.”
Colin looked crushed. “What?”
Jared glanced between Colin and Zander for a moment, his mind struggling to put things together. “Am I missing something?”
“No,” Harper answered automatically.
“Yes.” Zander and Colin bobbed their heads in unison.
“Oh, joy.” Jared pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead and worked overtime to come to grips with the situation. “Can someone give me a very brief summary?”
Zander shot his hand into the air and hopped up and down. “Pick me!”
Jared growled. “I’m going to regret this. I just know it.” He jerked his thumb in Zander’s direction. “Tell me in as few words as possible. I’m not joking.”
“Okay.” Zander rubbed his hands together, relishing his spot as center of attention. “Basically, it breaks down as this: Colin has been a huge fan of GHI since we started. That was five years ago, though, and he was only eighteen at the time.”
“A mature eighteen,” Colin stressed.
Zander grinned as he nodded. “Definitely a mature eighteen. Anyway, he was along for our inaugural cemetery tour right after starting GHI. He comes back every year even though he’s a big college student now.”
“I graduated,” Colin corrected. “I’m no longer a college student.”
“Oh.” Zander was appropriately impressed. “Does that mean you’re back home living with your mother because you can’t find a job or you love Harper so much you made a special trip? Wait … I’m not sure which one I want more. Let me think for a second.”
Jared scowled as he flicked Zander’s ear. “I’m still behind and I’m starting to get agitated.”
“You’re not the only one,” Colin shot back. “Are you really Harper’s boyfriend?” He didn’t wait for an answer before swiveling to face Harper. “Why do you have a boyfriend? I told you to wait for me.”
Harper was contrite. “I’ve always found you cute, Colin, but you’re too young for me.”
“I’m only four years younger than you.”
“It’s closer to five years.”
Colin turned pouty. “I don’t really care about that,” he muttered. “I just don’t see why you need a boyfriend. It’s not really like I expected you to date me or anything. I’m not a stalker. I just … he’s a police officer.”
Colin looked so horrified it caused Zander to chuckle. “A police officer?” Colin remained incredulous. “I’m going to be a finance manager. No joke. I just have to find a job and then I’m on my way.”
Jared tried not to be offended, but he couldn’t help himself. “You’re going to be a finance manager? What are you doing until then?”
“Finance manager on weekends,” Colin answered, primly smoothing his shirt.
Jared felt mildly irritated by the young man’s bravado – and his attitude regarding cops didn’t help – but even he found the goofy kid entertaining. “Well, that’s great. What do you do on weekdays?”
“I’m a chef.”
“A chef, huh? Where?”
“Does that matter?” For the first time since he arrived for the tour, Colin let his temper out to play. “I mean … I’m a food connoisseur. You shoot people for a living.”
“I save people for a living,” Jared countered, frustration bubbling up. “I don’t even understand how this argument started.”
“I blame Zander,” Harper offered helpfully. “He’s been a real pill all day.”
Zander was affronted. “I have not!”
“You have so,” Harper shot back. “You’ve been giving me grief for hours about moving in with Jared. I’m sick of it.”
Zander adopted a wounded expression. “I don’t care if you move in with Jared. I just think I should be involved in your decorating choices.”
Harper balked. “That is not what you said.”
“That is exactly what I said.”
“You’re full of it.”
Jared heaved out a sigh. “I have no idea how this conversation got so far off track. I just came over here to tell you to go home.”
“It’s only going to get worse when you move in together,” Zander said pragmatically. “It’s because the color eggplant is depressing and that’s what color she wants to paint your kitchen. Do you want a depressing kitchen? I’m going to guess not.”
Jared could do nothing but chuckle. “Well, I’m sure you guys will work that out. For now, I have to go back to work. You two should go home.”
“Wait a second,” Colin groused. “You’re really moving in together? I thought Zander was making that up to irritate me. What is happening here?”
What was happening indeed?
3
Three
Jared was happy when he saw Harper and Zander pulling away from the cemetery. The medical examiner was almost finished with his initial exam and Jared was hopeful an opening to call it a night was in his immediate future. He was tired and the days running up to the Halloween holiday promised to be long with a murder to
investigate. That was on top of the fact that Harper repeatedly warned him about the run-up to Halloween being her busiest time of the year. He was basically already exhausted and he’d barely started.
That didn’t mean he was too tired to question his partner about Colin.
“What’s the deal with the culinary kid over there?”
Mel was understandably confused because he missed the earlier conversation. “What?” He ripped his gaze away from the men packing up Maggie’s body. “What culinary kid?”
“That one.” Jared gestured toward Colin. “What’s his deal?”
Mel’s expression softened. “Oh, Colin? He’s harmless.”
“That’s not really what I asked.”
“He’s extra harmless,” Mel stressed. “He’s one of the youngsters around here who has a chance of becoming something if he puts his mind to it. He went to college and everything.”
“That’s great and I don’t have a problem with him going to college.” Jared honestly meant it. “I wish him all the best on his financial management track. I’m more curious about his interest in Harper.”
“Oh, that.” Mel was genuinely amused. “I believe it started about the time Harper and Zander founded GHI.”
Jared had never given it much thought. “How did that come about? I never really thought about it because the business seemed normal to me, but when they started it, the town must have been buzzing with talk.”
“Oh, the town was buzzing with talk,” Mel confirmed. “Everyone thought Harper and Zander were nuts. People were constantly laughing and talking behind their backs for weeks. It was a nightmare.”
“I thought you told me people respected Harper because of her gift,” Jared challenged. “That’s what you told me when I first arrived and thought she was nuts.”
Mel snorted at the memory, genuinely amused. “Yeah. You were so funny. You asked me if she was crazy and then proceeded to fall in love with her practically overnight even though you were convinced she needed to be fitted for a straightjacket. It was kind of cute.”
Jared made a face. “I didn’t think she needed to be fitted for a straightjacket.” That was mostly true. “As for falling in love with her, I didn’t do it at first sight.”
Ghostly Distress (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 9) Page 2