Ghostly Camping (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 16)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Who wouldn’t be annoyed by Harris?” She practically exploded. “He’s a pompous ass.”

  “Tell me how you really feel,” Zander cajoled. “I mean ... do you want to hurt him? Maybe we can find some tar and feathers out here. This is the middle of nowhere, and if movies from a bygone era have taught me anything, it’s that tar and feathers belong in a rural setting.”

  Harper narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits. “Do you think you’re funny?”

  His smile was benign. “Absolutely. I always think I’m funny.”

  “Well, you’re not.”

  “Oh, but I am.” Zander placed a smacking kiss against her forehead. He was determined to draw her out of her funk whether she was open to it or not. “I’m the funniest man in your life.”

  Jared cleared his throat and shot him a pointed look.

  “Do you need a lozenge?” Zander asked blankly.

  Oddly enough, the statement drew a reluctant smile out of Harper. “You’re both funny,” she offered. “I laugh whenever I’m with either of you.”

  “Oh, that must be nice to hear, huh, Jared?” Zander teased. “Especially from the woman who sees you naked every night.”

  Jared’s frown grew more pronounced. “I think you and I are going to spend some private time together a little later, Zander,” he warned.

  Zander didn’t miss a beat. “I’m looking forward to it. Maybe you can make me laugh, too ... although probably not the same way you make Harper laugh. For now, though, shh.” He pressed his finger to his lips. “I’m talking to my best friend.” He pasted a charming smile on his face. “Tell me what’s bugging you.”

  Jared watched the interaction with fascination. He’d come to the conclusion long ago that he would never fully be able to understand the relationship between Harper and Zander. There was almost something mystical about it. And while Zander annoyed him on a good day, he also knew that if anyone could get to the root of Harper’s disgruntlement, it was her best friend. He read her better than anyone, which was difficult for Jared to admit ... even to himself.

  She gave in without realizing what she was about to do. “I had a dream last night.” She launched into the tale, leaving nothing out. Next to Jared, Shawn sent the detective a questioning look but remained mute. All Jared could do was shrug in response.

  “So, I guess I’m edgy,” Harper admitted as she finished up. “I’m not sure what to make of any of it.”

  Rather than crack wise, as was his way, Zander nodded in understanding. “It always sucks when they don’t realize they’re dead. Did you try leading her to the truth?”

  “I did, but she didn’t seem ready for it. I didn’t want to push her, especially in a dream. The entire thing was surreal, like I was hanging in an alternate universe or something.”

  “That was probably smart.” Zander rubbed her shoulder, thoughtful. “The dreams add a new layer to your abilities. They’ve been happening more frequently of late.”

  “I know it sounds selfish, but I kind of wish we could go back to the way things were,” she admitted, rueful. “I preferred it when I sought the ghosts out and questioned them. I don’t like them invading my subconscious.”

  “I can see that.” Zander flashed a warm smile. “The thing is, Harp, I think you’re looking at this the wrong way. While the dreams seem invasive, they’re also an extra layer of protection. Now you don’t always have to return to the scene of the crime to get information. Sometimes the information literally just pops into your head.”

  Honestly, Harper had never thought of it that way. “That’s kind of interesting, huh?”

  “It is.” Zander bobbed his head. “As for the second ghost, I’m not sure what to make of it. Is it possible someone died up here years ago and has been hanging out ever since? Maybe that was some weird coincidence or something.”

  “Maybe.” Harper tugged on her bottom lip. “I just don’t know. There was a moment when we were in the old cemetery yesterday where I thought I saw a hint of movement in the woods. When I looked closer, though, there was nobody there.”

  “You didn’t mention that,” Jared argued, his tone accusatory. “Why wouldn’t you mention that?”

  Harper shrugged. “There was nothing there when I looked closer. It happened so fast, I thought I imagined it. Now, though ... I just don’t know.”

  “Well, we’ll figure it out.” Jared moved up to her other side and tried to slip his arm around her waist. He ran into Zander before he could pull it off, though. “I’ve got it from here.”

  Zander narrowed his eyes, to the point where Jared was convinced the other man was going to put up a fight. Ultimately, though, he merely nodded and released his best friend.

  “Are we really going to the scene of the fake murder?” Shawn asked, moving up so he could walk next to Zander. “I’m not going to lie. It seems like a waste of time to be playing a game when there’s a real murderer to chase.”

  “We don’t know that it was a murder, though,” Jared pointed out.

  “What else could it be?”

  “It might’ve been an accident. She could’ve gotten excited, tripped and fell, and accidentally hurt herself that way. We simply don’t know right now.”

  “What are the odds of that?”

  “Not great, but I think we have to at least pretend we’re playing the game so people don’t grow too suspicious of us,” Jared offered. “If we’re going to chase the real case — something I have no jurisdiction to do, mind you — then we’re going to have to feign interest in the fake case.”

  “That sounds delightful,” Zander drawled.

  “And necessary,” Jared insisted. “You guys were technically brought here to do a job. That doesn’t mean we can’t manage two jobs.”

  “Fine.” Zander held up his hands. “As much as I would like to argue — and we all know how much I love to argue — I happen to agree with you. Let’s see if we can solve a fake murder, shall we?”

  THE AREA AROUND THE WAY STATION LOOKED largely quiet. It took the foursome a few minutes to find the spot where the body had been dropped for public perusal. Once they discovered the fake blood, though, they were in business.

  “Okay, the fact sheet says that she was found on her back, eyes to the sky, and there was a large blade protruding from her stomach,” Shawn read from the sheet.

  “From her stomach?” Jared made a face. “That’s a weird place to stab someone. Usually people go for the chest.”

  “Maybe that’s part of the story.”

  “I guess. Let’s look around.”

  Harper headed to the east to search for clues, and even though Jared would’ve preferred keeping her at his side given what was happening, he wisely gave her a bit of room. She was working out a few things in her head and she needed space to do that. Because he understood that facet of her personality, he put all of his effort into searching for clues while Harper trudged back and forth in front of the tree line.

  For her part, Harper recognized Jared’s worry for what it was. He wanted to press her, ask for her opinion on what was going on, but he also wanted to save her the angst that would be associated with being wrong. She appreciated that he was willing to take a step back. That’s what she really needed at this point.

  She was lost in thought, her eyes glazed. In truth, she wasn’t looking for clues. She was simply thinking, long and hard.

  Then it happened.

  Out of the corner of her eye, a shadow caught her attention. Since the sun was shining in the opposite direction, though, it made no sense for a shadow to shift to her left. Her heart skipped a beat, and she slowed her pace as she made another turn, heading back toward that area. Slowly, carefully, she cast her eyes to the foliage. At first she saw nothing, and then, out of nowhere, a silhouette began to form.

  It took Harper a moment to realize what she was looking at. The ghost had hidden herself so well in the dappled underbrush that she was almost invisible. Harper almost gasped when she finally made out the full pictu
re in front of her. The woman wasn’t young — nor really old — probably a bit over forty and definitely not fifty, and she boasted brown hair and eyes. She stood straight and watched Harper move up and down the tree line. She didn’t say a word.

  Harper debated how she wanted to address the woman and ultimately decided that being direct was the only way to go. “Hello.” Her greeting was soft as she stopped a few feet away from the ghost and fixed her steady gaze on the woman. “I’m Harper Harlow. I believe you were in my dreams last night.”

  The woman’s eyes went wide, shock positively reverberating off her.

  Harper held up her hands in a placating manner, sensing that fear would drive the woman to run. “Please don’t be afraid of me. I mean you no harm. I was just hoping we could talk for a little bit.”

  The ghost appeared legitimately bewildered as she looked to her left and right, as if searching for someone else to be the source of Harper’s attention. The ghost hunter understood the woman’s confusion.

  “I’ve been able to see and talk to ghosts since I was a kid,” Harper offered helpfully. “I’m not sure why I’m capable when so many others aren’t, but it’s something I’ve grown accustomed to. What happened last night in the dream was real. I was really there. Leslie was really there.”

  The ghost didn’t respond. If possible, Harper was convinced she’d turned even paler than on first glance.

  “You don’t have to be afraid of me,” Harper reassured her. “I swear that I mean you no harm. I can help you if you open yourself up to it. You don’t even have to trust me. Just ... talk to me.”

  The woman opened her mouth, and Harper’s heart skipped a beat, hope building to a crescendo. Before she could say anything, though, loud voices to the south had Harper snapping her head in that direction. She scowled when she realized Becky and Harris were invading their quiet morning.

  “Oh, that’s just perfect,” Harper muttered, annoyance threatening to bubble up. “Don’t worry about them,” she offered, turning back to the ghost. “They’re annoying but harmless. In fact ... .” She trailed off when she realized the ghost had disappeared, taking a moment to search deeper into the woods in the hopes the ghost had simply retreated a few steps. Unfortunately, she didn’t get that lucky. Whoever the woman was, she’d disappeared ... again.

  “Oh, if I wasn’t ticked off earlier,” Harper lamented, stomping her foot against the ground and turning, her eyes landing on a beaming Harris. “I’m definitely ticked off now.”

  11

  Eleven

  “How are things?”

  Harris was all smiles as he joined the group, Becky close at his side. He seemed thrilled to find Harper and the others participating in the game, although there was a nervous edge to his façade.

  “We’re doing well,” Jared reassured him, shooting Harper a warning look. He seemed to be able to read her expression and recognized that she was about to lose her cool. “It’s a very interesting game.”

  “It is,” Harris agreed, his gaze moving to Harper. “Did you find a clue, my dear?”

  Harper pursed her lips, debating, and then shook her head. “I’ve come up empty so far.”

  “No ghosts?” His eyes twinkled.

  Even though she understood he probably didn’t mean to come off as condescending, Harper had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from scowling. “Not so far.”

  Sensing trouble, Shawn drifted closer to the blonde, offering Harris a sunny grin before sliding his arm around Harper’s shoulders. “There technically wouldn’t be ghosts here since nobody really died. She can’t talk to what doesn’t exist.”

  “Actually, I’ve been thinking about that.” Harris’ smile never wavered. “You have quite the reputation in Whisper Cove, young lady.”

  The “young lady” part rankled more than it probably should have, but Harper managed to hold it together ... barely.

  “When I first started researching individuals who I thought could help with the marketing aspect of my little endeavor, there were other names that popped up first,” he continued. “Evian Springs was one.”

  Harper didn’t bother to hide her eye roll. “I’m familiar with Evian’s work.”

  “She’s been in numerous newspaper articles,” Harris agreed.

  Jared’s expression was hard to read. “Who is Evian?”

  “She’s the worst,” Zander supplied, using the tip of his shoe to scuff at the ground. “She’s a fraud. She pretends to have the same ability Harper has and hires her services out for parties.”

  “I found her interesting,” Harris hedged.

  “I’m sure you did.” Zander’s tone never shifted. He was a businessman first and foremost, but he was growing tired of Harris’ nonsense. “She has a vast following on social media. She’s been touting her abilities to anybody who will listen, for years.”

  “She found a missing child,” Harris persisted.

  “You mean the little girl who happened to go missing at the house next door to where she lived?” Zander’s eyebrows raised in challenge. “There have been whispers regarding that. Friends of the mother, who has been tight with Evian since grade school, say they concocted that plan together, and the girl was never really missing.”

  Harris balked. “You have no proof of that, though.”

  “No,” Zander readily agreed. “We have no proof, and yet it’s pretty obvious to almost everybody. Evian doesn’t have the gift. She pretends to, but she’s not the real deal. She’s an actress, not a medium.”

  Harris was quiet for a beat, working his jaw, and then his smile returned with a vengeance. “That’s neither here nor there.” He was a showman of sorts, too, Zander internally mused. He and Evian had a lot in common. “The fact of the matter is, more people know about her than our lovely Ms. Harlow. I was simply making an observation.”

  “And what observation is that?” Jared queried, his hackles raised. If Harris was going to suddenly start attacking his fiancée, then he didn’t care how badly he wanted answers regarding Leslie. He would pack up everyone and everything and skedaddle without a backwards glance.

  “That Harper here has a tremendous reputation. Everyone who has ever worked with her raves about her.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Harper muttered, her cheeks coloring. “There are plenty of people who wouldn’t want to cross paths with me a second time.”

  Harris continued as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “I almost didn’t find her because I was looking for big names. She needs to get out there more, participate in more events. It will be good for business.”

  “We’re pretty happy with our business,” Zander countered. “As for putting herself out there more, Harper prefers being authentic. She’s not going to fake anything, unlike Evian and most of the others. Those who truly have the gift rarely advertise it.”

  “If you say so.” Harris squared his shoulders and glanced around the deserted cemetery. “I have a few things to attend to. I’ll leave Becky with you should any questions arise.”

  Jared made a low groaning sound that had Harper’s lips quirking.

  “If you need anything, I’ll be back at the campground,” Harris called out, waving. “Remember, the name of the game is fun. Make sure you have it.”

  “We’ll do our best,” Zander called out sweetly, making a face that would’ve been comical under different circumstances. “What a—”

  Shawn slapped his hand over Zander’s mouth before he could finish uttering the statement, earning a dark glare from his fiancé.

  “He’s just a little overzealous,” Becky offered nervously, her gaze bouncing between faces. Nobody was surprised she ultimately decided to focus on Jared. “He’s really a very smart man, like ... a total genius. He’s just really nervous about everything that’s going on because he has all of his assets tied up in this business.”

  “We’re not judging him,” Jared reassured her. “We’re just ... it’s been a very long twenty-four hours. Between the drive and what happene
d yesterday, it’s been an emotional roller-coaster.”

  “The ride was a roller-coaster?” Becky looked puzzled. “I would think that would be the relaxing part.”

  “I would think so, too,” Jared agreed. “I happen to enjoy a good road trip. Two members of my team feel differently.” He shot pointed looks toward Harper and Zander.

  “Hey, don’t blame that on me.” Harper extended a finger. “I’m not the one with the teeny-tiny bladder. That’s all on Zander.”

  “Yes, but you encourage him.” Jared refused to back down. “You get him all excited for lattes ... and Slurpees ... and fountain soda. I’m surprised he wasn’t floating before we even left the tri-county area.”

  Harper rolled her eyes. “I think you’re exaggerating.” She went back to searching the woods for the ghost. She was convinced, had Harris and Becky not joined their crew, she would’ve been able to finally garner the specter’s trust ... at least enough to cajole her into talking. The fact that they arrived at the exact wrong time was a bitter pill to swallow. “We didn’t stop that many times.”

  “Seven times in six hours,” Jared shot back. “Seven times.”

  “You kept count?” Zander’s annoyance was on full display. “Who keeps count of stuff like that?”

  “The guy behind the wheel,” Jared fired back. “That’s not even including the time we had to stop for gas, and you two spent ten minutes trying on sunglasses in the convenience store.”

  “It’s not much of a road trip without sunglasses,” Zander fired back, his attention landing on Becky, who appeared to be completely enamored with Jared, to the point where she hung on his every word. He couldn’t help wondering if he could use that to his advantage. “So, Becky, tell me about yourself.”

  Becky was caught off guard at being included in the conversation. “What do you mean?”

  “You don’t want to hear about us,” he prodded. “We’re old, boring, and talk about the same things over and over again. Nobody cares how many times we had to stop to use the restroom during the drive up here.”