Harper bought herself a few moments by shoving another forkful of potato salad into her mouth. By the time she’d chewed and swallowed, she had a better feeling for why she felt the way she did. “She was dressed in a hoodie and wore a pair of Converse that I’m almost positive were on the website two weeks ago. They actually move product pretty quickly when it comes to patterned shoes, so ... I don’t have proof. It’s a theory, though.”
Jared was thoughtful as he studied her profile. “Okay, we’ll go with that theory.” He went back to his dinner. “If we have another woman who was killed in this campground — or even close to it — I don’t think it can be coincidental. The murder rate up here is minuscule. They just don’t have the population to support it.”
“So, you think we’re dealing with a serial killer, then,” Shawn mused.
“We don’t even know that Leslie was murdered,” Jared argued. “Until we get word on that, I can’t say either way. She honestly could’ve fallen. Yes, it would’ve been an odd fall, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
Harper tugged on her bottom lip. “Leslie is likely back as a ghost. My dream proved that.”
“And you’ve said yourself — multiple times, I might add — that murder isn’t a prerequisite for a soul to cling to the living,” Jared pointed out. “She died suddenly. We can all agree on that. Maybe she didn’t realize what was happening when she fell.”
Harper wanted to argue with the assertion, but she recognized he was right. That didn’t mean she was ready to cede the argument. “We can’t just sit back and do nothing. We have two ghosts. That has to be enough to chase this.”
Sensing how close to the edge she was cycling, Jared moved his hand to her back and offered up a soft smile. “Have you seen Leslie’s ghost?”
“Yes.”
“In something other than a dream?”
She faltered. “No, but ... why are you giving me a hard time about this?” Frustration bubbled up. “You said you had faith in my abilities.”
“Oh, don’t even think about pulling that,” he chided, shaking his head. “I have faith in everything you do. If you say Leslie is hanging around as a ghost, I believe you. I’m simply asking if you’ve seen her today.”
“No. I just saw the other ghost. Before I could gain her trust, though, Harris and Becky showed up. She took off right away the second they invaded our territory.”
“Because Harris is a blowhard,” Zander noted. “I ... oomph.” His shoulders jerked as he absorbed a blow to his shin and turned an accusatory look toward Jared. “I thought we called a truce.”
Jared shot him a quelling look. “I don’t think we’re capable of calling a truce. I was simply trying to alert you that we have company incoming.”
Zander’s bafflement was obvious. “What company?”
“Hello,” a booming voice called out, causing Zander to shrink lower into his seat.
“Oh, that company.” Zander’s expression was dour as he tilted his chin and regarded Harris. The man seemingly appeared out of nowhere, a tray in his hand, and he looked to be heading in their direction. “This is going to suck.”
Harper couldn’t disagree, but she was ready to deal with their host this time. She’d even prepared a few questions she wanted to ask. She sincerely hoped she got the chance, which was possible only if he opted not to take over the conversation, which seemed like a long shot.
“I almost didn’t see you guys over here,” Harris offered as he sat in the seat next to Shawn. His food portions were more reasonable compared to everybody else. “How was your day today?”
“So far, it was great,” Jared replied, cringing when Becky plopped herself on his end of the bench without invitation. “It was a very nice afternoon.”
“It was,” Becky enthused, happily ripping ketchup packets so she could douse her burger. “I loved watching these guys work together. They seem to have a rhythm or something. It’s great.”
“Do you have a rhythm?” The amusement flitting through Harris’ eyes was palpable. “That must come in handy when solving cases in Whisper Cove. Do you all work together?”
The question made Harper uncomfortable. It was almost as if Harris was digging for specific information, all the while taking the roundabout route to achieve his goals … whatever they may be. “We don’t all work at the same job,” she hedged. “Only Zander and I work together.”
“Yes, but some of the news articles I’ve read seem to insinuate that you help the police on certain matters,” Harris noted. “I remember because I read your name in passing when looking for recruits for this trip, and on a whim, Googled you. I was shocked when I saw how many crime stories you were quoted in.”
Harper shot a worried look toward Jared. “I don’t think I’ve been quoted in all that many stories.”
“Sixteen,” Harris countered. “I believe that’s in two years, too. We’re talking daily and weekly newspapers, of course, but you’re a regular media darling.”
That wasn’t how Harper preferred being known. “Most of those cases were ... flukes.” Even as she said it, she recognized how ridiculous it sounded. “I mean, I was involved but not really involved.” She looked to Jared for help.
“We consider Harper an asset in Whisper Cove,” Jared offered, doing his best to ignore how close Becky had situated herself. Even though the young woman had a plate of food in front of her, Jared seemed to be the only thing she found edible on the menu. Her intense gaze never left his face. “She’s helped us with numerous facets of our investigations.”
“Yes, I figured that out myself,” Harris said. “I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, that was the ultimate reason I wanted to invite her.”
“And here we thought you only invited Harper because Evian’s fee was too steep,” Zander drawled.
Harper’s eyes went wide, but she recovered quickly when Harris looked between the business partners. “I didn’t think that,” she offered hurriedly. “I ... um ... definitely didn’t think that.”
Harris waved off her obvious concern. “We never got to that stage. Evian didn’t believe her chakras could be aligned in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula. We opted to part ways before a contract could even be drawn up.”
“Oh, well ... if her chakras said it, then it must be true.” Zander shot Harper a wink. He was clearly enjoying himself.
“Evian wouldn’t have been a good fit for our outfit,” Harris continued. “She would’ve tried to make herself the focus rather than enhancing the overall package.”
“That sounds like Evian,” Harper agreed.
“When we decided on you, we were thinking outside the box,” Harris said. “I think it was a smart choice, though. After meeting you, I believe you have exactly the sort of appeal our guests would enjoy, a personality that would get people excited and have them talking.”
“I ... um ... that’s possibly very flattering.” Harper glanced at Jared, unsure where the conversation was heading. He looked as confused as she felt.
“The thing is, I’ve been giving it a great deal of thought, and I’ve decided that it makes sense for you to join our team permanently.”
Whatever she was expecting, that wasn’t it. Baffled, Harper’s shoulders jolted. “I ... don’t understand. I already have a job.”
“She does,” Zander agreed. “It’s with me, and she really likes it.”
“Oh, I would want to add you to the payroll, too,” Harris reassured him. “You’re a natural showman. People like you. Besides, Harper will need a sidekick. People absolutely adore it when there are sidekicks involved.”
Zander’s mouth dropped open as Shawn stifled a giggle behind his hand.
“Sidekick?” Zander was positively apoplectic. “Are you kidding me? I’m nobody’s sidekick. If anything, Harper is my sidekick.”
“Is that really important now?” Harper complained, shooting her best friend a dirty look.
“Um, yes!” Zander’s eyebrows hopped for emphasis. “I’m
never the sidekick.”
“Harper is the one who sees the ghosts, though,” Harris pressed. “She has to be the one in charge.”
Harper had heard enough of this conversation. “I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade — mostly — but I already have a job. Zander and I run our own company in Whisper Cove.”
“Yes, but I would like to offer you a job on the ground floor here.” Harris’ eyes sparkled. “I think, together, we can turn this endeavor into a multimillion-dollar operation. It will probably take a few years — and we will have to be able to expand into different parts of the state — but I think it’s going to be a success.”
Harper was legitimately dumbfounded. “I live in Whisper Cove,” she pointed out.
“You can move. This is a lovely spot.”
“I’m getting married.” She gestured toward her engagement ring for emphasis. “Jared and I share a house. We’re going to share lives.”
“And he can visit whenever he wants.”
Harper worked her jaw, her mind blank as she tried to figure out how to get Harris to see her side of things. Luckily for her, Jared decided to tackle the problem himself.
“Yeah, we’re not going to be separated,” Jared noted. “We’ve set up our life how we like it, and we’re staying in Whisper Cove. We just bought a house together. We have a hammock, for crying out loud. Nobody is visiting anybody because we’re sticking together.”
“You could move up here, too,” Becky interjected hopefully.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen either,” Jared stressed. “We have a life we like. We’re not messing that up.”
“Besides,” Harper added, hoping to smooth over some ruffled feathers, “I wouldn’t be able to help you anyway. There aren’t enough ghosts up here to keep us in business.” Technically there were two ghosts running around at the present time, she reminded herself, but she hoped to fix that before she left. If she had her way, there would be no unanchored ghosts hanging around by the time she was finished. “I need a bigger population to draw from.”
“Not if you make it up,” Harris countered.
Harper blinked several times in rapid succession. “I’m sorry but ... what?”
“Make it up,” Harris repeated, not ashamed in the least. “Our guests won’t know if you’re seeing real ghosts. You’re probably good at faking it, right?”
Jared cleared his throat and shifted next to Harper, shooting a warning look at Zander. “Don’t even think of saying a word,” he warned.
The conversation was surreal, to the point of being absurd, and Harper had no idea how to handle any of it. “While I appreciate the offer, I think I’ll keep my present job,” she said finally. “We won’t be leaving Whisper Cove.”
Disappointment positively dripped off Harris, and he let out a world-weary sigh. “Have it your way.” He grabbed his tray and stood, his shoulders slouched. “I thought for sure you would see the merit in this plan. I guess not, though.”
Harper watched the man trudge over to another table, legitimately baffled. “He couldn’t possibly think that I would just move my life to suit his whims,” she said finally. “That’s … crazy.”
“Ignore him,” Becky offered. “He’s had a rough day. I don’t think he realizes what he’s saying.”
“Did something happen?” Jared asked, curious. “Did you get news on Leslie Duncan?”
Becky bobbed her head. “Right before dinner.” She sucked in a breath to steady herself. “The medical examiner says that there’s no way this was an accident. She was stabbed in such a manner that she would’ve bled out quickly. Even if somebody stumbled across her in a reasonable amount of time, she couldn’t have been saved. That doesn’t change the fact that this was done deliberately, though.”
The news wasn’t exactly surprising, but Jared had to take a moment to absorb it all the same. “Do you know when she died?”
“Sometime before we found her,” Becky replied automatically.
Jared had to temper his reaction. “Yes, I know, but do you have an exact time of death?”
“Oh, no. Sorry.” She held out her hands. “I just know that it wasn’t an accident, and this is either going to be the thing that puts us on the map or kills us before we even get started. Harris is still reeling from the news. He was convinced it was an accident.”
“Well, he’s going to have to adjust.” Harper focused on her potato salad for a beat. “And we’re going to have to start at the beginning.” She shifted her gaze to Jared. “After dinner, do you want to take a walk with me?”
He nodded without hesitation. “Always.”
13
Thirteen
Harper reassured Shawn and Zander they didn’t have to go with her back to the spot where Leslie’s body was found. She even encouraged them to head back to their tent and take some downtime. Both were adamant the group should stick together, though.
So, fueled by mild guilt, Harper led the way back to the spot in the woods. It was quiet, the only sound coming from the bugs and birds, and she immediately peeled off from the group upon arrival.
Jared, Zander, and Shawn were familiar enough with her process to take a step back and allow her to work. Jared kept his gaze directed toward the trees in case somebody evil was loitering but otherwise remained silent.
For her part, Harper moved in a circle around where the body was found ... over and over and over again. Her pace was light and easy, and Jared found she’d somehow managed to lull him to the point where he was drifting ... when suddenly she pulled up short.
“I figured you would show up eventually,” she said to thin air, causing the three men to snap to attention.
“Does she see something?” Shawn asked on a whisper.
“No, she just likes talking to empty air for entertainment,” Zander snapped.
“It was just a question.” Shawn was suddenly on the defensive. “I don’t get to see her work very often. I’m fascinated by the process.”
“Basically we’re going to stand here for who knows how long and listen to one side of the conversation,” Zander explained. “Once she’s done, she’ll nutshell whatever they talked about for us and we’ll go from there. That’s the process.”
“It sounds boring.”
“Oh, it is.”
Jared shot them a look and raised a finger to his lips to quiet them before turning his full attention to Harper.
For her part, the intrepid blonde looked both relieved and relaxed as she regarded the ghost loitering at the edge of the clearing.
“I know who you are,” Leslie announced, her voice soft. “I remember you.”
“That’s good.” Harper nodded encouragingly. “Do you remember our conversation last night? You came to me ... in a different place.”
“It was a place that looked like this.”
“Kind of,” Harper acknowledged. “It wasn’t real like this location, though. Can you tell the difference now?”
Leslie was morose as she nodded. “I’m dead.”
Harper knew better than lying. In situations like this, the only way to build trust was to tell the truth. “You are.”
“How did I die?”
“We’re not entirely certain. What’s the last thing you remember?”
“Talking to you.”
“That happened last night,” Harper explained. “It was almost twenty-four hours ago. It also happened in a dream.”
Leslie’s eyes went wide. “Wait ... is this a dream?”
She looked so hopeful Harper felt as if her heart was about to be crushed in a vise. “I’m sorry but ... no. You see, I can talk to ghosts. I don’t know why. It’s just one of those things I can do. Somehow, you and I connected on a ... magical ... level. I don’t know how else to explain it. That conversation we had last night happened in a dream.”
“But if it happened in a dream, maybe all of this is a dream.” Leslie was suddenly animated. “All I have to do is wake myself up.”
Harper opened he
r mouth to argue with the assumption, but it was already too late. Leslie mimed stomping her foot against the ground and screaming to the heavens. Harper assumed she was the only one who could hear her, and yet one look at Jared had her rethinking that.
“Did you ... ?”
“What was that?” Jared asked on a breathless whisper, his gaze moving to the trees.
“Did you hear that?” Harper queried.
“Hear what?”
“Leslie screamed. She’s trying to wake herself up. She thinks it’s a dream.”
“I didn’t hear that,” he said. “The birds reacted, though. They shifted in the trees.”
“He’s right.” Shawn was in awe. “The birds reacted to whatever she did.”
Harper cocked her head to the side, considering, and then pushed the new development out of her mind. It was something to consider later. Right now, it had absolutely nothing to do with the problem at hand.
Leslie screamed again, at the top of her lungs, and then turned a frustrated glare on Harper. “I’m not waking up.”
“You’re not,” Harper agreed. “You’re never going to wake up, at least not in the manner you want. I’m sorry.”
“Did you do this?” Leslie’s tone was accusatory, and she energetically jabbed her finger at Harper. “I bet you’re the reason this happened.”
Harper opted for her most pragmatic tone. “What motive do I have for killing you?”
“I don’t know. What motive does anybody have to kill anyone?”
“Actually, you would be surprised.” Harper’s smile was rueful. “Most of the time motive is the deciding factor for murder. Some attacks are crimes of opportunity, of course, but that’s the exception rather than the norm.”
“I don’t understand.” Leslie looked as if she was going to start crying, and yet she no longer possessed that ability. Instead she mimed constant swipes at her blonde hair. “I don’t understand any of this. How did I die?”
Ghostly Camping (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 16) Page 13