His forehead wrinkled. “I don’t know who that is?”
“She was pretty much the same as Nancy Drew ... although so much better. She had a contingent of misfit friends just like we do. It’s the perfect comparison.”
“Well, I’ll have to take your word for it.” Jared was amused despite himself. “Don’t wander too far away. I have plans for you once you’ve eaten three s’mores.”
“You just like it when I’m all sugared up.”
“I absolutely like it.” He leaned in and gave her another kiss. “See what you can find out. I’ll serve as your backup over here.”
Her expression warmed. “I hope you know there’s nobody I would prefer to serve as my backup.”
“Right back at you.”
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRE, ZANDER FOUND himself embroiled in the sort of conversation that could cause migraines if not mitigated quickly.
“I’m not trying to offend her,” Harris pressed. “I get the impression that you guys believe the opposite for some reason, and it couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Zander maintained his placid disposition, although it was a struggle. “Harper isn’t the type of person who gets offended,” he reassured their host. “That’s simply not who she is.”
“And yet she appeared offended over lunch.”
“Not offended.” Zander searched for the right words to snuff out the conversation. He found he disliked Harris on a personal level and that made trying to cozy up to him for business purposes difficult. “She’s simply comfortable with the life she’s already living. She doesn’t want to change anything.”
“So, basically you’re saying she’s one of those people who doesn’t like change,” Harris mused.
“I don’t believe I said anything of the sort.” Zander was firm. “Honestly, I’m the one who doesn’t like change. Harper likes a good adventure here and there.”
Harris’ lips curved. “That means there’s still a chance she’ll reconsider my offer.”
“No.” Zander was adamant as he shook his head. Obviously Harris was the sort of guy who would take ten miles for every given inch. It was time to nip this in the bud. “Our home is in Whisper Cove, and yeah, we both find it boring from time to time. I would never pretend otherwise. It’s still home, though.
“Do you know that we live directly across the road from one another?” he continued, not missing a beat. “Harper and I used to live together in one house. We were roommates and best friends for years. Once Shawn and Jared came along things started changing, though.
“Now I maintain that Jared is the reason we need two separate houses. If he wasn’t so difficult to live with — I mean, he has these absurd rules about bedrooms being private ... to the point where I’m only allowed to crawl into bed with them once a week — we would still be under the same roof. That’s neither here nor there, though.
“Our living arrangements work out perfectly for us. We’re close and yet not on top of each other. Why would we ever want to give that up?”
Harris’ expression was hard to read. “I’m unclear why you need to crawl into bed with them at all,” he said finally.
“Harper and I enjoy a good gossip session in the morning. Jared is a thief of joy. He likes taking that away from us.”
“I see.” Harris might’ve said the words, but to Zander, it was obvious he didn’t mean them. “Um ... what were we talking about again?” He took a moment to regroup. “Your living arrangements don’t have to change. I’m sure I can find you guys houses across the road from one another up here.”
“Right ... and what about Jared and Shawn?”
“I guess they could come. They don’t really fit in with the brand I’m putting together, but there’s no reason they can’t find other jobs. Heck, you saw how inept the police force is here. They would probably jump at the chance to get a man like Jared on their team.”
“But why would Jared want to move up here?”
“Because Harper will be up here.”
To Zander, it felt as if the conversation was endlessly circling ... and he didn’t like it. In his mind, it was time to lay down the law. “Listen, you seem like a nice enough guy. I don’t want to be rude, but there’s no chance that Harper and I will ever move up here. It’s simply not going to happen.”
Harris’ expression never changed. “Do you think Harper would be willing to move up here alone?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Are you sure?” Harris wasn’t ready to back down. “I don’t know that she’ll be as marketable without you as a sidekick, but I still think she’ll draw a crowd. Well, if she’ll ever loosen up those pesky morals of hers, that is.”
Zander was officially at his wit’s end. “That’s not going to happen.” He held up his hands to keep Harris at a distance. “I mean ... just never, ever going to happen.”
Harris was barely listening. “Maybe I should talk to Harper again ... and this time without her boyfriend present. He’s probably the one who put the kibosh on talk of moving.”
“Knock yourself out,” Zander shot back. “I guarantee it won’t go how you think it’s going to go, though. However, I no longer care about sparing your feelings.”
“I’ll track her down myself,” Harris pressed. “That’s probably my best option.”
Zander’s lip curled. “Whatever.” He started to stomp away and then stopped himself. “For the record, I am not a sidekick. I’m a headliner. She’s the sidekick.”
Harris was already off in his own little world and didn’t respond.
“I really hate this trip,” Zander muttered under his breath. “It’s one indignity after another.”
THE GUIDE’S NAME WAS AMBER TRENT AND she seemed surprised when Harper joined her at a quiet table, one set back a good twenty feet from the bonfire.
“Do you need something?” Amber asked blankly. She had a can of beer clutched in her hand, and if Harper had to guess, she was self-medicating to ease the memory of what she’d discovered only twenty-four hours before.
“I just thought I would stop by and see how you’re doing,” Harper replied quickly, hoping the smile she flashed came off as friendly. “You’re all alone over here, and I figured you might want some company.”
Amber sipped her beer and regarded Harper for a long beat. “You were one of the people who showed up right away last night. After ... you know, after ... .”
Harper nodded sympathetically. “I am one of those people.”
“You were with the guy who’s a cop.”
“Detective,” Harper automatically corrected, and then realized how hoity-toity she sounded. “He’s a detective with the Whisper Cove Police Department, I mean.”
“Whisper Cove?” Amber furrowed her brow, making Harper wonder exactly how many beers she was hiding beneath at the present moment. “I don’t think I know where that is.”
“It’s down in Southeastern Michigan.”
“Like ... by Detroit?”
“More north and east than that. It’s located right on the lake.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.” Amber grinned as she sipped again. “I’ve always wanted to live on a lake.”
“Oh, yeah? Where are you from?”
“A small town called Mancelona. It’s located in the middle of nowhere.”
Harper cocked her head, searching to see if she could place the town name. “I guess I’ve never been there.”
“Don’t worry. Nobody has.” Another sip. “It has one stoplight and no Starbucks. There’s absolutely nothing there worth anything.”
“You came from there,” Harper countered. “I don’t think you’re worth nothing.”
“Well ... I think you should talk to my mother. She’ll find a way to convince you otherwise.” Another sip.
Harper pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead and debated how to proceed. It was obvious Amber was feeling sorry for herself. Given the circumstances, Harper remained convinced that was allowed. Amber had gone through a
trauma. She was allowed to feel whatever she wanted to feel.
“Have you ever seen a dead body before?” Amber asked, filling in the silence. She tipped back her beer can and made a face when she realized it was empty, immediately reaching toward the cooler on the ground next to her feet. “I mean ... a dead body before the one you saw last night.”
Harper considered trying to cut Amber off from her beer supply but ultimately didn’t bother. That would likely turn into an ugly business, and the last thing she wanted was to cause a scene. Besides, Amber was an adult ... although she still looked like a teenager in a lot of ways. A hangover might serve as a lesson that drinking one’s sorrows away never worked.
“I’ve seen a few,” Harper replied after a beat. “Jared is a detective. I’ve been on a few scenes with him.” And she had an unerring ability to end up in the exact wrong place at the exact wrong time, she silently added.
“Do they always look like that?”
“Like what?”
“So ... pale. She was almost waxy, like a human doll or something.”
Harper thought back to the scene. Now that Amber mentioned it, Leslie had been a bit waxy. In Harper’s mind that meant the body had been there at least a few hours. They didn’t have an official time of death yet from the medical examiner’s office, which was a hindrance, but Harper was guessing Leslie had been dead the bulk of the day.
“Death is always difficult,” Harper offered. “It’s not something you can just get over. What happened to that woman was tragic. I’m sure the police will track down whoever is responsible, though, and make sure they pay.”
“Responsible?” Amber’s eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean? Harris said it was an accident.”
Harper faltered. “Oh, well ... .”
“Are you saying it wasn’t an accident?” Amber’s voice ratcheted up a notch and she grew shrill. “Are you saying there’s a murderer out there? I can’t believe it!” She hopped onto shaky feet and gripped her beer can tighter. “I can’t believe he lied to us.”
Harper felt caught. “When did he tell you it was an accident?” She wanted to believe the best about the event coordinator, but she wasn’t certain she could. “My understanding is that he didn’t find out the truth until a few hours ago.”
“He told us right before the bonfire.” Amber’s eyes lit with disgust. “He lied right to our faces.”
Harper’s heart sank. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why he would do that.”
“I do. It’s because he doesn’t want us talking. I told him I heard people arguing in the woods not long before I found the body. I asked him if I should say something to the police, like maybe it was a clue or something. He said the death was ruled an accident so there was no reason to say anything.”
Harper cocked her head, intrigued. “You heard people arguing in the woods? When?”
“I don’t know.” Amber’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “It was about an hour before the body was found. I had to cut through the woods because nobody was supposed to see me. I was heading toward the secondary site, the one where the fake body was found, when I accidentally found the real one.”
“And you heard people fighting in the woods?”
“I just told you I did.”
Harper held up her hands in a placating manner. “I’m sorry. I’m simply trying to get a clear picture of the timeline.”
“What clear picture?” Amber made a disgusted face as she pushed herself away from the table. “The only thing that’s clear is that Harris lied to us. I knew he was a big jerk but this is just … too much.”
Harper couldn’t disagree with that. Still, she had one more question. “The people you heard arguing, do you know what they said?”
“No. I couldn’t make it out.”
“Was it two men? Two women maybe?”
“It was a man and a woman. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Perhaps nothing. I was simply curious. Do you think you could recognize the voices if you heard them again?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t given it much thought. I’ve had other things on my mind.”
“Fair enough.” Harper nodded in understanding. She’d gotten as much out of Amber as she was going to at the present moment. She needed to let her wander off, pass out. Perhaps she would remember more in the morning. “You should switch from beer to water. You’re going to hate yourself in the morning if you don’t stop now.”
“Thanks for the tip, Mom.” As if to prove she was of an age where she could do whatever she wanted, Amber dug in the cooler and came out with another beer. “I think I’ll do what I want, though.”
Harper nodded on a sigh. “I was just trying to look out for you. Have a good rest of your night.”
“I intend to.”
15
Fifteen
Jared was in the middle of roasting marshmallows when Harper joined him, letting loose a small sigh of disgust as she took her spot at his side.
“Nothing?” he asked, cocking his head. She looked tired, he realized. Since she was generally a ball of energy, it was difficult for him to see.
“No, she gave me something,” Harper replied.
Jared waited. When she didn’t immediately volunteer more information, he lightly bumped his shoulder against hers. “Do you want to share with the class?”
“What? Oh, sorry.” She sent him a rueful smile. “I was just thinking about what she said to me.”
“So, it’s not a secret?”
“No. She’s upset.”
“I would say so. Yesterday was probably the first time she’s ever seen a dead body.”
“I wouldn’t argue with that. She as much as said the same thing to me. She’s drunk, though, which means she’s meandering.”
“Do you blame her for getting drunk?”
“No. I don’t blame her for anything. The alcohol simply makes it more difficult to get anything out of her.”
“Fair enough.” He pulled the marshmallows he was roasting from the fire and held them up for Harper to blow on.
She smirked when she saw what he was doing and leaned in, offering him a wink before extinguishing the marshmallow. “Is that one mine?”
“I thought we might share.”
“No way.” She fervently shook her head. “I want one all to myself.”
“Oh, really?” Jared found he enjoyed the game. “Where did the love go?”
“Right here.” She leaned in and gave him a small kiss. “I still want my own s’more.”
“That’s fine. I already ate one.”
Her mouth dropped open in mock shock. “You ate s’mores without me? How dare you.”
He chuckled and grabbed two graham crackers from his stack. “I apologize, Ms. Harlow. It will never happen again. I understand, of course, if you feel you have to punish me.”
“Oh, I’m going to punish you.” Harper watched him slap a slab of chocolate on the s’more and arched an eyebrow when he reached for the marshmallow. “Why are you being cheap with the chocolate?”
He snorted and grabbed another slab. “You’re never going to sleep if you eat too much sugar.”
“You let me worry about that.”
Jared happily mashed together the dessert sandwich and handed it to her. “Eat up.”
“That’s the plan.” She had to elongate her mouth to bite in because the s’more was so thick, and the face she made had Jared’s heart swelling.
“I love you so much.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead as she methodically chewed, causing her eyebrows to hop.
“I love you, too,” she said after swallowing. “Is there any specific reason you love me right now?”
“All of them.”
“All of what?”
“All of the reasons. There isn’t a single thing I don’t love about you.”
“Oh, I feel the same way.” Genuinely touched, he slipped a strand of her flaxen hair behind her ear. “How do you feel about taking this m
utual adoration society to our tent and getting some sleep? I think we’ll both be sharper tomorrow if we let our minds rest.”
“I happen to think that’s a fabulous idea,” Zander announced, appearing out of the darkness and settling himself in the spot next to Harper. He smirked at the dirty look Jared shot him and barreled forward. “I think if I have to watch you two fawn over each other for another second I’ll puke ... and nobody wants that.”
“Oh, geez.” Jared rolled his neck. “Now we definitely need to get out of here.”
Harper graced him with a wry smile before focusing on Zander. “Did you get anywhere questioning people?”
He shook his head. “No, and I’m really starting to dislike Harris.” He looked over his shoulder to make sure nobody was eavesdropping. “He’s still going to try to convince you to move up here and join his team.”
Harper’s smile slipped into a scowl. “I don’t understand why he’s so fixated on that. It makes no sense.”
“Oh, it makes sense.” Jared moved his hand to her back to rub at the tension weighing down her shoulders. “Your reputation in certain corners of the world is pristine. In fact, you’re kind of a celebrity of sorts.”
Harper balked. “I’m not a celebrity.”
“I said of sorts ... although you’re totally hot enough to put every Hollywood starlet to shame.”
“So cute.” Harper pinched his cheek and gave it a little jiggle, grinning when he shot her a warning look.
“I thought we already talked about this. I’m smoking hot, just like you.”
“I stand corrected.” Harper went back to munching on her s’more. “I’m still not a celebrity,” she added while chewing.
Jared’s grin only widened. “Is it any wonder I’m totally gonzo for you? I mean ... head over heels.”
“No wonder at all.” Harper smiled and swallowed. “You still haven’t told me how I’m a celebrity.”
“Oh, that.” Jared forced his mind to abandon fanciful thoughts of love — for now — and focused on the Harris problem. “I just meant that there are paranormal groups out there dedicated to talking about people who can communicate with ghosts.”
Ghostly Camping (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 16) Page 15