Ghostly Fears

by Lily Harper Hart

  Zander slid her a sidelong look, legitimately amused. “And that declaration came to your mind just now because ... ?”

  “Because Bates is zero fun at all. If you’re going to have a butler, he should be fun.”

  “Like the butler in Clue?”

  Harper laughed. That was one of their favorite movies. “We should have a viewing of that soon. The next snowstorm, we’re totally there.”

  “Do you think we should introduce Shawn and Jared to Clue night?”

  Harper tilted her head, considering. “We could.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Or we could keep that as something just for ourselves.”

  He broke into a wide grin. “Good idea. We need a few things that are just for us.”

  “We certainly do,” she agreed, stomping her feet to dislodge the muck as they reached the front door. “How long do you think Jared and Shawn are going to be?”

  “I don’t know. Are you worried?”

  That wasn’t the word Harper would’ve chosen … although it wasn’t all that far off. “No. I want to talk to Jared, though.”

  “You mean you want to fight with him.” Zander wasn’t an idiot. He knew Harper was agitated about being left behind. Even though it wasn’t necessary for her to make the trek to the woods, she’d convinced herself Jared didn’t want her along because she was a girl, and that mentality always rubbed her the wrong way. “If it’s any consolation, I really do think he was more worried about taking me to the woods than you.”

  “Did I say I was upset?”

  “No, but you’re doing that raised voice thing you do when you’re about to get surly. I would recommend against that right now since we’re all stuck in this guesthouse together and there’s nowhere to escape if a big fight breaks out.”

  Harper had considered that herself. “What if it’s just a little fight?”

  “One where you pout and he gives in and promises you a really long massage?”

  She bobbed her head. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “I think that is perfectly acceptable under the circumstances.”

  “Good.”

  THEY STRIPPED OUT OF THEIR coats and boots once inside. Eric and Molly were in the living room, sitting so close they were practically on top of one another. Harper found the scene cute, especially since they’d built a fire and looked altogether cozy.

  “Would you like us to leave so you can continue doing ... whatever it is you’re doing?” Harper called out.

  Eric’s cheeks colored with embarrassment when he realized they were no longer alone, but Molly didn’t appear bothered in the least.

  “Actually, no. We have some big things to show you.” She seemed excited, to the point where Harper was intrigued.

  “What did you find?”

  “Come and have a seat and we’ll show you.”

  Harper and Zander exchanged a look. Molly was the enthusiastic sort. That was why they hired her as an intern when she applied for an open position even though she had no employment history in the field. There was just something about her that called to both of them. Even though there were other candidates who had better credentials, Harper and Zander had been sold on her from the start. Her energy was appealing ... and it remained so years after the fact.

  “Sure.” Harper was more than happy to get comfortable in front of the fire. “What have you got?”

  “Look at this.” Molly turned the laptop she was sharing with Eric so Harper and Zander could see the screen. “What do you see?”

  Harper furrowed her brow as she leaned closer. The screen was relatively dark, which was normal given the software they were using, and she had to take a moment to orient herself to the map on the screen.

  “There are multiple hotspots,” Zander noted. “There are like ... four or five of them.”

  “Exactly.” Molly bobbed her head, excited. “You know what that means, right?”

  “There’s paranormal activity here,” Zander replied. “I don’t think that surprises anyone.”

  “But to have multiple hotspots in one area like this is ... it’s a unique find.”

  Harper reached over so she could snag the laptop and get a better look. “What’s over here on the grounds? And how did you get such an expansive scan? We’ve never gotten a scan like this before.”

  “That is Eric’s doing.” Molly cast her boyfriend a proud look. “He’s been making some tweaks to the equipment. He took that old radar scanner we got at the estate sale a few months ago and modified it.”

  “Modified it how?”

  “Radar scanners are supposed to measure movement,” Eric explained. He wasn’t as prone to dramatic fits as Molly, but even he looked excited. “Police use them when setting speed traps.”

  “I’m well aware,” Zander said dryly. “I’ve been nabbed in a couple of traps.”

  “I think we all have,” Harper added. “What does that have to do with what you’ve done here?”

  “Ghosts are energy,” Eric explained. “Energy registers on EMF readers. EMF readers aren’t all that different from radar guns. I basically combined the two, so now our radar gun can register moving EMF trails.”

  Harper wasn’t sure she understood, but she was impressed. “Are you serious? That’s amazing.”

  “I’ve tested it a few times, but I wasn’t sure it was really working until I tested it here. There are huge open expanses of space that have nothing that should read on the gun. We’re getting readings, though.”

  “Ghosts?” Zander asked.

  Eric’s smile faltered. “That’s the question. I obviously can’t see ghosts to confirm. I was hoping we could take fresh readings and head out with Harper to see if it’s really working. She should be able to identify a ghost.”

  Even though she was warm and comfortable, Harper was eager to test the theory ... and not simply because Eric had obviously put so much work into the project. “Let’s do it.” She handed back the computer and stood. “Try to find something outside of the house. I would like a break from those people if we can manage and I don’t want to answer a bunch of questions about what we’re doing. If this thing really works, I think Eric is going to have quite the moneymaker on his hands.”

  The dark-haired man balked. “What do you mean?”

  “This could be a valuable tool,” Harper pointed out. “You created it. If it works, you can manufacture and sell them to other people. Do you know how many people would jump at the chance to get their hands on something like this? We’re hardly the only ghost hunters out and about in the world.”

  “Yeah, but ... you mean you think I should sell it?” He looked puzzled.

  It was obvious to Harper he hadn’t gotten past the initial excitement to realize what this could mean for his future. “If it works, I think you should sell it. I’m not sure it will happen overnight — you’re going to have to build a few more and make sure you can replicate the effect — but this could turn into a huge deal.”

  “You could be rich,” Molly enthused.

  Eric’s cheeks turned a dark shade of red. “I don’t know about rich.”

  “I do.” Zander clapped his hand to Eric’s shoulder. “We’ll be able to say we knew you when. That’s still a bit off. Let’s see if it really works first.”

  Eric dumbly nodded as he got to his feet. “Yeah. Let’s see if it works.”

  THE MOST OBVIOUS PLACE TO CHECK was the cemetery. Harper knew there was a burial ground on the island, but one of the hotspots seemed to point directly toward it ... which made sense.

  It took the foursome almost ten minutes to find the cemetery, but once they did, the screen on Eric’s phone lit up. He’d created an app to transfer the information to a mobile device so they didn’t have to carry around a laptop. It was ingenious really.

  “Okay. If this is working, we should see it light up even more now that we’re directly on top of the location,” he said, handing the radar gun to Molly and pointing it at the cemetery. “Here we go.” />
  Harper watched, anticipation coursing through her, and studied the tiny cemetery. If she had to guess, there were less than twenty graves. In the center of the parcel rested an ornate mausoleum, which looked to be a replica of the house. The windows were stained glass, and small turrets jutted into the sky.

  “That’s really cute, huh?” Molly noted, following Harper’s gaze. “It’s like a little dollhouse.”

  “I don’t know that I would want to play with that dollhouse,” she said dryly. “It’s neat looking, though. Maybe a little over-the-top.”

  “Oh, everything about this place is over-the-top,” Molly noted. “It’s still cool. I mean ... who wouldn’t want to live in a castle?”

  Harper and Zander exchanged a quick look.

  “You’d need a better butler, though,” Molly added after a beat, thoughtful. “The one they have here is zero fun. You totally need a fun one.”

  “That sounds awesome,” Zander agreed, grinning.

  “Okay, the readings should be coming in,” Eric announced. He was completely focused. Harper couldn’t blame him. This was an exciting moment. It’s not every day that you create something that could legitimately change a small portion of the world. She remembered how she felt the first time she constructed one of the dreamcatchers she now used on a regular basis to help troubled souls to pass over. She’d been proud ... and that was nothing compared to what Eric had built.

  “What do you see, Molly?” he asked.

  “Um ... it’s lighting up.” Molly almost squealed she was so excited. “Look at that.”

  Harper glanced at the small screen over her shoulder, her heart giving a little leap when the multicolored blob on the screen actually moved. “There’s something here.” She jerked her head in the direction of the mausoleum. She wasn’t exactly an expert at reading maps, but she was fairly certain the spirit was located close to the building. “Come on.”

  She led the way to the gate, fumbling with the lock twice before she could open it. She didn’t look behind her to make sure the others were following. Instead, she barreled forward and hurried around the side of the mausoleum. She wasn’t sure what she would find, but the blur of ghostly light that sped away from her and disappeared around the other side of the building gave her a small jolt.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “What do you see?” Molly asked, breathless as she caught up. “Did you see something?”

  “Definitely.” Harper slowly nodded her head. “There was something back here. I couldn’t make out a form, just the energy trail. Whatever it is — whoever it is — is feeling shy. They zipped around the other side of the mausoleum.”

  Eric craned his neck so he could check the phone in Molly’s hand. “The signal moved on the phone, too.”

  “It really is working.” Harper was beyond excited. “Wow. Eric, this is an amazing invention. This is ... where is she now?”

  Eric was as giddy as he was capable of getting as he pressed the radar trigger again. “Just a second.”

  “She?” Zander asked, cocking an eyebrow. “How do you know it’s a she?”

  That was a good question. Harper didn’t have a good answer. “It’s just a feeling,” she said after a beat. “I don’t know how to explain it. The energy feels female.”

  “Perhaps we’ll be able to tweak the program to ascertain that eventually,” Eric supplied. “I mean ... I’m not sure how, but it feels as if things are opening up for us.”

  Harper grinned. “They’re definitely opening up.”

  “She should be over there.” Eric pointed toward the far side of the mausoleum. “Maybe this time just Harper should approach. We might be frightening her wandering around in a big clump like this.”

  “Good idea,” Molly said. “We’ll wait here.”

  Harper happily embraced the suggestion and moved away from the group. This time when she readied herself to cross the last corner, she offered up a few words of greeting. “We don’t want to hurt you,” she called out. “I swear we’re not dangerous. We just want to talk to you.”

  The ghost didn’t answer, so Harper tried one more time. “We’re here to help,” she added. “We can make things better for you. I swear it.”

  She took a tentative step around the mausoleum, sucking in a breath when she caught sight of the female ghost for the first time. She didn’t recognize the face. It was old and well-lined, and somehow dignified. She wore a dress that felt somewhat dated, a high neck and unforgiving waist on full display. Harper had a feeling she’d been here a long time.

  “Hello. I’m Harper Harlow.” She hoped she came off as friendly rather than deranged. “What’s your name?”

  The woman cocked her head to the side, as if surprised to be addressed. She’d probably been ignored for so long she no longer tried to interact with the living, Harper surmised. That notion made her inexplicably sad.

  “You can see me?” the woman asked finally, her voice hesitant.

  Harper nodded. “Yeah. I can see and hear you.”

  “But ... how?”

  “I have a special ability. It’s something I was born with.”

  “You were born with it?” The ghost cocked her head to the side, obviously confused. “How does that work?”

  “Well ... it’s a long story.”

  “Long story.” The ghost took on a far-off expression, as if disappearing into her own mind for a short bit, and then recovered quickly. “You shouldn’t be here. This is private land.”

  “It’s okay. We were invited. Byron invited us.”

  “Byron?” She made a face. “That can’t be right.”

  “Do you know Byron?” Harper couldn’t be certain, but she was operating under the assumption that the ethereal woman she was staring at was none other than Byron’s grandmother, the woman who died and left her sewing room locked for fifty years after the fact. She obviously had no proof of that, but she was comfortable with the assumption.

  “I know Byron,” the ghost replied. “I don’t know how you know him, but I know him.”

  “He invited us here. We’re trying to help him find his daughter. She’s ... missing. She’s been missing a long time. Do you know what happened to her?”

  “I ... .” The question seemed to confuse the woman. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said finally. “This isn’t a place for people like you. You should leave.”

  “We’re only here until we find Jennifer.”

  “No. You should leave now.”

  “We won’t be here long,” Harper repeated. “Maybe you can help us. Do you know if there are others like you here? Other ... ghosts?”

  The question was enough to rattle the woman and she immediately started shaking her head. “You shouldn’t be here. Leave now.”

  “We’re not here to hurt anyone,” Harper reassured her.

  “Leave now!” she bellowed, her eyes going wide. Before Harper could press her further, however, she disappeared.

  “She’s gone,” Eric announced from behind Harper, disappointment lacing his tone. “She was there one second and gone the next.”

  “Why did she leave?” Zander asked, joining Harper. “Did you say something?”

  Harper shot him a withering look. “Are you asking if I scared the ghost?”

  “I’m just asking what happened.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything.”

  Harper heaved out a sigh. She knew better than taking out her frustrations on Zander. “She was scattered. She seemed confused. I think it was mentioning ghosts that really got her going. She was following the conversation before then. That seemed to be too much for her, though.”

  “Oh, well ... maybe we’ll get another chance. She lives here, right? She’ll probably come back once we’re gone.”

  “Maybe,” Harper agreed, dragging a restless hand through her hair. “I don’t think she’s going to come back as long as we’re here, though. We should head back.”

  The group fell into step with one anot
her, Molly excitedly chattering away as Harper thought through the interaction again. “I think she was Byron’s grandmother,” she offered after a few minutes.

  “The woman who locked her sewing room and no one has opened it since?” Zander queried.

  “One and the same.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “She had on this dated dress. It looked homemade even though the people who lived here obviously had money to purchase haberdashery in a store.”

  “Good word.” Zander grinned. “Do you have any other reason for assuming it’s her?”

  “No. It’s just a feeling.”

  “Well, a feeling is good enough for me.” He slung his arm around her shoulders. “You knew it was a female and you were right. Now we just have to figure out what happened to her ... and get her to trust us long enough to start talking. That shouldn’t be so hard to do, right?”

  Harper wasn’t so sure, but she kept her opinion to herself. She needed to think. There had to be a way to draw the woman back. She was convinced of that.

  13

  Thirteen

  Jared, upon returning to the guesthouse, didn’t fully understand the implications of Eric’s new invention, but Harper was so gung-ho he listened to her explain it – twice – before simply nodding.

  “That sounds great.”

  Harper stared at him for a long beat. “You don’t get it.”

  “No,” he agreed. “I don’t get it. You obviously do, though, and if you’re excited, I’m excited.”

  “Except you’re not excited.”

  He sighed. “Maybe you guys can go out after dinner and show me. I’m sure I’ll understand if I see it in person.”

  She nodded but knew that wouldn’t happen. “Actually, we already have something scheduled for after dinner.” She held up the invitation that arrived while they’d been out exploring the grounds. “Our presence is required at a séance.”

  Jared frowned as he took the invitation. “A séance?” He was clearly dubious. “How does that work?”