Ghostly Fears

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Jared ... .” She was starting to feel exasperated. “You can’t control everything. It’s important to me that you know I love you. Don’t sleepwalk through life if something happens. Don’t be Byron. Life is meant to be lived.”

  “I know you mean well by saying stuff like this but ... I don’t like it and I don’t happen to agree. If something happens to you, I’m going to turn into a bitter man who wallows. I’m going to sit in a chair and pout for the rest of my life. No joke. That’s what’s going to happen.”

  Harper let loose a sigh, the sound long and drawn out. “You mean you’re going to punish me.”

  He balked. “Not punish you. Why would I punish you for something you can’t control?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what you would be doing, though. You wouldn’t be helping anything.”

  “See, I think you’re the one with the control problem,” he countered. “You want me to feel something I’m incapable of feeling. Once my sunshine is gone, I won’t be happy. You can’t change that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Okay, that was taking it a step too far.”

  He laughed despite the serious conversation. “You know, I realized that the minute I said it. I couldn’t take it back, though, so I decided to roll with it.”

  “I don’t want you being afraid of death. We’re going to be together on the other side. Have faith.”

  “I have faith we’re going to be together.” He honestly didn’t doubt that. “I can’t be happy without you, though. It’s not going to happen so I want you to stop trying to convince me otherwise. I know what I’m capable of and I’m not capable of that.”

  Her heart ached at his earnest expression. “Fine.” She threw up her hands in defeat. “I guess I’ll just have to live forever so I’m assured you’re okay, huh?”

  He broke out in a wide grin and grabbed her around the waist. “Now you’re talking. That’s exactly what I want.” He smacked a loud kiss on her lips before she could complain and then pulled back suddenly when he heard an odd noise at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Don’t stop now,” Harper groused, reaching for him so they could continue kissing. “We’re not done making up.”

  Jared kept a firm grip on her waist, but his eyes were on the bottom of the stairs. “We weren’t fighting — just for the record — but I’m fine with making up when we get back to the guesthouse.”

  “Then let’s do that.” Harper started for the bottom of the stairs, but Jared held out his hand to still her. “What?” Her forehead wrinkled. “Is something wrong?”

  “I heard something.” He looked at her long enough to convey a message — don’t go racing into trouble — and then descended the stairs on soft feet. He barely made any noise. When he reached the door, which felt as if he’d opened it hours before rather than minutes, he took a moment to scan the corridor. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been watching them ... or at the very least, listening.

  “Anything?” Harper asked, appearing behind him.

  He cast her a quelling look as he glanced over his shoulder. “I told you to stay where you were.”

  “You did not.”

  “I did so.”

  “Um, no. I’m pretty sure I would’ve heard that if you said it.”

  “I said it with my eyes.”

  “Then your eyes need to be more direct because that’s not what I heard.”

  He held her gaze for a long beat and then sighed. There really was no sense in arguing with her. She was too cute to stay angry with. “I guess we’ll have to practice our non-verbal communication.”

  “I thought that’s what we were going to do at the guesthouse.”

  “Good point.” He gave her a quick kiss before linking his fingers with hers and pulling her out the door. He was anxious to head back to the guesthouse, but he couldn’t dislodge the earlier feeling that someone had been watching. “Evangeline will be safe here, right?”

  Harper bobbed her head. “Why wouldn’t she be? That’s her mother.”

  “That’s not really what I meant.”

  Harper finally caught on to the change in his demeanor. “You think someone was listening to us.”

  He nodded without hesitation. “I do.”

  Harper ran the conversation they’d been having through her mind. “Then they’re going to think we’re the schmaltz twins. We weren’t talking about anything serious.”

  That was the way Jared remembered it, too. He was still worried. “Let’s just get out of here, huh? I could use a few hours of downtime. This is our last night here. I’m guessing that means the Jessups are going to pull out all the theatrics.”

  That was exactly what Harper was hoping for. “If we’re lucky.”

  He graced her with a soft smile. “I thought we were going to make our own luck.”

  “Good point. Let’s do that.”

  They were still laughing when they hit the end of the hallway, in their own little world. That’s why neither of them noticed the shadow hiding in the corner of an alcove, an unhappy face making an entirely different plan.

  It was definitely going to be an interesting night.

  JARED AND HARPER SPENT WHAT they jokingly referred to as “quality time” together before climbing into comfortable clothes and hitting the research in bed.

  “Don’t fall asleep,” Harper warned as she propped her laptop on a pillow and situated herself in the crook of his arm. “We really do have research.”

  “You’re such a taskmaster,” he teased, brushing his lips against her cheek. Honestly, he could’ve fallen asleep. He was feeling satiated, warm, and happy. That was the perfect combination for an extended nap. He recognized Harper wasn’t going to allow that to happen, though, so he was resigned to his fate. “What are we researching?”

  “For starters, I want more information on our purported psychics. I know that Molly, Eric, and Zander recognized them, but I would like some background information.”

  “Because you think they’re involved with Jennifer’s disappearance?”

  “There are two separate cases here,” Harper argued. “You keep forgetting that.”

  “I haven’t forgotten. And, technically, if you include the deaths of Beatrice, Dorothy, and Belle, we’re dealing with a lot more deaths.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that, too.” Harper thoughtfully tapped her chin as she took on a far-off expression. “I think it’s obvious that Dorothy and Belle didn’t die by accident. That’s why they’re still hanging around.”

  “I would agree. I don’t think there’s any retribution to get for them, though. That happened a really long time ago.”

  “I don’t think they want revenge. I think they stayed for Beatrice.”

  “Why?”

  “Because ... well ... sometimes there are different sorts of soul mates. I think Dorothy and Belle were her soul mates ... just not in a romantic way.”

  “Kind of like how you have two soul mates, Zander and me.”

  Harper cocked an eyebrow. This was the sort of conversation that shriveled her innards and made her queasy. “I don’t know that we should talk about this,” she hedged.

  Jared chuckled. “Oh, look how uncomfortable you are,” he teased, tickling her ribs. He seemed to be enjoying himself, which was a great relief to Harper. There were times Zander’s and Jared’s insistence on poking one another gave her indigestion.

  “Harper, I’m well aware that you’re tied to Zander in ways that I won’t ever be able to touch,” he noted. “It’s okay. I don’t expect you to suddenly stop loving him. Besides, he makes you happy. If something ever happens to me, I’m thrilled you’ll have him. I honestly love him, too. There are simply times I also want to strangle him.”

  Harper laughed, as he’d intended ... and then turned serious. “How come you can talk about things like that and I can’t?”

  “Because you’re stronger than I am and can take it.”

  “That’s complete and total nonsense.”


  “Maybe,” he conceded. “I’m a police officer, though.”

  “And I hunt the dead for a living.”

  “Yeah, but ... going down in the line of duty is always going to be a risk for me. You need to live forever.”

  Harper barked out a laugh. “That doesn’t seem very balanced.”

  “Hey, I didn’t ever claim to be a balanced guy. I want what I want when I want it ... and I want you safe forever. That’s simply the way it is.”

  The sigh she let loose was exasperated. “I think we need to stop talking about this for the time being. We’re doing nothing but circling and it’s keeping us from our goal.”

  “True story.” He poked her stomach. “Let’s talk about your psychics. Why are you worried about them?”

  “Because they’re going to be a part of whatever goes down tonight.”

  “And what do you think that is?” Jared was genuinely curious. “You’re acting strange, as if you’re lining up something important. I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t expect you to. In fact, I’m not sure if I understand it either. It’s a feeling.” She tapped the spot above her heart. “Something is going to happen.”

  “Regarding Jennifer or Madeline?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe both.”

  “Let me ask you something.” Jared searched for the right words to phrase his question. “Do you think that Madeline’s disappearance has anything to do with what happened to Jennifer?”

  “Yes.”

  His eyebrows flew up at her easy answer. “You do? Should I have Mel get the state police out here?”

  “I don’t know.” Harper was taken aback by the question. “I haven’t really thought about it. Do you think you need to do that?”

  It was a simple question, but it frustrated Jared to no end. “Heart, I’m asking you. You’re the one who seems to think you’ve got this all figured out.”

  “Oh, you misunderstand. I don’t think I’ve got it all figured out. I simply think the answers are coming tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s time.”

  He kind of wanted to shake her over the vague answer. “Harper ... .”

  “I don’t have the answers you’re looking for,” she insisted, cutting him off. “Something is going to happen tonight, though. I have no doubt about that.”

  “Is Evangeline going to be part of this something?”

  “Most definitely.”

  “What about the others?”

  Harper tilted her head to the side, considering. “Like I said, I think the Jessup family has a lot of secrets. It’s only a matter of time until those secrets come spilling out.”

  “You’re being purposely mysterious.”

  “I am.” She grinned. “That’s half the fun.”

  “I think I have to be done talking to you for a little bit,” he admitted on a sigh. “I still love you — that will never change — but you really are on my last nerve with the way you’re acting. I can’t pretend I condone it or understand it.”

  “Fair enough. We can conduct research in silence.”

  “Fine.” He threw up his hands. “I expect you to answer every single question I have when this is over with, though. I’m not kidding.”

  “I would expect nothing less.”

  18

  Eighteen

  When the invitation for dinner came it insisted on formal dinner wear. Harper wasn’t really surprised. When the initial instruction sheet was delivered — by Byron himself — one formal outfit was listed. She knew a big dinner would eventually be part of the festivities. It made sense that Byron would want to embrace the pomp and circumstance of the occasion on their last night together.

  “I hate dressing up,” Jared complained as he fumbled with his tie in the bathroom mirror.

  He might hate it, but Harper happened to adore the way he looked in a suit. “Oh, come on.” She slid between him and the bathroom counter so she could help. “You look ridiculously handsome.”

  He met her sea-blue eyes and smiled. “I look like a guy in a suit. You look like every dream I’ve ever had about you.” He admired her long legs in the skirt as she attacked his tie with determination. “You know when I said you were the prettiest woman I ever met in real life?”

  She nodded.

  “I meant it.”

  She fumbled the tie slightly and then smiled. “You really are charming when you want to be.”

  “I know.”

  She laughed. “I thought you were angry at me. Isn’t that why we had a really awkward research session this afternoon?”

  “I happen to think that was the best research session ever. It was warm ... quiet ... and we were naked in bed. How could I not enjoy that?”

  Harper snickered. “Good point. It was the best research session ever. We also got important information.”

  On that, Jared wasn’t sure they could agree. “Harper, I don’t think the information you found is nearly as interesting as you do.”

  “That’s because you’re looking at it the wrong way.”

  “No, I’m looking at it the same way you are. You simply have no proof of what you’ve convinced yourself is true.”

  “That’s what’s going to happen tonight. We’re going to find proof.”

  “If you say so. I ... .” Jared trailed off and stared at his tie, which now looked perfect. “How did you manage that while I was so distracted?”

  “I’m a great multitasker.”

  “You’re ... something.” He gave his tie another look and then focused his full attention on Harper. “I know you expect big things from this dinner. What are you going to do if they don’t happen? You’re basing a lot of your assumptions on faith — which I’m fine with — but I want to make sure you aren’t disappointed if none of these things actually occur.”

  “They’re going to happen.”

  She sounded so sure of herself there was nothing Jared could do but sigh. “Fine. They’re going to happen.” He held up his hands and shook his head. “Frankly, I just want this to be over with. I’m ready to go home and resume our normally scheduled lives.”

  “Me, too.” Harper planted a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth, using a tissue to remove the lipstick she left behind when she was done. “I know you think I’m acting weird. I’m not trying to be difficult. I can’t explain why I feel the way I do. It’s simply something I can’t hide from.”

  He was careful as he stroked his hand down the back of her head. He didn’t want to mess up her hair. She spent twenty minutes fiddling with it, something she rarely did. “Harper, you’re the most amazing person I know. You’re special in ways I didn’t even know existed until I met you.

  “I have every faith that you know what you’re doing,” he continued, realizing as he progressed that he really meant it. He thought he had doubts, but he realized now that he had total faith in her. “I know you’re going to get your answers tonight.”

  “Yeah.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “I think we’re going to get a lot of answers tonight.”

  He didn’t know what to make of that proclamation but, ultimately, he knew it didn’t matter. “It’s going to be an interesting night.”

  “You can say that again. I just wonder how many people actually realize how interesting it really is going to be.”

  Another riddle, Jared internally mused. She really was all over the place. The thing he hoped most is that she found the relief she needed to progress. That really was the most important thing to him.

  She pulled back and offered him a pretty smile. “Are you ready?”

  He nodded. “Yup. I hope we at least get some good eats at this thing ... since it will probably be our last meal here.”

  Harper’s grin widened. “Only a man would think with his stomach at a time like this.”

  “I’m practical.”

  “Well ... I don’t think you have to worry about the food. I’m betting they pull out all the stops.”


  “Because ... ?”

  “Because this dinner was always the ultimate plan. Byron knew when he was setting things up that tonight would be the most important night.”

  Jared was flustered. “How do you know that?”

  “Just trust me. I finally understand what he was doing. It’s going to be an adventure. I promise you that.”

  Jared believed that with every fiber of his being, and it wasn’t just the night he was convinced would be an adventure. Their entire lives would be an adventure, and he was looking forward to sharing every moment with her.

  “Then let’s do this. I’m ready.”

  “Me, too. I can’t wait to see this all play out.”

  HARPER STROLLED THROUGH THE FRONT door of the Jessup mansion as if she owned the house. Jared trailed behind her, dumbfounded, and pulled up short so he could ask Zander the question that had been bothering him all day.

  “Has she ever done something like this before?”

  Zander didn’t look nearly as worked up as Jared felt. Instead, the smile he shot in Harper’s direction was indulgent. “Once or twice.”

  Jared waited for him to expand. When he didn’t, he cleared his throat to prod him. “When was that? Oh, and it didn’t come back to bite her, did it?”

  Zander chuckled. “You know, there are times you really bug me.”

  Jared’s expression was dry. “Thank you for telling me that … and right now, when it’s so important.”

  “Now is not one of those times,” Zander offered. “Right now, I love you like a brother, man.”

  Jared rolled his eyes until they landed on Shawn. “Is he drunk already?”

  Shawn looked legitimately amused. “Not last time I checked.”

  “I’m not drunk.” Zander flicked Jared’s ear, causing the detective to shoot him a dark glare. “I love you like a brother. Do you want to know why?”

  “Probably not.”

  “I’m going to tell you anyway. You’re wound tighter than a spring coil on a trampoline right now. It’s not because you’re anxious for answers or anything, though. It’s because you want to make sure that Harper’s ego doesn’t get bruised. You want the best for her no matter what.”