Ghostly Business

by Lily Harper Hart

  “You cried? Ugh.” Jason shook his head. “That’s awful.”

  “They weren’t bad tears. They were happy tears.”

  “It was a great moment,” Zander agreed. “He did everything right ... for a change.”

  Jared scowled. “You’re starting to tick me off.”

  Zander ignored the admonishment. “Harper wanted something quiet. Me, on the other hand, the bigger the better.”

  Shawn exhaled heavily. “And here we go.” He glared at Jared. “You just had to bring it up, didn’t you?”

  Jared was appropriately apologetic. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was going to turn into ... well, whatever he’s about to turn it into.”

  If Zander heard the exchange, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he took on a dreamy expression. “Imagine it, the center of town during a festival. I’m thinking the art festival because that’s very ... you know ... artistic.”

  “That’s probably good for an art festival,” Jason said dryly.

  Zander barreled forward. “There, in front of the Mona Lisa, a flash mob starts dancing to Uptown Funk.”

  Harper stirred. “Uptown Funk?”

  “It’s my dream,” Zander snapped. “Oh, wait. Maybe Uptown Funk is the wrong choice. It’s too modern. Make it Eye of the Tiger. Yeah, that’s better.”

  “Eye of the Tiger?” Jared slid his eyes to Harper.

  “He has a thing for Rocky movies,” she explained.

  “I’m still talking,” Zander barked.

  She held up her hands in a placating manner. “I’m sorry. Continue.”

  “After Eye of the Tiger, the music shifts into a nice ballad ... like something from Shania Twain. No! Gaga is better.”

  Jared’s lips quirked. “You can’t say he doesn’t have interesting taste in music.”

  “Yes, our house is a veritable jukebox of genres,” Shawn agreed. “Zander, I can guarantee if it does happen — and I’m not saying it will because you’re seriously driving me nuts — but if it does happen, there won’t be a flash mob. I think they’re weird.”

  “Oh, there’s going to be a flash mob.” Zander refused to be deterred. “Then, you’ll come out in a rainbow tux and get down on one knee.”

  “Where is he going to find a rainbow tux?” Jason queried.

  “Oh, they make them.” Zander winked and then sighed. “And, once it’s finished and I’ve posed for photographs, we’ll dance to an Ed Sheeran song as the entire town applauds.”

  Harper had news for him. None of that was going to happen. Before she could voice her opinion, though, one of the workers in the kitchen came running out. It was a teenager — Harper was fairly certain it was Mary Stewart’s son, who was a lot bigger than the last time she’d seen him — and he was wide-eyed and red-faced.

  “What’s wrong?” Jason asked, instantly alert. “You didn’t set something on fire, did you?”

  The teenager shook his head. “No, but there is a fire.”

  “In the kitchen?” Jared hopped to his feet, ready to help. Talk of Zander’s dream proposal was immediately shelved.

  “Not in the kitchen,” he replied. “It’s out on the street. That huge Victorian on the corner is going fast. I ... should we do something?”

  Harper turned to Jared, but he was already moving toward the door. He was a police detective so he believed in action, and he obviously wasn’t going to wait to see if the others would join in. “We should check it out,” she said. “We might be able to help.”

  “Then let’s go.” Shawn was already chasing Jared, clearly happy to put an end to the uncomfortable conversation. “Someone might need rescuing.”

  That was all it took to prod them all into motion. Whisper Cove was small, but it was rarely quiet.

  2

  Two

  Jared was already halfway down the block when Harper, Zander, and Shawn hit the pavement.

  “Look at that.” Shawn was in awe at the flames shooting from the top of the house. “I can’t believe it. I always marvel at that house when I’m driving by.”

  “That’s Patty Porter’s house,” Harper volunteered as she jogged toward the billowing flames. “She’s been around the area forever. She used to invite us inside the house around Halloween because she went overboard with spooky rooms and everything. She stopped doing that years ago, though.”

  “Probably because kids today are rude,” Zander sniffed. “We were good kids.”

  That wasn’t exactly how Harper remembered it. She could never be deemed a delinquent by any stretch of the imagination, but she and Zander were hardly angels. “I hope she’s okay.”

  By the time the trio landed on the corner by the house a crowd had begun to grow. Harper recognized most of the faces as town regulars — some owned businesses, others frequented those businesses on a regular basis — and she scanned the horrified onlookers for a sign of Jared. Unfortunately, she came up empty.

  “Betty, have you seen Jared?” Harper asked of the older woman who owned the yarn store a block away.

  Betty, her silver hair in springy curls, looked grim. “He’s inside.”

  Harper’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”

  Betty’s expression was blank. “He didn’t stop. He just ... ran inside.”

  “But ... .” Harper suddenly felt sick to her stomach as she scanned the house. Before she even realized what she was doing she was racing down the sidewalk.

  “What are you doing?” Zander called after her.

  “Jared is inside.”

  “Harper.” Shawn sprinted to catch up with her, grabbing her arm before she could plow through the door. “You need to stay out here. Jared is a professional. He knows what he’s doing.”

  To Harper, that was the most ludicrous statement she’d ever heard. “He’s not a firefighter.”

  “Neither are you.”

  “I’m going.” She jerked her arm away from him and turned back toward the house. “You can’t stop me.”

  “Then I’m going with you.” Shawn was grim as he glanced over his shoulder at Zander. “Stay here.”

  “Like hell.” Zander was already flying up the sidewalk. “If you think I’m letting my best friend and ... well, the guy I’m kind of angry at right now because he won’t consider a flash mob for my proposal run into a burning building together without me, then you’re crazy.”

  Despite the serious nature of the situation, Shawn couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “Then stick close. I don’t want any of us being separated in there.”

  “I’m an expert when it comes to fire safety,” Zander reassured him. “I got a badge for it and everything when I was in the Scouts. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

  Shawn wasn’t convinced that was true — and he made a mental note to inquire about the Scouts comment later — but he had little choice when it came to following Harper. He couldn’t allow her to leave him behind — honestly, it wasn’t just Jared’s fury when he found out that he was worried about as much as Harper’s headstrong nature — so his only option was to follow her.

  The front door was open and Harper raced through the opening without pausing for even a split second. She ducked her head as she landed in the middle of an ornate foyer and immediately covered her mouth to cut down on the smoke.

  “This floor doesn’t look actively engaged,” Shawn noted as he moved up beside her, his eyes tearing because of the smoke. “Jared is safe as long as he’s here. We should head back outside.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Harper was in no mood to argue. “I’m not leaving this house without him. You can try to make me but ... .” She trailed off, her eyes falling on a door in the hallway as it flew open. Two people immediately fled from inside. One was a younger blonde woman she didn’t recognize. The other was, unfortunately, a familiar face. “Barry?”

  The man pulled up short when he caught sight of Harper. His shirt was unbuttoned and askew. His pants weren’t snapped and he clutched a suit jacket in his ha
nd. He looked positively horrified to find Harper staring at him. “Um ... hello, Harper.”

  Shawn felt as if he was missing something important, especially when he slid his gaze to Zander and found his boyfriend staring at the man raptly. “Um ... .”

  “What are you doing here, Barry?” Zander asked, his gaze drifting to the blonde. “And who is that?”

  The younger woman didn’t appear to be interested in the conversation. She pushed Barry out of her way and headed toward the door. “The house is on fire, you idiots,” she practically screeched. “You don’t stand around a burning building and have a conversation. You get out.”

  Shawn happened to agree with her. “We should all get out.”

  “Shut up,” Harper snapped, anger taking over. “If you want to leave, then you should leave. I’m not going without Jared.”

  “Jared Monroe?” Barry’s eyebrows drew together. “I ... you’re talking about the police detective, right? Is he in here?”

  “He ran in when we saw the flames,” Shawn replied. “We’re not sure where he is.”

  “Well, I’m sure he’s fine.” Barry straightened his shoulders. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I can’t be here.”

  “What were you doing here in the first place?” Harper challenged.

  “I was ... um ... trying to help.” Barry threw up his free hand and then shook his head. “I saw the flames, too. I heard a female voice. The young woman who went that way.” He pointed toward the open door. “I was trying to help her escape. That’s all.”

  “That’s all?” Zander didn’t look convinced. “Did you need to unzip your pants for this rescue attempt for a specific reason?”

  Barry’s eyes filled with a different form of fire. “I just told you it was a rescue effort. Now I’m done. I was trying to help, and if I hear otherwise anyplace else, I’ll know where to come to lodge my complaint.”

  It should’ve been difficult for a man in his state to adopt a huffy attitude. Somehow Barry managed it, though, as he stalked out of the house.

  “What was that?” Zander asked when he was gone, dumbfounded. “I mean ... that was weird, right?”

  “This whole thing is weird,” Shawn countered. “I mean ... who is that guy?”

  “He’s a local real estate agent. Barry Watkins,” Harper volunteered, her eyes moving toward the hallway. “I have to find Jared.”

  “Harper, wait!” Shawn started to give chase, stopping when a familiar figure appeared in the hallway.

  Jared, his arm around a woman’s waist as he helped her navigate the increasingly smoky hallway, pulled up short when he saw the trio. “What are you doing?” He looked absolutely furious as he focused on Harper. “Why are you here?”

  The initial relief she felt upon seeing him fled and Harper allowed her fear to coalesce into anger. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m helping people out of this house.”

  “Well, that’s what we’re doing, too.”

  “You most certainly are not.” Jared handed the woman, a comely brunette with long hair and a pair of pants that dipped so low her rear end was almost completely on display, to Shawn. “You’re not trained for a rescue mission. I want you out of here right now.”

  The demand was enough to send Harper careening over the edge. “You can’t make me leave this house and I’m not going without you.”

  “Yes, you are.” He glared at Shawn as the man helped the brunette toward the door. “I can’t believe you let her come in here.”

  “She was coming with or without me,” Shawn protested. “I figured it was best if I stuck with her rather than watch her come in here alone.”

  “You should’ve wrestled her to the ground and kept her out there.”

  “Well ... I didn’t feel that was an option.”

  Jared huffed out an angry breath and then looked to the opening over Shawn’s shoulder. For a moment, he looked triumphant when he gauged a flurry of movement ... and then reality set in. This time when he glanced back at Harper he was resigned. “You have to go.”

  Harper crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out her chin. “I’m not leaving you. It’s not going to happen. You can’t make me.”

  “You can’t stay.” Jared looked pained and when heavy boots could be heard on the porch he attempted to reach out and snag Harper’s elbow, although she smoothly evaded him. “I love you. Just remember that.”

  Confusion flooded her eyes. “What are you saying? Where are you going?”

  “These people are civilians,” Jared barked to the incoming firemen as he flashed his badge. “I need them outside. If they put up a fight ... lock them in a cruiser.”

  Harper’s mouth dropped open and she immediately started shaking her head. “Jared ... .”

  “I’m sorry,” he gritted out as one of the firefighters grabbed her arm tightly enough that she yelped. “I really am. I can’t have you in here, though. You’re safer outside.”

  “Jared!” She stomped her foot on the ground, but it was already too late. The firefighters weren’t giving her any options. They were stronger than she and she couldn’t fight them.

  Zander stood rooted to his spot for a beat, clearly unsure. Finally, he focused on Jared. “If you don’t come out of this house she’ll never get over it.”

  Even though Zander often annoyed him to no end, Jared took pity on the man today. “I have every intention of coming out of this house. We have to check the second floor though and the back rooms that way.” He waved toward the other end of the hallway. “She cannot be here. I can’t do my job properly if I’m worried about her. She has to go.”

  Zander worked his jaw. For a moment, Jared thought he was going to argue with him. Instead, he simply nodded and skated around one of the firefighters giving him the evil eye. “I’ll take care of her. Don’t break your promise, though. Make sure you come back to her.”

  “I’ll always come back to her. You have my word.”

  CLEARING THE HOUSE DIDN’T TAKE LONG, mostly because the firefighters took over and kicked Jared out before he could even try to climb to the second floor. He met his partner Mel Kelsey in front of the house once he’d been firmly ordered out and they spent the next twenty minutes discussing the situation ... as Jared kept a firm eye on a furious Harper, who had been positioned well outside the property line.

  “What about the owner?”

  Mel kept gazing between Harper and Jared, barely casting a glance at the burning house. “Patty Porter. I’ve known her for a long time. You would recognize her if you saw her. She’s old.”

  Jared pursed his lips. “She’s old? That’s kind of mean.”

  “She’s in her seventies. She’s probably pushing eighty now that I think about.”

  “Okay, she’s old. You could say it a different way, though.”

  Mel cocked an eyebrow. “How?”

  “Like ... she’s seasoned.”

  Mel snorted, genuinely amused. “Fine. She’s seasoned. The thing is, I heard residents chattering on the street when I rolled up. They said people were rescued from the house. Patty lives by herself. If she wasn’t one of the people pulled out ... ?” He left it hanging as he tried to figure out the situation.

  “There were people inside,” Jared supplied. “I helped out a brunette woman.” He craned his neck as he scanned the crowd for a glimpse of her, his eyes involuntarily going to Harper, who was openly glaring at him.

  “What’s up with her?” Mel asked in a low voice. He was used to his partner mooning over Harper. However, something felt different about this situation. In addition to being Jared’s partner, Mel was Zander’s uncle and he’d known Harper since she was a small child. He couldn’t ever remember seeing her look so angry.

  “I had the firefighters remove her from the house,” Jared replied on a sigh. “She wanted to be with me when I was searching for people but ... .”

  “You couldn’t let her,” Mel finished. “I get it.”

  “She doesn’t get it.” Jared was moros
e. “She’s angry.”

  “She’ll be fine.” Mel clapped his partner’s shoulder. He wasn’t particularly worried about the relationship between Jared and Harper falling apart. They were built for forever. “She was just emotional because of what was happening. It couldn’t have been easy on her.”

  “She shouldn’t have been in the house in the first place.” Jared’s agitation was on full display. “She’s not trained to rescue people from fires.”

  “Are you?”

  “I ... .” Jared worked his jaw. “I have a lot more training than she.”

  The response was enough to earn a smirk from Mel. “Uh-huh.”

  “I do.”

  “Fine. You have training.” The older detective held up his hands in capitulation and then turned his head to the door as the fire inspector emerged from the house. “Hal, what can you tell us?”

  “The fire is contained. We’re putting it out. The bulk of the damage was on the second and third floors. The first is mostly intact.”

  “Do you know how it started?”

  “Not yet. We need to make sure all the hot spots are out before we tackle that problem.”

  Mel nodded in understanding. “Fair enough.”

  “There is one other thing,” Hal hedged, rubbing his gloved hand across his cheek and leaving a streak of grime in its wake. “Patty is inside.”

  The way he said it made Jared’s heart drop to his stomach. “I take it since you’re not calling for the paramedics that it’s already too late.”

  “It’s definitely too late,” Hal agreed. “I’m not sure how she died but ... I figured you guys would want to take a look.”

  “You figured right,” Mel agreed.

  “Just give me a few more minutes and I’ll show you in.”

  “Thanks.”

  OUTSIDE THE SAFETY BARRICADE Harper stood with Zander and Shawn and openly fumed. Her anger served as a way to displace her fear when she couldn’t see Jared. Now that she knew he was safe, the anger was legitimate.