Ghostly Interests

by Lily Harper Hart

  “That’s just a kid using her imagination.”

  “Her mother claims she was awake when she went in,” Mel said. “That’s not the only time it happened, though. There was an incident when she was in middle school and there were several incidents when she was in high school. After that … well … if you ask some people they believe Harper’s claims.”

  “What do you believe?”

  “I believe that she believes it and she’s not trying to hurt anyone,” Mel replied firmly. “I know Zander has faith that she has supernatural abilities. I would never call his belief in her into question. Trust me. He won’t take it well. Those two are co-dependent and joined at the hip. They’re loyal to each other above all else.”

  “This doesn’t make sense to me,” Jared said. “How can someone walk around and claim they talk to ghosts? Shouldn’t her parents have gotten her therapy or something?”

  “Her parents are a trip in their own right,” Mel said. “They separated about a year ago and they’re at war. I’m not sure they weren’t at war their entire marriage. I have no idea how they stopped fighting long enough to even conceive Harper.”

  “Still, she should’ve been a priority to them,” Jared argued. “They did her a disservice by letting her believe in that nonsense.”

  “What if it’s not nonsense?”

  “You just said you didn’t believe it,” Jared pointed out.

  “I said I believe she believes it,” Mel clarified. “I don’t rightly know that she can’t see ghosts. She has done a number of things that defy the impossible.”

  “Can you give me a for instance?”

  “I’ve lost track of the number of bodies she’s found,” Mel said. “We’re talking bodies that should’ve gone undiscovered for a long time without … intervention. She found a girl who died at a kegger in high school. She also found a woman who slid off the road in a blizzard. The woman was dead, but her toddler wasn’t and the little girl wouldn’t have survived the night in that cold if Harper hadn’t led us to her.”

  “That could be a coincidence,” Jared suggested.

  “It could be,” Mel agreed. “Whatever it is Harper has turned it into a career for herself and she’s taken Zander along for the ride.”

  “What career?”

  Mel explained about Ghost Hunters, Inc., and when he was done Jared’s mouth was hanging open.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Jared said. “I cannot believe someone would actually hire the two of them to … catch ghosts. That’s unbelievable.”

  “It is,” Mel said. “They make a decent living, though, and a lot of people swear by their work.”

  “How many ghosts could there possibly be in a town the size of Whisper Cove?” Jared’s pragmatic mind was working overtime. “It has to be a scam.”

  “They don’t always work in Whisper Cove,” Mel said. “In fact, I would say the bulk of their jobs are in other towns. We’re not too far from some very busy suburbs. My sister told me the two of them were out at Harsens Island earlier today clearing out Undercurrents.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a restaurant.”

  “And they kicked a ghost out of it?” Jared asked.

  “They think they did,” Mel said. “It’s not for me to judge. I’m just telling you in case you run into the two of them around town. They might think our victim needs help.”

  “Oh, this is unbelievable,” Jared said, running his hand through his dark hair. “How can you stand by and let them do this?”

  “It’s not my decision,” Mel said. “I am not Zander’s father and I’m certainly not in a power position when it comes to Harper. You might think she’s crazy. Heck, I might think she’s crazy. She’s harmless, though. Just leave the two of them to their own devices.”

  “What if they get in the way of our investigation?” Jared pressed.

  “Then we’ll deal with that when it becomes an issue,” Mel said. “For now, I think we need to identify our victim and move on from there.”

  Jared didn’t argue with the suggestion or sentiment, but his mind was busy. How could a seemingly rational woman think she could see and talk to ghosts? There had to be more to the story.

  Five

  “They identified the victim,” Zander said, sidling up to Harper’s desk a few hours later. She’d been lost in thought – her gaze fixed on a far off location only she could see – since stumbling on the ghost after lunch. Zander knew she wasn’t going to let her obsession go so he decided to help things along instead of fighting the process.

  When Harper didn’t immediately jump to her feet and start applauding his announcement Zander fixed her with a dark look. “Why thank you, Zander,” he said, mimicking Harper’s voice to perfection, years of close proximity fueling the uncanny impersonation. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you went out of your way to get information for me.”

  Harper snapped her attention to Zander. “I was just thinking. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the accolades you so richly deserve. You’re the king, Zander.”

  “I know,” Zander said, his tone smug. “It’s nice to hear, though.”

  “I have no idea why I love you as much as I do,” Harper said, rolling her eyes.

  “It’s because I’m handsome and witty.”

  “That’s probably it,” Harper conceded. “What is her name?”

  “Annie Dresden,” Zander said. “My mother talked to my uncle and he let it slip. All I know is that she was twenty-one and she wasn’t from Whisper Cove.”

  “I think we both knew she wasn’t from Whisper Cove,” Harper said, rubbing the spot between her eyebrows. “We would’ve recognized anyone from town.”

  “Not if she was new.”

  “Whenever someone new comes to town it makes the weekly paper,” Harper pointed out. “We knew the new cop was coming two weeks ago.”

  “Speaking of the new cop … .” Zander broke off, eyeing the way Harper’s shoulders straightened.

  “What about him?”

  Zander recognized the defensive tone of her voice. Since he hadn’t said anything yet, he found her reaction … interesting. “He’s attractive, isn’t he?” Zander asked, changing tactics. “Do you think he walks on my side of the street or your side of the street?”

  “I really have no idea,” Harper said, forcing her attention to her computer screen. “It’s not any of my business.”

  “I’m hoping he walks on my side of the street,” Zander said. “I would love to see what that stubble looks like in the morning if it’s that … rugged … in the afternoon.”

  “Don’t you think you should crash and burn with the waiter before you move on to the new cop?” Harper asked.

  “I have plenty of time to do both,” Zander said, shooting a charming wink at Harper. “I’m very good at multitasking.”

  “So you keep telling me,” Harper said. “I don’t believe it, though. If you’re good at multitasking why can’t you brush your teeth and shave at the same time without making a huge mess?”

  “I do that so you can multitask,” Zander replied, not missing a beat. “You like to clean while you’re brushing your teeth.”

  “I only clean because you make a mess.”

  “If that’s your story … .”

  Harper made a growling sound in the back of her throat. “Can we get back to the dead woman, please? We need to find out who Annie Dresden is and how she ended up out here.”

  “I can answer a little of that because I did some research online while my mom was going on and on about the new color of Aunt Shirley’s hair,” Zander said. “Mom says it looks like she could double for Ronald McDonald if their current mascot ever dies, by the way.”

  Harper snorted. “Aunt Shirley changes her hair color almost as much as Molly,” she said. “What did you find on Annie?”

  “Well, it’s funny that you mentioned Molly,” Zander said. “Annie is enrolled as a student at St. Clair Community College, just like our intrepid
apprentice.”

  Harper’s eyes widened. “Does Molly know Annie?”

  Zander shrugged. “I have no idea,” he said. “Molly is in class right now so we can’t ask her. I looked at Annie’s class schedule. She was focusing on business classes and our Molly is more of a … free spirit. I’m not sure there’s much of a crossover with the business and liberal arts students.”

  “That’s probably true,” Harper said. “Do you know where Annie was living?”

  “I found an Annie Dresden that lives in a rental house in St. Clair,” Zander said. “I think that’s probably her.”

  “She didn’t live on campus?”

  “It’s community college,” Zander reminded her. “It’s not like when we went to Central Michigan and almost everyone lived on campus … well, at least the first two years.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Harper mused. “Do you know what I think?”

  “I’m almost sure I do,” Zander said. “You want to go to the campus and see if we can find someone who knew Annie. You’re not going to sleep until you find out what happened to her and put her to rest. Do you know what that means for me?”

  “I do,” Harper said, getting to her feet. “It means you can’t rest until I do. Let’s go to the college.”

  “I knew you were going to say that,” Zander muttered.

  ST. CLAIR Community College was bustling with activity when Zander and Harper arrived. The students were milling about on campus, expensive coffees clutched in their hands, and they looked … normal. They had no idea one of their own was gone – and possibly in a brutal way.

  “It’s almost time for finals,” Zander said, watching the students with a happy grin. “Do you remember that feeling?”

  “I remember dreading the tests,” Harper replied, wrinkling her nose. “I hated the end of a semester.”

  “You hated the idea of going home to watch your parents fight,” Zander corrected. “You liked the idea of getting a break from classes.”

  “You always have to be such a know-it-all.”

  “You love me anyway,” Zander said, slinging an arm over Harper’s shoulder. “Where do you want to start?”

  As much as he irritated her Harper also found solace in Zander’s presence. Even the simple act of putting an arm around her made her feel loved. “Do you know where the business classes are held here?”

  “I’ve never actually been here,” Zander admitted. “I’ve never had a reason.”

  “What about cruising for buff college students exploring their sexual identity?” Harper teased. “I would think that would be right up your alley.”

  “I never considered that before now,” Zander replied, feigning interest. “It’s like a buffet and I have an all-you-can-eat pass.”

  “You’re sick.”

  “Seriously, where do you want to start?” Zander asked, his face sobering. “I can tell you’re bothered by this. We should get to work.”

  “I’m bothered because she’s a young woman who had her life cut short and she’s obviously … struggling … with her new reality,” Harper countered. “I think anyone would be bothered by that.”

  “I didn’t say you were wrong to be bothered,” Zander said. “I merely said I could tell you were bothered. Do you want to tell me what else is going on?”

  Harper found herself on the defensive. “Who said anything else is going on?”

  “You’re acting … weird,” Zander said. “You were fine this morning even though you had horrendous bedhead and killer morning breath. You were in a good mood after we got paid at Undercurrents. You pouted throughout lunch, but that was mostly for show because you wanted to rain on my parade.

  “Ever since we saw the ghost, though, you’ve been a morose pill,” he continued. “I’ve had just about as much as I can swallow.”

  “No one said you had to come,” Harper challenged.

  “We both know that’s not true,” Zander said. “We’re a set. Where you go, I go.”

  “Then stop complaining,” Harper said. “And … thank you. I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Zander said, pulling her in for a quick hug. “Now, point me in the direction of information and I shall glean it for you.”

  “Sometimes I think you missed your calling when you didn’t stick to drama in college,” Harper said. “That whole accounting degree you graduated with is completely wasted on you.”

  “If I didn’t have that degree I wouldn’t be able to run the business so smoothly.”

  “There is that,” Harper said, rolling up on the balls of her feet and giving Zander a kiss on the cheek. “You’re still a pain.”

  “I think that’s one of the reasons we get along so well,” Zander teased, tugging on a strand of her hair. “Come on. Let’s do this. I’m starving.”

  “We just ate.”

  “I’m a growing boy and I need my nutrients,” Zander replied, nonplussed. “I burn thousands of calories every day because my body is a temple.”

  “Does that mean you expect people to worship you?” Harper asked, cocking an eyebrow.

  “You already worship me,” Zander said. “You just don’t want people to know it because you think it will hurt that women’s lib thing you subscribe to.”

  “You’re driving me crazy.”

  “Then we should get moving,” Zander said. “A happily ever afterlife is beckoning Annie and we have to deliver it to her.”

  After studying the crowd for a few moments, Harper set her sights on a group of boisterous males cavorting in front of the university center. She approached them with a wide smile. “Um … hi.”

  The man at the center of the group glanced at Harper, breaking into his own grin as he ran a hand through his blond hair. “Well, hello.”

  Harper fought to tamp down her irritation. This guy had “alpha” written all over him. She was a fan of testosterone. She wasn’t a fan of men who thought that excused bad behavior. “I don’t suppose we could ask a few questions, could we?”

  “You can ask me anything you want, sweetheart,” the man said. “Before you ask the obvious question, though, I’ll answer it for you. Yes, I am well endowed.”

  Harper made a face as Zander moved up to her side. He was an impressive mass of muscle and even though he wasn’t prone to fits of violence he also wasn’t apt to ignore anyone talking crudely to his best friends. “I’ve found that most men who are well endowed don’t find the need to announce it,” Zander said.

  “Maybe that’s because you shop in the pink section,” the man sneered.

  “I do love pink,” Zander said, unruffled. “I’m betting I know what I’m talking about more than you do, though.”

  Harper put a hand on Zander’s arm to still him. “There’s no reason to Hulk out,” she said. “He’s just looking for attention. It’s okay.”

  “I get plenty of attention,” the man said.

  “Knock it off, Jay.” One of the other men, this one shorter and darker, took a step forward. “I apologize for my brother’s behavior. The spring weather makes him … crazy.”

  “I was going to say horny,” Zander said dryly.

  “That, too,” the second man said. “I’m Collin Graham, by the way. This is my brother Jay.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Harper said, extending her hand to shake Collin’s. “I see bad manners don’t run in your family.”

  “Neither does being well endowed,” Jay sniped, puffing his chest out.

  Harper ignored him and focused on Collin. “We’re here to ask some questions about a student who attends classes here,” she said. “Her name is Annie Dresden. Do you know her?”

  Collin smiled amiably. “Sure. I know Annie. She’s in a few of my business classes.”

  “She’s hot, too,” Jay said. “I would totally hit that.” He mimed a sexual act behind his brother’s back.

  “Is she in trouble?” Collin asked.

  “She’s dead,” Harper replied, her voice even.

  Collin’s
previously placid face drained of color as he ran a hand through his muddy hair. “Are you serious?”

  Even Jay had the grace to look abashed. “No way.”

  “She was found in Whisper Cove today,” Harper said. “Her body was on the beach. Did she have ties to that area?”

  “I have no idea,” Collin said. “I didn’t know her all that well. We had a few classes together … and were friendly … but we didn’t hang out or anything.”

  “What do you know about her?”

  “That’s a very good question. I’m most interested in hearing why Ms. Harlow is here asking it.”

  Harper froze when she heard the voice behind her and when she stiffly turned she found Jared Monroe watching her from a few feet away.

  “Oh, crap.”

  Six

  Jared’s eyes were a clear shade of blue and Harper could almost feel the icy cold emanating from them as they bore into her.

  “What are you doing here?” Jared asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded her. Next to him Mel was silently shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

  “We’re … hanging out,” Harper answered, shifting uncomfortably.

  “You’re hanging out with college kids?” Jared pressed. “That makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Are you running out of people to date in Whisper Cove?”

  Harper scowled. “No. That’s not what we were doing.”

  “What were you doing?” Jared asked.

  “I … .” Harper broke off, unsure how to answer. She had no idea why Jared’s mere presence unnerved her, but it did.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have told your mother we identified the victim,” Mel said, shooting Zander a dark look. “She told you, didn’t she?”

  “Why would she do that?” Jared asked.

  “Because she can never tell her son no,” Mel said. “How did you know I would tell her?”

  “Because I know you,” Zander said. “Mom is gossipy and you like to gossip with her. This is the biggest thing to hit Whisper Cove in years. There’s no way you don’t want to talk about it. I played a hunch.”

  “Did you have to hear about Shirley’s hair, too?”

  “Ronald McDonald better start looking over his shoulder.”