Ghostly Interests
Page 20
“Probably more than you realize,” Jared said, stepping into the room with his gun drawn.
Harper had never been more relieved to see anyone in her entire life and she wanted to run to him. Unfortunately, Collin was already on his feet and reaching for her before she had a chance to react.
Collin grabbed Harper’s arm and dragged her in front of him, lifting the knife to her throat in a menacing manner as he eyed Jared. “Sonovabitch!”
“I had a feeling it was you,” Jared said, fighting to keep himself calm despite the deadly weapon pressing into Harper’s throat. He sent her a reassuring look before focusing all of his attention on Collin. “Don’t you want to know how?”
“Not particularly,” Collin said, glancing around the room as he searched for an escape route. “Stay over there. If you move any closer I’ll kill her.”
“If you hurt her I will rip your throat out and show it to you before you die,” Jared promised.
“Did you see Zander?” Harper asked, a lone tear slipping down her cheek. “Is he okay?”
“He’s unconscious in the kitchen,” Jared answered. “He’ll be fine.”
“Not once I’m done with him,” Collin said.
“You’re not getting near him,” Jared countered. “He’s in the kitchen behind me. You don’t have a card to play. I texted for backup before I came into this house. My partner just happens to be Zander’s uncle. He’ll be here any minute – and he won’t be alone.”
“Well, isn’t that just a kick in the pants,” Collin mused. “What you’re basically telling me is that I’m screwed no matter what.”
“I guess so,” Jared said, his hands steady on the gun as he kept it pointed in Collin’s direction. “The only choice you have is how hard you go down.”
“Oh, I have one more choice,” Collin said. “If I do what you say I’m going to prison. I don’t think I’d do well in prison. If I do what I want, I’ll get to watch Harper die and then you’ll kill me. I think that’s going to be my best option. I won’t suffer that way.”
“You’re not doing a thing to her!”
“Oh, Copper, listen to you,” Collin taunted. “You’re infatuated with her, aren’t you? Do you love her? Do you think you’re going to fall in love with her? Do you have visions of hot sex and cuddling together over cold winter nights running through your head?”
Jared didn’t answer.
“What if I take that from you?” Collin asked, pressing the blade of the knife into Harper’s exposed neck and causing her to whimper.
“I will kill you,” Jared seethed.
“If I kill her will you cry?” Collin asked. “Will you mourn her for a few months or a few years? Will you ever get over losing her? I get the feeling that you two are just starting. You have hope. I see it on both of your faces.
“I had hope, too,” he continued. “I had hope that Annie would be my special someone. Instead she slept with my brother and crushed me. She even took photos of that so I could relive the experience over and over again.”
“I don’t care about any of that,” Jared said matter-of-factly. “I don’t care about your perceived reasons for being a psychopath. I don’t care if your brother gave you a wedgie every day of your life. All I care about in this situation is Harper.”
“That’s why I want to kill her,” Collin said. “The last thing I see is going to be your face as you watch her die.”
“Either drop the knife or I’m going to drop you.”
Collin tilted his head to the side, feigning like he was actually considering the offer. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m going to kill her instead.”
He drew the knife back, making as if he was going to plunge it into Harper’s throat. She cried out in terror as she tried to move away, managing to put a few inches between her and Collin before he could stab her.
Jared didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger. The deafening roar of the gun wasn’t enough to drown out Harper’s screams, but Jared held steady and did his duty. He never blinked.
HARPER’S heart was pounding so hard she was convinced she was having a heart attack. She instinctively reached for her chest, imagining a gunshot wound spreading red blood across her simple white T-shirt.
She didn’t feel any pain. She figured she was in shock.
Then Collin’s body dropped to the floor behind her and Harper realized Jared’s aim was as true as his heart.
“Come here, sweetie,” Jared said, motioning for Harper to close the gap between them as he kept his gun trained on Collin.
Harper rushed to him, burying her face in his chest as he held her. He ran his hands down her shaking back and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay now. It’s okay.”
The front door of the house flew open and Mel raced inside, his own weapon drawn.
“He’s down,” Jared said, refusing to release Harper and instead drawing her closer.
“Where is Zander?” Mel asked.
“He’s unconscious in the kitchen.”
“I brought paramedics,” Mel said, moving around the edge of the couch so he could study Collin. “You were right. It was Collin.”
“That doesn’t make me feel like I’ve won anything,” Jared said.
“Is he dead?”
“I shot him in the head. It was the only clear shot I had.”
“I’m not shedding any tears over it,” Mel said. “I’m going to get the paramedics and check on Zander. You’re sure he’s alive, right?”
“I checked him when I came in,” Jared replied, his hand never stilling as he rubbed soothing circles along Harper’s back as she sobbed in his arms. “He was breathing fine. It looks like he’s going to have a knot on his head. I think Collin surprised him. The only thing truly hurt in all this is probably going to be his ego because he missed out on all the excitement and getting to beat Collin up himself.”
“I hope you’re right,” Mel said.
Harper pulled her tear-streaked face away from Jared and glanced at Mel. “Check Collin’s vehicle,” she said, her voice shaky. “I … he said he killed Molly. I’m guessing he still had her body with him.”
Jared wanted to kill Collin all over again. “We’ve got it,” he said. He slipped his gun back into the holster, freeing both hands so he could pull Harper tight against his chest. “We’ve got it. You’re okay.”
“Am I?”
“You’re going to be okay,” Jared said, pressing his lips to her forehead. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
Twenty-Six
Jared moved Harper out to the side patio so the tech team could go over the scene without interruptions. He settled her on one of the lounge chairs, sitting behind her and pulling her back against his chest as he proceeded to rock her.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured into her hair.
“I need to see Zander.”
“The paramedics are working on him,” Jared said, pointing to the driveway where he could clearly see Zander standing of his own volition. He looked like he was arguing with one of the paramedics. “He looks okay.”
“I thought … .”
“I know,” Jared said. “He’s okay.”
“Molly is okay, too,” Mel said, appearing at the edge of the patio.
Hope welled in Harper’s chest. “She is? Collin said that he killed her.”
“I think he was planning on getting to her after he got to you,” Mel replied. “We had to take her to the hospital. It looks like she was drugged. They’re going to flush her system there, but she was conscious.”
“Did you talk to her?”
“She was loopy and out of it, but she was forming words.”
“I need to go to the hospital to make sure she’s okay,” Harper said, moving to get off the lounge chair.
“I’ll take you in a few minutes,” Jared said, tugging her back down and wrapping his arms around her. He needed to hold her. He barely knew her and yet the idea of letting her go right now filled him with dread.
�
��I’m going to need your weapon, too,” Mel said. “You have to be cleared in the shooting.”
“I figured,” Jared said, leaning forward to give Mel access to his holstered gun. “Go ahead and take it.”
Mel grabbed the gun and slipped it into a bag, smiling kindly at Harper as he looked her over. “You look rough, kid.”
“I feel rough,” Harper admitted. “I thought Collin killed Zander. I didn’t know what to do. I kind of … froze.”
“You’re alive,” Mel said. “That’s all that matters. You’re all alive.”
“Not all of us,” Harper murmured, her gaze falling on Annie.
“I’m going to leave you two alone for a few minutes,” Mel said. “Before you take Harper to the hospital I need a statement from you, Jared.”
Jared nodded mutely. Once Mel was gone Annie spoke. “I’m sorry this happened to you because of me,” Annie said. “I didn’t remember until I saw him putting Molly in the back of his truck.”
“It’s over with now,” Harper said. “It’s all … done.”
“I just wanted to be loved,” Annie said. “I didn’t know it would be hate that ended me.”
“You can go now,” Harper said softly, leaning back into Jared who merely watched her talk to empty air. “There’s no reason to stay now. Collin is gone.”
“He won’t be … there … will he?”
“No. He’ll go to another place.”
“Have you seen that place, too?” Annie asked.
“Only once. You’ll go to the good place. Don’t worry.”
“How do I go?” Annie asked.
“Pick a star and make a wish,” Harper said. “All you have to want to do is crossover and it will happen.”
“Thank you for everything,” Annie said.
“Have a good … forever,” Harper said, sighing as Annie began to dissolve in front of her eyes. “Goodbye.”
Jared waited a few minutes before he spoke again. “Is she gone?”
“She’s gone.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m … tired. I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck and then backed over again.”
Jared chuckled, his own weariness overtaking him. “I can see that. Are you ready for me to take you to the hospital?”
“Yeah. I need to check on Zander first.”
“I’ll give my statement to Mel while you’re doing that,” Jared said. “I’m sure Zander will want to go with us … that is if they don’t make him take his own ride to the hospital.”
“I didn’t thank you,” Harper said, realization dawning. “You saved me.”
“I think I saved us both,” Jared said. “You don’t have to thank me, though.”
“How come you came to the house?”
“I wanted to see you. I thought we could have a beer and talk. I don’t know what made me come here.”
“I think it was destiny.”
“Maybe,” Jared conceded. He pushed Harper forward and physically turned her body to the side so he could study her. “You look tired.” He ran his thumb down her cheek.
“I feel tired … but okay. You saved my life. Zander and Molly are alive. Annie moved on. Things could’ve been a whole lot worse.”
“I really want to kiss you right now,” Jared admitted. “I’m not sure if it’s the right time, though.”
Harper didn’t bother to answer him. Instead she pressed her lips to his, waiting for the surprise to vacate his body before he pulled her close and sank into the kiss. It wasn’t a hot and sexy kiss. It wasn’t full of need or desire. It was a culmination of everything they both wanted, though, and it was a promise of things to come.
When they finally parted, Harper’s eyes were wide as she ran her fingers over her lips. “That was … nice.”
“It was,” Jared agreed. “The next one will be even better.”
“When will that be?”
Jared grinned. “Right now.”
This time when he pulled her to him the kiss was an expression of need, want, and desire – and a continuing promise of things to come.
It was only the beginning, but both of them were looking forward to the adventure.
Up Next
Harper Harlow has the world at her fingertips, and the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Whisper Cove’s resident ghost hunter finds that her professional life is soaring – while her personal life is floundering. She’s on a man diet – and nothing is going to tempt her, or so she swears.
Jared Monroe thought a week away was nothing – until Harper’s anger hit him square in the face, and the heart, upon his return to town. He didn’t mean to hurt her, but a woman’s anger runs deep.
When a teenager is found in a local park, Jared and Harper find their paths intersecting … again.
Derek Thompson may have been looking forward to a bright future, but now he’s only looking back at a tortured past as his murderer runs free.
Jared and Harper have to work together – and face their issues – if they want to put Derek to rest. Working together is a great idea … until their hormones get in the way.
Can this couple find common ground? And, more importantly, can the dark underbelly of Whisper Cove survive the sordid truth? Only time will tell, and Jared and Harper are running out of it.
Ghostly Issues will be available January 5, 2016.
Author’s Note
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
If you’re interested in upcoming releases, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I do not spam. I don’t believe it and, as a reader, I find it annoying. Only new release information and special sales promotions will be posted.
This book is available for lending. Please do so.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Books by Lily Harper Hart
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados (Coming December 2015)
Deadly Arrival (Winter 2016)
Deadly Rivalry (Winter 2016)
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns (Winter 2015)
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times (Winter 2015)
Wicked Places (February 2016)
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues (January 2016)
Table of Contents
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
/> Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Up Next
Author’s Note
Books by Lily Harper Hart