Ghostly Camping (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 16)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Ghostly Camping

  A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 16

  Lily Harper Hart

  HarperHart Publications

  Copyright © 2020 by Lily Harper Hart

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

  4. Four

  5. Five

  6. Six

  7. Seven

  8. Eight

  9. Nine

  10. Ten

  11. Eleven

  12. Twelve

  13. Thirteen

  14. Fourteen

  15. Fifteen

  16. Sixteen

  17. Seventeen

  18. Eighteen

  19. Nineteen

  Mailing List

  About the Author

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

  Books by Amanda M. Lee

  1

  One

  “I’m thinking I should wear white.”

  Zander Pritchett held up a white shirt from his best friend Harper Harlow’s closet and stared at himself in her full-length mirror, taking on a far-off expression that Harper recognized as trouble.

  “I don’t think wearing white when going camping is a good idea,” Harper countered as she studied the pile of clothes in front of her. She wasn’t the sort of person who over-packed but she did consider herself prepared ... and multiple days in the woods could lead to a bevy of unforeseen problems that would take more than a few shirts and pants out of the running for re-wearing purposes. “You’ll stain a white shirt in five minutes flat.”

  The look Zander shot her was withering. “I wasn’t talking about camping. Everybody knows you wear flannel if you’re going camping.”

  Amused despite herself, Harper arched an eyebrow. “Where did you hear that?”

  “I know things.”

  She waited. If anything, growing up with her best friend — who never met a conversation he didn’t want to take control of — had taught her that Zander was going to get his point across whether she prodded him or not.

  “I’ve seen shows on people who like to camp,” he volunteered, tilting his head as he went back to staring at his reflection. “All the people in those shows wear flannels.”

  “Uh-huh.” Harper wasn’t convinced. “What shows are built around camping?”

  “Plenty of them.”

  “In other words you’re making it up.”

  “No.” Zander tossed the shirt onto the bed and fixed the blonde a few feet away with a harsh look. “I’m a truth-teller. That means I only tell the truth no matter what. No exaggeration or miscommunication.”

  It took everything Harper had not to laugh. Zander was many things, including a born exaggerator, although he was also the type of person who refused to see his shortcomings. In fact, Harper was fairly certain Zander didn’t believe he had shortcomings. “Well, I think you’ll look great in flannel,” she offered, grinning. “You’ve always reminded me of a lumberjack.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I know you’re laughing inside that busy brain of yours, but I’m prepared for this trip. I bought six new flannels.”

  “I can’t wait to see them.” Harper went back to staring at the duffle bags on the bed. One belonged to her and the other was for her fiancé Jared Monroe. Since they were going camping, sleeping in actual tents and everything, they’d opted for bags instead of suitcases. For the first time in her life, she found she was having a packing emergency. “I’m taking a few flannels, too.”

  “Oh, you can’t wear flannels.” Zander was grave. “If we don’t coordinate colors, we’ll clash in photos. You need to stick to solid colors, like black ... and, well, black.”

  Harper was back to being amused. “Do you plan on taking a lot of photos while we’re traipsing around the Michigan wilderness?”

  He bobbed his head without hesitation. “Um, yes. We’re participating in a mystery event. There are supposed to be ghosts ... and fake murders ... and clues to follow. This is right up our alley. We’re going to need photos for the website.”

  Harper was taken aback. She hadn’t considered that. When she agreed to take her ghost-hunting abilities on a promotional outing to help a Michigan-based business get a foothold in the lucrative tourist industry, she hadn’t thought much of it. It was summer and Jared had vacation time coming up, which made things convenient. It seemed like a fun way to get away from it all.

  Then reality struck in the form of Hurricane Zander and the train derailed. What was initially supposed to be a trip for two was now a trip for four and the romantic nights Harper had been picturing spending under the stars were now something else entirely.

  “I don’t know if we should be turning this into a promotional opportunity for us,” Harper hedged, her mind busy as she considered potential ramifications. Honestly, she was famous in her little corner of the world. She’d garnered attention through her company, Ghost Hunters, Inc. — or GHI to those in the know — as the premiere ghost hunter in the area. She’d even donated her time to law enforcement over the years, coming through on a variety of missing person cases and murders. This was something else entirely, though. “Perhaps we should just play it by ear or something.”

  “If you say so.” Zander said the words, but Harper knew him well enough to realize he had no intention of relinquishing what he considered free advertising. “That’s not important right now, though. Let’s go back to talking about me.”

  “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Well, for starters, where did we land on the white?” Zander picked up the discarded shirt again and held it in front of him. “I think I’ll look good in white.”

  Harper’s forehead wrinkled. “I thought you were wearing flannel.”

  “Not camping, you maroon.” Zander lightly flicked his friend’s ear, causing her to flinch. “I’m talking about the wedding. You’re no longer the only bride in our friend group.”

  That’s when realization dawned on Harper and she let loose a legitimate smile. “How could I forget that? You’re getting married, same as me.”

  “I am.” Zander was wistful as he gazed at his reflection. He was a handsome man — the best-looking man in Whisper Cove if he was to be believed — but he’d been sporting a glow ever since his boyfriend Shawn Donovan unleashed one of the loudest proposal spectacles Harper had ever seen on their world a few weeks before. Ever since then, Zander had been completely blissed out, something Harper welcomed because she was planning her own wedding and was sick of him trying to take over the planning.

  “Just out of curiosity, are you planning on wearing a white dress?” Harper queried, taking an inadvertent step back when Zander scorched her with a dark look.

  “I’m gay, not a cross-dresser,” he announced.

  Harper recognized she’d stepped in the thick of things and instantly began searching for a way to extricate her foot from her mouth. “I know. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just ... brides usually wear white.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Harper wasn’t a fan of the sarcasm, but she managed to hold it together. “I was just trying to talk things through with you. If you’re going to be like this—”

  Zander cut her off with a head shake. “Of course we’re talking about the wedding. I’m taking a whole stack of magazines into the woods with us. I packed a sep
arate bag. Don’t be an idiot.”

  Harper’s frown only deepened. “You plan on taking an extra bag of magazines on a work camping trip?”

  “We’re going to have downtime.”

  Harper wasn’t convinced that was true. “We’re supposed to be participating in all the events. We agreed to weigh in with our opinions on things to help them improve and even tout them on our website if things go as planned.”

  “So?”

  “So ... I’m pretty sure wedding plans aren’t part of the equation.”

  “Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” He let loose a haphazard – and thoroughly dismissive – wave. “Wedding plans are part of every equation. Besides, there’s going to be hikes through the woods ... and bonfires every night ... and special bonding time for best friends.”

  Harper was positive he’d made up the last part. “I guess it’s up to you.”

  “It is.” Zander flicked his attention to the stacks of clothes. “Is that all you’re packing? You’re going to run out of costume changes on day two if that’s all you’re bringing with you.”

  “I’m pretty sure that costume changes are out of the question.” Harper folded her arms over her chest and stared down her best friend. “You know we actually have to carry our own stuff to the campsite, right?”

  He avoided eye contact. “I’m well aware.”

  “My understanding is that we have to hike a mile from the cars into the woods. Jared looked at a map or something and that’s what he deduced.”

  “So?”

  “So, who is going to carry all these bags you plan on packing? They’re going to have tents at the site ... and pots and pans ... and a few other necessities. We’re responsible for everything else ourselves.”

  “I know that.” His voice rose an octave, telling Harper he was getting testy. “I’ve got it handled.”

  It wasn’t that Harper didn’t trust him — he was her best friend for a reason — but on things like this he tended to exaggerate. That’s exactly what she was worried about now. “I’m not carrying one of those bags for you either. Jared and I have carefully measured out the space in our bags. We each get a midsized bag for clothes and then we both have to carry an additional bag of other supplies.”

  “I said I’ve got it covered.” Zander’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Why do you always assume I don’t know what I’m doing?”

  “I never said that.”

  Jared picked that moment to stroll into his bedroom. He was fresh from the shower, a towel knotted around his waist, and his bare chest gleamed with water droplets. “Do I even want to know what you two are arguing about right now?” he queried as he moved toward the dresser. His eyes momentarily scanned the piles of clothes. “I thought you were going to have that stuff packed by the time I was finished with my shower.”

  Harper pinned him with a dark look. “I’m working on it.”

  “Not very fast. We’re leaving in an hour.”

  “Zander distracted me.”

  “Oh, right,” Zander muttered. “Blame it on me.”

  Jared was used to the other man’s antics and he was having none of it today. “I want to avoid rush-hour traffic. That means we’re leaving in an hour. I don’t really care if you’re with us, but this particular train will be leaving the station on time.”

  Rather than be offended, or race out of the room to continue packing, Zander cocked his head. “Has anyone ever mentioned how cute you are when you decide to be bossy? I mean ... you’re just so adorable when you’re snarling like a militant cocker spaniel.”

  Jared refused to be drawn into a fight. “Are you packed?”

  “Mostly.”

  “See, something tells me that’s a lie.”

  Zander worked his jaw and looked to Harper for support. “He’s calling me a liar. That’s the sort of man you’re marrying. I just ... I can’t believe you would let him talk to me that way.”

  Harper had navigated enough minefields to know she was venturing into dangerous territory, but she pushed the matter anyway. “He’s not kidding, Zander. He’ll leave you behind.”

  “And I’ll enjoy it,” Jared added, strolling to the dresser and yanking open one of the drawers. “You packed the allergy meds and stomach stuff, right, Heart?”

  Harper nodded. “Once you mentioned that we would likely be eating beans and hot dogs for the duration, I tossed in two bottles of heartburn relief ... just to be on the safe side. You don’t know who might want to borrow from us.”

  “Good thinking.” Jared paused next to her long enough to press a kiss to her cheek. He had a pair of boxer shorts in his hand and looked to be returning to the bathroom. “If you’re concerned, throw in an extra shirt and pair of pants. I think everything we picked out is going to be more than enough, though.”

  Harper chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “I’ve just never done anything like this before.” Her blue eyes were conflicted when they locked with his amused orbs. “They’re calling this a celebrity endorsement. I mean ... a celebrity. I’ve never thought of myself that way before.”

  Jared’s chuckle was low and dry. “You’ll be fine. You’re the headliner in my dreams every night and that’s gone well so far.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “You’ll be fine,” he repeated, his voice throaty. “I’ll be right there with you.”

  For some reason, that promise — even though she was already aware of it — had Harper’s insides loosening. “You’re right. I’m acting like a crazy person. I’ll have this stuffed in the bags by the time you get your underwear on.”

  “Good.” He gave her another kiss and then fixed Zander with a sidelong look. “You’ll definitely have me on this trip as a form of backup. I’m not sure about your best friend here.”

  “Oh, you’re so funny.” Zander’s eye roll was so exaggerated Harper was surprised he didn’t tip off the side of the bed. “I told you that I’m packed and ready. The only reason I came over here was because I knew Harper wasn’t even close to ready. I didn’t want her to be left behind.”

  “I wouldn’t leave her.” Jared strolled out of the room, putting a little “oomph” into it as he shut the bathroom door, loudly.

  “The more time you spend with him, the more I think you’ve made a mistake,” Zander drawled. “I think you should hold out and wait for another guy. This one is clearly defective.”

  Harper bit back a sigh. While she was looking forward to camping with Jared — she hadn’t been on a real camping trip since she was a teenager — she knew she was in for a battle with Zander. He wasn’t an outdoor boy in the least, no matter what he said to the contrary, and she was expecting a nonstop litany of complaints from him over the course of the next few days.

  “You really are packed, right?” she pressed, visions of Jared tearing out of the parking lot with a screaming Zander close on their heels. “He wants to get to the campground at a reasonable time.”

  “I’m packed.”

  Harper stared at him for a beat longer and then nodded, seemingly content with the answer. In truth, it was likely Shawn was back at the other house — which happened to be located across the street — furiously shoving things into bags because Zander had abandoned the task midcourse, she rationalized. Shawn was the diligent sort, so being late wasn’t in his wheelhouse.

  “Let’s go back to the white thing for the wedding,” Harper suggested. It seemed like a much safer topic after all. “Are you going to wear a white tux?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” Zander beamed as he grabbed the stack of clothing Harper had committed to and shoved it into the nearest bag. “I was thinking of going with a black-and-white theme. Shawn could be in black, and I’ll be in white. You’ll be in white, too, because you’re my maid of honor.”

  “I’ll be your matron of honor by then.”

  Zander stilled, his expression unreadable. “Huh. I hadn’t worked that out yet. It’s true, though. You’ll be an old married lady soon.”

  Harper glar
ed holes in her friend. “Did you have to add the ‘old’ part? I don’t feel old.”

  “Okay, not old,” Zander hedged. “You’re not exactly a spring chicken, though.”

  Any warm feelings Harper had been directing toward her friend evaporated in an instant. “I think you should go and double check that you’ve packed everything. If, while you’re gone, you sprouted a new personality, that would be great, too.”

  “You’re singing my song now, Heart,” Jared announced as he strolled out of the bathroom in his boxer shorts, his eyes going to the bed. “I see half the stuff is packed.”

  “And it’s stuff I packed,” Zander fired back.

  “He’s distracting me,” Harper protested. “I had everything under control until he showed up.”

  Jared stared at her for a beat and then turned his attention to Zander. “Go home and help Shawn pack.”

  “I’m done packing! Why don’t you people believe me when I say that?”

  “Because we’ve met you.” Jared moved his hand to Harper’s shoulder and gave it a light rub. He could tell she was struggling to keep from snapping at her best friend. It wasn’t him as much as the weight of her shifting duties. This was new to her, and she wasn’t yet used to publicly embracing her abilities, at least not on a wide scale. “Go home and finish your packing. We’ll see you in an hour.”

  Zander looked as if he was about to offer up a loud argument, but ultimately he snapped his mouth shut. “Fine. I won’t forget this, though.”

  “We’ll be ready for whatever diatribe you come up with.” Jared waited until he heard the front door slam to pull Harper in for a hug, relishing the way she melted against him. He’d picked a strong woman on purpose, because she enthralled him with her wits and poise. He wouldn’t change a single thing about her. Still, it felt good when she let him take care of her. “It’s okay,” he whispered into her hair. “I know it might not seem like it now, but this is going to be fun.”