Ghostly Issues (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 2) (16 page)

“We have to go back out to the Donnelly house,” Zander said, causing Harper to shift her eyes from her computer screen.

“Why?”

“Because Jenny Porter just ambushed me while I was downtown picking up our lunch – this is why we should never go out on the street when other people are around, by the way – and claims that the house is definitely haunted and we need to do an exorcism right now.”

Harper made a face. “We don’t do exorcisms.”

‘That’s what I told her and she told me to shut it,” Zander said, dropping a deli bag on Harper’s desk. “So, as soon as you’re done with your lunch, I think you and Eric should go out there.”

Harper balked. “Eric and me? No way.”

Zander sat at his desk and opened his own bag, fixing Harper with a serious look. “We both know it’s time you gave Eric the talk,” he said. “If you don’t, he’s going to spend the next six months moping.”

“Why six months?” Harper asked, unwrapping her sandwich. “You don’t think Jared is going to bolt after six months, do you?”

Zander made a face. “I think Jared is whipped for life, Harp. Don’t flip yourself out over an offhand comment. If you’re going to start doing that, I’m going to have to punch you. Since I can’t punch a girl, that means I’m really going to have to punch Jared. No one wants that.”

“Jared would kick your ass,” Harper argued.

“Says you,” Zander shot back. “I’m in prime condition, baby. I box at the gym.”

“And he’s been trained to kill people.”

“Yes, but he’s all fuzzy-wuzzy over you,” Zander said. “He’s distracted. I would be on him before he even realized what was happening.”

Harper made a mournful face. “I don’t want to talk to Eric,” she admitted. “Where is he anyway?”

“He’s getting lunch down at the hot dog stand on the corner because he’s still mad at me,” Zander answered.

“He’s still mad about yesterday? He needs to get over it.”

“That’s why you’re taking him on this job,” Zander said. “He’s mad at me because he can’t internally rationalize being angry with you. You’re his heart’s desire. The problem is your heart is already taken, and even if it wasn’t he wouldn’t be the one you’re looking for.”

“But … .”

“No,” Zander said, wagging a finger. “You have to tell him. He’s not going to move on unless you make things clear to him. I can’t do this for you. He doesn’t believe me when I say you’re not interested. He doesn’t want to believe me.”

“I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

“I think it’s too late for that,” Zander said. “That’s why you have to do it now.”

“Fine.”

“Good,” Zander said. “Now eat your sandwich and tell me all about your romantic night with Jared. How did sex the second time around go?”

“I hate you sometimes.”

“I love you, too.”

“WHY
are we back here again?” Eric grumbled an hour later, trudging up the driveway to the Donnelly house and reminding Harper of a petulant teenager.

“Because Jenny claims more mysterious things have happened and she’s going to show us this time,” Harper replied. “She’s just finishing up a showing at another house and then she’s heading in this direction.”

“You said there wasn’t a ghost here, though. Does she think you’re going to magically conjure one?”

“I have no idea,” Harper said, studying his dour profile for a moment. “I’m sorry I made you come out here with me. If you want to go back, you can take my car and I’ll catch a ride with Jenny.”

Eric was instantly contrite. “That’s not what I was saying,” he said. “I just … I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” Harper said, sensing her opening. “It’s just … .”

Eric cut her off. “Zander sent me out here because he doesn’t want to be around me, didn’t he?”

“That’s not it.”

“Are you guys going to fire me because I got in that fight with Zander? If so, I understand. It was completely unprofessional.”

Harper sighed. She couldn’t put this off another second. “We’re not going to fire you, Eric,” she said. “You’re a great colleague and you have an outstanding work ethic.”

“Then why did Zander send me out here with you instead of coming himself?” Eric challenged. “You two are in love with each other again. It’s not like he wants to get away from you.”

“He sent you with me because he thought we should talk,” Harper said, squaring her shoulders. “I think we should talk, too.”

“About what?” Eric’s face was unreadable.

“You know about what,” Harper said, choosing her words carefully. “Here’s the thing, Eric … .” She had no idea how to finish the sentence.

“You don’t like me
that
way,” Eric supplied for her. “I know you don’t. I’m sorry if you feel I’ve been … coming on too strong.”

“Personally I’m flattered that you would even think of me in that regard,” Harper said. “I really am. I just don’t have romantic feelings for you. I hope we can stay friends. I don’t want to upset you … or hurt you … or embarrass you. We have to get past this, though.”

“You don’t like me because of Jared, right?”

“I have very strong feelings for Jared,” Harper confirmed. “Even I can’t explain how I managed to fall for him so quickly. If Jared didn’t exist, though, I still wouldn’t have romantic feelings for you. I don’t want you getting the wrong idea.

“He’s not standing between us,” she continued. “He’s standing in front of me, which is where I want him to be, but there can never be an us even if Jared disappears tomorrow.”

“Well, that was brutally honest,” Eric muttered.

“I’m really sorry,” Harper offered.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” Eric said, straightening and extending his hand. “Still friends?”

Harper shook his hand, even though she felt ridiculous doing it, and smiled. “We’ll always be friends, Eric.”

“Then I have absolutely nothing to complain about.”

“I’M
sorry I’m late. My showing took longer than it was supposed to.”

Jenny Porter, her red hair streaming behind her, scampered up the front walk, jangling a set of keys in her hand.

“That’s okay,” Harper said, pushing herself away from the wall she’d been leaning against. “We haven’t been waiting that long.”

“It’s good to see you, Harper,” Jenny said, giving Harper a quick hug and smiling at Eric. “Who are you?”

“I’m sorry,” Harper said, remembering her manners. “This is Eric Tyler. He works with Zander and me.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Jenny said, gracing Eric with what could only be described as a flirtatious smile. “Wait … you only work with Zander, right? You don’t do anything else with him, do you?”

Eric forced a tight smile. “We just work together.”

“Whew! That’s a relief,” Jenny said, opening the door of the cottage and fixing Harper with an apologetic look. “I’m wildly attracted to gay guys for some reason. Whenever I look at a guy now and think he’s hot I just assume he’s gay.”

“Welcome to Zander’s world,” Harper teased.

“Yes, well, I’m afraid I jumped on him downtown,” Jenny said, leading Harper and Eric inside. “He didn’t look happy to see me.”

“That’s just his face,” Eric said.

Harper ignored the dig. Eric was working overtime to get over his bitterness. She opted to give him a little leeway. “So what happened this time that has you convinced there’s a ghost?”

“Everything keeps moving,” Jenny explained, stopping in the small living room first. “For example, do you see that lamp by the table over there?”

Harper nodded.

“It’s not supposed to be there,” she said. “It’s supposed to be on that other table and yet it has moved to this one twice. I’m not moving it. No one else is coming in here. If it’s not ghosts, how is it moving?”

“Ghosts don’t really move lamps,” Harper replied.

“Are you saying ghosts don’t move things?”

“I … .” Harper broke off, biting her lip. In truth, ghosts did move things. She’d never heard of them moving a lamp, but stranger things had happened. “What else has moved?”

Jenny moved from the living room into the kitchen and pointed at the counter. “Do you see that canister?”

“The cookie jar?” Harper asked, moving farther into the room.

Jenny nodded. “That cookie jar was on the baker’s rack the other day and today it’s on the counter,” she said.

“Are there cookies in it?” Eric asked.

“What does that matter?”

“I’m just curious if someone moved it to get cookies out,” he said. “That might signify that a human was moving things instead of a ghost.”

“What human?” Jenny asked, her agitation growing. “I’m the only human coming in here except for the people I show the house to and I can guarantee they’re not moving things around. Plus, the cookies in that jar have been there for months. They’re stale.  No one would eat them.”

Harper licked her lips as she scanned the cottage. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Nothing felt off. The house was empty. “I don’t see a ghost, Jenny,” she said, lifting her hands helplessly.

“Do you always see them at all times?” Jenny was starting to get shrill.

“No.”

“Well, then it’s probably hiding!”

“Hey, kids, what’s going on?” Jared appeared in the doorframe, taking everyone by surprise and causing Jenny to clutch at her chest.

“Is he a ghost?”

“He’s a police officer,” Harper replied dryly, rolling her eyes until they landed on Jared. “You know you can’t just walk into a strange house, right? That’s technically against the law.”

“Not when you leave the keys in the door,” Jared said, lifting Jenny’s key ring and shaking it. “That’s not safe, by the way.”

“Oh, thanks,” Jenny said, snatching the keys. She took a moment to collect herself and when she did, she turned her full attention to Jared. “You’re the new cop, huh?”

Jared nodded. “And you are?”

“Jenny Porter.” She extended her hand and shook Jared’s, lingering long enough to make Harper feel uncomfortable. “You’re not gay, are you?”

Jared made a face. “That’s a nice opening line you’ve got there,” he said, pulling his hand back.

“I’m sorry,” Jenny said. “Every time I find a man attractive he turns out to be gay.”

“That’s possibly very flattering,” Jared said, turning his attention to Harper. “What are you doing here?”

“This is the real estate agent I told you about,” Harper explained. “She thinks there’s a ghost here because things keep moving.”

“Do you see a ghost?”

Harper shook her head.

“Do you think there’s one here?”

“I honestly don’t,” Harper replied. “I can usually feel a presence long before I see something. I don’t feel anything here.”

“So, you’re not gay?” Jenny asked, her interest in Harper’s part of the conversation waning.

“No,” Jared answered, winking at Harper.

“Do you want to go to a real estate party with me tonight?” Jenny asked. “I know it’s short notice, but you’re extremely attractive. I’m taking a shot that you haven’t been in town long enough to hook up with anyone.”

“You must send off a scent to attract women or something,” Eric muttered.

Jared opened his mouth and then snapped it shut, debating how to answer. He took longer than Harper would’ve liked, though, and she made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat.

“Chill out,” Jared ordered. “I was just deciding what I should say.”

“Don’t let me stand in your way,” Harper snapped. “I think you should go to the real estate party.”

“I knew this would happen,” Eric said.

“Hey, nothing is happening,” Jared said, extending a warning finger in Eric’s direction. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“Am I missing something?” Jenny asked.

“No,” Harper said.

“Yes,” Jared countered. “While I appreciate the offer, I already have a girlfriend.”

“You do?” Jenny was disappointed. “Who worked fast enough to nab you? You’ve only been in town a month.”

“Harper nabbed me,” Jared answered, smirking at the murderous look on his delightful blonde’s face. “She moved in and snapped me up like I was the last stuffed mushroom on the tray.”

“That is just … .” Harper shook her head, mortified.

“You’re dating him?” Jenny asked, impressed.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Harper replied, glaring at Jared. “I was this morning. Now he’s kind of bugging me.”

“She swooped in and stole my heart,” Jared said, patting his chest. “Harper stole my heart.” His face was thoughtful. “That’s what I’m going to call you.”

“What?” Harper was confused.

“Never mind,” Jared said, shaking his head. “We’ll discuss that later. I only stopped because I saw your car and wanted to see what you were doing. I haven’t seen you in four hours and I think I’m going through withdrawal.”