Ghostly Issues (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 2) (23 page)

“You’re a sick piece of work,” Harper yelled. “I think you’re disgusting. I think what you did to Derek was horrible. I think what you did to Zander was horrible. I hope they put you in a cell with a big bubba rapist in prison so you can complain about homosexuals to your heart’s content.”

Jared’s eyes widened as Harper lifted her leg and slammed her foot into Jim’s groin, causing him to scream and reach for his most precious possession. He went limp as Jeff struggled to hold him steady. Jeff finally relented and watched him fall to the ground, where Jim proceeded to roll and hold his testicles as Jeff watched him with impassive eyes and the shovel at the ready.

“You’re a big ninny,” Harper said. “I really hate you. I should’ve set you on fire when we were in high school. I would’ve been doing the world a favor.” She lifted her leg again and slammed it on top of Jim’s hands as he tried to protect himself. The man bellowed, his face contorting in agony. “You’re a sick pervert and I think you’re an ass, too.”

“Harper!”

Harper jumped at Jared’s voice, swiveling to find three concerned faces staring at her. “He had it coming,” she said, refusing to apologize.

Jared swooped in and grabbed her, pulling her in for a tight hug. “You scared me.”

Harper returned the hug, relief at being safe overwhelming her as tears finally threatened. “I’m okay. Jeff saved me.”

“Jeff is a hero,” Mel said, clapping the worried-looking man on the shoulder and circling Jim with a dark look. “Jim here is a murderer and is going to prison for the rest of his life thanks to Jeff and Harper. How does it feel, boy?”

“I’m going to kill you all,” Jim seethed.

“Promises, promises,” Mel muttered. “When you’re done groping yourself you need to put your hands up so I can cuff you. I’m looking forward to your perp walk downtown. We’re going to call all the local newspapers and television stations so they’ll be there to see it happen.”

“I’m not afraid of you!”

“Then you’re dumber than you look,” Mel shot back, keeping one eye on Zander as his nephew moved closer to his former tormentor.

“I guess karma finally caught up with you, didn’t it?” Zander asked, his face unreadable.

“No one cares what you think, faggot,” Jim hissed.

“That did it,” Harper said, moving to pull away from Jared. He held her close and refused to let her leave his side. “Someone get me some gasoline.”

“I’ve got this one, Harp,” Zander said, grinning. He lifted his own foot and brought it down on Jim’s groin, taking everyone by surprise. No one moved to stop him, and when Jim screamed a third time it sounded as if he was a wounded animal caught in a trap.

“Was that really necessary?” Mel asked. “He’s been kicked in the nuts so many times I’ve lost count now.”

“Harper got to do it,” Zander protested.

“I guess you’ve earned it,” Mel said, giving in. “Don’t do it again, though. We don’t want one of those things to explode before he gets his day in court.”

“Yes, sir,” Zander teased, leaving his uncle to deal with Jim and moving toward his best friend. “I’m going to yell at you tomorrow about getting in a car with a murderer.”

“He stole my keys,” Harper said. “I didn’t realize he was a murderer at the time.”

“I’m still mad,” Zander said, grabbing Harper away from Jared, practically daring him to complain with a dark look. “My Harper.”

Jared rolled his eyes, although he couldn’t help but smile. “We’re going to have to learn to share.”

“I guess I can live with that,” Zander said, pulling Harper to him and burying his face in her blond hair as he let the tears overtake him. “I need her right now, though.”

“Take your time,” Jared said, smiling. “I’m going to handle your murderous little friend over there. I’m going to want her back in exactly two hours.”

“We’ll work out a custody arrangement,” Zander murmured as Harper rubbed his back.

“Or we’ll just all hang out together,” Jared countered. “Everything is going to work out. Don’t worry about that.”

For the first time that night, no one was worried about anything.

Jared dropped the small cooler he was carrying on the ground next to the hammock the next afternoon, grinning as he watched Harper relax with her book. She wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup and she was dressed in simple yoga pants and a tank top, and he still thought she was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

“Are you going to stand there watching me all day, or are you going to get in the hammock?” Harper didn’t glance up from the book.

“I’m coming,” Jared said, moving closer and eyeing the roped swing bed. “How do I get in this?”

Harper finally put the book down and graced him with a smile. “Roll in next to me.”

It took a little finagling, but Jared finally managed to climb in next to her, sighing when she situated herself so she could rest her face on his chest.

“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” Harper admitted after a moment. “How are things down at the station?”

“Jim has officially been charged with Derek’s murder, so many drug counts I can’t keep track of them all, and stalking and kidnapping you,” Jared replied, rubbing soft circles on the back of her neck. “Brandon, Dylan, Lexie, and David are all facing drug charges. It looks like the prosecutor is going to offer them a deal for community service and a clean record if they keep their noses clean for five years.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“I don’t know,” Jared responded honestly. “They knew what they did was wrong and I think they’re all pretty horrible. Jim manipulated them, though. I’m not sure they would’ve done any of those things if he wasn’t pulling their puppet strings. The only one in that group who had a legitimate defense was Derek … and he’s gone. He is gone, right?”

“I sent him on his way last night while you guys were dealing with Jim,” Harper answered. “He wanted to see his parents one more time. Zander and I waited for him outside and then … I helped him cross over.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“It is.”

“Then how come you sound so sad?” Jared asked.

“Jim was worse than I thought,” Harper explained. “He didn’t just do something horrible to Zander when he was a teenager. He terrorized Derek and used how he was born as a weapon against him. He’s sick.”

“Yeah, well, he admitted what he had in store for you to us at the station – although he’s denying he said it now and claims we forced him into a confession by beating him – and it wasn’t pretty,” Jared said. “You were smart to jump out of his car when you did. How is your hip?”

“You can kiss it and make it better later.”

“Gladly,” Jared said, tightening his arm around her back. “You know you’re going to have to testify in court about what happened, right?”

Harper nodded.

“How are you going to explain the Derek stuff?”

“I’m going to say that I told Jim I was talking to Derek’s ghost because I wanted to unnerve him,” Harper replied. “That’s not technically a lie. I was hoping the knowledge Derek was there would scare him off. If they press me on it … I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll probably tell the truth.”

“I think Jim’s lawyer would be stupid to go after you, but I can’t say for sure that he won’t,” Jared said. “I’ll be there. I’ll be with you.”

“Are the kids’ deals contingent on them testifying against Jim?”

“Yeah,” Jared said. “If we’re lucky Jim will try to make a deal of his own and not take this to trial. He’ll still do at least twenty years, but he’ll have the opportunity for parole at some point.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“I know,” Jared conceded. “We can only do what we can do, though. I want you safe more than anything else. We’ll know more in a few weeks. Until then, I don’t want you to worry about this.”

“Do I look worried?”

Jared’s expression softened. “You look beautiful.” He lowered his mouth and gave her a sweet kiss. “Before we get to really hammocking – wait, is that a word?”

Harper shook her head and smirked.

“I like it as a word,” Jared said, unruffled. “Before we get to our official hammocking, I do have a spot of good news for you.”

“I love good news.”

“It seems that Crimestoppers had a reward for the identification and arrest of Derek’s murderer,” Jared said. “Since Jeff caught him, he’s getting the reward.”

Harper perked up. “Really? How much?”

“Ten grand.”

“That’s wonderful,” Harper breathed, rubbing her fingers against Jared’s muscled stomach. “Does he know?”

“He does,” Jared confirmed. “He wants to get his own place so we could be alone at my place. I talked him out of that.”

“Why?”

“Ten grand might seem like a lot to him right now, but it will go quickly,” Jared explained. “I talked him into keeping the apartment above the garage in exchange for doing my yard work and repairs. We came up with a plan and I think that he can make a go of a landscaping and snow removal business here. If he stays at my place until he’s on firm financial ground, things should work out for him in six months. He almost cried … and then he agreed.”

“I was so relieved when I saw him,” Harper said. “I thought Jim was going to get his hands on me until Jeff showed up. I’m so happy for him.”

“Jeff saved you,” Jared agreed. “He was only at my house because you saved him, though. He recognizes that. I think he’s a little smitten with you.”

“That’s cute.”

“He’s going to have to get in line,” Jared said. “I was smitten with you first.”

“I think your spot is safe,” Harper teased.

“It had better be,” Jared said, glancing around. “Is it just us? Where is Zander?”

“Well, he was feeling so energetic after last night he decided to go and pick up a date to dump later this evening,” Harper replied. “I think we’re safe for the next twelve hours.”

“Good,” Jared said, rolling Harper so she was practically on top of him and kissing her again. “Teach me how to hammock.”

“You don’t hammock,” she said, giggling. “You just lay around in a hammock and enjoy the day.”

“That’s a good start,” Jared said. “Let’s enjoy today and not worry about anything else. Then, tomorrow, we’ll do it again.”

“You don’t even know if you’re going to like being in the hammock yet,” Harper pointed out.

“You’re here,” Jared said. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it.”

Harper’s cheeks reddened. “So you’re saying you want to spend the whole day with me?”

“Just for starters,” Jared said. “Our adventure, Heart, is just beginning. Relaxing in this hammock sounds like the best start ever, though. Don’t you agree?”

Harper couldn’t think of anything better. “Are you going to cook for me later, too?”

“I put steaks and fresh vegetables in your refrigerator before coming down.”

“I think this is going to be a great day,” Harper said, kissing the tip of his nose.

“I think this is going to be a great adventure,” Jared clarified, tightening his arms around her waist. “Now, come on. Let’s hammock.”

Harper Harlow and Jared Monroe are happy. Life is good for the lovey-dovey duo, and even a near brush with death can’t slow them down.

When an old friend of Jared’s invites the couple to a murder mystery event at nearby Harsens Island, Harper jumps at the chance to meet someone from her new boyfriend’s past – and play a little dress up at the same time.

The insight into Jared proves to be invaluable, but when a real murder pops up, Jared and Harper find themselves on another case – only this time the suspect could be someone Jared has known since childhood.

A huge storm isolates party guests, and when Harper and Jared start closing in on a murderer, they find themselves in danger … again.

Jared is determined to keep his future safe, even if someone from his past wants to eradicate it. Harper and Jared are going to have to work together … and everyone is a suspect.

Ghostly Deceits is available in May 2016.

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.