Zander’s mouth dropped open as Shawn stifled a giggle behind his hand.
“Sidekick?” Zander was positively apoplectic. “Are you kidding me? I’m nobody’s sidekick. If anything, Harper is my sidekick.”
“Is that really important now?” Harper complained, shooting her best friend a dirty look.
“Um, yes!” Zander’s eyebrows hopped for emphasis. “I’m never the sidekick.”
“Harper is the one who sees the ghosts, though,” Harris pressed. “She has to be the one in charge.”
Harper had heard enough of this conversation. “I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade — mostly — but I already have a job. Zander and I run our own company in Whisper Cove.”
“Yes, but I would like to offer you a job on the ground floor here.” Harris’ eyes sparkled. “I think, together, we can turn this endeavor into a multimillion-dollar operation. It will probably take a few years — and we will have to be able to expand into different parts of the state — but I think it’s going to be a success.”
Harper was legitimately dumbfounded. “I live in Whisper Cove,” she pointed out.
“You can move. This is a lovely spot.”
“I’m getting married.” She gestured toward her engagement ring for emphasis. “Jared and I share a house. We’re going to share lives.”
“And he can visit whenever he wants.”
Harper worked her jaw, her mind blank as she tried to figure out how to get Harris to see her side of things. Luckily for her, Jared decided to tackle the problem himself.
“Yeah, we’re not going to be separated,” Jared noted. “We’ve set up our life how we like it, and we’re staying in Whisper Cove. We just bought a house together. We have a hammock, for crying out loud. Nobody is visiting anybody because we’re sticking together.”
“You could move up here, too,” Becky interjected hopefully.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen either,” Jared stressed. “We have a life we like. We’re not messing that up.”
“Besides,” Harper added, hoping to smooth over some ruffled feathers, “I wouldn’t be able to help you anyway. There aren’t enough ghosts up here to keep us in business.” Technically there were two ghosts running around at the present time, she reminded herself, but she hoped to fix that before she left. If she had her way, there would be no unanchored ghosts hanging around by the time she was finished. “I need a bigger population to draw from.”
“Not if you make it up,” Harris countered.
Harper blinked several times in rapid succession. “I’m sorry but ... what?”
“Make it up,” Harris repeated, not ashamed in the least. “Our guests won’t know if you’re seeing real ghosts. You’re probably good at faking it, right?”
Jared cleared his throat and shifted next to Harper, shooting a warning look at Zander. “Don’t even think of saying a word,” he warned.
The conversation was surreal, to the point of being absurd, and Harper had no idea how to handle any of it. “While I appreciate the offer, I think I’ll keep my present job,” she said finally. “We won’t be leaving Whisper Cove.”
Disappointment positively dripped off Harris, and he let out a world-weary sigh. “Have it your way.” He grabbed his tray and stood, his shoulders slouched. “I thought for sure you would see the merit in this plan. I guess not, though.”
Harper watched the man trudge over to another table, legitimately baffled. “He couldn’t possibly think that I would just move my life to suit his whims,” she said finally. “That’s … crazy.”
“Ignore him,” Becky offered. “He’s had a rough day. I don’t think he realizes what he’s saying.”
“Did something happen?” Jared asked, curious. “Did you get news on Leslie Duncan?”
Becky bobbed her head. “Right before dinner.” She sucked in a breath to steady herself. “The medical examiner says that there’s no way this was an accident. She was stabbed in such a manner that she would’ve bled out quickly. Even if somebody stumbled across her in a reasonable amount of time, she couldn’t have been saved. That doesn’t change the fact that this was done deliberately, though.”
The news wasn’t exactly surprising, but Jared had to take a moment to absorb it all the same. “Do you know when she died?”
“Sometime before we found her,” Becky replied automatically.
Jared had to temper his reaction. “Yes, I know, but do you have an exact time of death?”
“Oh, no. Sorry.” She held out her hands. “I just know that it wasn’t an accident, and this is either going to be the thing that puts us on the map or kills us before we even get started. Harris is still reeling from the news. He was convinced it was an accident.”
“Well, he’s going to have to adjust.” Harper focused on her potato salad for a beat. “And we’re going to have to start at the beginning.” She shifted her gaze to Jared. “After dinner, do you want to take a walk with me?”
He nodded without hesitation. “Always.”
13
Thirteen
Harper reassured Shawn and Zander they didn’t have to go with her back to the spot where Leslie’s body was found. She even encouraged them to head back to their tent and take some downtime. Both were adamant the group should stick together, though.
So, fueled by mild guilt, Harper led the way back to the spot in the woods. It was quiet, the only sound coming from the bugs and birds, and she immediately peeled off from the group upon arrival.
Jared, Zander, and Shawn were familiar enough with her process to take a step back and allow her to work. Jared kept his gaze directed toward the trees in case somebody evil was loitering but otherwise remained silent.
For her part, Harper moved in a circle around where the body was found ... over and over and over again. Her pace was light and easy, and Jared found she’d somehow managed to lull him to the point where he was drifting ... when suddenly she pulled up short.
“I figured you would show up eventually,”
