She sat down again, silently chewing the taco, her eyes drifting to Dani time and again. Dani wouldn’t meet her gaze and Harper guessed she was embarrassed. Embarrassed by what she’d said last night. Embarrassed by the hug they’d shared. Embarrassed for opening up to Harper, only to be rebuffed.

Harper took a deep breath, looking inward for a moment. Had she rebuffed Dani? In a manner of speaking, yes. But why? Well, there was Jan, of course. There was her guilt. No. If she were being totally honest with herself, it was the absence of guilt. The guilt she’d carried with her these last few years was starting to slip away. Was she afraid it would disappear altogether? Was she afraid that if it disappeared, Jan would fade away too?

When had it happened? She couldn’t remember a time when Jan wasn’t the first thing she thought about each and every morning. Now? No. The last week, Jan hadn’t been there. She’d had to force thoughts of Jan into her mind. Like now. It wasn’t Dani’s fault, though. It was this assignment…it was being together with her all the time, it was sharing meals…sharing a bed. It was sharing her personal space with someone again. It was sharing all of that with a beautiful woman who said she was attracted to her.

Dani didn’t have to come right out and say the words. If Harper were willing, they’d be sharing more than just a bed at night. Harper looked over at Dani, seeing her staring at the wall. What thoughts were running through her mind? Did she wish this case was over and done with so she could get away? Get away from Harper? Get away from these feelings that were springing up between them? Is that what Harper wanted? For Dani to leave? For Dani to leave and take those feelings with her? Leave her in peace…alone again with only her guilt—and Jan’s ghost—for company?

Harper let out a quiet sigh and closed her eyes for a moment. No. That wasn’t what she wanted at all.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Dani stared first at the dozen red roses, then at the doll that Officer Fadden held—another Raggedy Ann doll. She then slid her gaze to Harper, whose own stare was on the doll.

“So? What should I do with them?”

Harper looked up at him then. “A kid delivered them?”

“Yes, ma’am. And get this. He said a guy dressed as a clown gave him twenty bucks to bring them here.”

Harper clenched her jaw. “Did he happen to say where this clown guy was?” she asked, her words clipped.

He shook his head. “He said the guy took off down the street, but he wasn’t sure where he went. I asked him to wait in the office if you want to go talk to him.”