Page 23 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

“It could work,” she prompted Harper.

Harper raised her gaze to Natalie. “I’m afraid to even hope.”

“Never be afraid to hope. We’ll figure it out. I promise. You’re not alone.”

The tiniest smile twitched up Harper’s lips. “All right. Thank you. And you’re right. Who knows? Maybe the ghost of Doug will turn out to be a good guy and save the day. Stranger things have happened.”

Natalie snorted. “You can say that again.”

The front door opened, sending the bell tinkling.

“Customers,” Harper announced. “Let me get out of your way. And go home and shower. I didn’t get a chance this morning with having to get that package into the morning mail and then the sheriff hauling me away and all.”

“And that all worked out in the end. Right?”

“Yes, Suzy Sunshine. It did.”

A stranger stood by the counter as Natalie walked ahead of her through the door between the meeting room and the shop.

“Hi, can I help you?” she asked.

“Are you Harper Lowinsky?”

Frowning, she said, “No. She’s Harper.”

The man turned to Harper. “Harper Lowinsky, aka Harper Lowry?”

She swallowed hard. “Y-yes.”

He reached into his messenger bag and withdrew a large manila envelope which he thrust into her hands. “You’ve been served.”

Harper stared at the envelope for so long, the process server was already outside by the time she glanced up and said, “I’m afraid to look.”

“Want me to look?” Natalie offered.

Harper held out the envelope, her hand trembling enough Natalie could see it shake.

Legalese wasn’t Natalie’s forte but she skimmed the document and managed to catch the drift. And it wasn’t good.

“So it looks like the Plaintiff, Mrs. Douglas Pompinou, is suing you.”

“For what?” Harper demanded.

Natalie’s gaze moved down the page to read some pretty frightening phrases.

COUNT I – WRONGFUL DEATH

COUNT II – DEFAMATION (LIBEL)

COUNT III – INVASION OF PRIVACY / RIGHT OF PUBLICITY

COUNT IV – INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Then her eye traveled to the dollar amount and she almost choked. There were so many zeroes she had to check it twice to make sure she’d gotten it right. But no matter how many times it came out the same.

Plaintiff seeks damages in the amount of $2,000,000…

She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t be the one to deliver this life altering news to her best friend.