“Sick, sick, sick.”
“There are worse things to be.”
NIKKI WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY when Jack and Brian pulled up to the house. They parked on the street, exchanging a look when they realized Nikki was trying to shove a suitcase into the trunk of her car ... and not having a lot of luck.
“Hold on there,” Jack called out as he jogged to Nikki’s aid, grabbing the suitcase before it could topple to the side and potentially damage the items inside. A quick glance in the trunk told Jack all he needed to know. “Are you moving out?”
Nikki was a bundle of nerves and agitation. The look she shot Jack was pure venom. “What does it matter to you?”
“It matters because we’re in the middle of a murder investigation,” Brian replied. “We’re trying to figure out who killed Janice, and whether you like it or not, you’re on the top of the list.”
Nikki’s lips twisted into a sneer. “Oh, well, how great,” she drawled. “I’m always looking for things to list on my résumé and now I can list murder suspect. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.”
Brian merely blinked in response as Jack attempted to get a handle on the situation.
“I’m not trying to be a pain here or anything, but where do you think you’re going?” Jack asked. “Is there something you’d like to tell us?”
“There surely is.” Nikki’s smile was almost sweet. “Mind your own business and get off my lawn.”
Jack didn’t back down. “Where are you going?”
“And why?” Brian interjected. “Why are you leaving now? You know it looks suspicious, don’t you?”
“Well, I weighed the embarrassment against wanting to stay alive and decided to live with the embarrassment.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that I’m getting out of this freak show,” Nikki exploded, her temper coming out to play. “Do you have any idea how sick I am of ... well, pretty much everything? It was bad enough when everyone in town was calling me a tramp and accusing me of heinous things. I mean ... I kind of expected that, although with Maisie and Ava running around you would think people would be used to it.
“I put up with it because I was convinced Brad and I belonged together,” she continued. “I believed in soul mates and happily ever after. Can you believe that nonsense? I mean ... do you guys believe in soul mates? Of course not. That’s a chick thing. A delusional chick thing at that.”
Jack’s mind drifted to Ivy and the pouty set of her lip when he left her with her father. “I believe in soul mates.”
“Oh, yeah?” Nikki arched an eyebrow. “Perhaps I should’ve gone with you. There’s still time. I’m going on the market. I’m going to be a free woman ... and soon.”
“I’ve already found my soul mate.”
“Ivy Morgan?”
Jack nodded. “The one and only.”
“I should’ve figured.” Nikki was disgusted. “That chick ... she must be magical or something. That’s all I can figure. I mean, she lives in the woods by herself. Her only friend is her brother. She has pink hair ... which is so nineties. She does everything wrong and she snags you. It’s un-freaking-believable.”
“It’s fate,” Jack corrected, refusing to play any of Nikki’s rather pointed games. “What happened between you and Brad to make you realize it wasn’t going to work?”
“What makes you think I believe it’s not going to work?”
“You’re packing to leave.”
“Right.” Nikki squinched up her face and then sighed. “He’s not the man I thought he was. Over the past week or so, he’s been different.”
Brian and Jack were officially intrigued.
“Different how?” Brian asked.
“He’s been stressed, yelling at me for the simplest things,” she replied, taking on a far-off expression. “It used to be that he was on me the second he came home. He couldn’t get enough of me. Now he barely looks in my direction.
“I mean, he was out of town for five days. You would think he would’ve missed me over the course of that time. But, no. He hasn’t as much as touched me since he got back. He’s a man and I’m not hideous so he should be all over me.”
Jack pressed his lips together to keep from commenting on Nikki’s take on male-female relationships.
“How has he changed?” Brian pressed. “I need you to be specific.”
“He’s been cold and remote,” Nikki replied, lowering her voice to that of a sad little girl. She almost looked sad, which made Jack want to kick himself because he didn’t believe she deserved sympathy. “He acts as if everything that has happened is somehow my fault. It’s not, though. I didn’t do this. I thought maybe he did it, but he’s been acting so angry that I’ve backed off that assumption.”
“I thought he was out of town,” Jack prodded. “How could he do it if he was out of town?”
“Well, I probably shouldn’t say anything.”
“I think you should definitely tell us,” Brian argued. “We’ll make sure word gets out that you cooperated if what you tell us leads us to an arrest.”
Nikki brightened considerably. “Really? That will help with the people around town. Maybe they won’t hate me as much if they think I helped.”
“Exactly.” Brian’s tone was placating. “What’s been going on with Brad? What makes you think he could’ve been responsible for this? We checked and he had reservations in Chicago at the time of Janice’s murder.”
“The thing is, I got a weird phone call yesterday,” Nikki admitted. “It was from a gas station in Grand Rapids. They said Brad left his credit card behind when he filled up on Monday night. That didn’t make sense to me so I confirmed with them, but they claim that Brad left his credit card there close to midnight ... and they weren’t sure they would be able to find him because he mentioned going south.”
Jack and Brian exchanged a quick look.
“That’s only about a five-hour drive,” Brian noted. “He could’ve driven here, killed Janice, and driven back and technically only eaten up about eleven hours. If he retired early in the day, put the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door, and then drove straight through, he could’ve pulled it off.”
“I guess.” Jack rolled his neck until it cracked. “Why, though? What would his motive be now?”
“He was angry. He said Janice poisoned Phoebe against him. He’s been blaming me for that, too.” Nikki lifted her arm and displayed a colorful bruise close to her elbow. “He shoved me into the wall yesterday because he said everything that’s happened is my fault. I didn’t know what he meant, but I didn’t agree to be a punching bag. I waited until he left for work today and then started packing. I’m going to be out of here before he gets home today.”
“Is he at the office?”
“Yeah. He says he can’t shirk on his work even though they offered to give him time off to look for Phoebe. It’s almost as if he knows she’s not coming back.”
Jack frowned. “We don’t know she’s not coming back.”
“She has to be dead,” Nikki argued. “Where would she be otherwise?”
“We have a few ideas. For now, though, we’re going to help you pack up and then you can move into the bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town for the time being. At least for the night.”
“I don’t have the money for that.”
“We’ll take care of it. Shirley owes me a favor or two.” Brian’s smile was winning. “We simply want to make sure you’re safe before we head over to question Brad.”
“I don’t care what you do with him.” Nikki was petulant as she gestured toward her suitcase so Jack could lift it in the trunk. “This is so not how I saw this relationship going.”
“I’m guessing not.”
“I thought it would be kisses and candy. Instead it turned into bills and constant arguments. That’s not the happily ever after I wanted.”
“Not everything is a book.” Jack grunted as he lifted the suitcase. “What do you have
in here?”
“Everything of value … and about fifteen things I can trade for beer in a pinch.”
“That would explain it.”
Seventeen
The next stop for Jack and Brian was the insurance office. Jack wasn’t familiar with the woman behind the counter, a bubbly blonde with a wide smile and grating giggle, but Brian clearly recognized her because he greeted her by name.
“Hello, Leah. How are you?”
“I’m doing great, Detective Nixon,” she enthused. She was so bouncy Jack wasn’t sure how she managed to stay in her seat. “How are you and Mrs. Nixon? I haven’t seen you since graduation.”
“She graduated with my son,” Brian explained to Jack. “My wife and I are both good. Thank you for asking.”
“Oh, no problem. You know I’ve always loved you and Mrs. Nixon.” She turned her eyes to Jack. “You look familiar. I feel as if I should know you. Did we go to high school together?”
Jack arched an eyebrow. “No. I’ve only been in the area for a year.”
“Jack is my partner, Leah,” Brian offered. “He moved here from the Detroit area.”
“Oh, right.” Leah brightened. “You’re the guy living with Ivy Morgan.”
Jack nodded. “I am. We’re getting married.”
“I heard Ivy was lying about that. Maisie Washington said that she was paying you to pretend you were together.”
Annoyance rolling off him, Jack gritted his teeth and managed to hold his temper. “Well, Maisie is nuttier than peanut brittle.”
“I’m not asking because I believe Maisie,” Leah stressed. “I’m just asking because you’re really hot and we don’t get a lot of hot guys in Shadow Lake.”
“Oh, well, that’s possibly very flattering,” Jack drawled. “I am most assuredly taken. We’re actually here for a reason, though, other than talking about my dating life, that is. We’re looking for Brad Green.”
“Brad?” Leah made a face. “He’s off this week. His daughter is missing.”
“We know. That’s why we want to talk to him.”
“He took time off when he got back from his trip.”
“And what was his trip?” Jack asked. “I mean … why did he leave the state?”
“There was some new software training for the adjusters.” Leah’s energy level had dissipated since Jack shut her down. “He wasn’t the only one there. Mr. Dykstra was there, too.”
Jack and Brian exchanged a quick look.
“And is Mr. Dykstra here?” Brian asked after a beat.
“He is.”
“We would like to see him … and sooner is better than later.”
“HERE WE ARE.”
Michael was all smiles as he dropped Ivy off in her driveway. He moved to kill his truck’s engine so he could walk her to the front door, but Ivy put her hand on his wrist to stop him.
“You don’t have to walk me to the door. It’s right there. We can both see it.”
“I believe my agreement with Jack stipulates that I’m not to leave until you’re safely inside the house,” Michael argued. “I know I will feel better if I escort you over the threshold and wait until I hear you engage the locks.”
Ivy made an exaggerated face that only a father could love. “Dad, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. It’s like … five feet.”
“You never were very good with distances. It’s more like forty feet.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s an exaggeration.”
“And I’m pretty sure that being belligerent isn’t going to make me give in. Just let me walk you to the door.”
“Fine.” Ivy tugged on her limited patience as she hopped out of the truck and pointed herself toward the porch. “I think this must be a man thing. You guys just dig in and dig in until there’s nothing left to dig but bone marrow, and you do it to wear down women. That’s why people always ask if we have PMS. It’s the lack of bone marrow.”
Michael was amused despite himself. “Oh, kid, you know you’re my favorite, don’t you?”
Ivy smiled as she dug into her pocket for her keys. “Of course. Your only other option is Max and we both know I’m much smarter than him.”
“You’re definitely something.” Michael tweaked her nose and watched as she inserted a key into the lock. He had something else on his mind, but he wasn’t sure if he should push the issue given everything going on. Finally, he couldn’t stop himself. Holding back wouldn’t be good for either of them. “How are you doing with everything that’s been going on?”
Ivy wasn’t sure what to make of the question. “What do you mean? I’m fine. I’m good. I … what are you worried about?”
“I’m your father. That means I’m allowed to worry about you no matter how old you get. Don’t give me grief about it.”
“I’m fine.” Ivy instinctively grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Your little bombshell about getting a double dose of some weird family sight thing threw me for a loop, but I’ve decided not to dwell on it. In fact, I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m no longer going to fight what happens. Instead, I’m going to embrace it. I think fighting it has been a wasted effort.”
“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t put up a fight.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a work in progress. I like to think I’m still growing a little bit. I mean … not in my hips or anything, but when it comes to maturity.”
Michael’s smile was so big it practically swallowed his entire face. “You’re definitely growing. I think Jack has a little something to do with it.”
“Probably more than I want to give him credit for.”
“Yes, well, I’m happy with who you’ve turned out to be no matter what.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’re kind of worked up and twitchy. I also know you don’t like being referred to as ‘twitchy,’ That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve grown into a remarkable woman. I love you very much.”
“Thank you.” Ivy opened her arms and gave him a long hug. “I love you, too.”
“Good.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Now get your butt inside. I want to hear that lock engage before I leave this porch. I absolutely refuse to fall down on the job when dealing with Jack. I may be your father, but something tells me that won’t stop him from yelling if I let you schmooze me a second time in the same week.”
“I’m going to tell you a little secret. Jack is putty in my hands. You have nothing to fear.”
“You’re still going inside and locking the door.”
“Of course I am.”
“And I’m standing here until you do.”
Ivy scowled. “I hate feeling infantilized.”
“You’ll get over it.”
Even though she wanted to hold onto her righteous indignation, Ivy knew that was true. “I still don’t like it.”
“Life is sometimes difficult, Ivy. It’s a hard truth, but there it is.”
JACK AND BRIAN SWUNG back by Brad’s house to see if they could track him down but the simple ranch looked empty. They waited at the end of the street for thirty minutes before giving up and pointing themselves toward the other side of town.
Hank was in his driveway again. It seemed to be his favorite hangout spot. He had a beer in his hand and was relaxing in a lawn chair. Even though he warned them not to return without a warrant, the police officers decided it was a worth a shot to pressure him for more information. There was always the chance that he’d imbibed enough that he would’ve forgotten his previous edict.
“Well, well, well. Look who’s back.” Hank wasn’t exactly slurring his words, but he clearly wasn’t of sound mind either.
“Hey, Hank.” Brian sat in the second chair as if he’d been invited. “How are things?”
“The same as the last time you were here.”
“Have you seen Phoebe?”
“I told you I didn’t have anything to do with that girl going missing.” There was an edge to the older man’s voice. “Why do you keep coming
around? I’m innocent. Isn’t being innocent until proven guilty a thing in this country?”
“We’re not insinuating you’re guilty,” Brian countered. “We are, however, exceedingly worried about Phoebe. She’s been missing almost a week. We have reason to believe she’s been injured.”
“What makes you think that?”
“We found blood at Ivy Morgan’s greenhouse, which is about two miles away from where Phoebe’s purse was discovered,” Brian replied, opting for honesty. “We tested the blood and it belongs to a female relative of Janice Green. Since Janice is an only child, well, that pretty much only leaves Phoebe.”
Hank shifted on his chair, clearly uncomfortable. “What do you think happened to the girl? I mean … how do you think she was injured?”
“We don’t know. There’s a lot about this case that doesn’t make sense. We can’t understand why Phoebe would be in the woods, at the greenhouse, and not go to Ivy’s house and ask for help. It doesn’t make any sense.
“We’re not going to give up looking for her, though,” he continued. “As long as we believe she’s out there, and needs help, we’ll continue looking.”
“Well, that’s your job.” Hank swigged from his beer. “You should keep looking for her. If my daughter was missing, I would expect the cops to find her.”
Brian pursed his lips. There was something about Hank’s demeanor that sent his suspicions into overdrive. He simply couldn’t put his finger on what it was. “Speaking of your daughter, we ran into her today. She’s leaving Brad.”
“What?” Hank’s sparkplug eyebrows flew up his forehead. “Is that a joke?”
“Not even remotely. She was packing up her car and planned to leave town. We talked her into staying at the bed and breakfast for at least a night so we can track down Brad. We went to the insurance office, but he doesn’t appear to be there. I don’t suppose you know where he is, do you?”
Hank didn’t strike Jack as much of an actor, so when the man expressed profound surprise, he actually believed him.
“I have no idea where Brad is,” Hank replied, shaking his head. “I honestly don’t. I don’t like the guy. I’ve never kept that a secret. Nikki knows I hate him. I never visited them. I wanted her to leave him, but she refused. She thought she was going to get some fancy life I never gave her from him. It was … ridiculous.”
Wicked Haunts (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 12) Page 16