“Give it a second,” Cooper intoned, watching as Velma approached two women and heatedly started speaking, waving her hands for emphasis. Sure enough, after a few moments of discussion, a brunette with bright eyes hurried in the direction of the saloon. “She’ll find us.”
Hannah was grim as Alicia Clarke entered the building. The woman — Hannah estimated she was in her late twenties — scanned the space until her gaze landed on Casper Creek’s owner.
“There you are.” Alicia stepped forward grimly. “It seems we have a problem.”
“I’m sure we do,” Hannah acknowledged. “The thing is ... we can’t tear down the saloon, no matter what she wants. Believe it or not, it’s a moneymaker and this is a business.”
“Oh, I understand that part.” Alicia let loose a baffled half-laugh. “I don’t know what she expects you to do on that front. We told her that people would be allowed to drink. She can’t control what others do. She doesn’t like hearing that but ... well ... she’s just going to have to get over it.
“The thing is, she has an announcement she wants to make,” she continued. “She says it’s important, something everybody in attendance will be interested in. She doesn’t want to give the announcement in the saloon, though, because she says it has negative vibes.”
Hannah and Cooper exchanged weighted looks. This wasn’t the tack they expected Alicia to take.
“What sort of announcement does she want to make?” Cooper asked finally.
“I’m not sure. She’s a big figure in the psychic world, so if we could make it happen ... .” She trailed off, sheepish. “I’m sure this sounds absolutely ridiculous to you and I don’t blame you for being dubious ... or whatever it is you’re feeling.
“The thing is, we’re trying to do something here,” she continued. “We want to make others realize that psychics aren’t something to be feared, or even revered. They’re real people who just happen to have extraordinary abilities.
“Velma is a big name in certain circles. She’s considered a ‘psychic to the stars’ so to speak. She was a big name for us to get — we thought we were going to have to settle for her daughter at first — and even though I don’t want to put you on the spot because it doesn’t seem fair, if we could somehow accommodate her ... I would really appreciate it.”
That’s all Hannah had to hear. The organizer was apologetic and knew Velma was being a pain. It was still important to her, and if Hannah wanted Casper Creek to be considered for big events in the future, she recognized she would have to learn to cater to people ... even if she didn’t like them.
“What about the brothel?” she asked out of the blue. “Would she be okay with that space?”
Alicia looked so relieved there was a moment Hannah was convinced the woman was going to hug her. She kept it together, though. “I’ll make it work. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it.” Hannah was resigned to figuring things out. “We’re going to need thirty minutes to get it ready, though. Can you give us that?”
“Absolutely.”
4
Four
Maddie and Nick enjoyed their drinks and then exited the saloon. It was obvious Hannah and Cooper were discussing something serious and the Michigan couple wanted to give them their space.
“I’m guessing owning an Old West town is stressful,” Maddie announced when they were on the street.
Nick nodded, his gaze going to the post at the corner of the street. “This is where they tie horses.”
Maddie made a face. “Awesome.”
“Maybe we can ride horses.” He looked intrigued by the suggestion as he flicked his gaze back to her. “That might be fun and romantic, huh?”
“I’ve never really thought about it before, but sure.” Maddie couldn’t get over how excited Nick was to be in the town. Even if it turned out to be a wash for her — a possibility she was internally debating — the trip would obviously be worth it for Nick. She made a mental note not to complain about the hotel room again. There was no reason to be negative when they had so much to be thankful for.
“Horses would definitely be fun.” His hand shifted to her back. “Were you saying something before that?”
She studied his profile and then shook her head. “Just commenting on how cool the town is.”
“Totally cool,” he agreed, tugging her to him so he could give her a hug. “Did I mention that I wanted to be a gunfighter when I was a kid?”
The statement caught Maddie off guard, and yet even as she fought the urge to laugh at what she considered an absurd statement, she realized he was deadly serious ... and it niggled something in the back of her brain. “I remember one summer you made me dress up all in black and had me pretend to be the bad guy. You took some of your father’s cowboy hats for the game and got in trouble.”
Nick smiled at the memory. “Yeah. You hated being the bad guy. Then I did research on the women of the time and decided you should work in a brothel. I had no idea what that meant, but when I told my mother she got really quiet.”
Maddie snorted. “You never told me that.”
“My mother made me promise never to tell you. She said it would get the people in town talking. I never understood any of it until I was older and found out what a brothel really was and then I was really glad I never made you work for one.”
“Yes, we’re probably all glad about that.” Maddie tried to picture her mother’s face if she were to have come home as a child and announced she was working for a brothel. “Yeah, it’s probably best your mother nipped that in the bud.”
Nick chuckled, delighted with her, and slung his arm around her shoulders so he could kiss her temple. “I love you, Maddie. You would’ve made an excellent Madame.”
“Ha, ha.” She pinched his flank but sank into the embrace, her eyes going to the brothel across the street. “What do you think Velma is going to announce?”
Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. She seems like an egomaniac to me.”
“Yeah. That’s a bit disappointing. I’ve read a few books written by her and I assumed she was a good person. That does not seem to be the case.”
“I’m sorry. You expected to like her.”
Maddie held out her hands and shrugged. “I admired her. It’s not the end of the world, though.”
“No, but ... you were hoping for more.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Poor Maddie.” He crushed her tightly against his chest and kissed her lavishly. “I guess I’ll have to lift your spirits later, huh?”
She grinned. “Now that right there sounds like a plan.” Her gaze traveled back to the brothel. “Maybe she was just having a bad day or something. She could’ve been nervous. People get nervous in strange situations, even those who seem extremely secure and strong.”
Nick’s fingers were gentle as they brushed her flaxen hair away from her face. She always wanted to see the best in people ... right up until the point when they hurt or betrayed her. While it was one of the reasons he fell head-over-heels for her, it was also a tendency that worried him. Still, he was determined to make sure she had fun on this trip. They didn’t travel a lot and he was open to making as many memories as possible when it was still just the two of them.
“We can go check,” he offered. “Maybe we can offer our help and it will calm her down.”
Maddie brightened. “That’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes, keeping her in place before she could scamper off. “Don’t get your hopes up too much,” he admonished. “She’s likely to be just as obnoxious with us as she was with Hannah and Cooper.”
“I know. Still, it’s worth a shot.”
He heaved out a sigh and nodded. “Fine.” He would give her anything her heart desired if it was within his capabilities. That included this. “We’ll offer our help.” And pray I don’t have to yell at her if she’s rude to you, he silently added as they started crossing the street
. If there was one thing he wouldn’t put up with, it was someone being cruel to his wife.
Maddie was the first through the brothel door and her gaze immediately went to the ornate staircase that led upstairs. It looked to be hand-carved and made her want to check out the second floor. Before she could even step in that direction, though, Nick’s hand was on the back of her shirt, drawing her back.
“What?” She was legitimately confused. “I just want to see. I don’t want to join the profession.”
Nick swallowed hard, all traces of mirth missing from his handsome features. “Mad ... .”
“What?” Frustration bubbled up as Maddie tried to figure out what had her husband going so pale. “Is something wrong?” She swiveled to take in the other side of the room and she almost lost her footing as shock washed over her.
Velma was there, as promised, but whatever the announcement had been, it was no longer a consideration because the prominent psychic was very obviously dead on the ground. She lay on the hardwood floor, her eyes wide and sightless as they pointed at the ceiling. There was a huge knife sticking out of her chest.
“Come with me.” Nick pulled Maddie against him and glanced around to make sure they were alone. “We need to find Cooper so he can call the police.”
“But ... maybe she’s not dead.” Even as the words escaped, Maddie knew how ridiculous they sounded.
“She’s dead, Mad. I’m sorry but ... we need to get help. Come on.”
NICK KEPT MADDIE ANCHORED TO his side as the local authorities descended on the property. The bulk of the psychics in attendance had grouped together in the saloon, horrified by what had happened. Given their involvement in numerous cases, Maddie and Nick were the opposite. They wanted to know exactly what was going on, even if it meant being privy to painful information.
A tall man wearing a badge stood with Cooper, their heads bent together, and Nick focused his attention on them as he ran his hand up and down Maddie’s back. “Must be the sheriff,” he murmured.
“Hmm.” Maddie had been focused on the brothel, which the coroner’s office had taken over, and she had to turn to see what had garnered her husband’s interest. “I’m sure he’ll want to talk to us.”
“I’m sure he will, too. In fact ... yup ... here they come.” Nick brushed his lips against Maddie’s forehead, briefly wondering why their lives were always so intertwined with death. It drove him crazy.
Cooper offered a wan smile for Maddie’s benefit as they approached. “This is Sheriff James Boone. He’s going to be in charge of the investigation.”
Nick nodded in understanding. He was hardly a novice when it came to murder investigations. As capable as Cooper seemed — and he appeared to be on top of things — he was still a civilian.
“This is Nick and Maddie Winters,” Cooper started, and then quickly corrected himself. “Maddie Graves-Winters.”
Boone smiled at the blonde, taking a moment to study her grim features. She looked a bit shaken, although he could hardly blame her given the circumstances. “You would think she would’ve seen it coming,” he offered.
Maddie blinked several times, her forehead wrinkling. “I’m sorry?”
Boone repeated his lame joke. “She’s a psychic, right? You would think she would’ve seen it coming.”
Cooper shifted from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. “Um ... Maddie and Nick are here for the psychic event, too.”
Boone’s cheeks colored quickly. “Oh, well ... are you psychic?” He wasn’t a non-believer. He was familiar with the supernatural shenanigans that plagued Casper Creek on a regular basis. Heck, he’d been involved in more than one fight. He was also familiar with grifters, though, and he knew the psychic profession was often targeted.
“My wife is ... gifted,” Nick offered. Personally, he found Boone’s reaction funny. Given the circumstances, though, he knew better than laughing. Maddie was obviously keyed up and he didn’t want to diminish her feelings ... whatever they may be. Honestly, he was still trying to figure that out. “She’s the reason we’re here.”
“Well, no offense intended.” Boone offered up a weak smile. “I understand you found the victim. Did you know her?”
Nick shook his head. “We never met her. Well, other than in the saloon earlier, and even then we didn’t technically meet her. We just saw her.”
“I knew of her,” Maddie volunteered, finding her voice. “She’s famous in certain circles.”
“And what circles are those?” Boone queried.
“She’s ... well-known,” Maddie replied, holding her hands palms out. “I don’t know how to explain it. She’s written quite a few books.”
“And you’ve read these books?” Boone wasn’t trying to be difficult, but he found he had trouble gauging the nervous woman’s intentions. She didn’t look the sort to murder anyone — she was soft and her husband obviously doted on her — but he’d been burned by a pretty package more than once. Sometimes those who looked sweet and innocent were the most vicious.
Maddie nodded. “My mother ran a magic store out of our house when I was a kid,” she explained. “She was psychic, too. She had Velma’s books on the shelves and she encouraged me to read whatever I wanted. One winter I picked up a book. Before I knew it, I’d been through her entire library. Er, well, up until that point.”
Boone nodded in understanding. “Is that what made you want to be a psychic?”
The question had Maddie frowning. “You don’t really choose to be psychic. You either are or aren’t.”
Boone had to admit, it was a good answer. It was actually what he wanted to hear from her. “Fair enough. I need you to give me a rundown of what happened from your perspective.”
Nick did just that. He was calm, precise, and delivered the information in a manner that had Boone’s eyebrows hopping.
“You’re a police officer,” Boone noted when Nick was finished.
“In Michigan,” Nick confirmed.
“Well, that helps matters. At least this way I don’t have to explain things to you.”
“Definitely not,” Nick agreed. “I’m guessing you don’t have cameras in that building, huh?” He shifted his eyes to Cooper. “Too bad. You would already have your culprit if you did.”
“We don’t have cameras anywhere but by the lift,” Cooper replied. “That’s where we have the most trouble.” What he didn’t add was that cameras would actually work against the Casper Creek crew because of the paranormal activity on the property. That was better left unexplored ... at least for now. “We’re going to have to solve this one the old-fashioned way.”
“Well, good luck.” Nick moved his hand to Maddie’s shoulder. “I don’t envy you having to deal with this. If it’s okay, though, I want to take Maddie back to the saloon. I think we could both use a drink.”
“Knock yourself out,” Boone encouraged. “We’re going to be dealing with this for a bit. I’m sure we’ll touch base later, though.”
“Absolutely.”
HANNAH WAS CLOSE TO MELTING DOWN. She stood, apart from everybody — by choice — and watched the activity at the brothel with a heavy sense of dread. This couldn’t be happening. Not now.
“It’s going to be okay.” Tyler slid up behind her, causing her to jolt. He rested his hand on her shoulder and offered up an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I thought you heard me.”
“You didn’t frighten me,” Hannah reassured him quickly, gracing him with the briefest of smiles. “I was just ... thinking.”
“You were thinking that you’re worried this will be the final nail in Casper Creek’s coffin,” he surmised. “I get it. Things have been rough lately, what with the sins taking human form and attacking us and all.”
Hannah’s mind flitted to Becky and she involuntarily shuddered and pressed her eyes shut. “I just don’t think that being known as the place where tourists die is going to be good for us,” she admitted. “I’ve only been in charge for a few months. Casper Cr
eek has been here for decades. I don’t want to be the reason that Abigail’s dream dies.”
Tyler took pity on her. “Hannah, the town is going to be fine. I promise. Death — at least in this particular case — isn’t going to keep people away. It’s only going to enhance the mystique. You’ll see. I bet it will actually increase business.”
Hannah’s heart heaved at the prospect. “That actually makes me feel worse.”
Tyler chuckled as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “Typical woman,” he teased. “You want it both ways, don’t you?”
“I just don’t want to screw things up.”
The kiss Tyler pressed to the side of her head was friendly. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me. You haven’t screwed anything up.”
Hannah hoped that was true. Before she could respond, though, footsteps on the wooden walkway caught her attention. When she shifted, she found Cooper approaching.
“I see you’re moving on my woman,” the security guru said dryly, shaking his head and making a tsking sound with his tongue. “I can’t turn my back for a second.”
“We’re running away together,” Tyler supplied. “We didn’t want you to find out about us this way but ... you simply cannot ignore chemistry.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Cooper slid his arm around Hannah’s waist and tugged her to him. He recognized she was frazzled. The only thing he had to offer her, at least right now, was a hug. Honestly, he needed to hold her as much as she probably needed to be held. “How are you?” he whispered, smiling as Tyler nodded and moved away. The animal wrangler recognized the couple’s need for privacy and didn’t put up a fight.
“I’m ... confused,” Hannah admitted, tilting her head to the side. “How could this happen without anyone realizing it? I mean ... how?”
“I don’t know, baby.” Cooper stroked his hand over the back of Hannah’s head. He’d been asking himself the same question. “Boone is about to sit down with Velma’s assistant and daughter. They’re over in the seamstress shop. We figured that was a small, contained environment for interviews. Once we talk to them, we’ll go from there.”
True Grit Spirit: A Maddie Graves and Hannah Hickok Mystery Page 4