True Grit Spirit: A Maddie Graves and Hannah Hickok Mystery

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I’ve got my men going through that enemies list,” Boone supplied. “They’ve been calling the people on it. The good thing is that we’ve been able to mark people off the list because it’s easy enough to confirm alibis ... especially if these people are in Texas or California.”

  “What about the ones you haven’t been able to get on the phone, though?” Maddie queried. “I mean ... that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re guilty, just because they don’t pick up or anything. Some of them might be here, though.”

  Boone nodded in agreement. “They could be here. The problem is, if I were going to kill someone, I wouldn’t register for a conference under my real name. No identification was required when you signed up for this shindig, right?” He turned to Maddie for confirmation.

  “All we had to do was fill in the information online,” Maddie offered. “I mean ... I had to register under a credit card, but I remember there being an option for PayPal or even sending in a check.”

  “A legal name would have to be required for both those things, though,” Hannah argued. “What we need is a master list from the event organizer. Alicia, right? I can call her.”

  “You can, and we’ll definitely want that list,” Boone said. “The thing is, you can open a PayPal account under a corporate name ... or a nickname. Your real name isn’t automatically listed. You can open a checking account under a corporate name, too.”

  “Yes, but you still have to show identification when you open those accounts,” Hannah persisted. “I worked for a law office. You can’t just hide behind anonymity when it comes to banking.”

  Boone focused on her, thoughtful. “That’s true,” he said finally. “The problem is, it takes time to secure warrants and walk through the red tape of a banking institution. By the time we manage to check everybody off the list, the event will be over and the participants will have scattered far and wide. Once that happens ... .” He left the statement hanging, but everyone understood the repercussions.

  “We need to find the guilty party while everybody is still here,” Maddie surmised. “Our odds go way down after that.”

  “Pretty much,” Cooper confirmed. “It’s not going to be easy. As far as I can tell, anybody who ever met Velma hated her. Only a handful of people genuinely liked her, and I’m not even sure it can be said that her daughter liked her. She loved her, but that doesn’t mean she liked her.”

  “So, where do we go from here?” Maddie queried. “I mean, there has to be a direction to look.”

  “There’s always a direction to look,” Boone reassured her. “What that direction is right now for us, though, I couldn’t say. There’s one other thing I found of interest when I ran Velma’s financials. It seems she came into a lot of money a few weeks ago ... and when I say a lot, I mean a lot. A seven-figure sum was deposited in her account about six weeks ago.”

  “As in a million dollars?” Hannah’s eyebrows hopped. “Where did it come from?”

  “I don’t know. We’re trying to track back the money. We don’t have definitive answers just yet, though.”

  “Well, there’s your motive,” Cooper noted. “I’m guessing that money will be left to the daughter. Maybe we should be looking harder at her.”

  “That’s certainly an option,” Boone agreed. “I haven’t received a copy of her will yet, though. I would prefer not pushing a potentially bereaved daughter if I don’t have to. I want to wait.”

  “Besides,” Hannah added, “there’s every possibility that Velma didn’t leave her daughter that money. She sounds like the sort of person who would prefer watching her loved ones suffer rather than give them something for nothing. I mean, does anyone think she wasn’t the ‘tough love’ type?”

  “That’s another good point,” Boone confirmed. “The money is a solid clue. We need to find out where it came from, because it could point to motive. We also need to find out who was set to benefit most from Velma’s death. Those are our two biggest priorities right now.”

  “And what happens if both of those avenues turn out to be dead ends?” Maddie asked. “Where will you look after that?”

  “I honestly have no idea.”

  10

  Ten

  Maddie helped Hannah clean up the saloon after lunch, something the witch argued wasn’t necessary. Maddie insisted, though.

  “There has to be a way to separate the frauds from the real deal,” Nick noted as he watched the hoopla on the street from the window. The psychics had returned almost twenty minutes before and they seemed to be whooping and hollering it up in the middle of the town. “That would help us narrow things down.”

  Hannah found she was intrigued by the statement. “What do you mean? Why does it matter who is the real deal and who isn’t?”

  “Hmm?” Nick stirred from his reverie and shot a look over his shoulder. “Oh, sorry. I was just talking out loud.”

  “He has a habit of doing that when he’s chewing on an investigation,” Maddie offered. “I think it’s cute.”

  “It’s adorable,” Hannah agreed dryly. “He’s the cutest little thing in the entire town.” She winked to let Maddie know she was kidding. “I’m more interested in what he said about the frauds and real deals. I don’t understand why that matters.”

  “It goes to motive,” Nick explained. “If Velma was a fraud — and that’s what Astra seemed to indicate — then it’s entirely possible that another fraud figured it out and put the screws to Velma. Or vice-versa,” he added. “Maybe Velma figured out that someone else was a fraud and was blackmailing them. Maybe she was killed to keep that secret.”

  Intrigued at the prospect, Hannah rested her elbows on the counter. “You think the fresh money in her account came from blackmail?” She was dubious despite her interest. “I don’t want to be the one to throw a wet blanket on your theory, but most of these women are barely scraping out a living. We’re talking like fifty grand a year.”

  “She’s right,” Maddie interjected. “Most psychics are like me. They don’t make a lot of money.”

  Nick shot his wife a fond look. “You’re worth ten million bucks, Mad,” he reassured her. “I get what you’re saying, though. The thing is, you mentioned that Velma was famous in psychic circles. If she was the psychic to the stars as you indicated, doesn’t that mean she would’ve made more money?”

  Maddie tapped on her bottom lip, thoughtful. “Actually, it does mean that. She probably made a good six-figure living. I don’t know any psychics — and that includes those scammers on television — who are making seven figures a year.”

  “Which means the money had to come from someplace else,” Hannah surmised. “It could be family money ... or money gained from other means.”

  “You mean illegal means,” Maddie supplied. “That’s what you’re saying.”

  Hannah held out her hands and shrugged. “I’m not saying anything. I’m just theorizing.”

  “Me, too.” Maddie grinned as she moved to stand next to Nick. Cooper and Boone were outside questioning groups of psychics again. “How come you’re not out with them?” Maddie asked her husband. “I know you would rather be out there than stuck inside with us.”

  Nick slid her a sidelong look. “That’s not even remotely true, Mad. There’s nothing I would rather do than spend time with you.”

  It was a sweet sentiment, but Maddie knew better. “You’re sticking close because you feel guilty about leaving without telling me earlier. You don’t have to. It’s fine.”

  Nick was sheepish. “I love you, Mad.”

  “I love you, too. That doesn’t mean I need constant supervision. I’m obviously fine.”

  “I know. It’s just ... .”

  “There’s a killer on the loose,” Hannah finished for him. “He doesn’t want to leave you vulnerable.”

  “I’m not vulnerable,” Maddie reassured him. “You can go play with your friends.”

  “Ha, ha.” Nick poked her side. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. I believe that�
�s a husband’s prerogative.”

  “It is,” Maddie agreed. “In fact ... .” She didn’t get a chance to finish her statement. Instead, she jolted as an ethereal figure appeared beside her. The ghost — for that’s what it was — offered up a happy smile as she regarded the married couple.

  “Finally,” Olivia announced theatrically. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to find you. Next time you leave town, perhaps you should tell your mother or something, huh?”

  Maddie’s eyebrows knit together as she rubbed her hand over her heart. “Mother, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m an adult.”

  “Mother?” Nick jerked his eyes to the side and studied the spot next to Maddie, the open location where she seemed to be fixated. “What is your mother doing here?”

  “It’s good to see you, too, Nick,” Olivia drawled. “The love is just flowing, huh?”

  Maddie tried to hide her exasperation and failed miserably. “You’re a ghost,” she reminded the woman who shared her eyes. “It’s not as if you keep a schedule. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

  Olivia frowned. “I ... huh. You have a point. It’s not always easy for me to keep to a schedule, Maddie. Time moves differently for me. I’m doing the best that I can.”

  Fascinated by the scene unfolding in front of her, Hannah dried her hands on a towel and edged closer to the ghost. She’d seen a few spirits here and there since arriving in Casper Creek. The one she visited with most regularly, though, belonged to her grandmother. It was an entirely different experience to witness someone else’s relationship with a dearly departed soul.

  “This is your mother,” Hannah said finally. She felt like an invader in a conversation that had nothing to do with her, but she couldn’t pull away. “You guys kind of look alike ... and kind of don’t.”

  “The more time you spend with them, the more they look alike,” Nick reassured her, his hand on Maddie’s back. “It’s kind of freaky.”

  “You’re only saying that because you thought of her as a second mother and we’re married,” Maddie argued. “That means you think of me in a sisterly fashion.”

  Nick was clearly horrified at the prospect. “Stop saying things like that,” he hissed. “You know it freaks me out.”

  Maddie grinned and then turned back to her mother. “Not that I’m not glad to see you, but what are you doing here?”

  “Looking for you,” Olivia replied, turning serious. “I stopped in at the house and it’s absolute chaos. Do you know your grandmother is plotting against Harriet in her apartment?”

  Maddie snorted. “That’s a normal thing.” Her gaze darkened, considering. “Although ... she’s not planning anything weird, right? No fire ... or fireworks ... or anything of that nature, correct?”

  “I didn’t hear mention of fire,” Olivia replied. “Well, I guess that’s not completely true. There was talk about fire whiskey. I think that’s a normal occurrence when it comes to pouring their tea, though.”

  “That’s a true story,” Maddie muttered. “You don’t have to worry about Granny, though. I have people checking up on her.”

  “I know.” Olivia bobbed her head in understanding. “She’s very upset about that, by the way. She’s promising retribution. Apparently Christy and John are taking their assignments very seriously. They’re using babysitting duty as a way to prepare for the imminent arrival of their little one. They’re practicing different parenting styles on Mom.”

  Maddie smiled at the picture her mother was painting. “See. Everything is under control.”

  “I’m not here because of your grandmother,” Olivia reassured her. “I’m here because of you. I just wanted to check in.” She took a moment to glance around the saloon. “This is ... different. What are you doing here again?”

  Maddie caught her mother up on events, doing her best to ignore the way Hannah studied the visiting ghost. “So, basically I was trying to explore life outside of my comfort zone for a bit and stumbled across another murder.”

  Olivia chuckled, amused despite herself. “Oh, you’re such a trip sometimes, Maddie.” She shook her head and mimed patting her daughter’s shoulder. “Only you would stumble into a murder when you’re supposed to be on vacation.”

  “Yes, well ... .” Maddie trailed off. “It’s a mess and yet, oddly enough, we’re having a good time. Nick loves hanging out in an Old West town.” She chewed on her bottom lip as she darted a look toward Hannah. “We’re making new friends, too.”

  “Of course you are,” Olivia reassured her. “You’re a fun girl, Maddie. People like you ... when you open yourself up to the possibility, that is.” She slid her gaze to Hannah and studied the woman for a long beat. “You have a ghost attached to you, too.”

  Hannah’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?” She looked over her shoulder to see if she could catch a glimpse of Abigail but came up empty. “Have you met my grandmother?”

  “Not yet, but I’m looking forward to it.” Olivia flashed a bright smile. “Your aura shows me that you spend regular time with a lingering soul. A lot of the women out there share similar auras.”

  Maddie and Hannah both cocked their heads in the same manner, intrigued.

  “What’s going on?” Nick asked, reading the change in the room with some trepidation. “Has something happened?”

  “Maybe,” Maddie replied, a plan forming. “I think I might have a way to sort the real deals from the frauds.”

  Nick straightened. “And how is that?”

  “The real psychics have ghosts attached to them,” Hannah volunteered. She was as excited at the prospect as Maddie. “I didn’t even consider it, but it make sense.”

  “If there were more ghosts out there, wouldn’t you have already seen them?” Nick challenged.

  “Not if they’re hiding,” Maddie replied. “Ghosts can hide from people ... but not from other ghosts.” She grinned at her mother. “Do you want to help us with an assignment?”

  Olivia nodded without hesitation. “Always. I love a good adventure.”

  That’s exactly what Maddie was counting on.

  IN THE END, HANNAH THOUGHT INTRODUCING Olivia and Abigail was a smart plan. The two ghosts hit it off right from the start — both women enthusiastically recounting their pasts — and then they walked straight through the wall so they could watch the other psychics from a good vantage point.

  “I’m going to be honest,” Nick said as he watched the activity on the street from the relative safety of the saloon. He had no problem seeing over the swinging doors, so that’s where he positioned himself. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked a case where we utilized ghosts as manpower.”

  Maddie laughed at his perplexed expression. “Your life has changed since I came back into it, huh?”

  The look he shot her was fond. “For the better. Still, though, this is all kinds of weird. How are we going to explain how we get from point A to point B if it comes time to convince a prosecutor that we need a warrant?”

  Hannah laughed so hard at the question she bent over at the waist. “Oh, geez. I can’t believe you just asked that with a straight face.”

  Nick refused to be deterred. “I’m serious. Velma might’ve been a psychic, but she was killed with a knife. To me, that seems to indicate a human assailant, not ... whatever it is you’re used to dealing with up here. That means a trial and incarceration.”

  As quickly as she started laughing, Hannah ceased. She hadn’t even considered that possibility until now. “Huh.” She flicked her eyes to the window. “Maybe we should watch them. If they point us in a certain direction, then we’ll figure out a reason to focus on those individuals before we even approach them.”

  “What if you can’t come up with a reason?” Nick was blandly serious. “That could ruin the entire case.”

  “Well ... .” Hannah swished her lips back and forth, stumped for an answer.

  Finally, Maddie was the one who stepped in to save the conversation. “We’ll figure it out, Nicky. We always
do. Don’t pooh-pooh our plan if you don’t have a better one to offer up. It’s going to be fine.”

  Nick’s smile was back. “You sound convinced.”

  “I am. I have faith.” She turned her attention to the street, to where Olivia and Abigail were making a big show of stalking a blonde psychic who didn’t appear to realize she was being followed. “Of course, it couldn’t possibly hurt to watch them to make sure they don’t get out of hand.”

  Nick snickered. “I’m glad to have you back on the mother hen team, Mad. It was lonely in Worryland without you.”

  “WE’VE FOUND EIGHT OTHER GHOSTS,” Olivia announced two hours later, popping into the saloon and causing Cooper to practically fall out of his chair.

  Despite being brave, the security guru made an odd screeching sound that caused Hannah to have to cover her mouth to hide her smile. “Who are you?”

  “My mother,” Maddie volunteered from behind the counter. She was fascinated with the cappuccino maker and had been futzing with the controls for a good twenty minutes. “Mom, this is Cooper. In addition to being head of security at Casper Creek, he’s also Hannah’s boyfriend.”

  “Oh.” Olivia wrinkled her nose and made an adorable face. “You’re just the cutest, huh?”

  Nick, who was sitting next to Cooper and going through the submitted biographies of the other psychics, sat up straighter in his chair. When Olivia wanted him to hear, he could hear, which was exactly what was happening now. “Excuse me, but I’m the cutest. Me.” He thumped his chest for emphasis. “You can’t turn on me now.”

  “You’re definitely the cutest,” Olivia enthused, floating through the table and landing on Nick’s left side. He couldn’t see his mother-in-law, but he could feel her presence, and it was something he’d grown to rely on. He knew, deep down, that if Maddie were ever really in trouble, Olivia would move Heaven and earth to get to her daughter. So, even though it was weird to share space with a ghost, he was more than happy to do it.