“Oh, you can’t change your mind now,” Cooper admonished, wagging a finger. “You said I was the cutest. Take-backs aren’t allowed.”
Olivia’s grin was indulgent. “Oh, you’re definitely cute. If Maddie and Nick weren’t soulmates, I would totally want you for my daughter.” She flicked her eyes to Hannah, who was watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. “Of course, I think you already found your perfect match.”
“I did,” Cooper agreed, his hand automatically moving to Hannah’s shoulder. “Maddie is lovely, but nobody is lovelier than my Hannah.”
“Now I think you’re the cutest,” Hannah teased, lightly pinching his flank. “This isn’t a mutual admiration society, though. I believe you had legitimate information you wanted to share when you first came in.”
“Right.” Olivia bobbed her head and returned to the matter at hand. “So, Abigail is still out there — I absolutely love her, by the way — and she’s watching the other psychics. We’ve already found eight ghosts, although some are trying to hide.”
Maddie’s forehead wrinkled as she lifted what was probably her fifth cappuccino to her lips and sipped. “Do you think that’s everybody?”
Nick slid his eyes to his wife and frowned. “Mad, don’t you think you’ve had enough caffeine? You’re going to be up all night at this rate.”
Maddie scowled as she regarded him. “I think I’m in charge of how much caffeine I’m allowed to have.”
“That’s all well and good, Mad, but I’m the one sharing a bed with you. What am I supposed to do if you can’t sleep? You know how I get when I don’t get my beauty rest.”
“I do,” Maddie agreed solemnly. “You’re a crab. The thing is, if I’m awake, but still in bed, I might need somebody to distract me for a bit.”
“I think that’s where you come into play,” Cooper offered helpfully.
Nick shot him a look. “Thanks for the newsflash.” His gaze skimmed back to Maddie. “You know you get nutty if you have too much caffeine.”
“Ugh.” Maddie made a disgusted sound in the base of her throat. She wanted to argue with the assertion, but she knew he was right. “This is the last one. I just ... love this machine.” She ran her hand over the knobs. “It makes the absolute best coffee.”
Nick shook his head and then turned back to Olivia. “If there are only eight ghosts, does that mean the other psychics are frauds? I mean, it seems to me that Velma’s big announcement could be that she’d discovered a fraud or something.”
“It could also be that she was writing a new book,” Cooper pointed out.
“What’s your point?”
“I think we all believe that whatever that announcement was had something to do with Velma’s death,” Cooper replied. “Killing her that way was a huge risk, especially since the town was crawling with people at the time. Anybody could’ve seen the guilty party.”
“And yet they didn’t,” Maddie noted. She had foam on the tip of her nose as she focused on her cappuccino. “Either someone was incredibly lucky or is a lot better at murder than we’re giving him or her credit for.”
“It’s a her,” Nick reminded her.
“Unless it’s a team,” Maddie shot back. “Maybe the reason our killer got away with it is because there was a lookout involved. That person could be a male or female.”
“That’s a good point,” Cooper murmured. “It’s an interesting theory.”
“I’m full of them.” Maddie took another sip of her cappuccino. “Mom says there are eight ghosts out there. It’s possible more are hiding. I don’t know that we can use ghosts as a definitive way to separate those who really have powers and those who are just pretending.”
“You have an idea, though,” Nick noted, studying her. “You have your serious face on.”
“I do have an idea,” Maddie agreed, her lips curving. “I think we should do a seance.”
Hannah jerked up her head, surprised. “Why do you want to do a seance? That seems dangerous to me.”
“Not really.” Maddie was calm, collected. “The simple fact of the matter is, a seance might force out the ghosts who are still hiding and it will allow us a chance to monitor the rest of the psychics to see who can and can’t see the ghosts. I mean ... it’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I can’t see how it could possibly hurt.”
“You know ... she kind of has a point,” Cooper noted. “If we do a seance, say we’re trying to talk to Velma and find out who killed her, our killer might try to take control of the situation and show her hand.”
“It’s kind of gauche, though,” Hannah argued. “I mean ... don’t you think it’s tacky?”
Cooper shook his head. “No. I think we have a town full of psychics and one of their own was just killed. This is something proactive.”
Hannah considered it for a beat and then nodded. “You’re right. We should probably suggest it to Alicia first, though. She’s technically in charge.”
“Then let’s do it.” Cooper grinned at Maddie and shook his head. “Your husband might not like you all caffeinated up, but I think you’re a veritable genius.”
Maddie grinned at him. “Thank you. I happen to think so, too.”
“Oh, man.” Nick lobbed a glare in Cooper’s direction. “You’re making me look bad. First my mother-in-law and now my wife. Stop it.”
“No way. I love being adored.”
11
Eleven
Hannah requested Alicia’s presence in the saloon and the woman was all smiles when she popped inside.
“Isn’t this great?” She gestured toward the center of town, to where the other psychics were practicing readings on one another. “We’re fostering a real sense of camaraderie, making connections that will last a lifetime. It’s amazing.”
“It’s busy,” Cooper agreed amiably.
Alicia’s eyes drifted to Maddie, who was longingly staring at the cappuccino machine. Nick had put the kibosh on another drink, insisting that Maddie tended to bounce off the walls and then get headaches when Hannah shot him a questioning look. Ultimately, Maddie agreed he was right ... but that didn’t stop her from coveting the caffeinated goodness.
“Only one member of our group hasn’t been very social,” Alicia said pointedly.
Slowly, Maddie tracked her eyes to the coordinator. It wasn’t difficult to figure out who the statement was pointed at. “I ... um ... .”
“Maddie hasn’t been feeling well,” Nick interjected smoothly. Maddie was a terrible liar when put on the spot and he worried she might blurt something out now that she was jittery. “We wanted to keep her inside, where it’s cooler.”
“Oh, no.” Alicia’s forehead creased with concern. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, well ... .” Maddie pursed her lips, unsure what to say. She hated getting sympathy, especially when it wasn’t deserved.
Hannah cleared her throat to get Alicia’s attention. “We actually called you here for a reason,” she started. “The thing is, we were talking to Maddie — she’s absolutely fascinating, by the way — and she told us a few stories about some seances she’s been to.”
Maddie kept her face impassive when Alicia flicked a set of questioning eyes to her, but it was a chore.
“Maddie suggested that we have a unique setup for a seance,” Hannah continued, keeping her voice friendly. “We were thinking now might be the time to host a seance up here this evening.”
“A seance? Really?” Alicia’s expression was hard to read. “Don’t you think that’s a bit ... passé? I mean, that’s the sort of thing that television and movies want us to believe happens on a regular basis. It’s not true, though.”
Because she was technically the only psychic there, Maddie felt the need to wade into the situation. “You might not participate in seances on a regular basis, but I think they can be helpful,” she interjected. “This particular situation seems like a great time to wade in and test the waters. I mean, if anybody li
ngered to tell her story, it was Velma.”
Alicia’s eyes lit with intrigue. “Wait ... you want to try and contact Velma?”
Hannah bobbed her head. “We’re extremely bothered by what happened to her.”
“Well, I should think so,” Alicia shot back. “She was brutally murdered on your property.”
Hannah maintained an even expression but it was difficult. “And it’s a tragedy. The thing is, it’s difficult for the local sheriff to uncover who might’ve want her dead because the deceased kept a list of enemies.
“Now, I’m not sure what I believe when it comes to ghosts and the paranormal,” she continued, lying smoothly. “I think it’s worth a shot, though. Maddie mentioned that she’s been involved in several seances that have helped law enforcement.”
Alicia’s eyes widened as she shifted to take in Maddie’s pretty — but pale — features. “Is that true?”
“I ... .”
“It’s true,” Nick offered. “I’m a police detective and Maddie is my wife. She’s helped me more times than I can count when it comes to cases. I have faith in her abilities.”
“And you would lead this seance?” Alicia queried.
Panic licked at Maddie’s heart. “Oh, um ... .”
“She would love to,” Hannah answered for her. “I have a few workers here who would enjoy being involved, too. They’re big fans of the paranormal.”
Alicia’s half-smile slipped. “See, this is what I’m worried about.” She wagged a finger in a chiding motion. “We don’t want outsiders gaping at us as if we’re circus performers or something. I want this gathering to be dignified.”
“I’m pretty sure that ship sailed when your most famous psychic was knifed in the chest,” Cooper pointed out. “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of dignity associated with that.”
Alicia pinned him with a dark look. “That’s a tragedy, but Velma was hardly the most famous psychic. She was simply the most vocal.”
Hmm, Cooper internally mused as he considered the bite in the woman’s voice. He’d inadvertently hit a nerve there. That was interesting.
“She was the most recognizable,” Maddie argued, finding her backbone. “I’ve been involved in the psychic community — even if rather remotely — since I was a kid. Velma was well-known. Denying that is ... a waste.”
Alicia folded her arms across her chest and regarded Maddie with a speculative gaze. “You have a rather interesting reputation in certain circles, too. It could be argued that you’re far more renowned than she is.”
Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “W-what?”
Amusement lit Alicia’s features. “Are you honestly telling me that you don’t know about the forums?”
“Forums?” Maddie slid her eyes to Nick, nervous.
Nick automatically moved his hand to his wife’s neck and focused on the coordinator. “Maddie doesn’t run any forums. If that’s the rumor being spread, well, I don’t know what to tell you. I can guarantee she’s not the type to sit around typing stuff like that on a computer. It’s not who she is.”
“I didn’t say she started the forum,” Alicia clarified. “I was suspicious before I met her but there’s no way the shy woman I’ve interacted with in person is running that forum. I mean, there’s just no way. Besides, I can’t imagine Maddie using the words ‘the most butt-kickingest psychic in the world.’”
Maddie was officially horrified. “What?”
Alicia grew exasperated. “You can’t be serious. The forum mentioned a myriad of things that happened in your hometown. Blackstone Bay, right? It sounds lovely, charming, and like a hotbed of activity that would make most soap opera characters blush. That Marla Proctor, for example, why has nobody killed her?”
Maddie was absolutely dumbfounded. “I don’t understand.”
Hannah took pity on her new friend. It was obvious she was completely out of her depth. If Alicia was trying to test her and see if she was running her own hype, she had her answer. That didn’t mean Hannah would continue to let her browbeat Maddie. “Can you show us this forum?”
Alicia bobbed her head. “Absolutely. I have it bookmarked.” She pulled her tablet out of her bag. With a few deft finger movements, she pulled up a website and handed over the tablet.
Nick accepted the device and started reading. He was convinced that there had to be some sort of explanation, maybe a mistake, but he was barely two paragraphs in when he realized Alicia was right. “Um, Mad ... .”
“No way.” Maddie’s cheeks flushed with color as she snagged the tablet and looked for herself. She furrowed her brow as she scanned the text. “It doesn’t mention my name.”
“No,” Alicia agreed. “It does call you the ‘Blonde Avenger’ and ‘the most fearsome psychic to ever roam the land,’ though. It also mentions your hunky husband, although it refers to him as your fiancé on the page, so that makes me think you weren’t married when it was last updated.”
“Listen to this,” Cooper supplied, reading over Maddie’s shoulder. “The devastatingly beautiful Blackstone Bay Avenger has saved the lives of everyone in town ten times over. She has a heart of gold, a stiff spine, and strength that makes mere mortals envious.”
“That is a load of crap,” Maddie huffed. “I ... that ... I can’t even.”
Cooper continued reading. Surprisingly, he found he was enjoying himself. “With her trusty assortment of sidekicks — the best being her grandmother, who should be a superhero in her own right — the Blackstone Bay Avenger makes sure that crime really doesn’t pay. Be very afraid.”
Maddie froze, her eyes zooming back to the tablet. “Wait ... .”
“Oh, geez.” Nick reclaimed the tablet before Maddie could start reading. “It’s Maude. She’s the one who started the forum.”
Hannah’s eyes went wide. “Your grandmother did that?”
Frustration bubbled up and grabbed Maddie by the throat. “I can’t believe she did this. She knows I don’t want ... this. Why would she do this?”
“Calm down,” Nick chided. He was more resigned now than furious. “She probably thought nobody would read it. It’s not as if she named you.”
“The grandmother thing is a dead giveaway,” Maddie snapped. “Anyone who knows her will realize who she’s talking about.”
“Yes, but anybody who knows her will most likely realize she’s also full of crap ... or bourbon,” Nick countered. “Everybody in Blackstone Bay is well aware that Maude and her Pink Ladies spend their afternoons drinking tea — which is basically bourbon with a teabag dunked in to make it look good — and terrorizing Harriet. Nobody is going to believe this.”
“She did.” Maddie jabbed her finger in Alicia’s direction. “She obviously thinks it’s true.”
“To be fair, I assumed you sanctioned this page,” Alicia admitted. She was much more relaxed now, which Cooper found interesting. “I figured you were another attention seeker like Velma. Now I realize you’re not.”
“No, she’s not,” Nick agreed on a sigh. “Her grandmother, however, is ... something else.”
“She’s a pain in the butt,” Maddie hissed. “I’m totally going to take her computer away when we get home.”
“Yeah. That should work.” Nick rolled his eyes. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Oh, because that will work.” Maddie was beside herself as she flicked her eyes to the window. She was so angry, she was convinced she actually saw her grandmother on the other side of the glass, shading her eyes so she could look inside the building. “I’m just so ... furious. I’m even seeing her.”
“You’re seeing her?” Nick, amused despite himself, turned to stare in the direction Maddie was fixated ... and his mouth dropped open. “Oh, crap. I’m seeing her, too.”
“That old woman?” Cooper pointed. “I think everybody sees her.”
“Oh, geez.” Maddie hopped to shaky feet and screeched. “Granny!”
MAUDE WAS INDEED IN CASPER CREEK. She explained that she hopped on the first flight out o
f Traverse City when she realized her granddaughter needed her. Since she had plenty in savings — it’s not as if she paid rent since she lived in Maddie’s house — the cost of a last-minute flight wasn’t prohibitive.
“I need a drink,” she announced as she dropped her oversized duffle bag on the saloon floor and surveyed her surroundings.
“Absolutely.” Hannah automatically climbed to her feet. “What can I get you?”
“Um ... I’ll take an iced tea, and if a bit of your best bourbon made its way in I wouldn’t argue.”
Maddie scalded her grandmother with a dark glare. “Don’t even think about it,” she hissed, furious.
Maude rolled her eyes. “I’m on vacation. It’s perfectly okay to day drink when you’re on vacation.”
“What’s your excuse the other three hundred and fifty days a year?” Nick queried.
Maude pinned him with a quelling look. “What’s your problem? I would think you’d be in a good mood. You’ve had Maddie to yourself for days at this point.”
“And now you’re here,” Nick grumbled.
“Oh, knock it off.” Maude lightly cuffed the back of his head. She was fond of the boy, and then some, but he was morose at times and it drove her crazy. “It’s not as if I’m staying with you guys. I already booked my room and it’s nowhere near where you’re staying.”
“But it’s at the same hotel, right?” Nick’s agitation was obvious. “I would feel better if we were at least close so you don’t ... do what you normally do.”
“Whatever.” Maude wasn’t about to let anyone dampen her enthusiasm. “So ... when can I fire a gun?”
Cooper choked on the iced tea he was drinking. “Excuse me?” he sputtered.
“A gun.” Maude refused to be deterred. “This is a town based on the Old West. I looked it up. You have gunfights and stuff. That’s what I want to do.”
True Grit Spirit: A Maddie Graves and Hannah Hickok Mystery Page 11