True Grit Spirit: A Maddie Graves and Hannah Hickok Mystery

by Lily Harper Hart

  Hannah slid her eyes to Maddie. “You never met her, right?”

  Maddie shook her head. “No, but I read her books. I thought she was powerful ... and a good person. All I knew was what she wrote, though. I feel a bit stupid now.”

  “You couldn’t know,” Olivia countered. “I’m the one who kept those books around. I thought she was a good person, too. When I found out you were reading them, I thought they would be good for you. Now, I can’t help but think I made a terrible mistake.”

  “It’s over and done with.” Maddie forced a smile. “I’m going to find those books and burn them in the fireplace when we get back home, though.”

  “Definitely.” Olivia beamed. “You don’t want your daughter to stumble across them in twelve years and be bamboozled all over again.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Maddie’s lips twisted. “You have to let it go. I’m not pregnant.”

  “I think you are.” Olivia saw no point in lying. “I think Nick is right. You have that ... glow.”

  “That’s from puking all morning.”

  “And thank you for that visual,” Astra deadpanned, her eyes on Heather. “To your knowledge, how many other stories did Velma steal over the years?”

  Heather held out her hands and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. My sister distanced herself from this crowd after her first meeting with Velma. She only recently dipped her toe back in. I’m the one who convinced her. Of course, that was before we realized Velma was part of this event.”

  Maddie shifted her head, considering. “Wait ... by the time I got the invitation, Velma was listed as a headliner. Was that not always the case?”

  “No.” Heather shook her head. “When Laurie got her invitation, it was Melanie Sanders who was being touted as the headliner.”

  “Oh, I remember that.” Hannah nodded accordingly. “I didn’t know who any of the people were at the time the event was booked. When the name of the headliner was changed — although the last name stayed the same — I just assumed it was a typo or something. I didn’t really think about it.”

  “That’s because you’re stupid,” Astra offered. “That right there is your motive.”

  Hannah slanted her eyes toward the other witch. “You think Melanie killed her own mother?”

  “I think that Melanie killed the woman who displaced her and stole what was probably her first chance to shine. Think about it, Hannah. Melanie lived in her mother’s shadow for the bulk of her life. Velma probably groomed her, taught her a trade. At some point, Melanie thought she was going to be the one in the spotlight. Maybe Velma didn’t want that.”

  “You know, I hate to admit it, but that’s an interesting idea,” Maddie noted. “It makes sense.”

  “Killing your mother makes sense?” Olivia challenged. “I think you and I should have a talk.”

  Maddie shot her mother a quelling look. “Not that. The other stuff. If Astra is right, then Velma has been running a long con for a number of years. She probably set it up so her daughter could eventually take over and they could keep raking it in. Maybe something happened to cause Velma to want to keep the money for herself, though.”

  Hannah thought back to what Cooper told her regarding his interview with Melanie and the assistant. “Cooper said that Melanie seemed legitimately upset.”

  Astra snorted. “Please. He’s always snowed by a pretty face. How else do you think he ended up with you?”

  Hannah ignored her. “He said she was in shock, that she couldn’t believe what happened. He also said she was the one who volunteered how disliked her mother was by other members of the psychic contingent in attendance.”

  “Maybe that was a smokescreen,” Maddie suggested. “Maybe she wanted to cast a light on how unlikable her mother was and she used the list of enemies to do it, all the while insulating herself in the process.”

  “Yeah.” Hannah chewed on her bottom lip. “I don’t want to believe it because it seems so bloodthirsty but, the truth is, whoever killed Velma used a really big knife. Now, it’s possible that was the only weapon present, but it’s also possible there was passion associated with the kill. There’s more than one sort of passion, and the angst between a mother and daughter can be the most passionate of all.”

  “Now you’re thinking.” Astra shot Hannah a thumbs-up, smirking at the way Abigail glowered at her. “I can see how someone might lose their sanity constantly being in the shadow of someone else.”

  “Oh, stuff it,” Abigail muttered, shaking her head. “It seems like a leap to me, Hannah. Maybe it’s something else.”

  “Maybe,” Hannah confirmed, her eyes tracking a nervous-looking ghost hovering just behind Heather. “Do you have something you want to add?”

  The ghost’s eyes darted from side to side and then she nodded. “I’m Bridget,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m with Chelsea Martin. She’s my daughter.”

  Maddie’s eyes widened. “Chelsea Martin? She’s in her fifties.”

  Bridget nodded. “I died giving birth to her. I’ve been with her since then, although she can’t see me. Sometimes I think she senses me but ... she’s not as strong as some of the others here.”

  “That’s not important,” Hannah reassured her. “Do you have information about Velma?”

  “I might know something,” Bridget hedged, glancing around. She was unnaturally nervous, but she pushed forward. “The day we arrived, I saw Velma talking to another woman behind the saloon. There’s an alley back there.”

  Hannah nodded. “There is, and it’s off limits to guests. I didn’t realize they were back there. Do you know what they were saying?”

  “Velma was making a promise to a young woman. She said that she was going to install her as the next psychic leader, or words to that effect. She said that Melanie expected to be tapped for the spot but she’d changed her mind at the last second and was going to promote this other woman.”

  That was interesting, Maddie noted. “So, the daughter was officially being cut out.”

  The ghost nodded.

  “Do you happen to know the name of the individual who had been tapped to steal the daughter’s place?” Hannah queried.

  “No, but I’m pretty sure I know who she is,” Bridget offered. “The woman running the event, that Alicia woman, referred to her as Velma’s assistant. I figure there can’t be more than one of them, right?”

  “The assistant, huh?” Hannah was officially intrigued. When she slid her eyes to Maddie, she found the psychic looked equally perplexed. “I think that’s a lead right there.”

  “We should get back to town and tell the guys,” Maddie said. “It at least bears investigating.”

  “It does.”

  Astra watched the two women scramble and prepare to leave. “You’re welcome,” she called to their backs, grimacing when she realized Abigail had remained behind. “Oh, I’m not in the mood for you. I tried to help. What more do you want from me?”

  “More than you could ever possibly deliver.”

  16

  Sixteen

  Nick and Cooper sat on chairs outside the saloon and watched the psychics interact. It was like watching a movie ... or a soap opera.

  “They’re all trying to one-up one another,” Nick noted after a good five minutes of silence. “Velma’s death has left a spot open on top of the heap and they all want to fill it.”

  “Not all of them,” Cooper countered, inclining his head toward the spot in front of the jail. There, three younger women sat and laughed, paying little attention to what the others were doing. “Some of them are just here to have an adventure.”

  “Like Maddie.”

  Cooper nodded. “Like Maddie.” He slid his gaze to the police detective. “How do you feel about being a father?” It seemed like a loaded question, but he was honestly curious.

  Nick held out his hands and shrugged. “I think it sounds like fun ... and a lot of work. Technically Maddie and I already have a child and she’s inside tending bar.”

  Coop
er angled himself so he could look inside the saloon, to where Maude was holding court behind the bar. She seemed to be having a grand time as she chatted up Melanie and Carrie. “She’s not so bad. She seems to be in pretty good shape for her age. You’re going to like having her around to meet your kids.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt about that,” Nick agreed. “I love Maude. I don’t want you to think otherwise. She’s just ... so much work.”

  Cooper snickered. “How bad can she be?”

  “She breaks the law at least three times a week.”

  “I’m betting she gets away with it.”

  “She does, for the most part.” Nick pursed his lips, his gaze moving to the far side of town as Maddie and Hannah popped into sight. “It looks like the ladies are back.”

  Cooper shifted again. “They don’t look as if they’ve been in a fight, so I’m taking that as a good sign. I was worried Astra might make things difficult. For some reason, though, she likes feeding Hannah information. I can’t explain it.”

  Nick frowned. “What does Astra have to do with anything?”

  “I guarantee Hannah took Maddie to the creek. Astra hangs out there all the time. At least once every two weeks or so Astra and Hannah cross paths there. It’s a relatively safe environment because the water keeps them separated.”

  “You didn’t tell me that.” Nick’s tone was accusatory. “I wouldn’t have let Maddie go down there if I’d known that.”

  Amusement curved Cooper’s lips. “I like how you think you have control of what Maddie does.”

  “I have a say.”

  “No, you don’t. Maddie might let you believe your opinion matters on certain things, but when it comes down to it, I’m betting she gets her way more often than you do.”

  Nick recognized the mirth in the other man’s voice, although he wasn’t certain how to respond. “How do you know that?” he asked finally.

  “Because it’s the same way with Hannah. She does what she wants and I have to deal with it. You’re the same.”

  “Maddie is a good girl.”

  “Of course she is. She’s still a woman, and that means she’s headstrong and set in her ways.”

  “Yeah, but ... .” Nick trailed off.

  “Now you think she’s pregnant,” Cooper surmised. “In your mind, that means things have to change. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think Maddie would ever purposely put herself in danger — especially if she has a hitchhiker on board — but she’s still going to do what she wants.”

  Even though he wanted to argue, Nick recognized the other man was correct. “Let’s just see what they found, huh?”

  Both women were excited when they landed in front of their respective men. They launched into the tale of what happened at the creek, both taking turns filling in gaps, and when they were finished, Nick and Cooper found they were intrigued.

  “Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it?” Nick rubbed his square jaw with one hand while sliding his free arm around Maddie’s waist to tug her to his lap. “That basically gives us two new suspects.”

  “I don’t think we can ignore the others, though,” Hannah argued pragmatically. “Just because the daughter and assistant were positioned weirdly against one another, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I mean ... we don’t even know if Melanie realized her mother planned on supplanting her.”

  “She knew that her mother stole her spot,” Cooper pointed out.

  “Do you think that’s enough to kill over, though?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve seen people kill over ten bucks and a beer.” He rubbed his forehead, considering. “Still, we need to talk to them. The daughter and assistant are in there. Maude has been entertaining them for almost an hour at this point.”

  “Oh, no.” Maddie made a face as she craned to look inside the saloon. “Is she doing anything weird?”

  Cooper chuckled. “I think she thrives on weird. The others seem to like her just fine, though. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “So, how should we approach them?” Hannah queried. “Should we go up and start accusing them?”

  Cooper shook his head. “No, I think it’s best if Maddie approaches them.”

  Maddie’s eyes went wide. “You do?”

  “Absolutely not.” Nick started shaking his head. “They might attack her.”

  “They’re not going to attack her,” Cooper countered. “We’re going inside with her. We’ll pretend we’re just getting drinks. Maddie can go behind the bar and check on Maude. While she’s back there, if she were to drop the news that the assistant was being prepped to take over, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. She’ll be protected by the bar and we’ll be right there to swoop in.”

  “I don’t know.” Nick’s eyes were conflicted when they locked with Maddie’s sea-blue orbs. “Are you okay with this?”

  “I’m fine with it,” Maddie reassured him. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

  “Yeah, but—” He didn’t finish the sentence, although his hand did land protectively on Maddie’s flat midriff.

  “I’m not pregnant,” Maddie hissed, hopping to her feet. “Good grief, Nicky. You can’t wrap me in bubble wrap for no good reason.”

  “I happen to believe loving you is more than adequate enough of a reason.”

  “Oh, stop being cute.” Maddie squared her shoulders and started toward the swinging doors. “Well, come on,” she prodded when the others remained where they were, watching. “We’re losing time. We need to figure this out.”

  “We’re right behind you, Maddie,” Cooper promised. “You can do this.”

  “Of course I can.”

  “AND THEN THERE WAS THE TIME I bought out every roll of toilet paper in the grocery store and put it in Harriet’s trees,” Maude offered as she topped off Melanie’s beer. “Now, you might not think that sounds badass, but it totally was because we completely wrapped her trees and house right before it rained.”

  Melanie’s face was blank as she considered the story. “I still don’t understand why that was so terrible.”

  “Have you ever tried to clean up wet toilet paper?” Maude challenged. “It clings. Like ... totally clings. It’s impossible to get rid of when it’s wet.”

  “Oh.” Melanie nodded sagely, managing a weak smile for Maddie as the woman crossed behind the bar to join her grandmother. “It probably took her forever to clean up.”

  “She’s still cleaning it up and it’s been three years.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, Granny,” Maddie countered, grabbing the beverage gun and filling a glass with iced tea. “It did take her a good three weeks to clean up from what Mom told me, but toilet paper is biodegradable. It’s definitely not still there.”

  Maude shot her granddaughter a dirty look. “Did I ask you?”

  Maddie held up her hands in mock surrender. “Sorry. I was just contributing to the conversation.”

  “No, you were making me look bad in front of my new friends.” Maude gestured toward the women in question. “This is Melanie and Carrie. They were tight with the woman who died.”

  For a moment, Maddie studied her grandmother’s face. It was always difficult to tell if Maude had ulterior motives. At her core, she was a good woman. That didn’t mean she wasn’t inclined to mischief and Maddie had to wonder if she’d purposely kept the two women talking because she thought there was information to be gleaned. That would be just like her.

  “I’ve seen you around,” Maddie said upon facing them. “I was really sorry to hear about your mother.” She fixed her attention on Melanie first. “I lost my mother not long ago and I understand what a horrible ordeal that can be.”

  Melanie nodded in thanks. “I think I’m still processing it. Carrie thought we should leave, but it didn’t feel right. I don’t think I can go until I know who did this to my mother.”

  “I think that’s more than fair,” Maddie agreed, hoping she looked sympathetic more than duplicitous. “Have they told you anythi
ng of note?”

  “Not really.” Melanie’s expression was hard to read. “I would think you would be more up on the gossip than me since you’ve been hanging around with the people investigating.”

  Maddie was smooth in her response. “I’ve been hanging around with Hannah, the owner. We’ve sort of bonded.”

  “Yes, but her boyfriend is in the thick of things.”

  “I’m not sure he shares information with her,” Maddie countered. “If he does, she hasn’t mentioned it to me.”

  “Oh, well ... .” Disappointment rolled off Melanie’s shoulders. “That’s a bummer, huh?” She heaved out a sigh. “I wish I knew what happened. This entire thing feels like a bad dream. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up. I guess that’s pathetic, huh?”

  “No. Not even a little.” Maddie meant it. “I felt the same way after my mother died. Every morning there was a moment when I thought ‘it was a dream’ and then reality hit me across the face like a wet towel. I know it’s not much consolation, but things will get easier.”

  “I hope so.” Melanie turned back to her beer, as if dismissing Maddie. That gave the blonde a chance to address the assistant.

  “It must be difficult for you, too,” she said to Carrie. “Were you close with Velma?”

  Carrie nodded, solemn. “We were really close. I know it’s weird to say because she obviously had a daughter, but I thought of her as a mother sometimes. I didn’t really know my mother — she took off when I was a kid and left me with my aunt — but Velma was exactly the sort of person I always imagined swooping in to tell me she was my mother.”

  Melanie let loose a very unladylike snort. “Be careful what you wish for.”

  Maddie hesitated, briefly wondering if she should push Melanie or Carrie. Ultimately, she landed on the assistant. It was time to drop the bomb.

  “I can see why she was so important to you,” Maddie supplied, keeping her voice soft and even. She didn’t want the women to pick up on the fact that she had an agenda. “Still, it must be gratifying to know that she’d earmarked you as the recipient of her legacy, Carrie. I mean ... I didn’t even realize you were psychic. It’s great that she wanted to give you a leg up in this world. We all know how difficult it can be to earn the respect of others.”