“You’re welcome.”
Seven
Alicia thanked Maddie profusely for watching Catelynn. Trevor hadn’t yet woken, but Alicia was feeling better about things after discussing his prognosis with the doctors. Maddie made a big show of saying it was fine before waving goodbye to Catelynn and making her escape.
In truth, she was thankful to be away from the house. Catelynn didn’t suffer from any meltdowns while with Maddie, but the girl was blunt to a fault and some of the things she said left the blond psychic feeling confused.
Because she knew it was necessary, Maddie stopped at the police station on her way home. She filled Kreskin and Nick in on how she spent her afternoon. Nick’s distaste for the news was obvious.
“You did what?” he practically exploded.
Maddie refused to engage in a fight so she forced herself to remain calm. “I visited Alicia at her house and ended up watching Catelynn for almost two hours.”
“Really?” Kreskin was intrigued rather than incensed. “How did that go?”
Nick ignored the question. “You could’ve been hurt, Maddie,” he snapped. “Alicia is our prime suspect in the shooting of her husband. What were you thinking?”
Maddie rubbed her palms against her knees as she sat in the chair across from Nick’s desk. “I was thinking that I wanted to see the house, get a feel for what was going on, and work through some of the theories in my head.” Her voice was icy and detached. “I happened to see Alicia while I was there and she was obviously in distress so I decided to talk to her.”
“Even though she’s a potential murderer.”
Maddie frowned. “Even if she did shoot Trevor, we both know that wasn’t some random act of violence. I’m not saying he had it coming or anything — I would never say that — but this situation has been building for years. It wasn’t something that happened out of the blue.”
“No,” Nick agreed, his eyes flashing. “If she’s suffered a psychotic break, though, there’s nothing to stop her from hurting you.”
“If you believed she was suffering from a psychotic break, you would’ve already removed Aaron and Catelynn from her custody.”
“I ... .” Nick worked his jaw, annoyance evident. “You’re purposely trying to be a pain, aren’t you?”
“Yes. My favorite thing in the world is driving you crazy.”
“I think you both enjoy driving each other crazy,” Kreskin offered. “I’m more interested in what happened when you were at the house. You’re obviously okay — no matter how much Captain Cries-A-Lot over here wants to pretend otherwise — so I’m interested in your observations.”
“It’s not really evidence,” Maddie hedged, suddenly uncomfortable.
“That’s fine. We’re trying to figure this out. That means we’ll take anything we can get.”
Maddie looked to Nick for confirmation. She didn’t want to inadvertently kick off a fight.
“It’s okay, Mad.” Nick gentled his voice. “Tell us what you saw. You and I can fight later.”
“What if I don’t want to fight?”
Nick’s lips quirked. “Then we’ll miss one of our favorite activities. You know ... making up.”
Now it was Maddie’s turn to smile. “Okay. I guess we can have a little fight.” She held her index finger and thumb an inch apart for emphasis. “Nothing too big, though. I don’t want a huge blowup before the wedding.”
“I think I can manage that.”
“Great.” Maddie shifted in her chair and turned to the business at hand. “So, you want to know what the house was like. I don’t know how to describe it. Everything was ... weird.”
“Was Alicia acting unhinged?” Kreskin asked. “Should we remove Catelynn from her custody?”
“I don’t know that I think that’s a good idea,” Maddie admitted. “When I first arrived, Alicia was sitting on the front porch. She seemed frazzled ... but no more frazzled than any other woman with two kids and a husband in the hospital. She didn’t seem as if she was melting down.”
“You’re leaving something out in the telling, Mad,” Nick prodded. “I know you. You’re being ... cagey.”
Maddie sighed. “I’m not being cagey.” She stuck her tongue out at Nick, causing Kreskin to chuckle. “She’s just a sad woman. I think Trevor really did a number on her self-esteem. I mean, I spent years being afraid of being myself, was terrified that I would somehow rock the boat in the wrong manner and ruin my life, but she’s something else entirely.
“She said that her parents never thought she was good enough for Trevor and acted as if she was somehow beneath him,” she continued. “If I had to guess, I would say that Trevor has been doing that man thing where he’s a jerk so she’ll break up with him. The thing is, Alicia was already so broken down that she didn’t manage to salvage any of her self-worth and actually do it.”
“I’ve wondered that myself,” Kreskin admitted. “Nick used to do that with his girlfriends before you two found each other. He had his little system where he wouldn’t date them for more than a few months. He would often ghost women or simply ‘forget’ dates and events when the end was near.” Kreskin used the appropriate air quotes as Nick groaned.
“There was one woman — I think it was two women before Cassidy, if you’re keeping score — and Nick simply stopped calling her after dating for months,” he continued. “She shows up at the department, all fire and vinegar, and Nick says he simply forgot they were dating. No joke. He forgot he was dating someone.
“Obviously she was so upset she caused a scene and dumped him right there,” he said, rubbing his hands together with glee as he told the story. “After the woman left — I think her name was Candy — I asked Nick what he was thinking. He said that breakups were easier when he wasn’t the bad guy.”
Maddie narrowed her eyes to dangerous blue slits. “I can’t believe you did that.” She was horrified. “Why would you torture some poor woman like that? And Candy? How could you date a woman named Candy?”
“Her name was Sandy,” Nick corrected. “I wouldn’t date a woman named Candy.”
“That doesn’t make things better.”
“And her name was Candy,” Kreskin argued. “I remember because there were a lot of candy corn jokes flying around.”
Nick wrinkled his nose. “Huh. Now that you mention it, I seem to remember that. What was I thinking dating a woman named Candy?”
Kreskin shrugged. “You’re asking the wrong person.”
Maddie’s expression was straight out of a horror movie. “I am officially disgusted.”
“Aw, Mad, you can’t be angry at me,” Nick complained. “I was pining for you. I had a broken heart. I did the best I could to survive without you after you ghosted me in the first place.”
“I ... .” Maddie couldn’t come up with a believable argument.
“Ha!” Nick extended a triumphant finger, grinning. “See. I was right. You broke me.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” Maddie argued, collecting herself. “We’re talking about Trevor, not you. If you ever ghost me, though, I’m going to collect a bunch of actual ghosts to haunt you. Keep that in mind.”
Nick’s lips curved. “I’ll never ghost you. In fact, you’re never going to be able to get rid of me.”
“I’ll never want to get rid of you. That’s how much I love you.”
“Oh, great.” Kreskin slapped his hand to his forehead, frustration evident. “It’s time for another episode of Days of Our Schmaltzy Lives. I can’t wait.”
Maddie giggled. “Don’t worry. We’re not going there. I just wanted to stop in and tell you guys how I spent my day. I can’t stay and play games with Nick, which I know will break your heart, Dale.”
“You can stay a little longer,” Nick prodded.
“No, I can’t.” Maddie shook her head. “I have to change my clothes and head up to the festival. It opens tonight, and now that I don’t have the shop this is my big chance to prove I can add something to the
household finances. Otherwise I’m going to have to get a job.”
Nick shook his head. “You don’t have to get a job. I have more than enough money.”
The look Maddie shot him was withering. “I want to work.”
“I know but ... .”
“No. I want to work.” Maddie was firm. “I may change my mind down the road when we have kids. I don’t know how I’m going to feel then. I want to work now, though. That either means making this festival idea work ... or going back to nursing. I noticed they were advertising for nurses at the hospital when we were there last night.”
Nick felt caught. That was the last thing he wanted. Not because he enjoyed Maddie being unfulfilled on the professional front, but because she would be on call all hours of the night and working double shifts at times if she went back to nursing. That would put a crimp in their lives he didn’t want to deal with.
“I think the festival thing is going to work well,” Nick said. “I’ll be there to cheer you on later.”
Maddie briefly held his gaze. “So ... you’re not mad?”
“Nope. Although I reserve the right to make up later anyway.”
Maddie’s smile was small but heartfelt. “Okay. That sounds good.”
“We’ll keep an eye on Alicia and drop back by the house,” Kreskin offered. “We’re spinning our wheels here anyway. That way you don’t have to worry about Catelynn.”
“That will be a load off.” Maddie flashed a tight-lipped smile as she stood. “I’m going to walk home, change my clothes, check on Granny to make sure she’s not in trouble, and then head to the festival.”
Nick stood and crossed to her, running his hands up and down her arms as he smiled. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. I know I don’t need to tell you this, but if you could be careful, that would be great.”
“I’m always careful.”
“Not always. I want my wife to always be careful, though, because I plan on keeping her forever.”
This time Maddie’s soft smile lit her entire face. “The same goes for you.”
“Yes, it does.”
“I’ll be careful.” She stood on the balls of her feet and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I’ll see you later. Keep me updated if something happens.”
“I will. Be safe.”
“I will.” She waved at the men as she crossed to the door. “Oh, and by the way, that ghosting thing you did to Candy was mean, but I agree that’s a stupid name so she probably had it coming.”
Nick snickered. “I love you, Maddie.”
“Oh, now I wish you two would ghost me,” Kreskin complained. “Can we make that happen?”
MADDIE WAS EXCITED WHEN she arrived at her tent. She’d dressed in a blue skirt she found online — it was patchwork and featured drawstrings with tiny bells on them so she jingled when she walked — and the white peasant blouse she wore over it was bright. She put a scarf over her blond hair, allowing a few tendrils to slip out, and then opened her tent for business.
It was still early. Technically the festival didn’t open for another twenty minutes, but Maddie was ready to get to work. She was determined to bring money into the marriage no matter what Nick thought — and she understood his real worry — so she was focused on making the night a success.
That notion flew out the window the second Marla showed up and fixed her with a haughty look.
“Is it Halloween already?” she drawled, sneering as she took in Maddie’s new skirt.
“I don’t know,” Maddie replied without missing a beat. “I didn’t check the calendar. That might explain why you’re dressed as a slutty go-go doll, though.”
Marla furrowed her brow as she glanced down at her short skirt and knee-high boots. “I’m not dressed as a doll.”
“And yet you own the ‘slutty’ comment without blinking an eye,” Maddie muttered, shaking her head. “That just figures.”
“Whatever.” Marla was clearly in a foul mood because she openly glared as she folded her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe you’re embracing this festival thing like your mother did. I always thought she was nuts for doing it. I guess that makes you nuts for following in her footsteps, huh?”
“Just call me a cashew,” Maddie said sweetly.
“I don’t understand what Nick sees in you.” Marla was talking to herself more than Maddie now, although she was clearly agitated. “I’ve never understood what he sees in you. When we were kids, even before you filled out and started looking like a girl instead of a really skinny boy, he spent all his time with you. I was right there and he never noticed.”
“Maybe that’s because you were trying too hard,” Maddie suggested. “Nick prefers people who are real rather than fake. You’re the fakest person in town.”
“Says you,” Marla sneered. “I happen to think the opposite. You’re the fake one, always acting sweet and trying to convince Nick you’re this adorable little angel that needs his constant protection. I know better than that. You’re a horrible person. I’m the one who says the truth and people spit on me for it.”
“And what truth are we speaking about today?” Maddie asked, legitimately curious.
“Well, for starters, I heard what you were saying in the salon today and none of it is true. Trevor isn’t the sort who cheats with everyone. That’s not who he is.”
Maddie furrowed her brow. “According to everyone who knows him — including his own brother — he is the type who cheats. My understanding is that he’s taken one mistress after another for the entire duration of his marriage. He’s a jerk.”
“Mistress is an ugly word.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not the right word,” Maddie shot back. “If you purposely sleep with a married man and maintain a relationship with him, then you’re a mistress.”
“You take that back!” Marla’s eyes fired with rage. “That is not true ... and you’re just saying it to be a jerk.”
“I’m saying it because it’s the truth.”
“It’s not.”
“It is.”
“It’s not.” Marla raised her hand as if to hit Maddie.
When she was in high school, Maddie would’ve been frightened enough to shrink away and hide in the face of Marla’s aggressive nature. She wasn’t that girl, though, and Maddie instinctively caught Marla’s wrist before she could make contact with Maddie’s face.
“What are you thinking?” Maddie growled, fury threatening to overwhelm her. “I’m getting married in less than a week. I don’t want any marks on my face.”
“Oh, you’re getting married,” Marla mocked, fruitlessly trying to remove her arm from Maddie’s iron grip. “You’re getting everything you ever wanted while the rest of us are being left behind.”
“What is wrong with you?” Maddie complained. “I ... .” Whatever she was about to say died on her lips due to the fact that the proximity with Marla caused something odd to happen. Images from another life started fluttering through Maddie’s head. It took her a few seconds to organize the flashes, understand what she was seeing, and when she did, she was furious.
“Oh, my ... I should’ve seen this coming.”
“What?” Marla sputtered, her cheeks turning red with fury as she fought to free herself from Maddie. “What should you have seen coming, oh great one?”
“It’s you.” Maddie was unemotional. “You’re the one who has been having an affair with Trevor. That’s why you were acting the way you were acting in the salon.” Disgusted, Maddie released Marla’s elbow and watched with some satisfaction as the woman took an exaggerated step back. “What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Marla was furious. “I’m the one who is the victim here. My boyfriend is in the hospital and I can’t even visit him.”
“Your boyfriend has a wife.”
“Who shot him!”
“We don’t know that,” Maddie hedged. “We’re not sure what happened yet. Ultimately, that part of the conversation is moot,
though. What is wrong with you that you’d purposely sleep with another woman’s husband?”
“I didn’t make him cheat,” Marla spat. “I know people believe that’s possible, but I didn’t cause this.”
“I know you didn’t.” Maddie folded her arms over her chest. “You can’t make another person cheat. Trevor made his own decisions where you’re concerned. Frankly, in the grand scheme of things, you both kind of deserve each other. That’s neither here nor there, though. You have to talk to Nick. He needs to know that you’re the one who has been sleeping with Trevor.”
“I most certainly won’t talk to Nick.” Marla squared her shoulders. “I don’t want to have anything to do with your stupid fiancé. He’s a jerk for what he did to Cassidy.”
Maddie bit back a sigh, but just barely. “Don’t bring Cassidy up again.” When Maddie returned to Blackstone Bay, Nick was involved with a woman named Cassidy Dunham. The relationship quickly soured when Nick made a beeline for Maddie, but Marla was still holding the incident over her head. “It’s over and done with.”
“And yet I’m the harlot,” Marla hissed. “How is that fair? You did the same thing.”
“It’s not even remotely the same thing. I’m not going to fight about this with you, though. If you don’t tell Nick, I will.”
“Oh, you’re such a tattletale. Go ahead and tell your precious boyfriend. I’m not going to talk to him. I’ll tell him you’re lying.”
“And what good will that do?”
“It will teach you to mind your own business.”
Maddie stared at Marla for a long beat and then merely shook her head. “I’m telling him. I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but if I were you I’d prepare for a mountain of attention when this goes public. Although ... maybe that’s what you want.”
“I hate you,” Marla hissed, her eyes going serpent-like. “If you don’t stay out of my business, I’ll make you pay.”
“I’m telling. This is important.” Maddie was firm. “If you don’t like it, well, that’s too bad.”
Eight
Grave Wedding (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 15) Page 7