Grave Discovery

by Lily Harper Hart

  Grave Discovery

  A Maddie Graves Mystery Book Six

  Lily Harper Hart

  HarperHart Publications

  Contents

  Copyright

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

  4. Four

  5. Five

  6. Six

  7. Seven

  8. Eight

  9. Nine

  10. Ten

  11. Eleven

  12. Twelve

  13. Thirteen

  14. Fourteen

  15. Fifteen

  16. Sixteen

  17. Seventeen

  18. Eighteen

  19. Nineteen

  20. Twenty

  21. Twenty-One

  22. Twenty-Two

  23. Twenty-Three

  24. Twenty-Four

  Mail List

  Acknowledgments

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

  Copyright © 2015 by Lily Harper Hart

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  1

  One

  “I think I’m dying.”

  Christy Ford, her flame red hair pulled back in a messy bun, leaned over and placed her hands on her knees as she fought to catch her breath. Her pleasing face was red from exertion, sweat pouring off her brow and chest and pooling in her impressive cleavage, which was on full display thanks to her jogging bra. She was a sight.

  Maddie Graves laughed as she moved to her friend’s side, sympathetically running her hand over Christy’s back. “I told you to take it slow,” she chided. “Do you want to sit down?”

  Christy made a face as she looked Maddie up and down. The honey-blonde woman barely looked winded. “How can you look like that after we ran a mile?”

  Maddie pressed her lips together, uncertain how to answer. When Christy declared that she wanted to get in shape and Maddie was the one she wanted to use as a trainer, the lithe blonde knew it was a mistake. Still, she didn’t have a lot of friends, and Christy was one of the few people she could trust. She didn’t want to disappoint her.

  “You seem to forget I run five miles a day,” Maddie pointed out. “You can’t run five miles on your first day. I … .”

  “If you finish that sentence with ‘I told you so,’ I’m going to rip all of that pretty hair out of your head,” Christy warned.

  “I was going to say that we should’ve picked an easier route,” Maddie clarified, her blue eyes flashing. “Don’t get persnickety with me because you picked a hard route. I told … I mean I vocalized my concerns regarding this route.”

  “I want to get in shape,” Christy said, narrowing her eyes. “I’ll be thirty in one year. That means I have to get in shape now.”

  Maddie wasn’t sure she understood her friend’s logic, but she opted not to argue and instead sat on a fallen tree branch. August’s muggy warmth was oppressive, and that was another reason she suggested swimming instead of running for Christy’s first workout.

  The hairdresser immediately balked, though, convinced Maddie didn’t have faith she could complete a real workout. Maddie did her best to dissuade Christy of that – mostly because she wasn’t a fan of running when it was this humid – but there was nothing she could do about the situation now. They were already in the middle of nowhere. They were going to have to find their own way out of this muggy mess.

  “Have some water,” Maddie said, prodding Christy’s foot with her own. “Sit down and we’ll catch our breath. Then we’ll head back to town.”

  Christy knit her eyebrows together. “That means we’ll only be running two miles. I want to run five miles.”

  Maddie was a sympathetic soul. She was also pragmatic. “We’re not going to make it five miles,” she said. “It’s too hot. You’re not the only one who thinks it’s too hot. I wish you wouldn’t get all … mean … about it.”

  “I’m not mean,” Christy shot back, rolling her eyes. “I just … being friends with you makes me feel fat.”

  Maddie stilled, dumfounded. “I … .”

  “I’m sorry,” Christy said, holding her hands up. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not fair. It’s just … you look like a model.”

  Maddie’s cheeks flushed – and not from the sun or humidity. “Christy, that’s ridiculous,” she said. “You’re beautiful.”

  “And you’re tall and built like you should be on a runway,” Christy countered. “I know it’s not fair to you because … well … you don’t even see how you look. That’s even more annoying, if you want to know the truth. Whenever we walk into a room together, though, I know what people are thinking.”

  “I do, too,” Maddie said. “People are thinking ‘why is Christy Ford hanging out with that weird girl.’”

  Christy dropped her mouth open, making one of the most exaggerated “you’re an idiot” faces she could manage. Maddie didn’t want to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “It’s true,” Maddie sputtered, ignoring Christy’s raucous guffaws. “You know that everyone in this town thinks I’m weird. They might not know that I see ghosts, but they still think I’m weird.”

  Maddie’s “peculiarity” was a sore spot. While Christy was fascinated with the blonde’s ability to see and talk to ghosts – and the occasional psychic nightmares she was plagued with – Maddie was never comfortable with the family secret. In fact, when she was a teenager she ran off to southern Michigan to get away from all of the stares and whispers. In the process she abandoned her best friend from childhood, Nick Winters.

  Upon her mother Olivia’s death a few months before, Maddie returned to her childhood home and took over the family magic shop. Her grandmother Maude remained behind and needed constant supervision – no matter what the elderly curmudgeon said to the contrary – and Maddie found she missed Blackstone Bay.

  The town, located in the northwestern corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, was always going to be her home. She realized that. It was also the place Nick lived, and she was desperate to get their friendship back. Despite his anger over her abandonment, Nick forgave Maddie and then professed his love. They were now happily living together – even turning the garage into an apartment so Maude would have her own space – and Maddie couldn’t be happier with her life. The fact that Christy was unhappy with her life was cause for concern, though.

  “You always say I have low self-esteem and you don’t like it,” Maddie pointed out. “Well, missy, I don’t like this side of you. You’re beautiful and people flock to you because of your personality. You’re outgoing and beloved. You should feel lucky and proud, not jealous over something that can’t be helped.

  “Yes, I’m tall,” she continued. “I have blond hair and blue eyes and people seem to think I’m nice to look at it – even though they have no idea if I have anything worth saying. You can blame my mother for that. She’s the one who gave birth to me, even though I really don’t look much like her. That doesn’t mean you’re anything less than a wonderful and beautiful human being. I wish you could see how great you are and stop being … like this.”

  Christy smirked. “Why can’t you give yourself a self-esteem boost like that?”

  “I’m getting better,” Maddie protested. “I was nervous when I came back to town. You know that. Things are … better now.”

  “Oh, look at that smile,” Christy teased. “Your life is exactly how you’ve always dreamed it to be. You have your handsome best friend living with you. He’s also sexy as sin and can’
t get enough of you. You have your grandmother in your life, and she’s always cause for entertainment. Tell me, Maddie Graves, how does it feel to have it all?”

  “It feels great,” Maddie said. “You’re part of that package, though. I don’t see why you have to lose weight to find your own balance. You’re perfect the way you are.”

  “I need to lose twenty pounds,” Christy said, not missing a beat. “I know it. You know it. You’re too nice to say it. I don’t want to be a waif – no offense to you since you’re a waif and I like my butt the way it is – but losing twenty pounds would make me healthier.”

  “Fine,” Maddie said, giving in. “You’re not going to lose twenty pounds in one day, though. You might want to stop eating Twinkies for lunch if you’re serious, too. It’s not just about exercising.”

  “I watched you and Nick eat an entire pizza between the two of you the other night,” Christy protested. “The whole point of working out is so that I can eat stuff that doesn’t taste like cardboard.”

  “Nick and I don’t eat that way every night,” Maddie clarified. “We splurge once a week.”

  “Whatever,” Christy said, getting to her feet. “How about we compromise and walk a mile and then turn back? How does that sound?”

  “That sounds fine,” Maddie said. “In fact, I haven’t been in this area since I got home other than a run on one of my first days back here. I used to love the old Blackstone Lighthouse. We can walk by that. It will be close to the bay so we’ll get a nice breeze, and I’ll be able to see some lovely scenery while you complain about working out.”

  “I can handle that,” Christy said, falling into step next to Maddie. “The lighthouse is just over the next ridge. I used to love that building, too. It’s a shame they’ve let it fall into disarray like they have.”

  “I wonder why,” Maddie mused. “You would think they could turn it into a tourist destination. We have a lot of people who visit the area during the summer. It would seem like a natural draw.”

  “It comes down to money,” Christy said. “Why would the town put any into the lighthouse when they can barely fix the roads?”

  Maddie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve always loved that building, though. When Nick and I were younger we used to hike up there and pretend we were investigators – like on Scooby-Doo – and we would play games and say we saw ghosts.”

  “You actually saw ghosts,” Christy pointed out.

  “Nick didn’t know that,” Maddie countered.

  “Only because you were an idiot who was too afraid to tell him,” Christy said.

  “Can we not talk about what an idiot I’ve been and focus on something else?” Maddie asked, sighing as she crested the hill and the Blackstone Lighthouse came into view. The white walls were still a sight – even though they were faded – and the bay’s backdrop was breathtaking. “I love it up here.”

  “You and Nick should come up here for a picnic,” Christy suggested. “It’s romantic and isolated. You could get your freak on in nature.”

  Maddie was used to Christy’s overt sexual innuendo, but she couldn’t stop the blush from climbing her cheeks. “We do not get our freak on in public.”

  “I happen to know that you’ve been skinny-dipping after dark down at the lake behind your house every night this week,” Christy countered. “You wait until it’s nighttime and you know you’re safe, but you guys get your freak on out there as often as you can.”

  “How did you know that?” Maddie asked, horrified. “Did someone see us?”

  “I know it because you just told me,” Christy replied, chortling loudly. “You always fall for that.”

  “I can’t believe you did that to me,” Maddie muttered, flustered. “Don’t tell people we’re skinny-dipping in the lake. People might spy on us or something.”

  “If people knew you were swimming in that lake naked on a nightly basis every teenager in the town would be out there spying,” Christy said. “They already spy on you while you run. You’re every teenage boy’s wet dream, Maddie. You need to get used to it.”

  “We’re done with this conversation,” Maddie said, turning so she could move closer to the lighthouse. “Do you want to look around or go back?”

  “I want to pass out on the ground and die,” Christy replied, wiping her face. “It’s too hot to run. Heck, it’s too hot to walk. We should’ve gone swimming.”

  “I told you that,” Maddie said.

  “I guess you were right,” Christy said, unruffled. “It really is beautiful. If it wasn’t so hot, I would suggest seeing if we could get inside. All I want to do now is go home and sit in front of the air conditioner.”

  “I’m not big on breaking and entering.”

  “You’re sleeping with a cop,” Christy said. “It’s not like he would arrest you.”

  “That’s not the point,” Maddie said. “I don’t like breaking the law if I can help it. I … .” A hint of movement caught Maddie’s attention in the middle window of the lighthouse, causing her to lean forward and lose her train of thought.

  “What is it?” Christy asked, reading her friend’s posture. “Do you see something?”

  “I … no one can go inside, right?”

  “There are signs everywhere warning people to stay out,” Christy replied. “What do you see?”

  Maddie couldn’t be sure, but she’d glimpsed enough ghosts to recognize the filmy countenance of one even if she was a long distance away. “I think there’s a ghost inside.”

  Christy’s interest piqued. “Now I really want to go inside.”

  Maddie glanced around. They were alone. No one would catch them if they breached the door. Still, guilt over breaking the law – however minor – was not something she wanted to deal with. “We can’t break in,” Maddie said. “I probably imagined what I saw.” She glanced at the window again and found it empty. “Sometimes I think I see things that aren’t there because I’m always expecting a ghost to show up and need my help.”

  “Or maybe you saw what you thought you saw and someone really does need help,” Christy suggested. “Let’s break in.”

  “We’re not breaking in,” Maddie said, dragging her attention away from the lighthouse and turning back toward town. “You want to sit in front of the air conditioner and I need a shower. We’re heading back to Blackstone Bay.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Christy enthused. “Now I can spend the next half hour grilling you on the skinny-dipping you and Nick are doing when you think no one is looking. I would love to get some details about that.”

  Maddie sighed, resigned. “You make me tired.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  2

  Two

  “Hello, love of my life. How are you today?” Nick greeted Maddie with a smile as she climbed out of the shower, taking her by surprise and thrilling her at the same time. She instinctively reached for a towel to cover herself before realizing how ridiculous the gesture was. Nick had seen her naked so many times she’d lost count. She was almost completely over being shy in front of him. Almost.

  Nick smirked as he watched Maddie struggle to retain her modesty and put on a good face for his benefit. Finally he took pity on her and handed her the fluffy towel from the counter.

  Maddie wordlessly took it and wrapped it around her slim frame, offering him a quick smile that she hoped would deter him from making fun of her.

  “I take it I’m not allowed to see you naked unless it’s dark and we’re in the bedroom,” Nick said, winking. He was handsome, charming, and sweet. Maddie loved him with her whole heart. He also knew exactly how to agitate her.

  “I didn’t say anything,” Maddie said, climbing out of the shower and pressing a quick kiss to Nick’s lips. He’d been at work most of the day and she hadn’t seen him since breakfast. “You’re the one who handed me the towel.”

  Nick ran his hand down Maddie’s cheek, curious why the water was so cold. “Have you been thinking about me all day, love?”
he asked. “Did you work yourself into a frenzy waiting for me to come home?”

  “What?” Maddie was confused.

  “You’re cold, Mad,” Nick said, grinning. “Most people take a cold shower when they’re worked up about sex and have to calm themselves down.”

  “Oh,” Maddie said, her cheeks burning for what felt the tenth time in two hours. “I … .”

  “You’re too cute for words, Mad,” Nick said, shaking his head and pressing a soft kiss to her mouth as she tried to find something to say. “That’s why I love you.”

  “I went running with Christy,” Maddie explained. “I was dying when I got back. I thought about going to the lake for a swim, but it was too hot to walk that far. I just hopped in the shower and sat there in the cold water for twenty minutes.”

  “Why would you go jogging in this weather?” Nick asked, running his hand over Maddie’s brow to make sure she wasn’t overheating. “That’s not safe. You know that’s not safe.”

  “Christy was insistent that we go running because she’s determined to lose twenty pounds,” Maddie explained, walking into the bedroom they shared and opening her dresser. “I told her running was a bad idea, but she swore up and down she could handle it.”

  Nick crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe and watched Maddie change her clothes. He was hoping to see her naked again, although he had no idea why the notion gave him such a thrill. “How did she handle it?”

  “Not well.”

  Nick snickered. “I saw that coming.”

  “We were up by the lighthouse,” Maddie said, pulling on a simple ensemble of yoga pants and a tank top before tackling her hair with a comb. “It’s really rundown up there. It makes me sad.”

  “It is sad,” Nick agreed, taking the comb from her so he could untangle her hair. While he knew he would love her regardless, he couldn’t help but be infatuated with her hair and he loved combing and brushing it. “That’s a hard run for someone who does it on a regular basis, Mad. There’s no way Christy could make that run.”