“It’s time to punch up your hair color,” Maddie said. “If Harriet wins, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
“If Harriet wins, I’m going to lock her in a crypt at the cemetery and throw away the key,” Maude said.
“Well, that will be fun, too.”
6
Six
Maddie knew Nick would be busy, and she didn’t want him to go without lunch, so after leaving the salon – where Maude and Christy continued to brainstorm ways to beat Harriet to a “bloody pulp” – she picked up sandwiches from the local diner and headed to the police department.
When she rounded the corner, she almost walked into a woman who was standing in front of the building. Her brown hair was dark and pulled away from her face, and it was obvious she’d been crying. Maddie had no idea who she was, but her heart went out to her all the same.
“Are you okay?”
The woman snapped her head up, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks, and forced a pleasant smile. “I … .”
“Is something wrong?” Maddie asked, glancing around. “Did something happen to you? Do you need police help? If so, I can take you inside. I know everyone and they would be more than happy to help.”
“I was just inside,” the woman replied. “I … got some bad news about my sister. I’m just kind of trying to pull myself together before I find a hotel for the night.”
Maddie pursed her lips, conflicted. “Are you Andrea Johnson’s sister?”
The woman nodded. “Ellie Wharton. That’s my name, I mean.”
“Hi, Ellie. I’m Maddie Graves. I … are you okay?”
“Not really.” Ellie’s expression was rueful. “I don’t know what to do. How did you know I was Andrea’s sister?”
“Blackstone Bay is small,” Maddie replied. “I also happen to be dating Nick Winters. He’s one of the police detectives you were probably talking with and we don’t have a lot of bodies here. I just … had a feeling.”
“You’re dating the tall guy with the really nice … ?” Ellie broke off, her cheeks coloring. “I’m sorry. That was the exact wrong thing to say given the circumstances.”
“It’s okay,” Maddie said. “He has a nice everything. I was with him when he found your sister’s … er, your sister … last night. I know what’s going on.”
“He was very nice,” Ellie said. “I just … don’t know what to do with myself. They’re not sure when we’ll get the body released to us, and I’m not looking forward to seeing Rick. I guess I’m going to have to do it if we want to plan a funeral, though.”
“And Rick is your brother-in-law?”
“In name only,” Ellie answered. “Andrea and Rick were getting divorced. He had a new girlfriend and she was seeing someone, too.”
“Who? Was he local?”
“Just some guy she met at a festival,” Ellie explained. “I’m not sure which festival.”
“We have one almost every week,” Maddie said. “Who was she dating?”
“Um … his name was David Bennett. They seemed close, but it wasn’t serious yet. Do you know him?”
“He’s a local contractor,” Maddie said. “He was ahead of us in school by quite a bit, but he’s got a good reputation.”
“Well, that’s good,” Ellie said, sighing. “I hope he gave her a little happiness before she died. Lord knows Rick didn’t make her happy.”
“If she was so unhappy, why did she wait so long to get divorced?” Maddie had no idea why she asked the question. She was genuinely curious, though. She couldn’t imagine spending years with someone she didn’t love.
“For Chelsea.”
“Is that her daughter?”
Ellie nodded. “Andrea got pregnant with Chelsea not long after she started dating Rick,” she explained. “They both agreed a stable home with married parents was the best way to go. Unfortunately, after about a year, they realized they had nothing in common and didn’t even really like one another.”
“How old is Chelsea?”
“She’s sixteen,” Ellie replied. “She’s … a handful who can’t help but find trouble.”
“I think that can be said about a lot of kids that age,” Maddie said. “Have you seen her yet?”
“She’s at work,” Ellie said. “I need to get a hotel room and then head over to my sister’s house. We have some things to discuss, and it’s not going to be easy with Chelsea there.”
“Was she close with her mother?”
“I think all teenage girls go through a phase when they think their mother is evil and controlling and they’re desperate to get away from her,” Ellie said. “Chelsea is going through that now. She never got a chance to outgrow it. She’s probably going to feel guilty.”
“Can I ask how no one realized Andrea was missing?”
“Rick says he thought she was down with our brother, and I guess Chelsea is the one who filed the missing person’s report,” Ellie said. “I thought maybe she needed a break from the stress, but after two weeks I was officially worried. We had no idea where to look for her, though.”
“Did she take off and leave Chelsea on her own often?”
Ellie shook her dark head. “No. She loved Chelsea more than anything. She did go down and spend a few weekends with my brother, but she was never gone more than a day or two and she always told Chelsea where she was going.”
“What about Rick?”
“I’ve never liked him,” Ellie said. “I just … I don’t think he would hurt her.”
“Well, I’m sure Nick and Dale will figure it out,” Maddie offered. “Until then, if you’re looking for a hotel, there’s a nice bed and breakfast on the south side of town.” Maddie pointed in the appropriate direction. “The woman who runs it is sweet. Her name is Helen. She’ll be able to help point you in the direction of the funeral parlor. The diner is only two doors down, too, and that will make eating easier.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said, smiling. “I just have to get settled so I can help Chelsea. She’s going to be a mess.”
As someone who recently lost her own mother, Maddie understood that probably better than anyone. “She has you. As long as you’re there, I’m sure she’ll be okay.”
“I hope so.”
Maddie watched the sad woman shuffle away for a few moments before wandering into the police station. Nick and Dale sat at their desks, intent on whatever they were looking at on their computers, and didn’t initially see her.
“I brought you guys lunch because I knew you would be fixated on this,” Maddie announced, drawing both sets of eyes to her. “It looks like I was right on the money, huh?”
“And that’s why you’re my favorite person in the entire world,” Nick said, pushing himself up from his desk and pulling Maddie in for a hug. “Wow, you’re sweaty, Mad. Were you thinking of me?”
Maddie made a face while Kreskin rolled his eyes and joined them. “I ran into Andrea Johnson’s sister outside and she looked upset,” she explained. “We talked for a few minutes. It really is hot out, though.”
“She seems like a nice woman,” Nick said, brushing Maddie’s damp hair away from her face. “You shouldn’t stress yourself out in this heat, though. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“Ugh! You two belong on the pages of a romance novel,” Kreskin complained. “What’s in that bag?”
“Sandwiches and potato salad from the diner,” Maddie replied, handing it over. “I didn’t want you guys to go without food if you’re going to be working late.”
“I promise to be home in plenty of time to go swimming with you,” Nick teased. “No matter what you say, I think that’s why you’re sweating.”
“Nicky!”
Nick grinned as Kreskin opened the bag. “She loves me.” He winked at his partner.
“I think you two should be locked in a room with each other for a month straight,” Kreskin suggested. “That will knock some of that infatuation right out of you.” He sat down at the small table and doled out the food. “
As it is right now, if you get any cuter my wife is going to insist we adopt you.”
Nick snorted and led Maddie to the table so they could sit. “Aren’t we a little old to adopt?”
“You’re just like the abandoned animals she finds and insists that she’s only bringing into the house until she can find a real home for them,” Kreskin countered. “Do you know how many pets we have? It’s probably so many that I’m in violation of a town ordinance. Even I can’t keep them straight.”
“I think we’re stray dogs and cats in this analogy,” Maddie said, her eyes twinkling.
“I can live with that,” Nick said. “How has your day been so far, love? Did you do anything fun?”
“Well, I went to the salon with Christy and Granny,” Maddie responded. “Christy is dying Granny’s hair pink. Then Harriet and Marla came in. Christy kicked them out and they vowed revenge. Then I ran into Ellie on the sidewalk. Um … I think that pretty much sums up my day so far.”
“Fun,” Nick said, wrinkling his nose. “What’s Marla’s deal? Why is she upset?”
“Christy won’t do her hair and she blames me,” Maddie replied, unruffled. “Just the normal stuff.”
“We get more calls about the fights at that salon than anywhere else,” Kreskin said. “What is it with you women and your catfights?”
“Meow,” Maddie said, grinning.
“I like it when you quack better,” Nick interjected. “You look cute when you wrinkle your nose up and wiggle your butt.”
“Stop saying things like that,” Maddie hissed, causing Kreskin to chuckle.
“Yeah, my wife would love to adopt the two of you,” he said. “On a side note, though, what’s the deal with this beauty pageant? I don’t understand why Harriet and Maude are entering and making such a fuss.”
“I don’t think they care that it’s a pageant,” Maddie admitted. “Well, Harriet might. She was the one who made her intentions known first. If Granny is to be believed – and she tends to exaggerate, so I would take this with a grain of salt – Harriet wants to ride on a float and Granny only got involved because she wants to beat Harriet.”
“I believe that,” Kreskin said. “Those two have been at each other’s throats for as long as I can remember. There are so many urban legends tied up in that I’ve lost count. Do you know how it started?”
“They’ve hated each other since before I was born,” Maddie said. “I’ve just always known Harriet is a terrible person. One of my first memories is of Granny warning me that Harriet was going to try and shove me in an oven and cook me if I wasn’t careful – like the witch in Hansel and Gretel – and I spent weeks looking over my shoulder because I didn’t want to be cooked.”
“Nice,” Nick said. “I remember being over at your house when we were kids and Maude would come storming in screaming about Harriet. It was just part of the normal background noise at your house at a certain point. I’ve never given it a lot of thought.”
“You know this is going to end badly, right?” Kreskin pressed. “These two are going to be making scenes all over town before all of this is said and done. I’m worried we’re going to make national news if one of them kills the other.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Maddie said. “If they actually killed one another, they’d have nothing to complain about. I love Granny, but her favorite thing in the world is complaining.”
“I never thought about it that way, but you’re probably right,” Kreskin said.
“Did you guys find anything out about Andrea Johnson this morning?” Maddie asked, turning the conversation to a more serious matter. “Her sister didn’t seem to think the husband was a likely suspect despite their problems.”
“He was fairly convincing when we questioned him, but he’s sleeping with Monica Gardner,” Nick said. “That doesn’t speak well of his intentions.”
Maddie made a face. That was a name she hadn’t heard in years. “I didn’t know Monica was still in town. How does she look? Please tell me she developed a big wart on the end of her nose.”
“So cute,” Nick said, laughing as he lightly pinched Maddie’s cheek. “She’s still evil. She looks pretty much the same, though.”
“I noticed the animosity between you guys when we arrived,” Kreskin said. “What’s that about?”
“I just don’t like her,” Nick replied, nonplussed.
“Monica had a crush on Nick in high school,” Maddie supplied, giggling when Nick poked her ribs to indicate his distaste. “She used to follow him around. You could practically see the trail of drool behind her.”
“And what? You only had eyes for Maddie?”
“Yes,” Nick answered.
“Don’t lie,” Maddie chided. “Nick and I spent a lot of time with one another, but Monica was too … overt … for Nick to pay attention to. She developed boobs early and she kept trying to flaunt them in Nicky’s direction, but he was embarrassed by the attention.”
“No, that’s not it,” Nick said. “I was in love with you. I only wanted you.”
“That’s very sweet, but we both know it’s not true,” Maddie said, patting his hand. “Even if your story of realizing you had feelings for me senior year is true, that still leaves three years of high school where we were just friends. It’s fine. You don’t have to bolster my ego.”
“What I saw today was more … angry … than what you’re describing,” Kreskin said. “This Monica woman seemed to hate Nick, and he was fairly mean to her in return.”
“In addition to having a crush on Nick, Monica also decided to go after Nicky by attacking me,” Maddie explained. “She was best friends with Marla for a time, but they were both so evil they canceled each other out and got into a big fight. Marla was always meaner than Monica, but it’s not like Monica was nice.”
“For a pleasant girl, you’ve managed to make your fair share of enemies, Maddie,” Kreskin pointed out.
“I guess.”
“That’s because they were jealous,” Nick said. “Maddie was better than Monica and Marla combined and they couldn’t take it.”
“You’re very loyal,” Maddie said.
“You’re very whipped,” Kreskin corrected. “Still, I can see why you waited her out. That ten years of pining paid off and you’re happy. Why pick a fight with Monica now?”
“You heard her,” Nick argued. “She only had nasty things to say about Andrea Johnson, and she’s sleeping with the woman’s husband in her house. There’s a teenage girl living there. I don’t think Monica is the best influence for anyone, especially a teenage girl.”
Maddie pursed her lips. “I feel sorry for Chelsea,” she said. “She’s going to have a rough time ahead of her.”
“We can only do what we can do, Mad,” Nick said. “We’ll catch Andrea Johnson’s killer and Chelsea will be able to go through life knowing someone is paying for her mother’s death. We can’t be responsible for the other stuff.”
“I know,” Maddie said. “I guess … well … I just feel for her. I know how hard it is to lose your mother.”
Nick’s heart flipped, sympathy rolling over him. “I didn’t think about that,” he said. “I guess you would identify with Chelsea. I promise we’re going to do our best and solve this case, Mad. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“That’s good enough,” Maddie replied, forcing a smile. “You’re going to give her the one thing she desperately needs to be able to move past this.”
“And what’s that?”
“Closure.”
7
Seven
“I don’t know how I let you talk me into things like this,” Christy complained three hours later, leaning against the old oak tree close to the Blackstone Bay library. “It’s too hot for spying, Maddie.”
Christy had been complaining for ten straight minutes, and while Maddie easily managed to brush off the comments for the first five, she was rapidly running out of patience. “Fine. Leave.”
Christy r
olled her eyes. “It’s good to know that you’re not perfect,” she said. “The heat makes even you cranky.”
“I think you’re the one making me cranky.”
The duo lapsed into silence, and despite the harsh words, it wasn’t uncomfortable. After leaving the police station, Maddie found herself at a loss for what to do. She considered returning to the lighthouse in search of Andrea Johnson’s ghost, but Nick explained that county crews were still at the scene and she would be spotted if she tried.
Maddie had nothing to do, and yet she still wanted to help. That’s when she got an idea and collected Christy so she wouldn’t look out of place when she attempted to spy on David Bennet. They heard through the grapevine he was working on the library refurbishment, so that’s where they were now.
Given the excessive heat and mugginess, Christy wasn’t thrilled with the suggestion. She also didn’t want to be left out in case it made a good story later. That’s why the friends were sitting under the tree in the courtyard – a clear view of David Bennet in front of them as he toiled away – and arguing.
“What do you know about David?” Maddie asked, directing the conversation to something other than Christy’s discomfort.
“Not a lot,” Christy replied, sitting on the bench and stretching her legs out in front of her. “He was ten years ahead of us, so I don’t even remember hearing any stories about him from back then. We were playing with Barbie dolls when he was ruling the school. I think he was one of the popular kids, though. I know he was an athlete.”
“I never played with Barbie dolls.”
“Why not?”
“I just … didn’t like them,” Maddie answered. “I preferred stuffed animals and helping my mom in her shop. I especially loved books. I never got Barbie dolls. All you did was brush their hair and dress them up.”
“You’re not a normal girl,” Christy said. “You know that, right?”
Maddie shrugged. “I’m okay with that.”
“It’s funny that you don’t like Barbie dolls, and yet you look like one.”
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