Grave Discovery

by Lily Harper Hart

  Nick groaned. “I suppose.”

  “We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” Maddie said hurriedly. “I’m sorry for asking.”

  Nick internally chastised himself for ruining her fun. “I want to get dressed up,” he said. “We can go to the big town Halloween party. It won’t be any fun if we’re not dressed up. That will be our last chance for a funhouse this year, too. I need to get you inside so I can revisit my favorite memory.”

  Maddie made a face. “You just want to reenact the first time you realized I had boobs,” she said. “You’ve told that story so many times I know it by heart.”

  “That was not the first time I realized you had boobs,” Nick corrected. “That was the first time I realized how big they’d gotten and I instantly fell in love with you.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “You’ll live,” Nick said. “The funhouse at the Halloween festival is always the best one. It’s really scary. Plus, they’ve been doing haunted corn mazes out at the area farms the past few years. We definitely need to do that.”

  “That sounds fun.”

  “You don’t sound thrilled at the prospect,” Nick said. “How come you don’t want summer to end? I would think with the way this heat has been pounding us, you would be looking forward to a break.”

  “It’s just … this was our first summer as a couple.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m always smiling.”

  The grin Maddie shot Nick was full of mirth. “I’m sad to see it go,” she explained. “We’re never going to get our first season as a couple back. Go ahead and laugh. I know you want to.”

  “I don’t want to laugh,” Nick said. “It’s just … you’re so cute I can’t stand it. I like how sentimental you are.”

  “Aren’t you going to miss the summer?”

  “No,” Nick replied truthfully. “I don’t want to look backward. I want to look forward. We have a great Halloween in front of us. We’re going to dress up. Try not to make my costume too fruity, if you can.

  “Then we’re going to have a great Thanksgiving together,” he continued. “You know how I feel about turkey. Then we’re going to have our first snow as a couple. We’ll be able to make sexy snow angels. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to our first Christmas together either. I’m going to spoil you rotten.”

  Maddie snickered. “I’m going to spoil you, too.”

  “Then we’re going to get to kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve,” Nick said. “Then we’re going to have spring together. We’re going get to be twitterpated during our first picnic once the weather breaks.”

  “Twitterpated? Like in Bambi?”

  “I know you love that movie,” Nick said. “This isn’t the end of anything, love. This is the beginning of everything for us.”

  “You’re right,” Maddie said, moving closer to him as they approached the lake. “We’ll still get a few good swims in before everything shifts. I’m looking forward to that.”

  “I like the way your mind works,” Nick said, kissing her forehead before separating to undress. “You haven’t told me about your day, Mad. Did you find Andrea?”

  “I did,” Maddie answered, stripping her shirt off and dropping it on the ground next to her discarded shoes. “She’s really confused, Nicky. She had no idea how long she was dead. She can’t leave the area by the lighthouse.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “It could be a mental thing,” Maddie answered. “If she loses her train of thought she might forget where she’s supposed to be going. I found her standing in front of the lighthouse staring into space.”

  “Can you fix that?” Nick asked, tugging his shirt over his head.

  “I told her to save her energy and try focusing on her house as soon as she can,” Maddie said. “I don’t know what else to do for her. What did you find out today?”

  Nick related his afternoon, including the conversation with the lawyer and Rick. When he was done, Maddie was conflicted.

  “On one hand, I don’t want Rick to be guilty because that means Chelsea will lose both of her parents,” Maddie said. “On the other hand, I don’t want David to be guilty because that means Cassidy will lose something again. I wish there was another suspect.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” Nick said, fighting the urge to grin when Maddie yanked her shorts down and started moving toward the water. The first time they’d gone skinny-dipping she’d been embarrassed and raced into the water before he could get a good look. Now she was more comfortable showing off her body where he was concerned. She didn’t mind when he stared.

  “We know absolutely nothing about the day Andrea went missing,” Maddie said, wading into the water. “You said the medical examiner couldn’t give an exact date of death because of the condition of the body. Is it possible that she was alive for a few days after she disappeared?”

  “I guess so,” Nick said, following her into the water and stroking toward the center of the small lake. It was really a lake in name only. The size made it more of a pond, but he wasn’t complaining. “I’m not sure how following that as a theory helps us.”

  “Where is her car?”

  “That right there, my love, is a very good question,” Nick said, ducking his head under the water and then surfacing closer to Maddie. She followed suit, her hair slicked away from her face when she moved into his embrace. “Someone should’ve discovered Andrea’s car. It’s not like this is Detroit. There aren’t chop shops on every corner.”

  “Could it have been abandoned in the woods somewhere?”

  “That’s definitely a possibility,” Nick said, tracing his thumb over Maddie’s spine and relishing the way she pressed her body against his. “The reason everyone thought Andrea took off was because her car was missing. Had her car remained behind when she didn’t come home, people would’ve been more apt to panic earlier.”

  “It could be a way for someone to hide what they did.”

  “It could,” Nick said, brushing his lips against Maddie’s jaw. “You’ve convinced me to double my efforts and find the car tomorrow. No more work talk tonight. Now I need you to kiss me.”

  Maddie arched a challenging eyebrow. “Just kiss?”

  “The night is young, love,” Nick teased. “We’ll see where it takes us.”

  MADDIE and Nick were lost in their own little world when they approached the house an hour later. They were both damp from their swim, their clothes clinging to them in uncomfortable places, but neither noticed the woman standing in front of the house until they were almost on top of her.

  “Cassidy,” Nick said, taking a step back and glancing around. “What are you doing here?”

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “It’s late,” Nick said, tamping his irritation down. “We were just about to go inside and go to bed.”

  “I know it’s late,” Cassidy shot back, irked. “Don’t you think I know it’s late? Both of your cars are in the driveway. I knocked on the door, but Maude said you were out swimming. I think we all know what that’s code for.

  “She wouldn’t let me wait inside even though I told her it was important,” she continued. “She said she was rehearsing for her pageant and she couldn’t trust me not to tell the enemy what she was up to.”

  Nick swallowed the mad urge to laugh. “I see,” he said. “Well, what’s so important that you had to come to our house in the middle of the night?”

  “It’s a police matter,” Cassidy said, wrinkling her nose. “I think we should talk in private.”

  “I can go inside,” Maddie offered. “I need to get out of these wet clothes anyway.”

  “That’s going to be a joint task, love,” Nick said, shaking his head. “You can say whatever you need to say in front of Maddie, Cassidy. I’m not keeping secrets from her, and I’m not playing the whisper game because you want to shut her out.”

  “Fine,” Cassidy hissed, glancing around. “We still nee
d to go inside. I don’t want anyone to overhear us.”

  Nick considered arguing, but ultimately gave up on the idea. The sooner he heard Cassidy out, the sooner she would leave and allow him to continue romancing Maddie. That was the only thing he could focus on after their lake interlude.

  Maddie climbed the steps first, opening the door and slipping out of sight. Nick took advantage of the opportunity and snagged the back of Cassidy’s shirt to slow her pace.

  “This is Maddie’s home,” he warned. “If you say one mean thing to her in this house … .”

  “I have no interest in being mean to your precious Maddie,” Cassidy said, jerking away from Nick. “In fact, one of the reasons I’m here is to apologize.”

  Cassidy walked into the house and waited as Nick shut the door. When she didn’t immediately start talking, Nick grew impatient. “Well?”

  “Oh, right,” Cassidy said, her worried gaze bouncing between Nick and Maddie. “Okay, here’s the thing … um … I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, we’re going to need more than that,” Nick said.

  “Nicky,” Maddie lightly scolded. “She already said she was sorry.”

  “I don’t care,” Nick said, refusing to back down. “She said horrible things to you and tried to create problems. I’m not putting up with that even though you’re determined to paint her as misunderstood.”

  “I was wrong when I thought Maddie was going after David,” Cassidy offered through gritted teeth. “You have to understand, I thought we all were in a better place. It’s not like I thought we were going to be best friends, but when I saw you guys fooling around in the lake and didn’t want to cry myself to sleep, I took it as a good sign.

  “When I saw Maddie and David arguing the next day, my head went to a horrible place,” she continued. “I couldn’t help it. All the terrible feelings of worry I had when I knew you were going to break up with me for her, Nick, they all came rushing back. I jumped to a very wrong conclusion.

  “After Maddie saved my life, I shouldn’t have thought so badly about her,” Cassidy said. “I have no excuse other than my own insecurity. I am truly sorry.”

  “I forgive you,” Maddie said immediately, causing Nick to scowl. “I know what it’s like to be insecure. People think you’re being irrational, but sometimes you can’t help how you feel.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Fine. I forgive you, too,” Nick said. “Don’t do it again, though. Maddie isn’t the type of woman who walks around stealing other people’s boyfriends. And, yes, technically I know you think that’s what happened between all of us, but it’s not.”

  “I don’t want to dwell on that again,” Cassidy said. “I know you two are meant to be together. I promised to let it go. I had a minor lapse. I can’t go back in time and undo it, but I would like to move forward.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Maddie said.

  “Fine,” Nick said. “Was that the only reason you came here tonight?”

  Cassidy shook her head. “I was at David’s house and he got called away because the tarp paper on top of the library roof came loose,” she said. “He wasn’t supposed to be gone long, so he asked me to wait.

  “While he was gone … um … I might have looked through his drawers,” she continued.

  “Cassidy,” Nick grumbled. “Men don’t like it when you invade their privacy. Have you learned nothing?”

  “It’s too late now,” Cassidy replied. “I can’t undo what I did this time either. I found something.”

  Nick sighed, resigned. “What did you find?”

  Cassidy held out her hand in his direction, something glinting between her fingers. Nick extended his fingers and leaned forward when Cassidy dropped a gold wedding band on his palm.

  “What is that?” Maddie asked.

  “It’s a wedding ring,” Nick said. “I didn’t know David was ever married. In fact, as far as I can remember, he’s never even been close to getting engaged.”

  “That’s why I was curious,” Cassidy said. “Look at the inside of the band.”

  Nick did as instructed, but the heavy shadows forced him to switch the lamp on by the front window to get a better look. When he realized what he was staring at, he sucked in a breath and glanced over his shoulder, locking eyes with Maddie.

  “What is it?” Maddie asked, her heart jumping even though she had no idea why.

  “The ring is engraved with a name and a date,” Nick answered. “It’s Andrea Johnson’s wedding ring.”

  It was as if all of the oxygen was sucked out of the room for a few moments, and then Maddie regained the ability to speak. “Does that mean he killed Andrea and took her wedding ring as a souvenir?”

  “That means he’s got some explaining to do,” Nick replied. “I can’t wait to hear how he justifies this.”

  17

  Seventeen

  “What’s going on?” David asked, opening his door to Nick and Kreskin an hour later. “Did something happen to Cassidy? She was here when I left and now she’s gone. Please tell me she’s all right.”

  “She’s fine,” Nick replied, his tone grim. “We need you to step out on the porch, David.”

  “Why?”

  “Do it.”

  David did as instructed, his hard gaze moving between Nick and Kreskin as he tried to understand what was happening. “What … ?”

  Nick cut him off. “David Bennet, you’re under arrest for the murder of Andrea Johnson.” He held up his cuffs. “Please turn around.”

  Kreskin took over reading David his rights as Nick cuffed him, all the while David professed confusion and innocence. When they were finished, David was dumbfounded.

  “I don’t understand,” he said. “I didn’t kill Andrea. What is this about? And where is Cassidy?”

  “We’re going down to the station,” Nick answered. “I think we’ve all got a few questions we need answered.”

  MADDIE paced in front of the store window, her feet bare as she studied the driveway. After Nick realized what he was holding in his hand, he forced Maddie to remain behind because he had no idea how long he was going to be at the station and then walked Cassidy to her car.

  With nothing better to do, Maddie took a long bath and then climbed into her pajamas. She didn’t want to go to bed without knowing what was going on. She didn’t want to go to bed alone even more.

  It was funny, she internally mused. She’d gone to bed alone for ten years and never given it a second thought. She’d only been with Nick a couple of months and now she couldn’t imagine sleeping without him. It was a good change, but a change nonetheless.

  Maddie had just about convinced herself not to make a pot of tea and retire – even though it was the last thing she wanted to do – when Andrea popped into view in the middle of her store.

  “You scared me half to death,” Maddie hissed, pressing her hand to the spot over her heart.

  “I’m sorry,” Andrea offered, glancing around. “I’ve been trying to control where I go and I finally managed to force myself to find you.”

  “How did you know where I lived?”

  “I heard Chelsea talking on the phone with one of her friends tonight,” Andrea answered. “She said she asked the blonde from the magic shop to talk to me. I figured that had to be you. I didn’t realize you were Olivia Graves’ daughter. I know I saw her with you that day out at the lighthouse, but not much sank in until things started slipping into place today. Now I understand why you can see me.”

  “You do?” Maddie asked, sitting in one of the chairs and fixing Andrea with a curious look. “Did you know my mother?”

  “Your mother was famous in this town,” Andrea said, smiling. “One of the first people I heard about when I moved here was Olivia Graves. Everyone claimed she was truly psychic.

  “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t believe the rumors,” she continued. “I thought it was gossip and a way to build up Olivia’s business. Still, I ran into her once at a festival and she couldn’
t have been nicer. She was a wonderful woman.”

  “She was.”

  “Does being psychic run in your family?” Andrea asked, her attitude much more upbeat than the last time Maddie saw her. She was clearly coming out of her shell. “That’s what this is, right? You’re psychic.”

  “I’m several things,” Maddie replied. “I can see ghosts, and I do have psychic visions occasionally – mostly in my dreams. It runs in the family, although it skipped my grandmother.”

  “It’s amazing that I never knew this other world existed,” Andrea said. “Now that I can focus, things are starting to come back to me.”

  Maddie leaned forward, her interest piqued. “What sort of things? Do you remember who killed you?”

  Andrea’s smile was rueful. “Not yet,” she said. “I think I remember the last day I was alive, though. I remember getting out of bed and fighting with Chelsea because I threw all of the high sugar content cereal away and she was having a fit.

  “She left for work and I had a cup of coffee and read the newspaper,” she continued. “I was running late when I left for work. I remember leaving the house and locking the door … and then everything goes blank.”

  “That’s good, though,” Maddie said. “You’re remembering more of your life. Did you spend a lot of time watching Chelsea today?”

  “Yes,” Andrea replied, her smile slipping. “She’s very upset.”

  “She’ll be okay,” Maddie said. “She’s tough. Once you remember how you died, we’ll be able to put the guilty party away and that will make her feel better, too. Right now she’s angry because she thinks someone is getting away with murder. She’ll feel better when someone is behind bars.”

  “I hope so,” Andrea said. “She’s very bright and I think she could have a lovely future, but if she keeps going like this … .”

  “We’ll make sure she doesn’t,” Maddie said, shifting in the chair. “I have another question to ask, if you’re up to answering, that is.”

  Andrea waited, her expression expectant.

  “Do you know what happened to your wedding ring?”

  “My wedding ring?” Andrea asked, surprised. “I … um … huh. Now that you mention it, I’m not sure I recall what happened to my wedding ring.”