“Hey, I’m the one who told you,” Cathy protested.
“He can’t see or hear you, though,” Maddie pointed out. “He didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I certainly didn’t,” Nick said, talking to thin air as he typed a message onto his phone screen. “I just think my Maddie is always brilliant and beautiful.”
Maddie blushed and shook her head as Cathy giggled.
“He’s definitely a keeper,” Cathy said. “He’s a cute cowboy, and your outfit is to die for. Oh, wait, I probably shouldn’t say things like that now that I’m dead, huh?”
Maddie shrugged. “I think you can say anything you want to say,” she said. “I don’t suppose you could do me a favor while you’re still strong, though, could you?”
Cathy energetically nodded.
“Go back to the fountain and see if you remember anything while you’re there,” Maddie instructed. “Being in close proximity might jar something loose.”
“Okay,” Cathy said. “By the way, thank you for all you’re doing to help me. I know you’re psychic so you probably think you don’t have a choice, but you’re a nice person. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it, Cathy,” Maddie said, offering the woman a wan smile. “I just want to help you move on. I think it’s going to be soon, so be ready.”
“I’m so ready,” Cathy said. “No offense … and I know it’s a beautiful town … but I’ve seen all of it I ever want to see.”
“I don’t blame you.”
Cathy disappeared, leaving Maddie to reach for Nick’s hand and slide closer to him.
“What’s wrong, love?” Nick asked, rubbing Maddie’s back under her cape. “Did Cathy say something to upset you?”
“No, she’s just so grateful. I want to help her.”
“We’re doing the best that we can, Mad,” Nick said. “I don’t want to be heartless, but we’ve already lost Cathy. The most important thing is to make sure we don’t lose anyone else.”
“I know,” Maddie said. “It’s just … hard.”
Nick kissed her cheek and then turned his attention back to Cooper. When he did, he realized the gregarious author’s gaze was firmly planted on Maddie. “Uh-oh.”
“What?” Maddie asked, turning her head.
“Look who it is, folks,” Cooper said, his voice booming. “It’s Blackstone Bay’s resident psychic, Maddie Graves.”
Christy snapped her head in Nick and Maddie’s direction, and for a second her face was unreadable. Finally, she offered Maddie a weak smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to cause some of the pressure squeezing Maddie’s heart to lessen.
“See, Mad, it’s going to be okay,” Nick murmured. “That’s still Christy over there. She’s going to be upset, but she’ll get over it.”
“I know you’re right,” Maddie said. “I just … miss her.”
“You’ll have her back soon.”
“So, Maddie Graves,” Cooper said, moving around from the back of the table and heading in her direction. “Do you still deny being psychic?”
“Don’t come any closer,” Nick said, extending his arm and placing his hand in the middle of Cooper’s chest to stop his forward momentum. “Don’t bother answering him, Mad. He’s just looking for attention.”
“That’s not true,” Marla said, squaring her shoulders. Maddie hadn’t even seen her because she was relegated to a spot behind at least five other women. That couldn’t be sitting well with her, which meant she was looking to make a scene to regain Cooper’s affections. “Maddie isn’t psychic. She’s a fake, just like her mother was.”
“Don’t you say one word about my mother,” Maddie snapped. “I don’t care what you say about me, but leave her out of this.”
“Oh, so you’re admitting you’re a fraud?” Cooper challenged. “I figured as much. Tell the nice folks of your hometown that you’ve been playing them.”
“Shut your filthy mouth,” Nick hissed, shoving Cooper back as hard as he could. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Maddie has never held herself up as the town psychic. She’s not you.”
“It’s okay, Nicky,” Maddie said, wrapping her hand around his wrist. “He’s trying to distract everyone. Don’t let him get to you.”
“When I came to this town the first thing I heard was about Maddie Graves,” Cooper argued. “Everyone said she was the real deal. I set out to find the truth, and do you know what I found?”
“I’m pretty sure you couldn’t find your own rear end with both hands,” Maude replied, appearing in the tent’s open flap with a murderous look on her face.
“Who are you?” Cooper asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Aren’t you psychic?” Maude challenged. “Don’t you know who I am?”
“I … the tooth fairy?”
Marla cackled delightedly, but she was the only one. As if sensing the crowd turning on him, Cooper’s gaze bounced between somber faces.
“You can’t tell me you believe in this … fake … can you?”
“I know that Maddie Graves found my daughter when she wandered away from the spring festival this year,” a woman said, getting to her feet. Maddie didn’t recognize her, but she did remember the child in question. “My daughter was scared and huddled behind a car blocks away. She was lost. Maddie found her and brought her home. That’s good enough for me.”
A low murmur went through the crowd.
“I know that Maddie saved me from being killed at a party this summer,” Cassidy announced, moving into the tent opening behind Maude. “She risked her life to save me. I have no idea if she’s really psychic, but I do know she’s brave and I would’ve died without her.”
“Oh, shut up, Cassidy,” Marla snapped. “You’re just mad because Cooper lost interest in you.”
“Maddie saved me, too. A crazy woman was going to kill me, and this was after she killed my mother.” Chelsea Johnson, a local teenager Maddie met a few weeks before, got to her feet. “She protected me and risked herself to do it. What have you done, Mr. Ashton?”
Cooper opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. “My deeds have been well documented – and on television, no less.”
“They certainly have,” Nick agreed. “I’ve been looking over quite a few documents where you’re concerned. For example, did you know that Cooper Ashton isn’t his real name, folks? It’s Randy Parker. He changed it when he decided he wanted to be famous.”
“That’s beside the point,” Cooper protested.
“He made up a story about being struck by lightning, too,” Nick said. “The paramedics said it was impossible because there’s an entry and exit wound when you’re struck by lighting. Cooper had neither.”
“I was struck by lightning!” Cooper was beginning to unravel.
“He’s made a name for himself going from small town to small town to solve murders, making a point to avoid big cities with a larger police presence because he knows he’d get arrested there,” Nick said. “He also sleeps with multiple women whenever he hits a new town, generally soaking them for information about the residents and trying to get as much money from desperate people hoping to talk to a dead loved one as possible before fleeing.”
Maddie risked a look in Christy’s direction and found a horrified look on her friend’s face.
“That is a lie,” Cooper seethed. “I have a true gift.”
“You’ve slept with at least five women since you got to town,” Nick shot back. “You take a side of woman with your meals, apparently. Then you tell the women they have to leave because you can’t sleep alone.”
“That is not true,” Cooper said, turning to Christy. “Tell them that’s not true.”
Christy remained silent.
“There have also been a string of murders in your wake,” Nick announced, deciding to go for broke. “Right after you publicly leave town, a body generally shows up … and it’s found in the exact same manner as we’ve had here. Is that a coincidence?”
“Oh, my gawd,
” Cooper shrieked. “You’re trying to frame me for murder now? Is this because I called your girlfriend a fraud. Well … I’m not taking it back.”
“You found the body in the maze the first night you were in town,” Nick challenged. “How? How did you know it would be there?”
“The spirits told me!” Cooper was beside himself. “You people are crazy. If you think I’m going to stand here and take being accused of murder, well, you’ve got another think coming.”
“Someone get the tar!”
Maddie had no idea who yelled it, but her eyes widened when she realized the situation was quickly growing out of hand. “Nicky.”
“I know,” Nick said, shaking his head. “We’ve got to get him out of here. I think I might’ve incited a riot.”
“I … .”
“Don’t touch me,” Cooper said, slapping Sam Mullin’s hand away as the man tried to grab his arm. “I’m out of here. I just … you people … I’m a star!”
Cooper bellowed the last few words and shoved Maude and Cassidy out of the way to make his escape. Unfortunately for him, Maude’s grand plan was waiting outside, and he smacked into the cotton candy machine.
Instead of making a huffy mistake, Blackstone Bay’s newest celebrity visitor found himself covered in sticky spun candy, and he couldn’t seem to shake it off of him.
“Omigod!” Cooper wailed. “It’s hot and it burns.” He struggled to pull away from the candy machine, and when he finally did, he turned on his heel and ran into the night, howling the entire way.
“Stay here, Mad,” Nick said, resigned. “I have to … take care of this mess. You should be safe here. Don’t leave.”
Maddie nodded. “I love you, Nicky. Thank you for what you said.”
“Thank you for being you, Mad. I’ll be right back.”
21
Twenty-One
“Well, that was just embarrassing,” Maude said, her eyes moving to Maddie as the crowd broke into riotous guffaws. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Granny,” Maddie said, smiling weakly. “Was that your grand plan to protect Christy? You were going to attack him with cotton candy?”
“It wasn’t finished yet,” Maude protested. “It would’ve been amazing had I been allowed to get it just right.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because she had to get in here to protect you,” Christy answered, sidling up between the two women. “I … can we talk, Maddie?”
Christy seemed unsure of herself, and that was something Maddie wasn’t used to seeing. “Of course,” Maddie said, gesturing toward the tent flap. “I’m not supposed to wander far, but I think we’ll be okay right outside.”
“I’ll be waiting in here for you,” Maude said, squeezing Maddie’s hand. “In fact, I’ll be waiting for both of you, so make up quickly. The night is still young.”
Christy offered Maude a grateful smile and then followed Maddie outside the tent. When it was just the two women, for the first time since she was first reintroduced to Christy after a ten-year gap, Maddie felt nervous.
“I’m sorry, Maddie,” Christy blurted out, her voice cracking. “I’ve been an awful friend and you’ve been trying to protect me. I see that now, but … I was just so convinced he really liked me.”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said last night,” Maddie said, fighting off her own tears. “I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy. I promise. I don’t see you as my sidekick or somehow want you to be unhappy so I feel better about myself.”
“That was an absolutely stupid thing to say,” Christy said, wiping a stray tear. “I shouldn’t have said that – and I really didn’t mean it – but I was embarrassed and angry. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. I was mortified.”
“You’re not the only one,” Maddie said, giggling through her tears. “When I realized what the noises really were – and I think Nick figured it out before I did because he tried to stop me – I was hoping a hole would open in the ground and swallow me up.”
“Oh, Maddie, I’m so sorry,” Christy said, throwing her arms around the blonde’s neck. “I’ve been terrible to you over the past few days. I just … I wanted him to like me so much.”
“I know,” Maddie said, patting Christy’s back as she returned the embrace. “You’re better than him, though, Christy. He’s a fake. He’s a con man to boot. He’s been suckering people out money for years. He’s an actor … and this is just the part he’s chosen to play.”
“I know that,” Christy said, pulling away. “I think I knew that from the beginning. It’s just … I had a huge crush on him when I saw him on television. When you meet your crush in real life, you can’t help but dream big.
“Well, you probably don’t understand that,” she continued. “You have your dream man already and no crush could compare. I’ve been wishing and hoping for someone to love me for as long as I can remember, though. I just thought fate was finally smiling on me.”
“Fate is fickle, but I have no doubt you’re going to get your happy ending,” Maddie said, the weight from the past few days lifting from her shoulders. “I want you to be happy just as much as I want Nick to be happy.”
“I know you do,” Christy said. “I somehow forgot you were a good person in this mess, though. I actually convinced myself that you were trying to hold me back. That’s what Cooper kept telling me, and I was so desperate for him to like me, I started believing him.”
“Cassidy came to us and she said it was as if Cooper had her under a spell,” Maddie offered. “She said she was embarrassed about how she acted and Cooper cut her loose soonest because she had the least amount of gossip to offer.”
“He was constantly pumping me for information,” Christy admitted. “I didn’t want to see what he was doing, though. Instead I pretended he was generally interested in me. Ha! Like that was even possible.”
“Don’t do that,” Maddie chided, shaking her head so the moon glinted off her flaxen hair. “Cooper Ashton is a sociopath. He’s not capable of feeling anything for anyone but himself. Do you want to know who is capable of feeling things, though?”
“Me?” Christy’s smile was rueful.
“Well, yes,” Maddie said. “I was going to say John Winters, though.”
Christy stilled, surprised. “John? Why are you bringing him up?”
“Because he got jealous when he saw you with Cooper and we’ve been talking to him a little bit over the past two days and he’s … well … he’s interested in you,” Maddie said.
“If he was interested in me he would’ve called after the last time he was in town,” Christy argued. Maddie recognized what she was doing, and she had no intention of letting her friend close the door to hope. “He never called.”
“That’s my fault,” Maddie admitted. “I was worried he would sleep with you and then break your heart when he left town. I told Nicky to feel him out and make sure he realized that wasn’t an option.
“The problem was, I remembered John from when I was a teenager and didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt,” she continued. “Everyone grows and changes throughout the years, and John isn’t the exception.
“I don’t expect you to jump into another relationship, but John has been making noise about wanting something more serious than occasional dates,” Maddie said. “Take some time to yourself and wrap your head around this, but when you’re ready, I have a feeling John might be ready, too.”
Christy was dumbfounded. “I had a huge crush on him when I was a teenager,” she said. “When I saw him this summer, I thought maybe he might like me. When he left without saying a word, though, I pushed it out of my head.”
“That’s my fault, and if you’re angry, I totally understand.”
“You were trying to protect me, Maddie, like you always do,” Christy said. “I can’t be angry about that. Besides, after the past few days, I think I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Maddie said. “I value and cherish y
our friendship. That’s all I want from you.”
Christy impulsively threw her arms around Maddie again and the women took a few moments to silently repair their friendship. When they pulled apart, Maddie pointed toward the bar inside the tent.
“What?” Christy asked, following Maddie’s finger with her gaze. “Superman? Am I supposed to know who that is? I can’t see his face.”
“It’s John,” Maddie said, grinning. “He thinks he’s a superhero.”
“I don’t know, Maddie,” Christy said. “The last guy I slept with just got coated in cotton candy and ran off screaming into the night. It might be a little soon.”
“I’m not telling you to jump him,” Maddie said, giggling. “I’m telling you to go to the bar and let him buy you a drink. He’s a surprisingly good listener.”
“Do you think?” Despite herself, and the horrors of the night, Christy looked intrigued.
“I definitely think it’s a good idea,” Maddie said. “In fact, go over there and sit next to him. I’ll give you three minutes and then join you so it doesn’t look so obvious. That way all of the pressure won’t be on you.”
“That’s a great idea,” Christy said, beaming. “Don’t wait too long, though. I don’t think Nick wants you hanging around in the dark alone.”
“Nick’s probably chasing our killer right now, and I doubt he’s going to get very far covered in candy,” Maddie pointed out. “I’ll be fine. I’ll watch from here for a few minutes and then check on you.”
Christy practically skipped back into the tent, making a beeline for John. Maddie watched her, a broad grin on her face, and when she turned to scan the festival she jolted when Cathy popped into view next to her.
“You need to stop doing that,” Maddie said, pressing her hand to her heart. “You need to work on your entrances.”
“Sorry,” Cathy said. “You’re the only one who can see me, so I forget.”
“Did you find something by the fountain?”
“I did,” Cathy said. “I need to show it to you, though. You have to hurry.”
Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) Page 17