Grave Missteps

by Lily Harper Hart

  “No.”

  “But … I hate seeing you upset and no matter what happens with that girl you’re going to be upset.”

  “I said no.” Maddie refused to back down. “I’m involved. I know you don’t want me to get invested, but it’s too late. I became invested the minute I helped that girl from the basement. You know it as well as I do. I can’t go back.”

  Nick rubbed his hand over the top of his hair. “I know. I just … I hate it when you get riled up.”

  “I thought you wanted to go upstairs just so you could rile me up.”

  Nick’s lips curved. “There’s riling and there’s riling.”

  “I’ll participate in whatever form you want if you call.” Maddie was serious. “Please. For me.”

  Nick could do nothing but acquiesce. “Okay, but then we’re definitely going upstairs to spend quality time with our bed … and probably the shower, too. I think they miss us.”

  “I can live with that.”

  “Fine.” Nick propped himself on his elbow. “Where is my phone?”

  “YOU LOOK BETTER THIS morning than you did last night,” Maude announced as she danced behind the counter while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Maddie and Nick were upstairs so long they had no idea Maude had even returned. “Did you guys make up?”

  “We weren’t fighting,” Maddie said as she edged around Maude and headed toward the refrigerator. “We were tense because of other things, not because we were fighting.”

  Maude snorted. “Whatever. I saw the look on your face. You were spoiling for a fight.”

  “She was spoiling for a fight,” Nick agreed. “I talked her out of it, though.”

  “And how did you do that?”

  “I have a natural ability to make women fall at my feet.” Nick winked at Maddie, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed with a mixture of pleasure and embarrassment. “They can’t help themselves. I’m the drug they just can’t stop sniffing.”

  Maude rolled her eyes. “I bet that sounded cooler in your head than it did coming out.”

  “Totally,” Nick agreed, sitting at the table as Maddie began gathering breakfast ingredients. “By the way, I checked in with the station this morning and it’s the funniest thing. Someone toilet-papered Harriet Proctor’s yard last night. I don’t know about you, but I’m shocked that anyone would go after that poor woman.”

  To her credit, Maude didn’t show a hint of reaction. “That’s terrible. I hope they find who did it.”

  “Oh, and also, the big package of toilet paper I bought the other day disappeared out of our bathroom cabinet,” Nick added. “There’s only one roll left.”

  “Maybe you used more than you realized,” Maude suggested.

  “I guess that must be it.”

  Maddie glanced between her grandmother and Nick, her lips curving before grabbing two pans from the cupboard and placing them on the stove. “Nick called the woman from Child Protective Services this morning. The girl I found is doing better, although she’s still not talking.”

  Maude took the conversational shift in stride. “That’s good. I bet that makes you feel better, huh?”

  “It makes me feel somewhat better,” Maddie clarified. “I still want to see her.”

  “Is that possible?” Maude turned to Nick. “I mean … is she allowed to see her?”

  “I would’ve thought not given everything that’s going on, but when I called the social worker she said it didn’t sound like a bad idea.”

  “Huh.”

  “Of course, she said that after Maddie grabbed the phone from my hand and insisted on seeing the girl,” Nick added. “Sharon argued at first but then gave in. Apparently I’m not the only one who can’t resist Maddie’s charms.”

  “Oh, don’t kid yourself.” Maddie upended a full bag of pre-chopped hash browns into a skillet. “She agreed because of you. She thinks you’re hot and she’s hopeful you’ll be with me for the visit.”

  “I think you’re exaggerating.”

  “And I think she went all breathless when she heard your voice,” Maddie countered. “She was all ‘Detective Winters, I’m so glad to hear from you.’” Maddie adopted a high-pitched giggle. “She definitely cares more about you than me. I don’t care, though, because she cleared the way for me to visit … well, the girl.” Maddie made a face. “We need something to call her besides ‘the girl.’ That seems rude.”

  “Hopefully Sharon will be able to get a name out of her,” Nick said. “There were a lot of books in her room, and they were more middle-grade books – like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games – so I think it’s fair to say she can read. If she can read, she can communicate, even if she can’t speak.”

  “Hmm. I didn’t think of that.” Maddie tapped her bottom lip. “I’m going to take Christy shopping before we head over there. I’ll get things like notebooks and pens and some books for her.”

  “You’re going shopping?” Nick’s eyebrows migrated up his forehead. “When did you decide that?”

  “When you were shaving. I already texted Christy. We’re picking up some clothes and other items, too.”

  “But … don’t you think you’re going a little overboard?”

  “No.” Maddie sprayed the second pan with oil and reached for the eggs. “How many eggs does everyone want?”

  “Two,” Maude answered automatically, shooting Nick a warning look when he opened his mouth. She could tell he was about to argue further and Maude recognized it was a bad idea. “Don’t,” she said, keeping her voice low. “You can’t talk her out of this. Your best option is to show her support if you don’t want her to dig her heels in.”

  Nick didn’t often take advice from Maude because … well, because she was nutty. He loved her but didn’t think of her as a fountain of relationship advice. Still, this time at least, he knew she was probably right.

  “Three eggs,” Nick called out, flashing a smile when Maddie snagged his gaze. “I’m starving. For some reason I worked up an appetite this morning.”

  Maddie smirked. “I did, too. I think I’m going to have three eggs as well.”

  “Good. I like it when we’re on the same page.”

  “Me, too.”

  “WHAT DO YOU THINK about this?”

  Christy Ford, her red hair spilling over her shoulders in a series of rambunctious curls, held up a pink shirt that made Maddie cringe.

  “I don’t know about that,” Maddie hedged, searching her mind for a way to shoot down the shirt without agitating her friend. “The color is a bit much.”

  “It’s pink. Pink is a happy color.”

  Maddie had never really considered the color pink anything but an annoying color. “I think she’s more of a purple person.” Maddie held up a simple lavender T-shirt for emphasis. “I think this looks more like her.”

  Christy furrowed her brow as she studied the garment in question. “I’m confused. I thought you said she was a kid.”

  “She is.”

  “That’s an adult size small, though,” Christy pointed out. “Is she a kid or a teenager?”

  Maddie chewed on her bottom lip as she debated how to answer. “I don’t know,” she admitted finally. “I thought she was about eleven or so … maybe thirteen … but Nick thinks she’s at least fifteen.”

  Christy widened her eyes. “That’s a big discrepancy.”

  “I know.” Maddie’s stomach twisted. “She was tiny and really pale. I honestly don’t know how old she is. I’m kind of eyeing the clothing.”

  “Then we’ll go with your gut.” Christy was matter of fact. “It hasn’t steered you wrong before. What do you want to get her?”

  “I’m thinking a couple of pairs of pants and some tops. Some pajamas wouldn’t hurt. Some slippers. Then I want to get her comfort items, like coloring books and regular books. Maybe a stuffed animal or something.”

  “If she’s a teenager, she might take the stuffed animal as an insult.”

  “I don’t think so. You didn’
t see her. She clung to me like … she didn’t have anything else in the world to hold on to. I think a stuffed animal will be good for her.”

  Christy’s expression softened. “Okay. That doesn’t sound terrible. Let’s pick the clothes first.”

  Maddie and Christy busied themselves selecting a variety of things, including track pants, jeans, shirts, a hoodie, socks, and underwear. Then they moved to the toiletries aisle and picked out several things they thought she might need before heading to the book aisle.

  “It’s a good thing adult coloring books are still in fashion,” Christy noted. “They have Harry Potter. Didn’t you say she liked Harry Potter?”

  Maddie automatically nodded as she studied the books. “Nick said he saw The Hunger Games and Harry Potter books.” She selected a boxed-set trilogy. “This is Divergent. I think that’s supposed to be like The Hunger Games.”

  Christy shrugged. “You’ve got me. I don’t read that stuff. I prefer an old-fashioned bodice ripper with lots of sex.”

  “You would.” Maddie shoved the books in the cart. “I need to grab something else for her. I don’t want to get something that skews too young, though, because I want her to feel challenged.”

  “Well, I’ve picked out three coloring books,” Christy supplied. “Do you want crayons or colored pencils?”

  “Both. Get markers, too.”

  “How much money are you planning to spend here, Maddie?”

  “However much it takes.” Maddie was firm as she grabbed another book and looked at the back cover. “Teenagers like fantasy books, right?”

  “I would think so.” Christy leaned on the handle of the cart as she regarded her friend. “Do you want to tell me why you’re so manic about this?”

  “I’m not manic.” Maddie evaded Christy’s gaze. “I don’t understand why you think I’m acting manic.”

  “Because you are.” Christy kept her voice easy and calm. “I get that it must have shaken you to see her, but you got her out. That’s the important thing.”

  “I didn’t even know she was a kid until I had her out,” Maddie admitted. “When I saw the ghost … well, I didn’t recognize her. I knew it wasn’t Mildred, though. I thought maybe Mildred was in the basement.”

  “Oh, that makes sense.”

  “She was light, though. Like … way too light. Once I had my hands on her I realized she was frail. She looked so lost all I wanted was to protect her. When Nick told me the room was locked from the outside, I swear I wanted to hurt someone. I don’t consider myself a violent person and yet I think I would’ve killed Mildred myself right then and there.”

  “You don’t know that Mildred is responsible,” Christy cautioned. “Right now, we have no idea what was going on in that house.”

  “I guess that’s fair. I’m still angry, though.”

  “Which is why we’re shopping I guess, huh?” Christy’s smile turned into a grimace as she moved her hand to her stomach. She was generally full of smiles, but she seemed a bit more agitated than normal today.

  “It is,” Maddie agreed, concern washing over her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Christy waved off the question. “John and I ordered spring rolls from the Chinese place last night and I think they were bad. I’ve been feeling off ever since.”

  Maddie was instantly sympathetic. “Do you think you have food poisoning?”

  “I don’t know. It’s a possibility.” Eager to turn the conversation away from her digestive problems, Christy focused on the coloring books. “Maybe, if you’re going all out and want to keep her mind occupied, it might not be such a bad idea to grab a few of those puzzle books. That might entertain her.”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea.” Maddie scampered to the other side of the aisle and perused the selection, grabbing three and a package of gel pens on display at the bottom of the rack before turning back to the cart. When she did, she found Christy bent over completely and wiping sweat from her brow. “Are you going to be sick? Should we find the bathroom?”

  Christy scowled at the suggestion. “I am not going to be sick. I don’t get sick.”

  “You look sick. You’re all … sweaty. Maybe you have the flu or something.”

  “I don’t get sick,” Christy repeated.

  “You just said you might have food poisoning.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to get sick,” Christy countered, tapping the side of her head rather viciously. “It’s mind power, you see. If you don’t believe you can get sick, you won’t get sick.”

  Maddie was understandably dubious. “Is this like when we went to the bar a couple of weeks ago and you said you could will yourself into not getting a hangover and then you yelled at me the next day when I suggested we take a walk because you had the world’s worst hangover?”

  Christy scowled. “This is nothing like that.”

  “Good to know.”

  “I don’t get sick, though.” Christy was firm as she wiped her brow. “Seriously. I feel as if I’m having a hot flash. What’s the earliest someone can go into menopause?”

  The question triggered something in Maddie’s brain. “Wait … you’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Christy’s mouth dropped open. “How can you even ask that?”

  “That wasn’t a denial,” Maddie pointed out. “As for how I can ask it, you and John have been together for a few months and if the stories he tells Nick are true you’ve been very … um, active … during that time.”

  “Oh, my … I’m going to kill him.” Christy made a disgusted face. “I’m going to totally kill him … with pain.”

  Since Maddie had known John since she was a small child – he was Nick’s older brother, after all – she found herself caught up in the idea of Christy being pregnant. “I think it would be so much fun if you were pregnant,” Maddie enthused. “I mean … how much fun would a baby be? We could dress her up and get one of those jogging strollers so you can have an easy time getting in shape after the birth.”

  The look Christy shot Maddie promised mayhem. “I am not pregnant. Stop saying that.”

  “But you’re sick to your stomach.” Maddie adopted a pragmatic tone. “That could be morning sickness.”

  “It’s almost eleven. That’s not really morning.”

  Maddie ignored the argument. “You said you felt like you were having a hot flash. That could mean your hormones are out of whack, which totally happens when you’re pregnant.”

  “Ugh.” Christy straightened and glared. “I can’t believe you’re still going on like this. I am not pregnant.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I’m on the pill.”

  “The pill isn’t always a hundred percent effective,” Maddie argued. “Sometimes the pill fails.”

  “Not when you take it correctly.” Christy refused to back down. “I am not pregnant and if I hear that rumor around town I’m going to know exactly who started it.”

  Maddie had the grace to be abashed. “I’m sorry.” She held up her hands in capitulation. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “It’s fine.” Christy was cranky, but she knew it was impossible to stay mad at Maddie over the long haul. “Let’s finish shopping and then get out of here. I want to meet this girl now that you’ve talked about her so much.”

  “Good idea.” Maddie tilted her head to the side and regarded Christy with keen interest. “Do you want a girl? I think you should have a girl. She would be so much more fun to dress up.”

  Christy let loose a mock scream as she turned on her heel. “I hate you right now.”

  “I definitely think you should have a girl,” Maddie added. “What are you going to name her?”

  6

  Six

  The children’s home was located in a rural area just outside of Traverse City. Since Maddie and Christy opted to shop at a nearby Target, it didn’t take them long to reach the home once they were finished and loaded.

  The trunk of Christy’s car w
as overflowing when they opened it and Maddie opted to take as many bags as possible so Christy wouldn’t be weighed down.

  “I can take more,” Christy offered, puzzled by Maddie’s insistence on carrying the bulk of the items. “You don’t have to take everything.”

  “I’m fine.” Maddie flashed a bright smile. “I don’t want you to carry too much. It might hurt the baby.”

  Christy’s lips turned down. “I don’t think you’re funny. Not even a little.”

  Maddie wasn’t bothered by her friend’s tone. She was used to Christy’s crabby attitude. “Do you have names picked out? I think you should go with Maddie for a little girl and Parker for a boy.”

  Christy made an exaggerated face. “You’re so … obnoxious. I am not pregnant.”

  Now that she’d started the game, Maddie refused to back down. “Think how great it would be if you were.”

  “I’m not pregnant,” Christy repeated, her anger on full display. “Stop saying that. Besides, I would never name a kid of mine Parker. I’m not happy with you right now either so Maddie is out of the question as well.”

  “You’ll get over it.” Maddie’s smile stayed in place until she walked through the front door and pulled up short. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but the drab gray walls and depressing atmosphere were pretty far from appealing. “This can’t be right.”

  “Ugh. Look at this place.” Christy’s disdain was evident. “No one should have to live here.”

  “It needs some refurbishing,” Sharon agreed, popping out of a side office and causing both women to jolt. “We do the best we can with the funds we’re allocated. We opt to spend the money on the children rather than new paint.”

  Maddie’s cheeks burned under the woman’s scrutiny. “We didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “We didn’t,” Christy agreed. “It’s just so … gray.”

  “Yes, well, I wouldn’t mind a color spruce myself, but I have other things to deal with first.” Sharon extended a hand and then pulled back slightly when she realized Maddie’s hands were full of bags. “We didn’t get a chance to meet yesterday. I’m Sharon Lansing.”