Grave Paths (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 11)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Killed me?” Jennifer knit her eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

  Maddie wasn’t surprised that the woman didn’t seem to grasp the reality of her new existence. She’d seen it before. Multiple times, in fact. That didn’t stop her from internally cursing the situation. “There’s been an … incident.”

  “Oh, don’t sugarcoat it for her,” Christy chided. “She probably understands there’s been an incident. She’s wandering around the woods for good reason, for crying out loud. Of course there’s been an incident.”

  Maddie chewed on her bottom lip to keep herself from barking at Christy for a second time.

  “I don’t like it here,” Jennifer muttered, her eyes wild as they bounced over various trees and rocks. “I don’t even understand why I’m out here. I hate the woods.”

  “You hate the woods?” Maddie arched an eyebrow. “I bet that means you didn’t purposely walk into these woods, huh?”

  “Why would I?”

  “Everyone but you hates the woods, Maddie,” Christy pointed out. “You’re the only woman I know who loves the woods. Sometimes I believe you think like a guy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. John thinks like a guy and I like that.”

  Christy and John had recently begun dating. The relationship was still new – and since they were both a bit skittish, it was also slow moving – but Maddie had high hopes they would make it work. If they didn’t, she planned on torturing John until he made things right. “Shh,” Maddie admonished, never looking at her friend. “I’m trying to talk to Jennifer.”

  “Oh, whatever.” Christy rolled her eyes as she took a step back. “Just so you know, from my perspective it looks as if you’re talking to thin air. I happen to like you anyway. Continue.”

  Maddie ignored the sarcasm. “Jennifer, it’s really important that you try to remember back to a few days ago. What’s the last thing you remember?”

  Jennifer stared hard at Maddie, as if she expected the blonde to sprout horns or suddenly morph into someone else. “What am I supposed to remember? Wait … did someone roofie me? Was I roofied? I read about that in the newspapers, but I never thought it would happen to me.”

  Maddie miraculously remained calm. “Do you think someone had a reason to roofie you?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “How the heck should I know? Does anyone ever have a reason to roofie someone?”

  Sadly, Maddie knew she had a point. “I need you to remain focused, Jennifer. It’s important. What’s the last thing you remember?”

  “Talking to you.”

  “Before that?”

  “You were running and you fell over.”

  “That’s when I hurt my knee,” Maddie said calmly. “I need you to think back before that, though. What do you remember before that?”

  Jennifer screwed up her face in concentration. “I’m not sure. I think I remember the baby crying.”

  “Good.” Maddie blew out a relieved sigh. “What else do you remember?”

  “The baby is crying and I need to go to him.” Jennifer adopted a far-off expression. “He always cries. I wish he would stop crying.”

  “He’s a newborn. He doesn’t know better.”

  “The noise is driving me crazy, though.” Jennifer’s eyes drifted to the tree line. “I think someone is at the door.”

  “Is it a man or a woman?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Are they knocking?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Jennifer shifted her gaze to the trees on the other side of the pathway, loud noises drawing her attention in that direction. “Do you hear that? The baby is crying again.”

  “That’s not the baby,” Maddie said hurriedly. It was too late, though. Jennifer blinked out of existence before she could answer another question. “Son of a … .”

  “That’s a dog,” Christy said, moving to Maddie’s side. “I can hear it. I wonder what it’s doing out here.”

  “I don’t know, but it totally screwed up my interview.”

  “Nothing?” Christy asked sympathetically.

  “She’s confused and hard to direct,” Maddie replied. “I need more time.”

  “Well, I don’t think you’re going to get it today.”

  Maddie had a feeling Christy was right.

  “I’M JUST SAYING THAT there are ways to show a woman you’re interested without becoming a total wet rag,” John said. “I mean … seriously. You do whatever Maddie wants, whenever she wants. That’s not very manly.”

  Nick had been listening to his brother wax poetic about relationships for twenty minutes. He was beyond annoyed with the situation. “I would like to point out that Maddie and I have been together for a lot longer than you and Christy.”

  “Yes, and you’re all mopey about it,” John said. “Christy and I aren’t mopey. Do you want to know why? Because I’m not a wet rag.”

  “No, you’re a total tool,” Nick corrected, his eyes flashing. “My relationship with Maddie is perfectly fine. She’s just … worked up about this baby. She can’t seem to help herself. Our relationship is fine. Her nerves are what’s shot.”

  “You can keep telling yourself that, but I know you better than anyone.”

  “You don’t know me better than Maddie,” Nick grumbled.

  “In some ways I do,” John countered. “She’s a girl. She can’t understand the way a man’s mind works. You need to tell her that you’re the boss. You need to lay down the law. If you do, your relationship will be much easier.”

  “Is that what you do?” Nick asked dryly. “Do you lay down the law with Christy and boss her around?”

  “I do,” John confirmed. “She does exactly what she’s told. Hey … where did the dog go?”

  “He’s over here.”

  John recognized the sound of Christy’s voice right away. His shoulders stiffened as he forced himself to turn and meet her steady gaze. The red-head’s expression was murderous as she stroked the top of the cadaver dog’s head. “Hello, baby.”

  Christy didn’t immediately respond. Her expression said everything, though. She’d heard the tail end of their conversation.

  “What are you doing out here, Mad?” Nick asked, his heart lurching at the expression on her face. She stood between the cadaver dog and him, her eyes flat and dark. “You said you were resting your knee today. You said you weren’t coming out here.”

  “No, I said I wasn’t going to exert myself,” Maddie clarified. “I’m not exerting myself.”

  “But … .”

  Maddie shook her head to cut him off. “What are you doing out here?”

  Nick ran a restless hand through his dark hair. “Well … I called John to see if he could get me a search dog. I thought it would be best to mark this particular possibility off our list as soon as possible.”

  “And what possibility is that?”

  “Mad … .” Nick’s voice was strangled. “I didn’t do this to upset you. I thought, if we could search and not find anything, you would feel better about things. I thought maybe you would allow yourself to sleep if we could make sure the baby wasn’t out here.”

  Maddie balked. “I’ve been sleeping.”

  “Have you?”

  “I have.”

  “Then why do you look as if we could have a picnic in the shade under your eyes?”

  Maddie crossed her arms over her chest. “You should’ve told me what you had planned for the day.”

  “Right back at you.”

  “I think we should probably leave you guys alone,” John suggested, his eyes keen as they searched for an escape.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Christy challenged, causing him to cringe. “I believe we need to discuss how you’re in charge and always telling me what to do.”

  “I don’t believe that’s what I said,” John hedged.

  “And yet that’s what I heard. Interesting.”

  Maddie and Nick remained focused on one another, the atmosphere bet
ween them roiling.

  “I have to stick with this right now, Mad,” Nick said after a beat. “I can’t get into anything personal until later tonight.”

  “Fine.” Maddie’s tone was icy and clipped. “I’ll be waiting for you at home.”

  Nick had no doubt the welcome he received when he got there would be downright chilling.

  11

  Eleven

  Maddie was waiting for Nick when he got home. He sensed her presence before he saw her. The look on her face when he finally shifted away from the tray where he kept his keys was enough to make his stomach twist.

  “Hey, love.”

  Maddie’s expression was dark. “Don’t call me that when I’m angry.”

  Nick cracked a smile. “Is this the part where you tell me I wouldn’t like you when you’re angry?”

  Maddie didn’t return the smile, causing Nick to exhale heavily.

  “Mad, you are my love,” Nick said. “I can’t stop myself from calling you that. I won’t. I know you’re upset but … .”

  Maddie cocked a challenging eyebrow. “Upset? I’m way beyond upset. Christy was upset with what John said. I’m furious.”

  Nick pursed his lips. “You have to admit; it was kind of funny when Christy caught John boasting like a madman. I guarantee, Mr. ‘I’m In Charge and the Woman Needs to Live With It’ is going to have a night of groveling in front of him.”

  Maddie’s lips didn’t so much as twitch. “He’s a sexist pig. Christy seems to like that, though. I think they get off on the fighting.”

  “You and I don’t get off on the fighting, though, do we?”

  “No.”

  “So let’s not fight,” Nick suggested, shuffling away from the shelf and moving toward the kitchen. “Let’s just agree to forgive one another and move on.”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think it would be that easy,” Nick muttered. “I had to try, though.”

  “Great. You tried. Now talk.”

  Even though he knew she was angry, it took everything Nick had not to beam at her. Maddie spent years shrinking away from confrontation of any kind. Only now, because she was comfortable and secure, could she muster the strength to fight with him. Of course, he would be happier if she preferred kissing him. That didn’t look to be an option for a bit, though.

  “I know you want me to apologize, Maddie, but I’m not sure I can do it.” Nick sat in one of the oversized wingback chairs by the front window.

  Maddie remained standing, her arms folded across her chest.

  “I’m not sorry for doing my job and calling for the cadaver dog,” Nick continued after a beat. “I am sorry you’re upset. That’s the best I can do.”

  “And why do you think I’m upset?”

  “Because you desperately need for that baby to be alive.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Nick bit back a sigh. She was being combative. He wasn’t used to this version of her. Even when they were kids, they rarely fought. Nick always liked that about her. Their friendship was easy and comfortable. They were more than friends now, though. So much more. Arguments came with the territory.

  “George stopped in at the office to see me yesterday,” Nick volunteered. “He told me about what happened.”

  Maddie remained stoic, but Nick saw a hint of worry in her eyes. “I don’t know what that has to do with anything.”

  “He said you spent hours searching the woods because you were convinced you heard a baby crying.”

  “I wasn’t sure. I … .”

  “He seemed to think you were sure.”

  “I … .” Maddie’s belligerence drained and she sank into the chair across from Nick. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because you seemed to want to keep that to yourself,” Nick answered honestly. “I thought about pushing you, but I figured it would do more harm than good.”

  “And that’s why you decided to send for the cadaver dog?”

  “Technically, we should’ve done it from the beginning,” Nick said. “I don’t know why I didn’t suggest it. Kreskin didn’t either. Maybe we weren’t ready to entertain that possibility. The dog didn’t alert, though. If the baby is out there, he’s far away from the area where we found Jennifer.”

  Maddie pressed her lips together, unsure how to proceed. “Would you have told me if I didn’t catch you?”

  “I planned to tell you either way. Whether we found something or not, I was going to tell you.”

  “Why didn’t you do it this morning?”

  “Because all I could picture was you sitting in this house and working yourself into a lather,” Nick replied. “There would’ve been nothing that I could do for you. You would’ve paced … and cleaned until your fingers were pruned stubs … and turned yourself into a basket case. I never want that for you.

  “I decided that the best way to handle it was simply doing the search and then coming clean after,” he continued. “I figured I would have information at that point – whether good or bad – and it would be easier for you to accept.”

  “I could’ve handled it.”

  “I know. You’re strong.”

  Maddie rubbed the back of her neck, her anger all but eradicated. “I was upset when I saw you in the woods. I was more upset when I realized why the dog was there. I guess part of me understood why you did it. The other part, though, I was pretty angry.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it felt like you were trying to shield me and I don’t want to be the sort of person who constantly needs to be protected.”

  “Is that how you think I see you?”

  Maddie shrugged, noncommittal. “Don’t you?”

  “No.” Nick answered without hesitation. “I want to protect you, don’t get me wrong, but I never look at you and say ‘there’s a woman who needs protection.’ I look at you and say ‘I love that woman so much it will kill me if something happens to her.’ There’s a difference, Mad. Protection doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

  “Ugh.” Maddie made a growling sound in the back of her throat. “When you say sweet things like that, it makes it impossible to stay angry at you.”

  “That was my diabolical plan from the start.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Maddie rested her hands on the armrests. “So the dog didn’t find anything?”

  “No.”

  “Well, I guess that’s something to be grateful for.”

  “I think so.” Nick stretched his legs out in front of him, resting the soles of his feet against Maddie’s shins. It was the only contact he would allow himself. They still had a few things to discuss. “Now, do you want to tell me what you were doing in the woods with Christy after you told me you were sticking close to the house today?”

  “Technically I wasn’t all that far from the house,” Maddie hedged.

  “Let’s not play word games, Mad.”

  “Also, I didn’t actually say I was going to stay in the house.” Now she was the one on the defensive. “I simply said I wouldn’t find trouble. Was I lying? I don’t think so. I didn’t find trouble.”

  “How long did you wait after I left the house to call Christy?”

  “Why is that important?”

  “Don’t answer a question with a question,” Nick chided. “It makes me think you’re about to lie.”

  “I don’t lie.”

  “You do evade.”

  “So do you.”

  “We’re quite the pair.” Despite himself, Nick enjoyed the verbal foreplay. “How long, Mad?”

  Maddie averted her gaze. “Five minutes.”

  “That’s what I figured.” Nick tapped his fingers on the armrests, uncertain. “Why didn’t you tell me you planned to go into the woods?”

  “Honestly?” Maddie shifted her eyes back to his. “I knew you would try to talk me out of it. I thought you would be less likely to worry if you didn’t know. Still, I knew you would be furious if I went out there alone. That’s why I called Chris
ty.”

  “Calling Christy was a smart move. That’s why I’m not completely furious. However, no matter what you said, you insinuated you were sticking close to the house today. That’s why I thought I would be able to get away with having a dog out there without alerting you.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better, Nicky.”

  “No? Let me ask you something, Mad, were you going to tell me you spent another day in the woods looking for a baby?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “That’s not much of an answer.”

  “That’s the only answer I’ve got,” Maddie admitted. “You’ve been watching me like … like you think I’m about to fall apart. I don’t like it.”

  “I’ve been watching you like a man who loves the woman who is going to be his wife,” Nick corrected. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. You’re not sleeping, love.”

  “I am,” Maddie protested. “Some.”

  “Not enough,” Nick countered. “You’re exhausted. You’ve got shadows under your eyes and you’re pale. These are things I notice. I’ve decided, though, that I’ve probably been going about this the wrong way.

  “I thought that keeping you out of it as much as possible was the way to go,” he continued. “I was wrong. We seem to do better when we’re working together, not separately.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Maddie was instantly suspicious. “If you think I’m going to plant myself in the police department so you can keep an eye on me, you’ve got another think coming.”

  Nick snorted. “If I thought that would work, I might try. I know it won’t work, though, and I have no intention of beating my head against a brick wall for no good reason.”

  “Would I be the brick wall in this scenario?”

  “You’re my brick wall,” Nick replied. “You’re also smart, intuitive, and you have good ideas. We’re at a crossroads. We don’t know where to turn. I want to hear your ideas on this. I want to see where you think we should look.”

  Maddie was caught off guard by the suggestion. “Really?”

  “Really, love. Wait … can I call you that yet?”