Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “But there are already four bedrooms.”

  “That’s another thing,” Maude said. “I want you to start talking to Maddie about moving into her mother’s bedroom. She’s stuck in that small closet at the far end of the hallway, and it’s just not right. She should move into the master bedroom.”

  Nick had been trying to convince Maddie to move into her mother’s room for the past two weeks. She was reticent, so he’d given up trying … for now. “Are you sure you want to do this, Maude?”

  “I’m sure,” Maude said. “We’re still a family. You two don’t need me on top of you, though, and I don’t want Maddie on top of me when I have overnight guests of the male persuasion.”

  Nick shuddered at the visual. “I … .”

  “It’s still going to take about a month for the construction to be completed,” Maude said. “I’m going to tell Maddie today. I just want to be able to tell her you’re on board with my decision when I do.”

  “I’m on board with anything you want,” Nick said. “I love you. I just can’t help feeling like I’m forcing you out of your own house.”

  “Oh, you’re cute,” Maude said. “We both know you couldn’t force me into anything I didn’t want.”

  She was right on that front. “Thank you, Maude,” Nick said, sincere.

  “No,” Maude said. “Thank you. Maddie has never been this happy. You just need to keep it up. If I never see that girl sad again it will be too soon.”

  That was something they could both agree on.

  Five

  “What are you doing here?” Christy asked, lifting a quizzical eyebrow as Maddie walked through the front door of Cuts & Curls. “Is something wrong?”

  “I was hoping you could trim my hair so it looks good for tonight.”

  Christy twirled in her salon chair and focused on Maddie, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Is tonight the night?”

  “Maybe,” Maddie said, averting her eyes from Christy’s probing gaze. “I … if you’re busy … .”

  Christy gestured at the empty salon. “Do I look busy?”

  “Where is everyone?”

  “It’s just one of those weird lulls,” Christy said. “I told you I prefer to schedule most of my appointments before lunch so I can leave early. It happened today.”

  “Why are you still here?”

  “I realized I have nothing to do at home.”

  Maddie grinned. “Well, if you trim my hair, I might have some other gossip to share with you.”

  Christy brightened considerably and jumped out of the chair. “Sit your cute little bottom down and spill.”

  Once Maddie was settled Christy draped the protective smock over her and turned her so they could face each other in the mirror. “What’s the big gossip?”

  Maddie had two tidbits to share, and she wasn’t sure which one should get top billing. “Granny sat me down for a talk today.”

  “Oh, the birds and the bees?”

  Maddie smirked. “No. She’s decided to turn the garage into an apartment and move into it.”

  Christy stilled, surprised. “Really? Why?”

  “Well, at first I thought it was because she felt uncomfortable with Nick spending the night all the time.”

  “That doesn’t sound like her at all,” Christy said. “She’s got today in the pool for when you guys finally do it, and I know she’s chomping at the bit to make sure she wins this one. She’s still mad I won the last one.”

  Maddie frowned. “You guys have another pool?” Two weeks before Maddie found out that everyone in town was betting on when she and Nick would hook up. Christy ultimately won – and proceeded to buy three pairs of expensive shoes. Knowing another pool was ongoing was grating, to say the least.

  “It’s Blackstone Bay, Maddie,” Christy said. “There are pools for everything. It’s not just about you and Nick.”

  “Really? What other pools are ongoing?”

  “There’s a pool for when Maude and Harriet Proctor are going to throw down next. There’s a pool for when Edgar Wadsworth is going to realize that none of his zippers stay up. There’s a pool for when Penny Nelson gives in and starts wearing a bra.”

  Maddie made a face. “Are you serious? How come I don’t know about any of these pools?”

  “People think you’re too sweet,” Christy said. “They’re afraid you’ll look down on them if they approach you.”

  Maddie wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or a dig so she let it slide. “Do you want to hear the rest of my story?”

  “Continue,” Christy said, her eyes flashing with delight. Maddie really was starting to find her footing in life.

  “Granny said she’s been having trouble climbing the steps for some time,” Maddie said. “I actually feel guilty about that because I had no idea she was struggling. I would have put one of those mechanical lifts in for her.”

  “Those things are ugly.”

  “I don’t care,” Maddie said. “My grandmother was in pain every time she had to climb those steps.”

  Christy’s face softened. “I know. That’s horrible. I should have realized it, too. I just never thought about it.”

  “I guess she and Mom were talking about converting the garage when Mom died,” Maddie said. “She’s already gotten an estimate on it. It’s going to be done in about five weeks. This way she’ll still have access to the main floor of the house, but she won’t have to climb any steps.”

  “Or hear you and Nick rattling headboards.”

  “Don’t go to a gross place right now,” Maddie said. “We’re talking about my grandmother’s health.”

  “Maude wants you to start rattling headboards,” Christy countered. “It will make her feel better when you finally do.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “I almost think I shouldn’t tell you the other piece of gossip I picked up this afternoon because you’re being so mean to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Christy said, instantly contrite. “You’re right. I’m crass and horrible. I’m a terrible friend.”

  “You’re a great friend,” Maddie argued. “You’re just really obnoxious sometimes.”

  “That’s what makes me a great friend.”

  “Do you want to know or not?”

  “Fine,” Christy said with an exaggerated sigh. “What other gossip do you have?”

  “The body we found last night belonged to a local teenager,” Maddie said. “Her name was Hayley Walker.”

  “Oh, no,” Christy said, sobering. “That’s awful.”

  “Did you know her?”

  “She was a nice girl,” Christy said. “Quiet. I think she was a member of the band.”

  “She was strangled.”

  “Oh … God … .” Christy’s eyes darkened. “What kind of animal would do something like that?”

  “I have no idea,” Maddie said. “Nick was going to talk to her family after lunch.”

  “Well, keep me updated,” Christy said. “I’m going to want to send her mother some flowers. She’s a regular client.”

  “That wasn’t actually my gossip,” Maddie said. “It was just the lead up to my gossip.”

  “You’re getting much better at being a normal woman,” Christy said. “You’re learning about dramatic delivery and everything.”

  Maddie narrowed her eyes. “Do you want to know the rest of the gossip?”

  “I guess,” Christy said, feigning indifference. “I don’t know how you’re going to top the first two things.”

  “The state police sent an officer to work on the case,” Maddie said, enjoying the way Christy’s body stiffened in anticipation. “It’s John Winters. He’s going to be in town until the case is solved.”

  Christy’s smile was sly. “I’m finally going to get my chance with a Winters man,” she said. “It’s finally happening. Hallelujah!” Christy shook her fist at the ceiling.

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  The sound of the bell jangling over the door caused both women to
shift their attention to the front of the parlor. The two women standing there were enough to make Maddie’s heart plummet. Marla Proctor and Cassidy Dunham, aka the one person who always knew just how to upset Maddie and the one person who Maddie had managed to emotionally crush.

  “Well, well, well,” Marla said, hands on hips. “What’s going on here?”

  Christy snipped the scissors in her hand twice for emphasis. “It’s called a haircut.”

  “I can’t believe you have the audacity to show your face here,” Marla said, ignoring Christy’s snark. “After what you did to poor Cassidy here, you should be hiding under a rock.”

  Maddie bit the inside of her cheek, conflicted.

  “Marla, you and I have had this conversation before,” Christy warned. “If you can’t be polite to my customers – especially Maddie – then you can find another place to get your hair done. I’m not joking.”

  That was a significant threat because Cuts & Curls was the only salon within an hour’s driving distance in any direction. It was one of the most popular places in town, and Christy enjoyed holding court with her gaggle of gossips every morning. She was revered as a queen in these parts – and that’s the way she liked it.

  “Don’t you threaten me,” Marla said. She was clearly feeling superior today. Since her last boyfriend – who she was touting as a financial dynamo – had been arrested for money laundering and hauled away, her attitude had gone from bad to worse.

  “I can do whatever I want in my business,” Christy said. “Do you see that sign on the door? It says I have the right to refuse service to anyone. That includes you.”

  “Whatever,” Marla said. “I would think you’d be worried about your business collapsing because you continue to associate with this … homewrecker.”

  Maddie pressed her eyes shut, mortified. Nick’s dumping of Cassidy had been epic – and the stuff town gossip was made for. Once realizing Nick was going to break up with her Cassidy had a mini meltdown and hid from him for days. Then, when the time finally came, she broke into his house, wearing nothing but lingerie, and threw herself at him in the hopes he would somehow change his mind. When that didn’t happen, she had another meltdown. Maddie hadn’t seen her in almost two weeks. With Marla whispering sweet nastiness into her ear, Maddie was certain things were about to spiral out of control. Again.

  “Get out,” Christy said, furious.

  “Excuse me?” Marla wasn’t backing down. “Are you saying Maddie isn’t a homewrecker?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Christy said. “Cassidy, I’m truly sorry you got hurt and were so … embarrassed … but you did a lot of it to yourself. You and Nick weren’t married, though, and he was going to break up with you before Maddie even returned to town.

  “Blaming Maddie for something that was going to happen whether she came back or not isn’t fair,” Christy continued. “It’s also a little … deranged. You just need to get over it.”

  Cassidy finally spoke. “Get over it? How am I supposed to get over this woman coming into town and stealing what was mine?”

  “He was never yours,” Christy replied, nonplussed. “He was always Maddie’s. Everyone in this town knows it. Nick knows it. Marla knows it. If she’s telling you something else … well … then she’s doing it for her own personal reasons.”

  “That’s completely untrue,” Marla said, incensed. “Maddie knows what she did. I have no idea how she can live with herself.”

  “How do you live with yourself?” Christy shot back. “Do you want to know what I think is going on?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “I think you’re still holding a grudge because you had the hots for Nick in high school and he ignored you,” Christy said, not missing a beat. “You panted after him. You tried to rub yourself against him. He never had eyes for anyone but Maddie, though. That made you bitter.”

  “You take that back,” Marla said. “That’s not … that’s … Maddie is the one in the wrong here.”

  “Maddie isn’t in the wrong,” Christy said. “I’m not even sure Cassidy is in the wrong. Sure, she acted a little … immaturely … when this all shook out. We all do things we’re ashamed of, though. You’re the one in the wrong, Marla. You always have been where Maddie is concerned. It’s pathetic.”

  Maddie risked a look in Cassidy’s direction. “I’m sorry you were hurt,” she said, her voice small. “I’m not sorry for being with Nick, though. We’re happy. I don’t want to make you feel bad, but I’m not going to apologize for being happy.”

  Christy was impressed. It wasn’t the verbal smackdown she wanted Maddie to put on Marla, but it also wasn’t the cowering she’d become accustomed to when Maddie was confronted with unrest.

  “I suppose Nick is happy, too,” Cassidy said, making a face. “He finally has what he always wanted. Of course, he’s happy. What am I even saying?”

  “I think I should be going,” Maddie said, reaching for the back of the smock. “My hair is fine.”

  “Are you sure?” Christy asked. “I’ll wrestle Marla out of here if you give me five minutes.”

  “I’m sure,” Maddie said. “I don’t want to deal with this. I’m just … done … dealing with this. Nothing good is going to come out of another fight.” Maddie hopped out of the chair and moved toward the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “I want all the details,” Christy said, forcing a smile.

  “I’ll do my best,” Maddie said, giving Cassidy and Marla a wide berth as she circled around them. “I really am sorry for everything I did to you, Cassidy. When you asked me about my feelings where Nick was concerned I shouldn’t have lied. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t mean for you to get caught up in all of our … drama.”

  “It’s not any consolation,” Cassidy said, her lower lip trembling. “I’m still the one who lost the man she loved.”

  “I’m sorry,” Maddie repeated. “I hope that you find some peace … and I hope you find it soon.”

  “And I hope you find the karma that’s coming to you,” Marla snapped.

  Maddie ignored her as she exited the parlor. Once she was gone, Christy fixed Marla with a dark look. “When are you going to grow up?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Marla sniffed. “I need you to set my hair, though. We’re going out to the bar tonight and I need to look good.”

  “You’d better start driving now then,” Christy said. “You’re going to have to find another beauty parlor, and I think the closest one is over in Suttons Bay. Have fun with your drive.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Marla said, tapping her foot on the floor. “I need my hair done now.”

  “Oh, I’m serious,” Christy said. “I want you out of here now … and don’t ever come back.”

  “What? You’re banning me again?”

  “It’s a lifetime ban,” Christy said. “You’re not welcome here.” She glanced at Cassidy, pity washing over her. “When you come back to your senses you can return. As long as you’re going to keep attacking Maddie I can’t allow it, though. You need to stop listening to whatever nonsense Marla is spouting and think for yourself. I think, when you do, you’ll realize that Maddie never took anything from you. She just gave in and embraced what was already hers.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Marla screeched.

  “Believe it,” Christy said. “Now get out.”

  Six

  “That’s one conversation I never want to have again,” Nick said, keeping his head low as he moved toward his Ford Explorer.

  “It’s never easy telling parents they’ve lost their child,” John agreed, opening the passenger side door and hopping in. “Those two seemed … stoic. It could’ve been worse.”

  “I think they might’ve been in shock.”

  “I think you’re probably right,” John said. “I’m sure there are some emotional breakdowns in their future, and the way the father headed straight for the whiskey was a tip
off that he’s going to deal with it by drinking his dinner tonight.”

  Once both vehicle doors were shut, Nick turned to John with a serious expression on his face. “Are you bothered by the fact that the kid was missing for two weeks and the parents didn’t say anything about it?”

  “I can’t decide,” John said. “From the sounds of it, the kid was kind of wild. The mother said she had a lot of boyfriends and she was known for doing whatever the hell she wanted whenever the hell she wanted to do it.”

  “She was still only sixteen,” Nick pointed out.

  “The parents say they thought she was staying with a friend.”

  “Do you believe them?”

  “Until we know more, I don’t see where we have a lot of choice in the matter,” John said. “I mean, she’s been missing for two weeks, but the coroner thinks she was killed before midnight yesterday. That’s a long time for them to have locked her away.” He glanced at the Explorer’s console. “How about we run down to the marina and ask a few questions and then get a bite to eat there? We can get a drink once we’re done. I’ve got plain clothes to change into in the back.”

  Nick faltered. “I … kind of made plans with Maddie.”

  John rolled his eyes. “Don’t you make plans with Maddie every night?”

  “Yes … but … .”

  “No buts,” John said. “You and I are going out together tonight. If you want to invite Maddie, go nuts. I’d kind of like to see her.”

  “I … .”

  “You can go one night without rolling around naked with your beloved blonde,” John said. “You’re going to have a whole lifetime to do that.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because I’ve always known you two would end up together,” John said. “Everyone knew that. One night away from her isn’t going to kill you.”

  Nick wasn’t so sure, but there was no way he could tell his brother the real reason he was so desperate to spend the night with Maddie. “I’ll call her,” he said, resigned. “If she’s upset, though, you’re on your own.”

  “Oh, suck it,” John said. “She’s an adult. I’m sure she can find a way to entertain herself for one night. I’m your brother. We need some bonding time.”