“I don’t blame you for being embarrassed.”
“I’m not embarrassed,” Nick said. “It’s just not something I want you opening yourself up to. Not right now.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure I love you more than anything in this world,” Nick said. “I’m also sure we’ll feel better about your mom watching over Jessica while we try to gather evidence. This is clearly our best option.”
“I really do love you,” Maddie said, beaming. “I would love to be able to hug you right now.”
Nick smirked, reaching for her without giving it another thought.
“What if Andrew Walker is watching?” Maddie asked, squirming.
“I don’t care,” Nick said. “If he wants to tell someone that I was hugging the most beautiful woman in the world in his driveway I think that’s something I can live with.”
“Okay, you officially are a smooth talker,” Maddie said, giving up the fight and resting her head against his chest.
“I have my moments,” Nick agreed.
At the end of the driveway, John disconnected his phone and turned back to Maddie and Nick, his thumb in the air to signify “mission accomplished.” When he saw the couple cuddled together his face twisted. “Seriously? Sick!”
Twenty-Two
“Did you get it?”
Nick hopped out of his Explorer and started moving toward John. After separating at the police station, Nick dropping his brother off so he could collect his vehicle, Nick took Maddie home so she could talk to Olivia and then headed straight for the marina. He wanted to be there when the tech team searched the boat.
“I got it,” John said, lifting the folded search warrant. “We’re good to go.”
“Was it hard?”
“Not really,” John said. “Judge Mitchell is keen for this case to be solved. No one likes it when a teenager is murdered, especially in a community this small. Where is Maddie?”
“I took her home,” Nick said, being careful not to tip his hand. While John had been gracious and kind (for the most part) where Maddie’s abilities were concerned, there was no way Nick was owning up to letting Maddie ask a ghost to help them solve a crime. He wasn’t keen on opening himself up to ridicule, but he was adamant he would never allow Maddie to undergo one second of it if he could help it. This was a case of him being able to control the situation. “She wanted to check on Maude.”
“Are you serious? I thought for sure she’d be all over this.”
“Once we get the boat into the garage to search it I told her I would call her so she could come down,” Nick said.
“Are you going to let her touch it?”
“I’m going to see how many people are around first,” Nick said, keeping his eyes on the tech team as they gathered their supplies out of a state issued van.
“You’re handling this really well,” John said. “I’m not sure how I would take something like that. I mean … didn’t you ever doubt she could do what she said she could do?”
“Not really,” Nick said. “She hasn’t been wrong and … well … something happened one of the first nights right after she came back.”
John waited.
“We were at the festival downtown,” Nick said. “Maddie and I weren’t really in a good place. I’d seen her exactly twice and it was … rough.”
“Because you knew you were still in love with her and you didn’t want to be?” John asked.
“Yes,” Nick said. “I honestly knew the second I saw her. I just couldn’t … process it. Anyway, I was at the concert in town square … and Cassidy was there and I was trying really hard not to talk to her because I’d already … .”
“Tossed her away like yesterday’s newspaper?”
“Mentally? Yes. I know that’s horrible to say, but I was distancing myself from her before Maddie came back,” Nick said. “I was hoping she would break up with me. Once I saw Maddie, though, it really was over. I was really horrible to Cassidy.”
“You can’t go back in time and fix it,” John said. “You and Maddie are happy. Heck, you and Maddie are so happy it literally makes me want to puke.”
“Literally?”
“Yes.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I happened to see Maddie up at one of the food trucks with Christy and she suddenly just … bent over. I thought she was getting sick.”
“Tell me the truth, did you run to her?”
“Yes,” Nick said, guileless. “Her face was all red, and she was sweating and shaking. I was scared for her. Then she started walking. I kept telling her to sit down, but she refused. She was really focused. She took me five blocks away from the festival, turning around twice because she decided we were going the wrong way. All the while she was physically ill.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense, man.”
“She led me to a missing child,” Nick said. “The kid was huddled behind a car and crying. She was lost. She wasn’t in any immediate danger, but she was really upset.”
“Is that when you knew?”
“That’s when things started … slipping into place,” Nick replied. “I started thinking about all the time we spent together as kids and … I just … you look at things differently when you’re an adult.”
“Do you feel stupid for not realizing it?”
“I feel stupid for not realizing she was going through some major stuff,” Nick said. “I was too self-absorbed.”
“I don’t think that was the problem,” John said. “You were always very aware of what Maddie was thinking and feeling. I thought it was weird when we were younger. You doted on her even then, though.”
“I didn’t dote on her,” Nick protested.
“Yes, you did,” John said. “Mom and Olivia used to talk about it when you two weren’t around. They thought it was adorable. They were both planning a big wedding in their heads.”
“And then things fell apart,” Nick mused.
“Then things took a turn,” John said. “You guys came full circle and worked everything out, though. Given how great things are now, would you change anything?”
“No,” Nick said. “She’s my … Maddie.”
John rolled his eyes. “Sick.”
“Come on,” Nick said. “No offense to you, and it has been nice to see more of you over the past few days, but the sooner we get this case finished the sooner I can take Maddie for a picnic, and a boat ride, and a moonlight swim, and … .”
“Seriously, man, you’re not animals,” John said, chuckling.
“It’s not about that,” Nick said, making a face. “It’s about … spending time with her.”
“It’s a little about that,” John said. “Admit it.”
“No.”
“Admit it or I’ll wrestle you down in front of the tech team and give you a wedgie until you do admit it.”
Nick scowled. “Don’t ruin my happiness.”
“I don’t want to ruin your happiness,” John said. “I just like to mess with you. You make it so easy.”
“Whatever,” Nick said, stalking away from his Explorer. “Let’s go search a boat.”
One of the tech team members stepped into Nick’s path and held up a hand. “We have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, instantly alert.
“The boat you asked us to search, the … Look At Me … who names their boat that, by the way?”
“What about it?” Nick asked.
“It’s gone.”
“What?”
“It’s gone,” the tech said. “According to the dockhand someone drove it out of here not more than fifteen minutes ago. He didn’t see who it was, though. He just heard the engine and saw the boat leaving.”
“Sonovabitch,” Nick swore. “Andrew Walker beat us here. We should have thought about that.”
“Calm down,” John said. “It’s a small lake, not a big ocean. There are only so many places he can go. We’ll find him. First we need to organize a search. Come on.”
“HI,” Maddie said, greeting David Crowder with a wide smile as she handed him a Tupperware container full of chocolate chip cookies.
David took the cookies with a curious expression. “What’s this for?”
“You helped me,” Maddie said. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“You baked me cookies?”
“My grandmother baked the cookies,” Maddie said. “I just stole them.”
“Maude is your grandmother, isn’t she?”
“You know Granny?”
“I know she doesn’t like that you call her that.”
Maddie grinned. “She’s told me. She does make outstanding cookies.”
“Not that I’m complaining, but can I ask why you decided to reward me with cookies?” David asked.
“I just thought you looked like you might like some cookies.”
“My wife used to make me fresh cookies all the time,” David said, his face thoughtful. “I haven’t had a chance to eat any since … well … it’s been a long time.”
Maddie didn’t know how she knew that, but she knew it. After searching the house for Olivia – and coming up empty – she’d decided to cross another task off her list, and that task happened to involve David. “I guess they came at a good time then.”
“I think you might have come around at a good time,” David said. “Tell me about the boat. Did you find it? Does it have something to do with Hayley’s death?”
“We did find it,” Maddie said. “Nick and his brother are down at the marina serving a search warrant and taking it into custody right now.” Maddie pointed about a half mile down the beach, and even though it was a decent ways away the swirling police lights were bright as they bounced across the choppy water.
“Who does it belong to?”
“Hayley Walker’s grandmother.”
David frowned. “Her grandmother killed her?”
“No,” Maddie said. “We’re not a hundred-percent-sure who killed her, but odds are it was her father. He was … mistreating her.”
David scowled. “Really? Her own father?”
“He’s got issues,” Maddie said. “Nick thinks he’s mistreating his wife, too.”
“That’s a shame,” David said. “I had no idea that girl was going through so much. I can’t help but think … .”
“If you’d known you would have tried to help her,” Maddie finished for him. “I know. Do you have children?”
“We were never blessed that way,” David said. “Sometimes I wish we would have adopted … maybe taken in a kid who needed help.”
Maddie glanced over her shoulder, her gaze landing on Michael as he worked behind the counter of the food truck. He was the real reason she was here. “It’s probably too late to adopt now,” she said. “It’s not too late to help a child in pain, though.”
David shifted his attention to Michael. “He seems to be doing okay.”
“He’s struggling,” Maddie said. “Something tells me you already know that. That’s why you’re fishing here.”
“The fishing happens to be really good here,” David said, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Really?” Maddie gestured toward David’s empty bucket. “You forget, I know about fishing. I haven’t done it in a little while, but I know about it. It’s too shallow and choppy right here. You’re not catching anything. You’re hanging out here to keep an eye on Michael. Don’t bother denying it.”
“He’s a good kid,” David said. “I just … sense I’m needed here for some reason.”
Maddie knew a little about sensing things. “You’re a very good man.”
“Oh, good grief, don’t get all mushy,” David said. “I’m not doing anything any other decent person wouldn’t do.”
“I don’t believe that,” Maddie said. “If you want to keep this … curmudgeonly … exterior up, though, go for it. Just keep in mind, someone like you might have a lot to offer a kid who has lost the most important person in his life.”
David’s face softened. “I … .”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Maddie said, tentatively touching his arm. “Just think about it.”
“People don’t tell you no very often, do they?”
“I think it depends on the person.”
“That boyfriend of yours never tells you no. I can tell that.”
“He tells me no,” Maddie said.
“When?”
“I … .”
“That’s what I thought,” David said, grinning. “He’s so in love you with you he would rob a bank to make you happy.”
“He’s a police officer. He would never rob a bank. He has very specific ideas about what is right and what is wrong.”
“You two seem like you’re a good fit.”
“We do our best,” Maddie said, lifting her head as the breeze started to pick up. “It’s getting cold.”
“A storm is coming,” David said. “I saw the weather report earlier. It’s going to be a big one. I thought it would hold off for another couple hours, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“I guess I should get moving and go down to the marina,” Maddie said. “I promised Nick I would meet him for dinner and then he’s going to take me to some garage where they’re going to search the boat.”
“Be careful,” David cautioned. “I think this storm is going to be a dilly.”
“Then I should definitely get going,” Maddie said. “I promise to stop back as soon as I have time. I’m going to want to give Michael an update … and maybe even see if you’ve managed to catch some fish.”
“I’ll have you know I’m an excellent fisherman.”
“You’re a good man. That’s all that matters.”
Maddie left David to his empty bucket and big heart and started moving down the pier. When she got close to the parking lot, a flash of something white caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She slowed her pace and peered into a thick grove of trees down the beach. There was something there, she realized. Her inner senses started prickling – and that always meant something was up. Without thinking what she was doing Maddie swerved away from the parking lot and headed toward the trees.
It couldn’t hurt to look. She had time. The storm was still a little ways away. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. She would just look and then hurry to Nick. It would bother her if she didn’t at least take a look. It was probably nothing.
She had no idea just how wrong she was about to be.
Twenty-Three
Nick pounded on the front door of the Walker home. This was his third round. He was worried Jessica Walker was either hurt or … something worse. He was going to give it one more round before kicking the door in.
Just as he raised his hand one more time the door flew open. Instead of a cowering – or bleeding – Jessica, though, Nick found a fuming Andrew Walker staring at him from the other side of the threshold.
“What the … ?” Andrew’s face contorted. “Is there a reason you’re beating on my door? Do you need attention? I told you two hours ago that I was getting a lawyer. If you want to talk to me again then you go through him.”
Nick faltered. “I … have you been here all afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
Andrew lifted his half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels. “Just me and my bud here.”
Nick and John exchanged a look. “Mr. Andrews, can anyone confirm your whereabouts this afternoon?”
“Just Jack,” Andrew said, slurring slightly as he turned and shuffled back into his house.
Even though they hadn’t been invited Nick and John followed. They were both worried about Jessica Walker’s current status, and this was the best way they could think of to find out if she was okay.
Andrew didn’t stop until he reached the kitchen, which looked the same as the last time they’d been in the room. Thankfully, there were no signs of a struggle. “Can I get you two a drink?”
“We’re on duty,” John said.
“So?”
“We can’t drink on duty.”
“Your loss.” Andrew unscrewed the cap on the bottle and drank directly from it. “Good stuff.”
“Mr. Walker, where is your wife?” Nick asked pointedly.
“She went out,” Andrew said. “She had to make arrangements for Hayley’s funeral. She’s making a big deal out of it. I told her it was a waste of time. She’s dead. She doesn’t care.”
John scowled. “I’m sure you would see it that way.”
“What other way is there to see it?” Andrew asked. “She ran away from home and got herself killed. I don’t see why we should reward bad behavior. I’m not wasting money on a funeral when we don’t have it to spend.”
Nick was overwhelmed with the sudden urge to hit the man. If he’d been alone, he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to stop himself. “Can we search your home to make sure that your wife is really … out?”
Andrew made a face. “Why would you want to search my house?”
“We’re worried about your wife,” Nick said. “You were … aggressive … when we left.”
“And you think I hurt my wife? Of course, you do. You think I beat my daughter. Why wouldn’t you think I beat my wife, too.”
“I’m going to look around the house,” John said. “You’re going to … stay right here with my brother while I look. Do you understand?”
“I’m not stupid,” Andrew said.
Nick wasn’t so sure. “Go,” he said. “Mr. Walker and I are going to have a little talk here.”
“I’m sure that’s going to be illuminating.”
MADDIE tried to tuck her hair behind her ears as the wind swirled around her. The storm was coming … and it was coming fast. She didn’t have a lot of time, and yet something inside was telling her that she had to find what was hidden behind the trees.
After picking her way through the dense underbrush, Maddie found herself standing in front of a small boat. The front end of the craft was tied off to one of the trees, and it was starting to buck up and down as the wind whipped the water into a frenzy.
Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) Page 17