“Does it have something to do with me dressing up like Fred?”
“Maybe a little.”
“I guess I can keep doing it then.”
“That would be greatly appreciated.”
“THEY’RE LEAVING,” ZANDER COMPLAINED AS he stood at the window that faced Harper’s house and watched Jared’s vehicle navigate the dark roadway.
“What?” Shawn looked up from the book he was reading and frowned at his fiancé. He hadn’t even noticed Zander migrating in that direction. “Who is leaving?”
Zander shot him a withering look. “Who do you think?”
“Um, let me take a wild guess. Harper and Jared?”
Zander nodded. “They both got in his truck and took off.”
Shawn was used to listening to Zander complain about Jared stealing too much of Harper’s time and settled in for what he thought would be an extended diatribe. “I believe they’re allowed to go out whenever they want because they’re adults. It’s not even nine.”
“Yes, but Jared was feeling romantic when we saw them at dinner,” Zander pointed out.
“How do you know that?”
“Because he leads with his pelvis when he’s feeling romantic.”
Shawn stilled. “I was just going to say that I’ve never noticed that and yet you’re right. He does lead with his pelvis when he’s feeling romantic.”
“I’m the most observant man in the world.” Zander tapped the side of his head for emphasis.
“Maybe Harper needed something from the store or something.”
“They would’ve come over here first if they ran out of something.”
“Maybe she needed tampons or something only girls need.”
“She won’t need tampons for another two weeks.”
Shawn lowered the book and pinned Zander with a dark glare. “The fact that you know that is distressing.”
“We lived together for years. I learned to track that stuff. That’s not it.”
“Well, if you’re worried, text her and see what the problem is.”
“I already know what the problem is.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s the problem then?”
“They’re going to the cemetery. Harper saw Morton’s ghost today. He took off before she could talk to him, though. Jared was feeling romantic, which means Harper is the one who decided they should leave. She would only do that if it was something important because she likes playing their Scooby games as much as he does.”
“So, what’s bothering you?” Shawn found he was genuinely curious. “I thought you hated talking to ghosts in the middle of the night.”
“Yes, but I hate being left out more.”
Sensing trouble, Shawn readjusted himself. “You’re not thinking of following them, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Shawn was relieved. “That’s good.”
“It’s too late to follow them. They’re already gone. We are going to meet them there and voice our concerns about being cut out of the action, though.”
Shawn’s heart sank. “We are?”
“Yup. You’d better change into dark clothes. You’ll stand out in that outfit you’re wearing.”
Shawn’s lip curled as he took in Zander’s pink shirt and baby blue shorts. “Look who is talking.”
“I’m going to change, too.”
Shawn still wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure about this?”
“Harper might need backup.”
“She has Jared.”
“What if he needs backup?”
Shawn exhaled heavily. He knew it was a losing argument. Why he persisted in making it was beyond him. “Give me five minutes.”
“Three. We need to get moving.”
“Fine, but if they’re angry, I’m letting them yell at you until they go hoarse.”
“Deal.”
MADDIE LED THE WAY INTO THE CEMETERY. It wasn’t overly large and was designed in a straightforward manner. Finding a body had imprinted the exact location she wanted to go into her head.
“Slow down, Mad,” Nick instructed as he studied the foliage. It wasn’t overly thick but that didn’t stop him from taking a long, slow study. Somebody had been killed in the cemetery, after all. If the person who did the killing spent a great deal of time hanging out in the location, he wanted to prepared.
“It’s just around the corner,” Maddie insisted. “He’s probably not here but just in case.”
“I’m familiar with the drill,” Nick groused, forcing himself to catch up. He was unarmed — he was required to travel with his service weapon, but it was safely locked in a gun safe in his truck — but fully prepared to throw himself on a potential murderer should somebody hop out from the bushes. “Just ... .” Whatever he was going to say died on his lips as they rounded the corner ... and almost ran over Harper and Jared.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Jared supplied, smirking. He stood a few feet away from the bushes, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth.
“Oh, hey.” Maddie was taken aback. “Um ... we’re just out taking a walk.”
“Yes, there’s nothing lovelier than a romantic walk through the cemetery,” Jared agreed. “I’m a frequent participant myself.”
Nick hated how awkward he felt. “Maddie wanted to see if Morton’s ghost was hanging around.”
“I figured.” Jared’s demeanor never slipped. “That’s why we’re here. Harper won’t rest after seeing the ghost this afternoon. He wouldn’t talk then. She’s hopeful she can change that.”
Maddie brightened considerably as she moved closer to Harper. “You saw him this afternoon?”
Harper nodded. “I did. He was hanging around in the middle of the bushes. I didn’t even really get a chance to talk to him before he disappeared.”
“He might not have control of his new reality,” Maddie noted. “That happens all the time with the ghosts I deal with.”
“Me, too.”
Nick took up position next to Jared. He felt better about letting Maddie do her thing now that she wasn’t alone. Still, he had to wonder if the detective was annoyed about interlopers interrupting his evening.
“I didn’t want to come,” Nick explained. “I knew she wouldn’t let it go, though.”
“You’re not breaking any laws,” Jared reminded him.
“I know. I still feel weird.”
“It’s fine.” Jared shrugged. “This is what happens when you fall in love with an extraordinary woman.”
Because it was true, Nick was able to relax. “You’re absolutely right.”
They lapsed into comfortable silence as Maddie and Harper chatted away with one another, the two women poking through the bushes and comparing techniques. Nick had almost managed to lull himself ... until he heard a rustling in the bushes.
He turned, instinctively, and found himself face-to-face with Zander as the other man emerged from behind a small group of trees.
“Ha!” Zander’s eyes were wild as he glanced between faces. “I knew it!”
“You knew what?” Jared demanded on a grimace. He’d immediately gone for his weapon, which frustrated him. “How many times have I told you not to sneak up on us?”
“And how many times have I told you not to cut me out of adventures?”
“He saw you guys leaving and knew where you were going,” Shawn volunteered as he joined his fiancé. He looked beyond annoyed. “If you’re going to sneak around, you need to do a better job of it.”
“Nobody is sneaking around,” Jared insisted. “Harper wanted to see if she could find Morton. As you can see, it was a wasted trip. You guys left the house for nothing.”
“Oh, yeah?” Zander planted his hands on his hips, cocky. “If that’s true, then tell me who the blondes are talking to.”
“W-what?” Jared swiveled quickly and, sure enough, found Harper and Maddie focused on the exact same spot. To him, it looked as if they were talking to air. He knew better, though.
“I guess t
hey found him after all,” Nick noted.
Jared nodded. “I guess so.”
IN THE CLEARING, MADDIE AND HARPER WERE taking a measured approach as they attempted to entice answers out of Morton.
“Do you remember me?” Maddie asked tentatively.
Morton looked her up and down, imperious. “I don’t believe I do. I have to say, though, I did marvelous work.” He gestured toward her ample bosom.
“Hey!” Maddie instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. “You didn’t do these. They’re mine.”
“Are you sure?” Morton peered closer. “They don’t look naturally occurring given your slight frame.”
“Well, they are.” Maddie did her best to cover up her annoyance. “You weren’t my doctor. I was a nurse with you at Detroit Mercy Hospital.”
“Oh, right.” Recognition dawned on Morton’s smarmy face. “I do remember you. How come we never hooked up? Seeing you now, it makes me think there was a reason behind that.”
“Yes, I didn’t like you all that well.” Maddie risked a glance at Nick and found him watching her. He obviously couldn’t hear Morton’s comments, which was a good thing. “That hardly matters now.”
“Oh, it will always matter to me.” Morton winked at her and then focused on Harper. “Were you a patient? You look familiar.”
Harper scowled. “I was not a patient.” She introduced herself, explaining about GHI. “You probably heard about me through newspaper articles or something.”
“Right.” Morton’s eyes lit. “I have heard about you. People say you’re crazy because you claim to see ghosts.”
“Look around,” Harper prodded, managing to hold her temper, although just barely. “I’m talking to you. Obviously my abilities weren’t exaggerated.”
“Are you saying I’m a ghost?” Confusion etched across Morton’s features as he glanced around. “I ... huh. What am I doing in a cemetery?”
“That’s a good question,” Maddie prodded. “You were killed here.”
“I was killed ... here?” Morton shook his head. “That doesn’t sound right. Why would anyone want to kill me?”
Well, that answered that question, Maddie mused. Obviously he didn’t remember dying. That wasn’t unheard of. Actually, it was the norm ... at least at first. Most murder victims were so traumatized by their deaths it took them days — sometimes weeks — to work out what happened.
“That’s what we want to know,” Harper prodded. “Did you have any enemies?”
“All important men have enemies.”
Harper exchanged a quick look with Maddie.
“Doctors have egos like you wouldn’t believe,” Maddie explained. “Most of them are okay, but the profession seems to draw some real idiots. He’s clearly one of them.”
“Are you saying I’m not an important man?” Morton challenged. “Look at yourselves. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be nearly as perfect.”
“For the last time, you didn’t do any work on us,” Maddie barked. “We’re trying to help you figure out who killed you. That’s it.”
“What is he saying?” Nick asked, suddenly suspicious.
“He’s just being a tool,” Harper replied. “He’s full of himself.”
“It sounds like it.” Nick folded his arms across his chest. “Just get your answers so we can get out of here.”
“I don’t think he has any answers,” Maddie replied ruefully. “He didn’t realize he was dead.”
“I have all the answers,” Morton countered. “I know everything there is to know.”
“You didn’t know you were dead,” Harper fired back.
“That’s neither here nor there. Quite frankly, I don’t think I should be dead. There’s obviously been some sort of mistake.”
“Obviously,” Harper intoned dryly. “You’re still dead.”
“Who would want to kill me?” Morton seemed legitimately baffled. “I’m an upstanding member of the community. People aspire to be me, not want to kill me.”
“Someone clearly wanted to kill you,” Maddie pressed. “You need to think really hard.”
“We’ll wait,” Harper added, tapping her foot against the hard-packed dirt on the pathway. “Not too long, though, because we’re still alive and don’t want to wait forever on you.”
“Just give me a minute.” Morton closed his eyes. “I’m sure it will come to me.”
Maddie had her doubts but she waited. Honestly, what else were they supposed to do?
11
Eleven
The conversation with Morton lasted a good twenty minutes. He knew nothing and both women found him insufferable. They were glad when his energy levels started to flag and he disappeared. That meant they could head home, get some rest, and think about their next move.
The group made plans to meet again the next morning for breakfast and said their goodbyes.
Jared was thoughtful as he and Harper started preparing for bed.
“I know you really like Maddie,” he started as she walked out of the bathroom, his eyebrows winging up when he took in her outfit. She’d indeed dressed like Daphne for him. “Wow.”
“Do you like?” Harper did a little twirl for his benefit, shaking her hips.
“You have no idea. Um ... I was saying something, though.”
“You were.” Harper planted her hands on her hips and regarded him. “Do you want to play or nag?”
The question took a moment to sink in. “I don’t nag,” he argued on a frown.
“I love you dearly but there are times you remind me of my mother.”
He extended a warning finger. “Take that back.” He knew, to her, that was the greatest insult she could manage.
“Make me take it back,” she sang out as she dodged around him. She was clearly in a playful mood.
“I’m just saying ... .” He trailed off. What was he even saying? Did it matter? Not in the least, he decided. For tonight, nothing mattered but her. “You know what? I am going to make you take it back. No Scooby Snacks for you until you admit I’m nothing like your mother.”
“Maybe I’ll be the one withholding the snacks.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe you should start running now,” he suggested. “I’ve always been a big fan of hunting my prey.”
She laughed, her eyes dancing. “Do you think you can catch me?”
“I have no doubt.”
“Let’s see what you got.” She sprang through the open door and landed in the hallway.
He was already up and moving before she disappeared from view. He followed her laugh, love washing over him.
They circled each other in the living room, chests heaving, and then he made his move. She feigned left and moved right, evading him.
“You’re going to make this difficult, huh?” he said when the couch separated them.
She held out her hands and shrugged. “Everything is better when you work for it.”
“Well, prepare to be amazed.”
The game continued for a long time. When she finally let him catch her, it was well worth it.
“THANKS FOR THE ICE CREAM,” MADDIE said as she sat on the bed in their hotel room eating a hot fudge sundae in nothing but her bra and underwear. “This really hits the spot.”
Nick smirked as he wandered out of the bathroom wearing his boxer shorts, taking in the scene with the eyes of a man who loved with his whole heart.
She was magnificent, and yet she likely didn’t know it. She’d shed her clothes the second they’d walked through the door and then attacked her dessert with gusto. She wore no makeup, her hair was a little wild, and her eyes were bright and happy when they locked with his.
“Where is your ice cream?” she asked upon realizing he wasn’t eating.
He snagged the smaller bag from the nightstand and flopped onto the bed with her. “Right here.”
She wrinkled her nose as she watched him draw out a small container with a single serving of vanilla ice cream inside. “That’s not much
of a treat,” she noted.
He chuckled as he scooped up ice cream with the provided plastic spoon. “Maybe you’re what I want for my dessert.”
“Aw.” She rolled so her head rested on his shoulder and continued to shovel in her sundae. Her mind was a jumble of ideas and theories. “Do you think Morton was killed because he botched someone’s surgery?”
Nick was expecting the conversation to roll around to the case eventually. He would’ve preferred a murder-free night, but he recognized that was asking too much. “I don’t know. It’s a possibility. I think, after what you told me about his attitude, there are other possibilities.”
“Yeah. He could’ve just ticked off the wrong person.”
“Or maybe he hit on the wrong woman and infuriated her or another man who had reason to be interested in her.”
“That’s a possibility.”
Nick slid her a sidelong look. “Did he ever hit on you?”
“He’s a ghost. I’m not really worried about him hitting on me.”
“I mean before, when you worked with him.”
“Oh.” Maddie sucked her spoon, her expression telling Nick she was going over their past interactions in her memory. “What answer will make you feel better?”
“Nothing you tell me about our time apart ever makes me feel better. I guess I just want the truth.”
“Fair enough.” She heaved out a sigh. “He asked me out a few times, but it was more a reflex than anything else. He had a certain reputation at the hospital. He went through nurses like surgical gloves. I knew I wanted nothing to do with him from the start so it really wasn’t an issue.”
“He strikes me as the sort of guy who wouldn’t like being told no.”
“That’s exactly the sort of guy he was,” Maddie agreed. “However, I was only one nurse in a sea of them. It’s not as if I crushed his heart by turning him down or anything.”
“It would’ve crushed my heart.”
She snickered. “That’s because you can’t see beyond me. It’s the same for me when I look at you. Even in a room full of people, you’re the only one who matters.”
“I think that might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me, Mad.”
Ghostly Graves: A Harper Harlow and Maddie Graves Mystery Page 11