“You didn’t hit him, though,” Jared pointed out. “You stabbed him.”
“Only because he saw I was going to hit him in the head with a rock. That’s what I grabbed first. When he was trying to stop me, I broke off a piece of the fence and ... I just saw red. I don’t even remember doing it.
“After, it took me like twenty minutes to calm down, and then I was terrified. I didn’t know what else to do. I dragged his body into the trees and left it there. I guess I was hoping nobody would ever notice.”
“Did Luther know?” Harper queried. “He was making noise that night. He didn’t want us wandering around the cemetery.”
“He didn’t know. I told him I was afraid of ghosts and didn’t like it when you guys were on the property. I offered him a blowjob if he could make you guys go away. It obviously didn’t work.”
“Obviously.” Harper slid her eyes to Jared. “Is that all you need?”
He nodded as he removed the cuffs from his belt. “Yeah. We’re going to take you in now, Lexie. You’ll get a call and be able to contact a lawyer. As for the prosecutor, we’ll try to set up a meeting tomorrow morning so you guys can come to some sort of agreement.”
“Does it even matter?” Lexie demanded. “My life is over and we all know it.”
“It’s not over,” Maddie countered. “You’ve got some obstacles to overcome, but you’re young and hopefully you’ll learn from this.”
“She’s right,” Harper added. “It’s not over.” It won’t be easy either, Harper silently added. At least they had their answers, though.
19
Nineteen
Two days later, Maddie and Nick had finished their shopping and were packing up to leave. Harper had stopped by the room long enough to look over all the loot, coo over the tiny clothes and toys, and then invite them to a final breakfast.
The whole gang was there when Maddie and Nick made their way into the restaurant, including Shawn, and it looked as if Jared and Zander were in the middle of one of their famous arguments.
“Shut up,” Jared snapped as Nick pulled out Maddie’s chair so she could sit. “I’m done talking about this.”
“And what are we fighting about today?” Maddie asked mischievously.
“The same thing they always fight about,” Shawn replied, rubbing his forehead. “They both want to belittle the other until the rest of us feel the only way to escape is to shoot ourselves. That’s their only goal.”
“I think it’s kind of fun,” Harper countered as she rubbed soothing circles on Jared’s back. “It wouldn’t feel like home if they weren’t going at each other.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Jared muttered, although he gave her a quick kiss before handing her a menu. “Personally, I think I should be nominated for sainthood. I know of no other man who would put up with him on a regular basis.” He jerked his thumb in Zander’s direction. “Anyone else would’ve killed him long ago.”
“You still haven’t told me what you’re fighting about,” Maddie pressed, her eyes immediately seeking — and finding — the magic breakfast skillets she loved so much. “I already know what I’m having.”
Nick grinned. “I figured.”
“We’re not really fighting,” Zander explained. “I simply told Jared how a plastic surgeon — not the jerk we had in this town but a good one — could file those nipples of his down so they looked normal. I bet it wouldn’t even cost that much.”
“I’ll choke you with my spoon if you don’t stop,” Jared warned. “Not only that, but I’ll make sure there’s oatmeal on it when I do it.”
Zander made an exaggerated face. “You know I don’t like oatmeal.”
“I believe you said it’s like glue in your intestines and gives you thick thighs,” Jared countered.
“That’s the same thing.”
“Whatever.” Jared focused his full attention on the menu. “I think I’m getting one of the skillets, too.”
“They are the main reason we come here,” Harper agreed. “Not to change the subject — I mean, who doesn’t want to talk about Jared’s non-existent nipple problem? — but we have some news on Lexie. Do you want to hear it, or are you done?”
“We want to hear it,” Nick replied. “We figured you guys would have some sort of update.”
“After hearing all the stories — believe it or not, Barbara has come to Lexie’s defense and is willing to testify about the things Morton did to all of them — the prosecutor is going to go for manslaughter,” Jared volunteered. “He was leery at first, but once we broke everything down, he agrees that Morton’s death is no great loss.
“Despite that, Lexie can’t get off without some repercussions,” he continued. “She will likely do a year in county jail rather than prison, and then be put on a tether for two years.”
“I don’t know whether that’s good or bad,” Nick admitted. “It doesn’t seem like enough for killing a man, and yet when you know who that man was, you can’t help but feel for her.”
“That’s my feelings on the subject,” Jared agreed. “I don’t think she’s the type to do it again. She says she’s inconsolable, but I think that’s just because Luther has cut off contact with her.”
“Is Barbara staying with him?” Maddie asked. “I mean ... she could do so much better.”
“She shows no signs of leaving him. I don’t know what the deal is with the two of them, but I don’t think they’ll ever get divorced.”
“And Pammy and Darren?”
“I’m not a hundred percent sure on them. Darren has agreed to help Cady get some professional help. He’s going to take care of her house when she’s in rehab.”
Maddie perked up. “Do you think they’ll get back together?”
“I have no idea. If you’d asked me that four days ago, I would’ve said it was impossible. We talked to Darren yesterday, though, and Pammy wasn’t there. We didn’t ask about her because we didn’t feel it was our business. He volunteered the information about Cady.”
“Well, at least she’ll be getting the help she needs,” Nick noted. “What about Janice?”
“She had a raging hangover the day after our cemetery theater, but she stopped into the office to thank us for what we did,” Jared replied. “Apparently she’s going back to the hospital. She says she’s not ruling out private practice again, but next time she won’t work for a known womanizer with mental issues. Those were her words, by the way.”
“So, that’s it,” Maddie mused. “Everything is over and done with.”
“Pretty much.”
“It makes me kind of sad,” Maddie admitted sheepishly. “I know we came down here to shop — and we did that — but I had more fun hanging out with you guys.”
“You mean you had more fun hanging out with Harper,” Nick teased, squeezing her hand.
“Maybe a little.” Maddie was rueful. “It was nice to hang out with someone who can do the things I can do. I’ve never really had that before.”
“I know.” Nick leaned over and kissed her temple. “That’s why Jared and I have been talking. We feel it would be criminal to keep you guys away from each other.”
Maddie’s forehead wrinkled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Jared and Shawn are big fans of camping,” Nick started.
“And Harper and I are not,” Zander muttered.
“And Zander and Harper are not,” Nick confirmed. “We have a big house, Mad, with access to a lake. We thought maybe we could put together a Labor Day event of sorts. That way Harper can meet Olivia ... and Zander can meet Maude. I think you two are going to love each other by the way.
“You won’t be too close to giving birth yet, but you will be big enough that you likely won’t want to travel,” he continued. “This way the party can come to you. Jared and Shawn can camp in the field if they want and Harper and Zander can take over one of the spare rooms.”
Maddie pursed her lips, delighted. “You guys did all this for me?
”
“We did it for both of you,” Jared replied. “And, believe it or not, Nick and I like each other, too. We don’t giggle like schoolgirls together, but we can do the manly beer-drinking thing by the lake. We think it sounds like fun for all of us.”
“I’m all for anything that doesn’t have me sleeping in a tent,” Zander enthused. “And, quite frankly, everything I’ve heard about Maude makes me believe we’re kindred spirits.”
“Lord help us,” Nick intoned.
Maddie giggled. “I think you’re going to love Granny. She has an entire cadre of women who drink bourbon and tea and like to terrorize the town jerk.”
Zander winked. “I love her already.”
As the noise level around the table rose with excited chatter, Maddie rested her head on Nick’s shoulder. “This was the nicest gift you ever could’ve gotten me,” she admitted.
“Well, since you’re the nicest gift anyone has ever gotten me, that seems fair.”
“I’m sorry things didn’t go the way we thought they would, Nicky. It wasn’t fair to you.”
“Mad, as long as I have you, life will always be better than fair.”
And, because she believed him, Maddie smacked a kiss against his cheek and then focused on Harper. “We should start planning now. I know it’s a little bit away, but it’s going to be fun.”
“Totally,” Harper agreed. “I can’t wait to see what sort of ghosts you have up there. I might even have another friend who can join us. She’s not exactly like us, but she can see ghosts. She’s a witch.”
“Really?” Maddie’s eyes went wide. “That sounds interesting.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
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About the Author
Amanda M. Lee and Lily Harper Hart
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Lily Harper Hart
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns
Grave Discovery
Grave Decisions
Grave Seasons
Grave Holiday
Grave Haunting
Grave Paths
Grave Danger
Grave Missteps
Grave Demands
Grave Wedding
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times
Wicked Places
Wicked Warning
Wicked Fog
Wicked Season
Wicked Winter
Wicked Hearts
Wicked Wishes
Wicked Whimsy
Wicked Haunts
Wicked Delight
Wicked Respite
Wicked Decisions
Wicked Reunion
Wicked Games
Wicked Wedding
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues
Ghostly Deceits
Ghostly Worries
Ghostly Images
Ghostly Wrecks
Ghostly Asylum
Ghostly Tricks
Ghostly Distress
Ghostly Despair
Ghostly Holiday
Ghostly Ordeal
Ghostly Fears
Ghostly Charms
Ghostly Business
Ghostly Camping
A Rowan Gray Mystery
Welcoming Seas
Murky Seas
Stormy Seas
Sunken Seas
Choppy Seas
Churning Seas
Dangerous Seas
Perilous Seas
Raging Seas
A Hannah Hickock Witchy Cozy Mystery
The Dirty Coven
A Fistful of Demons
Boot Scootin’ Boogeyman
The Monstrous Seven
Dances With Witches
A Supernatural Speakeasy Cozy Mystery
The Hexorcist
Witch Confidential
Curse A Brew Streak
Witch is the New Black
Crossovers
Wicked Ghosts
Wicked Seas
Ghostly Seas
Grave Seas
True Grit Spirit
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival
Deadly Rivalry
Deadly Memories
Deadly Adventure
Deadly Reunion
Deadly Conflicts
Deadly Payback
Deadly Waves
Deadly Forever
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An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
Unwritten & Underwater
Extra! Extra! Dead All About It
On Deadline & Under Fire
Above the Fold & Below the Belt
Oracles & Obituaries
New Media & Old Grudges
Mayhem & Mistletoe
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Witch Before Dying
A Breath of Witchy Air
Witch, Interrupted
Flip the Witch Switch
Witchin’ Around the Clock
To Love a Witch
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
I Dream of Twila
How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
A Witchmas Carol
All My Witches
Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Grim Rising
Grim Tempest
Grim Vows
Grimlock Family Shorts
Grim Like Me
Grim & The City
Now & Grim
Grim & Bear It
Grim & The Dead
Death Gate Grim Reapers
Only the Lonely
Only the Quiet
Only the Lost
Only the Devout
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Freaky Games
Freaky Places
Freaky Rites
Freaky Witches
Freaky Reapers
Freaky Fangs
Freaky Seas
A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery
The Bigfoot Blunder
The Chupacabra Catastrophe
The Werewolf Whoops
The Megalodon Mix-Up
The Undead Uproar
The Incubus Impasse
The Killer Clown Calamity
A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery
Witchin’ USA
Witch Out of Water
Freaky Deaky Tiki
To Spell With It
Hex Type Thing
Brewing Up a Storm
A Spell’s Angels Cozy Mystery
Bad to the Crone
No Crones About It
No Crone Unturned
Cut to the Crone
A Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill Cozy Mystery
Sinfully Delicious
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Ghostly Graves: A Harper Harlow and Maddie Graves Mystery Page 20