Grave Seasons (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 8)

Home > Other > Grave Seasons (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 8) > Page 19
Grave Seasons (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 8) Page 19

by Lily Harper Hart


  “I didn’t take her. Stop saying I took her!”

  Maddie held up her hands in a placating manner. “I’m sorry. You decided to talk to her after the fraternity fiasco,” she corrected. “You wanted to offer her your love because Aidan broke her heart.”

  “No,” Jackson scoffed, causing Maddie’s forehead to crease. “She never loved Aidan. She didn’t even like him. She’s the one who broke his heart. She told him she didn’t want to be with him because she knew he was a cheater and jerk. When I saw her take him down a notch in front of everyone … that’s when I knew.”

  “Knew what?”

  “That we were meant to be together.”

  He was clearly delusional. There could be no other explanation. Maddie was dumbfounded by his reaction to what he’d done but still hoped there was a way to talk to him that wouldn’t cause him to snap. “You wanted to talk to Sage so you took her for a ride, right?”

  Jackson nodded, his enthusiasm returning. “I knew she would want to hear what I had to say, but she was worked up from her conversation with Aidan so I brought her here to calm down.”

  “Did you chloroform her, too?”

  “I had to,” Jackson said, his voice taking on a whiny quality. “She wouldn’t listen to what I had to say. I didn’t hurt her. You can see she’s fine.”

  Maddie cast another glance in Sage’s direction, and for a moment she could almost swear that she saw the girl staring at her through tiny slits in her eyes. She decided to test the theory. “Sage has a family, Jackson,” she said. “Her father is here looking for her. He misses her a great deal. If you truly love Sage, shouldn’t you go with her to meet her father? That’s what all good couples do. They meet the relatives.”

  This time Maddie was sure she saw Sage’s eyes moving through her long lashes.

  “Is that what you did with your boyfriend?”

  “Yes,” Maddie replied. “Nick and I grew up together so I knew his mom and dad and he knew my mother. When we got together, though, everyone had to get reacquainted. Well, except my mother died. Still, I have my grandmother, and she loves Nick. She would be sad if she didn’t get to know him.”

  “What about your father?”

  “He left before I was born.”

  “You’re lucky,” Jackson said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I wish my father left before I was born.”

  Maddie had a sneaking suspicion Jackson’s unbalanced nature originated with his father. “I’m sure he would like Sage,” she said. “Don’t you want to show your father what a pretty girlfriend you found?”

  “Oh, I’m going to show him,” Jackson said. “I have to get Sage to admit she loves me first, though. She’s being … pouty.”

  “How so?”

  “I’ve been trying to show her how much I love her, but she won’t stop screaming and yelling,” Jackson explained. “The hunger strike actually came at a good time because she was getting all kinds of crazy. She accused me of some awful stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “She just said that I was nuts and she could never love me,” Jackson said, his eyes reflecting sadness. “I know that’s not true, though. My father told me all women lie and I just have to force them to see things my way.”

  “He sounds like a real peach,” Maddie deadpanned, annoyed. “What about your mother?”

  “She’s pathetic,” Jackson said, making a face. “I always ran to her like a baby when I was younger. Now I realize my father was right and she’s just a waste of space.”

  Maddie wanted to punch someone, and strangely enough, it wasn’t the boy who kidnapped her. “Well, I’m sure she’ll see what a proper girlfriend looks like when you introduce her to Sage.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping for,” Jackson said, pursing his lips. “I’m sorry you won’t be around to see it, though.”

  Maddie’s heart plummeted. “W-what do you mean?”

  “I didn’t want to involve you in this, but I had no choice,” Jackson said. “I told you what to do and you didn’t do it. Now I’m stuck and I’ve got to figure out a way to get Aidan in jail so Sage and I can live happily ever after.”

  “I … what?”

  “I’m sorry, Maddie,” Jackson said, straightening as he pulled a knife out of his pocket. “You seem like a good person, but I’m going to have to kill you. I don’t have a choice. Now, how do you want it? Neck or stomach? It’s your choice. I’m not picky.”

  23

  Twenty-Three

  “What are you talking about?”

  Maddie worked overtime to tamp down her growing terror. Just seconds before Jackson seemed like a misguided man with daddy issues. Now he was holding a knife and asking her how she wanted to die. She couldn’t reconcile the two faces of a lost boy.

  “Maddie, I don’t want to upset you and I want to make sure this is done quickly, but I can’t let you live.” Jackson spoke as if he was a parent talking down to a mischievous child and someone was about to get a spanking … or a time out. “You got in the way.”

  “How did I get in the way?”

  “You’re ruining my courtship plans,” Jackson replied. “Sage is never going to admit she loves me if I don’t finish what I started.”

  Maddie was beyond confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “Heather and Allison,” Jackson explained, fingering the tip of the scary looking hunting knife. “They were mean to Sage. They treated her terribly. It’s because of them she dated a jackass like Aidan in the first place.”

  “Uh-huh.” Maddie couldn’t drag her eyes away from the knife. “So you killed Heather to prove your love to Sage?”

  Jackson smiled, pride practically emanating from him. “Yeah. I wanted to bring her back here to do it, but she put up a fight. She screamed so I had to shut her up. I wanted to get Sage’s sweater back – because Heather stole it, you know – but it was ruined by the time I finished. I didn’t think it would be so messy.”

  “Yes, well, that’s what happens when you stab someone,” Maddie said, moving her gaze to the empty stairwell. Nicky, where are you? “Is that what you were doing at the dorms today? Did you go there to get Allison?”

  “I figured Sage needed a gift to perk her up,” Jackson said. “I told her about killing Heather, but she did not take it the way I thought she would. She actually cried. I realized after the fact it was because she didn’t get to see it. I decided I couldn’t make the same mistake with Allison.

  “I tried to get her at the candlelight vigil, but that didn’t work out,” he continued. “She had people around her constantly and your boyfriend was watching everyone to make sure nothing bad went down. Does he work out a lot?”

  Either Jackson was babbling or he had ADD. Maddie honestly wasn’t sure which one was less annoying. “Yes, he works out,” Maddie replied. “We run together and he lifts weights. We also swim and ride bikes in the summer.”

  “You guys are one of those couples, huh?” Jackson scratched his temple with the tip of the knife. “I don’t think Sage and I are going to be like that. I imagine us curling up in front of a fire and watching Netflix.”

  “That’s a way to go,” Maddie said.

  “What was I saying?”

  “You were telling me about Allison.”

  “Yeah, right,” Jackson said, shaking himself out of his reverie. “I went to the dorms to get her. I was going to tell her that camera crews were waiting for her out the back door because I knew that would get her down there. That’s how I got you out, by the way. On a holiday weekend they don’t get deliveries and no one ever parks there.”

  “Smart,” Maddie said, stalling for time. “You’re very smart.”

  “I know,” Jackson said, not missing a beat. “I saw you coming out of her room, though. I waited for you to leave, but you went across the hallway instead. I figured Allison told you about my crush on Sage and I knew I had to act in case those guys identified me or something.”

  “Allison never mentioned it and I’m fai
rly certain the guys across the hall have no idea who you are.”

  “Huh. Wow. I’m sorry. I guess I took you for nothing then.”

  “Well, everyone makes mistakes,” Maddie said. “You could always let me go now.”

  “I can’t do that,” Jackson said. “You’ll tell everyone where Sage is and her father does not look like a good sport. I need to wait until Sage admits she loves me so he’ll accept me into the family.”

  Maddie was pretty sure that was never going to happen. She tried to picture Dwight’s face when Sage brought home her new boyfriend and all she could do was giggle. It might’ve been the drugs or the surreal conversation, but once she started laughing, Maddie couldn’t stop.

  “What are you doing?” Jackson asked, confused. “Are you cracking up? I understand if you are. This is a stressful situation.”

  “I might very well be cracking up,” Maddie acknowledged, shifting her eyes to Sage. This time the girl wasn’t even pretending to be asleep. Her eyes were wide as they locked with Maddie’s. “I know your dad. He’s here. He’s looking for you. You’ll be reunited soon.”

  “You know my dad?” Sage’s voice was dry and raspy. “Is my mom here, too?”

  Maddie shook her head. “They were worried and your mom stayed home in case you showed up there. I came to help your dad.”

  “Why did he want you to help him? I’ve never met you.”

  “We worked together on some cases when I lived in Detroit,” Maddie explained, purposely ignoring Jackson as he stared holes into the side of her head. “I moved to Blackstone Bay several months ago and he knew I was close and hoped I could help.

  “The good news is that I found you … kind of,” she continued. “The bad news is that Jackson appears to be crazy and there’s just no talking to crazy sometimes.”

  Sage pressed her lips together and widened her eyes. Maddie could tell she was amused despite the dire situation. “You’re the psychic girl.”

  “What?”

  “You’re the psychic girl,” Sage repeated. “My father talked about you sometimes. He thought he ruined your life.”

  “Your father didn’t ruin my life,” Maddie countered. “He kept me sane until I could put my life back together on my own. He’s a good man … and he loves you very much.”

  “Did he think I killed myself?” Sage looked tortured at the prospect.

  Maddie didn’t want to lie to her. “He was concerned,” she conceded. “In his heart he believed you were out here waiting for him. His head fought that a little bit, but he’s desperate to see you.”

  “What about you? Is someone looking for you?”

  Maddie smiled and nodded. “The other half of my heart.”

  “Oh, wow, this is so sweet I don’t even know what to think,” Jackson spat, tapping the knife against the wall to draw Maddie’s attention back to him. “Do you want to focus on me?”

  “Not especially,” Maddie replied, taking Sage and Jackson by surprise. She heard a whisper in her head and knew Jackson’s time was running out. She only had to stall him for a few more minutes.

  “And why not?” Jackson bordered on shrill.

  “Because you’re not important enough to focus on,” Maddie replied. “You’re a sad boy who was probably mistreated by his father. I’m sorry for that, but a lot of people are mistreated by their parents and that doesn’t turn them into murderous kidnappers.”

  “I am not a kidnapper!”

  “And yet you have no problem with me calling you a murderer,” Maddie mused. “You might want to ask yourself why that is, because it’s not a good thing, Jackson. You’ve built this dream world up in your head, but none of the things you want are going to come to pass.

  “Sage is never going to love you because you killed Heather and tied her to a chair in a basement,” she continued. “Even before that, though, she was incapable of loving you because you’re not a fully formed person. You seem to think the world owes you something – even a happy ending, perhaps – but the world doesn’t owe anyone anything.

  “You need to take a long look in the mirror and realize that you’re not the hero in anyone’s story, not even your own,” she said. “You’re just a sad boy without a future. I feel sorry for you.”

  “You take that back,” Jackson hissed, brandishing the knife. “You take that back and make Sage admit that she loves me. If she doesn’t, I’m going to carve you into a million pieces and not stop until Sage tells me she loves me.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Maddie countered.

  “Yes, it is,” Sage said hurriedly. “I … love you.”

  Maddie realized the girl was trying to protect her, but it was completely unnecessary. “She’s lying, Jackson,” she said. “Do you want to know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Turn around,” Maddie suggested, her heart soaring when she saw a familiar figure hit the bottom of the stairs. “You’re going to find out what real love looks like.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Jackson’s face twisted into an ugly sneer as he swiveled. When he realized Nick stood behind him the smile slipped, but it was already too late.

  “She’s not wrong,” Nick said, slamming his fist into Jackson’s face before the boy had a chance to raise the knife he clutched. Hicks moved in quickly, grabbing Jackson’s wrist and squeezing until the boy screamed out and dropped the weapon. Nick punched him again for good measure, earning a questioning look from Hicks, and then Jackson dropped to his knees.

  “Maddie.”

  Maddie struggled to her feet. She was still a little woozy from the drugs, but she managed the three steps between her and Nick and threw her arms around his neck. “I knew you would find me.”

  “I had a little help.”

  “Mom?”

  “And my heart,” Nick said, pressings his lips to Maddie’s mouth as he clutched her to him. “I love you, Mad. You’re getting the world’s biggest ‘I told you so’ after this piece of crap is processed, though.”

  “I can live with that,” Maddie said, turning to survey the scene as Dwight rushed to his daughter’s side.

  “Daddy!”

  “Sage!” Tears streamed down Dwight’s cheeks as he fumbled with the ropes anchoring his daughter to the chair. He finally managed to dislodge them and Sage was barely loose when she launched herself into her father’s arms.

  “I was so afraid I’d never see you again,” Sage sobbed.

  “Oh, kid, you have no idea how afraid I was that I would never see you either,” Dwight said, his eyes locking with Maddie’s as he hugged his child. “I should’ve had faith. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “I want to go home,” Sage said. “I want to get out of here.”

  “You’ve got it, baby girl.”

  “THEY’RE kind of cute, huh?”

  Hicks stood in the doorframe between the police station’s lobby and the hallway that led to the building’s inner sanctum. Jackson Dubois was behind bars, admitting to everything he’d done but twisting the explanation to fit a set of facts not in existence.

  Nancy Dubois didn’t bother coming to the police station to see her son, but Chuck Dubois screamed in the lobby until someone came out to talk to him. When he realized what was happening he bellowed that he was going to get a lawyer and then bounced out to the parking lot – where he was promptly arrested for drunken driving and thrown into a holding cell next to his son.

  It was almost ten before all of the paperwork was filled out. Sage, a hot meal inside of her, leaned her head against her father’s shoulder as she joined Hicks and Dwight and stared at the couch in the lobby.

  Maddie and Nick were there, both of them asleep. Somehow, despite all of the action, the day’s emotional upheaval took it out of both of them. They curled up on the couch together and drifted off almost an hour before.

  “They’re very cute,” Dwight said, smirking.

  “I almost don’t want to wake them,” Hicks said. “I think they deserve a night in a comfortable bed, t
hough.”

  “They definitely do.” Dwight moved away from Sage and gently touched Nick’s wrist, jolting the man awake. Maddie was so out of it she didn’t even stir. “It’s time to go back to the hotel.”

  Nick nodded, taking a moment to clear his head as he glanced around. Maddie’s head was on his chest and Nick was careful as he shifted out from beneath her. Once he was on his feet he slipped his arms under Maddie’s slight body and hoisted her up, cradling her against his chest as he moved away from the couch.

  “I think she’s going to sleep a good ten hours,” Dwight whispered.

  “Yeah, she needs it,” Nick said.

  “You could probably use some sleep, too.”

  “We all could,” Nick said, his eyes conflicted as he glanced at Dwight. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it and it wasn’t fair.”

  “It’s okay,” Dwight countered. “I understood you didn’t mean it even as you were saying it. We all say things we regret, especially when someone we love is in danger.”

  “It was still wrong.”

  “Well, I forgive you,” Dwight said. “It worked out for everyone.”

  Nick smiled and glanced at Sage. “It did,” he agreed. “Are you guys going home first thing in the morning?”

  “Very early.”

  “Don’t leave before saying goodbye to Maddie,” Nick instructed. “It will crush her.”

  “I wouldn’t dare do that,” Dwight said. “I owe her everything. She saved my daughter.”

  “We’ll meet for breakfast,” Nick said. “We’ll say our goodbyes then.”

  “Not goodbyes,” Dwight corrected. “It’s never goodbye. Just … until we meet again.”

  “That sounds good.”

  24

  Twenty-Four

  “I’m starving.”

  Despite her ordeal, Sage was all smiles when she sat across from Maddie and Nick the next morning. Dwight beamed as regarded his youngest child, his chest positively bursting with happiness.

  “I’m starving, too,” Maddie said. “I didn’t get to eat anything after breakfast yesterday … and then I slept like ten hours.”

 

‹ Prev