Grave Seas: A Maddie Graves and Rowan Gray Mystery

by Lily Harper Hart

  Ben glanced down and frowned. “I told her that meeting on the deck was a bad idea. She just wouldn’t listen. She never listens.”

  Maddie thought he would spout a few more lies before owning up to his treachery … whatever it was. Instead, he simply gave up. Defeat weighed heavily on his shoulders and she could practically see the self-loathing as it cast a dark cloud over his countenance. “Who is she to you?”

  “She’s … someone I knew a lifetime ago.”

  “You’re going to have to do better than that.”

  “I … she … I … .” He dropped his face into his hands. “This is not my week.”

  “Your wife is missing. I would say this definitely isn’t your week. I need you to tell me what’s going on.”

  “Why?” The remorse was gone from Ben’s voice as he lifted his head. “Why do I have to tell you anything? You’re not my boss. Your husband has no say over me. None of this is any of your business.”

  Maddie refused to back down despite his vitriol. “You have two choices.” She leaned forward so only he could hear her. “You can either tell me what’s going on right now … or I can call Nick and Quinn and they can haul you in and question you in the dark, dank holding cell in the basement.”

  In truth, Maddie had no idea what the holding cell looked like. She wanted to paint a specific picture, though, and the way Ben’s lip curved told her she’d accomplished her goal.

  “You drive a hard bargain.” Ben sipped from his new beer. “I don’t want to hang out in the cell, so … I know Violet. I know her from home. There. Are you happy?”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “Not even close. I’m going to need more than that.”

  “And what if I don’t have more to give you?”

  Maddie dug in her pocket for her phone. “Then I have a call to make.”

  Ben made an exaggerated face. “Fine. Geez.” He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “You’re supposed to be the sweet one of that little group. What happened to you?”

  “I’m trying to find your wife.”

  For a moment, his face was blank. Then he started laughing, which wasn’t the response Maddie was anticipating.

  “You find this funny?” Her temper came out to play. “There’s nothing funny about this.”

  “I didn’t say I find it funny,” he said finally, shaking his head. “It’s just … you think Violet had something to do with Lindsey’s disappearance. That’s what you’re basically saying.”

  Maddie had the distinct feeling that she was missing something. “I … um … why don’t you tell me what’s going on with Violet and then I’ll tell you what I think?”

  “Fine.” Ben threw up his hands in defeat. “Violet and I know each other from back home.”

  It was only at that moment that Maddie realized she had no idea what city Ben and Lindsey called home. “And where is that?”

  “Chicago.”

  “Oh, well … wait. That’s a big city. Are you honestly telling me that you know Violet as a passing acquaintance and somehow you accidentally ended up on the same cruise together?”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” All traces of mirth vacated Ben’s features. “I met Violet about two months after I started dating Lindsey. It wasn’t an easy time for me. Lindsey was holding back and I couldn’t figure out why at the time. She was … standoffish.”

  Maddie nodded in understanding. “That’s because she wasn’t sure she could trust you. After Dylan, she wanted to make sure it was safe before she opened up her heart.”

  “I didn’t know that at the time, though. The only thing I knew is that I really liked her, but she didn’t seem all that into me … and I made a mistake.”

  That’s when missing pieces of the puzzle slipped into place for Maddie. “You had an affair with her.”

  “I had one night with her,” Ben corrected. “I went to a bar because I was feeling sorry for myself. I had every intention of telling Lindsey it was over the next day. I ran into Violet, we got drunk, one thing led to another and … you know. If it’s any consolation, I felt like a jerk the next morning.

  “I was still going to break up with Lindsey,” he continued. “I liked her a great deal, but I didn’t like the way she made me feel about myself. I wanted to be important to her. Oddly enough, when we met for brunch the next day, that’s when she started confiding in me … and I didn’t feel so left out any longer.”

  “And because of that, you didn’t tell her what happened with Violet,” Maddie surmised.

  “No.” Ben’s cheeks flooded with color. “I kept it a secret. I didn’t want to hurt her. I thought it was one of those things that I would regret but get over. After all, we hadn’t been together all that long. We hadn’t even agreed to go steady … or whatever you call it these days.”

  “Fair enough. Something else must’ve happened, though.”

  “It did. Violet started showing up wherever I happened to be. She followed me to work … and to delis for lunch … and to restaurants when I was out on dates with Lindsey. She was a complete and total menace.”

  “Why not tell Lindsey the truth? I mean … if you confided in her, then Violet would have nothing to hold over your head.”

  “True, but I didn’t want to hurt Lindsey. At the time, she was very fragile. I know now I should’ve told her. We would’ve made it through the ordeal, however difficult the process was. The longer I waited, though, the more impossible things became.”

  “Because you fell in love with her.”

  “Yes.” He bobbed his head in agreement. “I love her.”

  “When did you realize that Violet was on the ship?”

  “The day we arrived. I saw her from across the deck. I wanted to say something but … it was our honeymoon.”

  Maddie heaved out a sigh, frustrated. “Did it ever occur to you that your crazy ex-girlfriend being on the ship at the exact same time as Lindsey’s crazy ex-boyfriend wasn’t a coincidence?”

  He stilled, surprised. “I … no.”

  “Well, it seems to me that it’s more than a little strange. Nick and Quinn need to know about this.”

  “But … I don’t want Lindsey to find out.”

  “I get that but isn’t it better for her to find out than to find out we’ve given the two of them time to do something to her? She could still be on this ship. If Dylan has her, there’s a very good chance Violet knows where. I mean … she even faked an assault to get close with us, to distract us right after Lindsey went missing. That is definitely worth taking note of.”

  “I didn’t know that.” He looked horrified. “Why didn’t anyone mention it to me?”

  “Because you were dealing with other stuff.” Maddie rubbed her forehead to stave off a building headache. “Okay. I need you to tell me everything from the beginning. After that … well … we’ll see what we can do. I’m guessing Nick and Quinn will want to drag Violet in for questioning.”

  “Do you think we’ll really find Lindsey?”

  Ben looked so hopeful Maddie could do nothing but nod. “That’s the plan. One step at a time, though. Tell me about Violet … and don’t leave anything out.”

  THE TENSION THREADING THROUGH ROWAN’S chest dissipated the longer Maddie sat with Ben. While the conversation looked anything but friendly at the start, things had shifted partway through and now they looked like two people sharing an important conversation. Nothing more. There was nothing dangerous about their interaction, and for that Rowan was grateful. It allowed her to keep snapping photos.

  As long as Maddie and Ben stayed out in the open, everything would be fine. She felt reasonably assured that Maddie was garnering important information. She couldn’t wait to hear the update.

  Still, Rowan knew she had a job to do … and she was determined to do it. In another year, the cruise ship life would be behind her and she would be embarking on something new. She now had a better idea what that might be … if Quinn agreed with the idea, that is.

  Ro
wan must’ve snapped a good hundred photos before she took a moment to study them. She was always on the lookout for the omen – or any omen these days because new ones appeared to be joining the fray on a regular basis – and she wanted to make sure to nip any potential problems in the bud as fast as humanly possible if they should pop up.

  She was relieved to find there was no sign of the omen. What she did see, though, took her breath away.

  Dylan!

  That’s the single word that coursed through Rowan’s mind when she caught sight of his image. She jerked up her head and searched for him in the real world. Sure enough, there he was.

  He stood next to one of the internal doors, the one that led to the section that belonged to the high rollers. Rowan had no idea what he was doing there. Ultimately, though, it didn’t matter. He was most definitely there … and he was looking directly at her.

  Rowan opened her mouth to call out and then thought better of it, instead cutting through the crowd so she could approach him. She forgot all about Maddie and Ben – they were in their own little world anyway – and focused on Dylan. If she could get an idea where he’d come from, she would be able to direct Quinn in an effort to find Lindsey. That was the most important thing.

  When Dylan registered that Rowan was striding in his direction, he turned on his heel and disappeared back inside the hallway. Rowan didn’t slow her pace, though. If he was running, she would follow … just long enough to figure out where he was hiding Lindsey.

  That’s what she told herself anyway. She had no idea if she would be able to pull it off.

  Eighteen

  Rowan was familiar with the bulk of the ship. This part of the vessel, though ... well ... she’d only been in it a few times. It was for high rollers and they had separate keycards. To her knowledge, there were only one or two on the ship this go-around ... so how did Dylan gain access to this area?

  Rowan was on alert as she cut through the hallway. The area was quiet, eerily so, and her heart started pounding the more time she spent looking for him. Her hand was in her pocket to retrieve her phone — Quinn was the one better equipped to handle this — when she heard a distinct noise to her right.

  Slowly, carefully, she peered around the corner. The small alcove was empty and yet danger was still pulsing in her veins. She realized this was a mistake when it was too late to take it back. She should’ve stayed on the deck and called Quinn from there. Giving chase on her own had to rank up there in the annals of the dumbest moves ever.

  She licked her lips, took an exaggerated step back from the alcove ... and bumped into something that shouldn’t have been there. Her heart skipped a beat as she angled her head, and then fear overtook her.

  “I really wish you wouldn’t have followed me,” Dylan said, sounding utterly reasonable. “Now I’m going to have to deal with you, too.”

  Rowan wanted to scream, draw attention to herself, but she could do neither because Dylan was clamping a hand over her mouth.

  Oh, yes, this had been a horrible mistake.

  MADDIE MET QUINN AND NICK on the deck. She launched into her tale with little preamble.

  “So, that’s it in a nutshell,” she offered while wrapping up, hands on hips. “Violet is a crazy stalker just like Dylan. I think they have to be working together.”

  “I think the odds are unlikely that they’re not connected somehow,” Nick agreed, his hand automatically moving to Maddie’s back. “I guess that explains a lot.”

  “Except where Lindsey is.”

  “We’re going to find Lindsey, and right now,” Quinn insisted, his weariness beginning to show. All he really wanted was a full three-hour block to drag Rowan back to their new room and enjoy some peace. “Where is Ben now?”

  “Over there.” Maddie gestured toward the bar. “He’s getting drunk. I figured you would want to confirm the information with him and not just take my word for it.”

  “Your word is perfect, Mad,” Nick chided. “Don’t get all sensitive or anything.”

  “I’m not being sensitive. I know you have to talk to him yourself. I’ve been living with a police officer for almost a year. I understand how it goes.”

  “That’s because you’re a modern miracle.” Nick grinned indulgently at her and then planted a deep kiss on her lips. “You’re my miracle.”

  Quinn stared at them a beat and then rolled his eyes. “Are you guys like this all the time?”

  “Pretty much,” Nick confirmed, slinging an arm around Maddie’s shoulders. “We drive my partner, her grandmother, my brother, my sister, and random people on the street crazy with our antics. It’s become something of a game for us.”

  “How awesome for you,” Quinn said dryly. “We need to get moving, though. I want to confirm everything Maddie managed to get out of Ben and then I want to track down Violet. If anyone knows where Lindsey is, it’s her.”

  “That sounds like a plan to me.”

  Quinn’s eyes were lit with excitement as he swiveled toward the bar ... and then he stopped. “Where is Rowan?”

  “She went over there,” Maddie replied, pointing. “She was taking photos. I assume she’ll be back any second. She said she had to at least pretend she was working so she had photographs to load to the portal later tonight.”

  Quinn merely nodded. “That sounds about right. Leave it to Rowan to insist on actually doing her job when we’re close to cracking this one. Ah, well, I’ll make sure she’s with us for the takedown so she doesn’t feel left out. Corral her if she comes back, will you?”

  Maddie nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. She’s not going to want to miss us finding Lindsey.”

  “Nobody is going to want to miss that.”

  ROWAN VICIOUSLY SLAPPED AT DYLAN’S hands to keep him from touching her as he herded her down the hallway, toward what she thought was a private lounge. She’d only been inside once, but she was fairly certain it was off limits to anyone who didn’t have a special keycard. It was a posh space for those who paid extra for their trip.

  “Don’t touch me!” She was furious as she glared at him, keeping as much distance between them as possible as she stumbled over the threshold. “Don’t you even think about touching me!”

  Her heart was going a mile a minute and she was debating screaming for all she was worth. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure anyone would be able to hear her in this part of the ship — especially if the surrounding rooms were empty at this time of day — and she didn’t want to blow what may be her one chance to call for help. So, she waited.

  “What is she doing here?” a female voice challenged from the far side of the room.

  Rowan jolted at the new voice, swinging her head in that direction ... and then openly gaped. “Lindsey?”

  The missing woman stood next to a small bar, a can of soda in her hand, and stared incredulously at the ship’s photographer. “Why did you bring her here, Dylan? What do you think you’re going to do with her?”

  “We thought you might be dead,” Rowan said blankly. “I mean ... seriously dead. I’m glad you’re not and everything but ... um ... have you been here the entire time?”

  “Mostly,” Lindsey replied, rubbing the back of her neck as she absorbed their new conundrum. “I don’t think I recognize you. I ... oh, wait. You’re the one who took our photo when we first arrived.”

  “That would be me,” Rowan confirmed as she chewed on her bottom lip and glanced between Lindsey and Dylan. There was a very odd dynamic flying around the room, and she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what was happening. “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Instead of answering, Lindsey focused her vitriol on Dylan. “You shouldn’t have brought her here. What were you thinking? All we had to do was make it one more day and then we could’ve slipped off the ship unnoticed at port tomorrow. We would’ve been fine.”

  Rowan narrowed her eyes. “Wait ... are you in this together?” She felt vaguely sick to her stomach ... and entirely annoyed. “Are yo
u telling me that my fiancé has been killing himself looking for you and you voluntarily went missing? What is wrong with you?”

  Lindsey had the grace to be abashed. “I’m sorry,” she offered hurriedly. “I really am. I didn’t mean to complicate anyone’s life — least of all you because I don’t even know you — but I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. I didn’t want to die and this was the only way I knew how to save myself.”

  “I don’t understand.” Rowan opted for honesty. “I don’t understand any of this.”

  “And I didn’t invite her to hang out with us,” Dylan added morosely. “She saw me on deck and followed. It was an accident.”

  “Then you shouldn’t have been on deck, Dylan!” Lindsey snapped out the words, her eyes flashing with annoyance. Then she held up her hands in capitulation. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean it. I’m just stressed.

  “You’ve been killing yourself to keep me safe and I shouldn’t treat you like that,” she continued, sinking into one of the oversized armchairs on the side of the room. “That’s not fair to you and I’m sorry. In fact, I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.”

  Dylan waved off the comment and stared at the wall. “What are we going to do now? There’s no keeping this secret now that she knows.” He jerked his thumb in Rowan’s direction. “She’s going to ruin everything.”

  Rowan made a face. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about me as if I’m not here,” she said finally. “As for ruining it, you don’t know that’s true. I might be able to help you ... if I know what’s going on.” She shifted her eyes back to Lindsey because she assumed the woman was the one who would be able to better answer her questions. “Why did you run away?”

  Lindsey held her hands out and shrugged. “Because I didn’t want to die. If I’d stayed with Ben, that’s exactly what would’ve happened.”

  Rowan was beyond confused. “I don’t understand.” She moved to the chair across from Lindsey and sat. “You were on your honeymoon with your husband. You seemed happy that first day. Are you saying you just decided to up and run off with this guy out of nowhere? That makes no sense to me. I mean .... he’s your stalker.”