Grave Haunting (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 10)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I looked at the photos you sent.” Kreskin sipped his water. “I have to wonder if she was a hoarder or something.”

  “What about the kids?” Maddie asked. “They were behind us in school by a couple of years and I don’t know much about them.”

  “Sam and Lola,” Nick supplied. “Sam is older by two years, I think. They both stuck around through college, returning to work at the bed and breakfast during the summer months – at least I saw them behind the counter from time to time. As soon as they both graduated, though, I think they took off. I’m not even sure what they went to school for.”

  “They’re both set to arrive sometime tonight,” Kreskin supplied. “I told them we would arrange a time to talk tomorrow, once they’re settled. I believe they’re staying at the bed and breakfast because it’s not fully booked.”

  Something occurred to Maddie. “Does Fran even have a house? I know she lived over on Pleasant Street when we were kids. She used to spray teenagers with a hose if she thought they were getting too hot in the summer.”

  Nick snorted at the memory. “I totally forgot about that, Mad. The kids would purposely walk down her street on hot days because it was a break from the humidity. That last summer before senior year she sprayed you and it was glorious.”

  Maddie frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “You were wearing a white shirt and had a bikini on underneath.”

  “I … so?”

  “That white shirt clung to all of the right spots.” Nick didn’t try to evade Maddie’s elbow when she launched it in the direction of his stomach. “I told you I had a lot of fond memories from that summer. You can hardly blame me for loving the fact that you reminded me of that one.”

  “Oh, you guys are so cute it’s borderline nauseating,” Kreskin muttered. “I know the house you’re talking about, though. Sterling got it in the divorce.”

  “He probably took the house in lieu of making Fran sell the Bayside,” Nick noted. “In a town like Blackstone Bay it’s hard to build a brand that will sustain for a long period of time. The bed and breakfast managed to do that.”

  “I also think Sterling was smart,” Kreskin noted. “He probably recognized Fran’s shopping problem for what it was.”

  “An addiction,” Maddie said. “It’s no different than being an alcoholic or drug addict. It’s compulsive. Fran didn’t need any of those things. She didn’t even really want all of those things. She merely convinced herself that buying things made her happy.”

  Nick pursed his lips. “I guess I never really thought about it that way. You’re smart, Mad.”

  “You can add that to your list.” Maddie smiled as Nick pressed a quick kiss to her mouth.

  Thankfully the waitress picked that moment to take their orders, so Kreskin didn’t have to mime vomiting to get them to stop. Once they were finished, they returned to the conversation at hand.

  “So Sterling got the house in the divorce and Fran got the bed and breakfast,” Nick said. “Fran moved in to the bed and breakfast, although … did she have her own room?”

  “According to Sarah she spent all of her time in the office off the main lobby,” Kreskin replied. “She slept on the couch. Dora Walker was Fran’s assistant, although she hasn’t shown up to work since this happened. Apparently Sarah let it slip that Fran was murdered in a very bloody fashion and Dora is beside herself.”

  Maddie narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve met Dora Walker since I’ve been back. What’s she like?”

  “Well, she’s not one of Maude’s Pink Ladies or anything, if that’s what you’re asking,” Nick replied. “She seems nice. I’ve only had occasion to talk to her when I visit the bed and breakfast for an official reason. It’s not as if I hung out there for fun.”

  “Because you were afraid Fran might spray you with the hose?” Maddie teased.

  “Because Fran was a genuinely unlikable person,” Nick corrected. “I mean … I didn’t hate her or anything, but she was not a nice woman.”

  “How so?” Maddie was legitimately interested.

  “Well, for starters, she gave me nonstop crap whenever she saw me,” Nick replied. “She asked what happened to you and if I drove you away because I was a pervert. She seemed to be convinced that all men were perverts.”

  Maddie pressed her lips together, torn between laughter and sympathy. “I happen to like your perverted side.”

  “That’s good to know.” Nick tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “That doesn’t change the fact that I got the distinct impression whenever I ran into her that she was purposely trying to upset me.”

  “By mentioning me?” Maddie was confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s because you didn’t see what a morose monster he was while you were away,” Kreskin supplied. “He perked up the second he saw you – even though he pretended to be angry. I seriously thought he was a generally unlikable man until you came along.”

  Maddie knew Kreskin meant most of the comment as a joke, but that didn’t stop her from feeling guilty. “I’m sorry, Nicky. I … .”

  “Don’t go there, Mad,” Nick warned, waving off the apology. “We’ve talked about this so many times I’ve lost count. I don’t want to dwell on it. We’re together and we’re getting married. That’s all I care about.”

  Still, I … .” Maddie lost her train of thought when a hint of movement at the edge of the table caught her attention. Her heart dropped to her stomach when she recognized the individual hovering on the other side of Nick. “Hello, Cassidy. Um … can we help you?”

  Cassidy Dunham, Nick’s girlfriend of the moment when Maddie returned to Blackstone Bay, kept her eyes fixed on Nick and didn’t acknowledge the fact that Maddie had even spoken to her. “You two are … engaged?”

  Nick ran his tongue over his teeth, annoyed. The annoyance only grew when he saw Marla Proctor – Maddie’s high school nemesis – walking through the front door of the diner. The last thing he wanted was a full-blown fight when everything else was spinning out of control.

  “We are,” Nick confirmed, refusing to lie. Initially he felt guilty for the way he treated Cassidy. He never had any intention of staying with her over the long haul, but she seemed to think she would be the one to tame him. The second Maddie returned to Blackstone Bay Nick lost all interest in Cassidy – which ultimately hurt her, of course. He apologized, but she’d been nothing short of horrible ever since and he was done catering to her moods. “We’re very excited.”

  “I see.” Cassidy’s eyes were cold when they shifted to Maddie. “You must be so proud.”

  “I’m not sure I did anything to be proud of,” Maddie hedged. “I’m happy, though.”

  Cassidy’s eyes drifted to the huge ring on Maddie’s finger, and by the time Marla joined them the woman’s face was completely red.

  “What’s going on?” Marla asked, her tone bored. “Did you find out who bashed in Fran Livingston’s brains yet?”

  “Not yet,” Kreskin replied, shaking his head. “You’ll be the first we call when we find out.”

  “That would be great.” Marla rolled her eyes until they landed on Cassidy. “Let’s find a table.”

  Instead of doing as Marla asked, Cassidy merely shook her head and pointed. “Did you know?”

  “Did I know what?” Marla asked, confused.

  “They’re engaged.” Cassidy barely managed to force out the words. “You said that Nick would never get engaged because he wasn’t the marrying kind but … they’re engaged.”

  Nick rubbed his chin as he shook his head, frustrated. “We are engaged,” he agreed. “We’re getting married. That has nothing to do with either of you, though.”

  “You’re really engaged?” Marla looked disturbed by the news. “You can’t be serious. I thought … I mean … I thought this was just something you had to go through. Are you really going to marry her?”

  “Of course I’m going to marry her.”

  Maddie pressed the heel of h
er hand to her forehead, frustration bubbling up. She remained silent, hoping Nick could ease the tension before she got involved and made things worse.

  “But … why?” Marla was beside herself. “I thought you were never going to get married.”

  “I was never going to marry anyone I dated before Maddie,” Nick said. “Do you want to know why?”

  “Probably not,” Marla replied. “I think I’ll throw up if you tell me.”

  “Probably,” Kreskin agreed. “Since you’re you, though, I kind of want to see what will happen.”

  Marla ignored him. “Well, I hope you’re happy with your very bad choice.” She squared her shoulders and grabbed Cassidy’s hand. “Come on. I think I’ve lost my appetite. We should go someplace else to eat.”

  Cassidy nodded, her expression sad and distraught. “I … hope you have a happy life.”

  “Thank you.” Nick slipped his arm around Maddie’s shoulders. “I know we will.”

  13

  Thirteen

  “Good morning, handsome.”

  Maddie was in good spirits the next morning when she planted a kiss on Nick’s cheek and headed toward the refrigerator.

  “Good morning.” Nick’s expression was bemused as he watched. “Did you sleep well?” He already knew the answer to that. He’d romanced the crap out of her when they returned from dinner and she’d passed out before ten, sleeping a full nine hours before waking. She clearly needed the sleep because the color was back in her cheeks and her eyes were bright and keen.

  “I slept like a rock,” Maddie admitted. “What do you want for breakfast?”

  “You don’t need to cook for me. I’m fully capable of handling my own breakfast.”

  Maddie arched a challenging eyebrow but remained silent.

  “What?” Nick knew he sounded defensive, but it was too late to catch himself. “I can make Pop-Tarts.”

  Maddie smirked as she shook her head, pouring a mug of coffee before sidling closer to him. “I know I’ve been … difficult … of late, but I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m okay. I’m adapting.”

  “Mad, you’re almost never difficult,” Nick corrected. “In fact, you’re consistently the easiest person I know to get along with. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned, though. This is a big deal.”

  Maddie blinked several times and then smiled, the expression serene. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m over it.”

  Nick managed to keep the eye roll mental rather than physical, but just barely. “You’re over it?”

  “I am.”

  “Okay, it’s clear you and I need to have a serious discussion.” Nick knew he couldn’t put off the “tough love” approach he’d been contemplating since the last time they ran into George Hunter. “Let me call Dale and tell him I’m going to be late and then we’ll get into this.”

  Maddie balked at his forceful tone. “I don’t need to get into it. I already told you that I’m over it.”

  “And I don’t believe you.”

  Maddie’s eyes fired with recrimination. “Are you calling me a liar?”

  Nick didn’t hesitate to deny the charge. “I would never call you a liar because that’s not in your nature … and besides, you’re terrible at it.”

  Maddie was affronted. “Hey!

  “That’s one of my favorite things about you, Mad,” Nick noted. “It comes right after how cute you look when you’re sleeping and that adorable snore of yours.”

  “I don’t snore.”

  “You sounded as if you were cutting down a forest last night,” Nick countered, refusing to back down. “Mad, you’re the love of my life and you always will be. You’re a terrible liar, though, and you’re very far from over this. We need to talk about it.”

  Instead of responding in kind, telling Nick that she loved him more than anything, Maddie scowled. “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m sick of talking about it. I’m even more sick of you worrying about me. It’s not fair to you.”

  Nick’s face was unreadable as he snagged Maddie’s hand. “I believe you agreed to marry me, right?”

  Maddie had no idea where he was going with the question, but she nodded.

  “That means we’re going to be together forever,” Nick continued. “For better and worse … and richer and poorer … and sickness and health. That means no matter what, you’re never going to be able to get rid of me.”

  “I’m never going to want to get rid of you.”

  Nick believed that. He also believed Maddie was due for a righteous meltdown when it came to her father. “That’s good. You won’t be able to do it. We’re still going to talk about George.”

  Maddie scowled. “Why don’t you understand that I simply want to put this behind me?” she snapped, taking a step back and letting her temper show. Nick wasn’t used to her anger being directed at him, but he almost welcomed it. “I don’t want to be unhappy. This is supposed to be the happiest time of my life. Why can’t you let me feel how I want to feel?”

  “Mad, if I thought you really wanted to wash your hands of George Hunter, I would be behind you,” Nick said. “You don’t. You don’t know what you want to do, but you’re not ready to do that. I’m not an idiot … and neither are you. Please don’t insult me and pretend otherwise.”

  “I’m not.” Maddie’s expression twisted and Nick hated the sadness flooding her eyes so much he almost gave in to her demands. Almost.

  “You’re not ready to send him away so I think we should talk about spending some time with him,” Nick suggested. “I don’t expect you to do it alone. You know I’ll be there with you but … you have a lot of questions and he’s the only one who can answer them.”

  “I don’t have a lot of questions,” Maddie argued. “My mother already answered those questions.”

  That’s when it hit Nick with the force of a hundred pounds of family baggage. Maddie’s real problem was that she was worried to hear George out because it might lead to some questions regarding her mother. The one thing Maddie never questioned over the years was her mother’s devotion to her. “Mad … .”

  “I don’t want to keep circling this, Nick,” Maddie grumbled. “Why can’t you just leave it alone?”

  Nick would never admit it to anyone – mostly because he worried it made him a whipped moron – but the fact that she called him “Nick” rather than “Nicky” grated. “Okay, Mad. I’m going to call Dale and tell him I’ll be late. We can talk about this … .”

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” Maddie pressed. “It’s done. Can’t you just leave it at that?”

  “I … .” Nick’s phone dinged with an incoming message and he growled in frustration as he glanced down. “I have to go to the funeral home, Mad,” he said after a beat. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s fine.” Maddie’s fake smile was back. “I think that’s a good idea.”

  “You’re only saying that because you don’t want me to push you on this,” Nick grumbled, grabbing the front of Maddie’s shirt and hauling her to her toes so he could kiss her senseless.

  Maddie gasped when she pulled away, momentarily confused whether or not she remained clothed. “I … what was that for?”

  “That was because I love you and I don’t care how frustrated you get, I’m always going to love you and want to do what’s best for you.”

  This time the smile playing at the corner of Maddie’s lips was legitimate. “I love you, too. I’m sorry this has been so hard on you.”

  “Don’t ever apologize to me for something like this,” Nick warned, refusing to let go of Maddie’s shirt. “What are you going to do today?”

  “I thought I would head over to the storage locker and continue going through Fran’s belongings,” Maddie replied, not missing a beat even though her face was still flushed from the kiss. “If Fran’s ghost is going to pop back in for a visit, it’s probably going to be there. That’s the stuff she loved the most.”

  “Okay, but I want you to do me
a favor and be careful,” Nick pressed. “Keep your phone close and listen in case someone approaches. I doubt anyone would dare go there but … you’re my first priority.”

  Maddie happily sighed. “You’re my first priority, too.”

  “I know.” Nick smacked a loud kiss against her lips. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I handle whatever the meltdown at the funeral parlor is. I might head over to the storage locker to search with you. I’m not sure yet.”

  “Okay. That sounds … wait. Meltdown?” Maddie cocked a dubious eyebrow. “Who is having a meltdown at the funeral home?”

  “Apparently Fran’s kids are having twin meltdowns and Dale and I have to deal with it.” Nick gave Maddie another kiss, this one softer. “I love you. Be good.”

  “I love you, too. Make sure you don’t leave me hanging on the gossip.”

  Nick grin as he released her. “Hey, Mad?”

  “Hmm.”

  “We’re not done talking about George Hunter.”

  Maddie blew out a weary sigh. “I was afraid of that.”

  NICK WAS still antsy about a potential fight with Maddie when he let himself into the funeral home ten minutes later, following the sound of raised voices until he hit the casket sales parlor and found Kreskin leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “What’s … ?”

  Nick didn’t get a chance to ask the obvious question because Kreskin cut him off with a shake of the head and pointed toward the two people arguing in the middle of the room.

  “We’re not going with the cedar. We’re going with the oak. It’s cheaper.” A young woman, dark hair flying, planted her hands on her hips and glared at a young man a few feet away. “Don’t even think of arguing with me about this.”

  “Oh, we’re not going with the oak either – and I never said I wanted the cedar,” the man replied. “I think we should go with pine.”

  “We can’t go with pine.” The woman rolled her eyes so hard Nick thought she might topple over. “People will think we’re cheap if we go with pine.”

  “Since when do you care what people think?” the man challenged. “Once we leave this stupid place this time we’re never coming back anyway. Why would you possibly care what these people think?”