Grave Discovery

by Lily Harper Hart

  “We’re going inside,” Nick said, striding toward the door.

  “I’ll go skinny-dipping with you tonight if you don’t go in there,” Maddie offered to his back.

  “Mad, I go to sleep next to you every night now,” Nick said, studying the door lock with a furrowed brow. “You’re the one who loves going skinny-dipping. I would be happy doing it in the shower – although the skinny-dipping does have its merits. I like splashing around when we have room to move.”

  “Are you saying the idea of me naked in public isn’t enough to get you away from that door?”

  Nick’s answer was simple. He pushed the door opened and shifted his dark eyes to Maddie. “I’m saying someone has been in here and now I officially have to check out the scene,” he replied.

  Maddie scampered to his side, surprised. “How do you know someone has been in here?”

  Nick gestured toward the handle. “See those scrapes on the side there? Someone jimmied it open.”

  “Can you tell how long ago?”

  “I’m a cop, Mad. I’m not psychic like you.”

  “Maybe we should call Dale for backup,” Maddie suggested, referring to Nick’s partner on the Blackstone Bay Police Department. “What if there’s a killer inside?”

  “You saw a ghost this afternoon,” Nick reminded her. “If someone is dead in here, I don’t think it happened right this second. We’re going to be okay.”

  “Do you want me to stay out here?”

  Nick shook his head. “You’re not leaving my side, love,” he said. “If I’ve learned anything since getting you back in my life, it’s that you’re a magnet for trouble. If we find trouble in here, we’re doing it together.”

  Nick held out his hand and Maddie wordlessly took it.

  “I’m sure it’s going to be perfectly fine, Mad,” he said. “The odds of us finding something awful this evening despite what you saw earlier are pretty slim. Trust me.”

  DALE Kreskin’s face reflected all of Nick’s inner turmoil when he trudged up the hill to the lighthouse forty-five minutes later. He was dressed in casual shorts and a T-shirt, and he didn’t look thrilled to have his evening disrupted.

  “This had better be good.”

  Nick ran his tongue over his teeth and glanced over his shoulder to where Maddie leaned against his truck. She hadn’t said anything in more than twenty minutes, and he was starting to worry. “There’s a body inside the lighthouse.”

  Kreskin stilled. “Are you sure?”

  “We were just inside,” Nick said. “I called the county coroner, but he can’t be here for another hour or so. I guess he’s finishing up on some guy who died in a restaurant freezer.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Someone either purposely locked him in, or he accidentally locked himself in,” Nick replied, nonplussed.

  “You’re such a comedian,” Kreskin muttered. “What’s the state of the body?”

  “Not good.”

  “Do you want to expand on that?”

  Nick tugged a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s a woman. That’s about all I can tell you. She’s been in there for some time … and with this heat in a building that has zero ventilation … .”

  “I get it,” Kreskin said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he considered how to proceed. “Do you think we should go in there and look around? It’s getting dark. Does that place even have electricity?”

  “The lights don’t work,” Nick replied. “I tried them. I took photos with my cell phone just to be on the safe side. The medical examiner is bringing lights so we can take better photos.”

  “Let me see.”

  Nick handed Kreskin his phone and watched the man scan the photos with studied detachment. When he was done, Kreskin merely shook his head.

  “Well, the floor is a mess so it’s impossible to tell in this light if there’s blood on it,” Kreskin said. “There’s garbage on top of the body, which seems to indicate that someone tried to hide it. Until we have an identity, I don’t know what to tell you.”

  “I’m not looking for you to tell me anything,” Nick countered. “I think we both know that someone didn’t accidentally die in there and magically get covered up with garbage.”

  “That doesn’t mean the death is automatically a murder,” Kreskin said. “Someone could’ve died accidentally and one of their relatives dumped the body to keep drawing Social Security checks for all we know. We don’t have enough information to do anything yet.”

  “That’s a good point,” Nick said, rolling his neck until it cracked and glancing at Maddie again. She didn’t appear worked up, and her eyes were busy as she scanned the area, but she was also downtrodden.

  Kreskin followed Nick’s gaze. “Can I ask what you and Maddie were doing up here?”

  “We were taking a walk,” Nick replied.

  “You brought your truck.”

  “We were taking a drive,” Nick corrected. “Maddie was out here jogging with Christy Ford earlier and mentioned the lighthouse. We used to love to hang out here as kids. I wanted to see it with her and then we were going for ice cream. That’s when I noticed the door was jimmied and we went inside.”

  “That’s a great story to tell the medical examiner and any state police boys should they show up,” Kreskin said. “Now tell me what you were really doing up here.”

  Nick balked. “We weren’t doing anything!”

  “Did Maddie see a ghost?” Kreskin pressed. “Is that it?”

  Nick sucked in a steadying breath as he decided how to answer. Kreskin was aware that something was different about Maddie. He’d guessed that she could talk to ghosts. He’d also hinted around about her being psychic. Nick always denied the charges. He trusted Dale with his life, but he would never purposely expose Maddie.

  “That’s it, isn’t it?” Kreskin prodded, his eyes sympathetic. “Maddie saw something when she was out here with Christy earlier and you came back with her to check it out. That’s how you found the body.”

  “I … .”

  “Don’t bother lying,” Kreskin said. “I know about Maddie. I also know why you don’t want to say anything. It’s okay.”

  “Let’s just focus on the body,” Nick suggested. “We’ll worry about the other stuff later.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Kreskin said. “For now, we’re stuck waiting for the medical examiner. I’m not going in there without proper light. Those floorboards are old and I have no desire to fall through them.”

  “That’s probably a good idea.”

  “Why don’t you take Maddie home,” Kreskin offered. “This job only takes one of us and once the medical examiner is here, I’m going to go in and get a few photos and then leave them to their unenviable task. We can’t do a thing until we know who this woman is and how she died.”

  “This isn’t your job,” Nick argued. “It’s my responsibility.”

  “Take Maddie home,” Kreskin repeated. “I’m already out here. My wife has four women over for some book club. They’re giggling and gossiping like schoolgirls. You actually saved me. I’ll be in touch first thing in the morning when we get something.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” Kreskin said, patting Nick’s shoulder. “Take your girl home and make her feel better. She looks … well, not upset, but she looks agitated. I can handle things on this end.”

  “Thanks,” Nick said. “I think seeing a body in that state of decay shook her up.”

  “Son, I’ve been doing this for more than twenty years and seeing that body is going to shake me up,” Kreskin said. “Maddie is already something of a miracle for not breaking down. Don’t press your luck.”

  4

  Four

  “Good morning, love,” Nick murmured, tightening his arm around Maddie’s waist as she stretched in their bed the next morning. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Nicky, I told you last night that you don’t need to worry about me,” Maddie chided. “I�
�m fine.”

  “You didn’t look fine when you saw that body, Mad,” Nick said, rubbing his thumb over the soft skin of her neck as she rested her chin on his chest. “You looked … I don’t know … sad.”

  “I’m always sad when someone dies,” Maddie said. “If you want to know the truth, I knew the second you found that door unlocked that something awful was inside. I wasn’t surprised when we found the body.”

  “We don’t know what happened yet,” Nick cautioned. “Until we do … .”

  “I’m not going to get worked up and have a meltdown,” Maddie said. “You know I’ve seen stuff like this before, right? When I was down in Detroit, I worked for the police for a time. I found more than one body.”

  Nick’s stomach twisted. He didn’t like being reminded of their time apart. He wasn’t especially thrilled with the knowledge that Maddie worked with another police officer – no matter how platonic she claimed the relationship was – and discovered dead bodies. “I know that you were involved with several investigations … .”

  “Try more than forty,” Maddie corrected, cutting him off.

  “Forty?” Nick was furious.

  “Nicky, we weren’t together then,” Maddie reminded him. “I obviously survived. Please don’t make a thing about this. We already have a potential murder and a budding beauty queen to grapple with. We can’t take a fight, too.”

  Nick tugged on his patience and centered himself. “You’re right, love,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I have no right to be angry. You’re here. We’re together. I still want to punch the guy who took you to so many crime scenes in the nuts if I ever meet him.”

  Maddie snickered. “I think you would like him.”

  “Well, we’re going to have to agree to disagree on that one,” Nick said, shifting so he could look at the clock. “We need to get up. I have to get ready for work and you have a big day of hearing about Maude’s beauty pageant plans in front of you.”

  Maddie made a face. “I have work, too.”

  “You just told me yesterday that it was too hot for people to go out and shop at a magic store,” Nick said. “It’s going to be another scorcher today.”

  “Maybe we can go down to the lake if you’re not too late at work,” Maddie said.

  “I would enjoy that.” Nick gave her a soft kiss. “Now, get your cute behind in the shower. We’re environmentalists in this house. I think we should conserve water and get cleaned up together.”

  “You’re very socially minded. I like that about you.”

  “Get moving, Mad. I’ve got big plans for that shower, and it’s muggy enough that neither one of us is going to mind it if the hot water runs out for a change.”

  “You had me at shower,” Maddie said. “There’s no reason to keep selling your grand idea when I’m already on board.”

  “GRANNY, do you want hash browns with your breakfast this morning, or just toast and eggs?”

  Maude didn’t bother looking up from the magazine she perused with Christy at the kitchen table an hour later, something that frustrated her granddaughter to no end. By the time Nick and Maddie descended the stairs Maude was already plotting, and Christy was eager to be her partner in crime. For some reason – and Maddie was mortified at the realization – she was jealous of Christy’s gung-ho attitude regarding Maude’s upcoming endeavor.

  “I want hash browns,” Maude said. “I want sausage, too.”

  “I don’t know if all that grease is good for you,” Maddie hedged.

  “I’m in my eighties, Maddie. I get to have what I want because I’m old. I want sausage!”

  Maddie shifted her eyes to Nick, who was watching the scene with a smile as he sipped his coffee next to the counter. “What do you think?”

  “Woman, your grandmother and I want sausage,” Nick mock bellowed. “Get over there and make us some sausage.”

  “You’re such a help when it comes to things like this,” Maddie muttered.

  “I want sausage, too,” Christy chimed in.

  “Fine,” Maddie said, giving in and throwing open the refrigerator. “Do you want links or patties?”

  “Links,” Maude answered.

  “Patties,” Christy responded.

  “I want both,” Nick added. “I’m feeling especially hungry today.” He tickled Maddie’s ribs to get her to smile, which she ultimately did.

  “Hey, sorry for letting myself in, but your front door was open,” Dale Kreskin said, appearing in the doorway. “That’s not exactly safe. You know that, right?”

  Nick narrowed his eyes and scowled at Maude. “Did you forget to close the door when you let Christy in?”

  “Of course not,” Maude replied.

  “That was probably my fault,” Christy said. “I found some great dresses in this magazine and I was excited to show them to Maude. I honestly don’t remember leaving the door open. I’m sorry.”

  “Someone could have walked in and stolen something from the store,” Maddie said, her tone harsher than she intended.

  “I’m sorry,” Christy said, her face drawn. “I honestly am. I don’t remember leaving the door open.”

  “The store looks fine,” Kreskin said. “Someone would have to specifically focus on this house to notice the door wasn’t shut properly. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “I live with two women – both of whom find different all sorts of trouble – so I’m always worried,” Nick said. “What are you doing here anyway? I was heading to the department as soon as I was done here.”

  “I thought that maybe Maddie might want to hear what we found out about the victim,” Kreskin said.

  “What victim?” Christy asked, confused.

  “They found a body in the lighthouse last night,” Maude explained.

  “You went back to the lighthouse last night?” Christy asked. “You didn’t jog out there, did you? If you did I’m going to punch you for working out without me. Then I’m going to thank you for not inviting me.”

  “We didn’t jog,” Maddie said, her earlier irritation with Christy evaporating. “We drove up there because I wanted to see the lighthouse at sunset.

  “And you found a body? That’s depressing,” Christy said.

  “You have no idea,” Maddie muttered.

  Nick squeezed her hand before shuffling closer to Kreskin. “Did you find anything on our victim?”

  Kreskin glanced around the room. “Do you want me to announce it over breakfast?”

  “They’re going to find out anyway,” Nick said.

  “Yeah, we’re going to find out anyway,” Maude echoed, causing Kreskin to roll his eyes.

  “We’ve identified the woman in the lighthouse,” he said.

  “That was quick.”

  “It wasn’t hard,” Kreskin explained. “Her name is Andrea Johnson. She’s a thirty-eight-year-old mother who has been missing for two months.”

  “I don’t recognize that name,” Nick said.

  “I do,” Christy said, leaning forward. “She came into the salon twice to get a haircut. She didn’t talk a lot, but she seemed nice.”

  “Did she say anything to you about having problems with anyone?” Kreskin asked.

  “The salon chair is kind of like a psychiatrist’s couch in some respects, but most people don’t talk about private issues unless they already know you,” Christy replied. “Andrea only came to town like a year ago. I don’t think she was overly comfortable with me.”

  “Do we know anything about her history?” Nick asked, popping slices of bread into the toaster as Maddie flipped hash browns and kept her ears on the conversation.

  “Not a lot,” Kreskin replied. “She and her husband Rick Johnson moved up from the Midland area a little more than a year ago. They have a teenage daughter. What’s funny about all of this is the daughter is the one who filed the missing person’s report, not the husband.”

  “What do you think that means?” Christy asked.

  “It could mean that the husba
nd thought his wife ran away,” Kreskin replied. “It could also mean that the daughter took it upon herself to do it and told her father what she was doing and had his approval. We won’t know until we talk to them.”

  “I’m guessing that’s our first stop of the day,” Nick said.

  Kreskin nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Christy, did Andrea say anything about her husband or daughter that you can remember?”

  “I honestly don’t remember what we talked about,” Christy answered. “A lot of those conversations fall out of my head the second a new butt sits in my chair. I’m sorry.”

  “That was a lovely visual,” Maddie said.

  Christy shrugged. “Sometimes people talk just to hear themselves talk,” she said. “I listen. I respond. I don’t really retain most of that information because I don’t care how their kids are doing … or why their husband is a butthead … or why they think the neighbor is spying on them.”

  “I never thought about that,” Maddie mused. “You probably do hear a lot of crap from people you don’t care about.”

  “Don’t worry, Maddie. I love hearing about what a stud Nick is,” Christy teased, winking at Nick for good measure.

  “If you think that bothers me, it doesn’t,” Nick said. “I already know I’m a stud.”

  Kreskin made an exaggerated face. “The maturity in this house is … staggering.”

  Nick sobered at his partner’s words. “I’m sorry,” he said. “This is a serious issue. We were just … .”

  “It’s fine,” Kreskin said, waving off Nick’s apology. “I’m in a crabby mood because the wife was hungover this morning. It’s not your fault.”

  “I thought you said she had a book club last night?”

  “That’s code for talking about the first two chapters of some chick book and then drinking for three hours,” Kreskin replied. “She’s always hungover after book club.”

  “Huh, I’ve always wanted to start a book club,” Maude said. “Maybe after I win the trout queen title I’ll do that. I love to read.”

  “You love to drink,” Maddie shot back, delivering Maude’s breakfast to the table. “Dale, do you want something to eat?”