Grave Discovery

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Pretty much,” Maddie acknowledged.

  “Wait, you bought the lighthouse?” Cassidy asked, swiveling. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “I didn’t get a chance,” David explained. “This day has been one big mess from the start.”

  Kreskin strode five feet and opened the cruiser so he could talk to Chelsea. “Why did you go after Mr. Bennet and his friend?”

  “I don’t care about his friend,” Chelsea spat. “I care about him. He killed my mother!”

  “I didn’t kill your mother, Chelsea,” David argued. “I don’t know why you think that.”

  “Why do you think that?” Kreskin pressed.

  “I followed her,” Chelsea said, pointing at Maddie and making a face. “She went up to the lighthouse and looked around, and then she took off in a hurry. When she got to town she went to the hair salon and she and Ms. Ford spent like an hour in the back.

  “I waited because I figured she found something out about my mother’s death,” she continued. “When she left the hair salon she headed straight for Mr. Bennet. They had an argument downtown and then she took off. I knew what they were arguing about. He killed my mother.”

  “That’s not what they were arguing about,” Cassidy shot back. “Maddie was trying to flirt with David because she wants to steal him from me.”

  “Stop saying that,” Maddie ordered. “That’s completely untrue.”

  “I know what I saw,” Cassidy said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Cassidy, that’s not what Maddie and I talked about this afternoon,” David said, his voice low. “She wanted to know why I bought the lighthouse. That was pretty much all we talked about – other than a brief side conversation about her skinny-dipping with Nick in the lake, that is. I don’t understand why you thought she was hitting on me.”

  Cassidy balked. “But … no, that’s not right,” she said, shaking her head. “I saw the two of you. You were deep in conversation.”

  “About the lighthouse,” David stressed. “She thought it was ghoulish for me to buy it even though I explained I had big plans to turn it into a showplace. We didn’t talk about anything else.

  “When she first approached, I thought she was going to beg me not to tell anyone that we caught them skinny-dipping,” he continued. “She said she wasn’t bothered by that and wanted to talk about something else. The entire conversation lasted less than ten minutes.”

  It was hard to be sure under the dim light, but Maddie was almost positive she could see Cassidy’s cheeks reddening.

  “I told you,” Nick said, turning his attention back to Chelsea. “Where did you get the gun?”

  “It’s my father’s gun,” Chelsea said, defiant in her teenage consternation.

  “Does he know you took it?”

  “No.”

  “He will soon,” Nick said, pressing the heel of his hand against his forehead. “What a mess.”

  “I don’t want to press charges,” David said. “She’s upset and lashing out. Her mother is dead. She thought I did it. I didn’t do it, for the record, but I don’t want that kid going through another traumatic event if I can help it.”

  Nick and Kreskin exchanged a look.

  “We’re going to make sure she’s held accountable,” Kreskin said finally. “We’ll figure out a charge that’s a misdemeanor and have you come down to the station and sign off on it. She needs some form of punishment.”

  “I can live with that,” David said. “What happens now?”

  “Now we continue our investigation,” Nick replied. “The lighthouse purchase is cause for concern. I’m not going to lie. We have other things we’re looking at, too, though. Right now … all I can say is that we’re still investigating and leave it at that.”

  “Well, at least you’re honest,” David said, slinging an arm over Cassidy’s shoulders. “You’re barking up the wrong tree with me, though. I am not a murderer.”

  “I hope that’s true,” Nick said, his eyes briefly landing on Cassidy’s embarrassed features. “That would be the best outcome for everyone.”

  14

  Fourteen

  “What is going on here?” Rick Johnson barged into the police station, his face flushed, and glanced around at the assembled faces. “Where is my daughter?”

  “She’s in a holding cell,” Nick replied, unruffled. “We’re … debating how to handle this situation.”

  “You’re going to release her to my custody and call it a day,” Rick announced. “That’s how you’re going to handle this situation.”

  “Mr. Johnson, your daughter stole a weapon from your home and fired it at two people,” Kreskin said, inclining his head in David and Cassidy’s direction. “We can’t just release her and call it a day.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rick said, shaking his head. “I locked that gun up in a gun safe. She has to have stolen the key.”

  “Sir, we’re not really investigating how your daughter got the gun,” Nick said. “She already told us she got it from you. We’re trying to decide the best way to handle this situation.”

  “Let her go.”

  “She has to have some form of repercussions,” Nick countered. “No one wants to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law, but she’s going to have to face something.”

  “She just lost her mother,” Rick said. “She’s not taking it well. Can’t you … I don’t know … look the other way just this once?”

  “No,” Kreskin said.

  Rick growled, the sound low and disturbing as he clasped his hands behind his head and aimlessly circled Kreskin. “This is … unbelievable.” He shifted his attention to David and narrowed his eyes. “You were Andrea’s boyfriend, right?”

  “We dated a few times,” David clarified. “It wasn’t that serious.”

  “Did you kill my wife?”

  “Did you?” David challenged.

  “Don’t even think of getting into a fight in the middle of the police station,” Kreskin warned. “We have enough to deal with. There’s no need for you two to start in on each other.”

  “I think we should just get the ruler out now and be done with it,” Maddie said, causing the entire room to fall silent.

  Nick was the first to laugh. “Where did that snarky comeback come from?”

  Maddie shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Christy and Maude,” he said, although he didn’t appear upset.

  “Chelsea needs to be our focus,” Maddie said. “Her mother is dead. You two are both suspects. Don’t bother arguing. Think about Chelsea and stop worrying about yourself, Mr. Johnson.”

  “Who are you?” Rick asked, incensed.

  “I’m the person your daughter came to for help today,” Maddie replied. “It appears I’m the only one interested in really helping her. On that note … .” Maddie glanced at Nick. “May I go back and talk to her?”

  Nick nodded. “I think that’s probably a good idea,” he said. “She trusts you. If anyone can get through to her, it’s you.”

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Maddie left Rick and David to continue staring each other down – while Nick and Kreskin acted as moderators – and headed toward the department’s lone holding cell. Chelsea sat on the small cot, her gaze fixed on the blank wall in front of her.

  “That was a stupid thing you did.”

  “I don’t need a lecture,” Chelsea said, not bothering to look up. “He killed my mother.”

  “We don’t know that yet, Chelsea,” Maddie argued. “We don’t know anything yet. You can’t jump to conclusions.”

  “You went to him because you suspected he killed my mother,” Chelsea said, refusing to back down. “I know it.”

  “I went to him because I found out he bought the lighthouse and thought that was suspicious,” Maddie corrected. “I still find it suspicious. He claims he wants to turn it into a house. He could very well want to do that. It’s a prim
e piece of land and the lighthouse could be beautiful with a little work.

  “I do think it’s ghoulish that he would buy it right after your mother’s body was found inside, though,” she continued. “I’m not sure what to think about that and that’s why I questioned him.”

  “He’s got a new girlfriend already,” Chelsea pointed out. “My mother really liked him and he’s already moved on.”

  Maddie sighed. She was the last one to offer insight on relationships – mostly because she’d only ever had one important one in her life – but someone had to talk Chelsea down from the ledge. “My understanding is that your mother and David only went out on five dates,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “That’s not a relationship. That’s the beginning of seeing if you want to be in a relationship.”

  “My mother liked him.”

  “He liked your mother,” Maddie said. “He thought she took off because you told him she did. He didn’t want to deal with something like that. Can you blame him?”

  “I still think he should’ve waited,” Chelsea said, crossing her arms over her chest. “How long did you date your boyfriend before you started telling people you were in a relationship?”

  “Nick and I are not normal in that respect.”

  “I’m guessing that means it was less than five dates,” Chelsea muttered.

  “Nick and I fell in love when we were teenagers,” Maddie countered. “Then we spent ten years apart because neither one of us could admit it. When we finally got together, we were ready for a relationship. We already knew each other, though. We were well past the ‘getting to know you’ phase. That’s different.”

  “I don’t like him.”

  “You don’t have to like him,” Maddie said. “You can’t shoot at people you don’t like, though.”

  “I wasn’t trying to kill him,” Chelsea argued. “I was just trying to scare him.”

  “Well, mission accomplished,” Maddie said. “Now you’re going to have to pay for what you did. The good news is that everyone is working on an outcome that isn’t going to ruin your future because you acted so impulsively.”

  “I just want my mom,” Chelsea said, her lower lip trembling. “I want whoever killed her to pay.”

  “I know,” Maddie said. “We’re working on it. You have to give us time.”

  “I want to be alone,” Chelsea said, turning so her back was to Maddie and curling into a ball on the cot. “I don’t want you here.”

  Maddie left her with her tears. She didn’t know what else to do.

  BY THE time Maddie and Nick made their way to the main floor the next morning Christy and Maude were already hard at work on her talent preparations for the pageant. They were spread out in the middle of the store – Maddie had no idea why they couldn’t constrain their activities to Maude’s apartment – and Maude busily belted out various verses from songs she was interested in singing so Christy could help her decide on a tune.

  “I think she’s tone deaf,” Nick muttered, watching the scene from the bottom stair. “She doesn’t think that’s singing, does she?”

  “I have no idea,” Maddie said. “I’m too tired to care.”

  It was almost three in the morning before Kreskin and Nick finally relented and released Chelsea to the custody of her father. No one could decide on charges, so they opted to delay it until they could talk to the prosecutor.

  David led a pouty Cassidy out of the building, the woman never once uttering an apology for accusing Maddie of going after her boyfriend, and Rick left with Chelsea not long after. Nick and Maddie were both exhausted.

  “What are you going to do today?” Nick asked, following Maddie into the kitchen as he tried to ignore the noise from the adjoining room. “Don’t go near David Bennet, please. That’s all I ask.”

  “I’m going back out to the lighthouse,” Maddie answered. “I think Andrea is anchored there even though she keeps trying to leave. She seemed confused when I talked to her – like she didn’t understand what was happening – and I have to find a way to get through to her.”

  “I’m not keen on you going up there alone, Mad,” Nick said.

  “I’m going to drive,” Maddie said. “If I see anyone I’ll run. I have no intention of going inside. I promise I’ll be fine.”

  “You’d better be,” Nick grumbled, leaning over to kiss Maddie’s cheek. “I’ll die without you. Just know you’re taking both of our lives into your hands if you let something happen to you.”

  “That was melodramatic,” Maddie teased.

  “I can’t help it,” Nick said. “I love you. I don’t blame you for wanting to get out of this house, though.” Nick cringed when Maude hit a particularly obnoxious note. “What is she even singing?”

  “You don’t recognize that song?” Maddie asked, her eyes twinkling.

  “Should I?”

  “It’s ‘I Feel Pretty’ from ‘West Side Story.’”

  “Oh, well, that fits what she has planned for the unsuspecting people of Blackstone Bay,” Nick deadpanned. “Apparently she plans on winning by deafening all the judges.”

  “I’m sorry you’re crabby,” Maddie said, resting her hand against his waist. “I know you’re tired and I think part of it is my fault.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “We were both upset before we went to bed,” Maddie answered. “I’m worried you didn’t get any sleep before the phone woke us up.”

  “Mad, I was not upset before we went to sleep,” Nick countered. “I was upset before we made up. I was out like a light after you finally got your makeup sex. I wanted to wow you so I put a lot of effort into my performance. I slept like a log before we got called away.”

  “You always wow me,” Maddie said, giggling as Nick pulled her close for a soft kiss.

  “You always wow me, love,” he said, reluctantly pulling away when Maude started singing again. “I can’t eat breakfast here. I’m going to stop at the diner on my way into the office. Do you want to join me?”

  Maddie glanced at the store, briefly pressing her eyes shut when Maude danced past the opening. “I’m right behind you.”

  “OH, it’s quiet in here and I think I might be in Heaven,” Maddie said, resting her head against Nick’s shoulder as they settled in their favorite booth at Ruby’s Diner. It was round so they could snuggle together without looking like complete and total fools … well, almost.

  “I see you two are still pawing at each other whenever the mood strikes.” The proprietor Ruby smiled at the couple as she approached with her order pad. “Do you want your usual breakfasts?”

  “Yes, please,” Maddie said.

  “That’s good,” Ruby said. “I already put the orders in when I saw you guys come through the front door.”

  “I think she’s saying we’re predictable, Mad,” Nick teased, winking at Ruby for good measure. “We should probably be offended by that.”

  “You’re not predictable,” Ruby countered. “I hear you went skinny-dipping out in the lake the other night. I never would’ve thought you could talk Maddie into that.”

  Maddie blushed furiously and lowered her eyes. “Who told you that?”

  “I did,” Christy said, sliding into the booth beside Maddie and ignoring the dark look her friend shot in her direction. “What? You can’t tell me something like that and not expect me to blab. It was a great piece of gossip.”

  Nick chuckled as he slung an arm over Maddie’s shoulders. “You’re a bad girl now, Mad. People are going to think I’ve turned you into a sex fiend.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” Christy chided. “I think the sex fiend was always buried deep inside and you just let it out.”

  “I look good in either of those scenarios,” Nick said, reaching for his coffee. “Keep spreading your gossip.”

  “It’s funny that you mention that,” Christy said, her eyes sparkling. “I have more interesting gossip for you.”

  “Wait a second,” Maddie said, leaning forward and
straightening. “Why aren’t you at the house rehearsing with Granny? That’s why we had to leave.”

  “Yes, I noticed you two slinking out when you thought no one was looking,” Christy said. “Why do you think I followed you?”

  “I think you were worried you would go deaf if you didn’t get a break,” Nick replied, not missing a beat.

  “You can’t let her sing, Christy,” Maddie said. “She’ll scare all the children and dogs in the neighborhood for a month.”

  “I’ve got it covered,” Christy said. “I came up with a better talent for her. Don’t worry about it.”

  Maddie narrowed her eyes. “What is it?”

  “I think you should be surprised just like everyone else,” Christy said. “Don’t you want to hear about my gossip? I followed you guys because it’s important to your case.”

  “Really?”

  “I didn’t feel the need to watch you two cuddle for an entire meal, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Christy said. “I do have good gossip, though, and it pertains to Andrea Johnson’s death.”

  “I’ll bite,” Nick said. “What gossip did you glean, oh mighty one?”

  Christy rolled her eyes but wasn’t dissuaded in the least. “So, you know Margo Spears works as a clerk in the county courthouse, right?”

  Nick nodded. “That’s like letting the fox live in the henhouse with the chickens because Margo can’t keep her mouth shut, but go on.”

  “Well, she looked up the Johnson divorce filing out of curiosity,” Christy said.

  “Curiosity?” Nick challenged.

  “Fine, I asked her to look it up and she agreed as long as I bought her lunch,” Christy admitted. “Anyway, in the documents Andrea Johnson marked ‘infidelity’ as the reason for divorce and she was going after sole custody of the kid.”

  Nick knit his eyebrows together. “That’s not what her husband told us,” he said. “He claimed they both agreed to end the marriage and they weren’t exactly getting along but agreed not to fight for Chelsea’s benefit.”

  “That’s not what those documents say,” Christy said, relishing her role as gossip queen. “Some of the discovery documents include fights she had with her husband because he wasn’t even trying to hide his infidelity. She claimed that the woman Rick was sleeping with was a danger for Chelsea to be around.”