Wicked Hearts (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 9)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Ivy widened her eyes to comical proportions as she shook her head. “Oh, I’m going to lick your eggs for that.”

  “I don’t care.” Jack rolled to a sitting position and groaned. “Ugh. I am far too old to sleep on the couch.”

  Ivy took pity on him and rubbed his lower back. “I’ll make some of my famous massage oil this afternoon and make you feel better tonight.”

  Jack brightened. “You’re going to massage me for a change? I’m shocked.”

  “I massage you,” Ivy argued. “It’s not my fault you only last five minutes before you end up wanting to do something else.”

  “That is your fault,” Jack countered, extending a finger. “You’re too pretty and you have wandering hands.”

  “Ha, ha.”

  Jack cupped Ivy’s chin and held her still, staring into the fathomless depths of her eyes. “We should do something to mark the anniversary of when we met.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I don’t know.” Jack shrugged, noncommittal. “You can pick. I just want to do something special.”

  Ivy brightened. “I know exactly what we should do.”

  “What?”

  “We’ll go morel hunting.”

  “Oh, geez.” Jack rolled his eyes. “I thought you would pick something more romantic than hunting for mushrooms that taste like feet.”

  The first meal Ivy ever made for Jack included the morels she loved and he hated. He was willing to pick around them for nostalgia’s sake. Spending an entire day in the woods hunting for mushrooms was not his idea of fun, though.

  “I was thinking a picnic and maybe a little something else while we look for the mushrooms,” Ivy offered, making a face. “If you don’t want outdoor sex, though … .”

  “Don’t be hasty.” Jack’s smile was mischievous. “Have I mentioned I love hunting for mushrooms, even if they do taste like feet?”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  “SO, OTHER THAN MAKING lotion so you can rub me down, what are you going to do with your day?”

  Jack showered, changed, and arrived at the kitchen table just in time for Ivy to serve him breakfast. He initially felt guilty because she did the bulk of the cooking – other than grilling, of course, which he handled – but she enjoyed it so he learned to let it go. Plus, well, she was a master in the kitchen.

  “Oh, baby, these are good eggs!” Jack forked a huge mound of food into his mouth and enthusiastically chewed, causing Ivy to smile as she carried her own plate to the table and poured herself a glass of tomato juice.

  “I went to the Amish market in Interlochen the other day,” Ivy supplied. “They had fresh eggs. I’m kind of sad I didn’t get more of them because they’re so good. Maybe I’ll make a trip before our picnic in May and make egg salad.”

  Jack swallowed and nodded. “These are definitely good. You didn’t answer my question, though. What are you doing today?”

  Ivy was calm as she took a bite, the food in her mouth allowing her to shrug as an answer. “What are you going to do today?” she asked once she swallowed.

  “We’re probably going to have to run to the hospital in Traverse City,” Jack replied. “We need to check on Aubrey. The state police lab said they would put a rush on those bottles, but I don’t expect to get an answer on those for at least a few hours. I’m honestly not sure what we’ll be doing until we get more information. Given the circumstances, I’m not sure where to start.”

  “Is that because of the different suspect pools?”

  Jack nodded, mixing his eggs and hash browns together. “If any of the water bottles test positive, then that means someone involved with the pageant probably poisoned her. If the water bottles are clean, that means she could’ve ingested the antifreeze someplace else.”

  “Is there any chance it happened by accident?”

  “I don’t see how. Antifreeze isn’t naturally occurring in food and you would have to be an idiot to keep it in the pantry or refrigerator.”

  “Good point.” Ivy scratched her cheek. “You might want to start with Peyton Miller.”

  “Who is Peyton Miller?”

  “She’s one of the contestants in the pageant,” Ivy explained. “She was the first runner-up last year and I saw the look on her face when she lost. I’m going to guess that she’s determined to win this year since it’s her last year of eligibility.”

  “Okay. You would know more about the pageant world than me – you being a former beauty queen and all – so I’ll take it under advisement.”

  Ivy glared. “I wasn’t a beauty queen. I lost. Heck, I didn’t technically compete.”

  “You’re my queen and I don’t care that some idiots years ago didn’t see how pretty you are. I am, however, kind of amused that you’re still agitated by the situation.”

  “I’m not agitated.”

  “You seem agitated.”

  “Well, I’m not.” Ivy cracked her neck as she shoveled another heap of food into her mouth, methodically chewing as Jack studied her with flat eyes.

  “Honey, I’m not sure why this pageant gets you so worked up, but I feel the need to remind you that you’re an adult,” Jack said. “That pageant you lost was years ago. Also, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. You don’t need to ride a float to prove that to me.”

  Ivy’s expression softened, although only marginally. “I’m not worked up.”

  “Oh, you’re worked up,” Jack countered. “Sometimes I like it when you get worked up because it seems to fuel you and you spend all your time jumping me to vent excess energy when that happens.”

  Ivy was mortified. “I do not.”

  Jack ignored her outburst. “This seems to me that it’s going to be something else,” he said. “I don’t pretend to understand the pageant lifestyle. If you want to explain, though, I’m more than happy to listen.”

  “I don’t care about the pageant lifestyle,” Ivy clarified. “I never cared about that. I didn’t care about the tiara … or the dresses … or the float.”

  “You cared about winning.”

  “Will you think less of me if I admit that?”

  “Nothing will ever make me think less of you,” Jack answered honestly. “I love you. That’s not going to change. I’ve also known you long enough to realize you have a competitive spirit. I see it come out mostly with Max, but I’ve also seen it with Maisie and Ava.

  “Now, I get that things were rough for you when you were a kid because you were different,” he continued. “That thing that made you an outsider with the girls also apparently intrigued the boys. For the record, if they come sniffing around – boys or men, I mean – I’m going to get competitive.”

  Ivy chuckled, the low and throaty sound warming Jack’s heart. “I like to win. I can’t help it.”

  “I know. Why do you think I’ll never play Monopoly with you again?”

  “That was an accident,” Ivy protested. “My elbow accidentally hit the board.”

  Jack arched a dubious eyebrow. “You threw the board. Here I thought we were having a quiet evening in front of the fire because we were snowed in and then, the next thing I knew, there were little houses flying everywhere.”

  Ivy wrinkled her nose. “It was an accident.”

  “I’m never going to believe that version of the story, so let it go,” Jack chided. “I get that you’re competitive. I’m fine with it, although it will put a crimp in our board game activities in the future. I just want to make sure you’re not still harboring some weird insecurity thing about not winning.”

  “Oh, I don’t care about being the prettiest woman in Shadow Lake,” Ivy explained. “I just wanted to win because I like lording it over people when I’m number one.”

  Jack’s lips quirked. She was so matter-of-fact he couldn’t help but love her even more. “Well, that’s good to know. You still haven’t told me what you’re doing today, though. You kind of dodged the question, which makes me
suspicious.”

  Ivy heaved out a sigh. She was hoping Jack would leave without getting his answer. She should’ve known better. “I’m going to the festival to volunteer my time to help with the pageant.”

  Instead of reacting with anger, Jack merely made a sighing sound as he shook his head. “I knew it.”

  “How did you know?”

  “You just have a look about you when you’re trying to keep a secret,” Jack replied. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to make it through the day without sticking your nose in this one.”

  “I’m not sticking my nose in,” Ivy clarified. “I’m simply trying to discover the truth to help the community as a whole.”

  “Oh, you’re so selfless,” Jack intoned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ivy, I know why you’re so interested in this. You saw what was going to happen and it jarred you. I get it.”

  “I just want to know.” Ivy lowered her voice. “I can’t explain it. I just … need to know.”

  “And I figured that would be the case,” Jack said. “I’m fine with you volunteering at the pageant. I think it’s actually a good idea because you’ll be able to take a long look at the women hanging out there. I need you to be careful for me, though.”

  Ivy snorted. “I’m a little old to be considered competition for the Festival of Love Pageant.”

  “Yeah, but you’re my future wife and you have a tendency to be intense when investigating stuff,” Jack pointed out. “You might inadvertently upset someone if you ask the wrong question.”

  “Oh, well, I didn’t think of that.”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Jack winked because he knew it would drive her crazy. “I want you to be careful while keeping your ear to the ground. I also want you to avoid drinking anything that’s been left out or handed to you by someone else.”

  Realization dawned on Ivy. “You think that someone there is responsible.”

  “Probably,” Jack said. “We don’t know, but I will not be happy if you end up poisoned. So, no drinking out of communal bottles or anything. If you want something to drink, buy your own bottle of water or soda from the machine. Do not leave that bottle or can laying around. Hold it until you’re done with it.”

  “Sir, yes, sir.” Ivy mock saluted, amused. “I know how to take care of myself, Jack. I promise it’s going to be okay.”

  “It will be okay,” Jack agreed, nodding. “I can’t live without you so it has to be okay. By the way, that’s what I was thinking when you woke up. I was sitting there, staring at you, and wondering how it is that I made it through a day before you were in my life.

  “I don’t know the answer to that question, Ivy, but I do know that I can’t make it through a future day without you,” he continued. “You be careful and watch your back.”

  “I will,” Ivy promised. “For the record, I can’t be without you either.”

  “Of course you can’t.” Jack’s grin was back. “We’re stuck with one another, for better or for worse, for the rest of our lives. Funnily enough, I’m happy about that. You need to be careful to keep me happy.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  “See that you are. As for me, I’ll keep you updated on what’s going on. I have a feeling this one is going to be a mess to sort out.”

  Ivy had a feeling he was right.

  Six

  Jack met Brian at the police station, delivering his partner a mug of coffee and doughnut from the diner before settling at his desk.

  “I thought we would probably go straight to the hospital today,” Jack started.

  “There’s no need.” Brian nodded in thanks for the special delivery. “I talked to Aubrey’s father on the phone. She’s still alive, still fighting, but she’s not awake. I asked him about antifreeze in the house, but he says he doesn’t have anything like that because he always takes his vehicle in to get serviced. He gave us permission to search so I sent one of the uniforms over. I don’t think this was an accident.”

  “Which means the perpetrator is probably here,” Jack mused. “Do you think it’s one of the other girls?”

  “I think that antifreeze is a common poison,” Brian replied. “It’s one of the few things that are easy for people to get their hands on. All of the instructions are right out there on the internet.”

  “Ivy said that Aubrey was one of the pageant frontrunners, although I’m not sure how she knows that. Simone told me the same thing.”

  “Talk is cheap in this town and the pageant is always a source of local amusement,” Brian explained. “Most people don’t care about it other than the drama it provides. And, yes, before you ask the obvious question, there’s always some form of drama associated with the pageant.

  “Most people find the whole thing funny,” he continued. “The only ones who take it seriously are the participants.”

  “I asked Ivy about the pageant,” Jack said. “She swears up and down that she didn’t care about the girly aspects of it. She just wanted to win.”

  “Do you not believe her?”

  Jack shrugged, noncommittal. “She’s never been overly girly before. Still, I can see how that might appeal to someone who was somewhat ostracized as a teenager. She doesn’t talk about it much. I want to go back in time and save her from the torment, but that’s not really an option.”

  “She wasn’t tormented,” Brian clarified. “I won’t say things were easy for her, but Ivy always gave as good as she got.”

  “But Max was her only friend,” Jack argued. “Even now, Max is her best friend. I’m glad she has him – he’s a great source of protection for all the trouble she seems to find – but she doesn’t have anyone else besides Max to hang out with when I’m busy.”

  “Do you have friends?” Brian challenged.

  “I have Max and you.”

  Brian snorted. “I don’t think you should be casting aspersions on Ivy’s friend-making abilities given your lack of friends.”

  “I’m new in town,” Jack reminded him. “Besides, I had friends. We went camping with them last summer. Sure, one of them turned out to be a killer and the rest kind of cut ties with me after the investigation, but it’s not as if I’ve never had friends. Ivy worries me because she’s so insulated.”

  “She’s not insulated and she opens herself up to other people,” Brian argued. “Personally, I think you just like worrying about Ivy because it gives you a little rush.”

  “Whatever.” Jack rolled his neck. “She’s volunteering to help with the pageant, by the way. Simone Graham asked her yesterday and Ivy was dead set against it. Now, all of a sudden, she’s for it.”

  “Because she wants to dig into what happened,” Brian deduced. “She wants to figure out who poisoned Aubrey. I hate to say it, but it’s not a bad idea. She will be able to get deeper than we will.”

  “I know. That’s what I told her. I also told her to be very careful about what she drinks. If someone suspects she’s there investigating … .”

  “Then they might try to do to her what they did to Aubrey,” Brian finished. “I’m sure Ivy will be careful.”

  “I’m sure she will, too. She suggested we check out someone named Peyton Miller, by the way.”

  “Peyton?” Brian’s eyebrows flew up his forehead. “Why her?”

  “Ivy said she wants to win the pageants, but Aubrey was the frontrunner. I’m not quite sure what she was getting at, but Ivy was adamant we check out Peyton because she finished second last year.”

  “Hmm.” Brian rubbed his chin. “It kind of makes sense. Peyton had a meltdown when she lost last year. She stole the crown from the winner’s head and tried to run away with it and everything. Then she got tangled in one of those sash things and tripped. It was a circus.”

  Jack widened his eyes, dumbfounded. “Are you serious? This pageant sounds like a freak show.”

  “Stay tuned,” Brian said. “Now that the frontrunner is apparently gone from this year’s pageant, it’s going to be a free-for-all. Let’s go talk to Peyton Mil
ler. It can’t possibly hurt, and she’s a livewire.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  “I’M SORRY, NOW YOU want to volunteer your time?”

  Simone was less than solicitous when Ivy showed up at the barn and offered to help shortly before eleven. Ivy knew that would happen and forced herself to remain calm even though she wanted to wrestle Simone to the ground and poke her eyes until she agreed to stop being a snobby pain.

  “I thought about what you said and I agree you need help,” Ivy said. “I have time to help so … here I am.”

  Simone blinked slowly, her expression reminding Ivy of a snake right before it attacked. “Fine,” she said after a beat. “You were in the pageant once. You didn’t do well, but whatever. You can be something of a mentor.”

  Ivy bit back a nasty retort and forced a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.” She watched Simone shuffle off in the direction of the dressing room, indulging in a bit of a sneer now that the woman wasn’t watching her. She almost didn’t see Max as he sidled up to her until he was already at her side.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same question.” Ivy took a moment to look Max up and down. He was dressed in simple jeans and a white T-shirt, an open flannel hanging off his broad shoulders to ward off potential chill. He was also wearing aftershave. Suspicious, Ivy leaned forward and sniffed. “That’s new. Who are you trying to impress?”

  “Oh, geez.” Max made a derisive sound in the back of his throat. “I put on aftershave every morning. It’s part of my ritual.”

  Ivy wasn’t convinced. “You’d better not be going after one of these girls. They’re illegal.”

  “Do I look like the type of guy who needs to swim in the kiddie pool?” Max was understandably offended. “Give me a little credit here.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ivy honestly was. “I’m just … irritated. Simone brings out the worst in me.”

  “She’s not that bad,” Max argued. “She’s a bit shallow and intense about the pageant, but you guys simply don’t focus on the same things in life. That doesn’t mean Simone is a bad person.”