Grave Paths (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 11)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Nick and Kreskin took a slow approach once the locksmith opened the front door.

  “Is anyone home?” Kreskin called out, waiting for an answer. “This is the Blackstone Bay Police Department and we’re here to do a welfare check.”

  No answer.

  “We’re coming through.”

  Kreskin and Nick exchanged a quick look before walking into the house. Neither one of them commented about it out loud, but there was an ominous feeling hanging over the abode, as if it had been empty for some time and they were somehow intruding.

  “We should’ve brought Maddie,” Kreskin muttered under his breath as he stepped into the clean kitchen.

  “Why do you say that?” Nick was already agitated due to Maddie’s nightmare so Kreskin’s suggestion set his teeth on edge.

  “Because she’s a little bit magic – even though we’re not supposed to talk about it – and she might be able to clear up what happened.”

  “She’s not a fortune teller,” Nick hissed.

  Kreskin arched a challenging eyebrow. “Son, she runs a magic shop and literally tells people’s fortunes for a living.”

  Nick balked. “I know that. It’s just … .”

  “You’re a big growly bear where she’s concerned,” Kreskin finished. “I get it.”

  “I’m not a bear,” Nick clarified, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck as they wandered into the living room. Just like they’d ascertained from outside, the main rooms of the house were neat and orderly. “I’m more like a … wolf.”

  “If that’s what you need to tell yourself.”

  “No, really,” Nick pressed. “Wolves protect their mates.”

  “You’re calling Maddie your mate now? Why not just bite her and mark your territory?”

  “Who says I haven’t?”

  “Hey, whatever sex games you guys like to play … well … that’s between you and Maddie.”

  “I think you’re being a bit of a prude, but I agree that now is not the time to talk about it,” Nick said, moving to the small hallway that led to the bedroom. “She had a nightmare last night. It was a bad one. She couldn’t go back to sleep.”

  “A psychic nightmare?”

  Nick shrugged. “She doesn’t seem to think so. If it was a psychic dream, it didn’t tell her anything. Someone was chasing her in the woods and then she woke up.”

  “Chasing her in the woods, huh?” Kreskin eyed a small bathroom before heading toward what he believed had to be the master bedroom. “That makes sense in a way. It’s almost been a year since she was chased in the woods and almost died. It’s a depressing anniversary of sorts.”

  Nick stilled. “It’s not that close.”

  “It’s about six weeks away,” Kreskin said, clearly missing Nick’s discomfort. He was there the night Maddie drowned in the lake behind her house. He watched his partner fall apart as he breathed life back into Maddie’s lungs. He knew at the time that Nick was in love with his former best friend even though he would pretend otherwise for a bit longer. Nick didn’t just save Maddie’s life that night. He saved his own.

  “I guess I didn’t realize that.” Nick tilted his head to the side, considering. “Maybe she doesn’t realize it either. That could very well be why she had the nightmare. Maybe she’s projecting and doesn’t know why.”

  “That sounds like as good an explanation as any,” Kreskin said, pushing open the master bedroom. He sucked in a breath when he saw the mess left in the room. Clothes were strewn everywhere, a dresser was tipped forward, and a vanity chair was knocked over and leaning on its side.

  “Well, this isn’t good,” Nick muttered, bending over so he could study a small stain on the carpet. It was dark enough to be blood. He desperately hoped it was something else.

  “It’s definitely not good,” Kreskin agreed. “We need to get our hands on that husband, and we need to do it as soon as possible. Something clearly happened here.”

  MADDIE CONSIDERED HEADING to town and hanging out with her friend Christy Ford at the bubbly redhead’s salon, but her exhaustion level was high and she wasn’t in the mood for inane chitchat. She also didn’t want to sit around the house on her own, and since Maude took her leave – citing a headache rather than a hangover – and opted to nap for the bulk of the afternoon, Maddie was on her own.

  Even though Northern Lower Michigan had left the doldrums of winter behind, it was hardly warm. It would be soon. Maddie could almost feel the shift in the air. It wouldn’t be long before she and Nick were having picnics in the adjacent field and wading in the lake they loved so much.

  For now, though, it wasn’t warm enough for either. It was warm enough, however, for Maddie to run through the woods.

  Maddie knew it was ridiculous. She chided herself for being such a worrywart as she laced up her shoes and shrugged into the lightweight jacket she kept around for jogging in inclement weather. Maddie was a master at talking herself into things, though. She’d talked herself into leaving Nick for ten years, after all, and even though it had worked out well in the end, she still regretted her choices. She knew it was wrong at the time and did it anyway.

  That’s how she felt today.

  Maddie picked a brisk pace as she jogged behind the house, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she cut through a small crop of trees and headed toward the pathway that cut through the woods. Blackstone Bay was a tourist town in the summer, which meant people showed up to hike, fish, hunt, and camp. They did that on the other side of town. To avoid them, Blackstone Bay’s residents congregated on this side of town and the woods behind Maddie’s house were often bustling with activity.

  Today, though, things were completely silent.

  In her head, Maddie told herself she was merely getting exercise. She’s been looking forward to running for months now, the brutal Michigan winter keeping her indoors more often than she was comfortable with. In her heart, though, she knew she was looking for something to spark a memory from the nightmare.

  Maddie’s footing was solid as she kept to the pathway, making sure to avoid the mud on either side. Should she accidentally step in it she knew she would go sliding and she didn’t want to risk a knee or ankle injury when she was so far away from the house. It would take her a long time to hobble back in that direction and Nick would be furious if he found out she went running and forgot her cell phone. She made a mental note not to do that again and increased her pace.

  Her body felt strong despite the weeks stretching between runs. She was always a fit person – she actually enjoyed exercising and never understood why others complained about working up a sweat – and she and Nick joined a gym the next town over so they could get in workouts over the winter. Running around a track wasn’t the same as running outside, though.

  Maddie thrived in the outdoors.

  She put her head down when she came to another curve, her muscles singing as she pounded around it. She’d almost forgotten the real reason she was out in the woods.

  That changed when a misty figure appeared on the pathway in front of her, as if popping into existence out of nowhere.

  Maddie veered to the right to avoid a collision. Even though she recognized the petite woman as a ghost right away, Maddie instinctively stepped off the path, tweaking her knee a bit as she came up with a slight limp.

  “Sorry,” Maddie gasped, grimacing as she turned. “I didn’t see you until I was almost on top of you. Do you need help?”

  Maddie blinked several times in rapid succession as she looked for the ghost. The woman was there only a moment before and now she was gone.

  “Where did you go?”

  There was no answer, and when Maddie put her full weight on her knee she cringed. The knee wasn’t severely – or even moderately – injured, but Maddie was definitely going to be sore for a day or two.

  “Well, great,” Maddie muttered. “Now it’s going to take me forever to get home.”

  “HAVE YOU GOT ANY LEADS?”

  Peter Cook arrived from
the airport not long after Kreskin and Nick began a more thorough search of the house. He barreled past the uniformed officer at the door and let himself into the house even though the uniformed officer on the porch warned him against doing exactly that.

  “Mr. Cook?” Kreskin eyed the man speculatively.

  Cook nodded. “Yes. I live here. I got off the plane from Sacramento and discovered three messages on my phone. Have you found Jennifer?”

  Kreskin and Nick locked gazes, something unsaid passing between them. Cook’s return at the exact moment they were made aware of his wife’s disappearance seemed a bit too convenient.

  “Mr. Cook, why don’t you have a seat?” Kreskin suggested, gesturing toward the living room setting with his hand. “We have a few questions to ask you.”

  “I don’t care about your questions,” Cook snapped, his eyes flashing. “I care about my wife and child. Where are they? You have to have some idea where they’re at.”

  “Right now we just know that they seem to be gone and there appears to have been some sort of struggle in your bedroom,” Kreskin supplied.

  Cook’s eyes went wide, fear flitting through them. Nick thought he was either a really good actor or legitimately frightened for his young family. Sadly, he couldn’t decide which one was more likely. “I don’t understand. How did this happen?”

  “We’re not sure yet and we need to put together a timeline,” Kreskin prodded gently. “Do you understand what we’re saying?”

  Cook mutely nodded. “I think so.”

  “Good.” Kreskin’s tone was gentle, congenial even. Nick read the determination behind the stare, though. “Can you tell me when was the last time you talked to your wife?”

  “About four days ago,” Cook replied. “I’ve been letting her call me because P.J. – that’s our son – cries when the phone rings. It’s easier to let her call me when she has a moment than to try to catch her when he’s awake and not making a fuss.”

  “That sounds logical,” Kreskin noted. “Were you worried about leaving your wife on her own for such an extended period with a new baby?”

  Cook’s opinion of the question was obvious as he scowled. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “You think I abandoned my wife after she gave birth and made her do all of the work while I took off and enjoyed myself,” Cook replied. “That’s the line her mother has been spouting – and her stupid sister when she’s not complaining about fifty other things – but it’s not true.”

  Nick and Kreskin hadn’t contacted Jennifer’s mother yet so they had no idea what her opinion regarding her son-in-law entailed.

  “Why don’t you tell us the truth?” Kreskin suggested.

  “P.J. was a surprise,” Cook explained. “We weren’t expecting him and it threw our plans into a bit of a frenzy for a little while, but we were making it work. I had hoped to be in a position where I didn’t have to travel as much – once a month at the most – by the time we had children. I needed to secure a promotion first if I wanted to do that, though.

  “When Jennifer turned up pregnant, we were both surprised because she’s been on birth control since long before we married,” he continued. “The doctor said the pills probably failed because Jennifer got strep throat and was on antibiotics. We thought she was better even though she was still on medication … anyway, that part isn’t important.

  “We had a long talk and both agreed that, while it was a bit early, we were excited to be parents,” he said. “We talked about my schedule and I suggested finding a new job. She said I was only about a year away from a promotion – which is true – and she preferred that we struggle through now so we could enjoy my new schedule later.”

  “That must have been hard on you, not seeing your wife and son for more than a few days a month, I mean,” Nick pressed. He tried to picture what it would be like only seeing Maddie for a few stolen hours here and there and steeled himself when his stomach rolled.

  “It was, but we rationalized that this was the year P.J. wouldn’t remember,” Cook said. “By the time he was building memories, I would be home.”

  “I actually see why you guys decided to aim for that,” Kreskin said. “The thing is, one of the neighbors says that your wife hardly ever left the house while you were gone and she looked exhausted whenever the neighbor saw her.”

  “That would be Eloise Martin, right?” Cook offered up a twisted smile. “Yeah, she’s been very interested in our comings and goings. I think she thinks I’m a pimp or something.”

  “Meth dealer,” Nick automatically corrected.

  Even though he was stressed and struggling to deal with an untenable situation, Cook barked out a laugh. “Oh, well, that’s just perfect.”

  Nick held his hands palms out and shrugged. “Don’t worry. We don’t think you’re a meth dealer.”

  “Eloise is just excitable,” Kreskin said. “As for your wife, though, was it uncommon for you to go four days without talking to each other?”

  “Yes and no,” Cook replied. “The thing is, I always called when I landed so she knew I was safe. Then she would call every few days. I knew she was exhausted so I didn’t press her too much. The last time she called, though, she sounded distracted. I thought maybe something else was going on, but she kept swearing she was fine.”

  “What do you mean ‘distracted’?” Kreskin pressed.

  “I don’t know how to describe it,” Cook said. “She was barely present for the conversation. She repeated herself over and over again. She seemed a little confused and didn’t know what day it was.”

  “Did you think of calling someone to help her?” Kreskin asked.

  “I planned on hiring someone to help her once I got home,” Cook replied. “I thought she would be able to hold it together until I got back. Then I was going to hire someone to come in at least twenty hours a week to help with the house and baby. I wanted to hire someone full time, but we simply can’t afford it right now.”

  Kreskin tapped his finger on his bottom lip, considering. “Do you think your wife would harm herself or your son?” It was a hard question, but it had to be asked.

  “She would never do that.” Cook was vehement. “My wife is a good person. She’s a good mother. Whatever you may think … she’s a wonderful woman.” His voice cracked.

  Nick wanted to feel sympathy for the man but he remained suspicious. “Well, we need to get some information from you. Friends and family she might visit. Places she might go. We need to start a full search. It’s important.”

  Cook nodded, his shoulders dropping under the weight of the helplessness washing over him. “Whatever I can do.”

  “Good,” Kreskin said. “Let’s start with family. Don’t leave anything out. We need to check in every nook and cranny. This is going to take a while, so you might as well get comfortable.”

  4

  Four

  “What happened to you?”

  Nick, exhausted from a long day of fruitless searching and phone calls, found Maddie sitting in the window seat upon his return to the house. She had an ice pack on her knee and a grimace on her face.

  “I tweaked my knee running,” Maddie said, lifting her eyes. “It’s fine. It’s just a little strain. I got distracted and ran off the path and … it’s fine.”

  Nick stared at her a moment, dubious. “How did you get home?”

  “I walked. Very slowly. It took a bit of time.”

  Nick scowled. “Why didn’t you call me to come get you?”

  “Because I forgot my phone – and don’t bother giving me grief about it because I know it was stupid – and didn’t really have a choice,” Maddie replied. “If I waited for you, I would still be out there.”

  “Fair point.” Nick sat next to her, being careful not to jostle her knee. “Do you need to go to the doctor?”

  “No, and I managed the walk okay on my own,” Maddie said. “It’s just a little tweak, Nicky. I should’ve been paying better
attention. I was simply surprised.”

  “In the woods? You were surprised in the woods? By what?”

  “I saw a ghost.” Maddie kept her eyes focused on her knee. Nick was open and accepting when it came to her abilities, but she was still uncomfortable discussing it at times. Her mother stressed the importance of hiding what she could when she was a child. That was one of the reasons Maddie moved in the first place. Now she realized Olivia hadn’t meant for her to keep the information from Nick, but it was a hard mindset to overcome.

  “You saw a ghost in the woods? Who was she?”

  “She didn’t speak. I turned a corner and there she was. I reacted instinctively and swerved even though I could’ve run right through her. That’s when I tweaked my knee a bit. I swear I’m fine.”

  “Yeah?” Nick tugged a strand of Maddie’s flaxen hair behind her ear. “I need you to stay that way because I really can’t go through life without you, Mad.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Let me see.”

  Maddie reluctantly removed the cold pack to let Nick survey the damage.

  “It doesn’t look bad,” Nick said after a beat. “That’s a relief. Still, you need to take it easy.”

  “That’s what I’m doing. That means we need to go out for dinner because I’m hungry and you can’t cook.”

  Nick balked. “I can cook.”

  “You can grill and help with breakfast,” Maddie corrected. “I’m not in the mood for ramen noodles.”

  Nick snorted, the weight of the day lifting a bit. “I can take you out for dinner. A trip to the diner sounds like a good idea.”

  “Great.” Maddie’s smile was serene. “I might want pie, too.”

  “Oh, I love pie.” Nick smacked a loud kiss against Maddie’s lips. “I love you, too.”

  Maddie searched his face, the weariness and worry he carried finally sinking in. “What happened to you today?”

  “How about I tell you over dinner? It’s a long story.”

  “WELL, WHERE WOULD SHE go?” Maddie asked an hour later, playing with her straw wrapper as she watched Nick recline in the booth next to her. The diner was a favorite spot for them and they had a regular booth – the circular one in the corner that allowed them to sit close to one another without looking like oddballs. That’s where they sat now after placing their dinner orders with the cantankerous owner, Ruby.