Grave Homecoming (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 1)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  Henry was eventually convicted on misdemeanor nuisance charges and sent to the Bay County Jail for sixty days. By the time he was released, Helen Glass had moved. Since that was before information was readily available online, she’d been able to disappear, and Henry had limited options for following.

  Still, Nick reasoned, stalking a woman when you’re in your twenties is vastly different than killing one when you’re in your seventies. He was convinced Henry didn’t have the physical stamina to take a healthy woman in her twenties on. The autopsy report on Sarah Alden showed possible signs of sexual assault, but if someone raped her, they wore a condom and did no visible damage. She’d been strangled into unconsciousness at one point, and then stabbed four times in the torso. That seemed like a lot of work for an older man with knee problems.

  Nick leaned back in his chair and rolled his neck. He considered calling Maddie to check on her, something in his stomach tightened when he thought of her. It wasn’t the usual butterflies that flitted to and fro when he pictured heart-shaped face, though. This was something different. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

  The sound of his office door opening jolted him, and when he glanced up, he was fully expecting to see Maddie for some reason. She’d been invading his thoughts all night. The woman standing there was not the one he anticipated, and he couldn’t hide the feeling of disappointment as it washed over him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “IT’S too dark out here to see anything,” Maude whispered, rubbing her knee ruefully after accidentally banging it into the siding.

  Maddie had managed to get her grandmother out of the house, and they’d skirted the exterior wall until they reached the west side. Maddie could see the front driveway now, and her car was only fifty feet away. There was still an open expanse to traverse, and Maddie and Maude would be vulnerable when they tried to cross. That was Maddie’s biggest concern. They had no way of no knowing where the intruder was. They had no way of knowing if he’d heard them escape and followed. They were essentially stuck.

  “What are we waiting for?” Maude asked, antsy.

  “I don’t like how quiet it is out here.”

  “Would you prefer to hear the sounds of someone creeping through the bushes in our direction with a knife?”

  Maddie shuddered. “Thank you for that visual.”

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “Well, you’re doing a great job of it.” Maddie stepped away from the house and looked in both directions. The wind had picked up, and it was starting to rustle the leaves in the nearby trees, causing the boughs to shift and cast eerie shadows on the ground.

  “Where is your cellphone?” Maude asked.

  “It’s on the table by the front door.”

  “Well, that’s a great place for it.”

  “Where is yours?” Maddie challenged.

  “In my purse.” Maddie waited. “Which is on my bed.”

  “Do you really want to start pointing fingers here?” Despite herself, Maddie found comfort in Maude’s crankiness.

  “We can’t just stand here, Maddie,” Maude pressed. “You have to make a choice.”

  Maddie nodded, sighing. “Let’s start for the car.”

  Maddie and Maude clasped hands before emerging. Maddie continued to scan every direction as she pushed Maude in front of her. The most important thing was getting Maude to the car.

  They were within twenty feet when a figure detached from the east side of the house. It was too dark to make out any features, but Maddie’s lungs momentarily ceased working when she saw the silhouette.

  “Granny, you have to drive to the police station,” Maddie hissed.

  “What?” Maude was confused.

  Maddie pulled the keys from her pocket and pressed them into Maude’s hand. “You have to get to Nick.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Maddie took a step away from her grandmother, never letting her eyes drift from the still figure in front of the garage. “I’m going to lead him away from you, Granny.”

  When Maude finally saw what Maddie was looking at, she was appalled. “You most certainly are not.”

  “We don’t have a choice, Granny,” Maddie said. “He can cut us off before we reach the car. He’s going to have to make a choice, and I’m guessing he’s going to go after me instead of you.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Just … something inside of me,” Maddie said, taking another step away. “Go straight to Nick and tell him what happened. He’ll know how to find me.”

  “You’re going to run into the woods, aren’t you?” Maude was resigned.

  “Yes.”

  “You could trip, Maddie,” Maude argued. “If you trip, he’ll catch you.”

  “I know the woods, Granny,” Maddie said. “I’ll be fine. He could trip, too. I have a better chance of hiding out there than he does of finding me.”

  “Maddie … please come with me.”

  “I need you to be safe, Granny,” Maddie said, taking another step back in the direction they’d come from. “You’re all I have left.”

  “And you’re all I have left.”

  Maddie couldn’t risk a look at her grandmother. She couldn’t take her eyes off the figure. It was starting to move in her direction, and while Maddie still couldn’t make out any features, the shadow was clearly male. Broad shoulders and strong thighs gave him away. “Go now, Granny.”

  “Maddie … .”

  “Go!”

  Maddie turned on her heel and booked back around the side of the house. She glanced over her shoulder once, long enough to make sure the man was following her and not focused on Maude. When she saw him round the corner at a run, Maddie increased her pace and plunged into the woods behind the house. She could only hope Maude would make it to Nick. She couldn’t help her now.

  “THAT’S not a very nice way to greet your girlfriend,” Cassidy said, her face reflecting hurt. “Especially when she brought you a special dinner because you were working so late.”

  Nick tempered his attitude. Why did she just keep showing up? That was a stupid question. He knew why. She felt him slipping away. She didn’t realize he’d already been gone for weeks.

  “I’m sorry,” Nick said, his tone level. “I’m just really busy. I wasn’t expecting anyone to come here tonight.”

  “Then why did you look excited when I opened the door and then disappointed when you realized it was me?”

  “I wasn’t excited,” Nick said. “I was … surprised.”

  “I think you thought it was Maddie,” Cassidy said firmly.

  “I actually knew it wasn’t Maddie,” Nick replied. “I dropped her off at her house about an hour ago.” He had no idea why he said it. Part of him was hoping Cassidy would take the admission as an attack and dump him. The truth was, he always tried to antagonize the women he dated into dumping him. That way he didn’t feel like an ass when he was ready for the relationship to end. He’d been pushing Cassidy toward that same outcome for weeks – long before Maddie returned – but she refused to pull the trigger and end things. Nick was slowly coming to realize he was going to have to be the bad guy.

  “You were with Maddie tonight?” Cassidy’s voice was shrill. “I thought you were working?”

  “I am working,” Nick said. “I got a call that there was a strange car out at Blackstone Greenhouse. When I got there, it was Christy and Maddie. I needed to talk to Maddie, so I took her home.”

  “And last night? Where were you last night?”

  Nick furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

  “You never went home.”

  “Are you spying on me?” Nick was angry. He knew he’d created the situation, and he was steadfastly making it worse, but the idea that Cassidy thought she had the right to watch his house was beyond annoying.

  “I went out there to see if we could spend some time together,” Cassidy said, her lower lip jutting out. “You never came hom
e.”

  “I fell asleep at Maddie’s house,” Nick said, refusing to lie. “We had a long day, and then we ordered some pizza. I was exhausted, and I fell asleep.”

  “Well, at least you’re finally admitting you’re sleeping with Maddie,” Cassidy spat.

  “I didn’t sleep with Maddie.” Well, technically he had slept with her. He knew that Cassidy was referring to sex, though. “We fell asleep.”

  “In her bed?”

  “No, in the window seat. We used to read there all the time, and that’s what we were doing when I fell asleep.” Nick had no idea why he was explaining his actions. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He was doing it so Cassidy wouldn’t spread rumors about Maddie when the end finally came. It didn’t escape his attention that he was more worried about how his breakup with Cassidy would hurt Maddie than how it would wound Cassidy.

  “We can’t keep doing this,” Cassidy said, running a hand through her long waves as she shifted.

  Finally, Nick thought. She’s going to dump me.

  “I think we should go to couples’ counseling.”

  Nick’s mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I understand what you’re saying.”

  “I love you, Nick,” Cassidy said. She waited for a response, but Nick didn’t give her one. That didn’t stop her from plowing forward. “I think we need to talk about our issues in a formal setting, and with a professional.”

  “I don’t have any issues,” Nick said. “You clearly do, but I don’t.”

  “All you have are issues,” Cassidy said. “You know, when I started dating you, people warned me off.”

  “Maybe you should’ve listened to them.”

  “People told me you were pining for the great lost love of your life,” Cassidy continued. “They said you were stuck in time because of some woman named Maddie Graves.”

  “Leave Maddie out of this,” Nick snapped.

  “I can’t,” Cassidy said. “I think her return has … confused you. The Nick I know is sweet and caring. The Nick I know cares for me – even if he won’t say it. The Nick I know would never be led around by a woman, and yet that’s exactly what you’re letting Maddie do to you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nick said, tension building in his shoulders as he fought to keep from flying off the handle.

  “Well, I still think we need to talk out our issues,” Cassidy said. “I want you to agree to counseling.”

  The time was here. Nick knew he couldn’t let this go on a second longer. He searched his mind for a way to let her down easily, but everything he mulled sounded mean. Maybe there was no way around that? He opened his mouth to speak, but the cracked office door suddenly flew open to allow Maude entrance.

  She was gasping for breath, and her face was clouded with color. Nick jumped to his feet. “What’s wrong?”

  “We’re in the middle of something here, Maude,” Cassidy said, petulant. “I’m sure whatever drama you’ve whipped up with Harriet can be postponed for a few minutes.”

  Maude ignored her as she fought to catch her breath. “It’s Maddie.”

  “What happened to Maddie?” Nick’s heart flopped. “Is she okay?”

  “Someone came to the house,” Maude said. “They cut the power. We tried to get out.”

  “Why isn’t she with you?” Nick was furious.

  “Because … when we got to the front lawn … he was there.” Maude was beside herself, and tears started spilling down her cheeks.

  Nick checked his anger. “I don’t understand why she didn’t come with you.”

  “I couldn’t move fast enough,” Maude said. “She led him away to give me a chance to get to the car.”

  Nick reached into his desk drawer and pulled out his gun, determined. “Where did she run, Maude?”

  “She said you would know where to find her.” Maude was sobbing.

  “Willow Lake,” Nick said, striding toward the door. He stopped long enough to give Maude a brief hug. “I’ll find her. I’ll keep her safe.”

  “Excuse me, Nick,” Cassidy said. “You and I were having a discussion.”

  “Stay here, Maude,” Nick ordered. “I’ll bring Maddie to you as soon as I can. Call Kreskin and tell him what happened. Tell him to bring as many men to the lake as he can.”

  Maude nodded.

  “I won’t let anyone hurt her,” Nick said. “I promise.”

  Twenty-Six

  Maddie raced through the woods, internally thanking her inner intuition that she’d thought to dress in tennis shoes earlier in the evening. This trek would’ve been virtually impossible in sandals or flip-flops.

  She knew where she was heading, but she’d decided to take a circular route to get there. Maddie had no doubt her grandmother would make it to Nick. She had to give Nick time to get to the lake. He could drive and be there in five minutes. Unfortunately he would be on the opposite side from where she was. There was only one place to park out there. The thought gave Maddie pause: Should she try to swim across the lake?

  The nights were warmer than they had been, but still chilly. Summer was close, and forecasters had even predicted an early hot stretch for the following week, but Willow Lake would be freezing. It never warmed up until mid-summer. Maddie was worried she would get hypothermia from the water. Of course, it was better to risk freezing than to let a madman stab her to death.

  Maddie didn’t allow herself time to worry. She figured she could make the decision on risking a swim when she got there. As it was now, she could hear her stalker tumbling through the brush as he tried to keep up. He wasn’t far behind, but Maddie had managed to put some distance between them.

  She cut hard to her left and jumped, knowing exactly where the large rock she and Nick used to draw on with chalk was located. She also knew there was a small indentation in the ground there. If she was lucky, the man wouldn’t know and a fall would slow him.

  Years of running five miles a day had kept Maddie in shape. She wasn’t worried about running out of fuel, merely about what would happen if she got to the lake before Nick. How long would it take him?

  Maddie heard a thud behind her, and she risked a glance over her shoulder. Her pursuer had tripped when he tried to run around the rock. Maddie turned back, a branch catching her cheek as she focused on the ground in front of her. She would be at the lake within minutes. Then she had a choice in front of her.

  NICK wasn’t sure what to do. If he went to Maddie’s house and tried to follow her on foot, he would be woefully behind. If he drove to the lake and parked, the water would separate them. Still, the lights of his police cruiser might be enough to dissuade whoever was following her.

  Nick made his decision quickly, accelerating down the dirt road that led to the lake. He had to see her as soon as possible. Even if he couldn’t touch her, seeing her would most certainly relieve the pressure building in his chest.

  SHE’D made it to the lake, but the darkness on the northern shore told her Nick hadn’t arrived yet. What had she expected? He didn’t have his own personal teleporter. She just had to be patient.

  Maddie slipped into a small cluster of trees near the shore to catch her breath. Willow Lake was a lake in name only. It was really more of an exaggerated pond. The distance between the two shores was still significant – especially with water this cold.

  “Maddie.”

  She froze when she heard the taunting voice. She kept her breathing shallow and pressed against one of the trees, peering around it. He was here. His tumble obviously hadn’t done him any discernible harm. He was about fifteen feet away, his back to her, and he was scanning all the foliage next to the lake. Maddie took the opportunity to study him. Under the almost full moon, he wasn’t hard to recognize.

  Todd Winthrop.

  I knew it, she muttered internally. She was never going to let Nick live this down.

  “Oh, Maddie,” Todd crooned. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”

  Maddie remained silen
t.

  “Oh, now don’t be like this, Maddie,” Todd said. “Or, should I call you ‘Mad?’ Isn’t that what your beloved Nick calls you?”

  Maddie didn’t dare move a muscle.

  “I saw you earlier tonight,” Todd said. “You were spying on me out at the greenhouse. If you wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask. I’m more than willing to scratch the itch Nick refuses to attend to.”

  Todd waited.

  “Oh, come on, Maddie,” Todd said, stalking to the bushes nearest the lake and ripping through them angrily. “I don’t have time to play games with you.”

  Maddie had so many questions she was tempted to break the silence. She knew it was a mistake, though.

  “How much time do you think you have, Maddie? I’m guessing you have less time than Sarah Alden.”

  Maddie shifted silently. It was only a matter of time before Todd checked out the trees. She needed to find a different hiding spot. When she turned, she came face to face with another figure in the dark. This one was equally strong, if not as well built, and when the glittering eyes met hers under the dim light, Maddie inadvertently screamed.

  “There you are,” Todd said, turning swiftly.

  “I’ve got her.”

  Terror washed over Maddie as she recognized the second figure. “Dustin?”

  NICK slammed his cruiser into park on the side of the road. The lights were flashing brightly, but he was not in the lake’s parking lot. Something inside of him rebelled against that. He didn’t know how, but he was sure it would be a mistake. So, instead, he parked as close to the southern shore as possible. He was going to have to brave the dark woods – sections he wasn’t familiar with – and find Maddie that way.

  “I’m coming, Mad,” he muttered.

  He paused when he heard a slight whispering. If he didn’t know better, he could’ve sworn it sounded like Olivia. She was beckoning to him. Instead of questioning the sensation, he embraced it. If anyone could get him to Maddie in time, it was the mother who loved her more than anything.