Grave Seasons (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 8)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Nick had heard enough. He pushed past Hicks and grabbed the front of Chuck’s shirt, slamming him into the doorframe as he drew the man’s attention to him. “I don’t care what you believe,” he hissed. “Your sick son has my Maddie. I want her back. You tell me where she is right now or you’re not going to like what happens.”

  “You can’t threaten me,” Chuck sputtered, although he was clearly terrified by Nick’s fury. The younger man had almost four inches of height and twenty pounds of muscle on him. “This is my house!”

  “That’s enough,” Hicks warned, grabbing Nick’s arm and pulling him back. “You can’t beat information out of him. I don’t think he has any to give as it is.”

  “We don’t know that, though,” Nick countered. “He could know where Jackson has Maddie. Maybe they’re in on it together.”

  “Oh, that is ludicrous,” Chuck said. “I have no idea where Jackson is. I know you guys are crazy if you think that kid is capable of murdering someone, though. He’s a wuss. He can barely tie his own shoes.”

  “Yeah, I think I know what happened here,” Hicks said, easing Nick away from Chuck and shooting a pointed look at the desperate man. It said “don’t make me arrest you” and Nick was terrified Hicks would do just that if he didn’t take a step back, so that’s what he did. “I’m guessing that Chuck here emotionally and verbally abused Jackson his whole life.

  “I told you I couldn’t remember ever seeing Chuck with a kid, let alone hearing him talk about Jackson,” he continued. “I think that’s because Chuck is a terrible father and broke Jackson down every chance he got. Jackson didn’t want to spend time with Chuck because … well … who would?”

  “How dare you?” Chuck was practically foaming at the mouth.

  “I can’t be sure why Jackson went after Sage, but I’m guessing killing Heather was a way of lashing out at his own father,” Hicks said. “Heather was mean and verbally abusive, too. Everyone we talked to said the same thing. He was trying to point the finger at Aidan because he represented everything Jackson hated about his father.”

  “What about Maddie?” Dwight asked.

  “I’m not sure about Maddie – or Sage, for that matter,” Hicks replied. “It could be as simple as Maddie being in the wrong place at the wrong time – or not doing what Jackson wanted her to do, which was make sure Aidan got arrested. It doesn’t really matter, though. We need to find Jackson and Chuck is so self-involved he doesn’t have a clue where his kid is.”

  “That’s it. I don’t have to take another moment of this.” Chuck took a step away from the door and puffed out his chest in a haughty manner. “I’m going to call the mayor and we’re going to have a talk about your job, Hicks. How does that sound?”

  “Like you’re going to have a busy afternoon,” Hicks replied. “I’m going to have a busy afternoon, too. I’m going to find your son … and if those two women are hurt or worse, you’d better hope I’m the one to slap cuffs on him before either of these guys get a turn. I can promise things are going to get ugly if this spirals any further.”

  MADDIE knew she was in trouble, but the lingering effects of the chloroform clouded her reasoning ability. Jackson was behind her, but she managed to put enough distance between them to slip under a low-hanging tree branch. There was no foliage to obscure her, but the way the sunlight filtered through the trees gave her shadows to hide in. That’s what she did as she rested her back against a broad tree and fought to shake off the potent drug.

  “Don’t even think about running away from me, Maddie,” Jackson called out. He was to her left and down a small slope. Maddie couldn’t see him other than the occasional glimpse of his head through the branches, but she could hear him. She opted to remain perfectly still and quiet. “I’ll catch you. You know I will.”

  Maddie wanted to argue, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. There was no benefit in engaging him. If he thought she managed to get away he might hurry back to his vehicle and flee the scene. Of course, if he was holding Sage in that cabin she saw when they arrived there was every chance he might kill her before running. She couldn’t have that. She’d come too far.

  “I know these woods better than you do, Maddie,” Jackson said, adopting a singsong tone. “You can’t outrun me. Your mind is messed up because of the drugs. I’m sorry I had to do that, by the way. I knew if I distracted you with the knife you wouldn’t see the rag … and it worked like a charm. Still, I didn’t enjoy doing it. It’s okay. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m here to take you to Sage.”

  Maddie didn’t believe that for a second. Oh, she believed Sage was close. That didn’t mean she believed Jackson had any intention of taking her to the girl. And, if he did, she worried it was because he wanted to do something horrible to both of them at the same time. No, she was safer remaining where she was.

  “Don’t you have questions, Maddie?” Jackson asked. He was farther away from her now. He’d moved in the opposite direction of where she sat. “Don’t you want to know why all of this is happening? Don’t you want to know why it had to happen?”

  In actuality, Maddie did want to know that. She wasn’t stupid enough to do it on Jackson’s playing field, though. She wanted a level playing field.

  “Maddie, I’m done fooling around!” Jackson screeched, scurrying around a tree and disappearing from sight. He thought she was over there – which was good for her – but Maddie knew it was only a matter of time before he came sniffing around her hiding spot. If she moved now, he would hear her. She might be able to outrun him and find a highway, but she couldn’t guarantee it.

  “Maddie.”

  Maddie tilted her head to the side when she heard her mother’s voice. She opened her mouth to answer and then snapped it shut. The drugs slowed her reasoning skills, but she knew better than talking to her mother when Jackson might overhear her.

  “I’m here, Maddie.” Olivia didn’t appear in front of her, but Maddie knew she was there. “You can’t see me, can you?”

  Maddie bit her lip and shook her head.

  “It’s the drugs,” Olivia said. “They’re making you hazy. It’s okay. I’m going to find Nick. I’m going to bring him here.”

  Maddie had a million questions. Did her mother know where “here” was? Did her mother know how to lead Nick to this cabin? Could her mother get help here in time?

  “I won’t be gone long, Maddie,” Olivia said. Maddie closed her eyes when she felt her mother smoothing her hair. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay here. Be quiet. This is your best shot.”

  Maddie mutely nodded.

  “I love you, Maddie,” Olivia whispered. “Nick loves you, too. He’s on his way. I promise.”

  Maddie felt Olivia leave and rubbed the side of her face as she attempted to control her limited faculties. Her butt felt numb from sitting on the cold ground and Maddie couldn’t help but wonder if the frigid air was making it so the drugs would take longer to wear off.

  After a few moments of sitting quietly, Maddie realized she hadn’t heard Jackson talking in quite some time. She risked leaning forward and scanning the area she last saw him searching, frowning when she found it empty. Did he give up?

  “Boo!”

  Maddie reared back when Jackson’s face appeared in front of hers. He was on the other side of the tree. At some point he caught sight of her and closed the distance without her hearing his approach. Maddie made to scramble away, falling forward and crawling to put distance between them.

  Jackson wasn’t putting up with any shenanigans, though. He wrapped his hand in her flaxen hair and jerked her back, being extra vicious as he locked gazes with her. “We’re going to have a long talk about your behavior. I think you need to be punished.”

  “Let me go,” Maddie hissed, lashing out with her foot and missing Jackson’s shin. “You’ll be sorry if you don’t.”

  “Oh, Maddie, I’m already sorry,” Jackson said. “You didn’t follow the rules. I was going
to give you a shot, but you didn’t do what you were supposed to do. I don’t give second chances. Dubois men don’t believe in second chances.”

  “But … .”

  “Shh.” Jackson pressed a finger to her lips, his eyes reflecting the madness inside his soul that Maddie missed on more than one occasion. “Let’s take a walk. There’s something I want to show you.”

  22

  Twenty-Two

  “We can’t just leave.” Nick was beside himself. Every moment they squandered was another moment Maddie might not have. “He has to tell us something.”

  “He doesn’t know anything,” Hicks said, studying Nick across the hood of his police cruiser. “He probably couldn’t pick that kid out of a lineup. Didn’t you listen to what he said? He doesn’t care about that kid. He never has.”

  “But … .”

  Hicks held up his hand and shook his head. “No. We have to figure out another way to find them. Maybe someone at the fraternity house knows where Jackson spends his time when he’s away from home.”

  “That’s doubtful,” Dwight said. “From what Maddie said, I don’t think the kid was close to anyone at the fraternity. He only hung out there because his father made him.”

  “So where do we look?” Nick was desperate. He knew he sounded like a blubbering baby, but he didn’t care. “We have to find Maddie.”

  “And Sage,” Dwight said.

  “And Sage,” Nick said, averting his eyes. How could he forget about her? He felt guilty for his lapse in judgment earlier and he wanted to apologize, but now wasn’t the time for soul-searching and an awkward man-hug. “We have to find both of them.”

  “We will,” Hicks said. “I … .” He trailed off as his eyes moved to a spot over Nick’s shoulder.

  Nick swiveled quickly, surprise washing over him when he caught sight of Chuck Dubois’ wife.

  “Nancy,” Hicks said, bobbing his head. “Do you have something you want to tell us?”

  The woman standing in front of them looked beaten down, maybe not by fists but definitely by words. She appeared shy and out of sorts. Nick couldn’t muster much sympathy for her given the circumstances, though.

  Nancy gripped her fingers together and stared at her feet. “Do you really think Jackson did this? I read about what happened to that girl in the newspaper and there weren’t a lot of details, but … he’s always been a good boy.”

  “I think even good boys can go bad if the world works against them hard enough,” Hicks said. “Jackson probably started out as a good boy. We both know the things Chuck said – and maybe even did – warped him over the years. You wouldn’t be out here if you didn’t think the same thing.”

  “He’s been distant lately,” Nancy admitted, lifting her chin. “He used to talk to me about everything – what the kids were doing in school, what he wanted to be when he got older, even what kind of girl he wanted to marry. He hasn’t even acknowledged my existence in weeks. He’s turning into his father.”

  “That’s your worst fear, isn’t it?” Nick asked, taking everyone by surprise with his even tone. “You tried to make him a good man even though you were married to a terrible one. You’re looking at this as if you’re a failure. You can’t look at it that way.”

  “How am I supposed to look at it?” Nancy challenged. “He’s my son. I knew I should’ve gotten him out of this house years ago, but I didn’t have any money and Chuck said he would make sure I didn’t get anything in a divorce. He knows everyone in town. I would’ve had nothing.”

  “You still have something,” Nick said. “Your son is alive. I’m not saying he’s a good kid, but he can have a life in prison. He can still learn and better himself. You can’t go back in time, but you can’t let him kill Maddie and Sage either. You know that’s not right. I know you do.”

  “I still can’t believe he’s responsible for this,” Nancy said, a lone tear slipping down her cheek. “I don’t believe he’s capable of doing it.”

  “People are capable of doing things you would never expect of them,” Nick said. “Sometimes it’s for the better and sometimes it’s for the worst. My Maddie always does things for the better, though. She’s the best person I know … and she’s in trouble. If you have any idea where your son is … .”

  “What if he’s not guilty, though?” Nancy challenged. “What if you’re lying to frame Jackson just like Chuck says?”

  “You know me, Nancy,” Hicks prodded. “You know I’m not like that. Jackson is guilty. He killed Heather Ketchum and we believe he took Sage Kincaid. Maddie Graves went missing just a few hours ago. There’s still a chance to do right by her, and maybe even Sage, too. We need your help, though.”

  “I don’t know.” Nancy was conflicted as she rubbed her cheek.

  Nick opened his mouth to lambast her, thinking maybe fear would be the one thing to cajole the truth out of her. The sound of whispering in his ear stilled him, though. It was Olivia. Her voice was faint – and she was talking a mile a minute – but she was there.

  “Maddie is in the woods by a cabin,” Nick said. “She’s been drugged. She managed to escape when Jackson was trying to transport her between a vehicle and the cabin, though.”

  “How can you possibly know that?” Hicks asked, incredulous.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Nick replied, focusing on Nancy. “Where is the cabin, Mrs. Dubois? Maddie is a good person. She doesn’t deserve to die. Sage is young and just starting her life. I need you to tell me where the cabin is.”

  Nancy was resigned, all of the fight vacating her eyes. “It’s on Dunham Road by the bay inlet. It belonged to my father. Jackson has been hanging out there as often as possible since he got his own car.”

  “Thank you,” Nick said, gripping the woman’s hand. “We’ll do what we can to bring Jackson in alive.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Nancy said. She was utterly defeated. “He’s his father’s son now.”

  MADDIE gave up fighting Jackson once they hit the cabin’s front porch. It was fruitless until the drug wore off and all she was doing was tiring herself out. Jackson chatted amiably during their trek. He didn’t seem to have a care in the world, which was crazy. Maddie knew he’d lost his mind somewhere over the course of his youth. She had no idea when, but bargaining with him appeared to be a lost cause.

  Jackson led Maddie to a set of dark stairs, a naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling when he opened the door. Maddie was slow during the descent, the steps narrow enough that she worried about tripping. When they hit the basement, which was essentially nothing more than a cement floor with brick walls, her heartbeat increased exponentially as her gaze landed on a thin girl tied to the chair in the middle of the room.

  “Sage?”

  The girl didn’t stir. For a moment Maddie feared she was dead, that she was too late, but then she saw the rhythmic rising and falling of the girl’s chest and knew she was breathing.

  “What did you do to her?” Maddie turned her accusatory blue eyes on Jackson. “Did you drug her, too?”

  “Just the night I moved her here,” Jackson replied, seemingly unbothered by Maddie’s tone. “She’s on a hunger strike so she sleeps a lot. She hasn’t eaten in two days. I think I’m going to start force-feeding her. I thought it was cute when she first started it, but it’s gone on a bit too long for comfort.”

  To anyone unaware of the situation, Jackson would come off as a concerned and caring friend. That’s how he fooled her, Maddie realized. He seemed normal and sad. He wasn’t mimicking the emotions. He actually felt them. Somehow the way he adapted his actions didn’t seem wrong in his twisted mind.

  “You could always let her go,” Maddie suggested. “She’d probably eat if you released her.”

  “You’re cute,” Jackson said. “I like how ballsy you are. I can’t let her go, though. That’s not the plan. Take a seat, please.”

  Maddie did as instructed, sitting in the empty chair next to Sage and balking when Jackson tried to draw h
er arms behind her back. There was no way she was going to let him tie her down. Instead she slapped him hard enough to make a sound that echoed throughout the room and caused him to rear back.

  “I’ll only put up with so much, Jackson,” Maddie warned. “You go stand over there and I promise to sit here and behave myself if you do.”

  “That’s not how this is going to work.”

  “That’s exactly how this is going to work,” Maddie argued. “If you want to fight it out, I guess we can go that route.”

  “You’re still messed up from the drugs.”

  “Maybe,” Maddie said. “I’m also in better shape than you. I run at least five miles a day and workout as often as I can. Nick says I’m manic about it. I think it might come in handy today.”

  Jackson made a face that would’ve been comical under different circumstances but he stepped toward the spot Maddie pointed. “Why would you run five miles a day?”

  “Because I like to exercise.”

  “But … that seems like a lot of work.”

  “The best things in life take work,” Maddie said, risking a glance at Sage to make sure the girl was still breathing. “How long as she been like this?”

  “Just since yesterday,” Jackson replied. “She ate pizza the first few days – I’ve been making sure to take good care of her – but she got angry with me and stopped eating. She was still awake yesterday … and I talked to her this morning a little bit … but she’s been sleeping the better part of the day.”

  “Well, at least she’s alive,” Maddie muttered, shaking her head. “Why did you take her, Jackson?”

  “Because I love her.”

  The boy’s answer was so simple it stole the oxygen from Maddie’s lungs. “You don’t kidnap someone you love.”

  “I didn’t kidnap her,” Jackson said. “I just … needed to talk to her and she was upset so I thought it was best to do it away from the fraternity house.”

  Maddie pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth as she ran the timeline through her head. “You took her the night she made a scene at the fraternity house, didn’t you?”