Grave Insight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 2) (16 page)

Cassidy’s face was so miserable, Maddie lost her breath for a moment. “I’m really sorry, Cassidy,” she mumbled.

“You look sorry,” Cassidy said. “All that pawing and kissing you were doing was clearly a heartfelt apology to me.”

“You tell them, Cassidy,” Marla said. “Put them in their place.”

Cassidy opened her mouth, and then snapped it shut. “I’m sure you two will get everything you deserve.” She turned to leave, but Marla stayed her with a hand on her arm.

“Come on,” Marla said. “Let them have it.”

“Why? They’ve already got everything I want,” Cassidy said, bitter. “Why would they possibly care about hurting me when they’re so happy?”

“Cassidy, please don’t … .” Nick broke off, unsure.

“Don’t do what?” Cassidy asked. “Tell the truth?”

“I’m sorry we hurt you,” Nick said. “I’m not sorry I’m with Maddie, though. We weren’t trying to be disrespectful. We’re getting our dinner, and then we’re leaving. The fair is officially yours.”

Nick tugged on Maddie’s hand. “Come on. I believe we have a movie in our future.”

Maddie could feel Marla and Cassidy’s eyes boring into her back as they left, but she didn’t turn around. Charles’ smile was enigmatic as they moved past him. “I see I was late to the game,” he said, smiling widely. “I’m so disappointed.”

Nick shot him a look. “You were a decade late to the game.”

Maddie forced a smile onto her face as she let Nick lead her away. He was right. She was done apologizing for finally being happy. She had the one thing she’d always wanted. She wasn’t going to give him up. Not again. Not ever.

“Tell me about Marla’s boyfriend,” Nick said the next morning over breakfast. He’d been curious the previous evening, but he’d refrained from asking in an effort to cajole Maddie back into a good mood. The exchange with Marla and Cassidy had drained her, and that was after a tense conversation with a ghost. All he’d wanted the night before was to wrap his body around hers and relax for a few hours before succumbing to sleep.

A new day was a new set of problems, though.

“His name is Charles,” Maddie said. “Charles Hawthorne. He has a number after his name.”

“Number?”

“Yeah, he’s a third. Charles Hawthorne the third.”

“Why is that important?” Nick was confused.

“It’s not important to me, but it seemed to be a big deal to Marla,” Maddie said.

“How do you know all this? Did it come up in your reading?”

“No. She volunteered it at Christy’s salon.”

“I thought she was banned from Christy’s salon?”

“She was, but she came in on her hands and knees,” Maddie said. “She was even nice to me for ten minutes because Christy threatened her with a shaved head if she wasn’t. She was really excited about the date.”

“Do you remember what Marla said he did for a living?”

Maddie shrugged, her morning hair tousled with sleep. “I don’t know. I think she said he was an investment banker. I have no idea what that entails, but Marla seemed to think it was a big deal.”

“It probably means he has money,” Nick said, munching on his bowl of cereal thoughtfully. “He must have an important name and the pedigree to back it up. That’s the only thing that would entice Marla. She’s certainly not in the game for love.”

Maddie played with a slice of banana in her cereal bowl. “What do you think about Cassidy?”

Nick didn’t stop his chewing, but he did soften his eyes as he regarded Maddie. “I think she’s sad.”

“I feel horrible.”

“I also think she’s pathetic,” Nick said. “No, don’t argue with me. I’m sorry. I did not want to hurt her, but it was obvious where things were going. She purposely tried to drag things out to keep us apart, and she purposely tried to guilt us last night.”

Nick captured Maddie’s hand as it tapped on the top of the dining room table. “I love you, Maddie. Do you love me?”

“More than anything.”

“Don’t feel guilty about being happy,” Nick said. “We’re not reveling in Cassidy’s sadness. We’re just trying to be honest with one another. I will not put our happiness on hold because Cassidy is miserable.”

“Still, it had to be like a punch in the gut for her to see us,” Maddie said.

“That wasn’t my plan, Mad,” Nick said. “I had every intention of spending the day out at the lake – our lake – and then curling up with you and a book. I couldn’t control Tara dying, and Cassidy is just going to have to accept that.”

“I know,” Maddie said. “I’m not sorry we’re together. I’ll never be sorry for that.”

Nick squeezed her hand. “I’ll never be sorry either. Now, eat your breakfast.”

Maddie did as instructed.

Once they were both finished and standing next to the dishwasher so they could load it, Nick finally spoke again. “I need to go into the office today.”

“I figured,” Maddie said, straightening as she shut the front door of the machine. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“You can come with me,” Nick said. “The problem is, I have no idea if I’ll be out and about questioning people or stuck in a small room for eight hours.”

“Okay.” Maddie wasn’t sure where he was going with the admission.

“What are you going to do today?”

“It’s the last day of the fair,” Maddie said. “I was thinking of going back to the flea market. I didn’t get to see everything last time. I wouldn’t go to the carnival, or anywhere I could run into Marla or Cassidy, but … .”

Nick pursed his lips. “Can you stay here?”

“I … sure.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “That’s not very convincing.”

“It’s fine,” Maddie said. “There’s some cleaning I can do. I thought I might … I don’t know … clean out a few drawers and some space in the closet for your stuff. Not that you’ll be here all the time,” she added hurriedly. “Just so … .”

“Maddie, I’m going to be here as often as I can,” Nick said. “I don’t want to be away from you for even one night. I thought we might split our time between here and my house. I plan on giving you drawers and closet space, too.”

“Oh.” Maddie was relieved.

Nick rolled his eyes. “You’re a piece of work, Maddie Graves. You need to stop being surprised when I tell you I want to be with you. That’s an argument for another time, though. For today, can you please stay here?”

Maddie nodded.

“Thank you,” Nick said. He gave her a soft kiss.

When they parted, Maddie sent Nick a questioning look. “Why were you asking about Charles?”

“I saw the way he was looking at you last night,” Nick replied. “Now, I know how you look – even if you don’t – and I’m fully prepared to have to fight off thousands of suitors.”

“Suitors?”

“Fine, dogs,” Nick conceded. “There was just something … off … about him. He was trying to get you to dance the other night.”

“I remember,” Maddie said. “I didn’t know you did.”

“I remember anyone trying to step in and steal my girl,” Nick said.

“I wasn’t your girl then,” Maddie reminded him.

“You’ve always been my girl, Mad.”

Maddie grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him fiercely.

“Oh, good, you two have progressed to making out in the kitchen,” Maude said, strolling into the room. “That’s nice.”

Maddie pulled back, surprised. “Granny … .”

“Stop calling me that,” Maude warned.

“Where have you been?” Nick asked. “Did you even come home last night?”

“I came home,” Maude said. “I just came from upstairs. Where did you think I was?”

“I have no idea,” Nick said. “It bothers me that I didn’t hear you, though. It means I’m falling down on the job.”

“You’re a pain,” Maude said. “You two are finally sleeping after weeks of torment. Give it a little time before you toss yourself on the railroad tracks. If it’s any consolation, I was eavesdropping in the hallway for five minutes before I came in, too.”

Nick made a face. “Why would that be a consolation?”

“Not for you, for me,” Maude said. “I’m practicing my spying skills. Edna Proctor is going down.”

“Granny, do you know about Tara?” Maddie asked, worried.

Maude stilled. “I heard. I’m so sorry, Maddie girl. I know it must be killing you. You went out of your way to save her, and then she still died.”

“It’s important that you’re careful,” Nick warned. “Maddie has promised to stay here today. I want you to do the same.”

“I have plans,” Maude balked. “I can’t break them. We’re in a delicate stage of our operation.”

“Do I even want to know what that is?” Nick asked.

Maude narrowed her eyes, considering. “Probably not.”

“Is it illegal?”

“Not really.”

“That’s not an answer,” Nick pointed out.

“It was an answer,” Maude countered. “It might not have been the answer you were looking for, but it was still an answer.”

“Maude,” Nick growled.

“Nick,” Maude matched his tone.

“Granny, will you promise to stay with at least one other person at all times while you’re out doing … whatever it is you’re doing?” Maddie asked.

Maude nodded. “I promise. You don’t have to worry about me. Focus all your energy on Maddie.”

“I always do,” Nick said. “Still, I happen to love you, too.”

“Of course you do,” Maude said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m downright lovable.”

NICK
found Maddie asleep on her bed when he returned to the house late in the afternoon. He’d confiscated the spare key under the ceramic turtle when he climbed the porch, mentally chastising himself for not doing it sooner. Everyone in town knew where that key was, and not all of them were as trustworthy as he was.

Nick watched her slumber, her blonde hair spilling out on the pillow beneath her, and felt his heart swell. He didn’t know it was possible to love anything as much as he loved Maddie.

He lowered himself onto the bed next to her carefully, smiling when she shifted and folded herself into his arms. “Nicky,” she murmured.

“Maddie,” he said, pressing a kiss into her hair. “My Maddie.”

He joined her in sleep a few minutes later, his heart bursting with the love he’d been forbidden to express for a decade.

WHEN
Maddie woke an hour later, she was surprised to feel a strong body draped over hers. “Nicky?”

“Hello, love,” he murmured, brushing his lips against her neck. “You’re so warm.”

Maddie rubbed her eyes, trying to get her bearings. “When did you get back?”

“About an hour ago.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Because you looked like an angel,” Nick said, pulling her tight against him. “You don’t wake a sleeping angel. It’s bad luck.”

“You’re making that up,” Maddie teased.

“No, I’m not. How was your day?”

“I cleaned, and I read, and then I fell asleep. I have no idea why I was so tired. I’ve slept better the past two nights than I have in … ten years.”

“That’s why you slept, love,” Nick said. “You’re finally happy.”

“I am happy,” Maddie agreed. “I still feel guilty.”

Nick groaned and rolled on his back as he pinched his nose. “Because of Cassidy?”

“No, because of Tara.”

Nick sighed. “We can’t go back in time and save her,” he said. “I know it’s hard, and I know it’s terrible, but it is what it is. We can only move forward. I have to keep you safe, Mad. That’s what I’m focused on right now.”

“Did you find anything out about Charles?”

Nick stiffened beside her. “I did.”

“It doesn’t sound like you found out anything good,” Maddie said, rolling so she could rest her head on his chest.

Nick ran his fingers through her hair and studied her face. “Charles Hawthorne doesn’t exist.”

Maddie furrowed her brow. “How is that possible? He’s a third. He has to exist.”

“I found a few Charles Hawthornes,” Nick said. “None of them were a third, and none of them look like that guy.”

Maddie propped herself up on her elbow. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing good,” Nick said. “There are a couple of possibilities.”

“I’m waiting?”

Nick kissed her softly. “We don’t have to talk about it now.”

“I need to know.”

Nick sighed. “He could be a conman. He might be going after Marla for money. She’s not rich, by any stretch of the imagination, but the Proctor family has money. He might be a grifter.”

Maddie mulled the idea over. “When he wanted me to read his cards, he asked if he was going to be rich forever. They didn’t believe I was a real psychic, and when I looked at his cards, they were a mess. Instead of taking the time to actually read them, I made up a lie.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That he was going to be rich forever.”

“What did Marla want to know?”

“If he was going to be rich forever.”

Nick barked out a laugh. “That’s typical. What did you tell her?”

“That they deserved each other,” Maddie replied. “He made me uncomfortable. I thought it was just because he was a letch, but what if it was something more?”

“I don’t know,” Nick said. “I honestly don’t know, Mad. Focusing on Charles might be a mistake. He could just be after Marla’s money.”

“That’s still illegal.”

“It’s not my concern, though,” Nick said. “If Marla gets screwed over, that’s karma.”

“What if someone kills her?”

Nick sighed. “Well, that’s a different story. We don’t know enough to accuse Charles.”

“So, what’s your next step?”

“I need to try and get his fingerprints,” Nick replied honestly.

“How are you going to do that?”

Nick shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s the last night of the fair. I’m thinking he might be there with Marla. If I can get my hands on a beer glass … .”

“You’re going to the fair?”

“I don’t see a lot of other options right now.”

“Okay,” Maddie said, resigned. “I guess I’ll stay here.”

“No,” Nick said, immediately shaking his head. “It’s the fireworks. We’re going together. You can’t miss the fireworks. You love them.”

“What about Cassidy?”

“I already called Christy,” Nick said. “You two are going to watch the fireworks together, and I’m going to go back and forth trying to get Charles’ fingerprints. Kreskin is in on the plan, too.”