Grave Insight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 2) (8 page)

“Fine,” Maddie conceded. “Mush. Mush.”

Kreskin grinned. “I kind of like you. I have no idea why, but I do.”

“I’m a likable person.”

“You remind me of Maude,” Kreskin said.

“That’s the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Maddie replied.

“You’ll live.”

“Well, it looks better,” Maude said, studying Maddie’s ankle the next morning with a serious gaze. “The puffiness is gone. Is it still sore?”

“Kind of,” Maddie admitted. “It’s much better than it was last night, though.”

“I don’t know what you were thinking, Maddie girl, but that wasn’t one of your smartest moves,” Maude said.

“What was I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know,” Maude admitted. “I just know I don’t like the idea of you going up against a strange man in the middle of the night. Something really bad could have happened.”

“It was either that or let him grab Tara,” Maddie said. “I couldn’t live with that.”

“I know,” Maude said. “I just … I happen to love you.”

“Well, that’s good. I happen to love you, too.”

“You need to take better care of yourself,” Maude said. “If you die now, I’m going to be very ticked off.”

“Duly noted.”

Maude’s face relaxed. “What are you going to do today?”

“I have to go back and read tarot cards because you volunteered me for duty,” Maddie reminded her.

“Well, you’ll be sitting all day. That will probably be good for you.”

“I’m only going to do readings for two hours,” Maddie warned. “That’s all I agreed to.”

“I don’t care,” Maude said. “If I were you, I’d use the ankle as an excuse to make hot men carry me around on satin pillows all day.”

Maddie snickered. “I’ll consider it.”

The two women looked up as Christy breezed into the room, her flame-red hair wild from rampant humidity. “Good morning, ladies.”

“I like how you just let yourself in,” Maddie said. “I should probably hide the key better. Nick just lets himself in, too.”

“I think you’re safe with Nick,” Christy said, moving toward the counter so she could pour herself a mug of coffee. “So, I hear you took down an assailant with nothing but a pair of shoes last night.”

Maddie balked. “Who told you?”

“You’re the talk of the town,” Christy said. “Everyone is talking about how you saved Tara – especially Tara.”

“Oh, no.” Maddie dropped her head into her hands. “What are they saying? Wait! I don’t want to know.”

“She didn’t tell anyone anything bad,” Christy said. “I’m assuming this had something to do with the vision you had about her, right?”

Maddie nodded, but she kept her face hidden.

“All Tara is telling people is that you noticed someone following her and intervened,” Christy said. “You’re a hero.”

“I don’t feel like a hero,” Maddie said. “Is she also telling people how I fell off the curb and twisted my ankle?”

Christy grinned. “No. That does make the story more entertaining, though.”

“It’s not entertaining.”

Christy glanced over at the ankle Maddie had propped up on a chair. “Does it hurt?”

“I iced it all night,” Maddie said. “It feels better, although it’s still tender.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’ll drive you to the fair today,” Christy said. “I’ll make sure to bring you ice for it during the afternoon, too.”

“You’re a good friend,” Maude said. “I’ll come down and watch her later.”

“You hate fairs,” Maddie said.

“Yes, but I happen to love my granddaughter,” Maude said. “Didn’t we already go over this?”

Maddie scowled. “I’m fine. I’ll make sure to leave the fair before it gets dark.”

“I think Nick is going to be glued to your side for most of the day,” Christy said. “Someone would have to be stupid to take him on to get to you. I’m surprised he’s not here now.”

Maddie was surprised by that non-development, too. “Have you seen Nick?” Maddie lifted her head. She was trying to feign mild interest, but her face was an open book.

Christy giggled. “No. I did hear a story about Cassidy running through the fair and jumping into her car a few minutes after you left, though. I don’t think Nick got to have a conversation with her.”

“That’s just … stupid,” Maude said.

“Granny,” Maddie scolded.

“I’m sorry. I feel for the girl. I do. This is just undignified, though.”

“It is,” Christy agreed. “Everyone in town is talking about it.”

“I thought everyone in town was talking about me,” Maddie said.

“When talk of Cassidy springs up, talk of you follows,” Christy said pointedly. “Everyone knows Nick is trying to break up with her. Everyone.”

“What are they saying about me?” Maddie asked, her voice small.

“They’re saying they’re surprised it’s taken Nick this long to cut Cassidy loose,” Christy said. “They’ve had a pool going. Most people picked the first week you got back for the breakup.”

“You’re joking, right?”

Christy shook her head. “I picked today in the pool,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I knew it would take you guys a little longer to get things together. I win five-hundred bucks if Nick pulls the plug today or tomorrow, so he really needs to get on that.”

“Oh, I’m so embarrassed,” Maddie said, miserable.

“You’ll get over it,” Christy said, patting Maddie’s shoulders. “Now, if Nick hasn’t found Cassidy by the end of the day, you need to tell me. I’ll find her for him if it comes down to it. I want to splurge on some shoes.”

“You’re horrible,” Maddie said, looking to her grandmother for support. “Tell her she’s horrible.”

“Hey, I had last week in the pool,” Maude said. “You’ve already ruined things for me. Now I’m pulling for Christy.”

Maddie was at a loss for words.

“Go upstairs and get showered and dressed,” Christy said. “Call me up when you need your hair done.”

“But … .”

“Don’t talk back to me,” Christy said. “It’s going to be a busy day, and I’m determined to be a rich woman before it’s all said and done. I can’t take any of your backtalk.”

“I CAN’T
believe how many people came in here this afternoon,” Maddie said, focusing on Christy with a mixture of awe and exhaustion as she relaxed in her chair beneath the purple tent. “I just did fifty readings in four hours.”

“I thought you were only going to do readings for two hours?”

“There was a line,” Maddie said. “What was I supposed to do?”

“How much money did you make?”

“A lot.”

“Enough to buy me some shoes if Nick fails?”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m done for the day. What do you want to do now?”

“Let’s go to the fair.”

“We’re at the fair.”

“I mean the carnival,” Christy said. “We can get some junk food and people watch.”

“People watch?”

“Hey, I like to people watch,” Christy said. “It always gives me hope.”

“Hope for what?”

“That I’m the coolest person in the world.”

Maddie grinned. “I think you are.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet, Maddie. Do you want to change your clothes?”

Maddie nodded.

“I figured. Hurry up. I think we could both use some fun. We’ll take it easy because of your ankle. I promise.”

“WHAT’S
over there?” Maddie asked, an elephant ear in one hand and a soda in the other. She loved junk food, and carnival food was king of the junk food hill.

“I don’t know,” Christy said. “Let’s look.”

The two women shuffled over toward a crowd of hooting-and-hollering people, Maddie still limping slightly. When they pushed their way to the front, Maddie couldn’t hide the smile from her face.

“Oh, it’s the dunk tank,” Christy said. “I’d forgotten about this.”

“What’s the charity this year?”

“The Blackstone Bay Pet Rescue Society.”

“Oh, well, that’s a good charity,” Maddie said, her eyes sparkling as they focused on the man sitting in the dunk tank. He was taunting a group of young boys as they lobbed balls at the target – not one of them getting close enough to put him in danger.

“Are you going to buy some balls to dunk him?”

“I am.”

Christy smirked. “Well, that will be fun. The faster you dunk Nick, the faster he can put someone else in there and get on task. I need some new shoes.”

Maddie giggled. “I just want him to be at my mercy.”

“Oh, girl, he’s been at your mercy for as long as I can remember.”

NICK
didn’t immediately notice Maddie’s presence. He was having fun messing with the Baker brothers. They were little delinquents in training, and neither one of them had a strong enough arm to hit the target.

After a few moments, he scanned the crowd, and his gaze immediately landed on Maddie. She was dressed in simple cutoffs and a T-shirt, and her hair was piled high on the back of her head in a messy bun, but she took his breath away.

“Hey, Officer Winters,” Christy teased, handing a five-dollar bill over to the cashier by the table and collecting three softballs. “How are you this fine, hot day?”

Nick glowered at Christy. “Aren’t you a bit old for this?”

“I’m young at heart.” Christy threw the first ball and missed by a good three feet.

“You were never much of an athlete, were you?” Nick was feeling relatively safe, despite Christy’s determination.

Christy glowered at him and threw another ball. This one was closer, but it didn’t hit the target. “You’re awfully full of yourself.”

Nick winked at Maddie. “That’s because I know you can’t hit a small target with one of those balls.”

“Oh, really?”

“Really.”

Christy concentrated and tossed her final ball, frowning as it sailed wide. “Darn it.”

Maddie patted her shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“Well, you promised to let me go first,” Christy said. “Have at it.”

Nick froze in his spot. “Excuse me?”

“It’s Maddie’s turn,” Christy said, smiling evilly. “She wanted to go first, but I convinced her my need was more dire. It turns out, I’m a horrible shot. Something tells me she’s going to be better at it.”

Something told Nick that Christy was right. While she was never on any organized teams, Maddie had always been an outstanding athlete. It probably had something to do with the fact that she was always running around in the woods with him.

“Now, Mad, think about this,” Nick said. “You don’t really want me to get all wet, do you?”

Maddie collected her balls and handed over her money, her face apologetic but pleased. “It’s a hot day, Nicky. Your face is red. I think you’ve been sitting out in the sun too long. It will probably do you good to cool off.”

“Mad … wait.”

Maddie threw the first ball, only missing the target by an inch and drawing a loud groan from the crowd.

Nick flinched as he gripped the wooden plank beneath him. “Now, Mad, you’ve had your fun. How about we call it a draw and I’ll buy you some ice cream?”

“Yeah, Maddie,” someone in the crowd yelled. “He’ll buy you some ice cream if you let him keep his dignity.”

Maddie faltered. Nick’s face was unreadable when she lifted her eyes to his. “You know I have to do this, Nicky.”

“Why do you have to do it?”

“It’s your payback for scaring me the other night.”

Nick wrinkled his nose. “That was an accident. This is on purpose.”

“Oh, how did he scare you?” Someone else asked. “Did he take his pants off?”

This drew guffaws from the crowd. Maddie took advantage of the momentary confusion and lobbed the second ball. This one ticked the side of the target, but it wasn’t with enough force to drop Nick into the water.

He exhaled heavily. “Just know, when I get out of here, I’m going to make you pay,” he warned.

“I know,” Maddie said. “I just can’t stop myself.” The third ball hit the target a second later, and Nick’s face was resigned as he dropped into the water.

The crowd broke into enthusiastic applause as Nick surfaced. He brushed the water away from his face and climbed out of the tank, watching momentarily as Kreskin climbed in after him. “She’s a beast,” Kreskin said. “I’m glad she’s your problem and not mine.”

“Me, too,” Nick said, grabbing a towel and rubbing it over his hair as he watched the townspeople congratulate an embarrassed Maddie. She looked happy. “Me, too.”

“I suppose you think that was funny.” Nick was watching Maddie as he dried off. Her grin was so wide he couldn’t look away. It was like looking into the sun, but not getting burned.

“I don’t know if funny is the right word,” Maddie hedged, pushing Nick’s sopping hair out of his face.

“What word would you use?”

“Relaxing.”

Nick shook his head, but couldn’t help but smile. Maddie was practically giddy. “Well, you’d better hold on to that feeling,” he said. “Because I’m probably going to ruin your mood for a few minutes.”

Maddie’s face slackened, and Nick immediately wanted to pull the words back into his mouth. “Why? Did something happen?”

“Don’t freak out, Mad,” Nick said. “I was referring to last night.”

“Oh.”

“Oh.” Nick nodded. “Is there a reason I had to hear about your little adventure from Dale Kreskin?”

“I didn’t want to bother you.” Maddie dropped her head. “I knew you were busy.”

“I wasn’t as busy as I would have liked,” Nick said. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have called me.” He reached over and tipped her chin up. “When you’re in trouble, Mad, I want to be there.”

“I know,” Maddie said. “I just … .”

“I’m not mad,” Nick said, sighing. “I am worried.” He glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “Did you save her for good? Was that what you saw in your dream?”

“It was what I saw. I don’t know if that was the end, though.”

Nick cupped the back of Maddie’s neck and rubbed it thoughtfully. “Well, we’ll take it one step at a time. I heard you hurt your ankle. Is that why you’re limping?”

“It’s better than it was.”

“Well, you should still keep off of it as much as possible.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Nick pinched her neck playfully. “Well, I need to get out of these clothes.”

“I’m pretty sure I can’t help you with that,” Maddie said. “I didn’t realize you were that kind of doctor.”

“You’re cute.”

Maddie’s smile twisted his heart. “Thank you.”

“I have a change of clothes back at the station,” he said. “If you promise to sit here and rest, I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. I’ll buy you that ice cream I promised.”

“You promised me ice cream if I didn’t dunk you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a softy,” Nick said. “I’ll also buy you an elephant ear and an icee.”

“And then will you hold my hair back while I puke from all that junk?”

“Yes.” Nick didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll also win you a huge stuffed animal if you watch me play a few games.”

“You always did like playing the games.”

“Only so I could win you prizes,” Nick said.

“How about we compromise?”

Nick arched an eyebrow and waited.

“How about I go and look at the flea market stands while you change your clothes and you find me there?”

“Should you be walking on that ankle, Mad?”

“Are you going to carry me around all night, Nicky?”

“I just might.”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “It’s much better than it was. It’s not like I’ll be running.”

Nick glanced over her shoulder and studied the flea market tables for a moment. “Okay. I’ll agree to your terms if you’re careful.”

“Do you think someone is going to try and grab me while it’s still daylight out?”

“Well, you’re awfully pretty,” Nick teased. “Some men may not be able to help themselves.”

Maddie’s cheeks burned under the praise. “I … .”

“It was just a compliment, Mad,” Nick said. “There’s no reason to hang your head in shame.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Don’t spend too much money at the flea market. If I have to carry huge bags around, it’s going to weigh me down.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You do that.”

MADDIE
had always loved a flea market. Every table was a new realm to explore, and the treasures hidden there were varied. While she waited for Nick to return, she moved from table to table and perused the various trinkets. She bought a pair of earrings for Christy, and a necklace for Maude, and then stopped at a small table that made stone statues out of Petoskey stones.

That’s where Nick found her ten minutes later. “I see you’ve already been buying things.”

“I have,” Maddie said, picking up one of the small statues and handing it to the woman behind the counter. “How much?”

“Five dollars.”

Maddie paid the woman and took the statue back, handing it to Nick with bright eyes. “For luck.”

Nick looked the statue over, confused. “Is this a turtle made out of Petoskey stones?”

“Yes.”

“You bought this for me?”

“It just reminded me of you,” Maddie said. “I always give you Petoskey stones for luck, and you always catch turtles for me so I can name them and release them. I just thought … oh … it’s stupid. Never mind. You don’t have to keep it.”

Nick clasped his hand around the tiny statue and jerked it away when Maddie tried to retrieve her gift. “You can’t take it back. That’s not how you give a present.”

“But … you don’t like it.”

“Did I say I didn’t like it?”

“No.”

“Then don’t put words in my mouth,” Nick said. “I happen to love it.”

“I think you’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Maddie said.

“I don’t really care what you think,” Nick teased, slipping the statue into his pocket. “I happen to think this is the best gift anyone has ever given me, and you can’t take it back.”

“You’re incorrigible sometimes.”

“I am,” Nick agreed. He held his hand out. “Let’s go to the fair.”

Maddie studied his outstretched hand a moment, unsure.

“Do I have cooties now?”

“I don’t think we should do that in public right now,” Maddie said, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

“Hold hands? Is that suddenly against the law? You would think someone would have told me.” Nick dropped his hand, slightly hurt by her refusal to touch him.

“It’s just that … did you know they have a pool?”

“I don’t think anyone in town has a pool,” Nick said. “We have lakes and rivers. We don’t need pools.”

“Not that kind of pool,” Maddie snapped. “They have a pool for when you’re going to break up with Cassidy.”

Realization dawned on Nick, and he fought the mad urge to laugh. “No. That’s funny, though.”

“They’re all waiting and watching us.”

“Why do you think they’re watching us?” Nick asked pointedly. He knew exactly why the townspeople were watching them, but he was curious whether Maddie would admit it or not.

“I … I don’t want to talk about that until … .”

“Okay,” Nick conceded.

“It just doesn’t seem right.”

“I understand, Mad,” Nick said. “We won’t talk about it yet. Just so you know, though, we are going to be having a very serious discussion in the near future, so you’d better be ready.”

“I’m ready.”

Nick snorted. “You don’t look ready. We don’t have to worry about that tonight. You don’t have to hold my hand, and you don’t have to worry about people talking about us.”

“Are you suddenly magic?”

“I’m always magic,” Nick said, sweeping his arm out grandiosely. “Milady, shall we go to the fair and proceed not to touch each other all night?”

“Oh, you think you’re so cute,” Maddie grumbled.

“I’m handsome, not cute,” Nick said. “Get it right.”

“Well, Officer Handsome, I’m hungry.”

“Well, we can’t have that,” Nick said. “What do you want first?”

“A hot dog.”

“Oh, good, health food.”

“DO
you want me to try and throw the ball through the hoop?”

Nick scowled. “I can do it. I promised I was going to win you a stuffed animal, and I meant it.”

“You’ve dropped twenty bucks.” Maddie was enjoying herself. She didn’t care about the stuffed animal, and she didn’t care about the game, but she was having a great time watching Nick struggle. He was always the best at everything. It was nice to see him grapple with failure – however small – for a change.

“Shh.”

Nick tossed the ball and missed again. “Sonovabitch!”

Maddie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “Here.” She put a ten-dollar bill on the counter and motioned for the man running the game to hand her some balls. “How many do I have to get in?”

“Two out of three,” he said. “If you get three, you can get one of the big animals up there.”

Maddie glanced where he was pointing. “Even the turtle?”

“Even the turtle.”

“Are we having a turtle theme tonight?” Nick asked.

“Shh. I’m concentrating.”

Nick rolled his eyes, but he took a step back so Maddie could focus on her task. The first ball she tossed flew through the hoop easily. The second tipped the side, but ultimately fell through. The third was perfect.

“We have a winner!” The game master reached up and snagged the turtle. “Here you go, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Maddie said, taking the turtle.

“This doesn’t count,” Nick said. “I wanted to win you a stuffed animal. Me.”

“Well, I’m going to name this one Nick,” Maddie said, grinning. “And I don’t even have to throw him back.” The double meaning registered on Maddie, and she was instantly embarrassed. “I didn’t mean … .”

“Yes, you did,” Nick said. “Don’t you dare take it back.” He grabbed the stuffed animal from her and held it up so he could see it better. “This looks nothing like me. Still, if you promise to sleep with it every night, I’ll pretend I won it for you and we’ll both be happy.”

Maddie’s eyes were wide as he glanced back at her. “I have a feeling our talk is going to take days, Mad,” he said.

“You said … .”

“We’re not talking about it tonight,” he said. “We’re not talking and we’re not touching. Where to next?”

Maddie scanned the fair. “I could use an icee.”

“Let’s go.”

“I don’t think you’re having fun,” Maddie said. “I think you’d rather be doing something else.”

“That’s not true, Mad,” Nick said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I just feel like I should be doing something else so we have one less worry on our shoulders.”

“Cassidy,” Maddie said, falling into step next to him. “Christy said she was seen running to her car and speeding away last night.”

“Yup. I got one look at her and she bolted,” Nick said. “I feel like an idiot. If I’d gotten to her last night, who would have won the pool?”

“I have no idea,” Maddie said. “I just know if you finish your task tonight, or tomorrow, Christy wins five-hundred bucks. She’s going to buy shoes.”

Nick chuckled. “Well, at least Cassidy’s heartbreak will go to a good cause.”

“I feel bad for her,” Maddie said. “I feel … guilty.”

“Don’t,” Nick said. “She’s doing it to herself now. Everyone in this stinking town knows what’s going to happen. So, instead of dealing with it, she’s hiding like a child. I just … I had no idea she would act this way.”

“Maybe that’s your super power,” Maddie suggested.

“What?”

“You have the power to make smart women go insane,” she said. “You’re … Tortured Love Man.”

Nick burst out into hysterical laughter. “I had never considered that.” He wiped a tear from his eye. “That’s not my only super power, though, Mad.”

“Oh, really? What’s the other?”

“I can’t show you until after our talk.”

Maddie’s face colored again. “You are just so full of yourself.”

“I am,” Nick said. “Come on. You need an icee. How about, after that, we go to the funhouse. We haven’t been to one of those in a very long time.”

“Not since the summer before I left for college,” Maddie said, rueful.

“I remember,” Nick said. “You got scared and threw yourself on me. It was the first time I realized you had such big boobs, because they were crushed against my chest. It was the best thirty seconds of my life – up until then, of course.”

Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”

“I know. I’m a horrible person. You should spank me later.”

“You’re just getting worse and worse,” Maddie said.

“I’m trying. Come on. One icee coming up, and then I’m going to hope you get so scared in the funhouse you forget your mandate about touching.”

“Oh, you
are
Tortured Love Man,” Maddie said.

“I’ll get a cape.”