Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) (9 page)

Nick swallowed his upper lip with his lower, considering. “The first night we fell asleep in the window seat.”

Maddie lifted her eyebrows, surprised. “Really?”

“Owning up to this in front of my brother, who is going to use it against me for the rest of my life, should prove how much I love you,” Nick warned. “I don’t want to hear another word about you worrying that I’m going to get bored with you.”

It was a grand gesture, and Maddie considered it. “I agree to your terms.”

Nick grinned. He couldn’t help it. She was beautiful … and she was happy. They both were happy. He was still going to pound his brother the first chance he got. “I felt as if our bodies just … fit … when I snuggled around you,” he said. “It felt like … coming home.”

Maddie’s angelic face brightened. “I felt the same way.”

“I guess that’s because we love each other,” Nick said, leaning over so he could kiss her. “I knew at that moment that we were inevitable. That’s when I had to start plotting how to break up with Cassidy without tipping off the whole town to what my intentions were.”

“That didn’t really work out so well, did it?” John asked.

“No,” Nick said, rubbing his forehead. “I was going to tell her the night you almost drowned down at the lake.” Nick internally cringed at the memory, flashes of breathing life back into Maddie’s still lungs rendering him momentarily comatose.

Maddie gripped his hand tightly. “It doesn’t matter. We’re together now.”

Nick regained his senses. “We are, my Maddie,” he said, kissing her lightly. “We are.”

“Now I’m definitely going to puke,” John said.

Nick rolled his eyes. “What are we doing today?”

“We’re going down to the pier to find Raymond Jacob Kingston.”

“Why are you looking for him?” Maddie asked.

“Mildred says he’s a pervert and we want to see if he knows anything about Hayley’s death,” Nick said. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but I promise to call you when we’re done.”

“Screw that,” Maddie said, hopping out of the chair. “I want to come.”

Nick stilled. “You do?”

“I found Hayley’s body,” Maddie said, matter-of-fact. “We’re in this together.”

“Okay,” Nick said. “You can come.”

“She can?” John was surprised.

“She’ll be able to help,” Nick said. “Just … you do what I tell you to do, Mad. That’s the deal.”

Maddie nodded. “I’m fine with that.”

“What if I’m not fine with that?” John asked.

“You’ll live,” Nick said, unflappable. “Everyone be at the Explorer in five minutes.”

Maddie smiled at John. “Shotgun.”

“What is happening here?”

“I’m going to walk around,” Maddie said, her gaze bouncing around the pier. “Text me when you guys are done looking for Raymond.”

Nick grabbed Maddie’s arm before she could walk off. “What?”

“I’m going to walk around.”

“Why?”

“I … just want to look around.”

Nick scowled. “Why did you come with us if you want to wander off on your own?”

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” Maddie replied, confused. “If you don’t want me to go … I won’t go.”

“What is your deal?” John asked. “It’s the pier. Do you think someone is going to grab her?”

Nick stilled, unsure how to answer. That was exactly what he was worried about. Now that he had her, the idea of losing Maddie was crippling. Internally, he knew she’d managed to live ten years of her life without him. Deep down, though, he was terrified something would happen and snatch his happiness away. “I … of course not.” Nick released his grip on Maddie’s arm. “Please don’t go too far.”

Maddie pressed her lips together. “I can sit here if you want.”

John glanced between his brother and Maddie. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Nick said, averting his gaze. “I just … can’t stand to be away from her if I don’t have to.” He leaned forward and kissed Maddie. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Maddie said. She leaned in so only he could hear her next words. “No one will take me from you.”

Nick hugged her briefly. “I know. We’ll be here. Look around. See if … you can find anything.”

“I will.” Maddie plastered a bright smile on her face when she turned to John. “Take care of my man.”

“You two are cute,” John said.

“Thank you.”

“You’re also weird.”

“Thank you.”

John scowled. “I’m going to find out what’s going on here.”

“You’re not that good of a cop,” Nick said. “Don’t go far, Mad. We’ll all get lunch together in two hours.”

“You guys just ate,” John complained.

Nick ignored him. “Two hours, love.”

Maddie nodded. “Okay.”

BLACKSTONE
Pier was one of those places Maddie loved in theory but didn’t enjoy in practice. She was infatuated with the lake, especially the wind whipping her hair over the choppy water. What she didn’t enjoy was the smell. She loved fishing – there was something soothing about the entire endeavor – but she didn’t love the end olfactory product. It often made her queasy. For some reason, the scents of the pier almost always overpowered her.

“You look like you’re going to pass out.”

Maddie lifted her head, smiling at Mildred’s concerned face. “Hi, Mildred. It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too, girlie,” Mildred said. “What’s up with your life?”

Of all her grandmother’s friends, Mildred was one of Maddie’s favorites. She was one of the only people who didn’t put up with Maude’s outrageous shenanigans and just go along blindly when she proposed a plan. “My life is good.”

“I can see that,” Mildred said, looking Maddie up and down with a steady gaze. “You were always a pretty girl, but you’re practically glowing now. I’m guessing I lost the sex pool.”

“You were part of that pool, too?”

“Boredom is a funny thing,” Mildred said. “I had my eye on a new fishing pole. I guess Maude won this one. Did she lock you in a room together and confiscate your clothes? That’s what she was threatening.”

“No,” Maddie said, shaking her head. “I … I can’t talk about this.”

“You always were a sweet girl.”

“I don’t know about that,” Maddie said. “I’m just … embarrassed.”

“Honey, that Winters boy grew up to look like a model,” Mildred said. “In fact, you grew up to look like a model, too. You’re beautiful apart, but you’re breathtaking together.”

“I didn’t know you had the soul of a poet,” Maddie teased.

“I don’t,” Mildred replied, nonplussed. “I just know the truth when I see it. You’re happy. It looks good on you.”

“Thank you.”

Mildred rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to get all emotional, I’m leaving now.”

“Don’t leave yet,” Maddie said, collecting herself. “I have a few questions for you first.”

“I’m waiting.”

“I want to talk about Hayley Walker.”

Mildred frowned. “The dead girl? I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. Are you out here with your boyfriend?”

“He’s here,” Maddie said. “I’m asking for myself, though.”

“I didn’t know the girl very well,” Mildred said. “I did see her down here on occasion.”

Maddie recognized the disapproving tilt of Mildred’s head. “What was she doing?”

“At first, I thought she was a shy girl who was just trying to make friends. That impression didn’t last long.”

Maddie waited.

“After a few weeks, I started to realize she was boy crazy,” Mildred said.

“What do you mean?”

“The first few weeks she sat on the benches and worked on her homework,” Mildred said. “It was nice to see. Most of the kids these days have their faces glued to their cell phones.”

“They do.”

“After a few weeks, though, there was less studying of the books and more studying of the boys.”

“Do you know which boys?”

Mildred shrugged. “I’m not good with the teenage gossip. I do know she often talked to the Jarvis boy. He works at the food truck during the summer.”

Maddie racked her brain. “Michael Jarvis?”

Mildred nodded.

“He would be Pamela and Drew Jarvis’ boy, right? I babysat him when he was really little a couple of times. What can you tell me about him?”

“The boy is a poof.”

A poof?
Uh-oh.
“Just for clarification, what do you mean by that?”

“He’s a homosexual,” Mildred said. “That’s what it means when you call someone a poof.”

Maddie tried to ignore the derogatory comment. “What makes you think he was gay?”

“He spent all his time checking out the other boys when he thought no one was looking.”

“What about the girls?”

“He talked to them,” Mildred replied, shrugging. “He never paid any of them attention. He really only talked to Hayley. They seemed pretty tight.”

“And you’re sure they weren’t flirting, right?”

“I know what flirting looks like,” Mildred said. “I haven’t done it in decades, but I still remember what it looks like. The times may change, but human behavior doesn’t.”

Maddie couldn’t argue with that. “Tell me about Raymond Jacob Kingston.”

“He’s a pervert.”

“I’ve heard,” Maddie said, keeping her voice even. “Give me some specifics.”

“He stares at the young girls and makes lewd comments.”

“What do the girls do?”

“They point and laugh.”

“How does Raymond take that?”

Mildred seemed surprised by the question. “He acts like it’s fine most of the time.”

“What about the other times?”

“I can tell it bothers him.”

Maddie pursed her lips, thinking. “Do you think Raymond is capable of killing someone?”

“I don’t know,” Mildred said. “He seems like one of those dirty old men who is all talk and no action, but there’s still something … off … about him.”

“Have you seen him?”

“I told your boyfriend I would call if I did.”

“Keep your eyes open,” Maddie said. “I’m not saying Raymond is a murderer, but Hayley Walker was a teenage girl and whoever killed her is … .”

“A monster?”

“That’s too nice of a word,” Maddie said. “Just keep your eyes open and be careful. This world would be a sad place without you.”

“The same can be said about you, Maddie Graves,” Mildred said. “You were a beautiful child, and one of the few teenagers who didn’t make me want to kill someone. It looks to me as if you’ve grown into a pretty good woman. This world would be a sad place without you.”

“WHAT’S
going on with you and Maddie?” John asked, scanning the myriad of faces for an unfamiliar one to question.

“We’re happy.”

“Not that,” John said. “Why is she here?”

Nick shifted uncomfortably. “I just want to be close to her.”

John’s eyes were probing as they rested on his youngest sibling. “I know something else is going on here. You were scared to let her wander off on her own. I want to know why.”

“She has an unnatural knack for finding trouble,” Nick replied, honest. “She’s been back in town for two months and she’s almost been killed twice.”

John chuckled. “Have you ever considered that was just bad luck?”

“No,” Nick said. “Todd picked her out on purpose. He was going to … do terrible things to her.”

“And the former mayor? Why did he zero in on her?”

That was a prickly question. “I don’t know,” Nick lied. “Maybe it was because she stopped him from killing Tara the first time.”

“I kind of heard about that,” John said carefully. “Did she really throw shoes at him?”

“She didn’t know what else to do.”

“Did she really fall off the curb and injure her ankle?”

Nick growled. “Yes.”

“Do you really wish you were still in bed with her and I would stop asking you annoying questions?”

Nick’s face softened. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” John said. “I didn’t want to bother you. I knew you two were … having the time of your life. How was it, by the way?”

“I’m still not talking about it with you,” Nick said. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“You’ve been smiling since I barged into your bedroom,” John said. “Sure, you keep giving me dirty looks, but every time you talk about Maddie … or think about Maddie … you smile.”

“She makes me smile.”

“She does,” John said. “You make her smile, too.”

“I certainly hope so.”

“I still think there’s something going on,” John said, his eyes glued to Nick’s face. “Tell me what it is.”

Nick ignored him, refusing to make eye contact. “Look.”

John was reticent, but he finally shifted his eyes and focused on the man Nick was pointing toward. “What am I looking at?”

“I think that’s Raymond.”

John instantly sobered. “How well do you know him?”

“Just by his face,” Nick replied. “I’m not sure I’ve ever spoken to him.”

John studied the man. “He looks … .”

“He’s not homeless,” Nick said. “He has an apartment in that big building on Plum Street.”

“I was going to say he looks dirty,” John said. “How often do you think he showers?”

“He likes to fish,” Nick said, moving forward. “Fishing is a dirty business.” Nick didn’t give his brother a chance to respond, instead approaching the man slowly, his hand outstretched. “Mr. Kingston?”

Kingston’s eyes flashed to Nick, and it appeared as if it took him a moment to focus. “Do I know you?”

Nick flashed his badge. “I’m with the Blackstone Bay Police Department.”

“You’re the Winters boy.”

“Yes, that’s me. I have a few questions for you.”

“About?”

“About a dead girl who washed up on shore the other day,” Nick said. “I … .”

He never got a chance to finish his sentence. Kingston tilted his head to the side, giving all appearances that he was listening and then bolted down the pier the second Nick relaxed.

“What the … ?”

“That’s a great interrogation method,” John said.

“I … come on.” Nick broke into a run, racing after Kingston. The man was in his seventies. Even with a head start he couldn’t outrun the fit Winters brothers.

“Let’s make a game of it,” John said, increasing his pace so he was slightly in front of Nick. “If I catch him, you have to give me ten thousand bucks off the house.”

Nick glowered. “And if I win?”

“I nail Christy tonight.”

Nick faltered. “I … .”

“Let me win and Christy is safe,” John said.

Nick hated the suggestion, the idea of losing a footrace to his brother going against his basic nature. The thought of Maddie’s heart breaking because Christy was hurting was too much to bear, though. Nick eased up on his stride. “Go ahead and get him.”

John was surprised by Nick’s concession. “You’re just giving up?”

“He’s seventy,” Nick said. “If you can’t catch him … you’re not much of a cop.”

John frowned but increased his pace, finishing with a burst as Kingston closed in on the sandy beach – and potential freedom. He launched himself into the air, landing on the man and tackling him to the ground with an impressive thud.

Nick fought the urge to both applaud and laugh. “Were you channeling your days from the football team?”