Grave Homecoming (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 1) (22 page)

“You’re sick.”

“I’m enthusiastic,” Todd countered. “Speaking of that, I think we’d better get this show on the road.”

“You want to do it here?” Dustin asked, unconvinced. “It’s cold.”

“They’re going to search my house,” Todd replied. “Your parents are home. Where else should we take her?”

“I’m not sure,” Dustin hedged. “It’s just so cold. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to … you know.”

“Oh, grow up,” Todd scoffed. “Once she’s naked, you won’t be able to think of anything but taking her. Trust me. Her body is fantastic.”

Maddie was out of time, and she knew it. There was only one thing she could do now. Without thinking of the consequences, Maddie lifted her leg and slammed it into Todd’s exposed crotch. He doubled over, screaming as the pain washed over him. Dustin was so surprised, he froze in place.

Maddie took advantage of the few precious seconds she had and launched herself into the water. It was freezing, but it was her only option. She kicked out hard and stroked. If she was lucky, she’d make it to the other side of the lake before passing out.

If she wasn’t, well, anything was better than what they had planned.

NICK
was sure he heard a scream. He increased his pace, and when he crested over the hill and dropped onto the sandy beach, it took him a second to register what he was seeing.

Todd was doubled over and holding his groin. The other figure, one Nick recognized as Dustin Bishop without realizing the ramifications of what he was seeing, was standing next to Todd and waiting for instructions. There was no sign of Maddie.

“Get her!”

“No way,” Dustin said. “Do you know how cold that water must be?”

Nick shifted his head, scanning the water. It was dark, but he could see a small blob bobbing in the middle of the lake.
Maddie.

“We have to get her,” Todd said. “If she escapes, she’ll tell Winters what we did.”

“I think I already know.”

Todd and Dustin both shifted at the same time. Nick was gratified to see the fear on Dustin’s face. The sheer hatred on Todd’s gave him pause.

“Why am I not surprised? I should’ve known Maddie’s great protector would come for her.”

Nick trudged closer to them. He kept his gun holstered. He didn’t want to give either of them a reason to panic. He knew Maddie couldn’t last long in the water, though. This had to end – and it had to end quickly. “I want you both to disarm yourselves and put your hands in the air.”

“And what if we don’t?” Todd asked.

“Then I’ll kill you.”

“Oh, whatever.” Todd was beside himself. “You’ve never killed anyone. It’s not as easy as you think.”

“I’m willing to kill you,” Nick said. “I think you’ve earned it.”

“Oh, and what about young Dustin here? Are you going to kill him, too?”

“I’m going to arrest him.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Todd said. “Can you take us both out before your precious Maddie freezes to death?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? Nick reached for his gun, but it was too late, they were both rushing him at the same time. Nick didn’t think, he just reacted. Dustin got to him first, and he laid the teenager out with a quick punch to the face. His swing was short, but strong, and the teen hit the ground hard.

If Todd was scared by the turn of events, he didn’t show it. He only slowed momentarily before launching himself on Nick. “I’m going to kill you!”

MADDIE
was drowning. The cold water sent her body into shock, and black clouds were poking at the edges of her mind. Nick was grappling with Todd, while Dustin lay unmoving at his feet, but they seemed really far away. Maddie’s feet were still treading water, but they were slowing.

“You have to get out of the water, Maddie.”

Maddie shifted, her mother’s concerned face wafting into view. “I’m … tired, Mommy.”

“You have to swim back to the shore,” Olivia ordered. “You have to do it now. You don’t have a lot of time.”

“I’m not sure I can.”

“Madeline Graves, you can do anything you set your mind to,” Olivia said sternly. “You need to swim to the shore. Nick is there. He’s waiting for you.”

“Nicky,” Maddie mumbled.

“Swim!”

Maddie tried to move. She really did. She felt as if her muscles were on fire, though, and instead she started sinking. She wasn’t going to make it.

As the cold water enveloped her, and her head slipped under the water, Maddie’s last thought was of Nick.
I love you.

NICK
slammed his fist into Todd’s face as hard as he could. He heard the unmistakable sound of bones breaking as Todd crumpled to the ground. Instead of cuffing him, like he should have, Nick turned his attention to the water just in time to see Maddie’s head slip underneath. “Maddie!”

Nick raced toward the water, all thoughts of proper police procedure and possible prisoner escape fleeing. He had to get to her.

He plunged into the water, forcing thoughts of the bitter cold out of his mind. He kicked hard, making it to the spot where he’d last seen Maddie quickly. He dove under the water, searching the murky depths. He splayed his hands out in the dark – his fingers brushing against something waving in the depths.
Her hair!
He kicked harder, and this time his hand found her jacket. He tugged her to him, the two of them emerging from the shallows at the same time.

“Winters?”

It was Dale Kreskin. He was standing on the shore, his gun trained on Dustin and Todd. Nick had no idea when he’d arrived. He was just happy to see him. “Get an ambulance,” he croaked.

“Is she … ?”

“Get an ambulance!”

Nick managed to swim to the shore, even though his strength was waning with each cold stroke. It took everything he had to pull Maddie’s limp form from the water, and Kreskin ultimately had to help him. Nick held her close as he checked to see if she was breathing. When he couldn’t detect any warmth on her lips, he laid her flat on the ground and started pumping her chest.

“Don’t you dare think of leaving me again,” Nick ordered. “You’re not leaving me.”

“Winters, you should let me do that,” Kreskin said. “You’re going into shock.”

“You’re not leaving me again, Maddie,” Nick said, lowering his mouth to hers and pinching her nose so he could fill her lungs with oxygen. “You’re not leaving me!”

Maddie’s body convulsed suddenly, water spewing out her lungs. Nick cried out, relief washing over him. He tilted her body to the side. “Get it out, Mad. Get it out.”

When she was done, Nick shifted her body so it was flush with his and he wrapped his arms around her tightly. Maddie was confused, her eyes distant, but she recognized him. “Nicky.”

“It’s okay,” he said, rocking her. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Everything is going to be okay.”

Maddie was too tired to put up a fight. “Nicky,” she murmured, unconsciousness claiming her again.

Nick pressed his lips to her frigid forehead. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“Sir, you’ve got to give her to us.”

Nick clutched Maddie to his chest, the doctor’s words confusing him. “She needs me.”

“Sir, she needs to be admitted and warmed,” the doctor said. “You need to hand her over.”

Instead of waiting for the ambulance, Kreskin had piled Todd and Dustin into the back of his cruiser and herded an increasingly erratic Nick into the passenger seat. Nick had held onto Maddie so hard during the drive, Kreskin was worried he was smothering her.

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors immediately tried to take Maddie from Nick – but he was fighting their efforts.

Kreskin grabbed Nick’s shoulders forcefully. “Winters, she needs help. I know you don’t want to let her go, but these doctors are here to help her. Hand her over.”

In the back of his mind, Nick grasped the seriousness of the words. He reluctantly rested Maddie on the gurney in front of him. “I don’t know how long she was in the water.”

“How long were you in the water, sir?”

“I’m … fine.”

“He’s in shock or something,” Kreskin supplied.

“I’m not in shock,” Nick protested.

“You’re shaking like a leaf, man,” Kreskin said. “You should’ve waited for help to go in after her.”

“I think he’s showing signs of hypothermia,” one of the nurses said, flashing a light in Nick’s eyes.

“I’m fine,” Nick said, pushing her hand away. He was confused. He just knew he had to make sure Maddie was okay. He couldn’t let himself rest until he knew.

“Admit him,” the doctor ordered. “I don’t care if it’s against his wishes. We can’t let the new town hero die on the eve of his big debut.”

“I need to be with Maddie,” Nick muttered.

He didn’t have the strength to fight when two nurses and two orderlies forced him onto a separate gurney. “She’ll be fine,” one of the nurses said.

“Maddie.”

Nick was losing consciousness, but he was still alert enough to recognize a familiar face when it dropped down to brush an invisible kiss against his cheek. “She’ll be okay, Nick,” Olivia said. “I’ll be with her.”

“Maddie.”

WHEN
Nick woke hours later, he felt as if his whole body was on fire. He was in a hospital room, and he was alone. It took a few moments for the night’s events to come into focus.

“Maddie.”

He rolled off the bed, scowling when he realized his police uniform had been replaced with a hospital gown. When he made his way to the hallway, he found Kreskin resting on a chair outside of his room. “Where is she?”

Kreskin’s eyes snapped open. “You look better.”

“Where is she?”

“You don’t look good, but you look better.”

Kreskin was smiling, and the expression irritated Nick beyond measure. “Where is she?”

“So, hero, how are you feeling?”

Kreskin was purposely-avoiding Nick’s question, which was enough to make him panic. “Did she … ?”
She couldn’t be dead.

“She’s fine,” Kreskin said, patting his arm reassuringly. “The doctors want to keep her overnight. Her grandmother is in with her now. She hasn’t woken up. They gave her a sedative to make sure she would get the rest she needs. They wanted to give you one, too, but I didn’t want to face you tomorrow if they did.”

She was okay. Nick exhaled heavily. “What happened to Todd and Dustin?” Much of the night was a blur, but Nick hadn’t forgotten finding the two of them next to the lake.

“They’ve been taken into custody,” Kreskin replied. “We’re questioning them in the morning. I figured you’d want to be there for that. Dustin was singing a pretty song in the car, though. He’s blaming everything on Todd. He says he was coerced.”

“They’re both assholes.”

“They are,” Kreskin agreed. “The state police are coming to help. We have them searching Winthrop’s townhouse and Dustin’s parents’ house. We had to wake the judge up, but when we told him what happened, he signed the search warrants without complaint. He says he wants updates.”

“Did they say why they killed Sarah Alden?”

“As far as I can tell, it was out of boredom.” Kreskin didn’t seem any more thrilled with the explanation than Nick was.

“What about Maddie? Did they say why they went after her?”

“They saw her at the greenhouse tonight,” Kreskin said. “They thought she knew.”

Nick rubbed his forehead wearily. “How is Maude?”

“Feisty.”

“Is she … is she okay? Maddie is all she has left. She loves her.”

“I don’t think Maude is the only one,” Kreskin said, his face serious. “By the way, Cassidy is in the waiting room. She’s been demanding to see you, but … .”

“I don’t want to see her.”

“I figured,” Kreskin said. “You’re going to have to deal with that situation. You know that, right?”

“I can’t deal with it now,” Nick said. “I need to see Maddie.”

“How did I know that you were going to say that?” Kreskin led Nick down the hallway. “She’s in there. She’s not going to wake up tonight. They drugged her. She kept calling for you and … well … her mother. I think she was just confused.”

Nick’s mind flooded with the memory of Olivia’s voice as she led him – not one misstep – to Maddie. “Yeah, she’s probably just confused. She’ll be fine in the morning.”

“You’re going to sit with her all night, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Maude was asleep in a chair when Nick entered the room. He was quiet. He didn’t want to wake her. She’d had a long night, and she would spend days doting on Maddie.

He made his way to Maddie’s bed and studied her face. She looked content. Her face was pale, but there was a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.
Was she dreaming of him?

Nick lowered his mouth to Maddie’s forehead and pressed his lips to it. He was relieved to find warmth there instead of cold. “I’ll be right here, Mad.”

“Of course you will.”

This time, Nick was sure it was Olivia’s voice he was hearing. “We’ll all be here,” he said, kissing her forehead again. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

From her spot next to Maude, Olivia couldn’t help but smile. Things were falling into place. Maddie was going to be happy. She was sure of it. “Goodnight, Mom,” she said, lowering her mouth to Maude’s ear. “Take care of our Maddie. Oh, and don’t forget to take care of Nick, too. They’re about to go on a bumpy ride together.”

Maude didn’t answer, but her mouth slid into a sly smile.

“It will be bumpy,” Olivia whispered. “It’s going to be wonderful, too. Just you wait and see.”