Grave Concerns

  Grave Concerns

  A Maddie Graves Mystery

  Book Five

  Lily Harper Hart

  Text copyright © 2015 Lily Harper Hart

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Up Next

  Author’s Note

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

  One

  “My car is full, sweetie. I’m going to head home and start unloading.”

  Nick Winters glanced up from the box he was packing, his face brightening when he caught sight of the only woman he’d ever loved. Maddie Graves, her honey-colored hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and her face devoid of makeup, was the prettiest thing in his world.

  “I’m probably going to be an hour behind you,” Nick said, shifting his attention to his half-packed living room. “Some of this stuff is staying behind for John. We don’t need the furniture, and he’s too cheap to buy his own. He’d probably use milk crates if left to his own devices. I’m not leaving any of my books or my vinyl collection behind, though. I’m a good brother. I’m not a saint.”

  Maddie smirked. “You are a saint.”

  Nick opened his arms so Maddie could step into his embrace. They’d been best friends since kindergarten. They’d been in love for more than a decade, even though neither of them could admit it. They’d only been officially together for a month. Despite all of that, Nick didn’t think he’d ever get tired of simply holding his favorite girl.

  “I love you, Mad,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her cheek.

  “I love you, too,” Maddie sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I know we haven’t spent a night apart since we got together, but this still seems huge to me. After today we’re going to be living together.”

  “You and I are forever, my Maddie,” Nick said, splaying his hands over her slim back. “If you want to know the truth, though, I’m kind of excited to be able to say that we’re living together, too. Now when I say ‘I’m going home,’ I’ll actually be going to the home we share.”

  “Well, us and Granny,” Maddie corrected, referring to her grandmother Maude, who was spending the day getting her new apartment settled. It was Maude who suggested renovating the garage at the large Graves family Victorian. The main floor of the house – other than the kitchen – was dedicated to Maddie’s magic shop. The garage recently underwent extensive renovations so Maude – who was having trouble with the narrow staircase that led to the second-floor bedrooms – could have her own space. The threesome was still a family, but now they were a family with privacy.

  “You know what, Mad? I think everything is going to work out fine,” Nick said. “Maude has her Pink Ladies to play with. Now we don’t have to worry about her on the stairs. We’ll have the upstairs to ourselves. It’s going to be okay.”

  “I know it is,” Maddie said, pulling back so she could study Nick’s face. “It’s scary and exciting at the same time.”

  “What scares you, love?” Nick asked, his heart inadvertently rolling. “Are you having second thoughts about us moving in together?”

  “Of course not,” Maddie scoffed. “Nothing has ever felt more right than being with you. It’s just … you’re going to see me at my worst. You’re going to see me when my hair is a mess in the morning. You’re going to see me when I’m sick. Heck, you’re going to see me right before I shave my legs.”

  Nick chuckled, delighted by the way Maddie’s mind worked. “I’ve already seen you when your hair is a mess,” he said. “I think it’s adorable. As for being sick, well, you’re going to see me when I’m sick, too. Is that going to make you hate me?”

  “Don’t be stupid.”

  “We’re building a life together, Mad,” Nick said. “When you’re sick, I want to take care of you. When I’m sick, I’m a total baby. I’m going to make you dress up in a sexy nurse’s uniform and cater to my every whim.”

  “I remember what a baby you are when you’re sick,” Maddie said. “I used to make you homemade chicken noodle soup and bring it to your house. Do you remember?”

  “I remember every second we’ve ever spent together, Mad,” Nick said. “You do make a mean soup.”

  Maddie wasn’t quite ready to let her qualms go. “What about shaving my legs?”

  Nick grinned. “You can close the bathroom door.”

  Maddie wrinkled her nose and leaned in to share a sweet kiss with the man who held dominion over her heart. “I love you, Nicky.”

  “I love you more than anything in this world, my Maddie. Nothing will ever change that.”

  After a few more minutes of cuddling, Maddie reluctantly pulled away. “I’m going to go and start unpacking this stuff. If I stay here, we’re never going to get the rest of your stuff to … our home.”

  “I won’t be long, Mad,” Nick said, brushing his thumb against her cheek. “I’m ready to start our new life. In fact, how about I pick up some dinner on my way home? What do you want?”

  “How about Chinese?”

  “That sounds good,” Nick said, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. “I’ll pick up a bunch of entrees so we have leftovers. Does Maude still like sesame chicken, beef and broccoli, egg rolls, and crab wanton?”

  “I can’t believe you remember that?” Maddie was mystified. “You really are the best man ever.”

  “That’s because I love the best woman ever,” Nick said. “Now, get your cute little rear end in gear. You’re too much of a distraction for me to focus on manual labor.”

  Maddie’s smile was so wide it almost swallowed her entire face as she moved toward the front door. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Just think, Mad. When you see me again we’re officially going to be sharing a home.”

  “Nothing has ever sounded better to me than that,” Maddie said.

  NICK was almost done when he heard a car pull up in front of his soon-to-be-former home. He glanced out the front window, frowning when he saw his mother exit her Ford Caravan and head toward the front door. Great. What does she want?

  Nick’s cabin on the river had been his sanctuary for almost five years. It belonged to his grandfather before him, and now he was passing it on to his brother John. Nick loved the house, but he loved Maddie more. He wanted their life to be together and she couldn’t leave her house because of her store and Maude. By selling his house to his brother, Nick could still enjoy fishing and hanging out at one of his favorite places while embracing the life he’d always dreamed of with Maddie. It was the best of both worlds.

  Nick couldn’t understand why his mother was making an appearance now – after all the work was done. He had a sinking suspicion that she was up to something. He loved her, but she could be manipulative when she wanted to be.

  Sharon Winters was all bright smiles and twinkling eyes when she walked into the nearly bare living room. Nick was instantly on alert.

  “How is my favorite son?” Sharon asked.

  “Anxious to tell your other son that you’re referring to me that way,” Nick replied, nonplussed. “What’s up, Mom?”

  Nick’s parents didn’t technically live in Blackstone Bay. They
lived fifteen minutes outside of the small hamlet, although their ties to the community ran deep. Nick shouldn’t have been surprised to see his mother, but she usually gave him notice before visiting. Something was definitely up.

  “Don’t look at me that way,” Sharon chided, wagging a finger in her son’s face. “I’m not up to anything.”

  “Did I say you were up to something?”

  “You have a certain look when you’re suspicious,” Sharon replied.

  Nick arched a challenging eyebrow.

  “And there it is,” Sharon said, smirking. “How close are you to being completely moved into Maddie’s house?”

  Even though she was trying to change the subject, Nick knew his mother would eventually get around to whatever topic was really on her mind. He decided to wait her out. “I’ve promised to start referring to it as ‘our house,’ Mom. You can start calling it that, too.”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it,” Sharon said, instantly apologetic. “That house has always been a second home for you. Olivia was technically Maddie’s mother, but you went to her more often than you did me. I know that you consider that place home. I honestly didn’t mean to get a dig in.”

  “Just for the record, I went to Olivia when I was a kid because she had homemade cookies.”

  Sharon smirked. “I’m not a baker. What can I say?”

  “Seriously, Mom, why are you here?”

  “Can’t a mother stop by to see her son before he moves in with the love of his life?” Sharon was playing a game. Nick just couldn’t figure out which one.

  “I’ve been moving my stuff for weeks,” Nick reminded her. “You haven’t cared until now. Tell me what you want. I promised Maddie I would pick up dinner on the way home.”

  “Okay, maybe I do want something,” Sharon conceded.

  “Here it comes.”

  Sharon rolled her eyes. “Nicholas Winters, you’ve always had a penchant for the snide. It’s not an attractive quality – especially for a police officer.”

  Now it was Nick’s turn to roll his eyes. “Mother, I love you. You know that. I still know you’re up to something. Just … tell me. You’re dragging this out when you don’t have to. I want to get … home.”

  Sharon’s expression softened. “You’re so happy it’s almost sickening.”

  “I am happy,” Nick agreed. “I’ve never been this happy. That’s why I’m even willing to put up with whatever manipulation you have planned. What is it? Are you going to throw some huge family dinner now that Maddie and I are officially a couple? Are you going to smother her with kisses and hugs and then start pressuring her for grandchildren? If that’s the case, we’ll come to dinner, but we’re not having kids for a few years. We’ve already talked about it.”

  Sharon’s eyes twinkled. “You’ve already talked about children? That’s … quick.”

  “It’s not going to be quick, Mom,” Nick corrected. “Just because Maddie I skipped huge portions of our dating life and decided to move in together right away, that doesn’t mean we’re rushing anything else. We’re going to enjoy being together for a little bit and then move forward.”

  “You mean you’re going to live together for a few months until you can plan a huge proposal,” Sharon corrected. “I’m not an idiot. I know you’re going to propose to Maddie.”

  “You drive me crazy,” Nick muttered.

  “I am not here about a big family dinner,” Sharon countered. “I am here about family, though. With all that’s been going on in your life, I’m guessing you forgot what this week is.”

  Nick furrowed his brow, racking his brain as he tried to remember what family birthday he was forgetting.

  “Don’t overheat yourself,” Sharon ordered, affectionately tousling her son’s dark hair. “It’s just … this week is our annual family reunion. This is the week we go camping as an extended family.”

  Nick internally groaned. “Mom, I have too much going on right now to go camping. I’m in the middle of a move.”

  “Are you saying you’re too busy to spend time with your parents?”

  “Mom!” Nick was exasperated. His mother always knew exactly what buttons to push.

  “Your aunts, uncles, and cousins are going to be there,” Sharon reminded him. “Your brother, sister, and niece are going to be there, too. We do this every year. It shouldn’t come as a shock to you.”

  “But … .”

  Sharon cut him off. “You’re on vacation for the entire week. Don’t bother denying it. I called Dale just to make sure.”

  Nick scowled. Dale Kreskin was his partner and one of the only other full-time representatives of the Blackstone Bay Police Department. Of course his mother would double-check her facts before approaching him. “Mom, I’m moving in with Maddie. We’ve got a lot planned for this week.”

  “I’m not asking you to leave Maddie for the week.”

  “You’re not?” Nick was dubious.

  “Of course not,” Sharon replied. “I expect you to bring Maddie so the entire family can get reacquainted. They haven’t seen her in ten years.”

  And there it was. His mother was a master at getting what she wanted. What she wanted was to orchestrate a coming out party for Maddie.

  “I’m not sure Maddie wants to go camping,” Nick argued.

  “Maddie loves camping. She used to come with us on the trip every year when you were younger.”

  “Mom, we have plans,” Nick said. Most of those plans revolved around romance and cuddling, but Nick wasn’t about to admit that to his mother.

  “You and Maddie can spend time together and with us this week,” Sharon said. “We’re your family, too. You’ve been obsessed with spending time with Maddie since she got back to town. I get it. You two are together now, though. You can start filling family obligations together.”

  “What about Maude?” Nick knew he was grasping at straws, and Maude was the last one he had to utilize.

  “Maude is a grown woman who has been taking care of herself for a very long time,” Sharon countered. “She’ll survive.”

  “But … .”

  “There will be no more arguments, Nicholas,” Sharon said, pinching her son’s cheek for good measure. “I’ll see you at River Park Campground the day after tomorrow. There are no acceptable excuses for not showing up. I will haunt you until the day I die – and maybe after – if you try to get out of this. Keep that in mind.”

  Nick internally sighed. “Fine, Mom. You win.”

  Two

  “I don’t understand what … this … is.”

  Maddie wrinkled her nose and leaned forward so she could study her grandmother’s latest find. She thought she knew what she was looking at, but when her grandmother set her mind to something, all bets were off.

  Maude Graves made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat, tilting her head and cracking her neck as she tugged on her limited patience. “It’s a disco ball.”

  “I know it’s a disco ball,” Maddie said. “I don’t understand what you want it for.”

  “To disco.”

  Maddie licked her lips. It was best to approach Maude with a soft touch when she was in a mood. The problem was, the older she got the more moods Maude seemed to discover. “You’re going to disco in your new apartment?”

  “This is my new party pad,” Maude said, gesturing around her new home. “I need a disco ball to party.”

  Maddie smiled. She couldn’t help herself. “Are you going to be partying here a lot?”

  “I’m going to be setting this town on fire with my parties.”

  “Not literally, right?”

  “You’re so funny, Maddie girl,” Maude said, tweaking her granddaughter’s nose. “Why are you so happy today?”

  “I’m happy every day.”

  “You’re especially … shiny … today,” Maude countered. “What’s up?”

  “We packed the last of Nick’s stuff up this afternoon,” Maddie explained. “He’s officially a full-time reside
nt here.”

  “Oh, you mean you’re officially living in sin,” Maude corrected. “I applaud your dirty mind.”

  Maddie scowled. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I don’t like it when you talk like that, Granny.”

  “As long as you keep calling me ‘Granny’ I’m going to talk however I want,” Maude shot back. “I’m not old enough to be anyone’s granny.”

  “Ah, I see my ladies are getting along,” Nick said, breezing in through the side door. “What are you two fighting about today?”

  “We aren’t fighting,” Maude argued. “This is the way we communicate.”

  Nick glanced at Maddie. “Are you going to stand by that story, too?”

  “Granny has a new light,” Maddie replied, avoiding the question.

  “I need you to put it up for me,” Maude instructed.

  Nick furrowed his brow. “What kind of light?”

  Maude lifted Maude’s new prize for Nick’s perusal.

  “I see,” Nick said, fighting the mad urge to laugh. “Is there a reason you need a disco ball?”

  “This is my new party pad.”

  “Ah,” Nick smirked. “Are you going to have a lot of parties?”

  “She says she’s going to start the town on fire with her parties,” Maddie supplied.

  “Well, that’s definitely something to look forward to,” Nick replied, unruffled. “I can put that up for you after dinner. I bought Chinese.”

  Maude brightened. “I love Chinese. What did you get me?”

  “All of your favorites,” he answered. “It’s on the kitchen table. Why don’t we share a family meal and then … well … I have something to talk to you about, Mad.”

  Maddie’s shoulders stiffened. “Are you still moving in?”

  Nick sighed. Maddie’s insecurity reared its ugly head at the worst times. “Why would you ask that?”

  “I … you were excited when I left your place,” Maddie replied. “You don’t seem excited now.”

  “And you naturally assume that means I don’t want to move in with you?”

  “I … of course not,” Maddie said, collecting herself. “You just seem … different … from when I left you.”

  “Well, that’s because I had a visitor,” Nick said, ushering Maddie toward the main house. “All my stuff is here, Mad. We’re officially cohabitating. This is what I want. I wish you would stop worrying about things like that.”