Grave Haunting (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 10) Page 8

“Insight into Fran that I’m not sure I needed,” Nick admitted. “They’re her shopping records from various websites … and television channels … and even physical catalogs. They go back about three years or so, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of money she spent.”

  “Oh, I think I would believe it,” Maddie countered, gesturing toward the boxes for emphasis. “How much?”

  “I’m up to seventy-five grand and I’m nowhere near done.”

  “Holy crap!” Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”

  Nick nodded. “It makes me wonder if this is why she and Sterling broke up a few years ago. That would’ve been before you came back to town, but you probably remember him from when we were kids.”

  “I remember him.” Maddie made a face. “He was a pervert.”

  Nick stilled. “What do you mean? Did he touch you?”

  “He’s dead, right?”

  Nick nodded slowly. “He died about six months after the divorce was finalized. Fran told anyone who would listen that it was karma.”

  “Well, she might’ve been right about that,” Maddie conceded. “To be fair, he never touched me touched me, if that makes sense.”

  “Yeah, you’re going to need to tell me how he touched you,” Nick gritted out. “If I can find his body I might touch it in retribution.”

  Maddie snorted. “He never molested me or anything. Do you remember that summer before senior year, the one where I suddenly got breasts and everyone noticed?”

  “Yes, that was my favorite summer ever,” Nick answered, smiling at the memory. “You didn’t realize how hot you were and you draped yourself all over me every chance you got.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes in dramatic fashion. “I didn’t drape myself all over you.”

  “That’s not the way I remember it. You were always hugging me … and rubbing yourself against me … and telling me how hot I was.”

  “I’m pretty sure you dreamed that.”

  “No. I remember it very clearly.”

  “Okay. Well, back to what we were talking about … um … I’m going to go back to the other locker and keep looking through all of Fran’s loot.”

  Nick grabbed Maddie’s hand before she could wander away, shaking his head. “Uh-uh, love. Tell me what Sterling Livingston – the man who is lucky to already be dead – did to you.”

  Maddie blew out a heavy sigh. “It wasn’t anything bad or overt,” she cautioned. “He just … used to touch my shoulder a lot.”

  Nick relieved a bit of his grip. “Oh, well, that doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “He would look down my shirt when he was doing it.”

  “Yeah, he’s lucky he’s dead.” Nick slipped his hand to the back of Maddie’s head and gave her a quick kiss. “Keep exclaiming whenever you find something tacky so I know you’re okay.”

  “I will.” Maddie shuffled toward the door. “Hey, Nicky?”

  “Hmm.”

  “Until last summer, that was the best summer of my life, too.”

  Nick flicked his eyes to Maddie. “You know what? I preferred last summer, too. This summer will be even better. I promise.”

  “Because we’re getting married?”

  “Because every single day I spend with you is better than the last, and I’m not even sure how that’s possible.”

  Maddie was still smiling when she wandered back into the nearby storage locker. She tossed the ugly earrings back into the box where she found them and turned to the next potential treasure, not noticing the filmy figure floating at the edge of the room until it started speaking.

  “Oh, well, that was just rude!”

  Maddie jolted, stumbling over her own feet as she moved to get away from the unfamiliar voice. She tangled her feet in a towel on the ground and fell into a stack of boxes, knocking them sideways.

  “Not my Precious Moments!”

  Maddie hit the ground hard, the oxygen momentarily knocked out of her lungs. She stared at Fran Livingston’s ghostly spirit with a mixture of horror and curiosity as Nick bolted into the room.

  “Mad?”

  Maddie dragged her gaze from the unhappy spirit clucking over the spilled boxes and locked gazes with Nick. “We have a guest.”

  It took Nick a moment to realize whom she was referring to. “Fran? Does she know who killed her?”

  Maddie knit her eyebrows, gingerly pressing her palm to the floor so she could regain her footing. “She hasn’t said anything yet.”

  “Well … ask her.”

  Maddie ignored the order. “Do you want to help me up?”

  Nick grinned as he reached over and tugged Maddie to a standing position, taking a moment to smooth her hair and kiss her forehead. “Better?”

  “Not really.” Maddie flicked her attention to an irate Fran as she futilely attempted to pick up the spilled ceramic treasures. “Those are all in boxes, Fran. I’m sure they’re okay.”

  Fran made an incredulous face that forced Maddie to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “You’re sure they’re okay? Oh, well, if you’re sure. You’re an expert, right? You’re an expert at boxing Precious Moments figurines so you, of course, would know.”

  “I don’t really think they have experts at boxing Precious Moments figurines.”

  Nick watched the exchange with muted interest. He was used to Maddie talking to thin air, chatting away with a being only she could see. It didn’t bother him at all anymore. He knew that Fran was close by the way Maddie kept fixing her eyes on a spot near the upended boxes. He was content to let her run the show … at least for the time being.

  “Of course they don’t.” Fran’s response was so dry Maddie had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “I was being facetious. Do you know what that means?”

  “I think it means that you’re kind of a jerk.”

  Nick pressed his lips together as amusement coursed through him. He couldn’t see Fran’s end of the conversation, but Maddie’s response was enough to entertain him.

  “Yes, well, you’re the one going through my things,” Fran pointed out. “Now … off with you. This is my private stuff and you have no business being here.” She made small shooing motions with her hands so Maddie would know she meant business.

  “Technically these aren’t your things any longer,” Maddie argued, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she reminded herself that Fran was newly dead – and in a traumatic and bloody fashion – so she was probably confused and upset. “Fran, do you know what happened to you?”

  “You knocked over my Precious Moments figurines!”

  “Not that.” Maddie slid a conflicted look in Nick’s direction and held her hands palms up. “I’m talking about what happened to you at the bed and breakfast.”

  “The Bayside?” Fran screwed her face up in concentration. “What do you mean? Did something happen at the bed and breakfast?”

  Fran was pretty close to overwrought and Maddie wasn’t sure she could blame the woman for her inner turmoil. That didn’t mean she could allow her to meander either. “What’s the last thing you remember, Fran?”

  “You knocking over my Precious Moments collection and not even bothering to put them back in the box.”

  “Oh, geez.” Maddie sucked in a calming breath and flashed a tight smile for Nick’s benefit. “Nicky, I don’t suppose you would put the Precious Moments figurines back in the box, would you?”

  “Sure.” Nick agreed without argument. He knew Maddie would only ask if it were important. He had a feeling she was trying to walk Fran back to the moment of her death in the nicest way possible. Maddie had a good heart and that meant she couldn’t be mean … even when someone else was being mean to her. She simply didn’t have it in her most of the time.

  Nick sat on the ground and started collecting the spilled contents, carefully placing the smaller boxes inside the larger one so Fran would have nothing to complain about.

  “See,” Maddie prodded. “Nick is being very gentle. He has ver
y gentle hands.”

  Fran snorted. “Yes, I saw those gentle hands at work at the fair this summer. You two were sitting on a blanket at the edge of the park and his gentle hands were up your shirt.”

  Maddie made a horrified face. “That is not true!”

  “What did she say?” Nick was intrigued despite Maddie’s obvious discomfort.

  “She said she saw you feeling me up at the festival this summer.”

  “Oh, that’s not true,” Nick said, shaking his head. “Maddie would never let something like that happen in public. She’s far too prudish.”

  “I am not a prude!”

  “I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” Nick said hurriedly. “I merely said that you’re a lady.”

  “That’s not even remotely what you said.”

  “Well, I’m saying it now and this is not going to lead to a fight.” Nick held firm. “Whatever Fran says, you know darned well I didn’t feel you up in public.”

  “I saw it,” Fran argued.

  “Then you need glasses,” Maddie shot back.

  “Your lips were all over each other!” Fran’s voice hopped an octave. “I saw it.”

  “Kissing is not the same thing as feeling someone up,” Maddie argued.

  “It is, too.”

  “It is not.”

  “It is, too.”

  “It is not.”

  “Okay, Mad, I think you’re getting off on a tangent here,” Nick noted. “Get her back on track, please.”

  “Fine.” Maddie crossed her arms over her chest, annoyed. “Fran, I need you to think back to the last thing you remember – and before you say something about those stupid Precious Moments statues, just know that I will smash them all if you mention me knocking over that box again. What do you remember?”

  “I … don’t know.” Fran’s expression reflected a mixture between murderous and confused. “I should be able to remember, right?”

  “Maybe not,” Maddie hedged, her sympathy roaring back. “A lot of ghosts find it difficult to remember the moments leading up to their death. Sometimes it’s so traumatic … .”

  “Death?” Fran cut off Maddie with a fervent headshake. “What are you talking about? Who died?”

  Maddie swallowed hard, realizing too late that Fran hadn’t put the biggest piece of the puzzle together yet. “Oh, well … um … .” Maddie edged closer to Nick and lowered her voice. “She doesn’t know that she’s dead.”

  Nick’s face was blank. “How is that possible?”

  “How am I supposed to know?”

  “You’re the expert on ghosts.”

  “She’s certainly not the expert on putting Precious Moments back in the box,” Fran snarked. “She’s clearly crazy, too.”

  “I am not crazy,” Maddie snapped, extending a finger. “I warned you what would happen if you brought up the Precious Moments statues again. Do you want me to break them?”

  Nick squinted one eye as he looked Maddie up and down. She rarely became aggressive – especially with a ghost – but Fran was clearly wearing on her last nerve. “Mad, we both know you’re not going to break the statues.”

  Maddie ignored him. “You don’t want to mess with me, Fran. I’m serious.”

  Fran stared at Maddie, her eyes filled with loathing. “What do you want me to say? I am not dead!”

  “Try to touch me,” Maddie instructed, her patience wearing thin. “That’s the only thing that will prove it to you.”

  “Hey, if you’re asking for volunteers, I’ll totally touch you,” Nick offered.

  “See! He’s a pervert,” Fran screeched.

  “He’s not a pervert.”

  “I could be a pervert,” Nick argued.

  Maddie shot him a dark look. “You’re not helping.”

  “I didn’t know that’s what I was supposed to be doing.” Nick’s grin was charming. “Mad, if she doesn’t realize she’s dead, what good is she going to be to us?”

  “That’s why I’m trying to get her to come to grips with the fact that she’s dead,” Maddie explained. “Fran, I’m not joking. Try to touch me.”

  For the first time since popping into the locker, Fran looked conflicted. She was certain she was alive, but Maddie was equally certain she wasn’t. There’d always been whispers about the Graves women – Olivia in particular – and if Maddie kept insisting that she was dead … well … perhaps there was a chance she really was dead.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Fran took a step away from Maddie, her already pale face turning even more ashen. “I … um … I am not dead.”

  “You are, Fran,” Maddie insisted. “It’s important you realize it. It’s even more important that you try to remember what happened to you because … it was bad.”

  “It was bad?” Fran’s hand flew to her mouth as she squeaked out the question. “Are you telling me that someone murdered me?”

  “Why else would we be here going through your stuff?”

  “I thought you were just nosy,” Fran admitted. “I thought maybe you were trying to steal stuff, too. You’re getting married, right? You’ll need decorations for the house once you’re married.”

  Maddie didn’t have the heart to tell Fran what she thought about the decorating idea. “Fran, what’s the deal with all of this stuff? Did you have a shopping addiction? You kind of remind me of a hoarder.”

  “I am not a hoarder!” Fran managed to reclaim the righteous indignation she’d lost only moments before. “Hoarders are filthy … and they have a bunch of cats … and they keep garbage.”

  Maddie’s gaze drifted back to the gaudy earrings. “Well, they’re not exactly cats but … .”

  “Those are haute couture!”

  “Sure.” Maddie licked her lips. “It’s important that you remember what happened to you Fran. We can’t help you if you don’t remember. Once you do … um … I can help you move on.”

  “Where?”

  “To the other side.”

  “Will all my stuff be there?”

  That was a really good question and Maddie had no idea how to answer. “I’m sure it will be,” she lied.

  “Oh, well, I’ll consider it.” Fran squared her shoulders. “Until then … get out of my locker and leave my stuff alone. Do you understand? This is my stuff.”

  Maddie merely nodded as Fran faded away. When it was just the two of them, she turned her full attention to Nick. “You really are a pervert. I never realized it until today.”

  “You realized it.” Nick winked as he grinned. “What do you think is going to happen with Fran?”

  “I have no idea, but she’s more messed up than I think anyone ever realized,” Maddie answered. “I think she managed to hide it before but … there’s no way all of this is from the death.”

  “Well, you can only do what you can do. I … .”

  The sound of shuffling feet on the cement near the doorway drew their attention, and when Maddie and Nick turned in that direction they found an unexpected guest standing in the doorway.

  “What are you doing here?” Maddie asked her father, flustered. “Are you following me?”

  “If you aren’t,” Nick added. “You have some explaining to do. So … what’s better? Are you a stalker or are you visiting a dead woman’s storage locker?”

  10

  Ten

  George felt as if he was caught in a surreal nightmare and he would wake up any second and wonder what he ate that caused his dreams to be so funky. He realized Nick was speaking to him, as if over a great chasm, and focused on the boy even though he was far more interested in the stunned-looking girl.

  “What did you say?”

  Nick remained calm, comfortable with the fact that Maddie was close to him and the room was too small for George to try anything violent. He doubted the man had anything to do with Fran’s death – motive wasn’t there as far as he could tell – but George’s sudden appearance at Fran’s storage locker was enough to make him wary.

  “I asked w
hat you were doing here,” Nick repeated. “Are you following Maddie?”

  George realized what Nick was insinuating and mustered a dark expression. “Not last time I checked.”

  “Then what are you doing here?”

  “I … well … I saw your vehicle in the parking lot,” George admitted. “I guess I didn’t realize it was your truck and not Maddie’s and I took a chance that I might be able to talk to her.”

  “I see.” Nick spared a glance for Maddie, who looked to be contemplating something big so he left her to her busy mind and remained focused on her father. “That’s kind of like stalking. You realize that, right?”

  “I was driving by the storage facility and saw the truck,” George clarified. “I wasn’t following her. I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Okay, but what would you have done if she was in here alone?” Nick challenged, refusing to give George enough breathing room to think up a lie. He wanted the man to tell the truth – whether it was ultimately something Maddie wanted to hear or not – and he was determined to get a few answers this time. “Would you have tried to box her in one of these rooms and go at her until you got what you wanted?”

  George’s mouth dropped open as stunned disbelief washed over him. “I’m not sure I know what you’re suggesting – although I have a terrible idea – and if I’m right, you’re a very sick man and I don’t think Maddie is safe around you.”

  Nick ran what he said through his head and realized there was a very sick double meaning mixed in there. “That is not what I meant. I didn’t think you would … touch her … or anything.”

  “Oh, gross.” Maddie regained a bit of her verbal footing and squared her shoulders. “You realize I’m standing next to you, right? This isn’t helping that pervert comment from before, Nicky.”

  Nick shrugged, his smile sheepish. “I’ll keep that in mind, love.” He swallowed as he stood, internally debating his next move. “Did you know what we were doing here?”

  “I had no idea,” George replied. “I thought Maddie might’ve had stuff stored here. Like I said, I didn’t realize the truck belonged to you. I saw it parked in the driveway and assumed you had a department vehicle.”

  “I do, but I have my own vehicle, too.” Nick rolled his neck. “Just for the record, this is Fran Livingston’s storage locker. That would be the woman who owns the bed and breakfast where you’re staying, in case you’ve forgotten.”