Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) Read online

  “Because she had material information on the case,” John replied smoothly, his eyes briefly landing on Christy. He knew her from a previous case and things got flirty between them before he was forced to leave town. Now he was clearly at a loss for why she was with Cooper. “Maddie thought she saw the victim at the fair yesterday and we had to ascertain if that was true.”

  “Was it?” Cassidy asked. “Did she kill her?”

  Nick scowled. “What is the matter with you? How can you even ask something like that?”

  “Cooper says that Maddie is hiding something and he thinks it’s the fact that she’s a murderer,” Marla replied, not ashamed in the least to spout the ridiculous theory. “I happen to agree with him. Maddie is definitely evil, so she’s probably a murderer, too.”

  “I think I should go,” Maddie said, forcing a smile. “I just … need to get away from this.”

  “Mad, don’t let them upset you,” Nick chided. “They’re not worth it.”

  “I’m not upset,” Maddie replied. “I just … need some air. I’ll be over at the fairgrounds if you need me.”

  Nick wasn’t keen on letting her go. “Don’t wander anywhere by yourself,” he ordered. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. In fact, I’ll be there by lunch no matter what. We’ll eat together.”

  Maddie forced a smile for his benefit. “I can’t wait.”

  Nick watched her go, a vise closing around his heart as he forced himself not to follow her. She looked lost, a pretty blond figure cutting a lonely swath against the town backdrop as she hurried away. Once he was sure she was out of earshot, he turned his fury on Cooper. “I’ve had just about enough of you.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Kreskin said, shaking his head. “You’re not a part of this investigation, Mr. Asshat … er, I mean Ashton.”

  Nick fought the urge to snicker. “I think Asshat is more fitting.”

  “Me, too,” John said.

  “You can’t talk to him that way,” Marla challenged. “He’s a celebrity.”

  “I don’t care if he’s the king of England,” Kreskin shot back. “He’s impeding our investigation.”

  “I can solve this case,” Cooper argued. “For example … .” He broke off, holding his hand to his forehead. “The newest victim was thirty … or thirty-two … or maybe twenty-four … and she had dark hair and eyes.”

  Kreskin and Nick exchanged an incredulous look.

  “Well, is he right?” Cassidy asked, rubbing her hands together. “If he is, I think you have to let him in on this case.”

  “We don’t have an identity yet on the victim, so we don’t have an age,” Kreskin replied, enjoying his role as spoiler. “He was dead wrong about the other aspects, though.”

  “You didn’t let me finish,” Cooper protested. “I meant to say she either had dark hair and eyes … or she didn’t.”

  “So you’re willing to go out on a limb and say she was a woman?” John asked. “That’s mighty bold of you.”

  Christy scorched John with a harsh look. “You shouldn’t make fun of him. He has the gift.”

  “You should steer clear of him because he’s a fraud and he’s trying to interject himself into an investigation he has no business being a part of,” John snapped. “I thought you had more common sense … or at least better taste in men.”

  Christy squared her shoulders. “Well, the last man I was interested in left town and didn’t bother calling,” she said, her tone haughty. “I’m not sure I ever had good taste in men.”

  John opened his mouth to say something snotty, but Nick shook his head, a silent warning passing between them.

  “John isn’t wrong, Christy,” Nick said. “I expect Marla and Cassidy to make fools of themselves falling all over this guy because they think it’s a mark of status to be seen with him. I thought you were different.”

  “I don’t care about status,” Christy argued. “I care about protecting this community. Cooper has the gift. He can help you solve this case.”

  “What gift?” Nick asked, frustrated.

  “He found the first body.”

  “Well, he could’ve put it there,” Nick said. “That might explain how he knew where it was.”

  “Then wouldn’t he know what the second victim looked like?” Marla challenged. “If he was guilty of one, certainly he would have to be guilty of the other. How do you explain him not knowing what this new victim looked like?”

  “Because he’s a fraud and he’s playing all of you for fools,” Nick snapped. “He’s looking for attention and you three are playing into it. This isn’t a game. We have two dead women.”

  “I never said it was a game,” Cooper said. “I’m deadly serious about helping you. The spirits will show me the way.”

  “Well, the spirits better show you the way back around the tape or I’m arresting you,” Kreskin said. “I’m not kidding. You have two seconds to get over there. Anyone left on this side of the tape after that – and yes, that includes Marla, Cassidy, and Christy, too – will be arrested and thrown in jail. I’ve had enough of this … nonsense.”

  “More will die,” Cooper warned, raising his hand ominously to the sky. “Their deaths will be on you.”

  “And my foot will be in your rear end if you don’t get out of here,” Kreskin snapped. “I just … is this a town or a freak show?”

  MADDIE was lost in thought as she made her way to the fairgrounds, guilt about not stopping the woman’s death plaguing her. In her head, she knew Nick was right and there was nothing she could do with the limited information she had. In her heart, though, she would always wonder if she could’ve saved her.

  Maddie pulled up short when she saw the protesters in front of the town square. They were quiet today – which was a change from the previous two days – but Maddie realized that was probably because they were having their morning coffee while gearing up for another long afternoon of chanting and walking in a circle.

  Not one to ignore a helpful coincidence, Maddie moved toward the protesters and scanned the faces for one that looked welcoming. She settled on a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties and headed in his direction.

  “Excuse me.”

  The man jerked at the sound of Maddie’s voice, turning swiftly enough that he almost spilled his coffee on the pavement. “You frightened me.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Maddie said, holding her hands up in a placating manner. “I was just hoping to talk to you before you started your yelling today.”

  The man was attractive in a nerdy sort of way. His hair was uneven and brushed away from his face, and his wire-rimmed glasses hung low on his nose until he pushed them up. He smiled at Maddie, his cheeks coloring. “Yelling, huh? Is that what you think we’re doing?”

  “Oh, well … .” Maddie was caught off guard. She couldn’t help but wonder if there was some sort of protester etiquette she accidentally ignored when she approached him. “It sounds a lot like yelling,” she said finally. “I suppose it’s more than that to you, though. I’m sorry.”

  The man chuckled. “Don’t be sorry,” he said. “I don’t blame you for thinking this is ridiculous. I only came because my mother made me.”

  Maddie stilled, surprised. “Your mother made you? Aren’t you an adult? I mean, you look young, but clearly you’re an adult, right?”

  “I am,” the man said, extending his hand. “I’m Jesse Harper.”

  Maddie took his hand. “Maddie Graves.”

  “That over there is my mother, Connie Harper,” Jesse said, pointing toward an angry looking woman sipping a mug of coffee across the way. “She’s convinced Cooper Ashton is the Devil’s minion and she’s not going to stop following him until he stops claiming he can talk to the dead.”

  “That’s … interesting.” Maddie wasn’t sure how to respond. “Does your mother have a personal relationship with Cooper?”

  “She does,” Jesse confirmed. “My sister died when we were teenagers and my mother spent a few years
desperately depressed because of it. Eventually she paid Cooper a lot of money to communicate with her. After one too many slip-ups, my mother realized Cooper was a fraud and she’s spent the past two years trying to make sure everyone else realizes that, too.”

  “I’m sorry about your sister,” Maddie said. “That was probably hard on your mother. It’s not exactly the same thing, but I lost my mother a few months ago. I know it’s tough.”

  “My mother never got over it,” Jesse said. “She’s practically bankrupted herself following Cooper around the country. She’s determined not to let anyone else fall prey to his act.”

  “Did you meet Cooper when all of this was going on?”

  “I wasn’t around for it,” Jesse replied. “I went to college in Virginia and then I went to get my master’s degree afterward. I didn’t realize she was so far off the rails until Christmas this past year. She asked me to join on her crusade, and while it wasn’t exactly something I wanted to do, I’m too worried to leave her alone.”

  “That’s too bad,” Maddie said, her heart going out to the man. He was a good son. “Have you ever heard of Cooper being right on anything?”

  “Not really,” Jesse said. “I’ve done a little research on psychic charlatans, and most of them seem to do this cold read technique where they manage to glean a few hard facts just by looking at someone. Then, when they get the first few things right, people are more likely to forgive screw-ups later.”

  “For example?” Maddie prodded.

  “For example Cooper would look at you and say something like you’re going through a tough breakup.”

  “Why would he think that?”

  “Because you have circles under your eyes, which denotes a rough night, and you’re not wearing a wedding ring,” Jesse said. “Personally, I think it’s a shame a woman like you is single.”

  “I’m not single,” Maddie said, hoping her cheeks didn’t look as red as they felt. “I live with my boyfriend. We did have a late night, but not because of any internal problems. He’s a police officer and the recent deaths are … troublesome.”

  Jesse arched an eyebrow. “Deaths? As in plural? Has someone else died?”

  “Oh, I thought everyone knew already,” Maddie said. “Yeah. They found another body behind the bank.”

  “That’s terrible,” Jesse said, shaking his head. “Do they have any leads?”

  “I think it’s too soon.”

  “But … are they looking at Cooper?” Jesse looked intrigued. “It would make sense because he found the first body. That’s the rumor we heard anyway.”

  “I would imagine they’re looking at Cooper, but I can’t tell you if it’s serious or just a passing thing,” Maddie said. “I honestly don’t know.”

  “Your boyfriend doesn’t talk about work with you?”

  “Not if he can help it,” Maddie replied. “He doesn’t want to give me nightmares.”

  “Well, that’s too bad,” Jesse said. “This isn’t the first time death has followed Cooper around, though. I can’t say I’m surprised.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’ve just heard rumors about other people dying in cities Cooper visits,” Jesse explained. “This isn’t the first time he’s showed up in a town and then had a body drop a few hours later.”

  Maddie was stunned. “Has he been looked at as a suspect before?”

  Jesse shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I’m sorry.”

  “No, thanks for the information,” Maddie said, her eyes drifting to the spot at the far side of the fairgrounds. She recognized the blond head as it bobbed aimlessly in the early morning mist. She knew she wasn’t looking at a human, but the spirit left behind appeared sad and lost. “I should get going and set up my booth. Thank you for your time.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Jesse said, offering Maddie a small smile. “If you decide to break up with your boyfriend, I would love to buy you a cup of coffee.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet,” Maddie said. “We’ll never break up, though. We’re in it for the long haul.”

  11

  Eleven

  Maddie was careful to make sure no one followed her as she picked her way around the empty fairgrounds. It was early, so the festival wasn’t open yet, and the normal faces usually littering the booths and midway throughout set-up preparations were absent. Maddie assumed it was because they heard about the murder and wanted to see for themselves if it was true, but she had no way of knowing if her assumption was correct.

  Because the ground was still warm and the air dropped to much cooler temperatures at night, the morning was foggy. Maddie tried to shrug off the fear coursing through her as she walked toward the most remote part of the fairgrounds. Nick wouldn’t be happy when she told him what happened, but she couldn’t risk missing the dead woman’s ghost.

  When Maddie arrived at the spot she last saw the spirit she found it empty. She swiveled quickly, narrowing her eyes as she searched the eerie grounds, and almost jumped out of her skin when she found a pair of blue eyes watching her when she made a complete turn.

  “Hello,” Maddie said, keeping her voice low but friendly as she tried to rein in her fluttery heartbeat. “Do you know where you are?”

  The woman was confused. “Do you know where I am?”

  “You’re at the Blackstone Bay Fall Festival,” Maddie explained. “Does that sound familiar to you?”

  “I don’t know,” the woman said, fearfully glancing around. “I think I was here last night, but everything is jumbled in my head now. Can you help me get home?”

  Maddie’s heart rolled. This wasn’t the first time she’d come across a confused ghost. Most people pass on if they die of natural causes. If they suffer from a long illness, they have time to accept their imminent death – and in some cases, even embrace it. There are worse things than dying, and suffering is one of them. In other cases, like a stroke or sudden onset heart attack, the brain has a way of telling you you’re dying so you’re aware of what’s happening to you.

  Murder and accidents are a different story.

  Some murder victims hang on because they want someone to pay for killing them. Others are ripped violently from their lives so they have no choice but to cling to the last thing they remember. Accident victims are often the same. They can’t accept that their life was snuffed out so quickly – with no warning attached – so they remain behind because they don’t know what else to do.

  It was victims like the one in front of Maddie now, though, who were the most difficult to deal with. Whoever this woman was – and Maddie didn’t recognize her now that she was up close and personal – there was a good chance she didn’t know she was dead.

  “What’s your name?” Maddie asked, adopting a kind approach. “Do you know your name?”

  “It’s Cathy Winchester.”

  “Hi, Cathy,” Maddie said, pressing her hand to the spot above her heart. “I’m Maddie Graves. I live here in Blackstone Bay. Do you live her, too?”

  Maddie hoped if she took a roundabout way to the truth Cathy would be able to see what happened to her without Maddie forcing horrific realizations upon her. If Cathy didn’t get there on her own, well, then Maddie was going to have some tough choices in front of her.

  “I live in Elk Rapids,” Cathy replied, her eyes darting in eighty different directions as she looked over the empty fairgrounds. “Did I pass out here? Is that what happened?”

  “Did you drink last night?”

  “I had a beer,” Cathy said, racking her brain. “I honestly only remember having one beer. I was supposed to meet some friends here and I walked over to look at the fountain in the center of the town square hoping I would catch them before they entered the festival … but I’m not sure I ever saw them.”

  Maddie licked her lips. “Okay, that’s good,” she said. “You went to the fountain. Did you drop a coin in? Did you make a wish?”

  “I’m not two,” Cathy said, making a face.

  “I’m n
ot two either and I still drop a coin in whenever I go past it,” Maddie said. “My mother always gave me a penny to make a wish when I was little, and as I got older it became a habit. My boyfriend still laughs when I do it.”

  “Well, I guess that’s okay,” Cathy hedged. “I didn’t make a wish, though. That doesn’t sound anything like me. Do you think someone drugged my drink? I’ve heard about that happening on television. Holy crap! I’ll bet I was roofied. We have to go to the hospital to make sure I wasn’t … raped.”

  The word was distasteful on Cathy’s tongue and she had to force it out.

  “Cathy, I don’t think going to the hospital is going to help you,” Maddie said quietly. “I … you’re kind of beyond medical help.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Cathy demanded, knitting her eyebrows together. “Are you saying I’m not worth going to the hospital? What is it with this town anyway? You’re the first person who even stopped to talk to me even though I yelled at three other people. They totally ignored me, though.”

  “They didn’t ignore you, Cathy,” Maddie clarified. “They just couldn’t … see you.”

  Maddie wanted to haul the words back in her mouth the moment she uttered them, but it was too late. Cathy’s confused features twisted as she tried to comprehend what Maddie told her.

  “What do you mean they can’t see me?” Cathy asked, her voice harsh and unnatural. “How does that work? Are you saying I’m a ghost or something?”

  Maddie fought to hold back her tears as she regarded the frightened young woman. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

  “Oh, no,” Cathy said, her hand flying to her mouth. “That can’t be right. That’s not possible. I’m not … dead.”

  “You are dead, Cathy,” Maddie said, taking an uncertain step forward. “The police are over with your body right now. Did you wake up in an alley? The one behind the bank, perhaps?”

  “I … yes,” Cathy said, her voice cracking as emotion overtook her. “I thought I saw someone on the ground, but my head was fuzzy and I convinced myself it was a dream. Are you telling me that wasn’t a dream?”