Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

Nick’s brother work for the state police?”
    “Yeah, John,” Maddie said.
    “Do you know much about him?”
    Maddie shrugged. “He was older than us by several years, but he was always nice to me when I was a kid,” Maddie said. “Nick and John weren’t very close while growing up, but I’m not sure what their relationship is like now. I never asked … and now that you’ve brought it up … I kind of feel bad about it.”
    “You should be publicly flogged,” Christy agreed, teasing. “Tell me if he comes to town.”
    “John? Why? Do you know him?”
    “No,” Christy said. “I’ve seen him around, though, and let’s just say those Winters genes are a thing to behold. I know Nick is the man of your dreams, but his brother is no slouch in the looks department.”
    Maddie rolled her eyes. “I’ll … see what I can find out.”
    “Good,” Christy said. “Not that I don’t trust you, but do you want me to make a list of the information I need you to get?”
    Maddie opened her mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. “It would probably be safer.”
    “That’s what I thought.”
     
    NICK rubbed his eyes, weary, and then turned his attention back to the file on his desk. Between the disappointment of having his date with Maddie ruined the previous evening and the lack of information on the dead girl in the file, he was having a rough morning.
    “You don’t look like your usual chipper self.” Detective Dale Kreskin, one of the only other full-time officers on the Blackstone Bay payroll, dropped a doughnut and fresh cup of coffee on Nick’s desk before settling at his own. “Trouble in paradise?”
    “No,” Nick said, greedily reaching for the coffee. “My paradise is intact.”
    Kreskin smirked. “I’m glad to see that lack of sleep isn’t dampening that romantic streak you’ve had going since the blonde returned to town.”
    “The blonde has a name.”
    Kreskin sighed. “How is Maddie?”
    “She was fine when I left her sleeping two hours ago,” Nick said. “I needed to get in here and I didn’t want to wake her up. She’s crabby in the morning.”
    “Isn’t everyone?”
    “I guess,” Nick said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Have you heard if they’re done with the autopsy yet?”
    “They’re still in there,” Kreskin said. “I heard you and Maddie were the ones who found the body. That must have put a … crimp … in your romantic plans.”
    Nick scowled. He was never one to talk about his sex life with someone else – even when there was something to brag about – but Kreskin boasted a definite lack of boundaries. “It wasn’t the highlight of our night.”
    Pity softened Kreskin’s face. “How did Maddie take it? Was she upset?”
    “Of course she was upset,” Nick said. “She’s strong, though, and … well … this isn’t the first dead body she’s seen.”
    “I guess not,” Kreskin said. “That whole psychic thing works against her, doesn’t it?”
    Nick glared at his co-worker. Blackstone Bay was full of whispers about Maddie. The residents thought she might be able to talk to ghosts, but they couldn’t prove it. They thought she might be psychic, but they couldn’t prove that either. They definitely thought she was odd. Nick didn’t care about the gossip, but Kreskin had been relentless in recent weeks. He was determined to get Nick to admit Maddie was psychic. So far, Nick wasn’t playing the game.
    “Leave Maddie alone,” Nick warned. “I don’t want you upsetting her.”
    “I don’t want to upset her,” Kreskin said. “I just want you to admit she’s psychic.”
    Nick glanced around, worried someone was eavesdropping. Once he was sure they were alone, he turned back to Kreskin. “I don’t know what you think you know, but you’re barking up the wrong tree. Leave her alone.”
    “Fine,” Kreskin said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tell me about the body. Did you recognize her?”
    Nick shook his head. “She’d been in