Maddie jutted out her lower lip. “Nicky, I’m perfectly fine. You have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s easy for you to say. The reality is different. You’re going to the doctor when we get home.”
“It’s nerves.”
“Well, then the doctor can tell us that.” He stroked his hand over her hair and then settled in the chair next to her. “So, Cooper and Boone let me look over the scene. They also shared the fact that Velma had her own enemies list ... like, literally.”
Maddie frowned. “She kept a list of her enemies. How long can something like that possibly be?”
“For someone like you, who only has one name that would qualify, not long,” Nick replied. “Apparently Velma was more active in that department.”
“How many names?”
“A lot,” Boone replied, grabbing a chair from the other side of the table and settling. “We’re going to be able to rule out some, but others ... .” He tilted his head. “It’s going to be a long slog. We think your husband might be able to help us some, though.”
“Oh, yeah?” Maddie wasn’t sure what to make of that. “You’re not deputizing him, are you?”
Boone chuckled. “No. I don’t have the authority to do that. I do like the idea of having some help on the situation, though.”
“I don’t want to ask a stupid question or anything, but how do you know we’re not the killers?” Maddie queried.
“Call it a hunch,” Cooper replied, moving behind the bar so he could press a firm kiss to Hannah’s mouth, his gaze serious. “Not that I’m one to talk given the fact that I just included an outsider without checking with you, but do you really think you should be telling strangers what you can do?”
Hannah shrugged, unbothered. She’d been expecting some pushback. “She can see Abigail.”
“Ah.” Cooper smirked. “Well, I guess that’s enough proof, huh?”
Nick furrowed his brow. “Who is Abigail?”
“My grandmother,” Hannah replied. “She left Casper Creek to me. I never met her in life, but I have gotten to know her in death because her ghost hangs around.” Something occurred to her and she turned sheepish. “I guess that sounds ridiculous to you.”
Nick exchanged a quick look with Maddie and shook his head. “Not so much,” he countered. “Olivia — that’s Maddie’s mother — is still around.”
“Can you see her?” Hannah asked, intrigued.
“I’ve seen shadows,” Nick replied. “I can never quite see her how I want to see her. She’s been practicing, though, and sometimes I can feel her when she brushes my hair.”
Cooper made a face. “Your dead mother-in-law brushes your hair? That’s weird.”
Nick snickered. “She was like a second mother to me growing up. Maddie and I were best friends long before we got married. When Maddie wasn’t at my house when we were kids, I was at Maddie’s house. Olivia and I were tight. Even when Maddie was gone because she moved south, I spent time with Olivia.”
Maddie smiled as she rested her hand on top of Nick’s and squeezed his fingers. “He can hear her sometimes.”
Nick returned the smile. “I can. She’s led me to Maddie a time or two.”
“Led you to Maddie?” Cooper couldn’t hide his confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“When Maddie first returned to Blackstone Bay, one of our former classmates stalked her.” Nick never moved his eyes from Maddie’s face. “He chased her to the lake in the middle of winter. She had no choice but to try to escape from him in the freezing water. She almost died.”
“Nicky saved me,” Maddie volunteered. “He pulled me out of the water and brought me back to life.”
“Let’s not go crazy,” Nick chided, shaking his head. “You saved yourself. I just dragged you out of the water.”
“And gave me mouth-to-mouth.”
“That wasn’t difficult.” His smile was charming. “Anyway, I didn’t know she was in trouble until I heard a voice in my head. It was Olivia’s ... and she told me where I needed to go to save Maddie. That’s when I truly knew that my life was about to change.”
“That sounds intense,” Cooper acknowledged. “I’m glad we can all be open together, though, especially since we’re going to steal your husband to help us question some of the people who were out here at the time of Velma’s murder, Maddie. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
“It doesn’t.” Maddie’s smile was broad. Honestly, she was thrilled at the notion that Nick would have something to do. “Where are you guys going to start?”
“Questioning the other psychics,” Boone replied. “Where are they?”
“Tyler took them on a nature hike,” Hannah replied. “I don’t think they’ll be gone much longer.” She cocked her head, considering. “Do you think one of the people out here today is the guilty party?”
Cooper held out his hands and shrugged. “If it was me and I was trying to cover my actions, I wouldn’t land in town long enough to kill someone and then flee. I would hang around and pretend like an innocent party so as not to draw attention to myself. That’s just me, though.”
“It makes sense.” Hannah nodded, her mind busy. “You’ll keep me updated on anything you find, right?”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Cooper reassured her, tilting up her chin so he could give her a kiss. “I assume you’ll be here.”
“For another two hours,” Hannah confirmed.
“What about you, Mad?” Nick queried. “What are you going to do?”
“I have to video conference with Granny to make sure she hasn’t burned the house down and then I’m not sure,” Maddie replied. “I’ll let you know when I know.”
“Fair enough.” Nick bobbed his head. “Make sure Maude knows that nobody will be able to bail her out of jail for at least three days if she gets caught terrorizing Harriet. Dale said he refused to be responsible for her while we’re gone and Christy and John are busy dealing with an incoming baby so ... Maude is on her own.”
Maddie involuntarily shuddered at the scene he was painting. “That’s a
