Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

mind if I wore them when she stopped in for a visit last week. She laughed and said she wasn’t using them so I should knock myself out.”
    “I know it’s hard for you because you miss her, but I think it’s cool that she can stop by and visit with you,” Christy said.
    “It would be easier if Granny could see her, too,” Maddie lamented. “Granny misses her so much and I’m not always there to keep the conversation going.”
    “How is Maude?” Christy asked. “I didn’t see her around last night. I thought for sure she would’ve been in the thick of things when we found the body.”
    Maddie internally cringed at the excited tone of Christy’s voice. “She spent the night at Edna’s house,” Maddie replied. “They’re plotting against Harriet and her proposed Purple Ladies group.”
    Christy snorted. “When isn’t she plotting against Harriet?”
    “I would say in her sleep, but I don’t think that’s true,” Maddie said. “How did you get home last night?”
    “I walked,” Christy replied. “After finding the body and talking to the cops, it was kind of a nerve-racking block, but I was fine. How long were you stuck down here? I’m assuming Nick had to stay.”
    “He did,” Maddie confirmed. “Dale walked me home because John is in charge of the state police unit coming to town and handling the investigation on their end. Nick wanted to do it, but he stayed behind. He didn’t get home until almost four.”
    “That’s rough,” Christy said. “Do they have any leads?”
    “They’re just getting into it,” Maddie said. “Nick is keyed up about no one walking home alone, though, so don’t do that again this afternoon.”
    “It’s kind of cute when he turns into a mother hen,” Christy teased.
    “He’s always cute.”
    “Hey, um … I’m sorry for what happened last night,” Christy offered lamely. “You guys were having a good time by the fire and I interrupted it and ruined your night. If I were you, I’d probably be ticked off.”
    “I can’t really be ticked off because we found a body,” Maddie countered. “Her name was Samantha Bradshaw, by the way. Does that name mean anything to you?”
    “I’m not sure,” Christy said, her mind busy. “I’ll check my client records and if I find anything, I’ll make sure Nick knows.”
    “Thanks for that,” Maddie said, pulling her deck of tarot cards out of her purse and plopping them on the table. When she settled in her chair, she found Christy studying her from across the table. “What?”
    “What do you think of Cooper?”
    Maddie wasn’t surprised by the question, but she was hoping Christy would hold off on asking it. Delaying the inevitable wasn’t generally something Maddie liked to do, but she didn’t want her relationship with Christy in turmoil at a time like this. “What do you think of Cooper?”
    “Well, I obviously think he’s the real deal,” Christy said. “He found that body last night. He knew it was there.”
    Maddie licked her lips. “Have you considered he knew it was there because he put it there?”
    Christy stilled, surprised. “No. Why would he?”
    “Maybe he wants some publicity,” Maddie suggested. “He seems to enjoy playing to a crowd.”
    “Listen, I know you’re not keen on people knowing about your gift so it’s probably not easy for you to be around someone like Cooper,” Christy said. “He’s got a lot of confidence, and you’re lacking in that department. Just because you two approach your gifts in different ways, that doesn’t mean he’s a murderer.”
    “But … he’s not psychic,” Maddie challenged. “He’s putting on a show and pretending to be psychic.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “I watched him.”
    “He’s a little … theatrical,” Christy conceded. “That’s because he’s on television, though. That’s because he writes fiction books. You have to be more theatrical when you’re an artist.
    “You’re trying to hide who you are,”