Wicked Beginning: An Ivy Morgan Mystery Books 1-3 (11 page)

Brian made a face, but Jack opted to ignore it for the time being. Whatever the older detective was thinking it wasn’t something he wanted to share with the Wheelers.

“Can you think of anything else that might be of importance to us going forward?”

Evan shook his head. “No. I just want to go home. I want to take my daughter home. Can I do that now?”

Jack nodded. “I really am sorry for your loss, sir. The only thing I can promise is that I won’t quit until I find out who did this to her.”

“You do that,” Evan said. “Then, when you find him, call me. I’ll take care of the justice.”

“What do you think?”

After showing the Wheelers out, and directing them toward the funeral parlor where Mona’s body was being held, Jack and Brian found themselves back in their office with more answers and another mountain of questions to tackle.

“I think it sounds like Mona Wheeler was involved with a cult,” Brian said.

Jack arched an eyebrow. “A cult?”

“What did it sound like to you?”

“It sounded like a cult,” Jack conceded. “I’ve just never had the misfortune of actually running into one.”

“You’re from the city,” Brian said. “Are you saying they don’t have cults in the city?”

“I’m sure they do,” Jack replied, nonplussed. “I’ve just never interacted with one. Do you want to tell me who this Chad Hamilton guy is?”

Brian narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I know you recognized the name,” Jack said. “Don’t bother denying it. I saw the look on your face when the father brought him up. What do you know about him?”

Brian sighed, leaning back in his desk chair and staring up at the ceiling. “I do know Chad Hamilton.”

“Tell me about him.”

“He was the same age as my youngest son, Sean,” Brian said.

“But … the Wheelers made it sound like this Chad was a student along with their daughter,” Jack argued.

“I know. That’s one of the things that worries me.”

“Go back to telling me about Chad.”

“He was a normal kid when he was younger,” Brian said. “In fact, he was better than a normal kid. He didn’t join any cliques, and he wasn’t one to hang around with the bullying group like Ava and Maisie.”

“So, what happened?”

“I have no idea,” Brian said. “Chad was one heck of an athlete. I can tell you that. He was the captain of the football team, and the basketball team, and the baseball team … oh, and he bowled in his father’s league on the weekends.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No, he was the all-around American teenager,” Brian said. “He got good grades. He was a virtual … golden boy.”

“How well did you know him?”

“Pretty well,” Brian said. “He and Sean were fairly tight. They were on a couple teams together. Chad was always happy to help, and we paid him during planting and harvesting season every year. He was a good worker.”

“This doesn’t sound like a problem kid … err … adult,” Jack said.

“Things kind of … shifted … senior year,” Brian explained. “Chad had his pick of schools. The University of Michigan offered him a football scholarship, and Michigan State University offered him a baseball scholarship.

“My understanding was that he was actually leaning toward the baseball scholarship,” he continued. “His parents figured his career would be longer and he’d be less likely to be hurt if he made it to the professional level.”

“They’re both good schools,” Jack said. “Which one did he go to?”

“Neither. On the first play of the first home football game of his senior year he was blindsided during a hit,” Brian said. “He tore his ACL, and he was done for the season.”

“That happens to athletes.”

“It does, and while Chad was disappointed about missing out on his final football season, he had rehab to get through and they figured he’d be fine by the time baseball season rolled around,” Brian said. “The problem is, by the time baseball season came, Chad was still struggling. He never healed right, and the doctors said they couldn’t go in and fix the damage.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Jack said. “His athletic career was over before it started.”

“Chad didn’t take it well,” Brian said. “He started raising hell all over town. There was a lot of drinking … and partying … and there were rumors about girls, although I’m not sure how true those were because he had a serious girlfriend.

“The real blow came when his scholarship was withdrawn,” Brian said. “His parents didn’t have the money to send him to Michigan State without financial help, and the idea of having to go to community college for two years pretty much crushed the life right out of that boy.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing at first,” Brian said. “When the fall hit, all of Chad’s classmates moved on. Some of them went to college. Some of them got married. The rest got jobs. The only one stuck in place was Chad.”

“How did he take it?”

“He kept hanging around the high school kids,” Brian said. “The kids who were juniors when he was a senior became his new best friends. I didn’t think much about it at the time. I figured he was just lonely and he didn’t know what else to do. They were close to the same age, after all.

“The problem is, he kept doing it year after year,” he continued. “Five years after he graduated from high school he was still hanging out with the teenagers at the local party spots. Now he was old enough to buy, though, and he was really popular.”

“Let me guess, he thought he was a hero to these kids when he was really just a way for them to get their hands on alcohol,” Jack supplied.

“Pretty much,” Brian said. “Each year that passed Chad got more and more bitter. Then, four years ago, something else happened.”

“You like to be dramatic when you’re telling a story, don’t you?”

Brian rolled his eyes. “Three seniors from the 2012 graduating class held up the bank at gunpoint. They stole two grand, and they shot a security guard in the process. He survived, and we caught the kids with the money two hours later.”

“Was Chad with them?”

“No.”

“What does he have to do with the story?”

“Those kids swore up and down Chad somehow convinced them to rob that bank,” Brian said. “They said they didn’t want to, but Chad magically made them do it against their will.”

“You didn’t believe them, did you?”

“Of course not,” Brian replied. “Even if he did tell them to rob the bank they were still old enough to know their actions were wrong. The case went to trial, and the kids screamed to the heavens that it was all Chad’s fault, but in the end they were convicted and Chad was a free man.”

“What happened next?”

“Well, I figured the next fall would be the same,” Brian said. “I thought Chad would show up at the party spot and start hanging out with the kids. To my surprise, he wasn’t there, though. He was gone.”

“Where did he go?”

“I didn’t hear a thing about him for almost two years,” Brian said. “Then … well … I started hearing whispers about a group of people at a commune up by Central Lake.”

“A commune?”

“It’s kind of like a hippie community,” Brian explained. “They live off the grid. They build their own houses – more like boxy warehouses really – and they plant their own crops. They don’t use cell phones, and they’re against technology. There are no computers or power lines. It’s completely self-sufficient.”

“And that’s where Chad lives?”

“Chad is in charge,” Brian said.

“How do you know that?”

“Well, Frank Wells came to see me about a year ago,” Brian said. “His daughter, Shelly, went missing and he was convinced she was at that commune. She was seventeen when she took off, so she was technically still a minor. He was so adamant that I decided to go up there.”

“What happened?” Jack was enthralled with the story.

“When I first got up there, I was shocked,” Brian admitted. “I expected six people sitting around a fire passing a peace pipe.”

Jack smirked. “Did you think they were growing more than vegetables?”

“It’s always been a suspicion of mine, although I could never prove it,” Brian said. “When I got up there, though, there were at least twenty people. I think there were probably more. I had this feeling like I was being watched. I never saw them, though, so I can’t say for certain.

“Anyway, I walked up a hill and there was Chad,” he continued. “I hadn’t seen the boy in a few years, so his appearance was … jarring. He’d let his hair grow long, and he had one of those long beards. He was walking around in robes – strutting really. It was almost as if he thought he was Jesus Christ himself.

“He was standing in the middle of everyone preaching,” Brian said. “I didn’t really listen to what he was saying. It was utter nonsense. I do remember a little something about passengers, though. For the life of me I don’t remember what the gist of it was.”

“Did he recognize you? Was he happy to see you?”

“He started preaching that I was invading their space,” Brian said. “He recognized me for sure. He also preached about me being the enemy.”

“Did you find Shelly?”

“She was there. She was pregnant.”

Jack furrowed his brow. “Who was the father?”

“She wouldn’t say,” Brian said. “In fact, she refused to say anything. Every question I asked she ignored. Every time I tried to get her to look at me she looked the other way. Finally, I had no choice but to take her into custody. I took her back to her father.”

“What happened when she gave birth?”

“I have no idea,” Brian said. “The day Shelly turned eighteen she took off again. She was about eight months pregnant at the time. She returned to the commune, and I don’t believe she’s talked to her parents since. I guess she’s still up there.”

“What do you think is going on?” Jack asked.

“I think Chad might be one of those weird polygamist types who is trying to repopulate the world,” Brian said. “I know that sounds … odd … but that’s the feeling I got. There were some men up at the commune, but the vast majority of bodies up there were of the female persuasion.”

“Do you think Chad has started recruiting at colleges?”

“He might not have recruited Mona at college,” Brian said. “She’s from the next town over. Chad might have run into her somewhere else.”

“I guess we’re going up to see Chad then,” Jack said. “Should we leave now?”

“Well … there’s something else you should probably know,” Brian said.

“What?”

“I told you Chad had a serious girlfriend when he was in high school,” Brian said. “She was the one person who tried to stand by him … even when his behavior started to really fall apart.”

“Is she up at the commune?”

“No, she dumped him when he refused to stop hanging around high school kids and try to build a future for himself,” Brian said. “She put up with as much as she could and then she walked away.”

“Do you want to talk to her about Chad before we go up?”

“That’s the last thing I want to do,” Brian said. “I think it’s necessary, though.”

Jack rocked to his feet. “Okay. Where is she? I’ll go and talk to her if you’re uncomfortable with the situation.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Brian said, forcing a smile onto his face. “I think that’s a great idea.”

Jack furrowed his brow, confused. “Who is she.”

“Her name is Ivy Morgan.”

Jack’s heart sank. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I was.”

“Well … crap.”

“Have fun with your talk,” Brian said, turning his attention to his desk.

“Wait, you expect me to do this myself? I thought … .”

“You just offered,” Brian said.

“That was before I knew it was Ivy.”

“Well, it’s too late now,” Brian said. “Have fun.”

Jack growled, annoyed. “You set me up.”

“That’s a horrible thing to say about your new partner.”

“I … .”

“You’re right, though,” Brian said. “You should get going now so you don’t interrupt her dinner hour. I believe her parents are coming home today. You’re going to want to get to her before they do.”

“Why? What’s wrong with them?”

“There’s nothing wrong with them,” Brian said. “They’re just … free spirited.”

“Is that code for something?”

“I guess you’ll have to find that out on your own.”

Jack couldn’t be sure, but as he trudged toward the door, he was almost positive he could hear Brian chuckling. He just knew things were about to get worse, if that was even possible.

“There she is! There’s my favorite child.”

Michael Morgan bowed his six-foot frame and engulfed Ivy in a bear hug. His face, though more lined than she remembered when he left for Florida in the fall, was one of the most welcome sights Ivy had ever seen.  “Daddy!”

“How is
she
your favorite child?” Max asked from behind his father, fixing Ivy with a dark look. “I’m the one who picked you up from the airport. I’m the one who carried all of your luggage into your house. I’m also the one who drove you over here because you were – and I quote – ‘too tired to drive.’ I’m your favorite child.”

“You’re one of them,” Michael said, pinching Max’s cheek affectionately. “I’ve already seen you, though. This is my first glimpse of my Ivy.”

Max rolled his eyes and pushed his way into Ivy’s cottage. “Whatever. I just think you don’t appreciate me.”

“We appreciate you,” Luna Morgan said, using her diminutive hip to move her husband away so she could draw Ivy to her. “We appreciate you both. How is my favorite girl?”

“I’m good,” Ivy said, beaming at her mother. “How are you? How was Florida?”

Since her parents had started spending winters in a balmier climate two years before, Ivy was of two minds: She missed them terribly while they were gone, but it was also a relief not to worry about them during Michigan’s brutal winters. It was a trade-off, but one she was happy to make to keep them safe.

“It’s too warm for me this time of year,” Luna said, taking a seat on Ivy’s couch and reaching over so she could snag Nicodemus. “We’re thinking of cutting our trip short by a month next year. It’s nice to be out of the snow, but I do love Michigan springs.”

“I love Michigan springs, summers, and falls,” Ivy said. “I could do without the winters, but it’s just three months. It gives me time to catch up on my reading.”

“How is the nursery?” Michael asked, sitting next to his wife and reaching over so he could stroke the cat. “I’ll be ready to start work on Monday.”

Michael and Luna were silent partners in both Max and Ivy’s respective businesses. They essentially came and went as they pleased, but Michael was known to love planting season because he liked to impart his botanical wisdom on anyone who listened.

“Are you sure you don’t want a few more days to get settled?” Ivy asked.

“I’ve been off for almost six months,” Michael replied. “I’m ready for work. I think your mother and I have just about hit our bonding quota for the year.”

Ivy smirked. Her parents liked to give each other a hard time but, after thirty-two years together, they were still desperately in love. “Knock yourself out,” Ivy said.

“What’s that smell?” Luna asked, wrinkling her nose. “Is that your famous vegetarian lasagna?”

“It is,” Ivy said, her eyes sparkling. “I wasn’t expecting you for another half hour, though. You’re going to have to tough it out until dinner is ready.”

“I think we can survive,” Michael said. “It will give us a chance to catch up. What’s new with you?”

Ivy shrugged, her mind momentarily flashing to Jack’s eyes … and abs … and arms … and smile … . “What did you ask?”

Max rolled his eyes and smirked, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

“He asked what was new in your life,” Luna supplied. “Does that smile on your face have something to do with your new boyfriend?”

Ivy balked. “What boyfriend?”

“Oh, don’t play coy,” Luna said. “Max told us about your new boyfriend. Is he really a police officer?”

Ivy’s blue eyes narrowed as she scowled at her brother. “Max told you about my new boyfriend? Really?”

Max suddenly found something of interest to study on the wall behind Ivy’s head. “I think they’re exaggerating.”

“You said she was hot for him,” Michael said, guileless. “Those were the first words out of your mouth when we got off the airplane.”

“He’s making that up,” Max said, laughing nervously.

“No, I’m not,” Michael said. “You said that Ivy is drooling over the new cop and the new cop is drooling right back over her. I’m getting older. I’m not losing my hearing.”

“I’m going to kill you,” Ivy snapped, extending a finger in Max’s direction. “You are just … .”

“Wait … are you saying he’s not your boyfriend?” Luna asked, disappointed.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Ivy said. “He’s … a nice man who is investigating the death of a young woman who was found in my yard. Did Max tell you that, too?”

“He did,” Luna acknowledged. “I’m sorry that happened to you. It must have been jarring.”

“It wasn’t my favorite part of the week,” Ivy said dryly.

“Well, I’m sure it will be solved soon,” Luna said. “Tell me about Jack.”

Ivy scorched Max with a look. “You told her his name?”

“It just came up in conversation,” Max said. “It was an honest mistake.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“That can wait,” Michael said. “Tell us about this Jack. Max says he’s tall and strong. I’m not sure how he knows he’s strong, but it was a nice detail.”

“Well, Jack was walking through the woods the other night because he was trying to make sure that the woman’s body wasn’t dragged through there before being dumped and Max tackled him because he thought he was a killer,” Ivy said, relishing the fact that she could now turn the conversation back around on her brother.

“It’s nice that he was looking out for you,” Michael said, nonplussed.

“Jack kicked his butt.”

Max made a face. “He didn’t kick my butt. He took me by surprise. I was just about to make my move.”

“I’m sure you were, son,” Michael said, grinning. “What’s this man’s relationship status?”

Ivy shifted in her chair. “What?”

“Is he married?”

“I have no idea.”

“You shouldn’t be dating him if he’s married,” Michael said.

“I am not dating him,” Ivy snapped. “We’ve worked together on the case – but only because there were some symbols carved into the girl’s skin and Jack thinks they’re pagan. That is the limit to our involvement.”

Michael shifted his attention back to Max. “You said they were dating.”

“Oh, they’re going to be,” Max said. “They’re terrified to touch each other and you can pretty much feel the sexual tension rolling off of them when they’re in the same room.”

“That sounds exciting,” Luna said, leaning forward. “What does he look like?”

“We are not dating,” Ivy said. “We’re not going to date. I’m sure he’s a very nice man for someone – and I don’t believe he’s married, so don’t worry about that. We’re not going to date, though. We’re acquaintances. I don’t care what lies Max filled your heads with during the drive over here. We’re not together … and we’re not going to be together.”

Max shifted his attention to the front window of the cottage, smirking when something caught his attention outside. “Hey, Ivy?”

“What?”

“Your … acquaintance … is here,” Max said. “He’s heading toward the front door.”

Luna clapped her hands together, thrilled. “This is so exciting!”

Ivy could think of another word to describe it. She just couldn’t say it in front of her parents.

JACK
raised his hand to knock on the door, wondering one more time if he was missing a way to get out of this conversation. He didn’t get a chance to come up with an excuse to leave because the door popped open, revealing Ivy’s expectant face.

“Um … hi.”

“Hi,” Ivy said, hopping from one foot to the next. “I … um … .”

“About last night … .”

“You don’t have to say a thing about it,” Ivy said, shaking her head vehemently. “Don’t say one word.”

“I think I should,” Jack said. “I … .”

Ivy reached over and slapped her hand over Jack’s mouth, taking him by surprise. “Not one word.”

He widened his eyes, surprised. She never did things like a normal person. He had a feeling that was one of the reasons he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Her lips, which were currently pressed together and pouty, were another reason. “Okay,” Jack said, taking a step back. Her touch was electric, and he needed a little space if his mind was going to work. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I think I did,” Ivy hissed. “I … .”

The door opened wider, and the man standing behind Ivy took Jack by surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had guests. I can … come back later.”

“That might be better,” Ivy said, relieved.

“That won’t be necessary,” the man said. “I’m Michael Morgan, Ivy’s father. We’ve heard a lot about you. Why don’t you come in?”

Jack froze. “You’ve heard a lot about me?” He glanced at Ivy.

“Don’t look at me,” Ivy said, crossing her arms over her chest and scowling. “You can blame Max for that.”

Jack fought the mad urge to laugh. “I see. Um … well … I don’t want to interrupt. I can come back later.”

“Oh, no, we can’t have that,” Michael said, grabbing Jack’s arm and tugging him inside of the house. “You’re already here. You’re not interrupting anything. We’re all caught up. Now we want to meet you.”

Jack’s gaze connected with Ivy’s flat features. “Are you sure?”

“Oh, he’s never going to let you go now,” Ivy said. “You either need to beat him up – like you did Max – or suck it up and come on in.”

“Is beating him up an option?”

“It’s up to you,” Ivy said. “I’m fine either way you want to go.”

Jack sighed, resigned. “I guess I’m coming in.”

“That’s probably best.”

Max greeted Jack with an outstretched hand and a wide smile. “Hey, man. We were just talking about you.”

“I heard,” Jack said. “Your father seems to know all about me.”

“You were the topic of much conversation between the airport and here,” Luna said, getting to her feet. “I’m Luna. It’s so nice to meet you.” She gave Jack an appraising look. “So … nice.”

Jack felt like a piece of meat on a grill. “I … um … thanks.”

“Stop trying to make him feel uncomfortable,” Ivy said, slipping around Jack and moving back into the living room. “He’s had a rough twenty-four hours. How is your Poison Ivy, by the way?”

“Is that what that is?” Max asked, leaning forward. “I was wondering. The guys down at the diner this afternoon said it looked like you had a hickey.”

“I fell into some Poison Ivy yesterday,” Jack said. “Ivy was nice enough to give me some lotion.”

“Where is there Poison Ivy around here?” Max asked, making a face. “I don’t want to risk running into it.”

“It was out at her fairy ring.”

Max straightened his shoulders and fixed Ivy with an incredulous look. “You took him to your fairy ring?”

“We took a walk,” Ivy replied, irritated. She knew what he was insinuating, and she didn’t like it. “We needed some air. He wanted to see the fairy ring. It’s not like it’s a big deal.”

“If you say so,” Max said.

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “I really don’t want to interrupt your reunion,” he said. “I just have one quick thing to discuss with Ivy. If I can borrow her for a minute, I promise to give her right back.”

“You can keep her if you want,” Max suggested.

“I … .”

“Ignore him,” Ivy said. “He’s purposely being a pain. What do you need?”

“Um … are you sure you want me to tell you in front of your parents?”

“They’re going to find out anyway,” Ivy said. “They have … ways … of getting any information they want.”

“Max?”

“Yup.”

Jack snickered. “Well … we identified the victim.”

Ivy perked up. “You did? Who is she?”

Jack told Ivy about his afternoon, keeping the story as short as possible. When he got to the part about Chad, Ivy’s pretty face twisted.

“Chad Hamilton? I haven’t heard that name in years,” Max said. “You really dodged a bullet with that one, pop tart.”

“Stop calling me that,” Ivy said before turning back to Jack. “Are you sure it’s the same Chad Hamilton?”

“Brian seems to think so. I was hoping to get some insight from you before I drive up there tomorrow to talk to him.”

Ivy rubbed her forehead, and Jack could practically see the conflict as it pressed down on her shoulders.

“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to,” Jack said.

“It’s not that,” Ivy said. “I just … I think I should go up there with you.”

Jack was surprised. “You want to go up there with me? Why?”

“I don’t know,” Ivy admitted. “It’s just a feeling. Do you have a problem if I go with you?”

“No,” Jack said. “I … I’m sure that will be fine. What about the nursery, though?”

“I guess I can shut it down for part of the day,” Ivy said.

“I’ll take care of it,” Michael said. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I thought you were off until Monday?”

“I changed my mind,” Michael said. “This sounds important. I think you should go up there. I’m kind of curious how Chad is doing these days.”