A phantom haunts the corn maze—and leaves a deadly message.

Dearest readers,

Maze of Shadows is the seventh story in the Mike and Maddie Mysteries.

Happy reading!

Daisy

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Madeline Moreau breathed in the humid fall air, shivering with anticipation. The crisp air smelled of harvest and fallen leaves. Everywhere she looked, Halloween decorations greeted her. Some were adorable black cats in witch hats, whereas others were grim-looking skeletons. Of course, it was to be expected out here.

She and her best friend, Michael Malison, were at the famed haunted corn maze near their town of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. She grabbed Mike’s hand, bouncing on her tip-toes. They had come here a little early so they could spend a long time in the maze. When they arrived, they’d had to park in a field with at least fifty other cars. The lineup waiting for the maze to wound back and forth from the entrance of the maze all the way back to the road.

“I’ve never gone through a haunted maze before,” Maddie said, her eyes sparkling.

“Tricia and I came through last week and I knew instantly I had to bring you,” Mike said, nodding. “I’m just peeved Carson never brought us here before.”

Their older friend, Detective Carson Luttrell, laughed. “With your imaginations? I didn’t want to make my life more difficult than it had to be. I only agreed to come with you so that you don’t phone me up in the middle of the night saying that you’re scared and need me to come over!”

Maddie blushed. “Hey, that only happened one time. And Little Shop of Horrors is really scary!”

Carson shook his head, laughing.

As they waited, Maddie read the list of rules next to the entrance. At the bottom was some brief information about it. The maze was co-owned by Finola “Fin” Ryan and Kyle Denver. They’d started it almost twenty years ago, and a percentage of the profits were donated to the Coeur D’Alene library to help with their free programs. There were two sides to the corn maze. One was for adults and was themed for Sleepy Hollow this year. The other side was for kids and featured less intense thrills.

“I think I might need to go through the kids’ side,” Maddie said.

Mike shook his head. “I want nightmares. They provide the best fuel for writing stories.”

The sky slowly grew darker, adding a lovely spooky feeling. Jack-o-lanterns flickered on, lining the edge of the maze. Eerie sounds came from within the maze and several actors dressed up as ghouls and phantoms emerged from the corn to fade back in. Maddie shivered, her eyes going wide.

The doors finally opened. They moved forward slowly. Maddie clasped her hands tightly, trying to be patient.

“I told you, I’m not selling. I don’t care what your ex-wife wants,” a voice said. It sounded like a woman.

Maddie turned. Behind a nearby sign, two people stood in shadow. She squinted, trying to make them out. Eavesdropping always gave her such wonderful dialogue options!

“Fin, listen. I don’t want Lizzie to get her hands on this place, either,” another voice said. That one sounded like a man. It must be Fin and Kyle. “She’s coming after my part of the maze. Do you really want her as a partner?”

“We have a contract,” Fin insisted.

Kyle let out a frustrated groan. “Yes, but that’s only between you and me. Lizzie’s lawyer is arguing that it’s still a marital asset and that I need to either buy her out or put her name on the business. I’m trying, Fin. But she’s ruthless. I don’t know how much I can hold her off.”

“Tell your lawyer to contact my lawyer, then,” Fin said, sounding furious. “I’m not letting anyone take this place from me.”

Mike tugged on Maddie’s hand. “The line’s moving. What are you doing?”

“Shh!” She waved a hand at him. “There’s drama afoot!”

Mike’s eyes lit up. “Drama? Maybe we can just sneak out of line for a moment—”

Carson clapped his hands on a shoulder each. “Oh, no you don’t. Whatever drama is happening, it’s none of your business. You dragged me out here and so we’re going through that maze. I’m not going to wait for another few hours in the lineup.”

He jerked his head down the line. In the last few minutes, it had nearly doubled in size. Maddie sighed heavily but shuffled along, dutifully staying in line. Carson was right. It wasn’t worth going to the end of this massive line again just for a few minutes of drama.

Luckily, the line was slow, which meant she could hear more of the argument anyway. By this time, a third person had joined Kyle and Fin.

“Couldn’t help but overhear,” he was saying. “The name’s Eddie Melling. We spoke on the phone.”

Fin’s voice was clipped as she answered. “Oh, yes. I remember. And as I told you then, I’m not interested in selling.”

“Let’s hear him out,” Kyle said.

Eddie rubbed his hands together. “It sounds like you’ve gotten yourselves in quite the pickle. Rather than lose everything in a long, drawn-out court battle, why don’t we come to an arrangement? I can pay top dollar for this land. That way, this Lizzie has no claim to the business and you’re free to start over somewhere else.”

“I’m not interested,” Fin said, her voice low.

“It might not be your choice,” Eddie replied, his voice even and cold.

Kyle lifted both his hands. “Look, there’s no point in arguing about this further. Eddie, I’ll take your card. Fin and I will discuss this matter and get back to you.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Fin insisted.

Kyle left the shadows of the sign. He was dressed in all black, and his hair was pulled neatly into a ponytail at the back of his head. Maddie quickly averted her eyes, shivering. The man looked like a vampire!

“Good evening,” he called. His voice boomed, sounding bright and chipper. “Thank you all for coming to our maze tonight. I see we have quite the lineup. While you’re waiting, allow me to entertain you.”

He waved a hand and a young man, also wearing black, brought over a horse. It started white and seemed to glow in the electric lights that came on, flooding the area with light. Maddie clapped her hands in excitement. Kyle pulled a black hood over his head and switched something on in his pocket. His clothes lit up in a dazzling display. When he mounted the horse, the worker passed him a glowing pumpkin head.

The effect was amazing. He really looked like he was up there without a head, riding on an ethereal horse. Maddie clutched her hands to her chest, shivering with delight.

“We should write a ghost story,” Mike said.

Carson chuckled, clearly amused by the two of them.

Maddie nodded, her eyes not leaving Kyle’s headless horseman as he started to trot down the line. “One with real ghosts. I can envision the plot right now. It’s been a while since you and I wrote anything for ourselves. I’m busy with my ghostwriting plots right now, but once I’m done that, let’s plan something that we can publish under our pen name.”

“It’s a deal,” Mike agreed. He lifted his hands into the air and cheered as Kyle’s horse reared back on cue.

Its ears were pricked forward, its tail held in that typical happy-horse way. It snorted and nickered as people clapped and cheered. The horse was clearly having the time of its life, something that pleased Maddie to see. Kyle had the horse rear again. It did but when it landed, another horse emerged from the corn maze.

“Oh, two?” Maddie asked, surprised. Unlike Kyle, this one was all black. Black horse, black clothes. There was no ethereal glow and the figure was even more terrifying for it. This one didn’t hold a pumpkin head, either.

The new headless horseman galloped toward Kyle. A cape flapped out from behind it but there was no sound of the horse’s hooves on the ground. Maddie opened her mouth to ask Carson if this seemed weird—and all of a sudden, they collided. A horrible, inhuman screech rang through the air.

The phantom sprang away from Kyle. His horse’s ears pinned back against its skull, its eyes wild. It reared again and the pumpkin head slid to the ground. Kyle slumped forward as he tried to keep his grip. The horse came down, smashing the pumpkin. The other horseman wheeled about and raced back toward the corn maze.

Kyle’s horse reared again. This time, Kyle slipped off. He landed hard on the ground, the lights in his clothes fritzing out. The horse bolted toward a nearby field, screaming as it ran. Maddie clapped her hands over her ears. Mike grabbed her elbow but the two of them stood there, frozen with wide eyes.

“Kyle!” Fin shouted. She raced out from—where?—and slid down next to him.

That spurred Mike and Maddie back to themselves. Carson was already on his way over and they hurried to catch up. People murmured to each other and crowded around. Dozens of voices kept asking if he was okay.

“Back it up, people,” Carson said in his most authoritative voice. “Let’s give him room to breathe. Mike, call for an ambulance. Maddie, help me keep these people back.”

Mike nodded and pulled out his phone. Maddie leaned over Carson’s shoulder as he pulled off Kyle’s mask. Her heart nearly stopped as her gaze landed on Kyle’s face. His eyes were closed, his skin pale. Over the years, Maddie and Mike had helped Carson solve murders. As such, she’d seen her share of dead bodies.

Just not one that died in front of her, not quite like this at least. She drew back, covering her mouth with a hand.

Carson checked his pulse. “He’s dead.”

Mike’s shoulders slumped. Several people cried out around them. Maddie looked up at Finola Ryan, expecting shock and horror. She braced herself to comfort her. But what she saw made her freeze again. Fin held a bloody knife in hand.

Oh, no. Carson hadn’t seen. And Fin pointed the knife right at his neck!

“Look out!” Maddie shouted. She grabbed Carson by the shoulder as Fin’s hand, with that bloody knife still in it, lifted into the air.

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