Wicked Deeds

Nevermore...

Eager to start their life together, historian Vickie Preston and Special Agent Griffin Pryce take a detour en route to their new home in Virginia and stop for a visit in Baltimore. But their romantic weekend is interrupted when a popular author is found dead in the basement of an Edgar Allan Poe–themed restaurant. Because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the corpse, the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters paranormal team is invited to investigate. As more bizarre deaths occur, Vickie and Griffin are drawn into a case that has disturbing echoes of Poe’s great works, bringing the horrors of his fiction to life.

The restaurant is headquarters to scholars and fans, and any of them could be a merciless killer. Except there’s also something reaching out from beyond the grave. The late, great Edgar Allan Poe himself is appearing to Vickie in dreams and visions with cryptic information about the murders. Unless they can uncover whose twisted mind is orchestrating the dramatic re-creations, Vickie and Griffin’s future as a couple might never begin...

Praise for the novels of

New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham

“Graham is a master at world building and her latest is a thrilling, dark, and deadly tale of romantic suspense.”

—Booklist, starred review, on Haunted Destiny

“Intricate, fast-paced, and intense, this riveting thriller blends romance and suspense in perfect combination and keeps readers guessing and the tension taut until the very end.”

—Library Journal on Flawless

“Graham is the queen of romantic suspense, and her latest is proof that she deserves the title. What makes this story more fun than most is the relationship between Kieran Finnegan, who wants nothing more than family harmony and a functioning restaurant, and FBI agent Craig Fraiser, who wants justice. Sparks fly, and it’s electric.”

—RT Book Reviews on Flawless

“The Krewe is back! Graham excels at weaving history, finding the proper balance between past and present and keeping a story fresh and authentic, with Haunted Destiny being no exception. The chaos and camaraderie of the characters are captured with vivid detail, and the identity of the killer will keep you guessing until the very end.”

—RT Book Reviews on Haunted Destiny

“Riveting mystery...interesting history, sweet romance with a second chance at love.”

—Fresh Fiction on Darkest Journey

“Graham stands at the top of the romantic suspense category.”

—Publishers Weekly

“An incredible storyteller.”

—Los Angeles Daily News

Wicked Deeds

Heather Graham

For my oldest son, Jason Pozzessere,

and for Kari Stewart, a true delight to have in our lives. Also for her folks, Kelly and Gail Stewart— simply wonderful people.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Griffin Pryce—special agent with the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters

Victoria (Vickie) Preston—historian and author

The Krewe of Hunters

Adam Harrison—head of the Krewe of Hunters

Jackson Crow—field director, Krewe of Hunters Angela Hawkins—special agent, married to Jackson Crow

In Baltimore

Franklin Verne—popular bestselling author

Monica Verne—his widow Myron Hatfield—Baltimore medical examiner Carl Morris—detective, Baltimore Police

At the Black Bird restaurant

Gary Frampton—restaurant owner

Alice Frampton—his daughter, hostess at the restaurant Lacey Shaw—gift shop manager Liza Harcourt—president of the Blackbird society, a Poe appreciation group Brent Whaley—writer, member of the Blackbird society Alistair Malcolm—Poe expert, member of the Blackbird society Jon Skye—waiter

At Frampton Manor

Hattie Long and Sven Moller—housekeeper and caretaker

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

Copyright

Prologue

In Dreams

It was dark, and it was night, and she was following along a strange wooded path.

Vickie Preston fought against it; good things never started this way.

But she wasn’t in deep woods. She was not far from some kind of a city—she could see light through the trees.

The light seemed strange. It wasn’t the contemporary, bright luminescence of electricity that shined with such fervor that it was easily seen from space. This was different. Soft light. As if it came from candles or...gas. Gas lamps.

She had, she thought, stumbled into a different time, a different place. She made a turn, and the darkness was gone, things changing suddenly in that way of dreams; she was in a city, and it was day, late afternoon perhaps, with evening on its way.

People were rushing about, here, there and everywhere.

“Vote! Fourth Ward polls!” someone called out.

A woman with a big hoop skirt pushed by Vickie, dragging a man about by an ear. “Harold Finder! Voting is no excuse for my husband to show himself in public, drunk!” she said angrily.

Harold was twice his wife’s size, but Mrs. Finder seemed to have an exceptional hold on his ear!