Page 88 of Something’s Brewing

Pulling back onto the road, he drove another mile before finally turning back toward home, where Madison would not be.

His place felt off the second he walked onto the patio.

He didn’t hear her laugh, her shoes weren’t by her patio door, there wasn’t a half-finished mug or a book or anything that said she’d been there at all.

Garrett scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re fine,” he muttered. “You’ve been fine before.”

He walked through his house, dropped his keys on the counter, and headed straight for the fridge, grabbing a beer.

He didn’t make it two steps back toward the patio before there was a knock on the door.

He froze. For half a second, his chest lifted with anticipation. Had she turned around and come back for him? But that didn’t make any sense. She was⁠—

Another knock. Louder this time.

He let out a breath and went to answer it. Nick stood on the patio. Cole behind him.

Garrett blinked once. “Is this a raid, Sheriff, or did you forget how phones work?”

Nick didn’t smile. “You gonna let us in, or are we doing this out here?”

“Yeah, come in,” Garrett said with a sigh, taking a step back. “Make yourselves at home.”

Cole brushed past him like he owned the place, heading straight for the kitchen. “Already planning on it.”

Nick followed, quieter, more observant. His gaze swept the room as if already clocking everything that was off.

Garrett shut the door behind them. “What’s this about?”

“You,” Cole said, grabbing a beer from the fridge without asking.

“Lucky me.”

Nick leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You didn’t show up at the brewery this morning.”

Garrett leaned against the wall. “Ryker’s got it handled. I took a day.”

Cole let out a short laugh. “You don’t take days. You work until someone physically drags you out of there.”

Garrett didn’t respond.

Nick studied him for a second, then said, “Madison’s source came through.”

That got Garrett’s attention. His head lifted. “What?”

“Frankie wasn’t exaggerating,” Nick said. “We followed the money trail. There’s an offshore account. The mayor’s cousin is tied into it. It’s bigger than we thought. And Madison’s still working on it.”

Garrett huffed out a breath. “Yeah. That sounds like her.”

Cole tilted his head. “That’s all you’ve got to say about that?”

“What do you want me to say?” Garrett shot back. “She left. She’s got bigger things to figure out than what’s going on here.”

Nick’s gaze sharpened. “That’s what you think?”

Garrett took another drink, avoiding his brother’s eyes. “It’s what it is.”

Silence stretched for a second. Then Nick pushed away from the counter. “You want my opinion?”