Page 44 of Something’s Brewing

“How did you know who to trust when you were mayor?” Madison asked. Her voice came out steadier than she felt.

Elsie tilted her head, thoughtful, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You learn. Sometimes the hard way. But mostly, you watch who shows up when there’s nothing in it for them.”

That hit Madison somewhere deep. She let it settle and sipped her coffee before speaking again. “What if what you find could cause a lot of disruption? To people you haven’t even met yet?”

Elsie didn’t flinch. “Then you make damn sure your instincts are right. And if they are, you don’t let the fear of disruption stop you. Because the people who do show up? They deserve better than the ones hiding behind loopholes and handshake deals.”

Madison nodded slowly, heart thudding. She’d taken down corruption before—bigger, uglier, and halfway across the world. But this was different. This wasn’t faceless. This was a town. Her town, whether she’d meant it to be or not. And that was what made her hesitate.

“I wasn’t planning on getting involved,” she admitted quietly. “Not really. But . . . something’s off. And I can’t unsee it.”

Elsie’s eyes gleamed proud and fierce. She sat forward and pointed at Madison. “That right there? That’s why I’ve been keeping my eye on you.”

Madison lifted her coffee, hiding the self-conscious smile that tugged at her lips. She felt steadier than when she walked in, steadier than she had in days.

“Do you think I could do it?” she asked, surprising herself with the words. “Run this town?”

Elsie’s answer came without hesitation. “Let me ask you this. Do you care about the people in it?”

Madison had to pause. She hadn’t expected the question, but the answer slipped out before she could overthink it. “I didn’t realize I would. But yeah, I do.”

Elsie’s smile turned knowing. “Then you’ve got a better start than most.”

Before Madison could reply, Rosie appeared, sliding two veggie omelets and toast onto the table with a wink. “If this breakfast doesn’t give you clarity, nothing will.”

Madison laughed softly and took her first bite. Somehow, the fog didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

Later that night, Garrett stepped out onto his patio, no longer wearing his sling. Madison had worked alongside him most of the day, but she’d slipped out a couple of hours before closing. He hadn’t realized how much he missed her until now, the quiet hitting harder without her laughter cutting through it. He had it bad, no sense pretending otherwise—and he couldn’t help wondering if she felt the same.

And there she was, already settled into her chair across the way. She always looked out at the water first, like she needed that moment before turning to him. He found himself waiting for it now, the quiet pause before her gaze shifted his way. Tonight, the soft light spilling from her patio door caught in her hair, gilding it like fire, and he couldn’t help thinking he liked her best in moments like this . . . unaware, unguarded, and entirely herself.

What surprised him most was how much he craved it, this simple ritual that had become theirs. The easy rhythm of two people ending their days in the same place, no matter how different those days had been. He told himself it was just comfort, just habit—but deep down, he knew better. He looked forward to being with her more than he wanted to admit.

“What’s going on, Madison?” he asked gently.

He’d noticed immediately. He always did.

She blinked, caught but not embarrassed. If anything, she looked . . . resolved.

“I’ve been trying to figure out the right time to say something,” she said. “And I realized there won’t be a right time.” She stood. “Follow me in?”

He did as she asked, and she disappeared down her hallway. When she came back, she carried a manila envelope. She set it on the kitchen island, fingertips lingering on the edge like it might burn up if she let go too soon.

“Frankie, Mayor Benson’s assistant, gave this to me.”

Garrett straightened. “Okay . . .”

“She texted me out of the blue,” Madison continued. “Asked to meet outside of town. Said she had something to give me—something she didn’t feel safe handing over in Deer Creek Falls.”

Garrett glanced at the envelope. “What’s in it?” he asked.

“Inspections. Permits. Signed-off repairs that were never completed. Zoning issues swept under the rug. Names of businesses that got harassed or pushed out. Notes that link most of it back to Mayor Benson.”

Garrett let out a low whistle, walking around the island to stand beside her. “This is big.”

Madison nodded. “Yeah. There’s enough here to raise red flags. And Frankie . . . she’s scared. She asked me to look into it because I’m an outsider. Because she knows I won’t let it go.”

Her eyes lifted then, locking on his, and Garrett felt it deep down—she trusted him.