Page 69 of Something’s Brewing

“You’re dizzy.”

“I said I’m—” She stopped and squeezed her eyes shut briefly.

“Madison.” Nick’s voice was gentle. “There’s no need to panic. Deputies already secured the scene. Nobody’s touching anything until we process it.”

Garrett looked between the two of them. “This is connected. We need to figure all this out and fast.”

Nick nodded once. “Yeah.” He paused. “There is one thing working in our favor right now.”

Madison looked up. “What?”

“Sawyer moved into Morty’s place.”

Garrett frowned. “Morty actually agreed to that?”

“He bought Sawyer’s story about needing space after his mom’s boyfriend moved in.” Nick folded his arms. “Sawyer’s doing some recon for us.”

Garrett let out a slow breath. “That’s risky.”

“So is everything else right now,” Nick said. “But Sawyer knows computers better than most people in my department. If the mayor is hiding anything at home, Sawyer will find it.”

Madison leaned back against the pillows. “We need to compare everything. Frankie’s files, what you’ve already gathered, and whatever Sawyer finds.”

Nick nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” He looked from Madison to Garrett. “Tomorrow night. My house. We put everything together and figure out what we’ve got before somebody else gets hurt.”

Garrett tightened his hand around Madison’s for just a second.

Too late for that.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Garrett unlocked the door to his condo and stepped aside so Madison could walk in first.

She stopped just inside the entryway, taking in the soft glow of the lamps Garrett had left on before the storm. Exhaustion settled over her.

“You okay?” he asked quietly behind her.

She nodded automatically. “Yeah.”

It was a lie. Her head still hurt and her body ached.

Garrett shut the door and locked it immediately, then checked it again.

The deadbolt sliding into place shouldn’t have made her feel safer, but it did anyway.

“Come sit down.” His tone had shifted into something gentler. Steadier. “Doctor’s orders.”

“You’re being bossy.”

“One of us has to be responsible.”

She tried to smile, but Garrett’s expression never fully relaxed—tension was carved into every line of his face.

He helped her settle onto the couch, filled the hospital ice bag, and poured her a glass of water.

“Are you sure you don’t want to lie down on the bed?” he asked.

“No. I’m fine on the couch.” Madison’s eyes were tired, but she still smiled.