Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Wait, wait, wait.” I held both hands up. “Nana, you can’t be certain your tea carried that stripe. It’s barely visible.”
Nana’s eyes turned a darker green. “Oh, yes it did. I examined every container and tasted the blend. When Brooke brought it over, we both drank some.”
Brooke nodded quickly. “Of course we did. I’ll give you the information for Blue Moon Tea Company. They’re more than legitimate, and if you sold laced tea, it wasn’t theirs. Somebody had to switch out the teas. Somehow.”
“Brooke,” I said, forcing my voice calm, “Nana had nearly fifty units. Do you understand the scale?”
Nana looked between us. “The sheriff’s collecting them, even over the pass. We think a few people got high last night without realizing it.”
My pulse kicked against my ribs. I dragged a hand through my hair and steadied my tone. “All right. I need the correspondence between you and the tea company.”
Brooke’s throat worked. “I’ll get the invoices.”
The rain outside picked up, wind tapping at the window like it wanted in. Inside, the three of us stood surrounded by receipts, glass jars, and the scent of guilt.
“Brooke, I need that information.” I crossed my arms. “While we’re at it, why are you distributing tea?”
Brooke flushed, the color rising soft and peach across her cheeks. “I dated the head sales guy for Blue Moon Tea for a few months. They’re based out of Missoula. I love to support local companies. Did you know about their location?”
“I did not know that,” I said, fighting to keep my tone level.
She sighed. “Clark’s probably not going to like this, huh?”
“Clark is definitely not going to like this.” I rubbed my temple. “But if you didn’t do anything wrong, we’ll prove it.” My mouth moved, but my gut stayed suspicious.
Nana leaned against the counter. “You’re sure, Anna?”
“I’m sure,” I said, though the word tasted like a lie. “I guess the thief who stole the silver boxes could’ve switch out the teas?” It didn’t make a lick of sense.
“No. Sorry,” Nana said. “I didn’t put those teas out until the day before my grand opening. They weren’t even in the store when the silver boxes were stolen.”
That sucked. “We’re missing something.”
Nana rolled her eyes. “All the cylinders should have had that pretty blue line on the bottom. I’m sorry I missed it. Still, who could’ve gotten in here and had time to swap them out?”
“None of this makes sense,” I muttered.
“I don’t know, honey.” Nana’s voice softened. “But the good news is the bulk of it went to one buyer. Remember?”
“Oh, right.” My stomach sank. “Brad Backleboff.”
“He bought tons of the tea,” Nana said.
I’d completely forgotten. Probably blocked it. Too much chaos, too many fires to put out.
Brooke grinned. “What a sweetheart. I think he sends tea to his cousins every year.”
The woman really needed to choose a guy.
“That was sweet,” Nana added. “The sheriff already got them from Brad.”
“I need to talk to him anyway,” I said.
Brooke leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Word around town is Aiden Devlin paid fifty grand to bail out your Nana. True?”
I blinked. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Brooke smirked. “I wouldn’t either, sister. The man’s already hot with that whole dangerous motorcycle vibe, but add rich to it?”
“He’s not rich,” I said fast, too fast.
“Anybody who has fifty grand lying around counts as rich. You sure you two are solid?”
I met her gaze head-on. “We’re solid.”
She winked. “We’ll see.”
“I don’t appreciate gossip about my client or my boyfriend,” I said evenly. “We’re dealing with enough without that.”
Brooke lifted both hands. “Hey, I’m just saying what people say.”
“Then stop repeating it.”
The words came out colder than I meant, but I didn’t pull them back.
Brooke’s eyes narrowed just a fraction, curiosity lighting behind them. “You really care about him, huh?”
My throat went tight. “You have no idea.”
Brooke tapped her phone screen. “Fine. I’ll text you the tea distributor info, but it’s not going to help.”
“Do that,” I said.
Nana gave me a worried glance, the kind that carried decades of unspoken advice. I turned toward the window. Outside, Silverville’s streetlights flickered against the gray, and thunder rolled over the mountains.
Another storm was coming.
Chapter 31
After we went through all the receipts, Bampa picked up Nana, and I locked the quaint store. I headed down the street, hands shoved deep in my jacket pockets. The wind still held the rain back but a storm built pressure above the mountains. I needed the walk, needed the motion to burn off the frustration still riding my nerves.
Turning toward the courthouse, I paused outside Gloria’s shop, and the front window glared with the same bold sign I’d noticed earlier. Maybe she’d listen to reason. I opened the door and stepped inside, moving left into her space instead of straight ahead into the optometrist’s office. The scent of roasted coffee clung to the air.