Good Girls Don't (Donovan Brothers Brewery 1)

“What charity event?” Simone asked at the same time Eric barked, “When?”

Luke was more interested in the timing question. “When?” he repeated, pretending it had to do with the investigation and not the sharp stab of jealousy in his gut.

“Last week,” she said. Yeah, that was jealousy.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Eric asked, again echoing Luke’s thoughts.

“We spoke about the promotional opportunity. We decided not to pursue it.”

“Don’t you think I should’ve been invited to that lunch?”

“I don’t know, Eric,” she snapped. “Do you invite me to every business lunch you have?”

He pulled in his chin. “That’s not the same.”

“How is it different? I met with him. He was slimy, and he wanted us to make a decision about a $55,000 promotional sponsorship in two days. I told him to take a flying leap.”

Simone spoke up again. “What was the name of the charity event?”

“I don’t remember. It was in California. He sent me an email. I’ll print it out for you if you want.”

Luke nodded. “Was he ever in the brewery?”

Eric shook his head, but Tessa said, “Just once. He stopped by yesterday afternoon. He was never here before the robbery, as far as I know.”

Luke nodded, but he noticed that Jamie’s face had turned a sick shade of gray beneath his tan. “Jamie, you were working that night. Was he here?”

“No.” His voice was raspy with tension.

“But you’ve thought of something.”

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward Eric.

“Jamie,” Tessa said quietly, and Luke realized what was going on. The sister. She’d been here. He almost blurted it out right then, but Tessa’s eyes were wide with horror as she stared her brother down. “Jamie,” she said again, his name nearly a whisper. Luke held his breath and hoped he wouldn’t have to force the issue.

“I have to tell them, Tessa,” Jamie said. “You know I do.”

Eric looked back and forth between his siblings. “What the hell is going on here?”

Tessa held up her hands as if she could stop the tide, but Jamie granted her no mercy. “Monica Kendall was here. The night of the robbery. She was here when I locked up.”

That night. Shit.

Eric scowled in confusion. “She came to the brewery? Why?”

Jamie cleared his throat, but Luke’s eyes were on Tessa. Tears turned her eyes to green pools. Her mouth opened several times, but she didn’t speak. He wished he was just her boyfriend, wished it was that simple. But he was here as a detective, and he couldn’t say or do anything that would stop the flow of information. His hands fisted. He dug his fingers into his palms, wishing his nails were long enough to cause pain.

“She said she wanted to try the beer,” Jamie said. “She came by around seven.”

“And she stayed until close?” Eric asked. Luke already knew that answer.

“Yeah,” Jamie said. “She stayed until close.”

Luke stepped in to cut off any more of Eric’s ques tions. “Do you think she could have seen you enter the alarm code? Would she have had a chance to unlock the door after you locked it?”

“Not the back door. Maybe the front, I suppose.”

“And the alarm?”