“Yup.” Buck actually managed a chuckle. “Doctor Katze said the little guy reminded her of her favorite pup growing up, and that dog’s name was Cooper. I liked the sound of it, so I asked if she minded me adopting it for him, and she said she loved the idea. Hence, Cooper. Say hello, Cooper.” Buck lifted one paw for a wave, and got an “aww” from Bobbie. It also served to calm him enough to continue the original conversation.
Buck refocused on the problem at hand. “Don’t think you’re distracting me from what you guys were talking about. Give me the details, Bobbie. I promise you I won’t go off the deep end.”
Much.
Bobbie sighed, and indicated that they should all sit down. Once a modicum of comfort was reached, she launched into her tale once again.
This time Buck’s glower on her behalf joined his brother’s as he listened closely to details. When Bobbie was finished, he tried to make good on his assertion and reign in the anger that felt like it was tearing him up inside.
“So,” He questioned his brother Mason between clenched teeth, “what do you suggest we do, other than go beat the crap out of them and get Bobbie’s money back?”
Yeah.He’d like nothing better than that.
“We need to watch them carefully,” his big brother confirmed, and all thoughts of feeling flesh give under his fists, fizzled. At least for the time being.
Mason kept talking. “There’s something extra fishy about this whole thing. What does it behoove them to keep Bobbie controlled and under their thumb, whichclearlythey’re still doing by compromising the amount of money she can retain from her business? And what kind of investigation can we do on them presently, since the original theft, unfortunately, has passed its statute of limitations?”
Buck lamented that these things hadn’t come out sooner. Then the pair would already have been out of Bobbie’s life.
Mason continued to speculate. “I’ve been by their place a number of times over the years, and it’s clear to me they haven’t used any of Bobbie’s money, past or present, to do any upgrades on the house, even though it badly needs it.”
Bobbie snorted. “You guys don’t know the half of it. The outside is pretty bad, but the inside…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but shook her head disgustedly.
“So whatdidthey do with the 60K they initially stole from her?” Buck asked. “And what are they doing to make money now? Because as far as I know, they don’t work. And as generous as I figure Bobbie is with her profits, even though you haven’t shared any numbers,” Mason added, glancing her way, “I doubt they’re living on that, alone.”
“I can help you there,” Bobbie interjected.
Mason’s brows went up, urging her to continue.
“They probably used all the money, past and present, to set up a brewery in the old barn out back.”
“They’re brewing beer?” Buck asked incredulously.
“Uh, huh. They’ve been doing it for a number of years, tweaking things and upgrading equipment for what they initiallysaid was their own consumption, But two years ago, they decided their product was such a success, they applied and actually received a license from the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages, so they could offer their beer, publicly.”
Buck would like to see that license, and apparently Mason had the same thought, because their eyes met in mutual skepticism as Bobbie continued.
“I’ve added their brew to my menu, and it’s…accepted. Personally, I don’t like the stuff, but I guess it’s a special, premium beer. It has to be. They were contracted to send two large crates of it with me every week when I head up to Canada for a rich client they procured for me.”
“Wait. They found that rich client for you?” Buck asked, his bullshit detector pinging hard, now.
“Yeah. They met the guy at a brewing symposium or something, and they hit it off. When the guy told him he hosts a weekly open house and had just lost his caterer, Drew suggested me for the job. They made a deal that the guy would not only compensate me well for my services, he’d pay top dollar for Drew and Jeff’s product if I brought it with me.”
She looked from one to the other of them as they remained silent.
“What?” she asked.
Mason cleared his throat. “It sounds a little…contrived,” he told her gently. “But first things first before we launch a full investigation. I’m going to check with the ABC and ascertain whether your brothers do or do not have a license to brew.”
Bobbie frowned. “And if they don’t?”
Mason looked pained, and Bobbie groaned.
“Shit. That means I’ve been transporting illegal alcohol across international borders for the last year, and I’ve inadvertently lied to NEXUS about it. I’ve been paying duties and taxes on what I’ve declared as a legal commodity, when itcould be bootleg.” She bent her head to little Reyghan, buried her face in her the pup’s fur, and shuddered.
Buck wanted to comfort Bobbie with words, but he didn’t know if that was possible, so he laid a soothing hand on her back while she worked everything through.
Having been in the Coast Guard, Buck was intimately familiar with NEXUS, a program that expedited border crossings for pre-approved travelers. What he didn’t know, was what kind of trouble Bobbie could get in for unknowingly breaking the law.
