To Brew or Not to Brew Read Online Free

find Kurt’s killer. Despite what my father said, I knew his death wasn’t an accident. Kurt had been Mr. Cautious—sometimesto the point of driving me crazy. He’d double- and triple-check everything. He’d never in a million years do anything careless around the equipment.
    By the time I returned to the brew house, I felt energized with a renewed purpose. Unfortunately, that energy only lasted until I saw the aftermath of the investigation in the brewery area. Dad had released the scene to me when we left to go home, but I didn’t have the heart to go back there then. Now I wished I had. I would have locked the investigators in and insisted they clean up after themselves. My formerly immaculate sealed concrete floor was covered with dusty footprints, and there were smudges all over the stainless steel tanks. Not just on the mash tun, mind you. Every tank was dirty. Kurt would have had a conniption.
Oh, Kurt, I miss you already
.
    Before I started bawling again, I pulled out the hose and a bucket. I was halfway through my cleaning when Mike showed up to fix the water line to the new tank. I’d forgotten he was even coming until I spotted him heading my way. I dried my hands on my jeans, and when he reached me he folded me into a hug. His white T-shirt was soft and the scent of Ivory soap reminded me of racing him to the bathroom sink to wash up before dinner. Although he was married with two toddler girls, he still looked like that kid. Maybe it was the freckles and tousled red hair. Even the laugh lines from his near-perpetual grin didn’t seem to age him. He was thirty-two going on fifteen. I gave him a squeeze and stepped back.
    â€œHow you holding up, baby sister?” he said. “Dad filled me in.”
    â€œI’ll be okay.”
    â€œMom said she’ll stop by later.”
    â€œI meant to call her this morning, but after I called Kurt’s fiancée and his dad, I was all talked out.”
    Mike nodded. “I can imagine. You sure you’re okay? You know, no one would care if you actually took some time off. You can delay the opening.”
    There was no way I was going to do that. Kurt and I had worked too hard to stay on schedule. If he had been in my place, he’d keep going. I wouldn’t dishonor my friend by wimping out just because I didn’t feel up to working.
    Mike must have seen my expression. “Yeah, I guess you don’t want to do that.” He glanced around. “So, where’s the cracked water line?”
    I showed it to him without mentioning Kurt’s suspicion. It wasn’t that I doubted him at this point, but I wanted verification from a professional, even if that said professional was my brother.
    â€œWhat the heck did you do? How did you manage to cut it like this?”
    â€œWe didn’t.”
    â€œSomeone sure did.”
    I wanted to tell him about Kurt’s—and now my—suspicions, but I held back. He’d not only go into big-brother mode, he’d get all my brothers to do the same. Even worse, he’d tell Mom. They’d find out sooner or later, but at the moment later sounded pretty good. “It doesn’t matter how it cracked. I just need you to fix it.”
    â€œWhy do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?” When I didn’t answer, he shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
    I patted him on the shoulder. “And don’t you forget it.”
    *   *   *
    â€œY oo-hoo! Max?”
    I smelled Candy Sczypinski—or rather her treat of the day—before I saw her. I was in the office seated at the old oak teacher’s desk I’d picked up cheap at a local place that sold recycled building materials and household items. While Mike repaired the water line, I’d started making calls to reschedule the plumbing inspection and the new hires that Kurt had been training. Before Mike left, I told him I was concerned about