To Brew or Not to Brew Read Online Free Page B

don’t think it was.”
    Candy was silent, studying me. It was long enough to make me wonder what she was thinking and if I’d made a huge mistake by confiding in her.
    â€œIt really doesn’t surprise me,” she said finally. “Not one bit.”

CHAPTER THREE

    I t was my turn to stare. “What do you mean you aren’t surprised?”
    Candy put a hand on my arm. “That didn’t come out quite right. Of course Kurt’s death is a shock. I surely didn’t expect anything like that. It’s just that not everyone in the neighborhood wanted this brewery to open again.”
    I walked over to a table, pulled out two chairs, and motioned for Candy to sit. “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t they? Look how this part of town went downhill when Steel City closed. This building was nothing but an eyesore. Another business, especially a potentially successful one, will be a boon to this neighborhood.”
    â€œI know, dear. Not everyone thinks that way.”
    â€œYou keep saying that. I want to know who.”
    â€œOff the top of my head, one would be Dominic Costello.”
    I didn’t recognize the name. “Who is he?”
    â€œDom owns the Galaxy down the street.”
    The Galaxy was a small neighborhood bar two blocks away. It was a shot-and-a-beer kind of place that had been there since I was a kid. It certainly didn’t attract the same type of customer I hoped the brewpub would.
    Candy continued. “Dom is afraid you’ll steal all his customers. I heard he’s telling everyone he sees to boycott this place. He’s even considering adding something besides peanuts and pickled eggs to his food selections.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. I seriously doubt anyone who frequents the Galaxy would be interested in coming here.” I leaned back in my seat. “I’m going to have to talk to him.”
    â€œHe’s likely to toss you out on your keister.”
    â€œI’ll take my chances. Anyone else?”
    She tapped two of her Steelers-decorated fingertips on her lips. “Hmm. Let me think.” She tossed a couple more names my way, but they were all neighbors I was on good terms with, like Daisy Hart, who owned the flower shop, and Adam Greeley, who owned three boutiques across the street.
    We talked for a few more minutes, but in the end, I didn’t have much in the way of suspects. The most promising one—really the only one—was Dominic Costello. I planned to have a chat with him as soon as I could. But first, I had work to do.
    I hadn’t been back to my chores for long when my mom came by. I’d propped open the door to the brewing area, and I spotted her as soon as she entered the pub. Mom was an older version of myself—as long as I aged as well as she has. One of the only things that gave away her age was hersalt-and-pepper hair. She refused to color it—she said it gave her character. I waved and she rushed over. As soon as she pulled me into a hug, my eyes opened like a faucet again. So did hers.
    â€œOh, Max,” she said when we finished. “I am so sorry.”
    We sat across from each other at the same table Candy and I had vacated earlier, with a box of tissues between us. I snatched up another tissue and passed the box to Mom. She took one and patted it under her eyes.
    â€œI still can’t quite believe it,” I said.
    â€œKurt was such a nice boy. Just the thought of what your dad told me . . .” She shuddered and reached for my hand. “Such a horrible accident.”
    So Dad hadn’t mentioned my suspicions to her. Either he’d completely dismissed them or he just didn’t want her to worry. Mom was definitely a worrier, even if she tried not to show it. We sat quietly for a few minutes, then Mom suddenly smiled. “Remember when you first met Kurt and called me because you were mad he kept correcting your German?”
    I