Chapter 20
Maggie Reeves had owned The Brew & View for twenty-two years.
Carson sat in Captain Holloway’s office, reviewing Finn’s research on her background. On the surface, she was exactly what she appeared to be—a small business owner, active in the community, friendly with everyone.
But underneath that surface, the numbers told a different story.
“Her coffee shop shouldn’t be this profitable,” Finn said, pointing to financial records on his laptop. “I ran comparisons with similar businesses in the area. The Brew & View brings in roughly three times what it should based on foot traffic and sales volume.”
“She’s laundering money,” Carson said.
“That’s what it looks like. Cash-heavy business, hard to track actual sales versus reported sales. Perfect front for moving dirty money.” Finn pulled up more documents. “And look at this. She owns the building the coffee shop is in. Paid cash for it fifteen years ago. $600,000 in cash.”
Holloway frowned. “Where does a coffee shop owner get that kind of cash?”
“She doesn’t. But someone running a criminal enterprise might.
” Carson leaned forward. “Dan Morrison said Eugene made drops at The Brew & View. I think Maggie was collecting payments from criminals, taking a cut, and passing the rest to Shaw. She’s the middleman.
The connection between the criminals who needed protection and the cop who could provide it. ”
“That’s a serious accusation,” Holloway warned. “Maggie’s been serving coffee to half the department for two decades. People trust her.”
“Which makes her perfect for the role. Who’d suspect the friendly coffee shop lady?
” Carson pulled out photos from the evidence boards.
“Shaw visited The Brew & View regularly during his tenure. It’s in his credit card records—at least twice a week, sometimes more.
Even after retirement, every time he flew back to Washington, his cards show charges from The Brew & View. ”
“Meeting with Maggie. Coordinating.” Holloway rubbed his temples. “This is going to destroy her. Everyone loves that coffee shop.”
“Everyone loved Shaw too. Until we found out he was corrupt.” Carson’s voice was hard. “I don’t care how beloved she is. If she helped Shaw enable criminals, if she’s the reason Eugene operated unchecked for years, she needs to face justice.”
“Agreed,” Captain said, looking like he’d aged ten years since Carson entered his office. “But we need solid proof before we move. Right now, this is all circumstantial. Suspicious financial activity and a few coffee purchases don’t prove she’s a criminal middleman.”
“So we get proof.” Carson stood, determined to find it. “I want surveillance on The Brew & View. See who’s coming and going. Especially if Shaw shows up during one of his trips.”
“Done. I’ll assign Silas and Knox to rotate surveillance shifts. Discreet. No one can know we’re watching Maggie.”
“What about approaching her? Bringing her in for questioning?”
“Not yet. If we tip our hand too early, she’ll lawyer up and we’ll get nothing. Or worse, she’ll warn Shaw we’re onto them.” Holloway’s expression was grim. “We do this right. Build the case. Get irrefutable evidence. Then we take them both down.”
Carson wanted to move faster. Wanted to arrest Maggie and Shaw immediately, make them answer for what they’d done.
But Holloway was right. They needed to be patient. Strategic.
“How long for surveillance?”
“Two weeks minimum. See if Shaw makes a trip during that time. If we can catch him meeting with Maggie, we’ll have visual proof of their connection.”
Carson nodded, already thinking about the next steps. “I want to re-interview the twelve victims. See if any of them remember going to The Brew & View around the time their cases went cold. If Maggie was scouting victims for Shaw to target—”
“That’s a stretch.”
“Maybe. But it’s worth checking.” Carson headed for the door. “I’ll start with Avery Shone. She reported the break-in three years ago, right before she moved into Nora’s building. If Eugene was already stalking her then, and Shaw destroyed the evidence, maybe Maggie was involved somehow.”
“Be careful, Carson. Don’t let this consume you.”
Carson met the captain’s eyes and promised, “I won’t.”
But they both knew it was already too late for that.
***
Nora knew something was wrong the moment Carson walked through the door that evening.
He had that look—the distant, obsessive one that meant he’d disappeared into a case and might not fully resurface for days.
“Hey,” she said from the couch where she’d been working on her laptop. “How was your day?”
“Fine.” He headed straight for the dining table where his case files were still spread out. “Did you eat?”
“I had a sandwich. There’s leftover pasta in the fridge if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not.”
He started rearranging files, adding new notes to his investigation board. Nora watched him for a moment, recognizing the signs. The single-minded focus. The way he barely registered her presence. Not even a kiss hello.
She’d seen him like this before. When they’d been hunting Eugene. But that had been different. She’d been the victim. The stakes had been personal in a way that made his obsession justified.
This was something else. And it was pushing him away from her.
She wouldn’t lie. It stung. Even knowing what to expect going into this relationship, she still somehow struggled when it was happening right in front of her.
“Carson.”
“Hmm?”
“Look at me,” she said softly.
He did, but she could see his mind was still on the case. Still turning over evidence and theories.
“When was the last time you slept a full eight hours?”
He frowned, thinking. “I don’t know. A few days ago?”
“Try a week. When was the last time we had dinner together? Really together, not you eating while reviewing files?”
He got that impatient look in his eyes and returned to his files. “Nora, I’m working on something important—”
“I know. Shaw,” she said, trying not to sound snappy. “The corruption investigation. The twelve victims.” She closed her laptop and stood. “But you’re letting it consume you. Just like you always do.”
“These women deserve justice,” he said, and maybe it was just her hurt feelings, but it sounded harsh.
Still, she forced herself to stay calm. “I’m not arguing that. I’m saying you need to take care of yourself while pursuing it.” She moved to him, placing her hands on his chest. “You’re running on fumes. You barely sleep. You forget to eat. You come home and immediately disappear into the case.”
“I’m doing my job,” he insisted.
“No, you’re obsessing. There’s a difference.” She held his gaze. “I love that you care about these victims. I love that you’re fighting for them. But I’m scared you’re going to burn yourself out. Or worse, make a mistake because you’re too exhausted to think clearly.”
She’d meant what she’d said before. She couldn’t bear to lose him. Not when she’d just found him. It would kill her.
Carson’s jaw clenched. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not. And you keep saying you are, but I can see it. You’re not sleeping. You’re not eating right. You’re barely here even when you’re home.” Her voice cracked slightly. “I feel like I’m losing you to this case.”
His eyes softened. Just a little. “You’re not losing me.”
“Then prove it. Come to bed. Get a full night’s sleep. Take one evening off from the investigation and spend it with me. Show me you can still separate work from home.”
“Nora—”
“Please.” She pressed closer. “I’m not asking you to give up on the case. I’m asking you to remember you have a life outside of it. A life with me. That you promised would be a priority.”
Carson closed his eyes, and Nora could see the war happening behind them. The detective who couldn’t let go versus the man who’d promised to try.
“You’re right,” he said finally, his head hanging lower on his shoulders. “I’ve been... I haven’t been present. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Just come to bed. Let the case wait until tomorrow.”
He let her lead him to the bedroom. Let her undress him and tuck him into bed. Let her wrap around him in the dark.
“I don’t know how to not obsess,” he admitted quietly. “Every case I work becomes everything. I can’t just...turn it off.”
“I know. And I’m not asking you to turn it off completely,” she said honestly. This was his job. She knew that coming into it. But… “Just...dial it back. Find balance. Because if you keep going like this, something’s going to break. Either the case or us.”
“It won’t be us.” His arms tightened around her. “I won’t let it be us.”
“Then you have to try. Really try. Not just tell me you will and then go back to obsessing the next day.”
“Okay.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “I’ll try. I promise.”
Nora wanted to believe him. Wanted to trust that this time would be different.
But she’d seen him like this before. Seen him lose himself in the hunt for justice until nothing else mattered.
And she was terrified that no matter how much he loved her, it wouldn’t be enough to pull him back when the case demanded everything. And how could they build a life on that?
***
The next morning, Carson made an effort.
He got up with Nora. Had breakfast with her. Asked about her business plans instead of immediately diving into case files.
“I have a potential client,” Nora said, excited. “Small tech startup that needs help organizing their finances for Series A funding. It’s exactly the kind of work I wanted to do.”
“That’s amazing. When do you start?”
“If they hire me, next week. I’m meeting with them tomorrow to discuss scope and fees.” She smiled. “This is really happening. My own business. My own clients.”
“I’m proud of you.” And he meant it. Despite everything with the Shaw investigation, he could genuinely be happy for her success.
They cleaned up breakfast together, and Carson was heading for the shower when his phone rang.
Finn’s name showed on the screen.
Carson hesitated, remembering his promise to Nora. To find balance. To not let work consume him.