Page 229 of While You Were Trending

Ginny starts to ask something, but Mabel interrupts her.

“Why’d you leave your car at the barn?”

I glance toward the barn, thinking she’s talking to Ginny, until I spot a black Range Rover on the pad outside.

“I didn’t.” I tilt my head. “I don’t think that’s mine.”

Mabel drops her suitcase and my backpack.

Ginny drops both her and my suitcases and her computer bag.

All three of us speed up as we close the distance to the barn.

Light’s on.

I try to go first, but I’m moving like an old man courtesy of the workouts I’ve put myself through the past two weeks.

Mabel easily overtakes me, which I can only tolerate because I have a strong suspicion about who’s in the barn, and if I’m right, none of us are in danger.

“What the hell?” Ginny whispers as we pass the SUV.

“Your brother’s?” I murmur.

“Yes. And he thinks I’m across the country with you. Why is his car here?”

Mabel stalks inside.

Ginny and I share glances, then together rush to catch up.

“What thefuck?” Mabel says.

Screeches, actually.

And there he is.

Tennessee Rhodes.

Ginny’s brother.

Holding a thick white letter-sized envelope.

He drops it. “Somebody left a fuckton of money. I’m stealing it.”

“You drove all the way here from LA to look for envelopes of cash around my winery.” Mabel folds her arms, staring at him in that impassive, takes-no-bullshit way that’s mildly terrifying.

Especially in dim lights.

Ten’s wearing the look of a man who’s been caught red-handed.

And I don’t mean stealing money.

I mean leaving it.

“Uh, yeah,” he says. “I like cash. Heard you kept finding it.”

“From who?” Ginny asks.

“Cricket,” he replies.