Page 2 of Bennett

Bennett nodded, taking a seat along with the others. “Works for me.”

“Good,” Mac stated. “Cooper and I will be working the Anderson detail this afternoon. That leaves you two to work the renovation case. Matt, give us a SITREP and bring Bennett up to speed.”

Matthew sat up in the chair across from him. “There’s been some vandalism at one of the renovation sites in town. Nothing major yet, but the property belongs to Annie Winslow. She owns the diner where we’re about to eat.”

“She’s a damn saint,” Cooper added. “Feeds half this town and still puts up with my dumb ass, which makes her a hero in my book.”

Bennett arched a brow. “And what, exactly, are we investigating? Spray-painted walls?”

“More like cut wires, busted locks, and some very convenient delays in construction,” Matthew said. “Nothing outright criminal yet, but the timing’s suspicious.”

“She hired a local designer, Brandi Dalton, to renovate the place,” Mac informed. “Brandi’s the one who asked us to look into it.”

“What’s the place being converted to?” Bennett asked.

“Four storefronts with apartments above each,” Matthew replied. “It used to be an old furniture store, owned by Annie’s late husband, Jim. She told me she’d originally thought aboutselling the building and the three acres it sits on but couldn’t bring herself to part with it. So, the building sat vacant for almost two years, until she recently decided to renovate instead.”

Bennett shrugged. “Sounds like someone doesn’t want that happening.”

“That’s what we need to figure out,” Mac said. “Now let’s go eat.”

As the guys moved to leave, Cooper clapped Bennett on the shoulder. “Heads up, new guy. This breakfast is gonna change your life.”

Bennett glanced sideways at him. “It’s eggs, bacon, and pancakes, Thompson.”

Cooper gasped dramatically. “Eggs, bacon, and pancakes? That’s like calling a Bugatti ‘just a car.’”

Mac chuckled. “You should’ve seen him when he first tried Annie’s biscuits and gravy. Nearly proposed to her on the spot. Although, to be fair, most of us felt the same.”

“Still considering it,” Cooper muttered.

Matt smirked again. “Not sure your wife will go along with that, Coop.”

“Good point.” Cooper nodded with a sigh.

Mac shook his head. “Let’s go before he starts writing sonnets about bacon.”

They headed toward the door, and Cooper fell into step beside Bennett. “You’re gonna like Annie. But fair warning, she’s got a keen eye. Probably already figured you out.”

“Figured me out how?” Bennett asked, arching a brow.

Matthew smirked. “She’s got a talent for knowing which of us are trouble.”

He grunted. “Then I guess I won’t make the ‘Good boy’ list.”

“Not a chance.” Cooper grinned. “But, hey, at least you’re in good company.”

“Yeah, so let’s move your feet,” Mac cut in. “Gabe’s probably already at our table,notwaiting for us.”

Gabe was Master Chief Gabriel Bryson, former Navy SEAL, now the Harland County Sheriff, according to the two squids increasing their pace as they all followed Mac out of the building.

Bennett had also worked with Bryson on a few ops while active duty and found the by-the-book guy capable and dependable, two good qualities for any sheriff. Yeah, it was no stretch to picture Gabe transitioning from leading a SEAL team to commanding local law enforcement.

Less than five minutes later, after crossing the road, they walked west down the sidewalk, passing the renovation site in question on their way to the diner on the adjacent lot.

Even at a quick look, he could tell the site was a work in progress. The old brick building stood stubbornly amid scaffolding and construction debris and fencing, its bones solid but worn. Plywood covered the storefronts, and exposed beams were visible through some of the second-floor windows where the apartments were taking shape. It wasn’t much to look at now, but he’d seen enough buildings go up to recognize the slow transformation of something forgotten into something worthwhile.

Still, he couldn’t ignore the details—the boarded up storefront windows and what would eventually become doorways. If someone had been messing with the place, it’d be easy enough to slip in unnoticed.