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Hours? Days? Weeks?The note didn't say.But did it really matter?Even if Tessahadbeen home, she still couldn't have filled it – that big, empty spot left by Griff.

Or should I say Montgomery?

With my thoughts still churning, I resumed walking toward my shop.

As for Trevor, he stayed rooted in place, looking nervous and fidgety.

As I moved toward him, I couldn't help but recall all of those fallen bikes, the ones he had claimed were knocked over by the wind.

No wonder he was nervous.

What was this?

Confession time?

When I reached the shop, I got right to the point. "So…what bringsyouhere?"

Trevor fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "I heard you might have an opening, and I was wondering if…well, maybe… " He gave me a smile that looked more like a wince. "I'll just say it. Could I have my old job back?"

My jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I heard the other guy's gone, so…" He let the sentence trail off like the rest of it didn't need saying.

I wasn't buying it.

Or maybe I simply wasn't in the mood. "Look, I don't want to be rude or anything, but you quit with no notice. You left me in a huge bind."

His face fell as he mumbled, "Yeah...I know. Sorry."

And of course, sap that I was, I couldn't help but soften just a little. "Don't get me wrong. You were terrific at your job, but…" Now, it wasmyturn to leave the rest unsaid.

He perked up. "But that won't happennow."

I gave him a dubious look. "Why not?"

He lowered his voice. "Because those guys are gone."

"What guys?" Surely, he didn't mean Griff and Ryder.

Or did he?

73

Back Page Bombshell

Maisie

I stared down at the paper. And yes, I meant an actual newspaper – a thin, daily publication calling itself theMackinaw Bugle. Most of the space was crammed with ads, but there was still a decent amount of news – all local, from the looks of it.

But it was the story on the back page that had me staring like I'd just seen a ghost. Silently, I read the headline for the second time in thirty seconds.Billionaire Bike Mogul to Buy Bridge and Bay Finance.

Whichbillionaire?

Yup, you guessed it.Griff.

If I weren't so sad, I might have laughed.

The way the headline was broken, I'd first read it asBillionaire Bike Mogul to Buy Bridge.But I knew better – not because billionaires don't buy bridges, but because Bridge and Bay Finance was a name I'd seen before.