Page 1 of Hot Water

CHAPTER 1

SINCLAIR

The dashboard clock glares at me, its glowing digits reminding me I’m late. I navigate the quiet streets of Midnight Falls, Texas, the engine’s hum a constant reminder of the time slipping away. I’m tempted to use my siren, but that would really get the town gossip machine whirling, and I don’t have time or patience to deal with nosy residents.

The last-minute call set me back more than I had hoped—a minor incident at the edge of town took longer to resolve than it should have. Being the town sheriff doesn’t come with an off-switch, even on your birthday.

I finally pull up to Sterling’s house, the warm, inviting light spilling out onto the driveway. As I step out of my patrol car, I hear faint laughter and conversation coming from inside, a sharp contrast to the solitude of the ride over. I take a deep breath, forcing the tension from my shoulders. It’s been a long day, but having dinner with my family is a beacon of normalcy at the end of my chaotic shift.

As I approach the door, it swings open, revealing Sullivan, my younger brother, with a broad grin on his face. “Look who finally decided to join us! Happy birthday, Sin!”

I step inside, greeted by a chorus of “Happy Birthday!” from Sterling, my older brother, Ginni, his wife, and Adam, his assistant. Their smiles are genuine, the warmth in their eyes a welcome change from the stern faces I’ve been dealing with all day.

“Sorry I’m late, everyone,” I say, reaching for the glass of whiskey my younger brother is handing me. “Town keeps me on my toes.”

“Better late than never,” Sterling says, clapping me on the back. “Come on, we saved your seat.”

Ginni guides me to the table, which is laden with an impressive spread. The aroma of roasted chicken and homemade mashed potatoes makes my stomach rumble, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I take my place next to Sullivan and look across the table at Adam, feeling an immediate sense of dread at the self-satisfied smirk on his face.

“Happy birthday, Sinclair,” Ginni says, refilling my suddenly empty glass. “We’re going to start with the presents since you never know when you’ll get called away to another emergency.”

It’s been happening more and more lately. The cartel is trying to make a move into a town a few miles away, and the authorities in the surrounding areas are banding together to fight their intrusion.

“I’m fucking old.” I shake my head. “You don’t need to give me presents.”

Sterling laughs. “We figured you could use a pick-me-up. Besides, it’s not every day the town sheriff gets a night off.”

Adam looks particularly eager, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Let’s just say we’ve got something special planned for you. You’re gonna love it.” I’ll fucking bet. Calling my brother’s assistant flamboyant would be an understatement. He’s dressed in his usual uniform of slim dress trousers and a silky button-up shirt. Today’s colors are black pants and a turquoise shirt. With his clean-shaven face, jet-black hair slicked back, and his round, black-framed glasses, he looks all of fifteen.

Ginni hands me a neatly wrapped box and I smile at her. “You didn’t have to.”

“Of course, I did.” She smiles back. Inside, I find a beautifully crafted leather-bound journal. “For those nights when you need to put your thoughts somewhere other than a police report,” she says with a soft smile. My older brother lucked out when he met her on a blind date.

“Thank you. This is perfect.” I’m genuinely touched. I can already see myself jotting down notes and reflections, a quiet refuge from the turmoil of my job. I’m not surprised my sister-in-law came up with the perfect present for me. I’m tempted to hug her just to piss off my possessive older brother, but I resist the urge.

Next, it’s Sullivan’s turn. He gives me an envelope and rubs his hands together, watching as I open it. Inside, I find a gift certificate to a high-end restaurant in Silver Spoon Falls, a very wealthy little town a few miles from here. “A little incentive to take a night off now and then,” he says with a wink. “And you can always take your younger brother if you need someone to go with you.”

“Thanks, Sullivan. I’ll definitely put this to good use,” I reply, mentally rolling my eyes. Leave it to the little shit to buy me a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant.

Then, all eyes turn to Adam. He hands me a somewhat bulky envelope with a guilty grin. “This one’s a tad bit unconventional, but hear me out. Sterling and I are doing this out of necessity.”

I open the envelope to find a stunning brochure for a resort in Barbados. The little shit fucking booked me a week-long, all-inclusive stay at the resort. “A tad bit unconventional?” I say, raising an eyebrow and glancing around the table.

Adam sighs dramatically. “Yeah, you work too hard. You need a break, and this is the perfect way to get it. The mayor has already agreed to your time off, and Sullivan needs a vacation, too, so he’s going with you.” It doesn’t really sound like much of a vacation if I’m keeping my younger brother out of trouble the entire time.

“I need the time away to recover from the last few months.” Sullivan fake shudders. “Sterling has been riding my ass nonstop to get this new ride finished.”

“You need someone to keep you on track, asshole,” Sterling growls to our younger brother. “You changed the goddamn design so many times, we almost missed the deadline.”

Our family has been in Midnight, Texas, for generations. In fact, the small town got its name from our family. Midnight Industries, our family company, owns the largest chain of haunted houses, ghost tours, and costume companies in the United States. Sterling is the CEO, Sullivan designs and builds the rides, and Ginni helps with marketing.

Growing up, I realized the “Halloween” gene had skipped me. While Sullivan and Sterling loved working with our grandfather at Midnight Industries, I was more interested in sports. I excelled at football and received a scholarship to Florida State.

My first semester of college taught me two things—I hate sand, and I wasn’t interested in professional sports. Out of boredom, I stumbled into a lecture on campus about careers in law enforcement given by an FBI agent.

Fascinated, I changed my major to Criminal Justice and quit the football team. After graduating, I joined the police department in Houston and moved my way up to homicide detective within a few years, but I always felt out of place in the big city. I missed my hometown and family. When the town’s long-time sheriff retired a few years ago, I ran for the position and won in a landslide.

The room falls silent as I debate accepting the gift. My initial reaction is to decline. A week away from the job? From everything? But a little voice in the back of my mind keeps insisting I take them up on the offer. As I look at their hopeful faces, I realize I’m about to fold like a cheap suit. I do need a break—perhaps more than I’ve allowed myself to admit.

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