“They’re leftovers from an event we attended. I have to do something with them.” Val shrugged. “You’ve been honest and helpful. I appreciate it.”
Sid took the card and admired the logo on the front, then shook his head and returned it. “I can’t accept gifts from the public, sorry. There’s a fine line between tokens of appreciation and plain old bribery. But I’ll check it out sometime.”
“You’ll be welcome,” Val assured him.
“Of course. Now, another officer will take your statements, Miss Stonehold and...” Sid stopped. “I’m sorry. Who’s this again?”
“Tetra Dupont,” the faerie told him proudly.
“Who’s she?” Sid asked Val.
Val grinned and laid a hand on Tetra’s shoulder.
“She’s a friend,” she told him.
The cops at the warehouse had had the decency to bandage Val’s burned hand before they put her in the cruiser, but the burn still stung. She cradled it in her lap as she drove one-handed, letting Genevieve handle the gears.
“Will you teach me to drive?” Tetra asked.
“I’m kind, not stupid,” Val countered.
Tetra rolled her eyes.
“Also, Genevieve hates you,” Val added.
Genevieve gave an affirmative honk.
“Fine,” Tetra grumbled. “But hurry up. We might miss it!”
“I can’t believe it’s really happening,” Blair murmured from the back seat, clutching Yuka’s hand. “I can’t believe the nightmare is about to be over.”
“Thanks to you, Val.” Yuka’s eyes filled with tears. “How can we repay you?”
“Just keep making that fantastic beer.” Val grinned.
Genevieve hurriedly parked, and they jogged across the sidewalk into the Iron Fist despite Val’s aching limbs. She held her wounded arm close to her body to keep it safe from the crowd as they pushed into the jam-packed bar. Patrons clutching Iron IPAs and Gold Pilsners stared at the screen at the back of the bar.
No music played, and no one spoke. The news anchor’s words echoed through the room.
“Earlier tonight, NYPD officers arrested BrewCorp CEO Anthony Warner at his Staten Island home.” The anchor’s gaze was as intense as her haircut. “In a shocking twist for everyone who knows Warner as the capable leader of an organization producing the city’s favorite craft beers, the CEO is implicated in crimes as serious as attempted murder in the first degree.”
The video cut to a feed from a news helicopter showing a fleet of cruisers and big black vans parked around an extravagant mansion. Anthony Warner came out with his hands up as spotlights and laser dots scrolled across his body.
Val grinned. The shock on his face was worth the wait.
“Warner allegedly ordered a hit on Blair Abercrombie and Yuka Marniq, the owners of the Anvil Brewery, a new craft brewery that’s taking Brooklyn by storm,” the anchor went on. “The Anvil Brewery was cleared of all wrongdoing. Updates on Warner’s arrest will follow.”
The news flicked to the next story, and Enzo muted the TV. The orc stood by the bar, grinning as he hefted a huge glass of sparkling Gold Pilsner.
“Here’s to the Anvil Brewery!” he roared. “Nothing can stop them now!”
The patrons shouted their agreement, and glasses clinked around the bar. A beaming Jeff helped move people aside, allowing Val, Blair, and Yuka to reach the bar. Jess, Isabella, and Liam were already there, nursing beers. Enzo slid four Iron IPAs toward Val.
“Sorry I missed part of my shift, Enzo.” Tetra hurried to the back of the bar.
Enzo grabbed her shoulder. “Uh-uh. Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
“To do my job.” Tetra shook his hand off.
“Heroes don’t serve drinks. At least, not on the night of their heroism.” Enzo grinned. “Val told me what you did out there tonight. Get your ass on a bar stool. I’m busting out the faerie wine and Bacchus mead for you!”
Tetra grinned from ear to ear. Val patted the empty stool beside hers, and the faerie hopped up.
“I didn’t know you fought, Tetra,” Jess observed.
“Except with Val,” Isabella added. “Everyone knows you fight with Val.”
“Bella!” Liam chided.
“What?” Isabella laughed. “It’s true.”
“She fights, all right.” Val grinned as she threw an arm around Tetra’s narrow shoulders. “Sometimes she even fights evil in the name of good.”
Tetra blushed.
Val raised her glass. “To Tetra!”
