"And stole two grand in tools from Dave," Jack said.
"I hadn't heard that yet," Aunt Ruby said, frowning.
"The graffiti on my clinic seems minor, in comparison," Charithra said. "And yet I worry it will drive away customers. It's challenging to open a new practice in a new town."
"I'm sure it won't. We've needed a vet here for a long while. By the way, how's the dog?" I asked her.
She smiled. "She's doing great. She's going home with Andy tomorrow."
"Ellie's going to stay with my mom while she recuperates. While thedogrecuperates, not my mom," Andy said hastily. "And then she's going to be our first K-9 dog."
The vet gave him a doubtful look. "That sweet girl doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She won't be able to chase down criminals."
"I was thinking more of taking her to schools when I give talks on safety," Andy reassured her.
"You don't—you don't think that the UltraShopMart folks are behind the crime, do you?" I glanced around at everyone. "I mean, it seems like too much of a coincidence that it all started right about the time that they came to town."
Jack shook his head. "Good thought—you know what I think of coincidences—but the crimes don't make sense. If UltraShopMart wanted to cause trouble, they'd make it count. What conceivable use could graffiti on the vet clinic or damage to one of the Swamp Commandos' boats have?"
Nobody disagreed.
"Yeah, they even asked us to provide security for the excavation site," Lucky said.
"Excavation site?" Lauren frowned. "I didn't hear they're already excavating. Did the town council give them the go-ahead? Because if yes, I should just pack up and move. The UltraShopMarts all have their own delis."
"They couldn't make food that tastes even a fraction as good as yours," I said, and everybody murmured their agreement, but Lauren waved a hand in dismissal.
"That's lovely to hear, and thanks. But the convenience factor alone will take away a lot of my business. Judd isn't happy, either. UltraShopMart is famous for its pizza. It's notgoodpizza, but it's cheap, fast, and, again, convenient."
"I don't like anything about UltraShopMart," Molly said. "The fast fashion, the environmental damage their stores have caused, or even the way they treat their employees. I'd vote a resounding no if it were up to me."
Molly Chen, my best friend since elementary school, was the lead singer in an indie rock band that was making big waves. I didn't get to hang out with her nearly enough these days, and I missed her, but she always kept up on Dead End news.
"The environmental issues worry me a lot," Phin said. "I've been in touch with a Florida statewide organization to organize an inspection of the site to be sure they're not destroying any irreplaceable animal or plant life. It makes me crazy that they started excavating already with no real testing, except from their pet scientist who gets paid to rubber stamp all their plans."
Jack leaned forward. "That's a serious issue. Let us know what you hear, okay?"
"How are the Santa battles going?" I asked Lauren.
She threw her hands in the air. "Who knows? That Darryl causes problems everywhere he goes. I can't believe the Peterson brothers are encouraging him to move down here."
"I'm not so sure they are," Uncle Mike said slowly. He hated anything that even hinted of gossip, but this was more town business than idle chatter. "When I went to the hardware store to buy a new pipe cutter, I walked in on Darryl and Harold shouting at each other. I turned around and walked out, got some coffee, and went back later, but it looked pretty intense."
"Darryl has been telling everybody who will listen about how wonderful UltraShopMart is," Aunt Ruby said thoughtfully. "Not all of them want to hear it. Certainly, the hardware shop would suffer."
"We can't figure it out tonight," I said. I was suddenly exhausted and tired of problems. "How about we change the subject? Charithra, why don't you tell us the most unusual client you've ever encountered?"
The vet shot a sly glance at Jack. "I've treated a tiger cub for an injured paw."
Jack, sitting with his arm casually thrown around my shoulders, saluted her with his beer bottle. "And I thank you on behalf of all of us."
"But most unusual? Hmm. I'd have to say the woman who brought in her potbellied pig and asked me to pierce its ears so she could put diamond studs in them."
15
Tess
"Diamond studs?" Uncle Mike shook his head in disgust. "City folks."
