"Anyway, the license plates were reported stolen last week, as well as the car they were on, no surprise. I just heard they ditched the car at a gas station an hour from here. Video footage shows them climbing into the back of a limo, but no angle caught the plates on the limo."
"Of course they didn't." If the Fox brothers were in charge of security everywhere, life would be easier. You can bet they'd have mini cameras on the pumps at license plate level.
"How about today? Do things look good for the Fourth Festival?"
As usual in Dead End, the holiday came complete with a festival. Food booths, artisan stands, and carnival rides. By the time Cletus set the fireworks off at dusk, everybody in Dead End would be stuffed full of sausage sandwiches and funnel cakes, and their pockets would be considerably lightened.
"Mostly. I know you're out of the law-enforcement business, Jack, but you still have good eyes and a better sense for impending trouble than Lizzie. She's still green. Just … keep an eye out, will you?"
Lizzie was the new deputy. Susan didn't know that I'd anonymously funded her salary for completely self-serving reasons. Mostly so I couldstayout of the law-enforcement business.
"Fine," I said, resigned.
"And let me or Andy know if you see or hear anything. Skeeter Hatfield has been drinking a lot and making threats to anybody who will listen. Plus, the McKee family anger is bound to blow up sometime, especially after Tess broke up the fight at her place."
"Okay. I'll keep an eye out. I would anyway, after those goons yesterday said they wanted Tess to come to New York to meet their boss."
"The hard way or the easy way," Tess added, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe he said that. Too many movies. That's what's wrong with criminals today."
"Carlos is back tonight," Susan said. "He's coming to the fireworks. So, we'll have an extra pair of eyes."
"And Carlos can see in the dark as well as Jack can," Tess said. "It will be fine. And then you can get back to planning your vacation. Where did you say you're going?"
Susan laughed. "I didn't. Maybe if nobody knows, I can spend a week without urgent phone calls about trouble in Dead End."
"Good luck," I said sincerely. "Two weeks in Atlantis with no phones was wonderful."
After we hung up, we made a big breakfast and took our time over the meal and the washing up. I gave Lou a piece of bacon, even though she'd already eaten a hearty breakfast, and caught Tess's disapproving look aimed at both of us.
"She's looking chunky, and too much weight isn’t good for cats. Maybe we should take her to Charithra for a checkup?"
Dr. Charithra Kumari, Dead End's new veterinarian, was quickly becoming a friend. She was dating Andy Kelly, who was completely gone over her.
"I've never had so many friends in my life," I said slowly, the realization giving me a weird feeling.
Tess blinked. "I'm glad for you? But you had friends in high school. And then your army buddies. And … Quinn."
Quinn, my co-rebel leader, and I were very close during the vampire wars. I'd even thought I was in love with her until Tess hit me like a tornado and I realized what actually being in love felt like.
Apparently, it was turning me into somebody who thought about hisfeelingsall the time.
I made a face.
Feelings. If my army buddies could see me now …
I grinned and kissed my gorgeous wife. "They'd be jealous."
"What? Who would be jealous? Of what?"
"Never mind. Lou is fine. We just had her in for her annual visit. She's just wearing her 'it's summer in Dead End and too hot to race around the yard annoying the squirrels' extra pound or two. I know how she feels."
Tess leaned past me to put the clean plates back into the cupboard. "You want to annoy the squirrels?"
"Not usually."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Okay. Tiger me thinks it's funny sometimes. But not when it's a hundred degrees. Speaking of which, do we have to go downtown particularly early? I was thinking we could wait until dinnertime to avoid the worst of the heat."
