Page 23 of Wag More Bark Less

“Good,” Dad said, grabbing a scanner from the counter. “Keep it that way, because I’m not retiring until I’m good and ready.”

“C’mon, Dad⁠—”

The bells chimed overhead, announcing a customer. Dad took the opportunity to dismiss the conversation entirely and hurried away to greet Harold Foster, who might be here for wood screws or simply to bullshit. Either way, it was clear we weren’t going to get anywhere today. I’d have to wait to talk to Connor, away from the store.

“Do you need more coffee?” Opal asked, looking at my now empty mug. Guess I sucked that down fast. It was tempting, but I really wanted to sleep this afternoon once this was all finished.

“Maybe later, kiddo.”

“Opal, why don’t you help me with the power tools?” Connor said, handing her a hand scanner. “We should let Uncle Luke get to counting his birdseed.”

“Fuck off,” I said after Opal raced ahead of her dad, toward the tools section at the back of the store.

I took the aisle over, headed to the back to see what shipments had come in. Before I could finish identifying all the boxes, my phone chimed. It wasn’t the tone reserved for the vacation rental app, and I hated how I was instantly disappointed. It made no fucking sense. The last person I wanted to deal with today was Miss Mayhem.

Mayor Rosalyn Chambers: Need to meet with you today. You free at 2pm? It’ll be quick.

I set the phone on top of a pallet of boxes and used both hands to rub the sleep from my eyes. With any luck, I hoped to be finished with my portion of the inventory and in bed by two. I planned to stay there until my shift started tomorrow. I just needed one good stretch of sleep so I could lock in for the next couple of weeks. With Golden Days just around the corner, the department was bound to be extra busy.

Quick meetings with the mayor could go on for an hour or more. Like my late mother, Rosalyn could chat one’s ear off for half a day if left unchecked. It’s why they’d been such close friends, I supposed. They were a lot alike.

Luke: Can it wait until Monday?

Mayor Rosalyn Chambers: No.

Mayor Rosalyn Chambers: If two doesn’t work, I can push it to 3:30.

I inhaled deeply, deciding a second cup of coffee might be necessary after all.

Luke: I’ll swing by your office at two.

Mayor Rosalyn Chambers: Thanks, Chief! Talk to you soon.

I exited the text conversation, and automatically clicked on the vacation rental app.

I was just being a good host, checking to see if my guest needed anything. If I was going to keep the property as a vacation rental for the foreseeable future, I wanted to stay in good standing.

That was it.

No ulterior motive.

I clicked on the messages icon.

Nothing.

That’s what I wanted, right? For Maggie Holland and her four-legged sidekick to keep to themselves and out of my way for the duration of their stay. So why was this the third time I’d checked the app for a new message since I left the house?

NINE

MAGGIE

I stared at the incoming call from Jason and sighed, refusing to touch the phone resting on the picnic table as I gathered another bite of the backcountry skillet onto my fork. There hadn’t been any room at The Sunrise Skillet’s patio, so I ventured farther downtown to an outdoor picnic area and claimed a table with a view of the mountains.

But it didn’t matter that I was in a relatively quiet place to take a call. I had nothing left to say to him that I hadn’t already said.

“He’s probably just calling about money,” I grumbled.

Ellie, lying contently in the grass beside my table, looked up at me as though to say Gee, do you think?