Page 17 of Hot Under the Collar

“I don’t know exactly. He just got here. I don’t think Leo knew he was coming either. It seems … complicated.” She watched Tabitha try to hide a smile behind her hand. “Don’t get started, Tabby. I’m stressed enough as it is. Mike did not come back because of me, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s been over a decade since we spoke.”

Tabitha’s smile faded. “Sorry. I’m not trying to make this any harder. It’s just, you should’ve seen Leo’s face. You may not be worried about why his brother came back, but Leo definitely is.”

“Stop it. Don’t you have to get back to the grooming salon?”

“Manners, Lynne. If you don’t want him, I should at least get a chance to say goodbye to our new friend. What’s his name?”

Lynne rolled her eyes. “Michael. But he goes by Mike.”

As if on cue, Leo and Mike reappeared.

“Goodbye, Mike! Welcome back to Autumn Ridge,” Tabitha called across the room, a little too cheerily. Mike waved, and Tabitha turned to hug Lynne goodbye.

“I’ll forgive you for that since you rescued me today. I mean it. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

After Lynne closed and locked the front door, she turned back around to find Leo’s eyebrow was raised at her. She shot him a glance that said I’ll tell you later.

“Are we in the Twilight Zone? Could this day get any weirder?” she asked them.

“Speaking of … Mike and I talked some. He’s gonna crash on my couch for now, until we can find him a place to stay. I’m gonna walk him back to my place, get him settled. I’m just not sure how long we’ll take. That okay with you?”

Lynne felt dread settle in her gut, and she was sure her face gave it away.

“Um, yeah,” she offered, unconvincingly.

She was afraid once Leo took Mike back to his place he’d never return. This seemed bigger than the cat chaos now—at least for Leo. Maybe Mike was the priority. She didn’t know what the two of them had talked about in that short amount of time, but returning without securing a place to stay seemed unlike the Mike she remembered. He didn’t like the rules at seventeen, sure. But he always had a plan. After a military career, she couldn’t imagine that had changed.

She thought momentarily of offering her guest bedroom to Mike, not to stir up more drama but to keep someone else around who could help. Being the sole person responsible for getting the litter upstairs before O’Donnell’s reopened tomorrow filled her with dread. But having Mike live with her? Not even knowing who he was anymore? That was the last thing she needed right now.

As if he could read her racing mind, Leo said, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He took off his ARFD hoodie and draped it over the back of the nearest chair. Something in her chest loosened. It felt like collateral, like leaving an ID at the bar when promising to return to pay. He never went anywhere in fall or winter without that hoodie. “Text me if you hear anything from Cali about her friend.”

Leo and Mike left, and the bar felt eerily quiet once she was alone again. For a while she planted herself just outside the utility closet, waiting for Cali’s call, her eyes flitting to her watch more than she cared to admit. It was already past noon. If she couldn’t get this litter somewhere safer before tomorrow’s lunch crowd started pouring in, O’Donnell’s would need to stay closed. If they stayed closed, she’d already be eating into the profits from Halloween. The worries kept snowballing from there.

Then the kittens let out their small, hungry squeaks, and her heart leapt into her throat.

I should be able to do this, she thought. I just need a strategy.

She searched for tips on her phone then disappeared upstairs to her apartment, took a survey of what she had, and returned with gloves and a towel plus a refreshed thermos of coffee to keep her company. Fred had already licked clean the can of wet food, so she had to improvise. But boiled chicken and rice didn’t seem appetizing enough to mama cat, who still hissed every time Lynne got close. It was starting to feel personal. She regretted not letting Leo try to pick up the box while they’d had the chance. Everyone could’ve been upstairs already.

She got back to cleaning while she waited on Cali’s call. That call might change the trajectory of the rest of her day. Even if they succeeded with moving the cats, someone still needed to get this place ready for tomorrow. But hours passed, and Lynne started losing hope—not because the bar wouldn’t be ready for tomorrow. It already was. Her anxiety had driven her to complete all the chores in record time. But then she was left alone with the feeling she was doomed no matter what she accomplished today.

She mindlessly spun Mazzy’s urn pendant between her fingers.

Then Cali’s number buzzed to life on her phone screen.

“I’m afraid there’s some bad news … and worse news,” Cali started. “Which one do you want first?”

“Shit. I guess give me the worst you’ve got.”

“Okay.” Cali drew in a deep breath. “So Ethan’s repair this afternoon is at one of the vet tech’s houses. When he called to confirm, he also asked her what we could do. She said the vet’s office isn’t just closed for the weekend. They’re closed indefinitely. Like, they have to find a new vet. The other one left without notice.”

Lynne groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I kid you not. We’re pretty pissed about it, too. Catsby was due for a teeth cleaning. Anyway, they’re interviewing. We know that much. But the next closest vet anyone can vouch for is in Eastmoor—hours away.”

“Right.”