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“Nope. We cover the last shift change around three thirty. Then we clean up, and then we check our stock and get ready for tomorrow.”
She laughed at his appalled expression.
“I am surprised no one has asked for fruit ice.”
“Oh, I put the sign up. All the regulars know. No Emgoth, no fruit ice. I nearly cost myself my fingers the last time I tried.”
They washed up and got the containers from the drop-off. The akko was wrapped and put in the fridge for the next orders.
Sunny asked, “How do you do this?”
“Because I did it. I am used to it. We have a lovely profit margin and a loyal clientele. Several of whom have seen improvements in their love lives after the increased intake of vegetables and low-fat meats.”
Sunny blinked. “Do your customers know?”
“How do you think I know about their sex lives?” She chuckles. “We have three choices, Sea, land, or mix.”
“Everyone was ordering mix.”
“Yes. That is standard, but we always keep a third of the grill for specific mixes. Like allergy alerts. Occasionally, spouses come for lunch, and they want to prove they can order something different.” She chuckled. “When they return, they get the mix.”
Sunny was cleaning up front and said, “Cloudy, I think your visitors are here.”
A peacekeeper vehicle pulled up, and Cloudy stepped out with her hands away from her sides.
“We are looking for the Terran, Cloudy?”
“That is me. I have had adaptation surgeries.” She said it calmly.
“Are you aware that Emgoth is in hospital?”
“I found out from Ariget. She said she and the kids are with him.”
“You didn’t visit?”
“No, he would kill me if I didn’t open the stall on time.” She smiled. “Terran saying.”
They jolted and checked their records. One was sea, and one was high-land Vecchin. So, fish and fur. She waited.
“Has Emgoth ever used this phrase in regards to you?” The sea Vecchin asked.
“Yes. Twice. The first time was when I went in for the pigmentation, and the second was when I went in for my gill installation. He said if I weren’t back the moment the doctors cleared me, he’d kill me. He said it in the stall, so we have video. He has also taken days off for family events and grinned, saying that if I weren’t there at five the next day, I would kill him.”
The sea Vecchin asked, “Do you have that on video?”
“Yes. I know the dates, and if one of you will come with me, my brother is inside cleaning, as I needed help, but there isn’t a lot of room with someone your size and me.”
The deep-sea Vecchin smiled. “I will come with you. May I record?”
“Certainly. It’s chaotic but clean. We just had our lunch rush.”
The peacekeeper came in behind her, and she walked to the office with him behind her. She announced the first day, and he recorded. The second. Third, fourth, fifth, and finally the sixth.
“I apologize if the human turn of phrase is impolite, but Emgoth took to it. I plan to visit him if I am allowed to after work.”
He paused. “You knew we were coming.”
“I did. And I knew what you were looking for. Him saying that I was going to kill him means that I would be angry if he missed work and left me on my own. I called in my brother, and he has kept up, but half of all profits are Emgoth’s. We have direct split deposits that kick in after materials for the day are covered. There is no benefit for him not being here. He still gets half the funds for the day. He should have started getting his pay already for the day.”
