Page 51 of Tackle

Lopez held up a clear, collection baggie, containing something that looked suspiciously exactly like what they claimed.

Franks added his bombshell, “You need to call an exterminator within three business days, or you’ll be cited with section ten subset B of the health code and we’ll have the right to close you down.”

“An exterminator was here yesterday and he found nothing.” Emerson was mildly starting to panic. This couldn’t be happening.

“Well, ma’am, I suggest you call him again.” He held out a business card. “Have them fax their report to the number listed at the bottom. If you have any questions or want to check the status of the case, I wrote your case number on the back.”

Still feeling a little at sea, Emerson took the card and mumbled, “Thank you.”

The two men exited through the back door and she was left with Mack who looked as though he wanted to chop someone’s head off with his spatula.

He crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “I’m telling you, those rat droppings could not have been there.”

Emerson stepped over to him. “Do you know where they found them?”

Mack huffed and pointed. “In the corner, there behind the stove foot.”

Emerson went over and knelt. “Did you maybe not see them? They would be easy to miss.”

“No. No way.” He was adamant.

“Well, it had to be there, Mack. Why would they lie?”

“I don’t know. But I stand by my conviction.”

Shoulders deflating, Emerson sighed. “Just get back to work. The lunch rush will be here soon. I’ll go call the exterminator.” Then she threw over her shoulder as she was walking out, “Again!”

It couldn’t be a coincidence that one of her servers saw a rat and then the health department workers found droppings. The exterminator must have missed something the first time. And who made the complaint?

She went to the register and pulled A-1 Pest Control’s business card from the drawer to call themagain. It was only Tuesday. Damn, it was going to be a long week.

∞ ∞ ∞

“You never told me what happened with the health inspector,” Ivy said from the confines of the umbrella she huddled under.

Emerson, too, was huddled under an umbrella, only hers didn’t seem to be working as well. Rain still lashed at her face. Though, that was better than the poor guys out on the field. The heavy, steady rain was making a mess of the turf. The defense was up and she tried to spot Oz but it was a challenge as everyone was covered in mud.

“Oh, nothing came of it. I faxed over the report the exterminator gave me, the inspectors came back, took another look around, and when they didn’t find anything else, signed off on the case.”

“You ever find out who ratted on you?” She smirked. “No pun intended.”

Emerson smiled. “You’re too late, that pun has already made the rounds. But no, though I did talk to all my staff. Britney makes the most sense, but honestly, she yelled outratso loudly, it could have been any of the customers who’d been in the dining room.”

“You should still fire her.”

Emerson shook her head. “Even if I thought she did it, I have no proof, and she’s never been written up for anything else. She’s excellent at her job and has never been late. I have no grounds to fire her. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

“And why I love that my business is a one-woman show. No employees to give me a headache.”

Emerson chuckled.

Their attention was drawn from the conversation by loud cheering from the stands opposite them. Simultaneously, they turned their heads toward the field.

“What happened?” Ivy asked.

“I’m not sure. Oh wait, the other team is lining up on their twenty-yard line and they were just on the fifty. They must have made a long pass.”

“If they make another touchdown, I’m not sure we can come back from that. It will be the first game we lose all season.”

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