Lethal Flip by M. E. Bakos

Author:M. E. Bakos
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. E. Bakos
Published: 2022-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

My heart still thumped from the flurry of the morning’s activity when I arrived at the rehab. The truck from Exterminators R Us was parked on the street, the driver waiting. The side of his truck had a cartoonish illustration of a cockroach on its back.

Nice. Dismayed, I shrugged. The neighbors will love this.

The driver bounded from his seat and we met up behind the roll-off dumpster.

“Katelyn Baxter?” the tall thin man held out his hand. “I’m Tim from Exterminators R Us.” His grip was firm.

“Yes. I’m Katelyn. I called about a rat.”

“Rat, huh. Where?”

“In a box on my kitchen counter.”

“Say what?” He lifted his hat and scratched his forehead.

“I called for an inspection to check for possible infestation. It may have been a joke.”

“Not very funny.” The wiry man frowned.

“I agree.” I inhaled, exasperated.

“We’ve got a special going for inspections. It’s more for removal.”

“Let me know.” DIY rat inspection and removal weren’t part of my wheelhouse. I’d leave it to the professionals. I could hardly wait for Wayne to get back. I was sure my handyman could make short shrift of rats, but for now, I was stuck.

“I’ll start by checking around the outside of the house.”

“Sounds good.” Armed with a flashlight, Tim started inspecting the perimeter while I unlocked the entry.

Inside, I dialed Myra.

“Okay. I’ve got a few minutes, now. Boots has a clean bill of health from the vet. The exterminator is here. Don wants me to meet his daughter in about an hour.”

“Busy girl. He’s such a nice man.” She chuckled, approving.

“Yes. Myra.”

“You don’t sound happy.”

“Yeah. Not so much,” I muttered. My stomach lurched. “What if she hates me?”

“It’ll be fine. She’ll love you. Why was Eddy at your place this morning?”

“He stopped by with money for the vet and the rent check. He’ll help install the mirror in the bathroom at the rehab later today.”

“Don and Eddy were there at the same time?” she asked.

I hesitated. “Eddy slept in the guest room. And, yeah. Male bonding and all.”

Myra chuckled. “Let me guess, he asked Don about his Corvette?”

“Yep. That’s all it took. How’s the Hiptown house coming?”

“There’s some progress. The contractor appears to have settled any feuds between the subcontractors about working conditions. No reports of missing lumber or tools.”

I saw Tim walking around the front picture window, checking the garden level for areas that vermin might gain entry while Myra and I chatted.

“That’s great, Myra. You wouldn’t want to have a sage burning here, would you?”

“Because of the rat?”

“Because of the DEAD rat,” I retorted, and Myra started laughing.

“Hey, at least you had cute raccoons. This thing was UGLY,” I protested. Tim stood at the entry, and I gestured for him to come in. “I have to go.”

“Sure. Let’s do a cleansing. A dead body is a dead body. Well, not quite. You know what I mean.” She chuckled.

Tim waited patiently in the foyer while I finished with Myra. “What did the rat look like?” he asked.

“It was a big, brown rat, about yay big.

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