Yolks on You Box Set

Chapter 4-2

After having straightened everything twice to calm himself, Kiko made Katie an egg salad croissant for lunch and tried to stomach one himself. He couldn’t help but worry for Chad, but he doubted he’d hear anything about him for a while. He had immediately called Chad’s parents and had gotten hold of them even before the police, but now the thought of calling around about the Grand Hunt was daunting.

“One free box of four egg-shaped chocolates,” said Katie, slapping the slip of paper that had been inside an egg down next to Kiko. He jumped slightly at the noise, shaking his head at himself as she took the box and moved to deliver it to the lucky child. Kiko sold a few egg salad croissants, trying to be glad for the business in his store at the moment, but he wanted to be alone, or away. Eventually he composed himself and picked up the phone.

“Joylove Antiques, finding antiques you love is our joy. Joy Witbek here to help you.”

“Joy, it’s Kiko,” he said, bringing back the upbeat sound to his voice.

“Kiko! How goes? Got that mess all cleaned up over there?”

Kiko swallowed.

“Well…I actually was calling to tell you we had another explosion here.”

“Really? I hope no one was hurt.”

“Chad’s gotten a ride in an ambulance now,” he said, “But I’m sure he’ll be fine. Unfortunately, boxes of the eggs for the Grand Hunt were damaged, and those that weren’t, I can’t have. So I was hoping you’d be able to whip up another box. It doesn’t have to be as big. I know it’s a lot to ask at the moment…”

“No, no, it’s fine,” said Joy after a brief pause. “Briana and I can put something together. When do you need it by?”

“ASAP. A third of the eggs were supposed to be hidden by now, but because of the excitement with Buddy Angus yesterday…We were only getting started, and now everything’s either destroyed or confiscated.”

“I’ll give you a call when we’ve got it together,” said Joy and hung up. Kiko breathed out, took care of a few customers, and began to call around to the other businesses. The list was long; nearly every place in Mount Angus, and a few a little ways outside of the town, participated. Eventually he reached a point where people were calling him, the news having spread. He picked up the phone to Buddy Miller’s voice.

“I heard it happened again,” he said when Kiko answered.

“No deaths,” said Kiko, hearing Buddy sniffling. “I was just about to call you. The eggs for the Grand Hunt are either destroyed or with the police. You think there’s any chance you can get me any more in the next day?”

“Yeah, yeah, no problem,” said Buddy, blowing his nose loudly. Kiko winced. “My girls always make too many, we have a whole box just sitting here.”

“Right there at the brewery?” asked Kiko, thinking perhaps Dom could spare a moment already. “All right if I send someone over to get it? You don’t know him, but he’ll mention me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Buddy, then, “You’ll be at the funeral, right?”

“What?” For one terrible moment Kiko thought Chad had died and somehow Buddy Miller had found out before he did.

“I’m having a funeral for Buddy Angus.” Buddy sniffled loudly. “When all this egg madness is over. I think…I think Buddy’d want you there. And the goose.”

Kiko blinked.

“Of course,” he said. “Mother and I wouldn’t miss it.”

He hung up and pulled Dom’s number from his pocket. He could call it from the store’s phone, but he had given Dom his personal number, and he wanted him to be able to take the call as he wanted. Kiko slipped into the basement where much of the storage was, as well as workers’ belongings. It took little time to tap in Dom’s number; much more to bring himself to call it.

“Hey,” said Dom when he answered. Kiko could briefly hear the noise of children and someone complaining about coloring books, then the sound was replaced by cars. Wherever Dom was, he had just stepped outside.

“Hey,” said Kiko, feeling more nervous than he had last night at the Pickle. “I was wondering if you wanted to get started on moving boxes.”

“Now?”

“If it’s a problem—”

“No, no problem,” said Dom. “Where?”

“Buddy Miller has a box down at the brewery. I told him to expect you.”

“That’s the Mount Angus Brewing Company, right?” asked Dom, and Kiko was struck by just how non-local the man was. He’d never want anything beyond this weekend, even if Kiko could get things to go smoothly with him. And this week had been anything but smooth.

“Right. Buddy Miller’s expecting you. Just…be careful with him. He’s in a state about his cow still. Tell him I sent you to pick up the box. Can you bring it back here when you’re done?”

There was a pause. Kiko would have thought Dom had hung up except he could hear the odd car.

“I think I can do that,” said Dom after a time. “We’re actually headed to the brewery next. It’s the getting the box back to you that might be more of a problem.”

“You really can just drop it by,” said Kiko, then forced a short laugh. “No need to linger if you think Yolks on You is cursed. But there shouldn’t be any more problems. There’s not much left here that hasn’t exploded.”

“Any news from the cops about that?”

“No. And who knows if there will be.” Kiko paused. “But I should get back to the shop. I’ve left Katie to do everything herself.”

“I’ll get that box of eggs to you when I can, then.”

Dom hung up before Kiko could thank him.