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don’t get yer knickers in a twist. You won’t die. The landlines work.”
    “But surely there’s somewhere—”
    “Nope,” Olaf said. “None.” The gap-toothed grin widened, as if he found joy in sharing this sort of news. Maybe watching visitors deal with this information was a form of entertainment for the locals.
    Fine. She could live with no cell service. Her cottage had come with Wi-Fi, so she wouldn’t be completely disconnected from the world.
    “I appreciate your letting me know,” she said, stepping closer to the two men. The smell of fish hit her full-on, sending her a step back. “How often do you gentlemen come here to play?”
    “Every day,” Bernie said, still not bothering to glance her way. “What’s it to ya?”
    Callie tried to be polite. “As you might know, the Sunset Harbor Inn is being renovated. We’re going to be closed for business for a few months. I’m afraid you’ll have to play your game someplace else.”
    This gained Bernie’s full attention. “Says who?”
    “Says me,” Callie answered, before realizing she was mimicking the older man. “I mean, I say so. There is too much to be done, especially on this front facade, to have to work around a game of checkers.”
    “Who’s doing the work?” Olaf asked.
    Callie blinked. “Well, I don’t know yet. We haven’t gotten that far.”
    “Then we’ll help with the work and play checkers here on our lunch break.” Olaf said these words as if there need be no further discussion.
    “I don’t think that’s a good—” Callie started.
    “All worked out.” Leaning over the board once more, Olaf moved one of his black checkers. “King me!”
    In lieu of arguing with the men, Callie decided to let Sam handle his locals and proceeded inside to make the call from her office. It would be long distance, but surely Sam couldn’t hold it against her when using her own cell wasn’t an option.
    As soon as she entered the inn foyer, Callie heard some sort of muffled music coming from the front desk area, but there was no one behind it. She stepped closer, thinking maybe someone had left a radio on somewhere, and found the source of the noise.
    Jack was practically horizontal in his chair, wearing a pair of earbuds. His ears should have been bleeding, considering how well she could hear the music. Her trusty desk clerk had his eyes closed and was playing a mean air guitar as he jerked his head from side to side, sending the dark sweep of hair flipping back and forth over his forehead.
    She tried clearing her throat, but that was a waste of time. Callie rang the small bell on the counter, something she intended to do away with immediately, but the rock star continued his performance. Walking around the counter, Callie waited for an opening, then tapped Jack on the forehead with one finger.
    Green tennis shoes hit the floor as Jack leaped to his feet so quickly, he knocked Callie backward while sending the desk chair slamming against the wall behind him. The dying plant in the window teetered but thankfully did not fall.
    Callie did not fall either, but only because Jack’s reflexes were quick enough to catch her by the forearms. The pair froze, both in shock. Jack looked as if he wanted to let go but seemed aware that if he did so Callie would hit the floor.
    And, of course, that was the moment Sam Edwards walked through the door.

    Sam wasn’t sure what to make of the scene he found behind the counter of the Sunset Harbor Inn. Callie hovered at a severe angle as a goofy-looking teenage boy clung to her forearms. A boy who looked scared enough to piss himself when he caught sight of Sam, causing him to let go, and nearly dropping Callie to the floor.
    She was quick enough to step back and regain her balance, saving herself from the fall. The pair looked from Sam to each other and then back again in awkward silence. Then they spoke over each other.
    “I walked in and—”
    “She poked me and—”
    Neither finished their